Thursday, May 09, 2013

Imagination is Boundless ~ an eP post


I am absolutely smitten with natural fibres and anything with lots of texture so these new Tim Holtz District Market 4 x 6 " canvases which can be purchased from eclectic Paperie called my name the moment our paths crossed. They have this lovely burlap covering very sturdy wood frames and make a lovely pairing. I started by brushing a light coat of gesso randomly across the two canvases, heavier in some places than others. I was looking to add more interest to the burlap colour as well as play up its texture. Next I layered Studio 490 black embossing paste through The Crafter's Workshop harlequin stencil on the one and Dylusions Dotted Flower stencil on the other.


While that was drying. I sprayed Dylusions Squeezed Orange and Bubblegum Pink ink sprays onto some grunge paper, absorbing some of the excess on paper and then blotting the rest with paper towel. I dried the grunge paper with my heat gun and then stamped  BAlzer Designs' 4 Butterflies stamps onto the coloured grunge paper using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, wiping it back in a few places so the stamping would be imperfect. Once dry, each butterfly was fussy cut. The edges were inked with Black Soot Distress ink and then lined with Black Big Brush pen. Each butterfly was given an Idea-ology game spinner for the body.


Returning to the background....three lengths of black and white dotted grosgrain ribbon were adhered to the burlap. A set of three punched and stacked white cardstock flowers were adhered to the outer end of each ribbon and a black half pearl formed the center of each flower. The butterflies were set on the canvases for placement but there wasn't enough contrast between their colour and the burlap so pieces of cheesecloth were tucked under each before adhering them. A small piece of leftover trim was glued above the longer horizontal ribbon because it  looked lonely and a little lost on its own.


The lettering on the one canvas is created with flat beads which spell imagine. On the other canvas, an Idea-ology metal word bands with the saying "reality has limits, imagination is boundless" was glued between the butterflies. Two small threaded white buttons covered the open ends of the bands. The outer edges of the canvases were darkened with Vintage Photo Distress ink to complete the duo.


These were quick, easy, and fun to make. I think they would make a lovely little gift...maybe for Mother's Day. Hmmm...great idea :) Thanks for joining me today and welcome to both my new followers (thanks) and to my not-new followers (thanks). Both make me very happy.

To check out many of the products I used on this project, click on the links below to be magically transported to the eclectic Paperie store where Kim can fix you up :)

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie




8 comments:

Desire Fourie said...

Absolutely gorgeous. So love the design and the use of watch arms for the butterfly bodies, very creative.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Paper Profusion said...

Fantastic crafting Bonnie. Fabulously tactile. Nicola x

Redanne said...

Hi Bonnie, I can only think of one word to describe these - stunning!!! Hugs, Anne x

Sandy said...

Wow Bonnie - what a fabulous idea you had - I really do love the black and red on the burlap. Gorgeous and now I am off to buy some stuff so I can copy you!!!
Sandy

Sandy said...

I spent way too much $$ Bonnie but I do love this burlap canvas!
Sandy

Words and Pictures said...

I'm smitten with natural fibres too, and I'm smitten with your make!! The red and black is so fabulously dramatic, but grounded by the earthy texture of the burlap... gorgeous bead wording, and those butterflies are extremely tempting in your hands!
Alison x

Tracy said...

So sweet of you not to let any of those parts and pieces get lonely. LOL I love the look and texture of burlap too so the panels make great bases for your project. Great job GF! Hugs!

ParkNSlide said...

Those red butterflies add just the right punch of color. Only you would come up with the game spinner butterfly bodies---brilliant.