I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Garden of Dreams





Hello everyone!

I seem to be in a flowery phase round here at the moment.  I blame all those gorgeous Wallflower releases and projects at CHA... and my new Spring Greenery die too!

I've another small canvas for you today featuring an Artistic Outpost quote (not quite as small as the last one).

Although I haven't usually been much for using 3D flowers (though there are always plenty of stamped ones - meadow grasses, anyone?!) it's a whole different outlook now that I've got lots of leaves to play with.













Lots of layers, as usual... starting with tissue wrap over the 6x4 inch canvas, multi-medium, some torn paper napkins and a couple of washes of Light Buttermilk paint.

















Then texture paste - but of course! - through a damask stencil, and some Walnut Stain ink to highlight it.











I cut the Tim Holtz Distressed Doily once out of paper and once out of thick card.  

The top paper layer just had some gesso and some inking.












The card layer is underneath and it's had a coat of thick gesso, and a combination of glass beads, Verdigris and Peeled Paint Distress embossing powders for a mossy look.















The quote, from the Chalkboard Wisdom plate is stamped in Versamark on kraft card, and embossed with Wow Vanilla White.  

I stamped it inside one of the frames from the Chalk It Up plate which has had the same treatment.

Then I blended Walnut Stain ink on from the edges.





















I'm very happy with my glass bead embellishments.  

They're just those pebbles you buy for putting in vases and suchlike.  














I bought them ages ago, thinking I'd stick them on some pretty papers, but then I saw the amazing Matilde over at 100% Handmade using something similar on book pages and the lightbulb went on... book text - my favourite thing!











I spritzed a couple of pages with various shimmery sprays and stuck down lots of glass pebbles with gloss multi-medium.











Once dry, you can just cut them out.  I love the magnifying effect on the text - I might be more careful about what words I stick them over next time!!

I didn't want anything too turquoise for this canvas, so tried to get ones that were stuck over less spritzed or greener areas.










The flowers are by Wild Orchid, and they've had just a touch of gesso to shabby them up (down?).














And the metal heart is from Calico Crafts, and has had just a fingerful of paint smeared onto it.












I added some tiny wooden hearts - confetti from the fabulous UmWow Studio...















... with just a dusting of gesso added.













And, of course, lots and lots of leaves cut with the new Spring Greenery decorative strip die...














I promised you more ivy, and you've got some of the other leafy bits here too for good measure!













So that's my springtime canvas for you today.  I wonder how long this flowery kick will last - could be a whole new Words and Pictures vibe for 2014!

I'd like to enter this for the Wild Orchid Challenge where I've been inspired by the flowers on their Springtime Photo Inspiration, and using all the colours except the pink which has pretty much disappeared under all the layers!

I'd also like to enter it at the Inspiration Emporium where they are Dieing for 2014 - my dies are the Distressed Doily and the Spring Greenery.

And at Pan Pastels, it's Anything Goes.

A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in - what more could he ask?  A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.
From Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

69 comments:

Cestina said...

Oh so pretty!
x

Mona Pendleton said...

So pretty Alison! Lovin' all the layers and the embossed sentiment! Thanks for the inspiration!

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Really pretty canvas Alison. Love the embossed backdrop and many wonderful layers. The sentiment looks fabulous nestled within the flowers and leaves . Love the glass domes too highlighting bits of text. Tracy x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

I'm missing words, that's a breathtaking piece of art.

Helen said...

wow, this is gorgeous - love the dimensions on this canvas Alison.

Evelyn Walter said...

So very much pretty, dear Alison! Your new dies are my next wish I have, I like them too. The idea with the glass pebbles is great - very interesting look and a highlight on your canvas!
xxx Evelyn

rachel said...

so very pretty - love this to bits xx

Nan G said...

WOW! Love your leap into the greenery. ;)

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Oh, I just love the new spring greenery die. Then again, I am partial to ivy...as with most other leafy green non-stickery plants. I like your floral direction and wouldn't mind seeing more it. So delightful! The glass pebbles are very nifty too. Too bad my secret stash of them went BOOM on the floor in a shattered glass mess (hubby had an over-sized margarita glass full of them that snitch one out of from time to time).

Julie Lee said...

So many brilliant ideas! I love what you've done with those pebbles: I'm sure I have some of those somewhere.The roses are beautiful, I love the way you shabbied them 'up' or is it 'down'? Oh, how I want that greenery die too. My list is growing apace! Lovely canvas. Julie Ann xx

Chrissy said...

STUNNING Alison..this has to be my favourite..I love the glass beads they look superb..love the flowers and colours..just beautiful.

luv CHRISSYxx

massofhair said...

Fantastic ArT as usual Alison! Stunning dimension and textures, all works perfectly together. Loving your colour palette :-) xxx

Kate Yetter said...

This is stunning! I love all the flowers around the quote. So chic!
Kate

Kathy G. said...

This is exquisite from start to finish. Thank you for the tutorial. Especially loved what you did with the pebbles.

Rita said...

Oh Yes, I love your canvas Alison. So many interesting things to see and the textures are fabulous. Like Pooh Bear said, the more I look, the more I see. Wonderful post and I've learned some new tips. Hugs Rita xxx

barbarayaya62 said...

I'm totally speechless! This is one of my fav works made by you! I love it! BArbarayaya

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

What a feast for the eyes this is, Alison! Looks like a spring garden. Love those pebbles - very clever idea! Gorgeous work with the texture paste too!

Hugs,
Linda

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow Alison what a beautiful canvas , I love your background and your beautiful details , the quote is super!! Great art work!!!

Greetings
Maria

Brenda Brown said...

Truly delightful. From the gorgeous background to all the wonderful elements you have added this is a beautifully feminine piece of art xx

Unknown said...

Absolutely gorgeous and I love the sentiment Alison. I'm loving your flowery stage. :) Hugs

Almo said...

Hi Alison, I love your Canvas. The little glass beads twinkle amongst all the greenery and flowers and look great the magnified coloured text. The tickle of gesso on the greenery and wooden parts pull it all together with the background beautifully. Such a pretty canvas I love your new flowery streak. Hugs Mo x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous canvas Alison! Love the glass beads and the tiny hearts are gorgeous! Beautifully put together as usual. Sue C x

Astrid Maclean said...

Gorgeous make Alison, I love it when you do flowers! These AO quotes are fantastic too and make such great vocal points. Love the idea of the pebbles with the book paper (may have to pinch that at some point) and thanks for the link to 100% handmade, never been there before, so will be good to have a closer look at...

Sue said...

Gorgeous canvas Alison, full of interest as always. I love how you shabby your flowers, and the 'mossy' doiley is beautiful xx

chrissie said...

Such beauty from humble beginning. I love this piece.

Chrissie x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Stunning Alison (as always!). I have been totally engrossed reading your post going back and forth and realising I have this and I have that - so thank you for so much inspiration! And those glass gems!!! - such a fabulous idea. Jennie x

sally said...

I think I shall be getting myself some of those glass pebbles :-) very effective & pretty!

Sally

Dorthe said...

In every way so beautiful dear Alison, Love your flowers and the grenery around ,and love the quotes , and the glass beads are a wonderful idea.Alwayes such an inspiration to visit you.
Hugs from Dorthe

Cocofolies said...

Lovely details on this Alison, fabulous canvas!!! Hugs, Coco xx

cathylynn said...

This canvas is fabulous. The flowers are wonderful and it looks like the pebbles magnify the words. How clever and a fabulous idea. You are a creative genius!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Amanda said...

Beautiful Alison. Love the background with again all that fab texture. And the glass beads best handy hint of 2014 so far lol
Love
Amanda x

Sandy said...

Well my dear - I spent a little longer with you this morning studying your gorgeous canvas. I learned a lot too! Certainly will grab that pebble idea!
Hope you are well my friend and that life is treating you kindly.
Sandy xx

Mrs.B said...

A stunning canvas (as always). Love the double doily and shabby flowers framing the sentiment. Great idea with the glass bead.
Avril xx

Netty said...

Loving your beautiful canvas Alison and a great quote, certainly one to remember. Hugs Annette x

Matilde said...

WOW! What a lovely project! I'm happy that I could inspire you a little bit :)

Anonymous said...

So much to look at, I love this beautiful canvas Alison! xxx

Dianne said...

Miss Alison this is absolutely BRILLIANT...I love everything you have done on it, KABOOM, your are "THE BOMB" thanks for sharing and i hope you have a wonderful weekend, ((( BIG HUGS)))...

Carol Q said...

lovely Alison - so pretty. we could do with some flowers. i'm well fed up with this wet weather.

Terry said...

Love the transformation, Alison! So many beautiful details to share such a great sentiment! Love this! Funny thing is I bought some of those glass pebbles and to such in this way and I don't know where on earth they are hiding and probably with the other items I can't find!

SiódmyAnioł said...

Przepiękna praca! Podziwiam pomysłowość!
Pozdrawiam :)

May said...

Gorgeous canvas Alison...Love those glass beads I have a jar full now I know what to do with them....Beautiful sentiment... Hugs May x x

toni said...

Ha ha ! Spring must be in the air ( somewhere) just been making some flowers myself ! This canvas is gorgeous Alison, looks like you had a lot found putting it all together with all those lovely details ! X

Paper Profusion said...

Oh I wish upon a star that when I look outside tomorrow morning the world will look like this! Beautifully fresh and pretty with gorgeous texture and life. Brilliant idea with the pebbles and I love those UmWow hearts too - havn't seen these around. Thanks for inspiration Alison, Nicola x

Ana K. said...

Gorgeous texture and colours...I am not a flowers fan, but i can’t stop looking at this piece...really outstanding Alison!!!

Neet said...

That is so beautiful. I want to do one before I come home and have just managed to get a canvas so it be on to make it on the weekend especially when they are watching the Superbowl.
Love the colours- love the canvas.
Hugs, Neet xx

Unknown said...

This is so beautiful Alison. I really love the colours you've used and the glass beads are fab, they look almost like dew drops, what a great idea.

Emma x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

The text is great but also a real eyecatcher this way, Alison...great job :-)

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful quote and certainly deserves to be adorned in such a fashion.
Wishes
Lynne

pearshapedcrafting said...

Beautiful! Clever trick with the pebbles. Just love it all but a teensy bit jealous of you having those dies! Chrisx Hoping this posts before connection fails-AGAIN!

AngelicaS said...

Fabulous canvas! So many clever details, the colored pebbels are so beautiful

Martina said...

Dear Alison,
your new creation is again quite delightful and enchanting! I love this!

By the way: You won my giveaway! Please have a look at my blog and send me your address so I can send your prize. I wish you a nice weekend, my friend.

Hugs MARTINA

Anonymous said...

So beautiful!

Jools Robertson said...

Fabulous floral details, love all the layers and fresh colours
Can't wait to see the spring flowers too

Jools x

Claire said...

wow Alison, what a stunning project. I love all the beautiful detail, it must have taken ages but well worth the effort. Thanks for joining us at Premium Craft Brands PanPastel Challenge this week
Claire xx

Unni A said...

Very pretty! Beautiful flowers and other details. Love the text! And the colored pebbles, what a wonderful idea!
hugs, Unni

hazel said...

A fabulous project, the flowers are gorgeous.
xxx Hazel.

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Oh this is so very pretty, Alison! Love the little pebbles. It always makes me smile how they magnify the images or words inside them :) xxx

Tracy said...

Swoooooooon...Alison need I say how much Ilove and adore your work...your project is truly gorrrgeous and so in your style...shabby, vintage, chic..love it and the quote says it all!!
I am so happy you joined us at Premium Craft Brand and hope you will join us again.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Big hugs and love
Tracy
xoxox

Kasia said...

So amazing canvas, Alison! Great bacground! Love those beautiful flowers and glass pebbles :)Beautiful composition :)

Ozawa said...

Wonderful, a little bit of spring flavour! I love the use of thelittle drops - it's a great idea. I think I must copy this someday...

Candy C said...

Alison...once again, you've created such a lovely piece. Artistic Outpost must really be happy with your work because you really give their stamps such a gorgeous platform! :) This canvas is simply gorgeous. <3 Candy

2amscrapper said...

beyond gorgeous--so many wonderful techniques--love that background!

scrappymo! said...

Thanks for the step by step. Love the look of this and love the glass domes with the words underneath!

Hettie said...

Oh Gosh! Alison this is one of the prettiest and most feminine pieces I have seen from you. Just exquisite.
Hugs
xx
PS If you don't have room for it I can find a space! Tee Hee! xx

Jenny Marples said...

A beautiful floral canvas very reminiscent of those on display at CHA. Love the stencilling and those glass pebbles - great idea. All in all this would have looked completely in place alongside all the other designers' work. Jenny x

Geraldine said...

Stunning canvas, love all the depth in it, and how you distressed the TH doily.

Margaret said...

I like the flowers! I think the ivy has inspired you to take those flowers to a new level!
The texture on the base is wonderful and it keeps getting better with each added item! The word pebbles are fantastic too!

I'm finally getting a chance to pop in and am off to check out more of your wonderful creations!!

Unknown said...

C'est MAGNIFIQUE... tout mes compliments une fois encore. I Love. Bises

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning canvas. I love the tissue you used. The buttermilk paint is a awesome soft white and the embossing paste added is beautiful. I love the moss looking doily and I am loving the pebbles, I really like that idea. Hugs Kezzy :-) xxxxx