Saturday 21 May 2011

Folklore, superstition and old wives tales

My Mum used to live by a number of old wives tales and she totally believed in them. I take most of them with a pinch of salt.

When I saw that the theme at Simon Says Stamp and Show was precisely this I had a think about the ones Mum used to say. We were never allowed to put shoes on the table; breaking a mirror is 7 years bad luck she used to say; a bird that flew into the house meant a death; it is supposedly good luck to find a 4 leaf clover - and I used to spend hours as a small child looking for one; spilled some salt - then throw it over your left shoulder; we could never cut our nails on a Friday or a Sunday because it was bad luck; if you have an itchy right hand you were to soon come into money, but if it was the left hand then you would be parting with it; and if you dropped a knife on the floor you had to stand on it and she would never ever receive a brooch (or something sharp) without giving some money in return.

Anyway - I used to love the nature ones - a patch of blue sky before noon meant you would see the sun for the rest of the day, in the autumn it was good luck to catch 3 leaves from the trees before they hit the ground, three butterflies seen together would bring good luck and if the first butterfly you saw in the year was white you would have good luck all year.

Wo I could go on, but here is my take on the white butterfly tale.


Inspiration has been drawn from -
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Old wives tales
Grungy Monday - TH colour blocking technique
Craft Barn - using gesso
Just for fun - make a postcard (mine is 6 x 4 ins)

Creating and making-
I made 3 different butterflies, all stamped onto fabric, one without gesso, one stamped into wet gesso and one stamped onto dry gesso to choose the one I wanted - chose the dry gessoed one and highlighted it with promarkers.
Stamped butterflies on wet and dry gesso

Bottom butterfly stamped straight onto the fabric and highlighted with promarkers.

Background colour blocked using Tim's technique - see Here. Edged with DI,
splashed with water and heat dried.

Overstamped with DIs, edges stamped with gesso finished by painting edges with crackle paint.

Trinket pin and bird pinned to the butterfly.

Metal flower primed with gesso and then crackle painted, mini rosette with additional small flower also gessoed and gem added. String, pin and ticket added.

A close up of the buterflies.
Supplies -
Studio - gesso
Idealology - metal foliage, adornments bird, trinket pin
TH - mini paper rosette die
Stamps - TH nature's moments, urban grunge, papillon. La Blanche swirl
DIs - bundled sage, tattered rose, antique linen, pumice stone
Adirondack dye pads - lettuce, cranberry, caramel
Distress crackle paint - picket fence, old door

Well I hope you saw a white butterfly this year - do you know what I bet that this colour is the first of the season anyway!..

Enjoy your weekend. I am off to Sue's 50th birthday party this afternoon and at the moment the sun is shining, let's hope it stays that way.

Take care and thanks for dropping in.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox
Photobucket

49 comments:

Zoechaos said...

I've not heard the White Butterfly one before but believe it was a white butterfly I saw first this year. Why do i remember Minx caught stacks of them a couple of years back!

Beautiful post card and you have used some lovely techniques on it. thank you for sharing with us at Just for Fun always good to see you. XOXO Zoe

Lisa Jane said...

Fingers crossed the sun shines this afternoon and you see a white butterfly. Beautiful card .. and a fab technique
Lisa x

Fliss said...

This is gorgeous Brenda and just love all the detail on it.
Our sunshine has disappeared now due to sea mist so hope it comes back later.
Have a good time today and enjoy the rest of the weekend too.
Fliss xx

Von said...

Love the butterfly stamping and the different effects you've got on the fabric with the gesso.
A great contribution to Just for fun challenge
Von x

Candy C said...

Hello Brenda. I loved your story about your mum and all of her old wives' tales. Honestly, I had trouble thinking of several of them. Then I read your piece and so many of the things your mum told you, my mother told me as well. :) Thanks for bringing those memories back! As for your entry into Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge (and Grungy Monday)...I love it. The stamped butterfly on gesso was very interesting. Your blocked background is quite lovely and your stamped images only enhance it. Thanks for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. <3 Candy

Junibears said...

Dear Brenda, Another wonderful card. Love how you show all the making details. The background layer is so pretty. Just gorgeous.

It's occurred to me, what do you do with all these fantastic cards you make? Do you sell them? Most of the cards I made are stuck in boxes and I have a riffle through when I want to send one!
Have a great party. Hugs xx

craftytrog said...

Beautiful!! x

Zuzu's Blog said...

gorgeous Piece. well done.
Z x

Sarah said...

Golly that sounds just like my mum...did you also hear Stir with a knife, stir with strife. Got told off or that if I couldn't find a spoon for my tea!
I love your theme and piece. The red butterflies look stunning against the green and white...great composition.
Found you at Grungy Monday (I'm at 46) and have also just seen you on Simon says too. So with my DT hat on - thanks also for joining in with Simon says Stamp & Show.

Sarah

Juls said...

wow wow wow!!!! amazing!!! Love everything about this card!!! Hugs Juls

The Craft Cupboard Under the Stairs said...

Really beautiful card. Thanks for taking the time to describe your process. Some very nice tips!

sam21ski said...

This is a new one on me, not heard about the white butterfly before.

Brilliant postcard and get elements. Thanks for joining us on JFF this week.

Sam xxx

http://sam21ski.blogspot.com/

janita mantel said...

What a beautiful things you make.

Meggymay said...

A beautiful card, your butterfly is gorgeous.

Jaqi said...

What a lovely post to read, thank you.
Stunning collection of postcards they are truly beautiful

Berry said...

Gosh Brenda what stunning work I love those butterflies and the old wives tales! Hugs Rebekah xx

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

Love the "old wives tales" Brenda - takes me back to my childhood!!
As for the butterfly project, what can I say except - totally FAB-U-LUS!! Thank you so much for generously sharing your inspirational "how to" details too.

Thanks for your latest comments Brenda, and I have just realised that my missing comments have returned too - yaaay!!!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend - Hugs, Sylvia xxx

Kathyk said...

FAB project from you again today Brenda, loving how you share the info too

Happy Saturday

Kathyk

Netty said...

Beautiful project Brenda and so well thought out. Loving the beautiful butterfly. Enjoy the weekend, Annette x

Anonymous said...

I dig how you combined the 2 challenges. Never heard this one, but is one I'll remmeber. Lovely colors for the background, making a really beautiful card.

DesignerDiva said...

WOWSERS Brenda so much lovely detail this is one beautiful card well done!
Hugs Laurie x

Marion said...

Hi Brenda, Absplutely fabulous card and love all the detail and tecniques you used on this. I know a lot of the tales you said about but not the ones about the butterflies.
hugs
Marion

Unknown said...

Fabulous work Brenda, love those butterflies & so many techniques used too. I still throw salt over my left shoulder if I spill any lolx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful project Brenda. Lots of lovely ideas.
Regards Florence.

Dolly Daydreams said...

Beautiful postcard and great techniques used here. Love the butter lies perfect.

Marie

Dolly Daydreams said...

Beautiful postcard and great techniques used here. Love the butter lies perfect.

Marie

Esther said...

Such a great card Brenda - not heard about the white Butterfly so I've learnt something too! Hope the birthday celebrations went well...Esther xx

~Tammy~ said...

The stories of your Mom reminds me of my grandmother! Your techniques are just gorgeous and beautifully executed and this is a fabulous creations! TFS!

trisha too said...

Beautiful, Brenda!

:)

Daniele said...

this is sooooo pretty love it

Zue said...

Your composition is pretty amazing, Brenda. It is just wonderful to see the steps along the way!
I'm doing gesso stuff just now, but I have hit a mental brick wall.

Also, thanks for the little stories based on your memories of your mum...sounds like you had a fun childhood!
Sue xxx

Neet said...

Ooh, this pot took me back a while and I remember my mum was superstitious too. Do associate with most of them but not heard the butterfly ones, the leaf one or the patch of sky. I digress.

Thanks for joining us at JFF and with such a special postcard too. Love how you have compiled it all. Hugs, Neet x

Gem said...

this is beautiful Brenda, I love your use of the gesso here, another thing to go on my ever growing 'to try' list!! Gemma :) X

Janet said...

Fab postcard so many techniques,I got the Papillon stamps yesterday you've given me lots of ideas
Janet x

Nancy Wethington said...

Beautifully and elegantly done! Thanks for joining the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show.

cheryl said...

oh wow hun you always put so much into your work and boy does it show this is just spectacular hun love love it hugs cheryl xxxxx

Pami said...

This is gorgeous Brenda, its so pretty, love the butterfly. Pami x

Wendy said...

This is simply stunning. I love the way you made a muted colour block background so your other elements just pop out. Loved hearing about your Mother's superstitions too.

Jane said...

Great Mum story...glad you shared it. your art was way more fun to look at thinking about the sayings. I am not sure I have ever seen a white butterfly. I will now be on the lookout. I love the way the muted background really set off your stamping. Gorgeous!

The Craft Cupboard Under the Stairs said...

Looking at this, I'm thinking that red might be my new favorite color. This looks fabulous. Thanks for taking the time to run through all of the techniques that you tried

Carla said...

beautiful colors, great postcard

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Such a breathtaking piece, I'm missing words, so wonderful.

Monika/Buzsy said...

So pretty Brenda. The colors are lovely and that gesso butterfly is fabulous! :o)

coldwaters2 said...

Oh Brenda this is so beautiful the butterflies look super but so does everything you have created on this card I love it so much and I thank you for such wonderful inspiration.
Hugs
Lorraine x

Unknown said...

Wowzer fantastic project again Brenda, love the butterfly and beautiful background. Have heard nearly all the old wives tales you mentioned, but not the white butterfly one... Hugs xxx

Angela Weimer said...

I loved reading your post Brenda with all the Old wives tales. I have never heard of some of them. Your project is beautiful. i love how you did the butterfly. Hope all is well with you. Have a great day. Angela

Val said...

Hi Brenda

This is one fabulous composition. I love all the different techniques you have used and the step by step details. Thanks so much for that.

A for Old Wives Tales - yes - I know what you mean - I think my MIL was the one who was really into them, whereas Mum was a bit more matter of fact about things.

Hugs
Valxx

yours truly said...

Lovely creation! I adore all the little details you have here.

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL !! Thank you for playing with us at the Craft Barn.
Isa