Friday 1 May 2015

Spring Coloured Butterfly for AVJ

Foreword 15th April - here I am sitting looking out into my back garden pondering what I can make for this new challenge chosen by the lovely Astrid - Spring Colours. It is a sunny Spring day, the sun is shining, the birds are visiting the feeders and there is an odd colourful butterfly or two winging their way around the shrubs and trees. The pretty pink blossom from the flowering cherry tree is just finishing and the white blossom on the plum tree has just emerged. In the garden next door I can see yellow button and yellow forsythia shrubs and a tub of orange flowers ...... mmm could this be my Spring colour palette?


Taking a piece of black foamboard I cut Tim's cameo frame. When I did this I found the edging to the frame came away and I could place the main part of the frame in the outside piece leaving a gap between them - so this became my substrate to work with. I sealed both pieces with DecoArt black gesso.
On the inner piece I painted rock candy clear crackle paint and on the outer frame I rubbed some candle wax and dabbed picket fence distress paint over it.



 Whilst the frames were drying I die-cut Tim's layered butterfly and ran it through the embossing folder. I wanted to play more with tbe mixed media butterfly effects I had achieved on my Destination Inspiration collection of three - see here. After choosing the colours I wanted to work with  - mustard seed, victorian velvet, spun sugar, picket fence and dried marigold (chosen from my ponderings above) I began by taking a box of oil pastels and colouring over the raised areas with white, creamy pink and yellow.


Next I spritzed the butterfly with water and daubed on mustard seed, victorian velvet, spun sugar, picket fence and dried marigold distress stains and heat dried it.



Lastly I splattered some ripe persimmon, abandoned coral and picked raspberry distress inks over and spritzed with water again, finishing with a paintbrush and touching in some of the colours to get the contrasts I wanted. I also inked the edges with walnut stain.


The inside frame dried with lots of lovely cracks. I firstly gave it a wash of picket fence distress stain wiping off the excess and then I daubed walnut stain and brushed corduroy stains over it and baked them in with a heat gun.


 When the outer frame was dry I heated it to warm the candle wax up and gently rubbed with some kitchen toll to reveal the black underneath and then I daubed both walnut stain and brushed corduaroy stains over this and baked them in.


The whole piece was finished with some embellishments and a backing which had been dipped in the ripe persimmon, abandoned coral and picked raspberry distress inks.



For the title I used Tim's big chat words


Rather different again from my usual and its one of those projects where the photos really don't do it justice - but I enjoyed the experimenting.

We would love to see you over at A Vintage Journey for this month's challenge and do pop over to see all the amazing inspirational projects from the very talented Creative Guides.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you have planned.

hugs Brenda xxxx






22 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

What a great way to go with Simple beauty! Those two words just say it all.

massofhair said...

You must have landed by now Brenda, hope your flight was good and you both now settled...

Love the detail and tutorial thank you for the tips and i adore your gorgeous grungy project:-) xxx

Julia Aston said...

The textures on your framing is wonderful - love the contrast of the bright butterfly and the dark background! A beautiful piece Brenda! Julia xx

Julia Aston said...

The textures on your framing is wonderful - love the contrast of the bright butterfly and the dark background! A beautiful piece Brenda! Julia xx

Astrid Maclean said...

A wonderful piece Brenda! I adore the textures on the frame piece and the butterfly looks just wonderful!

Vintagehandmade said...

What a fabulous mixed media creation, Brenda! Thank you so much for the step by step instruction! Amazing piece of art with perfect textures!
Hugs :)
Branka xxx

Jenny Marples said...

Brilliant Brenda! Love how the resist techniques have altered the look of every part of this treasure! Jenny x

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Brenda!! I am really loving these amazing techniques and the incredible results you achieved! Beautiful butterfly, so vibrant! A stunning project! hugs :)

Patty O'Malley said...

This is beautiful, Brenda! The techniques look amazing!

Juliz Design Post said...

Beautiful dramatic project with great textures and colours.
Julie x

Redanne said...

Just two words, absolutely stunning!! Hugs, Anne xx

Unknown said...

My fav part is the ripe persimmon, abandoned coral and picked raspberry distress inks together for that "hidden" background - soooooo pretty. It makes the butterfly look perfect - totally compliments it. And with the black - it all just pops. I have really never seen anything quite like this one and I LOVE IT. Thanks bunches Brenda for the pictures and tutorial too. j.

Words and Pictures said...

Ooh, how yummy - I love the soft effect of the pastel resist on the butterfly, and the crackle frame is fabulous.
Alison xx

Anonymous said...

Fabulous project Brenda ! Love the black crackle ! Sue C x

Jennie Atkinson said...

I absolutely adore this Brenda - so many wonderful textures and colours. But most of all I love the way you have mixed the wonderful soft colours of spring with the harsh black - it works so wonderfully well. Just gorgeous x

experiments in paper said...

Stunning, Brenda! I love EVERYTHING about it - the crackle, the butterfly the beautiful backgrounds layered to bring out the colors.... absolutely beautiful! xxx Lynn

Unknown said...

Gorgeous, Brenda! Simply Gorgeous! The palette of Spring Colors you've brought to life here are outrageous! Adore every detail!! Love that mottled frame! As they say in California--Totally Cool!! :) :) I had to sit this one out, but the view of all of the creativity is AMAZING!! XOXO-Shari

Inkypinkycraft said...

a gorgeous project full of such wonderful details x

Terry said...

What a drop dead gorgeous creation, Brenda! That butterfly against that amazing frame and crackle is wonderful! Love your color choices on this one! Big Hugs!

Unknown said...

Wish I could touch this Brenda. It is fantastic and I love the drama the black adds.

Deb said...

Brenda, that is so striking. Your frame treatment is fabulous, amazing effect from heating the candle wax. And the butterfly is beautiful, wonderful piece!

barbarayaya62 said...

I love this butterfly! Your frame and your color palette strike my eyes! BArbarayaya