Monday 7 May 2018

A Bug's Life...

Hello friends...

Welcome to a brand new week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and also, a brand new challenge! This week our theme is OMBRÉ and we want you to create a project using this beautiful effect. The DT are also showcasing Dina Wakley products within their projects, something that you don't have to do but of course, it would be lovely if you could!

For my project I used the Dina Wakley Media Journal to create a layout across two pages using an Ombré background using Dina's paints and combining it with a few Tim Holtz products.
So, let's get started because it's time for the new challenge!
To begin with I cut a panel of cotton watercolour paper, slightly smaller than a page in the journal and gave it a coat of gesso. Allow the medium to dry before adding the paints and for the ombré effect I chose from top to bottom...Night, Marine, Peacock and Buff. I applied the paint with a paintbrush, adding a small amount of water to blend them seamlessly. If you need to add more paint, I would suggest that you heat dry between layers, otherwise it could become very muddy in appearance. Once I was happy with the colour, I then added some white paint across the bottom section of the panel, applying the paint with an old credit card and just scraping it down.

Ensuring the panel is thoroughly dry, I moved onto the next stage ~ the gold speckles along the top and for this, I applied Grit Paste through the Speckles Layering Stencil and then sprinkled gold embossing powder over the top. Allow the paste and powder to dry and set and once this is done, I heat embossed the powder to create this beautiful effect which I was so pleased with!
After machine stitching a border around the edge, leaving strands of cotton hanging free, I moved onto the journal page and using exactly the same colours of paint, I applied these onto my page, mirroring the ombré effect of my panel.
Allow the paint to dry and then attach the panel onto the centre of the journal page.
At this point, I also added some Design Tape along three edges to appear as if it had been used to attach the panel to the book.
I wanted to create a double paged spread but not add colour onto the opposite side as I didn't want to detract from the artwork.
So, I added some torn Design Tape along the seam of the journal before applying scrapings of the paint colours I'd previously used and applying a small amount of Black Soot Crayon.
I then flicked Black Soot Distress Paint across the surface and once the page is dry, I added some stamped images using the Correspondence stamp set.
Now for the next stage and those bugs...

To begin with I used the Stitched Circles die set and cut out five circles (using the smallest two dies from the set) from card inked with Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Hickory Smoke Oxide Inks. I then stamped the text from the Entomology set onto each circle in Hickory Smoke Archival Ink before stamping each individual bug onto the die cuts. I coloured the images with a soft watercolour of Distress Marker Pens, inked around the outside of the die cut with Ground Espresso Distress Ink and then, using Matte Collage Medium, attached each circle across the centre of my journal page.
Once the medium was dry, I added shading around the outside with the Black Soot Marker Pen, smudging it with my finger and then applied little white dots around the circles.
To complete the page, I stamped some wording from the Air Mail stamp set, coloured this with a was of Dina's Acrylic Paint in Night and then added a Remnant Rub, Collection from the Words Set to the centre of the Original wording.

As a finishing touch, I added some Nailhead findings and a clip.
I hope these pages have inspired you with some ideas of how to use Dina's products for this challenge and don't forget, you can find more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says StampYou have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....





Thank you so much for stopping by today and I'll see you very soon!

Love Emma xxx




Recipe for project:

Dina Wakley Products: Media Journal, Cotton Watercolour Paper, Acrylic Paints: Night, Marine, Peacock, Buff
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamp Sets: Entomology, Air Mail, Correspondence, 105713
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies: Stitched Circles
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil: Speckles
Distress Paint: Black Soot
Distress Marker Pens
Distress Crayons: Black Soot

28 comments:

  1. Emma,
    This is stunning. I love the gold on there. It makes the page feel so rich.

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  2. That ombré is stunning Emma! I love this page, it’s sooo good, from the beautiful bugs (never thought I’d be saying that) to the golden highlights, just phenomenal.

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  3. You never fail to impress me, my sweet talented friend! Another stunning and inspiring project, this spread is absolutely gorgeous...very well done Emma...Brava! Hugs xxx Simona

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  4. Gorgeous pages Emma :-) the gold embossing with the blue is stunning and I love that you stitched another panel on there, very clever and an idea that I will definitely be copying ;-)

    luv
    Lols x x x

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  5. Wow, this is such a stunning page! I love all the detail that you created - amazing 😁. Wishing you a happy new week! J 😊

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  6. Absolutely LOVE this - fantastic piece Emma :)

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  7. Gorgeous Dina colours in your ombre background and the insects look stunning - perfect vintage shading to make them pop against the ocean blues, and I really love the partial spreading onto the opposite page. Delicious!
    Alison x

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  8. Oh my! This is beautiful! I really love all the shades of blue and I'm not surprised you were pleased with the golden speckles cause they are just amazing and give such a brillant effect. Hugs, Macarena

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  9. Saw on Facebook then Instagram. Came by to see more because this has to be one of my top 5 favourite pages of 2018,so far!!! Those bugs are incredible & your techniques are too cool. Brilliant creativity😯

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  10. Your posting today really caught my eye, Emma!
    Your layering talent is inspiring me to be bolder in my artwork. I will have to check out those rub=ons and maybe buy that air mail correspondence set of stamps.

    Mary in Oregon

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  11. STUNNING blue ombre, Emma! The gold accenting off the navy is perfection!

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  12. These pages are amazing The colours, the details and all the elements have come together perfectly, thanks for sharing this.

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  13. Stunning journal entry ! Emma. Your gorgeous blues laid down so masterfully using the ombre effect and accentuated with those luscious gold speckles are pure class . Love how you have double layered the ombre page and how you have so sensitively treated the opposite page . Your delicately painted circular bugs make a perfect path of embellishments
    Impeccable and Inspirational .
    Thanks you for lighting up the creative world yet again with your awesome creativity .
    Big hugs x

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  14. beautiful ombre background Emma which makes your bug circles pop right off the page, hugs kath xxx

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  15. I couldn't wait to see how you'd incorporate Dina's supplies and this does not disappoint! It is lovely and I like how you can maintain your personal aesthetic no matter what products or styles we're asked to use!

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  16. Emma, this is wonderful! I feel like I am looking at an old notebook from a naturalist. Love how the one page is very simple, and most of the design is on the other. Beautiful! Maura

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  17. Simply gorgeous ombré, Emma ... those gold speckles are just delicious ... so texture-y and touchable ... a delicious complement to delicate panels! Anita :)

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  18. This art journal spread is wonderful Emma! I love how you combined the two pages with most of the design being on one and it sort of extending over into the other. Gorgeous ombre effect and the insects look stunning.

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  19. Wow... these are such gorgeous art journal pages, Emma. Love all the beautiful details on this project. The gold on ombre background is stunning. :)

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  20. Stunning page Emma! love your original way to use the insects! Background is a dream of blue! Fantastic project, always so inspirational! barbara

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  21. Fabulous page, Emma! Love the shades of blues and the bugs on their medaillons look amazing! Love the gold speckles. Gorgeous! Hugs, Sandra

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  22. This page probably goes into my TOP LIST favorite projects of yours!

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  23. This is absolutely phantastic artwork! I love it!
    Martina

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  24. Such talent! Love the colors, the bugs, and the gold. Such a rare combo with a great outcome!

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  25. What did you use to stamp the 'Fig 1', 'Fig 2', etc. next to the bugs in the circles?
    Great project!

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  26. Just wow. This is the biggest inspiration I've had this year. Thank you.

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Thank you for all your comments and messages, they are all appreciated and I hope you'll come back and visit again soon...
Emma ~xx

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