Busy, Busy Bees...

Hello friends and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is all about LITTLE CRITTERS and whether you're inspired by your own pets or prefer to delve deeper into the animal kingdom, we can't wait to see how you'll include some critters on your project!

For my project I was inspired by busy little bees, buzzing around the hive creating some beautiful dripping nectar...

So, it's time for a new challenge and here's how I created this project!

 

To begin with I took a canvas panel approximately 18 x 24cm and started by layering my paints. I took Tumbled Glass Distress Paint as my first layer and then added some Peacock Feathers over the top, blending them onto the canvas with a semi dry baby wipe. I heat dried the paint for quickness but if you have time, you can let it dry naturally. I then started to add some more layers, starting with gesso, which I scraped across the board and then adding some Gold Rush Alchemy Acrylic paint, each time layering the paints over the top of one another but drying them between layers.

When I felt I had the right background, I ran the Black Soot Distress Crayon around the edge, blending it out with my fingers and then added a few paint splatters of Black Soot Distress Paint and the Gold Rush Alchemy paint  before setting the canvas aside to dry thoroughly whilst I moved onto my honeycomb.

I cut four sections of the honeycomb from chipboard, using then Honeycomb die and then pieced theme together to create one continual, irregular shaped piece. I then applied a coat of gesso over the top of the die cut shape and at this stage, I also used some of the little honeycomb shapes that popped out of the centres.

Once the honeycomb pieces are dry, I painted them with Gold Rush Alchemy paint, followed by a layer of Steampunk Copper Alchemy Paint. I then attached the honeycomb and small hexagonal shapes onto my canvas using Collage Medium, adding more paint around the die cut areas to create the look of dripping nectar.

Next, I added some of the Art Stones and Mini Art Stones to the honeycomb, sprinkling the stones over the top of 3D Matte Gel which I applied with a palette knife. 

Let the stones set in the medium before adding some more of the Gold Rush and Steampunk Copper Paint over the top. I wish everyone could see how shimmery the honeycomb is but the camera just couldn't pick it up but when the sun hits this project, it really does shine and dance in the light!

I now moved onto my little busy bees and started by stamping the bees onto watercolour card and colouring each bee with Distress Marker Pens before fussy cutting them (and yes, those little legs are very intricate to cut around and quite a few legless ones ended up in the bin, lol but it's definitely worth it in the end). I added a touch of watered down Unicorn's Hair Sparks Paint to the wings. Stamp the bee image once more onto vellum and cut out just the wing section, which again I painted with a light wash of Unicorn's Hair paint. I then layered the vellum wings behind the main body of the bee, shaped the wings and attached each of the five bees to my canvas.

I added some Melange Pebbles, attaching them around the honeycomb with Collage Medium and painted each pebble with Rich Turquoise and Unicorn's Hair paints.

To complete the canvas, I adde the quote chip over a bed of sisal fibres...

...and a couple of clippings stickers ~ a number and the quote, "Glittering In The Sun".

I really hope you've been inspired by my project and as always, if you do need any further inspiration, then you need look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You 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 see you again very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Stamps: Bee
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies: Honeycomb Frameworks Die
Distress Paints: Peacock Feathers, Black Soot, Tumbled Glass

Distress Crayons: Set 3
Distress Marker Pens
Idea-ology: Quote Chips, Clippings Stickers
Mediums: Gesso, Collage Medium, Jet Black Archival Ink
Prima Marketing Acrylic Paints: Unicorn's Hair Sparks, Steampunk Copper Alchemy Paint, Rich Turquoise Alchemy Paint, Gold Rush Alchemy Paint
Prima Marketing Products: Art Stones, Mini Art Stones, Melange Pebbles, 3D Matte Gel
Surfaces: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolour Card

Palette Knife
Paint Brushes

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun