May 4, 2017

That's Crafty Mixed Media Tree House


What a fun and inspiring challenge we have in store for you this month at A Vintage Journey!  Our theme is "Using Quotes" and our lovely hostess Jenny says, "Take a quote! Any quote! Whether it be on a stamp, a sticker, handwritten or sourced from the internet and make it the focal point of your vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk project."


As a bonus, our challenge is being sponsored by That's Crafty, who has so graciously offered the lucky winner a £20 voucher.


For my project, I chose the Extra Large House Shrine Substrate.  This substrate is over 8.5" high and is quite impressive on its own.  Honestly, it took me many a days to ponder how I would alter this beauty!  And I really wanted to use my all time favorite quote for this challenge, "I am most alive among the tall trees."  The result is this "tree house."  I hope you like it!  I used Tim Holtz's birch thinlet for the inside of my shrine.  I carefully cut and pieced two cutouts together so it would be long enough to fit inside.  To cover the seams, I scraped on DecoArt texture sand paste.  Then I colored it with watercolors.  I hand stamped the text with an alpha set onto inky paper.


I was curious to see how the substrate would take spray inks, and boy was I ever surprised!  I did not gesso or prime.  I stenciled this Tim Holtz flower stencil with texture paste, then sprayed blue and green Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays right onto it.  It soaked in beautifully and didn't alter the color much.  One of my favorite techniques with sprays is to add a bit of glimmer mist over a stenciled image.  The texture causes the shimmer to puddle around the image.  I love this effect.  After I did that, I dry brushed gesso onto the flowers and then hand painted more inks onto them.  I wanted them to be lighter and compliment the white trees in the niche.


To embellish, I chose to create one giant flower, inking it as described in THIS tutorial.  I used a Brenda Walton Bigz peony flower die with Distress Inks.  It reminds me of an Alice in Wonderland fantasy!


The curls are created in the twisting of the petals.  This flower was made with five layers of the largest of the peony die.  I would wear it as a broach.  Ha!


Right away I knew my forest must have ferns.  These foliage dies are some I got for a steal at a Tuesday Morning sale.  I don't know the brand, sorry.


I just had to use the lovely new IndigoBlu butterfly from the Victorian Garden stamp set.  Isn't it amazing!  I used blue and green embossing powder to get the two-tone look.  And that's it.  All finished, and perched upon a tree in my yard.  I hope you like it!


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43 comments:

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Love what you have created Autumn you've framed Mother Nature perfectly both inside and out. Fabulous quote and very fitting with your theme ... Adorable.. Hugs Tracey xx

Lisa said...

Oh, wow, what a magical forest this is, Autumn!! The texture and trees are gorgeous!! I absolutely love the beautiful ferns!! What a perfect touch!! And oh my, the flower is stunning!! Love, love this, my sweet friend!! Have a great evening!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Jackie PN said...

Autumn, this is magical and simply delightful!
Surely not only the peony,but your whole piece is reminiscent of Alice's wonderland! I Love it!
Jackie xx

Helen Wallace said...

A magical, mystical place you've created here - a place to ponder and recharge. Love the trees, the ferns and that bold bloom as counterpoint to the butterfly. Superb.

Lucy said...

I am just amazed. This is so wonderful. It transports you to a spot in the woods. The colors are so perfect. It is a seriously inspiring mixed media piece.

sarascloset said...

'Like' is not the word I would choose...I am overwhelmed with the beauty of it! From the stenciling, to the birch trees, to the whimsical flower and butterfly...I adore every single centimeter! Your quote is awesome, and had I heard it before, it would be one of my favorites, too. When I was young, my favorite place to be was in the birch woods on the hill behind our farm. So magical a place, and you have captured that feeling here. This steals my heart! Bravo, my friend! Hugs! PS squealing with delight over your TM find!

Brenda Brown said...

This is just beautiful and breathtaking Autumn, I love the idea of the tree house and how you've brought it to life with so many fabulous elements. I particularly love the peony flower which goes perfectly with the stencilled frame and the trees and quote taking centre stage. Brilliant xxx

Marty F said...

I have to agree with other comments that this is a magical place! I love it all, but my favorites are the embossing on the house (gorgeous!) and that huge bloom - wow!!! You did a great job on those birch dies, too. Would love to see this in person, Autumn!! Hugs :-)

Jennie Atkinson said...

I just love your tree house Autumn ! The background stencilling and colours are just stunning, as are the ferns and then ..... the gorgeous flower! It really is a beautiful piece. I love it x

Nancy said...

What a fabulous project, Autumn! I love the quote too! :o)

Nikki Acton said...

Wow Autumn - this is amazing! The stencilling, the colours, the flowers - I am in awe! Such a wonderful composition and beautifully executed xx

Unknown said...

Absolutely MAGICALLY MARVELOUS Autumn. Picture me - sitting in your doorway. Xj.

S@ndy Diller said...

Fabulous project and the staging among the tree is so perfect with the quote. Love it! Hugs, Sandy

Darlene said...

WOW! Your creations are always just amazing! I just LOVE your style ... such wonderful inspiration! Thanks so much for playing in our ‘Flowers’ challenge at Dies R Us! Please come back again soon!

Darlene (DRU Blog Leader)
DIES R US CHALLENGE BLOG
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit.

Linda Simpson said...

WOW Autumn this is amazing! I love it and that flower is stunning!
Hugs
Linda xxx

Susan said...

This is amazing and so creative! Love all the details.

Redanne said...

That is one big substrate Autumn! You have decorated it so beautifully, I love that stencilled background and the way you added the birch trees is such a clever idea. The quote is such a lovely one and that flower is just divine! Hugs, Anne xx

froebelsternchen said...

This is unique! A wonderful project Autumn!
Happy weekend!

Annie said...

WOW!! This is a beauty Autumn x I love the colours and beautiful stencilling. The inside looks wonderful and do your gorgeous flowers. Totally stunning.
Certainly looks like you had fun

Best wishes
Annie xx

rachel said...

absolutely beautiful Autumn - i love your piece - the colours are my favourites - and I love the setting for the picture too! Brilliant! Hugs rachel x

Marci said...

Such a harmonious blend of great elements and techniques. Love it!

Julia Aston said...

I just LOVE your wonderful forest Autumn with it's lovely quote, the ferns on the edge, framed with the lovely floral stencil and that beautiful blue bloom! Julia xx

aussie aNNie said...

Amazing work of art, love it. Gorgeous colours and scene set out...hugs.xx ♥[aNNie]

Mac Mable said...

Just love how you've used the flowers stencil and how you've coloured it etc. Always enjoy reading your blog and how you do things and always in awe of your attention to detail. Fabulous sentiment and love your flower broach (LOL x).

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Gorgeous so evocative of a forest walk and such a brilliant use of a That's Crafty! substrate too. Thank you for the lovely comment you left on my blog too ;)
Hugs
Donna xx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

This is so lovely, Autumn. The colors, the patterns, everything comes ogether to delight the eye. Love the way you stenciled and colored the flowers. Thank you so much for sharing this beauty with us at Frilly and Funkie!

Hugs,
Linda

Lys said...

Such a wonderful project and tribute to nature! The blue flower is amazing and the whole so full of life!

Deb said...

Wonderful Autumn, adore the quote you used and you have showcased it so perfectly on your wonderful shrine! Totally impressed you managed to match the birch die cuts up so seamlessly (I can't see any evidence it's not one complete die cut at all!) and love your embossed flowers. Wonderful colours and what a great tip to dry brush the embossed flowers with gesso and then 'repaint' to make them pop, thank you! That peony is a beauty, must look for Brenda's die and love the colours you used. A really lovely piece, thank you so much for sharing it! Deb xo

Monika Gulyas said...

Wow Autumn! This is beautiful! I love the stencilling all over on your house! Fabulous! And I especially love your peony flowers - the colours and the texture are fantastic! Thank you for joining the May challenge of the Country View Challenges blog!

Macarena said...

Beautiful. Love the colors and the texture made with flowers. Thank you for joining Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week!

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh Autumn I just love your magical treehouse!!! The stencilling is soo beautiful and the costrast between the trees inside and the flowers around is so clever, it's like looking through a magical doorway right into a serene wood, that fits your quote so well. That stunning flower is the perfect finishing touch! A truly wonderful altered piece, love it!!

Diana @ Playing Without Limits said...

I love the work you did. Thanks for taking the time to share all the details of the work and what went into it. It is inspiring for me.

Diana
Playingwithoutlimits.wordpress.com

Jenny Marples said...

Quite simply superb Autumn!!! LOVE that aged green/blue floral background that looks so aged and works perfectly against the bare trees. Love that you're enjoying using Victorian Garden too. Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie with this xx

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

Fabulous creation. Thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper Creative Challenge this month :)

Denise van Deventer said...

So absolutely gorgeous and I love the quote! Love the trees die-cut and the fabulous colours! ;-)

A Pink said...

Your tree house is an absolute beauty! Autumn Your choice of colours, stencil, dies and products all positive shine with your talented creative touch. The watercolured textured sand paste- love, the shimmering stenciling - love and your peony - Wow- what a knockout! I'd have a vase full of those everlasting beauts over real ones any day .
Hope you have a wonderful weekend
hugs x

Words and Pictures said...

I'm in love with this, Autumn - from the words which inspired it (me too!), to the gorgeously tinted flowers on the frame, to those wonderful, elegant birches at the heart of it all. Stunning!
Alison x

sarascloset said...

Yippee, Autumn! So pleased your beautiful house was selected as Frilly and Funkie's favorite! Huge congratulations on a job VERY well done! Hugs!

crafty-stamper said...

Amazing tree house and tree die,gorgeous embossed stamping and love the flower
Carol x

Margik said...

Absolutely beautiful creation!!!
Mar x

Art By Wanda said...

Gorgeous piece, Autumn!!!

Craftyfield said...

Wonderful floral creation Autumn! Thanks for joining us at Country View Challenges this month.

Hazel Agnew said...

Your colours and attention to detail are stunning Autumn....what a delight. Thanks for joining in with us at Country View Crafts. Xx

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