Jan 24, 2016

Mixed Media Watercolor Collage and Altered Book Cover

book

First of all let me say that this is my favorite project I've completed in a very long time.  My creatacation really unleashed the "play" in me and I just went wild with abandon, so I guess it was a playcation!  My new goodies really helped spark my creativity.  You know that feeling when you have several new things and you can't decide which to use first and you just start spinning!  (Tell me I'm not the only one...)  I have been so very inspired by the use of ink sprays.  Right now, there was no way I could start collecting an entirely new "collection" of products.  But I really wanted to see what I could come up with using the things I had on hand.

book 2

I started this piece, which will be the cover of my altered Scrabble board book, by weaving papers in the corner like so.  These were inky scraps that I just cut into strips with scissors and tore the edges.  I mod podged them down and then tried my Loew Cornell watercolors to create the "faux spray ink" puddles I'm loving so much.  I picked up this set for $2 at Tuesday Morning.  They are grittier than regular old Prang watercolors.  I'm pretty sure they are similar to the Artist Loft brand from Michaels.  Anyway, much to my surprise, the watercolor took to the mod podge perfectly.  It worked great over gesso too!  This opens up a WHOLE NEW WORLD TO ME people!  <3  Woo hoo!  I'm stoked!

book 3

I layered in pages of a hymnal and used one of the titles to set the tone for this page.

book 4

I really wanted to use this beach glass and thought these sorta square pieces would harmonize with my geometric design in the paper weaving.

book 5

For years and years I've had some Golden gel medium that had mica flakes in it.  I decided this was the perfect time to use it.  It took two days to dry, but I love seeing all that gorgeous mica beneath the frosted glass.

book 6

This IndigoBlu butterfly was begging to be the focal point, coming out of the tangled paper...

book 7

I lovingly used scraps of crocheted lace to offset my cocoon.

book 8

The unValentine part of this creation...  The cocoon.  God's love comes to us where we are, no matter how dark or how confined, no matter how entangled.  His love alone shows us how to be who we are created to be.  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10.  Please know that you are never, ever alone.  God is with you, God is for you.

book 9

I made the cocoon by wrapping a strip of tattered lace round and round and using the threads to tighten the top and bottom.  It's subtle on the page, but means so much to me.

book 10

I hope this inspires you to play today.  Oh, yes, the black areas are Cloisonne embossing powder, which is like Frantage or UTEE. I couldn't resist pulling out one of the wooden Scrabble tile holders and using it to hold up my page for the photo.  Ha!  I have tons of these and need to try altering one (or ten).  

book 11

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56 comments:

Craftyfield said...

We create our best pieces when we enjoy ourselves so I'm not surprised to hear you had fun with this one! All the textures combine in a superb shabby chic, mixed media art piece. Wish I'd get some of that inspiration... And yes, I'm the same if I have several new things I don't know where to start and as a result I do nothing.

Lisa said...

Oh wow, this is absolutely stunning!! The layers and texture are amazing!! I love all of the details!! What a gorgeous work of art!! I love, love it!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Tonya said...

WOW! I love your collage and all the little details are wonderful! I love the message too. I also have scrabble tile holders that are in need of decorating too. ;-)

Lys said...

What a wonderful collage! So full of inspiration and heart. I love this original cocoon, such a great and thoughtful idea!

wannabcre8tive said...

OMGosh this is so gorgeous. I keep looking at it and all the fab details. Beautiful work.

experiments in paper said...

Ooooh!! This is stunning, Autumn - you were truly inspired and it shows! Love absolutely everything about it< but am most in love with your palette and that stunning butterfly! xxx Lynn

Willy said...

Beautiful project!!

rachel said...

absolutely stunning work Autumn - love the indigo blu butterfly - thanks for joining us in out challenge this month! Big hugs Rachel x

Mimi said...

How fun, how creative!!! I SOOO appreciate all of your subtle interconnected parts-- the woven pattern + tiles... the verse + your metaphor of love finding you/the cocoon... yay, looks like FUN!

Vintagehandmade said...

Wow, Autumn, it's out of this world piece of art! I love all the layers, colours, embellishments, everything! It's absolutely brilliant and so inspirational!
Hugs! Branka xxx

Mrs.B said...

It's lovely to have time to play with new goodies, especially when you produce something as gorgeous as this. Looks like you've had fun.
Avril xx

Pawsitively Creative said...

Okay, I oogled this on IG and am happy to finally see the entire design. This is my favorite of yours! The grungy goodness mixed with the layers and textures-fantabulous! What a way to start back from your playcation! Hehe! Lovely cocoon as well! I too have that thought process when I get new supplies. My rule is-no new supplies until I have used everything I just got. If it's a new supply, it stays on my desk until it gets used. Hugz! ~Niki

Melissa L. said...

This is lovely, Autumn. The butterfly is beautiful and I love the bit of the hymn. It was my Grandma's favorite. I'm an avid beach comber too, so the glass is super exciting to me! :)

Lisa Minckler said...

It's my third time back here now and I'm just still dumbfounded for words. This has me in a total happy place where sun beams radiate and birds sing on your shoulder and flowers raise up so you can smell them...that's how happy looking at this cover makes me. It's GORGEOUS, Autumn! Nicely done. :)
Big hugs,
Lisa x

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Autumn, what an absolutely gorgeous work of art! And the meaning behind all the artwork is so very precious and dear! This is an old hymn that I remember singing when I was young. And what precious words and wonderful art to go with it! Stunning and so meaningful, sweet Autumn! I love how your art expresses your love for Him! Warm hugs, sweet friend!

Unknown said...

Autumn, this is gorgeous!!! Love the mica flakes under the sea glass. That effect is worth the long drying time. Just beautiful. Hope your mojo hangs around a long time.
Hugs,
Madelyn

Pamellia said...

Wow, this was totally worth the wait Autumn!! Love the wonderfully warm palette and the textures are just blowing me away! Amazing bit and bobs with things like beach glass and mica gel, oh how this must glisten and gleam in real life! Love the butterfly as a focal piece, just brilliant! hugs :)

sarascloset said...

Oh, Autumn! This is MY ABSOLUTE favorite of yours...but I guess that will change when you make the next amazing project! there's so much to love here--the colors, the layered and weaved paper strips, the cocoon symbolic of God's everlasting and unrelenting love for us, the verse, the butterfly, the beach glass. Oh MY! What's not to love!!??? I can see how excited you get by crafting and that is most endearing to me! Great work! Big hugs! PS Yes, I'm like that with the new goodies, too!

sarascloset said...

Oops! I meant hymn. I think I need a CT scan today!

Juliz Design Post said...

Jaw on the floor here Autumn......absolutely stunning, such a beautiful creation with amazing detail. Love this.
Julie x

Petra Swart said...

WOW, this is absolutely AMAZING, Autumn!!! Such wonderful detail and yummy texture and the colours are beautiful!!! The butterfly is simply stunning!!! So beautiful!!!!
Have a wonderful day!!!
Hugz

Cathy - CMP Designs said...

I just love everything about this!! The colors the textures..I just want to be able to touch it and look really close at it and hold it! :) Thank you for sharing with us over at the Emerald Creek Dares Challenge!
Cathy - DT Member at Emerald Creek

Gio said...

OMG!!!(at least three times) Wow, I see it's a new fave for you, it is really stunning. The texture, and the lovely details, and the butterfly, really super inspired . Thank you for playing with us at the IndigoBlu challenge :-)

Unknown said...

BEYOND INCREDIBLE Autumn. BEAUTIFULLY LUSCIOUS. Just WONDERFUL. j.

Beulah Bee said...

This is a treasure!

Unknown said...

😍😍😍

Zoe Hillman said...

Absolutely stunning! Love the colour palette and texture and layers. The beach glass with mica underneath is the jewel in the crown for me though! Serious WOW!

Words and Pictures said...

Completely and utterly blown away by this, Autumn - a whole new world indeed and a truly beautiful one at that. Stunning colours, brilliant distressed layers - and the mica under the beach glass is beyond wonderful.
Alison xx

coldwaters2 said...

OMG Autumn this project has just blown me away, WOW, I have studied each picture very closely and am amazed at the detail, I love the background papers, butterfly and the cocoon, this is totally awesome
hugs
lorraine x

Unknown said...

oh Autumn....this just blows me away. The beach glass with mica flakes beneath are just fabulous. I love the tiny cocoon you fashioned out of tattered lace. Love! Love! Love! You never fail to inspire me.
Thank you so much for sharing this at Emerald Creek Dares
{julia} Emerald Creek DT

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

This looks amazing! So much texture and dimension! I could eat it up with my eyes! And I've learned a new word: creatacation! Just awesome!

crafty-stamper said...

Absolutely stunning mixed media -love the beach glass and mica flakes and fabulous cocoon,love how you built up all the layers and watercolours-love it all really
Carol x

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

Autumn, this glorious mixed media piece makes my heart sing, sing, sing. I love that you created a cocoon to pair with that gorgeous butterfly. The meaning is so clear and uplifting. You have incorporated so many thoughtful touches in this lovely piece. I especially love the beach glass and woven paper corner. It's brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Frilly & Funkie Sing, Sing, Sing Challenge!

Jenny Marples said...

OK Autumn, you've got me hook, line and sinker with this one!!! LOVE the whole mixed media playtime layered look. It's crammed full with detail, texture and yet still remains perfectly balanced. And then the cherry on top! An IndigoBlu butterfly!!! Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie and for playing with IndigoBlu. Jenny x

Asmah Zainal Abidin said...

Can you tell Autumn that I scroll up and down again and again to study your beautiful project that surely inspire me to start on my project this minute! Butterfly is my big love and yours is so gorgeous and the cocoon is sooooo cute! Fabulous project and thanks for sharing your creativity and thanks too for visiting my blog and leave some love :) Hugs xx

Nancy Dynes said...

Autumn,
Oh my gosh!! I just can't stop looking!! You are a master of mixed media! The paper weaving is brilliant, and the butterfly is so realistic I feel like it could flutter off the page. All of the elements combine to create FABULOUS!! Thank you so much for always inspiring me. I'm so happy you share your art with us at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge!
Hugs,
Nancy

Unknown said...

Gorgeously shabby :)

Mona Pendleton said...

Wow! What a fabulous project! I love all the layers, textures and techniques! A real work of art! Thanks for the inspiration!

Deborah Wainwright said...

Hi Autumn thank you for letting me know about the glass and I can now see the link. A wonderful creation full of textures and and a great palette. Thanks for playing along with us at Country View crafts hugsvDebs xx

Joanie said...

This is lovely, great use of textures and colour. Love it! Thank you for joining us at the IndigoBlu Challenge

Unknown said...

Your creative joy is clearly visible in this piece. It came out absolutely beautiful! Awesome layers, textures and colours, wowen together in shabby chic harmony. Thanks so much for sharing your work with LLC.

Hugz, Sandy
Owner & Operator @Live & Love Crafts

Pascale B. Scrap said...

Lots of gorgeous details, beautiful colors! Thank you for joining the Mixed Media Place challenge!

Linda Simmons said...

So lovely and inspiring! Proud of you and love the way you express your faith in your creativity.

Claudia N. said...

This is utterly brilliant artwork! LOve love love it! Thank you so much for this visual treat and for sharing it with us at Emerald Creek Dares!

Claudia x

Unknown said...

Fabulous! So much interest and detail. Thank you for joining the IndigoBlu Challenge. Kay x

Marianne/skorpionen said...

Stunning project with awesome details!
Thanks for joining our challenge at Mixed Media Place!

Riikka Kovasin said...

I adore the different materials here and the shabby look! Really inspiring! Thank you for joining the Mixed Media Place challenge!

Wenda said...

Great project, thanks for joining us at the IndigoBlu challenge.

Hugs Wenda

Redanne said...

Congratulations on your Top 3 place with this gorgeous creation Autumn, it is quite stunning! Anne xx

Lozzy said...

Absolutely amazing..Love it...Hugs Lozzy x

Pawsitively Creative said...

Congrats on your feature at Mixed Media Place for this design! Awesome sauce! Hugz. ~Niki

sarascloset said...

Congratulations on your feature at MMP! I am so happy to see your wonderful work getting recognized so much! Every time I turn around I see your beautiful are being so deservedly honored! I'm so proud of you!!! Hugs!

Brenda Brown said...

Just seen this at MMP and loveeeee what you have created. Congrats on being featured.
Hugs Brenda xxx

The Colour Press said...

Sooooo many gorgeous lil details in your project. U sure had a fun play cation. Congratulations on ur feature at MMP.

sarascloset said...

Congratulations AGAIN! Your are a Top pick at Live and Love Crafts! Awesome, Autumn!

MariLynn said...

This is gorgeous. I love all the textures.

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