Happy spring to you! Can you believe it is March already? That means we have a new challenge at Stamps & Stencils - Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep,Cheep! ~ Put a Bird On It. Our hostess Toni says, "One of the joys at this time of year, is to wake up to the glorious sound of birdsong. The challenge this month is in celebration of our fine, feathered, friends. We would love to see your mixed media projects, that include at least one bird. Whether it's a journal spread, an assemblage or card, just make sure that a little dickie bird features somewhere. Please don't forget to include stamping, or stenciling or both. Can't wait to see your creations!"
Ironically, this tag started with an entirely different purpose and was tossed in the basket. I was anxious to try the new Darkroom Door Grunge Marks harlequin stamp with some verdigris embossing powder I found in the stash. Look how beautiful! (Oh PSX - how I miss you!!!) Only when I inked over it with Shabby Shutters I was afraid I had lost all of the detail, hence it being tossed aside. I tried some Infusions over it, but was still unhappy.
My go to rule for creating is balance. Always a bit of white and dark on everything! I embossed the French Script stamp in white to add back some highlights. Then I splattered on some watery gesso. Now for the fun part! About a year ago I watched THIS PaperArtsy video on YouTube where Leandra stamped onto tissue paper and painted the background with acrylic paint. I wish I had taken more care in painting my tissue, as the body of the bird is a little sloppy, but the technique worked beautifully. I mod podged the tissue onto my tag, a little worried that the texture from the embossing would distort my image, but it did not. I added a little more Infusions around the edges of the bird to help the white blend back in.
Feeling that the tag need not much in terms of embellishment with the striking focal image, I added some punched leaves from Tim Holtz's new punch and a purchased flower over a bundle of string. Some small talk words fill in the circle. I do hope you will take the time to play in our current challenge and put a bird on it! Thanks for your visit. <3
I'm also sharing with:
Inspired by THE Good Book - The Bible: Zachariah 4:10
Check out THIS amazing article on this verse.
Ooh, you've made me go all nostalgic Autumn....I have that same embossing powder and yes I so remember the gorgeous PSX catalogue with stamps that were just on another level.....anyway your tag is uber beautiful, the tissue technique is great for textured backgrounds and the carabelle stamp is so pretty. Gorgeous work Autumn! hugs Ruth xx
ReplyDeleteLOVE this so much Autumn, so glad you rescued it! The background with those green tones over the embossing looks fantastic, and you are so right, balance between light and dark is so important, the white stamping and splatters totally lift it. The bird looks wonderful and the simple embelishing is the perfect finishing touch!
ReplyDeleteLove this tag Autumn - the bird is beautiful, and I love all the texture and subtle colour you have going on here.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
Wow Autumn, this tag is so beautiful!!! Great design with fabulous greens! I love it!!! xx
ReplyDeleteBird Song is the finest of morning wake up calls. Your tag is full of spring Autumn both in colour and character. Delightful.. Hugs Tracey xx
ReplyDeleteI think it's gorgeous!! Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteFabulous tag Autumn with a beautifully layered background. Nicola x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tag, Autumn, and I love your background and am glad you rescued it and kept going. The results are amazing! I love your bird and am intrigued about the video, so will watch that - thank you for the link! Your flower, leaves and string are awesome, and as always, a beautiful bow. So inspiring, Autumn, thank you, and hugs :-)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning!!! Autumn , this is just gorgeous! I cracked up when I read that it was not going the way you planned, for I think it could not have come out any more beautiful! Two questions, what is PSX and what color infusions did you use?
ReplyDeletehugs,Jackie xo
Jackie, and I cracked up when you said "what is PSX?"!!! LOLOL, only because I'm an ancient stamper. PSX was one of the first rubber stamp companies and sold exquisite wood mounted stamps. They sold other items too, like this verdigris embossing powder. It's so sad that some of our beloved manufacturers went out of business when the economy busted. :( Anyway, I used "The Sage" PaperArtsy Infusions. Big hugs, Autumn
DeleteThat's just lovely - the verdigris harlequins make a beautiful background for that stunning bird. Springtime on a tag!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
Oh my goodness, this is stunning, Autumn!! The depth you achieve with stamping and colors is absolutely amazing!! The details are perfect!! Love the beautiful bird, too!! Gorgeous, gorgeous tag, my friend!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Totally love this Autumn. the colours are so beautiful. The centres of the flowers do look like birds eggs too! A very inspiring piece, thank you! xx
ReplyDeletegorgeous tag, i love the colors you used.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous tag Autumn! I really love that bird image and your colors! So many lovely details on this! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on missing PSX (and I got into stamping long after the company had retired). Love this gorgeous background, and all the subtle layer effects you've got going on behind this fabulous chirper. Gorgeous tag, a breath of soft spring. TFS
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tag, Autumn! Lovely color theme, so soothing and peaceful, as tho the music from your song bird is flowing like water! Wonderful! hugs, de
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous tag Autumn ! I love the colour palette and the tissue technique has worked a treat ! Sue C x
ReplyDeletethis is gorgeous Autumn - those harlequin patterns look amazing - really wonderful! Hugs rachel x
ReplyDeleteJust popped back to thank you so much for your kind comments on my Grungebook. I am blown away by your comments. My book was created in a very quick flurry, with no planning and just went with the flow. All created in one evening. Xx😊
ReplyDeleteYou just hit another one out of the ballpark, Autumn!! I love your beautiful tag. The layered background and the stamping work is simply stunning. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Nancy
This is awesome, you made a fab tag with the chirpy on.xx[aNNie]
ReplyDeleteBeautyful Hugs Epie
ReplyDeleteOMG, Autumn, this tag is breathtakingly beautiful! Totally love this one with all the layering and stamping! It's spectacular, my friend! Love it to bits! Thank you for the inspiration! Big hugs! Branka xx
ReplyDeleteYes Autumn your tag is just gorgeous and I too have PSX stamps in my stash and miss them and their lovely catalogues
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous tag - so full of wonderful detail! I love how the white 'pops'. This made me feel that Spring with all its subtle colour is truly here! xx
ReplyDeleteThis is such a gorgeous tag! Love it! The background is amazing and love the stunning bow on top. Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Hugs, Sandra
ReplyDeleteThis really is a fabulous tag, Autumn!!!
ReplyDeleteStunning and adorable Autumn - love it so much xxx
ReplyDeleteI was so intrigued when I looked at this fabulous tag to see how you did it. Thank you so much for the step by step. Lovely colours and loving the verdigris, the splats of white and the bird ...So much to look at and admire...Thank you so much x
ReplyDeleteSo, so beautiful Autumn, the verdigris embossing looks fabulous in the background and your tissue work looks perfect to me, I just love that bird and your bow is so stylish at the top too! Hugs, Anne xx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous. The colors are spectacular and the all the elements work together so organically.
ReplyDeleteThis is ansolutely stunning! I love everything about it. Thank you for joining us at Make My Monday. Sian.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning tag! beautiful background and lovey bird. xx
ReplyDeleteBrilliant work to "pull this one out of the fire" and what a soft, subtle project you finished with. I must check out the technique with the tissue paper stamping. TFS
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Autumn Those colour tones are stunning. Wonderful detail and lovely image composition .
ReplyDeletex
Beautiful!!! x
ReplyDeleteYep. Absolutely confirmed: this IS totally gorgeous! I really love how the colors are blended so skillfully in the background and how those blues and greens come across so softly. This card is both soothing and inspiring. You truly do have a gift for creating lovely things and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tag! Your tissue bird worked so well. Thank you for joining us at Make My Monday.
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful!
ReplyDeleteChirp chirp! Yeppers, it is about that time in my neck of the woods as well. Wonderful bird image you created on the tissue paper and I have to applaud your background! Amazingly awesome sauce. The focal image is wonderful and with the sentiment, even better! Fantabulous design. Hugz to you muffin!
ReplyDeleteso pretty, luv the gorgoeus background! I am so glad you played along with us at simon says stamp wednesday challenge!
ReplyDeleteblog-paperie blooms
ig-2klines
sparkle & shine, kindness *~*
This is lovely autumn.
ReplyDeleteNothing says spring to me like the first robins showing up and your tag really highlights that with the beautiful bird. Lovely tag with beautiful colors blended in the background design. Thanks for playing along in the Frilly and Funkie "Welcome Spring" challenge!
ReplyDeleteSimply said, Autumn, I love this tag... the colours, the textures the Carabelle image (I want this stamp...), really, it's brilliant.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tag Autumn! Love the design and colors! Julia xx
ReplyDeleteBe still my heart! This is so full of the peace and beauty from nature that I had to just sit here and drink it all in. I'm glad that you left the painting on your bird a little "messy" (your words...I prefer impressionistic) as the finish lends itself to the overall design of the tag. Nature is not perfect! The color palette and composition of this tag, however, really are perfection! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at the Frilly and Funkie "Welcome Spring" Challenge
ReplyDeleteFabulous tag, I love the method used to make it, and the use of all the different mediums.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't found the time yet to leave you a comment on this tag Autumn, SO fabulous!!!!
ReplyDeleteI adore the palette of colours you have used, and your background is fantastic too.
Simply gorgeous!!! :)
Hugs, Coco