Every year as kids, mum and dad took us camping to Cowes on Phillip Island. It is about an hour from home, with calm, still beaches on one side of the island and rugged ocean surf beaches on the other side. Cowes is also where the fairy penguins come waddling in ever night. Penguins don't come in unil it is dark, so to fill in time we would go to this little place we called Butterfly Forest.
It was really just rough bush, filled with gum trees, bracken and ferns. It was a haven for butterflies, kangaroos and koalas, unfortunately it was also a haven for snakes. At dusk the sky seemed to turn every shade of orange and finally settle into the green background. The butterflies would go nuts at this time of the day, obviously hurrying home before it gets dark.
This was made using my Smack & Squirt technique. Smack distress ink pad onto foil, spray on a LOT of water, mop up coloured water with a sponge or foam blending tool. Scrub over card and repeat until you have the right colours. I used 3 green inks then finished off with a couple of orange inks. The dramatic dark orange is called Ripe Persimon. Stamp all around the edges and using a Stampamajig, stamp on sentiment.
I then stamped, coloured and fussy cut the butterfly. Using my finger tip I rubbed on some gold 3D stamp paint to the butterfly then stuck the right wing and a small part of its body to the card (most of the wing sits up as it is not glued down). I then added a few white dots...looked wrong, wiped it off....rubbed a large hole in the wing....this was so well stuck down that I couldn't remove it.....stamped another butterfly, put a couple of drops of green Izink onto foil, spritz with water then dunk the new butterfly in the watery/painty mess.
I still had some of the gold 3D stamp paint on my finger, so I wiped some of the folliage to give it a nice glow. In real life this looks shimmery, didn't photo graph so well on the gold part of the butterfly. Sorry about that chief.
Thank you for looking.
Date: Friday, January 2, 2015 GMT Views: 2801
Favorited:23
Registered: May 25, 2006 Location: So. Oregon Posts: 121621
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 5:35 PM
you know what I love about finding something from you in the gallery besides they are always breath-taking to view... is the stories... I laughed and grinned that you kept right on going after the wing had a hole rubbed into it. (because, that sounds so like something I would have done)
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Registered: November 5, 2008 Location: Down the rabbit hole with Alice in wonderland. Posts: 23697
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 6:12 PM
Oh Susie! This is a masterpiece! I love your memory of Cowes, and all the lovely little details. What a special time! This is such a beautiful work, and I'm delighted you played my challenge!
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Registered: January 19, 2014 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 89921
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 6:27 PM
OMG, OMG, OMG Susie this is so stunning1 I have always loved that butterfly but you have just brought it to a whole new level. This is so stunning. Thank you for sharing your beautiful works with us. I always look forward to seeing your next beauty!
Registered: May 23, 2009 Location: sunny california Posts: 9825
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 6:37 PM
Oh my Susie, I am green (and orange and gold) with envy...this is sooo amazing. I literally just came in from the garage where I was spreying dylusion inks all over the place, and not one of my bkgs is half as nice as yours (however, my hands are dyed rather nicely). I love the colors, lights and darks you achieved on this card. Pinned for inspiration.
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 6:46 PM
WOW! Did I mention WOW?? First, that background again, incredibly beautiful as the place you described! The lighting you created with the gold is phenomenal, Susie! The colors are so rich! This one is something else!
Registered: June 10, 2011 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 7293
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 8:23 PM
Love it. That background forest and evening sky is amazing - and the butterfly - its so shimmery and fragile looking. I have been playing around with my gelli plates this afternoon and not one of them could qualify as Susie perfection. This is so well done.
Registered: March 15, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 11018
Fri, Jan 02, 2015 @ 8:54 PM
You make every creation a delight and your tales are pure magic! I hope you know how special you are to all of us!!! Love your very pretty butterfly and the background is so cool!!! Love all the different layers and colors! We are getting some of the shimmer, it is easy to amplify it in my mind Gorgeous work, sweet Susie!!!
Registered: September 24, 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 6829
Sat, Jan 03, 2015 @ 12:22 AM
Oh my gosh Susie, this is so beautiful! Really love the colours and how they have mingled together. Popped your gorgeous creation into my Favourites! I have been to Phillip Island a couple of times and seen the fairy penguins as they come in at dusk. It's an amazing sight :-)