This is for Robin's fun Free for All challenge "Anything that Flies"
This background took forever to make and every single bit of colour (all 12 of them) were purposely and carefully placed. LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!! This was an absolute fluke!!
We have already established that I am pretty frugal when it comes to watercolour paper, so there was no way I was giving up on this background. I squirted a lot of water on to the watercolour paper, then shook on different Brusho powders...it looked dreadful, so I quickly squirted on more water than wiped off as much colour as I could using a baby wipe. This left a nice gentle glow, but I was thinking it needed more oomph.
I added more Brushos; I got carried away with the blue Brusho so I quickly grabbed my big household water bottle and turned the nozzle to "squirt" instead of "spray". The colour moved as though I was hitting it with a high pressure hose, I also dragged some of the colour by using a wet brush.
I have stamped most of my foliage, trees, birds, fairies, girls and silhouette stamps onto acetate. I then use the acetate images to work out what looks best on the background, where to put it and also what direction the background should go. Initially I was thinking the blue burst of colour would be at the bottom.
Once I worked out where everything was going, I quickly used Walnut Stain distress ink around the edges of the card. I find that making the edges dark (and uneven), gives the illusion of a glow in the centre of the card.
Thank goodness I have a MISTI because I forgot how hard it is to stamp a silhouette image onto very dimpled water colour paper. This fairy looked like she had measles for the first 5 stampings. I kept changing brands and types of ink, the final layer is Distress Ink. She still had a bit of cellulite on her legs, so I used distress ink and an aqua pen. The magic of the MISTI allowed me to perfectly place the little bird.
Thank you for looking.
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2015 GMT Views: 5221
Favorited:15
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105288
Fri, Jul 17, 2015 @ 7:47 AM
These bgs you make are so incredibly fascinating, Susie!! The images or silhouettes you add are awesome. If you send these out, the recipients must all frame them. What a beauty this is!!!
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.
Registered: December 14, 2007 Location: Vancouver canada Posts: 8914
Fri, Jul 17, 2015 @ 8:26 AM
wonderful colours, so vibrant and worth all the effort. Water colour paper and brusho don't seem to work for me but now I want to try again. fantastic BG
Another stunner! Isn't the MISTI absolutely amazing! I can't wait to give it a workout on watercolor paper! I love how you add the stain to give the center of your art pieces that glow! So fun to read your process! TFS!!!
Registered: June 29, 2010 Location: Recently moved to the seaside, with views over to the Isle of Wight Posts: 13780
Fri, Jul 17, 2015 @ 11:09 AM
My goodness, what a labour of love - spurred on by the cricket score no doubt! Thanks for the detailed description of how you achieved a fabulous background!
Registered: April 4, 2008 Location: Sahuarita, Arizona originally from New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 18436
Fri, Jul 17, 2015 @ 11:18 AM
Susie, for being a fluke, your bg turned out gorgeous...love the silhouette with it also and all the wonderful colours. very well done mf... I love it....
Registered: March 9, 2005 Location: OH Posts: 28553
Fri, Jul 17, 2015 @ 11:53 AM
Susie, your card is amazingly goregeous! I'm envious of people like you who can do backgrounds like this. So love the hanging lights on this. They are so delicate.
------------------------------ My Blog- Trusting in the Lord for Everything Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. My Stampin' Up WebsiteMy Gallery, BRAK New Member Mentor. New Grandmother to Mia Lou. 1st Grandchild.