Nancy and Audrie brought us a wonderful Etsy site, "Vintage Atmosphere", for our inspiration. I chose item #1 that brought back memories of young childhood, catching fireflies with neighbor children on a warm summer's evening. (When I think about it now, that was rather cruel.) I really don't see that many fireflies these days and wonder if I, my friends and children like us are to blame. ; )
I started with a dark blue shimmer CS since I knew it would be hard to create a bg as dark as I wanted. I used my MS bottle acrylics knowing that watercolors would never work. The acrylics worked well and I got the effect I hoped for. IRL the shimmer of the CS adds something, but my poor photography skills never captured it. : (
TFL
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2014 GMT Views: 4988
Favorited:22
Registered: October 27, 2009 Location: Newington, CT Posts: 111
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 5:19 AM
WoW!!! what you did with paint is amazing! you really captured a night time look and a realistic feeling! I feel like I'm back in my childhood catching fireflys at night.
Registered: July 9, 2008 Location: Stars Fell on Alabama Posts: 74600
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 5:32 AM
Sallie, I just love this and how you achieved it with your acrylic paints. Yes, I caught fireflies as a child, too. I did see some this summer but not as many as when a child. :( I think maybe the chemicals we use to make our lawns pretty may also have something to do with that.
I'm so happy this worked with my challenge and you added it. It's beautiful.
------------------------------ My Blog---My Gallery---My PinterestI'm a Punchkateer! (Prez) FOREVERDirty Dozen Alumni2014 CAS Spring DT--- Inspiration Challenge Co- Hostess 12/02/17-12/28/19 Watercolor Wednesday Design Team Hebrews 13:2Brenda
Registered: September 21, 2006 Location: In the beautiful Sequatchie Valley, Home of the Paper Clip Project - The National Cornbread Festival Posts: 26563
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 5:47 AM
AWESOME!!! This is absolutely beautiful!
------------------------------ Happy Stamping Vicki One of Kota's Kids ***A Proud Fan Club Member *** QFTD81.... FS295
Registered: June 4, 2009 Location: Deatsville, Alabama Posts: 81975
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 6:07 AM
This is WONDERFUL! Wow! Sallie, I put this straight in my faves. It captures many childhood memories for me too. We still see lots of fireflies out in the country so don't worry! Your artistic skills are really showing big time on this wonderful card. Hugz!
------------------------------ Nancy Williams - Hope your day is Spirit-filled and ink-filled (in that order)!DRS Designs-DT, Punchkateerforever, Dirty Dozen Alumni
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Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 131381
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 6:22 AM
Ah - Lydia had a blog post recently about fireflies. I can't remember, but I think it was more to do with pesticides and modern agriculture than children having fun. We don't have them here, but I've loved seeing them in Greece and love your card. The shimmer card is totally perfect for the night sky.
What I have seen children here collecting in jars - which seems far more hazardous - is bees!
Registered: March 20, 2005 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 77633
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 6:23 AM
What a magical card....takes me back to my childhood too, Sallie. I think we were even crueler because we took the "light" off the but and wore it as a ring until it didn't shine anymore. Children can be cruel w/o knowing it!!! You took me back more years than I care to remember with this gorgeous work of art!!! Sorry fireflies...I didn't know!
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Registered: April 1, 2012 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 28818
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 7:15 AM
OM MY GOSH! This is stunning - absolutely stunning! Wow!
------------------------------ Jan 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. Philippians 1:6
Registered: January 20, 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 26119
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 7:20 AM
Oh how glorious this is! You absolutely nailed the night time glow of the fireflies! I too captured fireflies in jars though we let them go before morning. I still see them at the cottage when I am up in the night. They need some shrubbery around to shelter in in the daytime I think. Wonderful memories and such a wonderful card!
Registered: December 4, 2009 Location: Southern Utah's Dixie Posts: 20557
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 8:01 AM
Oh Sallie, you have captured what I have so longed to see, maybe one day (next year)! So beautiful! What child, young or old wouldn't love to see the magical fireflies, aka lightning bugs!
P.S. The DH got to see them IRL this summer, on a trip to Bloomington, Indiana. He was thrilled! At least I got to see the photos he took!
Registered: April 4, 2008 Location: Sahuarita, Arizona originally from New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 18436
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 8:16 AM
Sallie what a beautiful card... btw put me on your list of people that use to catch fireflies... I dont see any in arizona though...love the striped paper for the bg and the light from the fireflies on the dark paper and in the bottle really come shining through....well done.....
Registered: January 6, 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 20543
Sat, Aug 09, 2014 @ 8:52 AM
This is gorgeous and to salve conscious .... I was listening to a public radio program recently about fireflies and the biologist explained that the phosphorescent signaling that the bugs do is so they can attract a mate. There are other groups of fireflies that use pheromones instead and they are more successful than the light signals. So the light flashers are being selected out by nature since they are less effective at acquiring mates. It was not you and your friends!
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