Pinterest

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Earth Day at Anything But Cute

Hello Friends

Over at Anything But Cute the talented Samra (Paper Talk with Samra) is our hostess this
month and she has chosen the theme of Earth Day!  We have a fantastic Guest Designer
today too, please do hop over for a look if you can.

I used the beautiful Tim Holtz seahorse dies to create an underwater scene.
Samra says:  Create a mixed media project inspired by this mood board and the
beauty of our planet.  Please tell us what inspired you.  Entries for this challenge can
be eco friendly, or even re-cycled or up-cycled items; or depictions of the sea, mountains,
rivers, forests or flowery meadows .... let's celebrate our planet!!
I  just love Samra's challenge theme, I was really inspired by the gorgeous colours in
the mood board.  It was perfect for me as I absolutely adore seahorses, they are an
endangered species where we live and I wanted to celebrate them.

First of all I gathered up all the items I wanted to use.  The Golden Fiber Paste and  the IndigoBlu underwater stamp set have been in my stash forever so I thought they deserved an airing.
First, I painted the chipboard (6" x 6" board from IndigoBlu) with white Gesso and once dry
applied the Golden Fiber Paste, it has a lovely thick and pulpy texture.  I just used the palette
knife and my fingers to make an 'underwater pattern'.
Whilst the paste was drying I used Distress Crayons to colour the die cut seahorses (which
had been gessoed first - the crayons work much better when the card has some 'tooth'), moving
the colour with my finger. A coat of Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint
was then applied, quite thickly.
 Apologies, I got a bit wrapped up in the painting and did not take photos of the painting steps 
but it was pretty simple.  I made three 'puddles' of paint using DecoArt Media 
Fluid Acrylic Paint:

1.  Primary Cyan and Titanium White (Translucent) Ratio: 10/2
2:  Primary Cyan, Titanium White - Ratio: 10/4
3: Gold Green, thinned with a little water

I applied the first mix of colour to the whole of the base.  I lightened some areas with the
second mix to create some 'movement' in the water.  Lastly, with a thin brush I applied the
Gold Green (the other paint was still wet at the time) to some of the
ridges to create 'grasses'.
I used the IndigoBlu bubble stamp with the white paint to create some bubbles near to the
seahorses, you can just about see them here.  I added beads to the seahorses for eyes.

I thought it needed something extra and I had this string net in my stash, so I attached it
along with some shells and a beautiful blue starfish (purchased from a seaside souvenir shop).
To finish off I painted a piece of card with some leftover paint and stamped the IndigoBlu
sentiment and embossed it in white embossing powder.

I really did enjoy making this piece for Samra's challenge at Anything But Cute,  I hope you
can go over to see how my talented team mates interpreted the Earth Day theme!  Why not
join us?  We would love to see how you interpret the theme....

As always, thanks so much for looking, I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xx


38 comments:

  1. Eine atemberaubende Schöpfung, so wunderschön. Einfach prächtig...
    Die Seepferdchen leuchteten mir so sehr auf dem Bild entgegen, da musste ich sofort auf deinen schönen Blog :-)

    Sophie x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such beautiful colours and textures anne...it really is a feast for the eyes xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. BEAUTIFUL canvas, Anne! I am so taken in by those lovely shades of blue for the ocean background and your crackled sea horses are the prettiest I've ever seen! You really rocked the mood board with your colors and your choice of an underwater scene. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous make Anne!!! I love the seahorses, but my favorite is the blue starfish!!! It is such a perfect touch to this amazing canvas!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anne, these crackled die cuts are just perfect!!! They are colored so beautifully and just swim right off that fab background! Love that you chose the ocean, because it needs protection and that's what Earth Day is all about.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, Anne, your underwater scene canvas is so beautiful! What a perfect interpretation of Samra's challenge theme! I love your perfectly blended colours and those crackled sea horses are simply stunning! Wonderful textures, too! It's brilliant! Big hugs to you! Branka xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is so pretty Anne! Loving all the watery elements and texture you've created. It's like I'm snorkeling!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great watery scene and I love the way you've created the background with the fiber paste. Great seahorses too!! ELaine xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh wow, Anne, what a spectacular underwater scene this is!! The seahorses are stunning!! I love the colors!! The texture of the background is amazing!! The netting and shells are perfect touches!! This is such a fabulous project to celebrate the earth and a perfect take on the mood board!! I love, love it!! It's so gorgeous!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a fabulous underwater scene with colours so bright they remind me of the Caribbean. Love the seahorses and the texture you have created.

    Even though it was a such time, working on the DT with you was a good time and since you are friends with some of my UK friends, I am sure we will stay in touch and even cross paths.

    Hugs!
    Cec

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just in case there is any confusion, I thought I better clarify for your other followers that I am the one leaving the Anything But Cute team.

      Delete
  11. This one is so different Anne - underwater - but so appropriate because there is lots of water on this great earth! What FABULOUS texture - it is almost 3D you built it up so nicely and then the water colors - STUNNING. I think your sea horses are even more SPECTACULARLY COLORED though - just love them and their shimmery crackle. Super inspiration! XXj.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I always love it when you use that sea horse die Anne, - this one is so beautifully coloured! A superb project with those wonderful bright colours!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Texture, technique and such wonderful colours. What a fabulous make Anne.
    Toni xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a wonderfully textured and colored ocean background Anne with your favorite little seahorses - love how the crayon colors look on them - and the added netting and shells are the perfect touch! A stunning Earth Day creation! Julia xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just as you always do Anne you rocked those seahorses and put them in the most ideal and beautiful of settings . I love the ocean scene you have create full of lush colour and taxture . ( thanks for the introduction to fiber paste - what a fab result it creates ( in the right hands of course) . Water is a real therapy for me and an personally your canvas emits a real sense of inner calm and peace- something the world needs so much more of . You have, as always, Anne stepped up to such a great challenge and done it absolute justice. big hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh Anne - this is delightful - you really are an artist and is there any product you don't have in your stash!!!!! Your colors are fantastic and I really do like the texture that fiber paste made with the help of your fingers!! One more thing in the long list of things I would like to try. Bravo!!!
    sandy xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Slap my thigh and call me stoked about this design! The colors are so vibrant and remind me of my trip to Hawaii with the gorgeous ocean. Your seahorses are totes awesome sauce and beautiful! Love the texture you created with your knife and fingers. The netting and the blue starfish finish off this exquisite design perfectly. Wowzers and fantabulous! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is ALIVE with underwater drama, Annie!! Just gorgeous and original and amazing!! And that's a cool challenge photo! Hugs, Darnell xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  19. You and that seahorse are simpatico!!! Gorgeous blues and green too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fabulous underwater scene Anne, love that textured background, I've not see the fibre paste before, it works brilliantly to create the water movement and grasses. The sea horses are superb beautifully coloured and crackled. A great piece xxx

    ReplyDelete
  21. You are always so good at creating these spectacular underwater scenes and this is brilliant Anne! Love the way the fiber paste sets up the design and your subtle stamping adds clever detail. The seahorses then set it all off beautifully xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your little underwater scene, gorgeous colours and fabulous texture. Those seahorses look amazing ..... thanks for the tip about the crayons xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love that background - so bold but just perfect. I too love seahorses so this creation of yours is right up my alley.
    Hugs, Neet xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh boy Anne, I wish your canvas was a place I could go visit, because it looks so peaceful and relaxing!! I loved watching how you put this together. I have that fiber paste and never use it, shame on me! Your water is so beautiful, and I love the detail of the seaweed in the background! Your seahorses are the star of the show for sure, how amazing!! Such a gorgeous take on Samra's moodboard, and I'm so glad you went under the sea for this one! big hugs :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I could dive into those blues Anne!! Always love your sea horse works (well all your works!). Just beautiful! Hope you are well. Nicola x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Gorgeous take on both theme and mood board, Anne!! Love those seahorses - have never seen a real one, and didn't know they were in non-tropical climes! The net and starfish are perfect additions to this lovely underwater scene! And thanks for your visit - it is good to get back into all of this! I am hoping to have a tyvek tutorial soon - just need to figure out what to do, lol! xxx Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have never heard of Fiber Paste. They have given amazing texture to your wonderful underwater scene. The sentiment is such a lovely saying and your seahorses.....WOW. Beautiful wall hanging.
    Julie x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anne,
    I just adore the way you used that Fiber Paste! And the crackling of the Seahorses- yummy yummy! I am all about the textures! Gorgeous make and you sure used the mood board to the fullest!
    hugs,Jackie ")

    ReplyDelete
  29. Amazing, as you always are, with the oceans theme, wonderfully colored seahorse, the nets...and the gorgeous 'ocean'. Was intrigued to see how you've used the fiber paste to shape the waves. I bought some and used it - just spread it in a 8" square over a craft mat, let it dry; used a small paste spatula to lift it from the mat after drying, and it looks like handmade paper! Now you've shown me another use for this texture stuff! You are fabulous in the way your mind works, and what your fingers can bring to a project. I LOVE this one too! TFS & Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Anne, lovely project. The mood board was gorgeous and you interpreted it brilliantly. Happy crafty week. Angela x

    ReplyDelete
  31. I always love it when you get the seahorses out, Anne - and this is a treat. Fabulous zingy colours and that background texture is amazing.
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Whoa, amazing project! I love the texture for your underwater scene, Anne, and how you added the grasses. And those seahorses are so sweet...love the look of the Clear Rock Candy Crackle over the Distress Crayons...I need to play with that!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Fantastic project Anne! Love the vibrant colors and all the texture!

    ReplyDelete
  34. The blue on your background here Anne is such a gorgeous color and your Seahorses are adorable, I love the little starfish too and yes I can see the bubbles. I like the texture you get from the Golden fibre paste, not used this one before but looks interesting. You have chosen a lovely sentiment for this piece and I love how you have created the grasses. Mo x

    ReplyDelete
  35. The colours and texture on this are wonderful and I love the gorgeous sea horses! i really hope one day to have that die! The sentiment is fabulous and the string netting and lovely shells and starfish, finish it off a treat!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Very beautifully designed and executed.. Wonderful

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it!

If you are at all concerned at how data from my blog is collected and/or used, please read my Privacy Policy at the very bottom of my page.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Labels