Springtime Mixed Media Canvas With Tim Holtz Geo Springtime

Hello friends! We are into the second week of the current challenge, 'Let Me Count the Ways' over at Frilly and Funkie. I chose this theme; it's an easy one, but be sure to read the details of this challenge carefully if you plan to play along: 

Since it's just a day away from Valentine's Day, the opening line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous love poem "Let Me Count the Ways" (Sonnet 43) comes to mind. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." For this challenge, I would like to see your vintage or shabby chic project that includes three of something. This could be three colors, three words, three stamps (you get the idea); just be sure to tell us what those three elements are.

As always, the Design Team will choose their top four picks, and the winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie. The next three will receive Top 3 badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I decided to make a simple springtime canvas. This doesn't take many products, most of which you probably already have.

 I started by applying gesso to my long, narrow canvas. Then I chose some portions of Tim Holtz  Botanical Collage Paper, tore them out and adhered them to the canvas with Distress Collage Medium Matte.  I die cut four butterflies using Tim's Geo Springtime Thinlits dies; three from black card and one from Metallic Kraft Stock. I adhered two of the black butterflies to the canvas with collage medium, giving the entire canvas a coat.When that was dry, I used Opaque Crackle Texture Paste and a Tim Holtz Dot Fade  stencil to create some texture. 

I used three colors on my background: blue, pink and green. I used Distress Oxides in Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood and Bundled Sage. I know in reality that's four colors, but the Weathered Wood is a blue and acts as a neutral here, deepening the tones and giving the colors depth. Everything was given a protective coat of collage medium. I edged a Quote Chip with Tarnished Brass Distress Crayon and layered it over a scrap of sanded metallic card.  I adhered the metallic butterfly to the third black one just at the body and tips of the top wings, curving the  wings a bit. This butterfly was adhered to the canvas just at the body, so the wings appear to float off the canvas. Finally a splattering of Black Soot paint to tie it all together.

 So there's my trios -- three butterflies, three colors, three groups of stenciled texture, and  three flowers from the collage paper. Here are some close-ups of the finished canvas.

I hope you'll pop over to Frilly and Funkie to see all the amazing inspiration both my Frilly and Funkie teammates created to tempt you with. Then it's your turn to play along ! I can't wait to see how you will include 'threes' in YOUR project! Thank you for stopping by today! Hugs, Sara Emily.

Challenge shares:

Crafts Dreamy February Mood Board Challenge

Art & Soul Studio's February Mood Board Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday No Stamps Allowed
Scrapy Land Challenge #108 Anything Goes  I used a Sizzix die.
Love 2 Create Challenge #2 Anything Creative Mixed Media Goes
Double D Pink and White

Links to products used stocked by The Funkie Junkie Boutique:
***Remember to use coupon code DIEDISCOUNT to receive 20% off MSRP Tim Holtz newly released dies!***
Tim Holtz Geo Springtime Thinlits Dies
Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Dot Fade
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collage Paper Botanical
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Kraft Stock
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips
Ranger Opaque Crackle Texture Paste
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte 
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Victorian Velvet
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Tumbled Glass
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Weathered Wood
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Bundled Sage
Tim Holtz Distress Crayons Set- Metallics (Antique Bronze/Brushed Pewter/Tarnished Brass)
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot