Monday, January 26, 2015

Getting a "Jump" on Easter!

When I was asked to be Guest Designer on Country View Challenges for the "Use Something New to You" challenge this month, I had to "jump" for joy, because I knew egg-actly what I wanted to do!  Well not EXACTLY, but as any good crafter knows you have twists and turns as you create.  I did know I wanted to try an art doll, since it was something I've never done.  I was inspired by a rabbit figure I have which is made of clay and felt. I made the bunny head, but the felt body never came together, so I quickly changed course. The head was shaped from paper clay over a styrofoam ball, dried, sanded and colored.  I used acrylic paints and Sharpie marker followed by  Vintage Photo Distress ink to age him a little.


I had purchased some paper mache' eggs on clearance last year, and there they sat, still new in their package.  Browsing my signed copy (see below) of  2014's Somerset Holidays and Celebrations Vol. 8, I was further inspired to use my egg with the bunny head I'd made for the felt rabbit.  The artists (Lianne and Paul Stoddard)  had used a wooden egg and an egg cup with a cute bunny on top.  I don't much go for cute, so I ran with the idea of using the egg for my rabbit's body, but I would use my more sophisticated rabbit head. A search for wooden egg cups in my stash came up empty (I know I have a few SOMEWHERE!).  So off to my neighborhood craft store, where I found these wood candle stands.  Perfect! The candle stand was given a coat of gesso, then inked with my new Shaded Lilac Distress ink. I added some pin striping with my Distress markers and alcohol ink ( very bottom ring not visible in photos).  I rubbed the entire piece  randomly with metallic rubs and Vintage Photo ink to give it a vintage feel.
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I purchased the new Paper Studio rosette embellishments with my gift card I received from my generous family.  I added some alcohol and Distress inks and glued them to the candle stand.

Now back to the egg.  I added a few coats of Gesso, then Picket Fence Distress paint, and inked with my new Squeezed Lemonade Distress ink, Spun Sugar and Old Paper Distress inks. I tore an Easter and Easter egg definition from my vintage dictionary, distressed the edges and adhered them to the egg. I gave the egg a good thick coat of Rock Candy Crackle Paint and when dry, rubbed some Old Paper DI into the cracks. Get it? Cracked egg?!


In the meantime, on my worktop, another new clearance item I've been wanting to use...Ivy Leaf Embossing Cutters by Lisa Pavelka.  The paper clay works beautifully in these cutters, and the leaves were so fun to make! I punched the leaves out, shaped them to fit around my bunny head,  stuck the ends of floral wire curled around a paint brush into 4 of  them, and allowed them to dry. Once dry, I painted all the leaves with Distress Paints and inks. I used the ones with wire for arms and legs.  The idea to use the wire came from my good, crafty, geographically desirable (lives here) friend  Sharon Marie Lawson, who was published  in  2014's Somerset Holidays and Celebrations vol. 8, with her article "The Good, The Bad and the Pumpkin".  Thank you Sharon for autographing my copy of SH & C as well as for your inspiration and support!



And then, a sweet, talented blogger, Kathy Clement, who I am honored to count as one of my friends sent me five sets (!!!!) of her Spellbinders dies as a most welcome gift to me.  I knew I had to incorporate my new dies into my project!  So, here you go Kathy!  I used the Daisy Heads  to die cut some scrap paper, inked the shapes with Distress inks and stains and added some gesso and shaped them for the collar and basket the bunny is sitting on.

I poked holes in the egg with a needle, and inserted the glued ends of the wire for the arms and legs.  The buttons are half pearl embellishments given the same alcohol and Distress ink treatment as the rosettes. The other leaves were glued into place, and a piece of fiber from a new unopened pack of fibers (marked only with made in China)  from my drawer full of fibers (how did THAT get in there?) was glued into the basket.  I thought the fiber looked just like Easter grass and was surprised to glance back and  see the Stoddards used tinsel in a similar fashion. I hadn't caught that detail the first time I looked at their bunny.

Not only is making an art doll completely new to me, but getting a project done well before the actual holiday is new to me as well! I aspire to make the felted bunny in the future, but in the meanwhile I'm quite pleased with this little guy. I hope this little project of mine inspires you to give a new technique or new products a try and link up to Country View Crafts "Use Something New to You" challenge.





Thank you for stopping by and if you choose to leave one of your lovely comments, I thank you for your kind words, too! Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily


I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:

Craft Hoarders Anonymous January Challenge "Choose Your Challenge" Paint, markers ink-color medium. Yarn-fiber. Die cutting and mixed media- technique. Wood, wire, dry embossing (daisy heads) and sandpaper-texture.  Bling, flowers, and ephemera-embellish.

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #8 "Something New For the New Year" New technique--art doll, New timeline--done way before the holiday!, New products used in bold text.

Rhedd's Creative Spirit January Challenge Altered Art/ Mixed Media Only

Inspiration Journal "Fresh Start" My fresh new products used are in bold text.  I'm getting a fresh start with trying something totally new to me.




33 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your Guest spot at Country View, they couldn't have picked a better artist to showcase!!

    Your bunny is spectacular! I can't believe you molded his head out of clay! WHAT!!! Amazing! I love the vibrant purple and green, so perfect for Easter! Incredible texture on the body (cracked egg) HAHA, you're hilarious! I have never tried an embossing cutter before, but after seeing how fabulous your leaves look, I'm considering picking up one to try!

    This is just another stunning example of how extraordinary your talents are!! big hugs from your biggest fan :)

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    1. Pamellia, Your praise is way too generous, but it "leaves" me with a great big smile this morning! I would have to say my favorite part about the project is that cracked egg! I think I'm just going to make a bunch of those! Thank you for your inspiration and support! Hugs!

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  2. Your project is amazing! Such wonderful colors and textures! Thanks for playing along at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  3. Congrats on your guest DT spot at Country View Challenges!! OMG, Sara--Your project is AMAZING!! See, you knew egg-actly :) when those paper mache' eggs would come into wonderful use!! This first time art doll make is simply fabulous! Good look at the challenges!! XOXO-Shari

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    1. Shari, you made my day with your pun and sensational comment! Thank you for taking the time to visit and leave your kind words! Hugs!

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  4. How cool. I am totally digging the way you used the eggs and turned them into something so different.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anon :)

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  5. Wow congratulations on being Guest Designer for Country View Crafts, my favourite shop! What an amazing sculpture, very brave having a go, I love the colours you used on the project. Brilliant, Jan x

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    1. Jan, Ha! Ha! Brave or NUTS???? All craft shops are my favorite! It was fun to play along at Country View, but a little unnerving coordinating my post with theirs. Thank you for visiting and your sweet comment on the colors--I kind of like the combo, too!

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  6. Oh I so glad you had a go at your art rabbit as it certainly made me smile at both how charming it is and also whimsical and pretty. Thank you for joining in at Rhedd's Creative Spirit.

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    1. Well, Julie, I'm sure happy my little bunny made you smile! He makes me smile, too! But, I've never met a bunny that didn't!

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  7. This totally looks like a museum piece, Sara Emily! I love the vintage appearance of your rabbit head...and I confess to having a mild case of jealousy at the incredible span of your abilities. "So I sculpted a rabbit head." What? I am so impressed! The egg for the body is so clever, and the collar is delightful...totally completely fabulous! I love every single detail....and the painting around the candle base is wonderful. It looks old in the very best kind of way! What a nice way to start my morning! Hugs!

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    1. Oh, Kathy,
      Thoughts of you were with me throughout the making of this bunny, once I figured out I would never figure out how to make a pattern for a body! I knew then there was only one thing to do, and that was to use those dies! No need to be jealous, even mildly, as you are a very talented artist, my friend, and it is I who should be jealous! But let's not waste time on that--lets try something new!! We can surprise ourselves with what we never thought we could do!

      I'm so happy you like my silly bunny! And so happy you stopped in to see him! I hope you've had a great day! Hugs!

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  8. Such a clever project...Love the process and the final outcome...just fabulous.
    Thank you for joining us over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit...x

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  9. Wow, he is pretty cool. Love how you made him out of eggs! Thanks so much for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

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    1. Thank you, Donna! My rabbit is just a little different kind of project for me!

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  10. Love your adorable art doll! Thanks for sharing your process! Thanks for joining us in this month's Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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  11. Wow! This is different and so good! Really good to read through your process too. Thanks for sharing with us at Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Steffi :o) xx

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    1. Thank you, Steffi! My rabbit is a little different kind of project for me, but was a blast to make!

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  12. well this turned out so great and totally unexpected! Thank you so much for playing with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!
    -Rachel
    rwkrafts.com

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    1. Thank you, Rachel. He is a little different from my "usual"!

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  13. Amazing Project!!! So lovely...Thanks for joining us on the Craft Hoarders Blog.

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  14. such a cool project!!! love the bunny!!! Thanks for joining our challenge at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  15. Congrats on your new DT. Love your bunny! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous.

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  16. Oh, Donna, I'm happy you like my bunny, but I just had a guest spot! Thrilled nonetheless!

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  18. Oh my word. How creative is that! It is so very vintage-looking. What a great use of those eggs! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge!

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    1. Hi Gloria! It is always a pleasure to read one of your comments! I hope you are having a lovely Sunday!

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