Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Hopeful

Hello everybody!  I'm so happy you took some time to visit.  Today I have a book cover I've altered to share with you.


Since I LOVE birds, I thought this fit right in with the challenge over at  A Vintage Journey with Astrid's challenge "Love is in the Air". Be sure to stop over there to check out all the awesome inspiration from the Creative Guides.  I think many of you know that my artwork is greatly influenced by not only Tim, but by nature, so since Astrid writes this, I thought I would share what moves my heart (and my bird's heart) in my entry this time.

For this challenge please share what moves your heart with us, be it a Valentine's card for a loved one, a heart themed project, or something else that expresses what true love means to you. Just make sure that Tim's style is evident in what you make.

The 20th installment at Linda Ledbetter's Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities 3 is called Curiously Watercolored.  If you are not yet familiar with these challenges, they are based on Tim's book Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3.  Each fortnight, Linda chooses one of Tim's fabulous techniques from his book and challenges us to come up with something original using that technique.  You must work from your own book, so be sure to order your autographed copy here.

The Curiosity Crew has outdone themselves whipping up some awesome art using  the Distress Watercolor Part 2 technique found on page 40 in Tim's book.  Be sure to drop in at each of their blogs to see their amazing work up close and leave them a comment.  If you enter your own work and the Crew picks you as their favorite, you will win a heapful of Tim's products compliments of Tim and Mario.  How awesome is that?  And, if that's not enough to motivate you to link up, they are also offering one lucky winner a generous $25 SHOPPING SPREE at The Funkie Junkie Boutique compliments of the store's lovely owner, Linda Coughlin.


Anyway, onto my book cover.  I used all materials as noted in Tim's instructions and followed them completely to achieve my watercolor scene.  I even used part of the technique on my three watercolored eggs at the top, although it is hard to see since it is somewhat hidden by the nest/bird panel and the stenciling I did.  I stamped the speckle part of the egg set first on 2 of the eggs, then watercolored them in using Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen for the background colors.  The third egg was stamped using the solid part first using Tumbled Glass Distress ink  and then the speckle.  The speckles were done in Archival ink- black and sepia (wish I had Potting Soil--it's on my list). I did the "part 2" of the watercolor technique (1/2 of it), then masked off the eggs trying to maintain the shadow somewhat.  I inked over and around the masks with Distress ink, and inked again using a darker DI through Tim's Gothic stencil.



The panel with the bird and nest was stamped using Sepia Archival ink and images from Tim's Urban Grunge and Bird Feather stamp sets.  I used the coloring technique as described on page 40, using all the indicated products. I also watercolored my background. Once dried, I embossed with Tim's Floral Frame Texture Fade which I stamped with Tim's Reflections script stamp in Archival ink on the recessed side before inserting the panel. After embossing, I inked up the raised areas as well as the edges with Distress ink after distressing. I added one tiny heart stenciled with Crackle texture paste and dabbed it with a little Distress stain.  My little bird holds her heart in her beak, waiting for that one love. I chose some words from Chit Chat which seemed fitting for my wistful, heartbroken bird with an empty nest--she is full of love, she is beautiful, she is determined and mostly, she is hopeful her nest will be filled. I shadowed the word stickers with Walnut Distress marker and swiped the shadows with a waterbrush to blend .




I made the tag with an Idea-ology Fragment and Wallflower paper stash, and tied it on the panel with some old string.  I chose another scrap from the Wallflower paper and  glued and  hand stitched with string.  I backed the nest/bird panel with burlap and adhered it to the book.  I tucked in a little "Nests and Eggs" publication from the stash.



I'm not certain what turns my book will take, but as it is, it is a lovely read--"The Works of Browning"--brimful of his poetical works, and published in 1917!!  I'm thinking I may just start that altered art journal, after all!


I hope you can see my tie in to the challenge of "Love is in the Air".  I work outdoors in a very heavily bird- populated area; the birds are all a-twitter looking for their mates at this time of year, and love is certainly "in the air"! The trees are thick with bird chatter, and it's all about love!

So in this sense, this is my take on a Valentine--a token of love, so I'm also entering this in Frilly and Funkie's Challenge "Be My Valen-Twine" hosted by the lovely and talented Pamellia. Stop by Frilly and Funkie for even more fabulous Valentine inspiration by the talented design team.

Thank you for visiting!  I appreciate all your wonderful comments here, and read and respond to each and every one! Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

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

Frilly and Funkie "Be My Valen-Twine"

Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge 20 "Curiously Watercolor-ized" or Distress Watercoloring Part 2

A Vintage Journey Challenge 24 "Love is in the Air"

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team January's Challenge "New Beginnings" I've used a new product for the very first time--watercolor paper from Tim Holtz!  I've also used my nest stamp image for the very first time, although I've had the set for a while. Thank you for this inspiring challenge!

Country View Challenges "Use Something New to You" 2 items I've never used before:  Tim Holtz watercolor paper and the nest image from the Bird/Feather set. Thank you for your inspiring and fun challenge!

Inspiration Journal "Fresh Start" I've got a fresh start with some new products:  Tim Holtz watercolor paper and a brand new stamp--the nest from Bird Feather Tim Holtz set. Thank you for this fun challenge!

Try It on Tuesday "Add Some Fabric" I've added burlap to frame my water color panel.

48 comments:

  1. Wow you have done it again Sara! Another stunning creation
    Jan x

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    1. Awe, Jan! You are making my head swell with all your generous praise! I have a big smile, and you have made my day!

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  2. Wow Sara Emily!! Birds are just my absolute favourite, so I was in from the get go! This is just so romantic and serene! I think I need to come live with you, in that wonderful place you described full of birds, that sounds like my happy place!! I love the touches of embossing, great way to add texture without stealing the show! So beautiful my friend! big hugs :)

    You should throw your hat in the ring at Try it on Tuesday. Our challenge theme there is Add Some Fabric. Here is the link for you.

    http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.ca/2015/01/add-some-fabric-is-new-challenge-at.html

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    1. Thank you for your happy visit, Pamellia! You always are like a huge ray of sunshine! And thank you for the tip off to Try It on Tuesday. I had a visit, saw all the wonderful work from the Design Team and linked up to my first challenge there!

      Oh, and where I work, on the water, is the most beautiful huge private garden I've been too. I am so blessed to be paid to take care of the wild birds, and the swans are finally starting to swim up when they see me, because they know they are going to get a treat! Each season brings something new! And yesterday, in my own neighborhood, I noticed the bluebirds are starting their mating season. We have so many of these shy birds! Oh, I really love my birds! Can you tell? Hugs to you!

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  3. I love birds and words and this Bird Branch stamp of Tim's is one of my favorites. Beautiful entry AGAIN, thanks so much for sharing this on CC3C!

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    1. Cheryl, thank you so much for your lovely comment! It seems many of of have a love of birds in common!

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  4. This really is a beautiful book cover, I love the eggs and how you coloured them and I love the story you tell. I can see how you would be inspired by your place of work, it must be heavenly! Thanks so much for joining in at A Vintage Journey. Anne x

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    1. thank you, Anne! I'm happy you like my book cover and my story, and I hope to fill it with lot's of things! I am absolutely blessed to work where I do! It really is my little slice of Heaven, even on the worst of days! Hugs!

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  5. Thank you too, for joining in at Inspiration Journal with your wonderful piece. Anne x

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  6. Sara...I love birds, too. Your book cover is so awesome and I love how you've tied your theme of "love is in the air" with the birds. The sweet little bird holding the heart is a perfect example of that. You've done a beautiful job on Tim's technique. I love all of your layering of burlap, stamped and colored images and even down to the neat little fragments tag! Thanks so much for sharing your always beautiful art with us at CC3C. <3 Candy

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    1. Candy, You always bring me such joy with your sweet and thoughtful comments! I am happy to hear you are a bird lover and that you got my tie in to "Love is in the Air"! It is so much fun to make something around something or someone you truly love! Since that stamp "surfaced" on my work table, I've been getting a lot of use out of it making cards for those better late than never thank you cards! The reason I love CC3C so much is because it REALLY inspires me to try techniques that I can run with and incorporate with other techniques or explore further with that one technique. Hugs!

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  7. Beautiful! Love the mix of colors and textures and the soft watercoloring is fab. Thanks for joining us at CC3C!

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    1. Thank you, Marjie! This is quite the compliment, especially about the colors from someone I consider to be the Queen of color! Hugs!

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  8. Beautiful book cover, I love those eggs!! I'm feeling so reminded by Spring time in this, a fave time of year. Your attention to detail is always spot on. Another cracker my friend, I don't know how you always do it!!
    Hugs
    Georgie

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    1. Hi Georgie! It is always like a warm springtime day any day I get such a wonderful visit and compliment from you, my crafty friend! Thank you so much for your sweet, generous praise! I'm happy you like the eggs! Tim made the most wonderful stamps when he made those, I think! First time using them, but I've got to get them out more! Huge hugs!

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  9. What a great altered book, I love the natural look and I too love birds 😊 Thanks for joining in with the CC3C x

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    1. Thank you, Hels! I was very inspired by the challenge and all the beautiful work by the Curiosity Crew with this one! Another bird lover! Yeah!

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  10. Thanks so much Sara for sharing yet another beautiful make with us, this is stunning!! So much texture and gorgeous colours, -thanks so much for adding it to our challenge at A Vintage Journey!

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    1. Oh, My, Astrid! What a huge heap of very generous praise coming from you, a tremendously talented artist! I was so inspired by your great challenge at A Vintage Journey, and the minute I heard the title, I immediately had the vision of a bird flying through the air looking for his mate. Everybody see things in a different way, don't they?! Thanks for the great challenge!

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  11. Gorgeous! Thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper Creative challenge this month :)

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  12. Gorgeous altered cover! LOVE all the images you used, and you've colored them so well! LOVE those eggs! Thanks so much for watercoloring with us this time at CC3Challenge!

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    1. Thank you, Anita. You just put a huge smile on my face!

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  13. Simply superb and a great twist on the whole love theme! Love it!! Thank you for joining us at A Vintage Journey and Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  14. Fantastic book cover! Love the beautiful colours and so many fabulous details on your gorgeous project.
    Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday.
    Mar x

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  15. Love your creation, so beautiful and creative. Thank you for sharing it with us at TioT.

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    1. Aww! thank you so much! What a wonderful thing to say!

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  16. Love your creation, so beautiful and creative. Thank you for sharing it with us at TioT.

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  17. Hi Sara, Love how you have made the cover for your book, and the added burlap gives a wonderful base texture to this image.
    Thanks for sharing with us at TioT
    Avril x
    p.s. Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog.

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  18. Sara, you create the most beautiful projects! I adore your altered book cover!! I am also a bird lover. I have several feeders and have become attached to my backyard visitors. When I saw that your theme was birds, I was immediately drawn in. You have captured their gentle spirit. You've added marvelous texture and so many details to catch the eye. Thank you so much for sharing this with us at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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    1. Nancy, you have really made my day with your sweet and thoughtful comment! It's a huge compliment to me that you like my projects, because I think you are just one of the most amazing artists! I'm happy to hear you share my love of birds! Hugs!

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  19. Wow ! What a beauty Sarah...lovely water color scene and perfect for the nature theme. You have layered and placed embellies so thoughtfully...the book looks invited for the cover! Hope to see it filled with your creativity. Looks like we "the book" in common this time for our projects. Big hugs, my friend.

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    1. Another smile inducing compliment from you, my friend! I need to hurry over to see what you're up to right away! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweetest comment! It means the world to me! Hugs!

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    2. Another smile inducing compliment from you, my friend! I need to hurry over to see what you're up to right away! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweetest comment! It means the world to me! Hugs!

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    3. There seems to be an echo in here!

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  20. That's wonderful - loved the frayed fabric edging, giving such a lovely textural frame to the central panel, and a great springtime stamp choice. Thanks so much for playing along at The Artistic Stamper Creative Challenge.
    Alison x

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    1. Alison, this is the third reply I've tried to leave for you!

      I am so humbled and honored by your leaving this sweet comment here! I usually don't look closely at the inspiration pieces before entering for fear of them having too much influence on my work--duh! I've got to change that habit! I really needed to be influenced by your lovely artwork from your inspirational piece at A Vintage Journey. I just got by there --yesterday, now--and fell in love with your story and your artwork! I had no idea it was a book cover, too. It seems we are both lovers of old books! Thanks so much for visiting, and it was my pleasure to link up to both the Artistic Stamper (and AVJ).

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  21. Fabulous colours and textures once again, really inspiring stuff! Thanks for sharing with us at Try it on Tuesday. Nikki

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    1. Awww...Nikki, what a wonderful compliment! I'm so happy I can inspire OTHERS!

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  22. What a lovely cover for this vintage book! Beautiful colors and delightful theme - I am a bird watcher and feeder (in my backyard!) Your little fragment tag is adorable! Thanks for joining us in the AVJ challenge!

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    1. Julia, thank you so much for your lovely words! I'm happy to hear you are a bird watcher, too! It's much better than a fishbowl! And it was my pleasure to join in at A Vintage Journey!

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  23. So beautiful Sara, love the water colour and all the gorgeous textures!

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    1. Thank you, Deb! I'm so happy you visited and left this sweet comment!

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.