Thursday 4 April 2013

Creative Collage



     Hello everyone - Thanks for being here and taking a peek at something I have made. Huge apologies for not having been visiting for a while - I will try and catch up as soon as possible. I am, thankfully, feeling a bit better now.

    Before I begin visiting blogs being nosey seeing what everyone has created, I do have to devote this afternoon to bread making with my little boy. He desperately wants to see how bread is made and announced to me that he wants to be a chef and ALL chefs know how to make bread....It is obviously on his current checklist for things to learn....that and driving. As he is just a couple of weeks away from his 5th birthday, I have a feeling he isn't going to enjoy waiting another 12 years for those lessons!

*update on the bread...Our little boy LOVED making the dough - he compared the texture of the dough to feeling like "squished sardines" though when this little vegetarian has ever squished a sardine I don't know!!!! - sadly the bread wasn't a success. I noticed the flour and yeast was out of date while making it and didn't have the heart to cancel his bread making lesson. Luckily he lost interest at the point of the uneven, unrisen dough rolls going into the oven and then emerging like little rocks.....I'll buy some fresh flour and he can have another go and perhaps manage to eat the bread he makes!

       Anyway - onto the crafts.....I was inspired to create a patchwork collage after seeing Annette's stunning creation for the Simon says 'Quote' challenge - I didn't go back to it and check the details after finding it as I didn't want to be tempted to copy it at all....so I just went away gathering ideas and have only gone back to it now to get the link....Isn't it amazing that even when we are inspired by other artists and are basically attempting to make the same thing - how different it always looks! Of course mine was never going to be anywhere as good as Annette's....but you know what made me really happy? - I hung up the collage and my husband saw it when he got home and he looked at it and said "Wow!!!...I REALLY like that!" Of course I look at it now and think "Oh I could have used that template, stencil, ink, paint, pen etc etc" But hey! I can always make another! ;o)

      The inspiration for colours came from the decor of our living room...




      So I began to cut different sizes of card...some embossed and some plain. When they were all cut out and arranged in place I began decorate them.




















Some were decorated with illustrations and text from old books. I used some Melange Tissue Paper and various tissue tape.




















      Then I began to ink them. I didn't use any pre-coloured card - All the colours you see are inks or stains. I selected Forest Moss, Pine Needles, Rusty Hinge, Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Gathered Twigs.



      Then I used some embellishments. This was a good time to raid the junk box...where discarded elements of previous projects go...




















      Most of the items on this collage were things that had been made, inked and prepared for previous projects and then I had changed my mind. Now was the time for them to get used. The final stage was to ink the edges with Walnut Stain DI and stick all the pieces together and then frame it. The Walnut Stain didn't give a dark enough effect so after sticking all the pieces together, I dry brushed the edges with French Roast Fresco paint.


     


        So that is my Patchwork Collage! It was so much fun to make - A huge thank you to Annette for sharing her inspiring work with everyone - Thanks so much to all of you for being here, hope to see you all soon!


I am entering this into the following challenge -

Simon Says - Very Strict Challenge (anything goes!)
Country View Crafts - Butterflies
Crafty-emblies  - Anything goes
Try it on Tuesday  - Recycled (I am hoping that my use of previously discarded embellishments can be considered recycling)

26 comments:

  1. Hi Laura, I did have to smile at your little boy wanting to learn how to make bread, what a sweet thing to ask you. Hope it all went well and that you are feeling much better now. Your collage is stunning, so much detail, so much to look at - a wonderful piece of art for your home. Hugs, Anne x

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  2. This is fabulous Laura. Such a mix of elements/textures/colours that run seamlessly together under your creative spell. I bet this will look amazing at home. Hope the bread was a success and that your son chooses John Torode rather than Gordon Ramsey as a role model!! So sorry to hear you've been poorly too. Hope all is well now. Hugs, Jenny x

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  3. Fabulous collage... love all the colours combined, and varied embellishments - must look great in place!
    Alison x

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  4. Gorgeous collage Laura ! Love your choice of colours and all the details and embellishments are fabulous. Goed ot hear you're feeling better and I hope the bread was a success ! Sue C x

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  5. Oh Laura, your story of the bread making reminded me of my own youngest son when he wanted to bake at an early age. He got a big bag of flour out of the shopping bag and tried to reach up and put it on the kitchen bench and yes, you've guessed it - he dropped it, it burst and he and everything in sight was covered with flour - happy days!! Anyway, your collage is fabulous - such a lot of creativity and so much to enjoy looking at. Love Margie x

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  6. Goodness, no wonder your husband said wow, this is fab. Isn't it nice when our loved ones enjoy our efforts too.

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  7. Laura...your collaged patchwork piece is amazing! I love the beautiful colors, the lovely embossing and dimensional embellishments that you've added to this piece. Don't you love junk drawers? Haha I also loved the story of your little 5 year old wanting to make bread with you! That is such a sweet story and you are so right to have taken the afternoon to spend with him. He's only 5 once! Thanks for sharing your art with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

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  8. Great recycling. It has the Wow factor, love all the pieces and details. Thank you for joining us at TioT's this time.
    Yvonne

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  9. Another stunning make Laura! Love the warm colours and the bits of texture here and there. Don't do yourself down either, your collage is different from Annette's but just as lovely and it is such a great idea and perfect for using up all those bits and pieces.

    Sounds as if your little boy had a good time too, I guess at that age the process is as important as the result...

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  10. Another beautiful make! Love all the colours and hope you are feeling fighting fit soon! Hugstrace x

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  11. wow that is awesome, thank you for sharing at TIOT.EE

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  12. That's the best that you were inspired by your own home and the decor will fit perfectly with it. I love that you used bits n' pieces from previous makes. Especially love the little twig heart and the flower pieces and the ivy looks spectacular. A beautiful patchwork for your wall. Sorry to hear about the door stoppers (bread) but how wonderful to spend that time with your son. :)
    Have a terrific and crafty weekend.
    Lisa x

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  13. Goodness Laura, I agree with yur hubby "WOW"...this is stunning..so pretty, and it is going to look awesome hanging in your home....and I had a good laugh about the bread.....but at least he had a good time....and sometimes even the best chefs fail...so it was a wonderful lesson for him....he sounds like quite the little character...love that!!

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  14. Awesome, Laura!

    What a beautiful patchwork piece!!!!
    Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous creation with us at TioT!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  15. Well Miss Laura, I agree with your hubby WOOOOOW, I like yours better my dear so never doubt your talent,I love how you created all the colors yourself,all the work you did on each piece is brilliant.All the embellishment perfectly placed. Outstanding job with this, thanks for sharing you fabulous creation and have a great weekend..

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  16. Fab collage! Thanks for joining us over at Crafty-Emblies Karen xx (DT member)

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  17. Love the bread making story...so cute!!! Your patchwork is stunning, and I love that you were inspired to make it from another blogger! Gorgeous...every bit! Thank you for sharing with our anything goes challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp & Show...no joke!!!

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  18. I'm baaack! Thanks so much for leaving the lovely comment on my blog and for following me! I absolutely love this collage and I'm going to give it a shot! I'm sure mine won't look like yours, though! Beautiful! And thank YOU for this inspiration!
    Hugs (again),
    Leslie
    http://leslieturner58.blogspot.com

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  19. Oooooh, what a lovely work of art! Love the colours, love the design and a great idea, fabulous. Thanks for sharing it with us at Country View Challenges. Chris xxx

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  20. What a wonderful patch work piece! Love everything what's going on here. The frame is really pretty too. Such a great home decor piece! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

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  21. That is a super collage. I love all the different elements. Thanks for joining us over at Crafty-emblies
    Liz (DT member)

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  22. This is glorious, the composition and balance of elements and colours is perfect,

    Lucy x

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  23. Congrats on your Top 3 with this fabulous work of art Laura. So well deserved.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  24. Laura, although your post was over a month ago, I came upon it today via Trace Metcalfe's post today. As I'm scrolling through your lovely posts over the past weeks, I came upon this beautiful patchwork. First I admired the detail photos and then went back and read it

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  25. all the way through. My goodness, you are too kind. Your patchwork is amazing.

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  26. This is perfectly lovely. I adore all the detail and your choice of stains. This is the most beautiful piece of craft I've seen in a long time. Julie Ann x.

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