Summertime

Hi everyone!

       This month it is my turn to host the challenge at Our Creative Corner and I would like you to focus on....

Summertime!

Summer is in full swing - whatever the weather! Whether it is pouring with rain or intensely sunny wherever you are, Our Creative Corner want to see some 'Summer' inspired creations.  

What sparks your imagination when you think of the word 'Summertime'? Travel to far away exotic destinations, buckets and spades, sand dunes and sparkling sea? Does summer bring to mind delicate flowers in a hazy garden or bright vivid tones of a warm sunset? Perhaps just the use of vivid colours evokes a summery mood....or do pastel shades have more of a summer look for you? 

Whatever your interpretation of 'Summertime' is we would love to see your creations here at Our Creative Corner

 I love lots of things in Summer - I decided on this challenge months ago and when the time came to make something for it I was tempted by so many ideas...My work usually focuses on something that means something to me - that I have a strong visualisation of and that usually, for me, tells a story. In the end the main image that kept coming back to me again and again in my search for an idea, was sitting in my garden in early evening, how peaceful it is. It is just so nice to sit and watch the sunset surrounded by flowers.....

So I tried to capture those elements in a framed picture...the golden glow as the sun sets, the flowers and the weathered wood from the garden
 

I started by making the frame. I don't do anything fancy like mitered corners...I just cut two 2cm x 8in strips of balsa wood and two strips of 2cm x 6ins and stuck them into a square using strong wood glue.

Then I painted them with Chocolate Pudding Fresco paint followed by a coat of crackle glaze. This was followed by a coat of Decoart Americana Chalk paint in Lace. When crackled I sanded it down before very lightly dabbing it with some Vintage Photo DI to add a rusted tarnished look.

 The background was some TH resist papers. I chose a flourish pattern and covered it with Antique Linen DI and then dabbed around the edge with Frayed Burlap DI

For the flowers I used three ready made ivory roses that were dabbed with a tiny bit of Vintage Photo DI.

The pink flowers were made with Tattered Florals die cuts. Dabbed with Aged Mahogany DI and spritzed with water, I crumpled the flowers up and then opened them and left them to dry. The center of the flowers were the tiniest diecuts, inked with Scattered Straw DI and scrunched up.

The ivory flowers were made using the same die cuts this time using Antique Linen DI
and Gathered Twigs DI

I made the buds by scrunching up one flower after it had been coloured with ink. When dry I dabbed the daisy shaped flowers with Peeled Paint DI and stuck the bud into it so it looked like there were leaves surrounding it.

The sprigs of flowers were Memory Box die cuts. I inked and painted them using Peeled Paint DI, Hey Pesto Fresco Paint, Picket Fence DP, Aged Mahogany DI and Vanilla Fresco Paint.

The leaves were dabbed with Peeled Paint DI and then edged with Aged Mahogany DI

Finally all of the flowers were then arranged onto the framed background.....

Why not come over to Our Creative Corner and share with us some 'Summertime' themed creations - You can enter up to three times and the winner will be invited to be our Top Talent and share with us something they have created and have a mini interview so we can be nosey find out more about them!

There will be our Top 3 and there will also be a Random.org selected Prize Winner who will win a lovely selection of summer themed goodies from our generous Sponsor this month - Crafty Individuals!

Remember, you've got to be in it to win it...can't wait to see your 'Summertime' themed creations!

Happy Crafting!