Thursday 22 May 2014

Dragonfly card for Countryview Crafts Challenge Nature's Glories.

Hello everyone, lovely to have you drop by here! This card was created for the Nature's Glories challenge over at the Countryview Crafts Challenge blog.
Nature is so full of colour and can fill us with awe and wonder! I decided to play with my favourite dragonfly stamp from the Stampers Anonymous Classics 1 set as I have always had a special love for dragon flies and ,wanted to try to capture some of it's fragile beauty and shimmering colours.
I started with the dragonfly itself and on a piece of smooth stamping paper, created a base of colour with glimmer mists (Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Mist in Egyptian Blue and Lindy's Stampgang Moonshadow mist). I then added some texture with the help of Wow embossing powder in Verdigris and some Frantage aged green.

Next I stamped the dragonfly on top of that and fussy cut it. I then stamped it again on some packaging, this time in Black Stazon, cut out just the wing part and then coloured with 3 colours of Alcohol Inks: Stream, Aqua and  Cloudy Blue. BIG MISTAKE,  and I should have remembered this!!! As Stazon is alcohol based, the inks wiped out the stamping, but at least the colour remain and as it was see through anyway and I had the wings themselves cut out, I decided to just go with it. I heated them with my heat tool and then shaped them a bit and finally adhered them to the stamped one. This is what it looked like now:
Now to the background of the card. I had a piece of 4 by 6 card previously coloured with Dylusion Sprays using the salt technique. I stamped the word Postcard and did some stenciling in white with the help of some Picket Fence Distress Paint. I also added a scrap of a ruler die cut that was still lying around on my desk to the side:
I decided it was a bit too busy and needed a bit more texture, so added the same two embossing powders and some more sprays, including black and Antique White to tone it down a bit. This is what it looked like now:
The paper had started to warp quite badly with all that spraying, but I knew that it would be fine once mounted.
So here you can see how it all came together. I ran one side through a texture fade strip still and highlighted with Treasure Gold, and mounted on white, then Kraft and then on a folded piece of Cor'dinations card.
Here is a closeup of the dragonfly. I added some shadow with a black soot Distress marker to make it pop a bit more.

The sentiment was computer generated and then cut into strips and inked.
And finally a filigree charm and flower, coloured with matching Distress Paints and highlighted with Treasure Gold,  finishes it all off.

Well, hope you like my card, there is still some time to play along in our challenge, all the details can be found HERE.
Thank you for visiting like always, have a creative day and look after yourself!


43 comments:

New Creations said...

It is stunning creation using mists, shimmer and a great background too!!!

Almo said...

Beautiful Dragonfly Astrid. Love the textures, I feel I want to reach out and touch. Mo x

Valerie-Jael said...

This is a wonderful piece, with my fave colours and lots of distressed elements - love it! Hugs, Valerie

Jenny Marples said...

You have such a distinctive style (which I love!) I think I could tell one of your pieces at a hundred paces. The texture and colour blending you achieve can only be rivalled by nature itself. Another incredibly gorgeous piece Astrid. Jenny x

Redanne said...

When I saw this at CVC I thought it was a canvas... your card is breathtakingly beautiful. I adore that dragonfly and the background you created for him is an absolute delight! Gorgeous work Astrid. Love your Quote for the Day too. Hugs, Anne xx

Unknown said...

I love this Astrid, it's gorgeous! A fab mix of techniques, stunning textures, gorgeous colours - a really kewl make! Chris xxx

Maryann Laursen said...

There´s just one thing to say here, and that´s just GORGEOUS WORK.

Evelyn Walter said...

Oh, Astrid, how COOOL ist this!!! I love it!!!
xxx Evelyn

rachel said...

wow Astrid - this is stunning - i adore it xx

Theresa said...

Beautiful card; Love the technique; thanks as always for sharing.

Nicole Wright Designs said...

What a beautiful card. Such detail everywhere you look. Your fussy cut dragonfly is worth the effort.

Aquarius said...

What's not to like - this is gorgeous with all the texture and rich colours. Beautiful!!

Irene said...

What a beautiful card,love it! Thanks for sharing xx

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow!!! This is just amazing Astrid!! Only you could blend the colours and textures so beautifully!!! Love that dragonfly and the background is simply stunning!! Beautiful work as always!! ox

Klaudia/Kszp said...

Gorgeous! I love every detail on your card.

Marisa Job said...

Another impressive project!! Love all the texture and colors!!!

Heather Jacob said...

you always use such rich colors and beautiful texture, love this x

Maryanne said...

What a fabulous card, Astrid! I love the dragon fly!! The dimensional wings are fantastic. And, I love the colors and texture you created with the embossing powders.
Thanks for stopping by the blog and for you lovely comments. I really appreciate them!

Ros Crawford said...

Absolutely beautiful ... I love the dragonfly and I'm sure IRL your work is so tactile and even more stunning!

artwolf2009 said...

beautifully put together and by looking at it and the lovely dragonfly I realized once more what I should not be hoarding any longer :)

Sandy said...

Your dragonfly definitely took my breath away Astrid - it looks real!
Beautiful creation!
Sandy xx

Juliz Design Post said...

An absolute perfect quote for this card. It certainly took my breath away. Fabulous.
Julie x

May said...

Wonderful work Astrid, I adore the colours & texture... that dragonfly is so beautiful I need that stamp...the design is Gorgeous... Love it... Hugs May x x

froebelsternchen said...

This is again a wonderful artwork.. I don't find the right words at the moment...
all goes so well together- textures and colors, embellishments and text...

GREAT ARTWORK as always Astrid!
Very proud about your comment for me today ... thank's a lot!
xxx
Susi

Netty said...

Love your gorgeous card Astrid with the beautiful dragonfly. Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

Anonymous said...

You've outdone yourself yet again Astrid, that is one of the most beautiful card projects I have ever seen. The texture looks amazing.

Dagmar said...

I love your dragonfly and the Background is fantastic!

Jools Robertson said...

Absolutely stunning! you have captured the amazing beauty of these creatures, in form and in the amazing irridesant colours, so incredibly beautiful and delicate

Jools x

Unknown said...

Oh Astrid, I always enjoy visiting your blog. The colours and depth in this piece are just amazing. I love that dragonfly. Maddy (have ditched my anonymous alter ego of Izzwizz!) x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

First of all I love this quote. Your creation is another stunning project. The dragons fly looks great and the texture... just wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I rarely use embossing powder (says me who used it this week but that was different as it was only straightforward embossing) and I look at this and it makes me wonder why I use them so rarely. I did in my early days of stamping but then pushed them aside. I love the texture you achieved and all those colours merging so beautifully.
An easy mistake with Staz-on anyway it didn't detract from the beauty of the dragonfly.
A seriously gorgeous card.
Wishes
Lynne

Terry said...

Astrid, the beauty of nature on your card is taking my breath away! Love what you have done with the embossing powders. Been there with the Stazon and alcohol inks and it was quite the shock!! Your dragonfly is gorgeous as is this card! Hugs!

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Gorgeous texture and wonderful combined art work.
Hugs Anja

mamablitger said...

Oh dear... This piece of art is very impressive... LOVE it !! It is fabolous, stunning, awesome !!! I will enjoy to keep this post of yours anf go back to enjoy this often. Love the colors and all the textures. You are so very talented and creative. Thank you for sharing !! Hugs from SPAIN

Stamps and Paper said...

beautiful piece of work Astrid and such gorgeous colours

Anne

Words and Pictures said...

Absolutely delicious, Astrid - the dappled, sunlit look is beautifully captured as well as that ethereal dragonfly lightness - it's gorgeous!
Alison xx

Jann said...

You've created another gorgeous piece of art! I love it that you share how you create these beautiful pieces-you are so talented, Astrid, and reading your posts and seeing your lovely art is always such a pleasure!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous artwork, the texture and colours are so beautiful. The dragonfly wings look so delicate as they are in 'real'. Have a great weekend, Shirleyx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

This has to be a new favorite Astrid! I am IN LOVE with the background with all that rusted and weathered embossing...perfection! The rusted ruler is the perfect border! This is fabulous...PINNING!!!

Mona Pendleton said...

Stunning Astrid! Love all the texture and detail!

Holly M said...

Breathtaking! So much depth and dimension. So many mesmerizing colors.

Claudia N. said...

I LOVE that saying, Astrid,

and I love how you present it on your wonderful card! The Fran-tage embossing enamel works sooo well with the fragility and nature of the dragonfly!

A beautiful card!

Hugs,
Claudia x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Great project dear Astrid , love the structure and the colours in your card, and the dragonfly is just wonderful!!

Greetings
Maria

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