Sunday 5 October 2014

Dragonfly dreams

Hello everyone
After a few days of sharing samples for Sheena Douglass's shows on Create and Craft using the Aqua tints, I wanted to share a journal page with you using the tints in a very different way, and just having great fun.
I'll give you a quick run down on how I went about doing this page.

It started with a page in my journal that I was not totally happy with, so I covered it with Gesso, spreading it on with a pallet knife and adding some strips of book paper
You can see a few bits of colour showing through still, but that did not bother me.
Next I started to splash about with some of the tints, just playing and seeing how they would puddle over the gesso texture. I added a tiny sprinkle of Bister powder also in two places and they mixed beautifully.
Love the combination of the aqua and brown and blackish tones and how the Aquatints seems to take on a life of their own, specially when you spray them with water a bit. Below is a close up:
I added some background stamping with some Prima stamps and then took some water colour paper, a Tim Holtz stencil, and some texture paste. Once that had dried I prayed it with the same colour tints, but this time in a spray bottle. I die cut and embossed the Tim Holtz Dragonfly and adhered that to the background, sprayed it with the same colours and then highlighted the raised bits with some Treasure Gold.
Next I adhered that piece to the centre of my journal page with mat medium and  added some tissue tape and more background stamping to intergrate it into the rest of the page.
I felt it needed a bit more still for added interest, so I took some previously made backgrounds in which I had used similar colours and die cut leaves from them, using some of my Spellbinder leaf dies.
Not very realistic in colour, but I really wanted to keep the page kind of tone in tone, so just decided to go with it.

I added them to the page together with a slightly adapted quote by Wendell Berry that I love,  and that was it.
Quite a simple page really, but I had fun creating it.

Here is the original quote:
When I rise up
let me rise up joyful
like a bird.


When I fall
let me fall without regret
like a leaf.”

Happy Sunday to you all and thanks for visiting!

52 comments:

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Stunning page!!I am in Aww to see this wonderful texture!! I am looking at so many interesting things here!! love it !!

Ink Art Designs said...

Yes, I totally agree...so many interesting things to see on this page. I love how you have integrated the dragonfly piece into the background and the texture is still a beautiful highlight. (and I looove the colours)
Dot x

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful page, love how you have designed it. Valerie

brenda said...

Just gorgeous as always Astrid and artistic licence say's we can do things any colours our hearts desire, so blue leaves are just fine.

Have a good Sunday.

B x

Marisa Job said...

What a beautiful creation!! Love the colors!! Hugs!

chrissie said...

Stunning end result and such wonderful ideas along the way.

Thank you for sharing how you made it

Love Chrissie x

Dianne said...

WOW,WOW, WOW, again you have taken my breath away, the colors are just spectacular, I looooove the blue leaves, stunning background I adore the dragon fly, BRAVO ,Miss Astrid, thanks so much for sharing it, ((( BIG HUGS )))...

May said...

Stunning page Astrid, I adore the texture & amazing blending of colours...Love it all... Hugs May x x

Annie said...

A stunning journal page Astrid x beautiful colours and details are a plenty. The dragonfly is fabulous, especially so with the addition of the treasure gold.

Perfect saying too

TFS and enjoy your Sunday

Hugs Annie x

Rita said...

What a stunning page Astrid. You must be delighted with how this turned out. The dragonflies looks so beautiful. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx

Maryann Laursen said...

Amazing pages here Astrid, and I just love the quote you used for it. It is so true. The whole pages are just gorgeous as always and you did a fabulous work on these. Love it.

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is stunning! I now feel calm and relaxed - the colours really are amazing - the dragonfly is beautiful! Chrisx

Ros Crawford said...

That quote couldn't be more perfect for your amazing page ... I love your leaves and that dragonfly has such an ethereal quality to it ...

CarrieStephenson said...

Stunning journal page, lovely quote. Watched the show yesterday morning, your samples looked beautiful. Had to buy a set of the Aquatints, thanks to you and your blog as I would not have known about this product. :)

Gaby Bee said...

You are seriously one of the most creative artists around, Astrid! Love the colors and the texture. Just perfect!

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Astrid, this is a great journal page, you are a true inspiration. I love the way you painted over a page and the colours and textures are to die for. Who wouldn't love the Tim Holtz dragonfly, one of my absolute favourite dies.
Happy crafting, Angela x

Kim said...

Lovely journal page...the colors,the images, the verse. Thanks for sharing.

Nicole Wright Designs said...

Ohhhh pretty. The Aqua and brown together are delish. And I LOVE the leaves.

Mrs O crafty blog said...

Gorgeous page, fab tutorial, Px

Terry said...

Wow, this is a gorgeous page and always loving your tutorials! Thank you so much for sharing your talents! Happy Sunday!

Marleine said...


Brilliant project and techniques. Love the whole page.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, breathtaking. It's a fantastic piece of art - love the texture and the color scheme. Great details and elements.

Evelyn Walter said...

Stunning piece of art, dear Astrid! I love the color of the leaves and the quote is wonderful!

BLockHEad said...

That looks absolutely gorgeous!

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid,
It is so much fun playing with inks, because they always surprise, I can imagine you were quite excited when you saw how the Bg was developing....that alone can inspire.
The dragonfly is gorgeous,(I have not used mine yet!)and the leaves are to die for, Blue being the new Green.
Great Page.
Smiles:)
Sue

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid,
It is so much fun playing with inks, because they always surprise, I can imagine you were quite excited when you saw how the Bg was developing....that alone can inspire.
The dragonfly is gorgeous,(I have not used mine yet!)and the leaves are to die for, Blue being the new Green.
Great Page.
Smiles:)
Sue

Bridget Larsen said...

Love the colour combination and techniques you have used on this page xoxoxo

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous Astrid has an eerie touch to it with the darker tones and I adore the dragonfly. Beautiful piece of art. Tracy x

Corrie Herriman said...

I love those colours together too Astrid. Your page is breathtakingly beautiful ! There is so much to see !
Corrie x

Ana K. said...

Hi Astrid, your mixed media page is awesome…so many things to discover, from background to beautiful sentiment…I love it!

Dorthe said...

I so love your choice of aqua colours , the many details of stamping, and using the leaves and text to make my eye "fly" ,and that spectacular dragonfly, in a kind of see through material... Wow dear Astrid, it is a masterpiece,- the gold gives an amazing effect on him!!
Hugs and a wonderful new week, to you!!
Dorthe.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Stunning page, love it very much. The textures and colours are wonderful. Take care, Shirleyxx

mamablitger said...

Rstunning journal page. Oh gosh... LOVE your creativity !! You are such a great talent. Have some exciting ideas and courage to try new different things !!
Thanks for sharing. Love the lauout !!!!!
Hugs from Monica... Spain

Meggymay said...

Stunning page Astrid, wonderful background with the tints.
Yvonne

Anonymous said...

Beautifully done Astrid! I love how you added the dragonfly. Thanks for showing how we can just cover up a page, so easy using it to your advantage with some of the colour still showing through. This is another exceptional page. Thanks for the step by step too. Karen.x

Redanne said...

Stunning, just stunning! Love how you added the Bister into your beautiful creation and the dragonfly is perfect. Anne x

Joan said...

an absolutely stunning page, love all the layers of colours and textures and the beautiful dragonfly and leaves

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Absolutely gorgeous pages Astrid! LOVE the dragonfly and quote and wonderful background!

CreativSpirit said...

As always, a gorgeous page Astrid. I especially love the words too.

Scraps of Elegance said...

SPECTACULAR!!! This is one of my all time fav's of yours. I adore the energy, passion and movement you were able to achieve on this small page. Awesome Astrid, I bow down to you friend. :)

Jackie PN said...

Astrid, the only thing simple about this piece is that it is simply gorgeously, stunningly beautiful!! Omgosh- those colors work so well together and the textures and extra leaves you have added- a new fav for me! I love it-could you tell? xo

Margaret Mifsud said...

This has to be one of my favourite pieces of yours Astrid! Love the colour palette and everything just works so well together!! Absolutely divine!! ox

suziqu's thread works said...

How AMAZING Astrid! No body can do it like you! The blending of the colors, the delicate golden winged dragonfly so subtle and delicate and then the beautiful words to add to this exquisite creation.
Hugs to you,
Suzy

barbarayaya62 said...

Astrid this is a stunning project, really srstunning! i adore your color palette and the leaves are wonderful! Great piece of art! Barbarayaya

froebelsternchen said...

Oh wow a feast for my eyes! Utterly beautiful Astrid!
Have a great new week!

massofhair said...

Soul food Astrid, beautiful beyond words:-) xxx

Kerstin F. said...

A great inspiration, love the nature feeling and the colour combination and texture, Hugs, Kerstin

Words and Pictures said...

A glorious page! And I can see I have some catching up to do - what an exciting piece of news (new to me at any rate) about the Sheena shows... congratulations! And what a coup for them too!!
Alison xx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous page Astrid, love the background and such a wonderful quote with these images.
Avril xx

Jenny Marples said...

What a magical effect! These really do seem to have inspired your creativity Astrid. Love the finished spread. Jenny x

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

An absolute delight! Love the quote and how you customized it :) Your colors and texture are just amazing and I so appreciate the step by step!

Hugs,
Linda

lisa said...

I saw this on FB and have been meaning to come and have a closer look all week, Astrid. It's a stunner, I love it. You have really used the Aquatints to create your unique style. I would love to be more creative with them. Must try and have a play over the weekend. The colours on this are gorgeous.
Hugs Lisax

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