Thursday 21 August 2014

Time Flies - Phew!

Hello and welcome.

A fortnight ago, when I saw the challenge theme at A Vintage Journey, an idea for a card formed in my mind's eye, and I thought that's great I've a fortnight.... and now I've just got a half hour left! So glad to get my entry in as it has been a very busy week.

So here's my take on 'Time Flies'



Obviously there is a continuum of 4 seasons.

Spring:
Blended pale DIs through the TH 'Rays' stencil, and then dabbed further through TH 'Latticework' stencil to just give a subtle hint of nature awakening. Diecut butterflies from TH 'Butterfly Frenzy'. Dabbed on multi-medium and coated with Distress Glitter in 'Clear Rock Candy'. Using TH waterbrush painted each butterfly a shade of DI - the glitter absorbs the DI well. Stained a chipboard Steampunk cog with 'Brushed Pewter'. Then followed the Shelly Hickox recipe for faux metal effects (with UTEE and EP) to 'age' the cog. Inserted TH game spinner and words cut from Maja Design papers.

Summer:
Using wrinkle free distress technique applied oodles of DIs to get some summery shades. Stamped TH 'Bird Branch', deliberated whether to clear emboss it or not, and chose not too - sorry now that I didn't! Added larger butterflies (a la Jools' DT project) that again I coloured with DIs using TH water pen. As before, script from Maja Design papers. Corner cog done in gold hues using same technique as in Spring.

Autumn:
Blended DIs to Ranger CS and when dry scrunched up the CS to get lots of creases. Then inked the creases with DIs and a touch of gilding wax. Stamped TH 'Time' stamp in Archival. Punched some leaves (sorry don't have any TH leaf or flower dies). Coloured the leaves as before. Added cog to corner that I've aged in copper shades, spinner and text as before.

Winter:
Wrapped CS with TH tissue . Applied texture paste through TH 'Holiday Knit' stencil (this made me want to get out my knitting needles that have not seen the light of day for many years!!) Used 'Snow Cap' paint dabber on corner cog. Text and game spinner as before. Punched some little snow flakes and glittered. Diecut 'Angel Wings' - stamped and embossed them. Dabbed my fave Stickles 'Mercury Glass' to 'Winter' elements to represent Christmas during the bleak whiteout.

Base layer:
Maja design paper that I've stamped and embossed with repeated TH 'Time' stamp and embossed with Antiquities 'Weathered White'. Then blended over some 'Tea Dye' and 'Walnut Stain' to highlight the stamping.

Upper layers:
First up there is a chipboard cog. Next comes the diecut 'Pocket Watch' - I used acetate so that I didn't hide too much of underlying layers. Gilded rim of pocketwatch. Stencilled in (TH 'Clockwork') white texture paste and dabbed with 'Mercury Glass'. (My initial idea was to colour the texture paste, in line with the seasons. The result wasn't great however so this was binned). On top of that is another cog (coloured with 'Antique Bronze' stain and gilding wax). On top is diecut from the 'Caged Bird' die using Maja Design paper. Gave bird a few coats of UTEE and then cracked him!. Placed game spinner, wing and eye. I think he winked! Time flies in the blink of an eye...

C'est ça! Hope you like!

Very many thanks for your visit and as always, I greatly appreciate any comments you might leave.

Hope tomorrow brings a great start to your weekend.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
A Vintage Journey - Time Flies
Inspiration Journal - Everything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Anything Goes

32 comments:

  1. A fabulous project Nicola :-) you have depicted the seasons so well and I adore the techniques and wonderful details you have demonstrated. It is lovely to have you join in with Terry's challenge at A Vintage Journey. TFS and hugs Annie x

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  2. Still playing catch up after hols and just had to come and have a look at this fab piece of artwork, in true Nicola style you have wowed me again.. just stunning.

    B x

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  3. Fabulous take Nicola. I love your creation. Hugs Rita xxx

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  4. Hands down this is an incredible card Nicola!!! I LOVE the idea of showing all the seasons this way and quite frankly you've put so much into this it's no wonder it has taken two weeks. Will be pinning this as it is outstanding. Thank you SO much for joining us at A Vintage Journey - I'm so glad you made it!!! Jenny x

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  5. Wow, this is truly splendid! So many details here, and everything works together so perfectly! I love how you did the background in sections, it really jazzes the card up and that little bird is a great center piece! Glittery butterflies, can't go wrong with those!! Love it all :)

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  6. WOW. Fantastic card. Love all the little details.

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  7. This is wonderful, Nicola. Good luck with the challenges
    Rosie x

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  8. Your card is a real piece of art, Nicola! Love how you've entered elements to represent each season and used a combination of so many different techniques. The end result looks stunning!

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  9. Oh Nicola, this is utterly fabulous! I cannot put into words how beautiful I think this piece is..... I love the four seasons elements, all the wonderful techniques you have used, the cogs, the clock - everything. Thank you so much for joining us too at A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  10. Nicola
    You captured so beautiful the essence of time passing through the depiction of each season but what strikes me is that an idea in theory sometimes doesn't translate on a card but oh my word, you pulled this off with immense skill and with an abundance of techniques.
    Stunning!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  11. This is so clever and also beautiful to look at Nicola. Enjoy the weekend, Annette x

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

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  12. So inventive and it all blends together beautifully. So much detail, lovely interpretation, wow! Ruth x

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  13. It's just wonderful, Nicola - I love how we get to move through the seasons, and the bird at the heart of it all is wonderful. Another beautiful creation from you - I'm so glad you managed to get it done in time! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison xx

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  14. this is so beautiful, what a gorgeous detailed creation, Love your details that are all done with your beautiful style and skill x

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  15. Nicola this is wonderful in so many ways - your take on the theme, moving through the seasons and all those wonderful details and colours. Just stunning! Thank you for joining us at A Vintage Journey for our Time Flies challenge.

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  16. How cool is this?!! LOVE the different seasons around the clock! SO inventive of you! Gorgeous!

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  17. Wow Nicola your card is fantastic, what an amazing idea with so much inventiveness and detail. Stunning.
    Julie x

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  18. Stunning Nicola and so very cleverly put together!! Love the idea of this, so, so beautiful!!

    Thanks so much for adding it to our challenge at A Vintage Journey!!

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  19. Seriously??? I literally can't find words to describe how immensely staggering this "piece of art" is!! The concept of going through time with all four seasons is so clever, all the techniques (I frankly couldn't keep up & even tho I am sure u said in full, can't find what CS refers to? No matter, wouldn't be able to do myself). The beautiful centre pocket watch with gorgeous bird, all the differing butterflies, altered spinners in each corner..... All I can do to stop my jaw dropping!! Will be pinning, sharing where I can & saving so I can just stare at it from time to time (honestly didn't realise pun until I wrote that~oops)! Stopping now as in rambling territory? WOWZERS & WISH I could think like this!!

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    1. Thank you so much Caroline - you are always so kind with your comments to me. I hope that you get your own blog up and running soon and post some of your craftings so that I may pop by and admire. CS is for cardstock. I was in a hurry to get the post done so may have used abbreviations that are used by me alone lol. Many thanks again, Nicola x

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  20. Wow Nicola, you did it again…masterpiece, which is not just beautiful done, but also awesome and very inventive! Wonderful textures and dimensions....Superb!!

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  21. This piece is a stunner, for sure! Not only is it visually amazing, but I love the whole concept behind it and how the clock is ticking off the different seasons. What an absolutely clever vision you had and excellent execution of so many techniques! In fact, I stared at it for so long that my husband thought I had gone into some sort of coma! ;) It really is lovely and I feel completely inspired. Thank you for creating this remarkable piece of art and for sharing it with us for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme!

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  22. This is so cool!!! I love the seasons angle on the time flies theme. Thank you for sharing with us at Inspiration Emporium this month. =)

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  23. Fabulous card Nicola...The layers & textures are amazing...WOW, WOW, WOW...Brilliant work... Hugs May x x

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  24. Brilliant! i love each season what a clever idea and so beautiful! So glad you joined in on the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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  25. Oh Nicola, I really admire how detailed you have addressed each and every season of our year... so very lovingly... and all the details on what you used etc... I really love this piece and all your love that you have put into presenting this to us... LOVE IT all... great ART beyond words... I also want to say thank you so very much for all the lovely words you have been leaving at my blog... I love them all... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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  26. Wow Nicola! What an amazing project! I love your take on the challenge! So creative and inspiring! Love all the shimmery butterflies fluttering about! Thanks so much for joining along with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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  27. Hi Nicola ... I apologize for taking so long to get over here. I'm a very poor friend these days. I am so excited by your latest project! What an incredible idea to use the four season to interpret the Time Flies theme. Sooooooooooooo cool!! You are such a creative human being!! Love it -- Mary Elizabeth

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  28. I'm loving your interpretation Nicola, this is gorgeous, so creative! Delighted you joined in with our 'Time flies' challenge at A Vintage Journey. Chris xxxx

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  29. WOW Nicola - just stunning. A brilliant idea to use the 4 seasons!
    Fabulous techniques and colours and a wonderful take on this theme.
    Avril xx

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  30. Such a clever interpretation and design Nicola and beautifully made as always. Love it.
    hugs Brenda xx

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  31. GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY....this is such a groovy WONDERFUL concept and look and you nailing it to perfection! I'm so beyond inspired!! :)

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Thank-you! Your visit and comment is very much appreciated. Nicola x