Saturday 26 October 2013

Alice and George's Garden

Welcome to Magpieheaven and a special 'Hello' to my new followers who so kindly decided to peek at the Magpies' Nest. It's lovely to have followers old and new and to feel connected to the wonderful world that is Crafty Blogland.
This week over at Paper Artsy, Liz Borer has surpassed herself with some incredible projects. One which was a great hit with everybody was her 'Witch's Garden' - a fantastic Halloween 3D creation. Please click Here to see how fabulous it is - after you've watched the video about Darcy's new stamps, of course! I loved Liz's magical garden and I was inspired to create a garden of my own, which I should like to link up to the Paper Artsy Challenge. I moved away from the Halloween theme with my project - hope that's OK - to create a little box featuring my ancestors, Alice and George. I have wanted to display their images in a more permanent way for a while now and this is the way I chose to do it, courtesy of Liz's wonderful inspiration! To begin with Mr Magpie found a box in the loft.
It had glass in the front and a detachable back. I wanted my box to be open so I made a backdrop to cover the glass and removed the backing, which I decided I would not use.
I think I used every shade of Fresco blue I possess! I'm still kicking myself because I didn't get hold of Antarctic or Space Cadet at Ally Pally! I do have Lake Wanaka and that features on this project along with Mermaid, South Pacific, Bora Bora and Baltic Blue. I also used some Tinned Peas and a little Rose and Snowflake on the moon in the background. I just treated myself to some Frantage, so I had a play with this on the moths and some flowers too, cut from painted card, stamped and embossed with clear ep and my wonderful new discovery (for me!) Frantage. The edge is a Tim Holtz 'On the Edge' die, which I highlighted with White Fire Treasure Gold. I also used some Grunge Paste to create the moonlit trees in the background, pushing it through a mask to give the impression of the moon rising in a twilit garden. I used mainly stamps from HP 1006 and HP1009 and I stamped with Wendy Vecchi Archival inks in Cornflower Blue and Fern Green.
Then it was time to add people and flora and fauna! I used print-outs of George and Alice, coloured sepia and stuck their heads onto the two halves of a Cafe Retro Art Gallery fairy shrine. I chose not to use the centre, so in the final box George becomes a gateway into the garden and Alice his angel! For her dress, I used the lovely lady from ID02. The bird-cage is from a Tim Holtz die-cut made in shrink plastic, the leaves and butterflies are stamped with Lost Coast images and the leaves are shrunk versions of Tim Holtz's Tattered Leaves, as I don't have the Paper Artsy Oak leaf die-cut. I decided not to glaze the plastic for this project, as I liked the matte effect of the Fresco Paint.
Here they are in their moonlight garden of dreams. If you peek through George you can see the garden glimmering beyond him! And the Mica in the Frantage does certainly glimmer!
For the sides of the box, I broke open the Grunge Paste again to make silver birches, painted with a mix of blues and Treasure Gold.
This is now the third project in which I've used Alice and George and I have to say I loved creating a garden for them.
My son pointed out that they may be in the garden, but they are still looking highly respectable! Well, thank you so much for stopping by today and saying 'Hello' to the ancestors again! I so wanted to create and post today, as next week is going to be very, very hectic with moving Magpie Granny into her new flat near the Magpies' Nest. If I do have time, you can be sure I'll craft in some way. It might be to make some change of address cards for my mum! Kevin says the cupboard doors should be ready by the end of next week too, so fingers crossed it will be full steam ahead with Project Kitchen again!!! Have a great week!

23 comments:

  1. What a fabulous take on Liz's project. I love your ancestors' garden - they look very happy! I still haven't started anything, am running out of time. Glad to here I am being let off the hook kitchen wise (!)

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  2. Brilliant box, great colours
    Janet

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  4. Hi Julie Ann, this is a great take on Liz's project they look very at home in their garden. Love the silver birches on the side of the box very realistic. Hugs Mo x

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  5. This is absolutely beautiful, Julie Ann, and so imaginative! Finished mine this afternoon. Took ages, by which time the light had failed so will have to photograph in the morning!

    Lucy x

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  6. This is an amazing project, so detailed with all the layers receding back into the box. Tho my favourite part is the birch tree on the side, just beautiful and ethereal.

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  7. Such a wonderful idea, a great project.

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  8. Ooooh Alice and George look stunning in their wonderful garden creation.

    Sam xxx

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  9. Hello Miss Julia Ann, well I know you know,Mr magpie finding the box was led by those little magical beings living in your nest.. What you did with all those fabulous colors, is created a stunning background, I loooove the moon the fabulous trees, the moths looks beautiful flitting around those beautiful flowers, looooove the birds in the grasses. Oh my gosh, I adore how you made him the gate way and her his angel, it's telling the story visually. I really like your signature piece, with the mat finish, very vintage, eeekkks, there is so much for me to feast my beady eyes on :), making the birdcage out of SW, soooooo kool, all the shiny bits, making me wobbly :), now those blue birches they are MAGICAL, the icing on the cake.. Your ancestors belong in the magical garden you created, and that's why the Mr found it for you, you have honored Liz's creation with your incredible, magical garden and thank you for sharing it.. Well I don't feel bad for my self anymore, my week will be a breeze compared to your action packed week.. I really hope you get a chance to work your magic crafting with a wee bit of rest, I'll be thinking of you cousin, (((( BIG HUGS ))))) to everyone in the nest....

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  10. That is great project! I saw the project of detail again and again. Beautiful colours combination, layers, stamping, good effect by shrink plastic and GP. The silver birches to the sides of the box. Fun is everywhere!!

    Etsuko xx

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  11. Stunning & beautiful are not enough to describe your project Julie Ann it is truly unique. So much thought & love has been put into your magical garden. Your silver birch trees are so realistic, did you make them yourself or use a stencil?

    Love your imagination :-)

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  12. That is wonderful & very beautiful.

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  13. Wow! This is such a beautifully detailed project Julie Ann! I love it!
    Good luck with your mum's move.
    Alison xxx

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  14. Ohhhh I love it. You have created a magical garden and they so so at home! Brilliant

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  15. It's a fantastic piece for your ancestors! I must say, like Darcy, my favourite part is the birch trees, they look real but also evoke a fantasy world.

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  16. Wow, amazing detail and what a great garden for the ancestors!

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  17. Great colours and love the faces on the butterflies

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  18. Absolutely glorious, Julie Ann! I love the garden you've created for Alice and George, and don't they look splendid in it?! A wonderful tribute to Liz's amazing creation, and with your own special touch... the blues and greens are magical, and I just love those silver birches. I didn't think I "needed" that stencil, but I guess I was wrong!!

    Hope you are having a peaceful Sunday before the busy-ness of the move - wishing you lots of luck with it.
    Alison xx

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  19. Just magical! Love the beautiful garden you have created for George and Alice - they look quite at home and why not with such a wonderful colour combination! Hope the move goes ok and a whey hey to Kevin too! Chrisx

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  20. A delightful garden for the ancestors! Love the moonlight background you've created. And I too now 'needs' the tree stencil. I'm off to look for it. Have a wonderful week. Hope you don't overdo moving Mum. Hugs

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  21. Truly exceptional piece Julie Ann. Every single paint stroke and inky element is gorgoeus! Love all the texturing. It's a fabulous heirloom display. Nicola x

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  22. Julie Ann you are truly a creative soul! This is another amazing project and I wish I had half your imagination!

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  23. Wow wow wow absolutely stunningly gorgeous and truly amazing. I love your imagination and where it takes you, the colours are beautiful and how you have done the outside and the people wow. Hugs Kezzy :-) xxxxxx

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