Wednesday 10 June 2015

Green and a Quotation - Dragons Dream TIO

Hello and Welcome to Magpieheaven. Where does the time go? Here we are at June 10th and it's The Dragon's Dream TIO once again. This fortnight it's the amazing Gabrielle's turn to choose the theme and she has come up with something perfect for early summer, although it doesn't feel very summery where I am! I've just had to imagine sun-dappled woods for Green and a Quotation. Please do hop across to The Dragons Dream here to see the other wonderful tags on display. 
I knew straight away the quotation I wanted to use. It is from Robert Frost's poem 'The Road Not Taken': Two roads diverged in a wood and I/ I took the one less traveled...  Although Frost describes the wood in his poem as 'Yellow', he does say the path is grassy, so I always imagine him making his decision in one of those green woods where the sun creates golden beams across the path. It's the kind of woodland where the light plays tricks on our eyes and we could just imagine the woodland flowers to have faces and the leaves seem whisper to us, influencing us as to which path to take!



I began with a jumbo tag and lots of different Fresco Finish greens!



There's Honeydew, Sage, Limelight, Hey pesto, Guacamole, Green Olives and the new PaperArtsy Fresco Jade from Jofy's Limited Collection. I built up a background of different stencils, including my favourite Lin Brown leafy one; some sequin waste; a butterfly mask I won in a draw on the lovely Lesley Ebdon's blog and  some Grunge Paste tinted with Guacamole pushed through a honeycomb stencil.



I stamped the moths from PaperArtsy Urban Snapshots in Jade and then clear embossed them so that they glistened. When my tag was complete, I edged their wings with Classic Treasure Gold.



My friend, Lucy shared some leather off-cuts with me and I die-cut them and used these for the petals on my forest flowers. I gave them a thin layer of Little Black Dress before applying Crackle Glaze, allowing to dry and then giving them a good, thick coat of Fresco Sage. You can probably just make out the Lynne Perrella script stamped in Hint of Mint.



I aged two little wooden frames from The Works, using Prima Crackle Paste, Treasure Gold in Sapphire, Green Amber and Aquamarine and some rusting powder.



The flower faces are re-sized print-outs of faces that suggest not Green Men, but Green Women to me! Maybe they are tree sprites who keep the woodland safe and secret.



Frantage in copper and aged green, a shrink plastic die-cut leaf and some hemp cord coloured with Guacamole Fresco provide the finishing touches. I do hope that whatever roads you take this fortnight, whether they be well-worn paths or less travelled ways, you will find time to link up with the Dragons TIO. Our rules are simple! Just decorate a tag of any size; make sure that your main colour is green and that you include a quotation and at least one stamp and then link up. You might become one of our Dreamboat 3 or a Guest Designer. Have a lovely creative week!

18 comments:

  1. Absolutely exquisite Julie Ann!!
    I adore the wood sprites in the flowers and love that you used the leather cutoffs to create these! Your greens are luscious! Love every element of this tag! You always make such gorgeous layers!! xoxo

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  2. this is so wonderful, love all the foliage in the background and those delightful faces inside those flowers - wow stunning piece x

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  3. Beautiful project and your flower frames are an absolute delight.
    Julie x

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  4. I ADORE this tag and your amazing creativity! It looks fabulous and just perfectly summery to boot! Your background is to die for!

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  5. Gorgeous tag Julie, I love the greens and your lovely painty backdrop. Love the focal imagery too. Tracy x

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  6. Agree with Jackie, its exquisite. ...such an interesting work Loved to read details.

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  7. What a wonderful tag, and a great quote from the poem. there is so much to look at, I may be here some time!

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  8. This is enchanting, julie Ann! I love that quote and I love what you have done with the leather and as always your faces work perfectly!

    Lucy x

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  9. Oh! What a amazing tag Julie Ann! I adore Very depth of the background, beautiful fairies and lovely many your techniques. Thank you for your excellent tutorial. xxx

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  10. so so gorgeous! so many pretty elements to catch and delight the eye! xo

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  11. Beautiful Julie Ann, I can imagine your beautiful green dappled wood clearly when I see your lovely tag!

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  12. Within the flower petals are where you will find the tiny imps hiding in plain sight. Love your story of your tag and your illustration brings your imaginings to life. All the elements are wonderful but especially your flowers.

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  13. Such a lovely soft color palette for this beautiful tag!
    The crackle effects along with so many special details really make it special.
    oxo

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  14. What a brilliant tag. Fabulous background in every sense of the word and I just love the way you put the faces inside flowers. So clever! Lx

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  15. Wonderful wood sprites - and a magical layered background - so glad to have had a bit of time to catch up with your always inspired and inspiring work, Julie Ann.
    Alison xx

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  16. Hi Julie Ann! Your tag is absolutely wonderful! Love all fantastic textures, images, flowers... all elements on it. Thanks for the great inspiration!!!

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