Thursday, March 3, 2016

Spring Nest


It is time for a new monthly challenge at Stamps and Stencils and this time Rachel is our hostess and is calling it Spring Is In The Air.  She describes it this way:

"I want you to think about what the coming of spring means to you? Is it a colour burst, or maybe flowers? Whatever it is I would like you to show us in a mixed media piece including stamping or stencilling or both! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!"

I am hoping that spring really is in the air because we haven't had a harsh winter as we normally do but it has been up and down with brutal cold followed immediately by really mild temperatures.  Luckily the snowfalls have been light but just as it all melts we get another snowstorm, like the one we got yesterday.  Pretty soon I will be complaining that it is too hot and humid - that is the way it is when you live somewhere that has four seasons.  Now on to my project.

I was surfing the web and saw something here that inspired me, especially since spring usually comes with lots of new birds but of course I had to add my own touches to my project.  I started with a 9" x 12" canvas that I picked up from Dollarama and I covered it with Liquitex Gesso.  Then I used some Mod Podge and torn pieces from an old book to completely cover the canvas.  Once it was dry I covered it with some watered down Gesso.  Then I used a TCW stencil called Mini Bricks and Golden Light Molding Paste to cover the canvas.


The eggs were made next by shaping some Martha Stewart Crafter's Clay into an egg shape and then once it was dry, painting it with Craftsmart Robin's Egg acrylic paint, adding spots with a Copic marker and then covering it with Gloss Mod Podge.

I found the bird template in my stash, traced a couple onto cardboard and then fussy cut them.  I coated them with Fresco Finish Blood Orange chalk acrylic, then Folk Art Crackle Medium followed by Folk Art Country Twill acrylic paint making sure each coat was dry before adding the next.

I decided I didn't like the end result so I added some Lindy's Moonshadow Mist Burnished Brass, FW Antelope Brown ink and some Liquitex Transparent Burnt Sienna ink - happy now.  I stamped the wings with some Jet Black Archival Ink and a stamp from a Kaisercraft stamp called Sheet Music and added some teeny pearls for eyes.


The next step was to make the nest.  The ground was covered in snow so I had to go digging through my craft room and despite what my husband says, it pays to hang on to certain things because I found a couple branches and some dried weeds in a box with some silk flowers.  I broke the branches and weeds up and arranged them along with some jute string, burlap ribbon, bits of bark and strips of old book paper.  I found that Liquitex Matte Super Heavy Gel made a great adhesive.  I went over the whole nest with more Gesso.

Before I added the eggs, birds and a few feathers I added some shading around the nest with some watered down Craftsmart acrylic paint called Espresso.

I am going to enter this project in the following challenges:

Art Journal Journey - If You Go Down To The Woods
Artistic Stamper - Springtime (wings are stamped)
Crafts and Me - Spring
Live and Love Crafts - Signs of Spring
Lunagirl - Spring Flowers and Birds
Cards und More  - Spring (wings are stamped)
We Love 2 Create - Anything Mixed Media/Creative Goes
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - M is for Mixed Media (wings are stamped)

24 comments:

  1. Simply stunning, love the effect and it reminds me of bas relief (sorry but couldn't get the link to work so don't know if that's where it was taking me?) can't single one thing out..love everything about it...just perfect. Ruth xx

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  2. Oh, Cec, this is my absolute favourite of yours! That nest is simply breathtaking! I love how you used all those natural elements! Awesome! Hugs! Branka xxx

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  3. Awesome Cec!! Love the brickwork background, and your nest is just genius! Now I know why us crafters hoard things, you just never know when you might need some obscure product like a twig! haha! Love it. hugs :)

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  4. What a fantastic canvas ! Great that you used natural material! I do like this so much!
    Thank you for joining us at
    Art Journal Journey
    with you canvas Cec!
    oxo
    Susi

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  5. Beautiful creation, and I enjoyed the story of how you created it. Love your textures, and those eggs! Thanks for joining in my March 'Spring Flowers & Birds' challenge at LunagirlMoonbeams.com! ~ Karen

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  6. Oh yes! Those birds have the very best of nests! This is utterly brilliant! So pleased you linked to AJJ! Hugs, Chrisx

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  7. Beautiful work, thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey, Valerie

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  8. What a fabulous nest. Such a wonderful sign of Spring.

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  9. What a beautiful project Cec, the nest is fabulous as is the lovely textured background. Sue C x

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  10. this is so very pretty Cec - really love what you have done - those eggs are fabulous - as is the nest! Brilliant! Hugs rachel x

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  11. A fabulous project Cec, love how you made a nest for those beautiful birds.
    Yvonne xx

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  12. Gorgeous project Cec!! Thanks for joining the sisterhood of snarky stampers for M is for Mixed Media!

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  13. Wow, I am so impressed that you made all of this from scratch, especially that nest. It looks quite real! Love the white and rust with the pop of the blue eggs...stunning!

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  14. This is my new Cec favorite! I love how you added the nest and also the story about digging through your craft room. So glad you didn't dig through that cold cold snow! Brrrrrr! Your eggs are gorgeous and so life like! Fantabulous and awesome sauce! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki

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  15. Cec, I second what Niki said...it is my new favorite of yours!This is the best looking nest I've seen outside of nature, and I bet if you left it outside you might get some takers! And your eggs are fabulous! Great inspiration! HUgs! PS I will hopefully be in touch tomorrow once I figure out how to retrieve my e-mail. Computers: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em!

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  16. Stunning creation Cec, Love that nest, brilliant.
    Thanks for joining us at Artistic stamper this month.

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  17. Gorgeous creation, love the eggs! The birds are very busy in the hedgerows around here, especially the blackbirds.
    Thanks for linking up at CardsundMore. :)

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  18. Wow love it, one of those pieces you really want to touch, there is just so much going on. Thank you for joining in this months challenge at The Artistic Stamper.

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  19. Oh how nice! I love your little nest image and the amazing materials you used. Wonderful!
    Dear greetings
    Sabine

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  20. Wow! Fabulous project! It is gorgeous!!

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  21. Hi Cec! Sorry I haven't been by but my PC is on the fritz. Hope you are doing much better. This is one of the most amazing projects - I totally adore every detail. Way to make us all step up our game! Totally inspiring! <3 Hugs, Autumn

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  22. Stunning and so clever!
    Thank You for entering our challenge at Crafts & Me, please check out our new challenge of Fairies and Magic x

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I love to hear what you think about my work, so please leave me a comment.

Thanks!
Cec