Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Rain Forest



It is time for a new month-long challenge at Anything But Cute and this time Samra is our hostess and calls it Earth Day.

Before I tell you about the challenge and my project, I want to let you know that this will be my last post for Anything But Cute.  I want to say thank you to Pamellia for the opportunity to be in from the start of her challenge blog and I want to wish her and the rest of the gals on the team all the best.  


Samra describes the challenge this way:

"Create a mixed media project inspired by this mood board and the beauty of our planet. Please tell us what inspired you. Entries for this challenge can be echo friendly, or even recycled/upcycled items; or depiction of the sea, mountain, river, forest, flowery meadow…let’s celebrate our planet!"

I decided to go to the rain forest for my Earth Day offering and was inspired by a trip I made in 2008 into the rain forest of Costa Rica.  I went on Google to see what kind of snakes live in rain forests since I didn't come across any on my trip and discovered that there are some bright blue species so I added some to my project, which is as close as I want to come to them.  There are lots and lots of trees in the rain forest and I was conned into going zip lining between some of them.  I did it twice that day - the first time and the last time - LOL.


This is a 5"x7" canvas that I picked up at the dollar store.  I coated it with Liquitex Gesso and then I covered it with various die cut and punched leaves, vines and butterflies.  Another coat of Gesso was added and then I painted it with Guacamole and Hey Pesto Fresco Finish paints.  I used some Wendy Vecchi Tree Branch Archival Ink and a stamp from the Tim Holtz Ultimate Grunge set to add a  few splatters.

I used a Dylusions stencil called Leaf Flourish Small and some Wendy Vecchi Fern Green Archival Ink to add the hanging vines.  After the ink was dry I replaced the stencil and added some Wendy Vecchi Translucent Embossing Paste.

I made the branch and bird from Martha Stewart Crafter's Clay and a Wilton Silicone Mold.  The branch was painted with some Folk Art Coffee Bean Acrylic Paint and then inked with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  The bird was painted with DecoArt's Pumpkin and Dark Scarlet Acrylic Paint, Tangerine Acrylic Paint by Folk Art and Liberty Blue Acrylic Paint from Accent.  Then I handmade a couple snakes from Crafter's Clay and painted it with Ice Blue Metallic Acrylic Paint from DecoArt.

Next I made a couple of ferns from Crafter's Clay and painted them with DecoArt Plantation Pine Acrylic Paint and inked them with Forest Moss DI.  I picked up a really cheap and really ugly floral pick from Michaels, took it apart and altered it by coating it with some Ceramacoat Acrylic Paint called Leaf Green mixed with some DecoArt Fabric Medium so it would stay flexible and now I had rain forest flora and fauna.

I thought it needed some earth so I mixed some large seed beads with some light molding paste and dabbed that on and then painted it with some Coffee Bean Acrylic Paint from Folk Art.

15 comments:

  1. AMAZING canvas, Cec! You really outdid yourself for your last challenge with us at Anything But Cute! Happy for the lovely canvas, sad it's your last challenge! I really love what you did here with that textural background--just perfect to set off all those rain-forest-y elements! The fern fronds are my favorite,and I could sit and watch a fern unfurl all day long! They do it so fast! Great job and an inspiring piece of art! Hugs!

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  2. Cec, your rain forest is absolutely amazing! Love the blue snake!!!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  3. Oh, Cec, what a spectacular way to say goodbye to Anything But Cute! Your rain forest canvas is a masterpiece with such an amazing textural background and fantastic elements! Absolutely stunning! Big hugs! Branka xx

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  4. How awesome that you used the texture from an "ugly" canvas as part of your background here! That is brilliant Cec! And it is stunning, great color for your vibrant focal group! This is truly lovely and such an inspiration on thinking out of the box. Hugs, Autumn

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  5. Oh dear, I will miss seeing your lovely artwork here Cec. And this is just another stunning creation from you. The textures and colors are so unique and intriguing. And your snakes are so fun! Thanks bunches for super inspiration. I will be watching for you to pop up somewhere else for sure girl!! XXj.

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    1. Thanks Joi. I am still on the Frilly and Funkie and the Stamps and Stencils design teams so I won't be disappearing.

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  6. What a gorgeous project for your final one at Anything But Cute Cec, the colours are wonderful and even though I don't like snakes - the ones you created are fantastic, the colour is amazing! The greenery at the bottom looks like it came straight from the rainforest, it is so realistic.

    I will miss having you as a team-mate but will still be keeping an eye out for more of your beautiful projects. Hugs, Anne xx

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  7. A fabulous project Cec, great vibrant colours and super forest details.
    Yvonne xx

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  8. Ohhhh this is fun! So cool that you were able to go to Costa Rica and also go zip lining! What fun it is. I love zip lines, the higher and longer-the better! Hehe! Your forest design is stunning and that snake is one that I would hold. Awesome sauce and gorgeous colors. Genius use of the die cuts! Your background colors sound good enough to eat! I will miss you and your sense of humor at Anything But Cute but will definitely see you in Blogland! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki

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  9. What a wonderful rainforest creation for Earth Day Cec - love the serpent curling around the branch - great colors, flora and fauna!

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  10. Beautiful Cec love all the textured elements you have created with these fabulous colours, a great canvas xxx

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  11. Truly, truly outstanding Cec!!! You've captured the essence of the rainforest in this wonderful canvas with that stencilled background, the fabulous foliage and wonderful wildlife. I'm sure you'll be missed by the team xx

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  12. Absolutely brilliant Cec!! I love that background and your jungle foliage is so thick and lush. My favourite bit is definitely your gorgeous bird, amazing work with that clay! Beautiful project to say goodbye with. You will be missed! hugs :)

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  13. Fantastic make Cec. That snake makes me thing of The Jungle Book and the whole project is gorgeously textured. I'm sure you will be missed from the team. Nicola x

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

Thanks!
Cec