Monday 15 February 2016

Flourishing Florals - by Alison

Hello all, Alison here from Words and Pictures with a very extravagant card for you today.  There are so many decorative elements to choose from in the Calico Craft Parts Corners, Flourishes & Ornaments section that you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to ornamentation.  Plenty of influences at work here (a glance at my "cards I love" Pinterest board will give you some of the main ones), but also a determination to use some of my long-hoarded "pretty things" in my craft stash.  I've got plenty of photos for you, so grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy the ride!


It started with some very basic layered panels and one of the wonderful new Corner Wood Shapes in two different sizes.  I definitely took some photos at this earliest stage but, again, my camera seems to have been playing up and they haven't materialised.


Basically, it's a square kraft card, with a couple of layers of patterned paper shabbily die-cut, and finally another kraft panel on the top for the sentiment.  The large Leafy Vine Wood Corner was the perfect size for the main card background, and the smaller one was just right for the sentiment panel.


I applied rough coats of gesso to all the layers, and applied some embossing powders to the Leafy Vine Wood Corners.  It's mainly white embossing powder, but I added some sprinkles of blue and green too.  This is the earliest process photo I've got, and here I've already started adding extra goodies and a touch of paint for colour.


Once I started adding more stuff, I couldn't stop!


A couple more Flourish pieces made their way on - these are all fragments from larger pieces - perfect for tucking in between layers...


... or for adding just a little more ornamental detail in places.


The main corner flourishes have benefitted from some of the spritzing and spraying that I did over the basic gesso and paint layers.


I love how the inks have pooled on the embossed curlicues and ornamentation.


... and the contrast with the rougher painted layers on the other flourishes.


The metal flower has also had a coating of gesso and then paint and ink-spritzed added over the top.


Mostly, I managed to keep my paper flowers nice and white to provide some contrast.


I love the extra fun of the curly wires from the flowers coming out in all directions.


The berries had their stems cut off because they were a bit too thick and unwieldy...


... but I love the touch of glittery sparkle which they bring to the card.  When I go full on, I go full on!


You may well recognise the delicate flower sprays which are dotted here and there.


They were on my recent Imagine Simplicity tag - I said it was ironic that that tag grew from such an extravagant creation as this!


There are also some filigree metal pieces layered between the panels.  I think they provide a good contrast to the organic flow of the flowers and flourishes by echoing the more formal decorative style of the corner pieces.


And I love all the inky painty layers and edging to make the panels pop.


A few words in the centre of things, surrounded by inky scribbles, and we're pretty much there.


I hope you like this excursion into flourishing florals.  Alongside my exploration of simplicity, I have a feeling there might be more explosions into full on extravaganzas like this on the side.  When the sun comes out, this just makes me really happy.


Don't forget, you can click on any of the links in the text to go shopping at Calico. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again at the very end of the month here at Calico Craft Parts.

See you again soon!

Alison x
Words and Pictures

36 comments:

  1. Exceptionally pretty and reminds us that Springtime is just around the corner.
    Wishes
    Lynne

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is incredibly pretty - I love the berries and the contrast of the white flowers is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stunning Alison ! wonderful layering an clustering of all those fabulous embellishments. And then the inking …… exquisite! Will be back to drool over it again I am sure! Jennie x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Inspirational! Love the shabby layers and gorgeous painty splatters. X

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful details on this beautiful piece of art Alison!
    Have a great trip and enjoy the films ;-)
    Alison xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Floral beauty at its best, I adore all the layers, Gorgeous card.
    Mo x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh wow Alison, this is both pretty and exceptional! I absolutely love the little curly cues, the beautiful colours, the wonderful layers and the contrast between the metal embellishment and the pale flowers - quite simply gorgeous! Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. What an awesome card. I just love the layering, the colors, your flowers and the wooden corners. You created fabulous effects by the way you added emb. powder etc.
    Thank you for sharing your pretty art.
    Hugs from Monica... Spain

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh I can hear the birds singing and bees buzzing already. What a masterpiece! Lx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am normally a no frills girl, but am also drawn to all these elaborate shapes! Great colour palette keeps it in the realms of "decency". Off to have a look at your card collection and also the craft parts! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Absolutely beautiful Alison and what a beautiful sentiment too to finish it off, fab
    Hugs
    Donna xxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ah Alison this is a delicious card I love every thing from the inky layers to all the embellishment and colour combo ........a lovely feel of Spring.....will have to go back for another look 🙂
    MaggieH

    ReplyDelete
  13. I SOOO love when you go full in, Alison, this is a stunning piece, everything so fresh and love the little glitter and all the swirls you used. The flowers are just beautiful!
    Dorthe, xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. SPECTACULAR - everything about it - the colors, the layers, the embellies - it's just LUSCIOUSLY LOVELY Alison. j.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Alison, this is one amazing project!!! I have gone over and over your details and am blown away! What a vision of spring and artistic perfection! Hugs, Autumn

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is an amazing piece of art, Alison! Love the greenery here and all the brilliant layering. A masterpiece!

    ReplyDelete
  17. A beauty of a piece Alison, so much to look at and marvel.
    Love
    Amanda x

    ReplyDelete
  18. A stunning piece Alison, Spring is spiking out of this make.
    Love
    Amanda x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow Alison! I think this is stunning. Just what I needed to remind me that Spring won't be long. I really love this a lot xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh my! This really is so beautiful! Had to scroll through twice in case I missed something! Hugs, Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh my!! That this evolved out of the Simplicity tag - incredible!! I love your creativity and how your mind leaps from here to there so seamlessly. I know it takes much more than that - but in both cases the end product is stunning! Your talent continues to amaze, Alison! xxx Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh wow, Alison, this is one of a kind from you...so feminine and shabby! This would make a stunning wall decor...I am just scrolling up and down to see all the wonderful elements and the layers that you have built up. I wish I could sit down one day with you and learn to make something like this! BEAUTIFUL.....always so inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh my!!! Your extravaganza is absolutely beautiful Alison. Gorgeously verdant and stunningly embellished. Please do make more like this. A joy to behold! Nicola x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Fabulous extravaganza!! What a fantastic way to combine all those bits with the craft parts, superb colours too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow Alison!, At first I wasn't sure if this was yours- the palette was familiar...as I kept on reading along ,yup, it sure is Alison's work! Stunning and beautiful!!Love,the non-stop embellishing,it suits this piece perfectly! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well it goes without saying really , Alison,you nailed it ! An absolutely gorgeous example of the style of Art you have until now found yourself hankering over .
    It truly is a testiment to the versatility of your creativity.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love this, Alison! It's so joyous and you can see that you had so much fun creating such an extravaganza! If I had to find a word to describe it, it would have to be 'Abundance' - it's like a wonderful cornucopia - a springtime horn of plenty! It's really lifted my spirits on this cold and gloomy day! xx

    ReplyDelete
  28. I adore this stunning card Alison, really amazing with all the inky painty layers, embellishments of all sorts and the fabulous composition, so artsy!!!! Coco xx

    ReplyDelete
  29. This is just gorgeous and as I keep looking at it, I see more and more yummy details! This is a work of art - thanks so much for sharing it!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh, Alison, I can just picture you sitting at your craft table putting this together! I can hear the birds singing out your window and the bees buzzing! this is just a breath of fresh springtime air! Love your extravagant side as much as your more subdued artwork! You have just made my day a better place! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Extravagant is a great word for this fabulous floral piece. You really went all out on this! So much to look at and everywhere you look something else to notice and admire. Very springy! Two thumbs up!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow stunning sgabby chic, I love it :-) Kezzy xxx

    ReplyDelete
  33. I absolutely love this stunning piece of art.

    ReplyDelete