Monday 28 September 2015

Fall from Summer

The foliage in the garden has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many.... . September is dressing herself in showy dahlias and splendid marigolds and starry zinnias. October, the extravagant sister, has ordered an immense amount of the most gorgeous forest tapestry for her grand reception. 
Oliver Wendell Holmes


I had a leftover tag with picket fence distress paint resist and what looks like picked raspberry, dried marigold and scattered straw distress inks or stains. It has a lovely summery feel to it and decided I wanted to create the feel of summer turning to autumn when the colours begin to change and the gardens and countryside are a wonderful blend of the pinks through to reds and orange and into autumnal gold and browns.


I started off by stamping the bees from Tim's classics #12 set and wanted to add embellishments that have the autumnal feel to them.


I stamped and die-cut the leaf from the leaf  blueprint framelits creating texture and depth by running it through the cracked embossing folder, spraying with twisted citron, spiced marmalade and fossilized amber spray stains and covering with rock candy crackle paint. At this stage I sprinkled in some mustard seed distress glitter and let it dry. Once the cracks had appeared I dabbed on festive berries and mustard seed distress stain and sprayed as well with vintage photo.


To me fall isn't just about the gorgeous tones of reds, oranges and browns it is also about the end of harvest and the rustic sacks and bags that these goodies appear in. But how to show the idea that the beautiful leaves on the trees would be turning colour and by the depth of winter the undergrowth will be full of the decay and decomposing matter? I decided to add a border and found a Tim leaf border embossing folder which I used on some more leftover inked card.


Taking a candle and waxing over the leaves to act as a resist I then just layered distress stains, spritzing with water and heat drying till I had a more autumnal looking background and then ran distress ink pads directly over the raised areas, heat drying in-between each colour and misting with water at times until I had something that looked more rotted and decomposed.


Then I set about adding smaller embellishments and putting the whole thing together. For the little 21 button I added a drop of sunset orange alcohol ink and when dry I painted with scattered straw distress paint .


The little flower is a gem brad with mustard seed painted on the edges and top with a hessian disc punched for the petals.


The little heart was painted with scattered straw distress paint and dipped into butterscotch alcohol ink. As I love all the wonderful vintage portraits Tim uses I couldn't resist adding one here.


 I finished off with one simple sentiment taken from the nature remnant rubs sheet.



 Although I enjoy the summer, the sun and the warmer weather, I truly love and respect each of the seasons we have here in the UK. I believe we are blessed with a simple and never ending rhythm to our lives and environment which provides us with the opportunities to embrace change and direct our energies into activities that provide our rich tapestry of life.


Thanks for stopping by today.

hugs Brenda xxx





5 comments:

  1. Gorgeous tag, and all the details are brought to life by your descriptions, thanks for sharing. I too love our changing seasons :) xxx

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  2. Mentioned is a Tim embossed leaf border... Need more info on this, please.

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    1. Apologies I omitted to add it to the product list, I have now done so and it's the Thankful Backgrounds and Borders set.
      Hope that helps
      B xxx

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  3. this is brilliant - i love the colours and the textures - that leaf looks amazing - brilliant! Hugs rachel x

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