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Monday, January 24, 2011

Out of my Comfort Zone!!

Greetings to you all!!

I was recently inspired by a post by Becca Feeken showing a calendar that she had made. Please note I was only inspired - the end result is totally different and nowhere near the same as hers :-)

I found a small 2011 calendar on the internet (and forgot to note where, and now cannot find it) that printed out onto a single A4 page.  I remembered a canvas that I had bought years ago, and thought I would 'have a go', and this is the result.

The calendar was cut into the small pages and held together with small split pins, that went through the card behind it.

The lace pattern was made by taping down and sponging a piece of lace with ink - Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid.
Next step was to stamp the top right corner - I used a clear polymer stamp from Layers of Color from the Merci Bouquet set, and when I stamped with it on the acrylic block, it only stamped in the corner. Big panic - I ended up taking the stamp off the block and pressing it straight onto the canvas.  I was so pleased I had chosen that stamp as it was possible to do that!!  I then painted the image with other inks in the same range - thyme green, lavender and platinum planet.
Next came the dragonfly - a purchase from the local Warehouse, from memory. this was attached with white PVA glue.

The calendar was then attached using the ubiquitous double sided sellotape.

I was still not happy as the whole seemed a little bland, so I fossicked through a draw and found the last of a packet of Zva gems that were just the right colour, so after a certain amount of fidgeting, I got then to form the flight pattern of the dragonfly, and a wee highlight in the top and bottom right hand corners.
The final detail was the ribbon - there was not quite enough to do what I had originally planned, so it was glued around and then the ends were tied to form a loop to hang the calandar from.

So that was my venture into something different - I was pleased with the outcome, and am keen to do it again, sometime :-)

I am linking this to the following challenges
Fairy Take # 6 - Flowers

I would also like to invite you to a very special party to be held on the 
23rd February - there will be loads of fun, and cakes galore, but the secret is that there are no calories, no sugar, no fats, nothing to harm you, just sheer pleasure and loads of eye candy!!


Thank you for calling in - may your day be blessed :-)

23 comments:

Norma said...

WOW!!!just beautiful!!! TFS!!
Hugs,
Norma

Lynn said...

How gorgeous is this!! Love the corner flowers and colouring, and ofcourse the cute butterfly :)
Thanks for joining us at Gingerloft Challenges.
huggs
Lynn xx

Mandy said...

Beautiful calendar..Such pretty colours and the flowers are lovely...Thanks for joining us at A Gem of a Challenge...
Mandy x

Anne said...

FABulous! Thanks for sharing with us at TCP this week. Hugs x

Lovely Linda said...

Wow Maxine - this is fabulous! Way to go creating something that is out of your comfort zone - doesn't it feel great! I love the technique you have used and LOVE the way the LOC Merci Bouquet turned out - it is looks fabulous! No holding you back my friend - thanks for sharing! {{{hugs}}}
Linda LOC Design Team

MariLynn said...

Gorgeous job!! So creative!!

marsha said...

Maxine, this is just fabulous! You have really WOW'ed me with this creation. You go girl!
Hugs,
marsha

Unknown said...

Gorgeous calendar. Thanks for sharing with us at LIIU, Suzanne x

Vicki Romaine said...

I really like your calendar. You did a great job. BTW you might have found your calendars here.
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2011&country=1

Bianca said...

What a lovely idea! Thank you for joining us at Fairy Tale Challenge! xx Bianca

Laura Kirste Campbell said...

What a fabulous project Maxine! I adore the look of the stamp on the canvas! It looks like it was cross-stitched, very cool! Now I'm inspired by you! I'll have to revisit this technique!

Spyder said...

Lovely project! Thank you for joining Quirky Craft's Challenge this week, don't forget to pop back on Friday to vote for your favourite three and get your blogging buddies to vote for you!

((Lyn))

Debbie said...

Fabulous calendar and gorgeous detail too. :)
Thanks for sharing with us at The Crafty Pad Challenge this week. :)

Debbie The Crafty Pad

Claire said...

Just beautiful, really lovely!! Thanks for joining us at LIIU and good luck
Claire xx

Jennie said...

Beautiful artwork Maxine!! Love how you actually worked with canvas and have never done that myself. The butterfly embellishment is just the perfect accent. Great job :O)

Elizabeth said...

You sure don't need another comment - but I really like this, so thought I'd add mine to your many others also!

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend...

debby4000 said...

Adorable sweet calendar.
luv
Debby

Mrs. W said...

Way to challenge yourself and do something new! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Seriously you MAKE lace...I am in awe. There is nothing like old tattered, discolored,aged lace to make me sing with delight! Glad to have crossed paths we are kindred spirits! Heather

Gale said...

This is beautiful. Love all the colors. The gems are a perfect touch to show the flight pattern of the butterfly. It set off the rest of the project perfectly.
Thanks for joining us at Gingerloft Challenges! :) Gale

Only By His Grace said...

Super creation Maxine.
Wanted to email you personally but you haven't got your email address on your profile page. Thanks for choosing me on Becca's blog.
Hugs Maz

Caro said...

That is so beautiful! Thank you so much for joining us at Quirky crafts.

Melisa Waldorf said...

OH my my!!! Have you caught the "altering" bug Maxine!!! This is fabulous! Isn't it fun to create projects you can set out and see? Have a blessed week Maxine!

Shirley said...

What a beautiful "out of your comfort zone"~! Gorgeous! I need to find some of the canvas I have laying around somewhere!