The Beauty of Life by Lynne Moncrieff

Hello

This project started life with the simple idea of a collage on a That's Crafty! Surfaces White/Greyboard 4x4 inches panel, as happens with so many of us, the idea grew into something else.

As I always prepare multiple pieces of anything at any one time, the notion of a triptych entered my thoughts, then as I began working on it, over time, dipping in and out of this project, as I began to assemble the panels together with twine, the possibilities for displaying this project suddenly un-folded.

As a triptych (below)

or formed into a triangle (below)

or zigzag (below)

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Carved Leaves Set 1
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Carved Leaves Set 2
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Affirmations Set 10
That's Crafty! Walnut Ink Crystals
That's Crafty! Surfaces White/Greyboard Panels 4"x4"
That's Crafty! Surfaces Tea Bag Paper
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays: Saffraon, Raspberry, Ochre, Sage
That's Crafty White Gesso
That's Crafty! Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Sand Paste
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paints: Interference Gold, Antique Bronze
We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile
Gel Medium
Extras: twigs, twine, stained fabrics

Instructions

To get this project underway, I tore re-cycled paper, brown packing paper, slightly larger than the white/greyboard panels.  Each panel (I only required three but at this stage didn't know what I had planned, nothing unusual for me, so I always prepare more) was scrunched before applying Gesso, allowing some areas to be free of Gesso before spraying with Flat Matte Sprays Saffron, Raspberry, Sage, Basil, Walnut.

Once dry, I played around with configuration of what stamps I would use as focals. It was at this stage I decided on three panels.

The Carved Leaves were stamped onto Rice Paper (which had been used as under paper when drying eco dyed elements). At this stage, I only adhered each prepared brown packing paper panel to white/greyboard panel, not the stamped leaves.

Once the stamped panels were adhered, I then rooted around my box of stained/dyed papers and textiles, slowly beginning to create texture around the stamped leaves.

To some papers, white Gesso was added, to others, Antique Bronze or Interference Gold paint applied. Texture Paste and Sand Paste were also applied, either with my fingers  palette knife to almost scrape the pastes onto the panels and off again, including the edges.

You can see in this photo that holes were created, allowing me to thread through nettle yarn, binding the panels together, with a twig forming the support to allow the project to stand up-right.

The sentiment "the beauty of life" formed from words taken from various Affirmations stamps from Set 10.

For the rear of each panel, tea bag paper, stained with walnut ink, adhered with Liquid Acrylic Wax, also applying the wax as a top coat.

Final touches, Sand and Texture Paste applied to the twigs, not completely covering them, only to make them more co-hesive to the project overall.

Thank You for taking the time to visit this post, it is always greatly appreciated.
Wishes
Lynne