Monday, March 2, 2015

Balancing Elephants

Hello everyone! First some happy news. Baby Leo couldn't wait any longer and surprised everyone by suddenly arriving 5 weeks before his due date. Time to start exploring the world! He is doing well and so am I. I am very happy and also relieved that all went well. Big brother is very proud. I'll post a photo when we are back home again. 

This week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog we have a 'touch of clover' challenge. My post is lacking a supply list since I didn't get a chance to complete it before Leo decided it was time. I'll add it as soon as I can [update: I have added it now]. I decided to make a very green art journal page, with a luck theme.

I had fun building up layers in the background of this page, which will go into my Dylusions journal. It started out as a blank watercolour paper. A little bit of Sap Green reinker was mixed into Ranger's new Gloss Texture Paste and the coloured paste was smeared through a star and a mesh stencil. Leave to dry, and the stars will resist the following ink layers. You can see the the stars are a lighter green. Next, I smeared green Distress Inks on my craft sheet, misted with water and pressed the paper into the ink. When dry, the page was misted with various green Distress Sprays Stains, both just here and there and through the Schoolhouse stencil.

I stamped the background with various stamps and splattered black paint on it. The birds were die cut from a piece of watercolour paper, also colored with Distress Inks.

I love this elephant stamp and had the idea of letting three elephants balance on top of each other. The ball was cut off from the two top elephants. The elephants were stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink and watercoloured with Distress Ink. The page is all about finding balance and remembering that it is all perspective, and how lucky you are.

I die cut labels and stamped the sentiment with different alphabet stamps, also adding some rub-ons.

The second label with a stamped sentiment. I also added some tissue tape, and really wanted to include the part with the bike. The green wire thread is by Prima. 

And some stamped clocks. The cheese cloth was dyed by misting it with Distress Spray Stain.

I hope you will join us this week in our green challenge! As every week, one random participant wins a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp


Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Happy crafting!!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:







28 comments:

  1. Congratulations Anna-Karin. So glad everything went well. Love your projects...still wish I could have had another class with you before you left SA. Wishing you everything of the best.

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  2. And it is congratulations (again) from me! I love your beautiful green creation today, it is beautiful. xx

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  3. A huge congrats to you and the family! Hope you are all doing well. Love the idea of balancing elephants! Fabulous details as always!

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  4. Happy birth day to you and your son!

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  5. jy het plezier gehad . happy v-dag!

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  6. Congratulations! So glad to hear you are both doing well.

    Hugs,
    Snoopy :D

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  7. So happy for you and your family. Welcome to Leo and hi to Anton. This is a beautiful green page( I am craving Spring with it's green). Wonderful stamping!

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  8. Forgot to say, love how you used the elephant stamp!

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  9. Congratulations Anna-Karin! Happy to hear all is well with you and your baby boy! Your art journal page is fabulous! So fun and creative! Lovin' all the shades of green!

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  10. Congratulations on your little bundle of joy - much happiness to you all.

    Lovely green creation which is rather overshadowed with your other happy news!

    Sally

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  11. Congratulations and welcome to the world Leo! Wonderful journal page Anna-Karin, amazing colours and texures and love those balancing elephants!

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  12. congrats to you baby Leo and family!! LOVE this project-I would not have guessed the elephant was a Tim Holtz stamp :)

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  13. Hi Anna-karin,

    I'm in absolute AWE of your page. Its stunning! It should hang on your wall!

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  14. Big congratulations, Anna-Karin. Welcome to world Leo! Love your beautiful journal page. The colors and patterns are awesome. :)

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  15. Congratulations Anna-Karin! So thankful you and Leo are doing well! Enjoy your special family moment!

    Balancing elephants is such a fun theme for your green page.

    Thanks for sharing your special news...Jan

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  16. It seems like just yesterday we were saying goodbye and you were just pregnant :D Time goes by so fast. New country, new home, new baby and it seems like you are coping brilliantly. I am so glad that both of you are doing well. <3
    This is such a beautiful page. I love all the layers. Something I really need to work on. The colour is just wonderful too.

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  17. Congratulations on the birth of your son. I think your adorable elephants should be framed and placed on baby Leo's wall as a reminder of what you were working on at the time of his arrival! Such a special time in your life. Enjoy every moment!

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  18. What a beautiful card!! LVOE the elephants!!
    Congratulations on your new arrival!! What a happy occasion! Life is forever changed now!!

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  19. Congrats, Anna-Karin! So happy to hear that baby Leo and you are doing well! Wishing you guys the best! Stunning page! Love the elephants balacing on top each other! So funny! Hugs, Sandra

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  20. All my congratulations,Anna-Karin!Hugs to you and Baby Leo!
    Whishing too the best!Very beautiful page!

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  21. Congratulations on your new baby boy. I love all your work. I love your green project for the week.

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  22. Yay for a beautiful new baby boy! I am so glad that all are doing well and I have to give you kudos for still squeezing in this beautiful project amongst all the craziness that comes with pre-baby days. Enjoy every minute with the darling little one!

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  23. How exciting for you and your family! Welcome Leo!! Lovely greens, lovely design, oh, I am in love with green!

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  24. Congratulations to you and your family on the safe, but very early, arrival of your new son! They certainly have their own time table.
    Hope all of you are keeping well and are soon home and back to enjoying getting acquainted with your newest family member. {{{hugs}}}

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  26. God bless you and your little one!

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  27. This is such a gorgeous journal page and I absolutely adore those balancing elephants, it's such a fun piece of artwork!

    Once again, congratulations on your precious new addition to your wonderful family and welcome to world baby Leo! <3

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Happy Crafting!