Monday, July 2, 2018

Mid-Challenge Inspiration for "Once Upon a Time"


We're still reading Fairy Tales on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog with our lovely theme of 

I really went to town this time after deciding that I'd try and combine several of Mitzi's images to make a project inspired by "The Elves and the Shoemaker" by the Brothers Grimm.  Sorry that this will be one LOOOONG post but this project grew and grew, so grab a cuppa and relax (or just skip to the end and say nice things, please.)  LOL



Here's a closeup of the combined images.  The boot is from Puppy in a Boot, a Freebie offered exclusively in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group.  Not a member?  Well, why the heck not?  There's more where this came from so come join us!  I've cropped out the puppy in my Printmaster Platinum Program and went on the lookout for some elves.
Little Tomte was easy, she's an exclusive on AuroraWings.com and converted her to a png file in LunaPic and cropped off the fuzzy part of the dandelion seed she carries to make it look like a needle for sewing the boot.
The other elf is from the Lost in the Woods Stamp set, another Aurora Wings.com exclusive.  This fabulous set comes with a full background with all the elements, two separate floral corners and the little elf and snail alone, without the background as well.  I closely hand cropped and flipped just the head and arms of the elf so I could pop her in the boot to look like she's a he (she's got a dress on in the original version) and was pointing out where to stitch.

I've colored it all with Copics, with a silver gel pen on the "needle" and I've cut the whole shebang out with my new Antique Frame set by Penny Black and pierced the eye of the needle so I could thread some of the twine I'd wound on the wooden spool through the holes. 



So yeah, what about the dimensional boot?  No, I didn't saw my shoe in half, it all started out with the dealie they stick in the toes of boots so they don't get crushed in the box and some scrap leather I'd purchased at Britex in SF eons ago.  Obviously I used the unprinted side.  Yikes!



I really had no plan as to how this was gonna go.  Here's the stuff I began to assemble.  I began cutting pieces of leather with stitched dies so it would give the appearance of actual sewn pieces.  I stretched and taped the pieces to the form with Sookwang tear tape.  That stuff is strong but still allowed me to re position my pieces if needed.  I punched holes and added eyelets for the shoe laces.  I had a pack of corrugated paper that I taped to two thicknesses of black foam for the sole and used seam binding stapled over fairly heavy wire to go between the sole and boot itself.  As you can see above, that form has quite a curve to it, the sole had to be somewhat flexible.



Here's a side view.  I'd cut a slit in the card board toe base so I could add the images and matting.  Since it's only the toe of the boot, the eyelet pieces were longer and allowed me to tape the end to the end of the base of my project.  I trimmed the corrugated pieces Starkist tuna in a pouch display packs use for reinforcement and added another mat underneath the boot.  I used another stitched tag die and strung it on the shoe lace which is actually a jewelry bag drawstring I pulled out and dyed with Copic re-inkers to look like those I'd colored the image. 


I thought the whole project had a masculine air about it and might be cute for a birthday or anniversary 'prise for my man which is why I turned that elf in the boot into a boy.  Since the back of the boot is actually open, you can stick a little gifty back there, and I got a kick out the the punny sentiment I used.  (It was late when I finished.  What can I say?)

Okay, then.  This post took me almost as long to write as it did to finish the project.  (JK!)  Hopefully you're not bored to tears. It's been awhile since I did anything this involved and it felt good.  Hope you like.

Be sure to check out the lovely projects by my Stella Sisters and please come play along. This challenge runs through Saturday July 14th.


Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (current challenge runs through July 14th)





34 comments:

  1. Gosh Donna.....what a fabulous and detailed project. I love it. Stunning use of the images, brought to life through your 3D creations. Fabulous!
    Laine
    xx

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  2. Wow!!!!! LOVE it!!!
    So beutiful and sweet And wonderful creation and great design !!!
    Thank you so much for entering our ATG challenge at
    Through The Craft Room Door
    this week. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
    Hugs Cicci
    DT member at TTCRD
    Cicci With The Pen {Welcome to follow my blog}

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  3. Fabulous creation! So innovative!

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  4. I am in awe - I thought you boot was real at the start, just can't believe you made it, totally awesome Donna. What a magical, imaginative and beautifully created project :) xx

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  5. Amazing Donna! I am in awe over this creation! Fabulous! So creative! Love it! Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Gloria

    http://purpleglocreations.blogspot.com

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  6. Excuse me while I pick up my jaw off the floor... Gosh, Donna, this is fricking amazing!! So much awesomeness going on, I don't know where to start... Your coloring of this creatively collaged image look spectacular, like a children's story book illustration. And I thought you sacrificed an old boot for this project when I first saw the pic at the top. Didn't realize that you made the boot, too! Your idea of using different parts of different digis in such a creative way is so clever, and I'm amazed at the skills with which you bring your ideas to life like this. The whole project is MAGIC! Hats off to you for this great project!! Thank you so much for this AWESOME inspiration for the mid-challenge post at Aurora Wings today. Mitzi xxx

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  7. Oh my gosh... this is fabulous! I can't believe you even made that boot! WOW! This is truly amazing! Thanks for sharing it with us at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends!
    Sandy DT

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  8. Wowzer this looks amazing you have done a awesome job of this Thank you for sharing with us over here today at the Classic Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Michelle DT Owner/Admin for http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/

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  9. My gosh, this is an incredible creation, lots of creative energies going on and I love the results. So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas.

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  10. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW.
    What an absolute amazing creation. You are just so clever to do this. I have never seen anything like. Amazing. Wonderful incredible and stunning. Thank you for sharing with us over here at "A Perfect Time To Craft" and best of luck with your entry.

    Annette DT for http://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/


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  11. I hope you enter this beauty in Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge.
    Annette
    You can enter on this link.....

     https://morgansartworldopenchallenge.blogspot.com/<br

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  12. Oh I am glad I came back again to your blog, I cannot stop looking at this little beauty.
    Thank you for sharing with us here today at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Annette DT Registered Owners/Admin for World Wide Open Design Team Challenge

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  13. Oh my goodness! This is simply the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Donna it is awesome! I keep looking at every little detail and just love it. You are one talented lady!!!!
    Sooo glad you stopped it into the front porch at 613 Avenue Create.
    Hugs Sheryl xx

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  14. The word that comes to mind is just plain and simple 'WOW'!!! What an amazing project. To keep this comment short, I'm just going to say that I just love EVERYTHING about it :-) I keep going back for one more look. It's stunning!
    Also, thank you for playing along with us at Crafty Gals Corner.
    Have a wonderful day.
    Hugs
    Lena

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  15. okay, you know this is creative as all get out, don't you? I thought that was a real shoe! This project just turned out impossibly cute Donna!

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  16. Wow Donna! This is totally an awesome project! I love it! Thank you so much for joining us in our challenge at Crafty Gals Corner. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.

    Judy Crafty Gals Corner DT
    Don't Mess With Me, I'm Scrappy {My Blog}

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  17. Wow Donna! Had to pop over to see how you did this. It's just wowzerrrssssz amazing, stunnimg and so bloomin clever! I just love it and yes I read the whole post lol. Ever thought of becoming a shoe maker??? Lol. Very talented Donna!

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  18. Absolutely thrilled you have entered this amazing project in our challenge today. Brilliant and clever work. I love it.
    Thank you for sharing with us over here at Morgan's Artworld Challenge, best of luck with your entry.

    Annette DT for  http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com.au/<br

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  19. What a lot of work, Donna, but so worth it! I love it!

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  20. Thank you for sharing with us over here at Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Arlene DT for

    http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/

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  21. Oh my goodness didn't expect you made the boot too, amazing creation, cute and brilliant too.
    Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
    luv
    Debby

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  22. Ok - I have to award this the most amazing idea and execution I have ever seen! I can't imagine how your mind works... if it wasn't for your written description, I wouldn't have had a clue. So glad I follow your posts!
    ~ginny
    RubberMAD

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  23. Oh WOW Donna, what a fabulous and very creative creation, I totally love it! Thank you for sharing with us over at Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry. Love to see you join in each month. Thank you.

    Sherry DT for http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/

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  24. FABulous project..Thank you for sharing with us over here today at the Classic Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Chrissy DT   http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/...

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  25. It is so tender!!, very original!!
    Angela, DT for http://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/

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  26. Wow super creative and super cute!

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  27. Fabulous creation Donna! Thank you for sharing with us over here at Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry. Love to see you join in each month.
    Thank you.

    Judy DT for
    http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/

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  28. Out of this world Donna, love how real the boot looks, great project and love the AW image too perfect. Thanks for joining us at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, good luck and hope to see you again.
    Denise (Owner of LPOCF)

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  29. This is a great project. Loving the boot. Thank you for sharing with us over here at "A Perfect Time To Craft" and best of luck with your entry.

    Angela DT for http://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/

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  30. Cette création est magnifique.
    Je suis sous le charme... d'un tel savoir-faire.
    Bravo !
    Bises.
    MaryannG

    This creation is beautiful.
    I'm under the spell ... of such know-how.
    Bravo!
    Hugs.
    MaryannG

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  31. What an amazing project! Love how you have created that shoe. Thank you for joining us at Altered Eclectics this month, Jane (DT) :) x

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Thanks for making my day!