Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Smeared and Smudged DT Throwdown #4


WOW!  It's the 4th DT Throwdown at the Smeared and Smudged Forum and I'm joining my Minion Sisters Teri and Croms to proudly represent Haunted Design House.  The theme is Leather and Lace chosen by US 'cause we won last time, WOOHOO! and I've made a Butterfly Queen Dress Form Art Doll.  It started with a papier mache dress form which I gessoed and painted with acrylic.  Hubby drilled a hole through which I inserted a wooden spoon to fit in a spool base.



I've been collecting printed leather remnants from the fabulous Britex Fabrics in San Francisco and chose this piece for the dress.  (That's a chair seat for point of reference as to the size.)



I tried to make a sort of pattern with tissue paper before cutting into it.  Scared the crap out of me, to be honest, a seamstress I'm not, but the lace conveniently hid the seaming and I was on a roll.  Wouldn't mind one like this myself.


With the theme covered, I proceeded with the stamps.  All are from the Specimen Jar Set by Smeared Ink.  I printed the butterflies in different sizes on transparency film and thought I'd be able to color them with Copics, but the colors were too pale. Then tried Alcohol Inks with a brush but it looked streaky.  Finally I just dripped colors on the acetate and WooHoo!  Wasn't prepared for the lack of control you have as the colors mix and blend, but the final effect was pretty cool.  then I cut them out, attached little antennae and wire so they could fly.  I cropped and printed the lady to use only her head and neck.


She was printed several times, colored with Copics, fussy cut and layered for a bit of dimension.  Then I glued her to the front of the spoon.


The back served to be more of a problem.  The stamp had no rear view.  I considered making some rosette or something to cover the back of the spoon but didn't want to interfere with her wings, so I flipped the image and a bunch of just her hair, printed, colored, cut and pieced it together to form the back of her head.  I have to say I was really, really REALLY thrilled with how it came out.



Finally, the spool just wasn't a big enough base so I added a round box cover, cut more of the leather (with a Nestie, who knew?) and embellished it as you see here.  When I was done I did the "Happy Dance" and so did my teamies who were sweatin' it waiting for me to finish.  LOL  Please visit HDH to see their fab projects and also the Throwdown Post for more info and inspiration by the rest of the participating teams.  We all are bringing our "A" game and every team should consider themselves a winner.  However, there is a VOTE which starts tomorrow around noon EDT so be sure and support your fave!  You must be a member of the Smeared and Smudged Forum to vote, but it's free and fun (just ask) so why the heck wouldn't you?

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge, Simon Says Stamp and Show Color Challenge, Left of Center Challenge (hoping this is LOC enough?), the Stampotique Trimmed Stamp Challenge #97, the Going Grey With Scrap-Creations Insects or Animals, LEJ Designs Mystical, Magical or Mysterious, TTRCD Anything Goes, {Pin}spirational CHallenge #54, the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Anything Goes Challenge, the Art With No Boundaries Linky Challenge and the DLArt April Linky Party

28 comments:

  1. absolutely stunning. Been waiting up to see your masterpiece lol

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  2. Amazingly fabulous! I am truly impressed.... Must go look again...
    Hugs,
    Susan

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  3. This is pure gorgeousness! I adore the leather ( I have some tie dyed leather from SF, too), and the dress form idea is brilliant! The butterflies are perfect, and I must try your technique. So clever and beautifully executed. Go HDH!

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  4. oh my goodness this is just stunning! what a clever idea and it has turned out brilliantly xx

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  5. how wonderful. just beautiful. I love your project she is truly lovely.

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  6. I am such a two dimensional crafter....lol...
    I am in awe!
    This is a wonderful project and I am glad that you found {PIN}spiration with the {PIN} Gals!

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  7. As usual Donna it is absolutely stunning and original. You are a creative genius, you deserve a wee tipple after that creation. x

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  8. Donna...your dress form is stunning. I totally love all of the detail you have packed into this project! The dress form itself is jut amazing. I love the dress...WOW! The lady's colored with Copic head is really wonderfully done. The black is such a great accent color on this piece! LOVE LOVE the butterflies and their dripped color on acetate. They are gorgeous and look so beautiful fluttering about your fashionable lady. Love the base as well. Thanks so much for sharing your art with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

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  9. What a very detailed piece of art, Donna! Just popped over from Stampotique to check out your submission, and I love it! A lot of work, I am sure, but well worth your efforts! Good luck in the draw!

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  10. Thank you for joining in challenge #50 - Magical, mystical or mysterious over on the LEJ Designs Challenge Blog.
    What a great piece of work. Love the leather you have used and the gorgeous colours. The butterflies and her wings really do look amazing!
    We hope to see you entering more of our weekly challenges over on the blog, there are always great prizes up for grabs.

    Hugs Lisa xxxx LEJ Designs DT Member

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  11. WOW WOW WOWZERS! This is gorgeous, girl! I swear I used to own a dress just like that. The design, details, colors, textures....everything is simply amazing. The butterflies put it right over the top!

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  12. Wow! Fabulous project! Love the colors! Thanks for joining us for the Simon Says Stamp challenge!

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  13. Such an amazing creations, so many beautiful elements and textures and stunning colours!!

    Thanks so much for joining Simon Says Stamp challenge,
    hugs
    Heather xx

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  14. I new your piece was going to be FAB, but WOW! this just blows me away! Your doll form is exquisite Donna.... well worth the wait :)

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  15. This is so cool! So creative! Wonderful colors and butterflies! Thanks for joining us at {PIN}spirational Challenges!

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  16. Donna this is such a cool project! the colors, the butterflies, and how you did the back of her hair is awesome!

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  17. WOW! Extremely clever execution of your gorgeous project! Your art doll looks AMAZING! Did you actually get your fingers inky? I may faint! I love how your brain works to enable you to make such fantastic pieces of art!

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  18. Wow, what a sensational creation! Lots to look at and enjoy! Thanks for joining this week's {Pin}spirational Challenge!

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  19. Stunning creation...Lots of detail.Thanks for sharing the creation with us at {Pin)spirational Challenges this week.

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  20. wow this is fabulous thanks for joining in over at No. 50 - Mystical, Magical or Mysterious Over on the LEJ Designs Challenge Blog. LEJ DT

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  21. Wow... That is a lot of details. Stunning. Thanks for joining us at Stampotique this week.
    Sarinda

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  22. Wowie! What a stunning work of art! So many fab details, the butterflies are just amazing and I love how you created the back of her hair....too cool. Thanks for sharing your art with us this week over at Left of Center Challenges.

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  23. She's he is just WONDERFUL!!! I loved reading your process...it can be so so scary! Lol! Love the fabrics and textiles you got your hands on...fabulous dark colors! Good luck! Thanks for sharing your true colors with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

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  24. what a gorgeous piece, so much to look at!!
    thanks for playing with us at Stampotique Designer challenge ;)
    france

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  25. This is so AWESOME I love it. So unique so YOU!! great colors
    Thank you for joining my DL.ART Thankful Thursday Anything Goes May Linky Party
    DIANA L.
    http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com

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  26. The only word I have is....AWESOME!!! I would have been scared to cut that beautiful leather too! Such a nice piece! Great job.

    Thank you for playing along with our Designers Challenge at Stampotique. Hope to see you again.

    Jenn
    DT

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  27. So so cool!!! Thanks SO MUCH for participating in our {PIN}SPIRATIONAL challenge!! Hope to see you play along again!!!

    ~DEANNE~
    A Little Bit O' Paper

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  28. Donna, This so up my ally and I just love it. It's a great piece and it was nice to see it from all sides. Thank you for sharing this in the April issue of the Art With No Boundaries Ezine. Truly inspirational.

    You will also be getting an email from me later today with the sentiment that was being offered as a prize. I hope you will enjoy using it and I look forward to seeing what you create with it.
    :) Chris / CS Designs

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Thanks for making my day!