Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Sneak Peek #2: Botanical Dream

Please help me welcome our newest illustrator, Asela Hopkins! I am so thrilled to be working with her and her images. When I first saw her "Botanical Dream" set, I knew it was time for me to update my bathroom decor*, the first I'll share today, the rest you'll have to come back to see! This uses one of my favorite images in the set, a potted orchid.** To me, they are the epitome of luxury and elegance.
I really wanted this project to have layers, so we have a sentiment on the front piece of glass, the image in the middle, and a terrific quote in the back. I got this beautiful shadow box at Hobby Lobby (all frames on sale this week, half off, that made this one only 7.50!) It came with the pearl straight pins to tack up your pictures/papers. Such a great look and so easy to commit, being able to change it (uncommit!) whenever you want! I colored the orchids** with the Koh-i-noor pencils. Personally, I always love being given these little hatch marks on an image to show me where to shade, fool proof! :) The texture of the watercolor paper made it a bit difficult to completely blend and get down in all those little nooks (you can't), but I like the way it turned out, wanted the texture to match my background. (It also gave the pot a nice texture to match my rustic tile.) After cutting, the long delicate, stem was very fragile so I taped on a piece of wire to help it stand up right and hold it's shape. I made a a little "L" bracket out of a piece of white CS and adhered it with dimensionals to the back of my image and the bottom on the box in the middle. This gives so much dimension to the project!
I put the "Believe" on the outside so that it would cast a shadow onto the inside quote matte at certain angle, a really cool "floating" effect,"moves as you look at it from different angles. The great thing about stamping on glass? If you mess up, it comes right off with Ultraclean! So stamp with confidence! :) I redid it a couple times until I was completely satisfied with the placement/angle and impression. The quote on the inside is on watercolor paper, stamped in palette Noir. I used my Tearing Edge to create the deckled edges. For a more polished look, use a Nestie rectangle :)
Unfortunately, my photography doesn't do this project justice, looks much better IRL! Hard to get close enough to not get a glare/reflection on the glass, hard to show the shadows of both the potted orchid and the "Believe"Where is Kurtis when you need him??! ;) (if you click on the photo the "Believe" is casting a very large low shadow, other times it looks more like it has been "stamped off".

Don't forget to go drop a comment on Gina's blog for a chance to win this set! More sneak peeks tomorrow at midnight, be there! :)



* Here's what was in there before; almost 5 years of stamping experience, new techniques, a need for change and some fabulous new images inspired the do over! :)


**These orchids come in a variety of colors, you can do an internet search to help you with the colors for your shading, I wanted to do white to match my bathroom theme, and used this pic(which has bits of green, yellow and pink) to help me...I had these classic white dendrobium orchids woven into my hair at my wedding, a wonderful memory :)

27 comments:

  1. OH MY GOODNESS!

    Maybe now I don't wanna show my frame......yours totally rocks! This is really really pretty! I love the simplicity of the black and white!

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  2. Oh, I can just envision a redecorated bathroom using this dreamy set and this would be in there, for shizzle! I love this wall art, Melanie! What a beautiful piece of decor. Awesome work, can't wait to see the rest!

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  3. Wow so breathtaking Melanie!!!

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  4. You never cease to amaze me with your ideas! I just went to Hobby Lobby and stocked up on frames too! LOL! Awesome project, love it!

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  5. Oh wow...stunning! I love the idea of the frame. I'm so excited!

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  6. wow, this is so pretty!! Love that shadow behind the flower pot - it absolutely brings this little plant to life!

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  7. Yes this is beautiful! How sweet and what a great idea for a decor item!

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  8. So pretty as are all your posts. Love your creativity. It is always an inspiration.

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  9. Oh this is so elegant!! Perfect for a bathroom!! love the orchid! just beautiful.

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  10. You always come up with the most amazing decor projects! I love the effect that the watercolor paper has with the pencils.....so artistic!

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  11. Melanie, this is beautiful! Just so elegant and calming! TFS!

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  12. ooohh Mel this is beautiful. You always do these sets up right. Great project. You always make me want to buy the sets you festure.

    Michelle

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  13. WOW, Awesome WORK !!!This is really really Great !

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  14. That picture is going to look wonderful hanging on the bathroom wall! It looks like something you'd find at a nice gift shop.
    Laurie

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  15. Stuning! I love the layered affect and your detailed cutting of that gorgeous orchid! :0)

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  16. Your shadow box is awesome. Such a nice elegant touch, it looks like it belongs in a spa! :-) Very cool dimension!

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  17. You are Amazing girl!!! Beautiful frame!!!

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  18. This is a great project. I can't wait to see the full set. Thanks for sharing your talent.

    Kristina G

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  19. This is such a great project Melanie!! And boy am I psyched about this set - I've been trying to find a great orchid stamp (my favorite flower) and this is it, and I LOVE that Thoreau quote too!! Yeah!!!

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  20. Gorgeous, gorgeous frame!! How exciting that Asela is with GK now. I must go give her some blog *love* as well!!

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