PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Monday 12 March 2012

Fluttering Fritillary Flourish Alphatag

I have based the second of my three Alphatags for March's Baroque Guild swap upon the Fritillary butterfly. It is not that easy for a non-specialist like myself to identify the species of butterfly in any particular stamp but I did try to select a stamp from amongst the Chocolate Baroque butterflies which seemed to approximate the Fritillary's markings & wing shape. Their colouration tends toward the red-orange-yellow section of the colour wheel & I coloured my two butterflies accordingly using artistic licence so as to produce 'Fritillary-type' butterflies.

front of tag 
close-up of larger butterfly showing shaped wings
& sparkle of glittered body 
close-up showing smaller butterfly & background 
back of tag showing tone
on tone stamping
close-up showing paper pierced scallops &
inked edges of theme panel
In the last two photos the dark cardstock is a very deep chocolate brown with VersaFine Vintage Sepia stamped flourishes & the lighter cardstock is a pale cream.

The background was created by lightly sponging Antique Linen Distress Ink in repeated layers using a mask for selected areas & layers. The image was stamped twice so that the butterflies only could be cut out, coloured a second time & then shaped prior to attaching to the whole image. The back is my usual tone on tone stamping using a co-ordinating stamp from the same set.

Recipe
Stamps Chocolate Baroque UA5SP0357 Butterfly Flourish Swirls.
Inks VersaFine Vintage Sepia (butterflies & flourishes); Antique Linen (sponged background) & Tea Dye (inking various cardstock edges) Distress Inks.
Colouring Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils with paper stumps & Sansodor; Ice Stickles Glitter Glue (Gold Ice).
Marker Staedtler Triplus Fineliner.
Cardstock White & assorted colours in various finishes from stash.
Mask Tim Holtz idea-ology - Floret.
Die Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Tag & Bookplates.
Punch Woodware (scalloped squares).
The gems are Anita's & the cord is from an old embroidery kit.

22 comments:

Miranda said...

Hi Paula, like your beautiful butterfly tag and the butterfly really looks like the real one! I've a butterfly catalogue where I can look for 'real'colours sometimes but most of the time I only use my imagination......limitless, warm greet Miranda

GinaA said...

This is gorgeous Paula, the colours are perfect and the faded background sets the butterflies off so well. The reverse side of the tag is so dramatic and your paper piercing always looks good.

Unknown said...

This is really spectacular!! The butterflies look magical and there are so many subtle details! What a delightful project to view. I kept scrolling back up to take another 'last' peek;).

Gorgeous! xx

jackiescrafts said...

Hi Paula I love this tag but then I would as it has butterflies on it and it's in my favourite colours too.
I love how you have given the butterfly dimension with the shaped wings and it all looks very elegant

Jackie x

Lorraine said...

OMG OMG OMG this is absolutely stunning,gorgeous,Beautiful,Brilliant i can go on I love the background of the tag with its soft tones then the butterflies just pop with their colours and the detail on them is amazing sweetie this is defo one of my faves xx

Sandra said...

Beautiful tag Paula. The colours are perfect. I love how you make the back of your tags a work of art also! Sandra

veronica said...

really beautiful Paula - love the colours and the misty background is great.

brenda said...

Another beautiful tag Paula. Very delicate inking and shading beautifully carried through to the butterflies.

I've not got any of those Chocolate Baroque stamps but I feel I need to add them to my wish list as they seem to have some beautifully elegant images.

You have inspired me to go have a play with my new Penny Black butterfly which is still in the packing. When it arrived It was rather larger than I realised from the catalogue and am still deciding how best to use it.

B x

Aquarius said...

One fortunate 'swapper' is going to be lucky to receive this beautiful Fritallary tag - great choice of colours

~ Ali Robertson ~ said...

Absolutely stunning creation Paula, love the butterfly...very well design tag..LOVE it

thank you for all the wonderful comments you leave on my blog much appreciated

ali x

Heather said...

A beautiful tag Paula, such wonderful colours, your inking and sponging are awesome. Your design is fabulous and your Fritillary stunning and beautifully colour.
hugs
Heather xx

Pink Dandelion said...

Beautiful tag Paula, love your little masterpieces. The sponging is a great effect and your butterflies look like fritillaries to me. Debs xx

Kathryn said...

Stunning :) xx

Elizabeth Allan said...

Where to start Paula?! This butterfly tag floats with beauty. I am so glad you added the extra photos showing the dimension and sparkle. The background is exquisite. Great blending and masking!

xxxtglxxx said...

Paula, this is a work of art! :) Stunning tag, really great design thats so well balanced. The inking and shading are a great contrast to the vibrancy of the gorgeous butterflies. They really look like they are flying off the tag :)

I think this is my favourite so far, such a gentle effect in the background and really classy. It truly made my eyes pop when i saw it :)

Hope you have a great weekend :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

Annie said...

this tag is gorgeous Paula! I love the warm colours and the touch of sparkle on the butterfly. enjoy your weekend. hugs, annie x

Kim Dellow said...

Gorgeous, lovely tag. Kim

Cathy A said...

Paula this is stunning, the masking works so well in the background and complements the swirls on the central image. love how you have raised the butterflies too.

Jill said...

So beautiful! I love the vibrant colors of the butterflies and the beautiful dimension. They look as if they've just landed on your tag! HUGS!

Jean said...

Truly beautiful butterflies and a lovely masked background. Jean x

Anonymous said...

This is stunning Paula.
Shirley x

Wiccababe said...

this has to be my favourite so far Paula - I'm a sucker for butterflies, and I love the autumnal shades you've chosen - pure class!
Debz
x