Sunday, February 19, 2012

Mardi Gras:Dare To Be Unique

 It's that time of year again...Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (Carnival for some).  The overindulgence of eating or other festivities, held before the fasting Lenten season, and heralded by the masses in New Orleans, and now in smaller stature in so many other places. People get all dressed up in costumes and masks and party down until the sun comes up for several days on end. I've never been or ever even partaken in any of these festivities, but I love to see the beautiful attire worn by the women. The sparkle, the color, the texture, the beading, are all wonderful! Once again, the J. Peterman Owner's Manual has inspired me, and I have found myself searching the TV guide for reruns of Seinfeld.
I've been sick most of the week, so it took me awhile but, I made this tag "dare to be unique" to reflect the over the top celebration using Wendy Vecchi Art Parts and stamps, and a few Tim dies. The current challenge on the Everything Wendy Vecchi Yahoo Group, is to make a "custom epoxy embellishment" using a memo pin. I made two using gold foil from a doily. One is in the top of the mask, and the other is the actual grip to the mask. I have never used the image of the eyes and mask before...hard to believe as it is super fantastic...but I will be utilizing it more after this. I had so much fun making this mask and creating Jade's face (yes, this is her name). The pictures are not showing this well. I tried all sorts of different lighting, locations, etc, and just couldn't manage to capture this the way I wanted.
I will be submitting  this tag to the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge of "anything goes".
I think I have had this paper over 15 years...honestly! I adhered this ancient paper to a jumbo sized tag (my fav because there is more space to fill up) I stamped Wendy's dots in Mustard Seed Distress Ink and heat embossed it with the same color.
All the Art Parts and die cut Grunge was painted, sanded, and inked with Pumice Stone. I punched holes in the lamppost's iron handles for a filigree look and also to hold a braided sash. I adhered yellow vellum to the back of it were the glass would go and covered it with Crackle Accents. The picture so do not do it justice.
Here is the background before I gaudied it all up. I love Wendy's parts!!!
The former plant/leaf/fern parts are now feathers. I wanted a more metallic and shiny look, so I also gave them a coat of Smooch Ink then Rock Candy Distress Stickles. Mr. Enamored was coated also.
Jade started to come to life, first with flesh color. After a coat of Snow Cap Acrylic Paint, I ran one coat of Tea Dye Distress Stain followed by Dried Marigold. The eyes and nose and mouth combination were stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink.The crown and wings were painted and then coated with Rock Candy Distress Crackle, then inked with Pumice Stone. I used the foil scrap to cover her head, give her a collar, and make the 2 epoxy embellishments (the cross is in the very center). I love that stuff! Her mask was covered in green rhinestones. I didn't have purple, so I used the Purple Twilight Alcohol Ink to color larger rhinestones for the mask, as well as the ones in the 2 black flower, AND the beaded chain for her necklace. The black flourishes are left over scraps from another project, and I coated them with Rock Candy Stickles. I added a swivel clasp to the watch handle, the stamped and handwritten sentiments, and some ribbon.
 
 

Supplies:
Wilton: Gold Doily
Petaloo: Dazzlers Florettes
From My Stash: ribbon, rhinestones, patterned paper, white cardstock, eyelet

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!



21 comments:

  1. Anita, Anita, Anita! You just keep outdoing yourself! You are amazing, as is this piece. I am orry to hear that you, too, were under the weather this week. So many of my design team sisters have been. I have been battling a head cold these past two weeks and know how exhausted I was the first week,especially. Please take care. (I love Seinfeld!) Yvonne

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  2. Simply stunning, so inspired thank you XOXO Zoe

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  3. wow Anita this is certainly unique!! love all the layers FAB :) lainey x

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  4. Anita, this is absolutely wonderful! So many layers, so much to look at... If every picture tells a story... then this would be a really exciting one! You have outdone yourself again my friend... a stunning little work of art! Anna xx

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  5. Fabulous, so much detail on this piece and I love how you have used the stamps and art parts. Hope you are feeling better soon. Tracy x

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  6. This is stunning! Such a unique use of die cuts. I have to try umbrella man with the lamppost. Great combo! Thanx so much for sharing.

    KimMJ
    bast830@comcast.net

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  7. Anita...this is an AWESOME tag! I love the colors and all of the detail you've done! WOW...that woman just JUMPS off of the tag at you! Love how you emphasized her eyes using Wendy's stamp to make her mask. COOL!! There are just so many wonderful elements on this tag!!!! LOVE THEM ALL! <3 Candy

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  8. Love this mardi gras theme. It's absolutely stunning!! You're unique for sure!

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  9. Love it!!!! You are sooo talented

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  10. What a whole lot of eye candy, Anita! WOWZA! SO many great elements... my favorite is the bejeweled mask around her eyes... I can't stop admiring it!

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  11. Holy moly, Anita, this is a total work of art! A ton of work yes, but a joy to work on, I'm sure. So many fab details and each and every element works to support the overall design. I just love all the splashy sparkles and colors. A really phenomenal piece.

    Hope you will be feeling better pronto!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  12. This is so wonderfully designed and perfect for Mardi Gras! Thanks for joining the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show.

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  13. How incredible!! wow what a awesome piece...you shine and this is awesome!

    susan s.

    p.s. hope you are feeling better

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  14. be proud...very proud.
    this is spectacular..
    the face is fab!
    awesome job!

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    1. Well now I am...since you commented on my blog!!! Thank you!!! You inspire us all!!! Your products are wonderful and the new releases are rock'n awesome! You perked me up tonight for sure...been sick. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

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  15. This piece of art is just outstanding!!! Beautiful!!!

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  16. Hi Sweetie, sorry to hear that you're feeling poorly ... hope you'll be feeling better soon!

    But WoW, you sure don't create 'sick!' This amazing tag is over-the-top gorgeous ... simply fabulous. So much wonderful stuff to look at it ... I love it!

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  17. This floored me. So creative and amazing!

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  18. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Holy moley...I am seriously sitting here with my jaw dropped. This. Is. AWESOME! All of the lovely details, I just have to keep going back to look at it. Fabulous, all around! Hope you are feeling better! Hugs! :)

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  19. What a beautiful creation!!!! I just recently joined the Wendy Vecchi Group.....Im very good friends with Eileen Bellamo and LOVE her ART....Yours is equally as GORGEOUS!!!!!

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