Thursday, January 10, 2013

"Persevere"

Persevere- 1. the act of steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, or continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition, or discouragement. 2. to be steadfast. 3. to continue in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
Okay...so why am I giving you a vocabulary lesson? Well, when I first read the challenge for the Wendy Vecchi Yahoo Group this time of "A Stencil and Some Stamping", I thought to myself, "Oh this will be so easy!" NOT! It lead me to thinking, dang it! I don't want to think! I just want to do! But alas, my inner self won over, as usual, and I had to think. Next thing you knew I had picked a word...a dreaded word...the one thing I said I would not buy in to. So many in Blog Land are picking a word...a mantra....a manifesto....a resolution! Why? Well, because we ALL want to better ourselves....right?
Well, I've thought about this word a lot, and think I probably need a good one to constantly remind me of certain things when I feel ah...not so good about things. Yes, sometimes I get a little down on myself. It's something I am not to good at talking about. I am usually a very upbeat kind of person, but sometimes the blues get me too. So what to do about those times? PERSEVERE! I can do it, and YOU can too! Whatever the "IT" might be.
I gessoed a jumbo sized manila tag (#10) to have a white base and some added strength.
I thought I would see if Alcohol Ink would work to color Wendy's yummy Embossing Paste. It does! I used Sandal. I applied this onto Wendy's Brick Stencil.
I trimmed the bottom portion of the stencil so it would match up to the top part I already stenciled, and added more paste to it. LOVE this stuff! After it dried, I inked the edges and bricks using Pumice Stone and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.
I painted up a piece of Clearly For Art.
I turned the piece of CFA over and stamped the Butterfly in Jet Black Archival. I gave this a quick dry, then cut it out. Using the heat tool again, I shaped the butterfly wings. LOVE this stuff too!
Using a fab sentiment by Wendy, a painted it all up and stamped in onto my bricks for a graffiti look. I also turned the tag upside down so I could use the hole to hang something from. I traced around the letter using a Black Glaze Pen so that they would really pop.
On an Art Part piece, I stamped the Ruler and Stamping Sign, using Jet Black. I gave this a nice inking with Walnut Stain.
Another Art Part, The Lady, was painted with Pitch Black Dabber, and then I found this Cosmo Crickett Everyday Words For An Artist in my stash. Love what they say! I decided to get funky and I covered her in some choice words. I was shocked I did this...maybe I was up to late. Needless to say, I wasn't sure I liked it. I also made her a heart and painted it up, and computer generated the word PERSEVERE.
Those stark white words kept bothering me, so I inked them up with Black Soot and then coated her with Crackle Accents. The Crackle caused the Ink to bleed and blend. I LOVED it! Now I love her! You can still read everything.
More CFA was stamped, and this time with a sign post.
More painting on the Post. I cut it out and heated it up to change the direction of the white sign. I stamped the colorful sign with 'Art', and computer generated 'Boring' for the white one. I put everything on the tag, and added lots of Idea-ology metal and some other metal from my stash.
 
 
 
 
Talk about old....I could barely find some links on some of the stamps I've used for this, and I couldn't find one for the butterfly. Sad...an oldie but a goodie. So, I am also submitting this to Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge for "Embrace The Old", and Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog Challenge for "Favorite Stamp". 

Supplies:
From My Stash-  Stamper's Anonymous Art With Wings Stampgear charms, art girl charm, hangers, light bulb brad


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!



36 comments:

  1. It's just beautiful Anita I really love it and the Persevere word is perfect!! The colors are just wonderful and I love love love that brick background. Well done!!

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  2. Hi Anita, I feel like you sometimes too. I love your well thought out piece . Love the pop,of colour and the embossing in the background. Love the art parts lady too. Tracy x

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  3. Hello Anita
    Oh, how we girls can relate to that dark cloud that we wake up to on times!
    Your Tag/Wall hanging is conceptual in design. The colour palette is very alive, in the use of your primary colours, but interesting that you needed to use Black for your lady, which symbolises a strength as well as sorrow! You extend yourself; as you explain through perseverance, but you have also related much of your feelings though the work.
    Brilliant Anita.
    Smiles:)
    Sue
    PS.You may have forgotten about Top Talent, can you let me know?

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  4. Firstly I love your tag Anita and you are indeed a brilliant artist. This is one of the most expressive tags I've seen - seems like a lot of turmoil with energy alighting. The fabulous brick background sure is not just yet "another brick in the wall"! Great to know you can colour the paste with alcohol ink! I love the graffitti, heart and wings - the technique and those great bold colours are superb. The metal hanging part is fab too. Overall wonderful construction. Follow your heart girl! Nicola xx

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  5. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. Hi Anita, I am sitting here welling up at your post today because I think I could have written the exact same words today - so thank you for doing it instead! I needed something to pick me up and you have done that with the word you chose - I love it!You have expressed your feelings so well through your tag, love the brightness, the darkness and how you bring the two together. You did right to think it through because your result is extraordinary! Hugs, Anne x

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  7. What a wonderful piece! I especially love how you created the brick wall. And using the different paint dabblers on the stamp is so cool!!

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  8. A great result, Anita...love to see how this creation was born...so nice!

    greetings, Alie :-)

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  9. Loving your fab tag hanging. Terrific design and brilliant use of those dabbers. A wonderful arty and inspirational piece Anita. Annette x

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  10. It's wonderful, I love it. I'm glad you stuck with it.

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  11. Wow, girl, you must have smoke coming out of your ears from all that thinking!! This is so fabulous! I love the lamppost and the bricks and the girl and the, well, ALL of it (especially that 'artgirl' charm!). Great job and great word!

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  12. Well Anita you certainly lifted yourself and your followers up from whatever IT was today. This is a very inspiring piece and made by a very creative Artist too.

    I love the whole piece from the fab background, colours.... just everything.

    Thanks for sharing

    Hugs

    Annie xx

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  13. Wow! This is brilliant!!! I love it! Beautiful woman with wings. Gorgerous hanger great idea! And the background is simply captivating.
    Greetings Asia

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  14. Oh, Anita... I love love LOVE the writing on the wall! Literally. And those are the coolest brightest wings... they will take her anywhere. Did I mention I LOVE this!!?!?

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  15. Well done my friend, you did excellent and the use of it all and the saying. Love it

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  16. That is a great saying and a beautiful piece! Great word for the year too.

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  17. Keep your eyes on the prize hun. That plan I sense you have in your mind CAN AND WILL happen (though not necessarily when or how you expect.) Persevere is SUCH a great word and not always the easiest one to live up to but your artwork just keeps on proving how good/imaginative you are. Let me chuck in another word - BELIEVE. In yourself, in your talent, that it will happen. Sending you the hugest of hugs and some very loud applause for this beautiful tag, Jenny xxx

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  18. Анита, это потрясающе! Очень концептуально! И очень идейно :-)

    Anita, this is amazing! Very conceptual! And very ideological :-)

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  19. Love the tag. That lady with the bright angel wings is certainly persevering. I know what you mean by having those down on yourself days-I think it is just part of the creative personality. Its taking stock of your weaknesses while trying to pull out the the little parts of yourself that you are not quite certain about but want to give a try. A little person rebuilding. You know, you can't remodel a home without doing some tearing down. Keep smiling.

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  20. ~That is bloody fabulous... seriously, I LOVE IT... the graffiti? GENIUS! See you soon sweets! x

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  21. This is the coolest tag! I love the art of it as well as the message it conveys. The vibrant colours of her wings and heart are so appealing and a fabulous contrast to the black. I think it's cool that you have to look a bit harder to see what she carries inside her :) The sign post is so whimsical...so glad she has chosen the art path. Persevere is an awesome word and reminds me of the phrase "Feel the fear and do it anyway". Thanks for writing this amazing postand sharing your creativity. Once again, I am in awe of your talent.

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  22. Great project! Persevere--what an awesome, challenging word. Love it.

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  23. Very cool tag, Anita! It's almost here...we leave tomorrow! See you at CHA!!! Be safe in your travels! <3 Candy

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  24. A fab make, love the colours across the wall! Clever..trace x

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  25. Anita: So amazing. You have so much heart in your pieces. I love the sign with the two directions, so fun. Using the paints on the wall was such a great idea. I keep looking at this and can't pick my favorite thing it is a total package. Thought you would appreciate this. I ordered the Hologram Ranger powder after seeing your tag, and it came yesterday in the mail (couldn't find it local) and guess what, it was crushed in the mail. When I opened it, I became a giant hologram myself. So funny, the sparkle likes to migrate. They are sending me more..too funny.. A day in the life of a crafter, eh?

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  26. THIS I love!! Anything I can look to for inspiration is sensational. This is AWESOME!! Your blog is always jam packed with COOL stuff.
    Happy Friday :)

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  27. Wowee Zowee - this is an amazing piece of art. Your step outs are so clear and the different techniques have all given this life and meaning. Thank you!

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  28. Great word! This wall hanging is fantastic! Love all the textures. The wings are amazing. Thanks.

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  29. Wow, really a stunner - your wall hanging is fantastic.

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  30. My sentiment exactly--how perfect--the thought, the stunning artist, the light bulb, the overall composition.....

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  31. Well... persevering buys you Art, clearly, Anita! A stunning hanging, full of complexity and meaning. And Persevere is the word that will take you to your heart's desires, I've no doubt. Mine for this year (arrived at without my permission, but it just turned up) is Believe - and I offer that to you too - I believe you will achieve everything you are pursuing because your creativity and artistry is beyond doubt.
    For now, soak up CHA, and then see where you travel next...
    Alison xx

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  32. This is way past wonderful. I love the way you did the words on your silouhette! (I know I spelled that wrong...and as usual, auto correct is clueless.

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  33. without the lows and highs life would just be a flat line! Loving your very original mixed media moody lady! Thanks for sharing with Simon Says Stamp & Show! Sarah.

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  34. Loved reading this post. I related so well to your words and artwork.

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  35. Anita I love this!! I am inspired now to go to my studio cuz my heart is telling me I can be an artist! Thank you for sharing.
    Sue Fraser

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  36. A wonderful piece, and thank you for entering the Artistic Stamper challenge.

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