Elements of Nature at Stamps and Stencils

Hi everyone, 'Elements of Nature' is our next challenge over at Stamps and Stencils this month. Autumn is our talented host this time around and here's how she describes her challenge. Whether you are inspired by the glorious world around us with the changing seasons, or tempted to use elements of nature in your art work, this month we'd love to see your nature inspired entries.  Anything goes as long as you include a natural element in your art which can be either stamped or an actual item!  As always you need to include stamping or stenciling.

This is my take on a herbarium - 'a systematically arranged collection of dried plants'...with a good sprinkling of artistic license thrown in!

I started off by removing the glass from a cheap frame from the Range and found some book text paper which just fitted in the background. I used versamark through a stencil and clear embossing powder on the paper. This gives the paper a translucency showing the text on the other side.

I washed a coat of zesty zing fresco paint over it and dried it. The frame was white so I painted it black and heat embossed a leaf image in gold all over it before aging with more black fresco paint and a tickle of treasure gold.

Next I used a leaf stencil with snowflake paint all over the background....

...before 'bump' stencilling in shades of green over the same area.

Next a walk with the dog to pick some seedheads from a plant that I know as cow parsley (not to be confused with hemlock, which does look similar). Colour them with gold sprays and embossing powder.

To alter the skeleton leaf I stencilled versamark through a stencil before carefully heat embossing in gold. Some white and brown ink splashes to age the piece and stamped identification labels finish this exhibit...

Please hop across and see what the talented team have created and hopefully inspire you to join in with the challenge. As always thanks for stopping by x