Saturday 31 December 2011

Happy New Year!

I've been playing with color on this the last day of the year. The first thing I always need to make is my wonderful Sister in Law's birthday card for the 6th & that generally becomes the 'birthday design' for everyone thru the year. It might be a bit similar to last years card, bright scribbled color, but I'll tweek it as I go.



first few layers on 2 pieces of A4, 3 blue/green acrylics with a few pieces of paper from my bits box, gold paint added here & there then carmine ink (carmine, what a color! thought it was red from the bottle as i hadn't used it for years, what a surprise!) sprayed thru one of those small thin spray bottles using a found cardboard 'stencil'. I used to dislike circles, in the garden or in my work, maybe they're too perfect? But since watching Ro Bruhn & Roben Marie Smith over the last couple of years inspire me with accessible messy circles I thought I'd have a go. The 'grownup color' of Burnt Umber is Chinese ink, brought back by  my SIL from China a few years ago & i finally had courage to open the tube! More colors to explore if the courage holds ;)

I didn't want to be precious or anything but i did scan the right one in to the computer before i carried on.




I added a thin wash of white poster paint rubbing it in with my fingers a la a confident approach, then colored all over round & about with oil pastels but only the caran d'ashe (sp!) actually smoosh well. The above pic is with flash & it's highlighted the earlier gold, oh for some daylight! I ruined, temporarily i hope, 2 thin black markers, then tried a biro till that stopped working then used a pencil for circling & doing a kind of backwards writing/scribble with my left hand, just an opposite move of how right handers write 'normally' I'm lucky to be able to write both ways with both hands, Leo de V I am not! But I can do a scribble ;) Some stamping with a coffee cup heat protector, too. Love the texture when using bits ofskelatised leaves.

So, i'll cut these up, reassemble & make cards & collage, & look forward to the freedom of making more next year.

Heres's to a fabulous 2012, hoping for a wonderfully happy new year & that we all get a little of what we wish for.

Lots of Love

20 comments:

Heloise said...

Love all your mark making. Will make great cards. I too have a Sister in Law with a birthday on the 6th as well as her daughter.
wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Suztats said...

Wishing you a New Year filled with everything that brings you Joy!

Carole Reid said...

Happy New Year to you, Emma. I'm so glad we met in blogland this year.
Here's to 2012!

Jen xo said...

lwhat beautiful colors and layers Emma,,,
Hope your 2012 is everything you want it to be...

ju-north said...

Happy New Year to you and yours. May it be very creative and productive!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Happy new year Emma ... hope it's a great year. Carry on ... just the way you are ... you are lovely! xx

Fenland Textile Studio said...

I love the colours you have used. Happy New Year. Here's to a creative 2012. Angela x

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Emma. Do you take part in the sketchbook challenge? It seems you had the idea for this month before they did - take a look, it's doodling!

Ro Bruhn said...

Love the colour Emma. Have a Happy creative 2012.

Anonymous said...

Loving these colors and patterns, wow! you are having some fun. More, more. xox Corrine

Su said...

Beautiful colours and patterns. Happy New Year!

mano said...

happy new year to you and your family!

suziqu's thread works said...

Emma I can tell that you are really enjoying this card creation. You are such a talent.
May this New Year fill your heart with many happy creative hour of fun and happiness!
Thanks for all of your kind comments always too!
Love and happiness to you,
Suzy

Maggi said...

Great cards Emma. Have a happy, healthy and creative 2012.

Linda’s Textiles said...

Gorgeous colour - hope your 2012 is everything you hope for.

ArtPropelled said...

Glorious cards Emma! Happy New Year!

Jill said...

Love reading about your process as much as looking at the results - such an adventure - and here's to an adventurous 2012 to you.

Jan said...

Love these colors and how you use them. always a pleasure to stop in here and see what creative things you are up to and to get inspired by you. Hope this year brings you many good things.

Anonymous said...

Just love that pink and turquoise combination. So bright and uplifting at this grey time of year. Happy New Year!

layers said...

very colorful indeed.. a great start to the new year.. a wishing you a happy new year too.