Monday, September 30, 2013

Week Forty-Five: Lavender

After this week there are only seven projects until the end of my 52 weeks challenge! I can't believe I it, I hadn't noticed that until today. It's gone so quickly, and I certainly have more than seven projects left on my list of ideas, so don't worry, I'll still be quilling and posting after the challenge is complete, just maybe not as often.

This week we've got some lovely lavender cards.



On the bigger one they're growing wild...



...and on the smaller one we've got a bunch of them on a nice metallic purple background.




These are lovely and simple, yet all those little purple dots end up taking a lot of time! I didn't expect they'd be all that time consuming.




They're very softly feminine. I loved the different shades of purple I used in this card, the purple section of my paper supplier's range is one of my favourites (the blue range is the best though - and I seem to be constantly needing more green!)


Next week we've got another 3D quilling project inspired by a furry friend I made a few weeks ago...

Remember that even if I am nearly done with my year of quilling challenge I am happy to hear any suggestions you have of other quilling project ideas you'd like to see me tackle. I am also happy to do some more 'how to' posts with step by step photos by request, I might do a how to on another 3D project I have planned for around Christmas time.

xnata

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Week Forty-Four: Dragon

I'm finally fitting in another request subject this week, and it's one that two people actually suggested. Let's see if I have met people's expectations shall we?


He's red and scary, at least for a dragon that hasn't got his fangs out. And he's got a bit of a belly on him. But you're intimidated, right? Even the cute dragons can breathe fire.


Here he is before he became all colourful. I went with red as it's the colour I immediately imagine when I think of dragons. I suppose he'd look equally lovely in green or blue.



I know he's not in line with my usual style, but I like to be diverse in my creativity and I'm quite pleased with the result. Especially his wings.


Next week we'll go back to my usual super-girliness with a type of flower I haven't quilled before (hard to believe there are many types of flower left, but there you have it! And I won't stop until I've done them all).


xnata.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Week Forty-Three: Kite

This week's project is simple and hopefully inspiring, while also being bright and cheery.


It's a nice little message that I hope inspires people to be courageous.
 


 
The clouds were created with loose swirls layered over the top of each other.
 

 
I went with bright and cheery colours for a simply designed kite with a nice long tail and a silver thread tethered somewhere far below.
 
 
 
Next week I've got something else that soars through the air...
 
 
xnata.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Week Forty-Two: Lady in Red

This week we have a beautiful young lady wearing a long red dress, with a rose in her hair.



I love the rich red I used for the bulk of the dress, and the rose and scalloped edge on her back is a metallic red for a subtle contrast.




I could see making a few more of these in different colours, but sadly I am out of this size in my cards, so I guess I'll just have to go shopping...how sad...




This would be a nice card for a girl's 18th or 21st or something.



 Keeping it short and sweet this week. Next week will be another framed piece, it's a simple design with another inspiring message.


xnata

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Week Forty-One: Peacock

I'm a week late again, and this time I'm not going to try and catch up. My university courses are demanding a lot of me right now, like too much, and if I try to catch up I will compromise the quality of what I am making, and that wasn't the point of this year long quilling challenge. I wanted to make good quality stuff that would improve my skills and give you all some pretty things to look at and for my buyers to take home, so the one per week thing is the only part I'm willing to modify. I won't be catching up, I'll just add an extra week to the end date each time this happens, which could happen a few more times as one of my teachers seems to think that I can simply quit sleeping if I'm having trouble keeping up.

Anyway, moving on to the project! I have made a peacock card before, a very long time ago and it was a very simplistic design, so with this one I went detailed and as real as my paper supply would allow, and I just love him. He's gorgeous, elegant and dignified.



Isn't he magnificent? I just love when an idea in my head actually comes out right on the page.



Here's a little look at him as he was being made, you'll see I started with the head and worked my way down.



There's a zoo not far from by house in which there used to be peacocks that would frequently escape, there was a number of times that I had to stop as I drove past to wait for ones like this to cross the road...I haven't seen any out in a couple of years, I assume they have worked out how to stop this for the safety of the birds,  wouldn't want one to get hurt!



The colours are so vivid, it's wonderful that nature creates these colours, and wonderful that my quilling paper managed to mimic them too!



He took a long time to make, time I didn't have, but he has been a wonderful creative outlet and I'm sure will catch people's eyes at the next market.


See you for week Forty-Two, whenever that turns out to be!

xnata.