Flight Of Fancy

Hello there, I'm back with my second post today because as you may remember, I won the Stamping Sensations March challenge (and a lot of gorgeous Crafty Individuals stamps too - happy dance followed!) and Brenda invited me to be the Guest Designer for May. To my complete delight, the theme is Embossing and Texture and I'm sure you know how much I love that!
I decided to make a little wall hanging piece for my project as whilst rummaging for something else just over a week ago, I found some decorated paper I made a few years ago on the one day workshop with Kim Thittichai (of Hot Textiles fame) where we made papers using painted bondaweb and other things. This particular paper was begging to be featured on something a little more permanent than a card so this is how my wall hanging came about.

 
There are several pics so that you can see the detail. As you see, the background paper is quite strongly coloured. It has a painted background with added mulberry papers, scraps of iridescent fabric, stamping and gold leafing pen. The overall effect is more textured than you can see in the photos but you can probably get a good idea. I glued the panel to a square of recycled packaging grey board.
I decided on pastel colours for contrast and pale pink seemed to work best. I die cut the Tim Holtz Sissix Alterations bird cage from strong card and embossed with a mix of Ranger Weathered White and Fran-tage Shabby Pink Embossing Enamel and then rubbed the edges with Bronze Gilding Wax.
I stamped the bird (Kanban) with black ink and painted him with Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers Distress Stains, then cut him out.
I die cut some flowers (Memory Box Petal Party) and some leafy sprigs (a very old Sizzix die) and coloured these with Distress inks and Versacolor inks. I layered the flowers up and added embroidered flowers to the centres.
I added these to my background as you see, finishing off with a stamped and inked sentiment (Inkylicious) and some more embroidered flowers (I cut these from some trim I bought from Paper Artsy a while back).

Thanks again to Brenda and the girls for picking my Tales of the Riverbank card as the winner - I was so thrilled to receive all those lovely stamps and will be making something with them very soon.
Hugs,
Fliss xx

Some challenges for my wall hanging:
Stampin' for the Weekend - Die Cuts And/Or Punches
Die Cuttin' Divas - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks - Shabby Chic