This week's Wednesday Stamper is all about insects as a sign of the new life brought by spring. The challenge is to create something that depicts what is felt by the thought of insects. I chose to focus on the the theme of new life. Just last week we discovered the beginnings of a Mud Dauber Wasp's nest in the corner of our front door. Mud Daubers don't make hives, they mold mud into tiny cells, and do it very quickly. When we left the house early in the morning, there was no nest. By the time we returned, close to noon, there were the beginnings of two small cells made of mud, and plastered to the bottom corner of the door. Had we seen this anywhere else, we probably would have left it alone. But wasps living on the outside of our front door?....That's a little too close, even for Mud Daubers who rarely attack like other wasps, so we cleared it off while the wasps were away.
For this piece, I've made my doorway to spring. It is a doorway of opportunity: The opportunity that comes with a life renewed. My only insect stamps were bees, but that's close enough. You can imagine the brown of the wasp cells in the color of the door. The blue-green panel housing the metal flower are the color of grass and trees and the blindingly bright sunshine of a desert spring.
Bee stamps are from PSX and Artful Illusions. They were stamped with Staz-On black, colored with Lemonade Adirondack Lights, cut out and adhered with dimensional tape. The light brown cardstock was stamped in walnut distress ink with Hero Arts manuscript background stamp. The same stamp was used on the blue-green cardstock, stamped in Tsukineko's Brilliance white pigment ink, and embossed with JudiKins White Diamonds. I embossed a one inch metal square with a flower template from Paula Hallinan Littleton Co., using the PaperCraft tool kit from the Punch Bunch (I LOVE this set of tools!) and roughed-up the area around the flowers with some cross-hatching and scratches, then touched on some Adirondack alcohol ink in "stream". The door handle is a brad that I got in a small grab bag last August at Art Unraveled. I colored it with various alcohol inks several months ago, sealed it with gloss medium and then had no idea what I would do with it until today.
I hope that the doorways of spring open onto renewed energy and beauty in all of your lives!
Wow so great card. So stunning design. Love it.
Posted by: Sandy | April 24, 2008 at 03:29 AM
beautiful piece!!! love the doorhandle!!!
Posted by: femmy | April 24, 2008 at 04:56 AM
Great story, beautiful card, love the hinge.
Posted by: Hermine | April 24, 2008 at 05:57 AM
fab piece, love it :)
Posted by: Em | April 24, 2008 at 06:34 AM
This doorway to spring is stunning. I'm a major bee fan, and the door metaphor is also a personal favorite. Your work is always stunning and inspiring!
Gaye
Posted by: Gabrielle Fabian | April 24, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Audrey | April 24, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Fabulous card!
Posted by: Lisa Renea | April 24, 2008 at 01:01 PM
this is fantastic
Posted by: Anja | April 24, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Wow!! What an involved piece! I love the concept and all the little details you've incorporated. Stunning piece, Barbara.... oh and The Devonshire Thelma & Louise arrived home safely, thank you! We never did like the "Death Wish" films!! ;)
Posted by: Rosie | April 25, 2008 at 01:32 AM
This is fab, love that little handle. gorgeous work. :)
Posted by: Kaz | April 25, 2008 at 02:14 AM
A doorway to spring, really a great interpretation. Love your bees.
Posted by: Silvia | April 25, 2008 at 05:41 AM
enjoyed reading your "bee" story, how wonderful! your beautiful card goes along very well.
Posted by: Belinda | April 25, 2008 at 03:25 PM
great card about insect ! which work, all theses details ! fabulous !
Posted by: filetta | April 25, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Fabulous! Love your bees.
Posted by: faye | April 27, 2008 at 04:47 PM