Autumn Masque

Autumn is full of colour and magic and beauty. This mask evokes the spirit of Autumn with leaves and pumpkins made of vellum and Distress ink and accented with feathers on a masque decoupaged with paper speaking of beauty and wonder.

Challenges

Tuesday Throwdown: Festive Pumpkins
Creative Moments: Pumpkins
The East Wind: Bump In the Night
Scribbles Designs: Fabulous Fall
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Skrappy Challenge: Anything But a Card
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday: Orange, Yellow, and/or Brown
Emerald Creek Dares: Colours of Fall
Southern Ridge: Fall
Inspiration Destination: Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft: Anything Goes

Supplies

InLinkz.com

Putting It Together

While I was cleaning my workshop, I ran into a masque base I had bought a while ago with the intent of making a masque and ideas began to swim in my mind. I thought about vellum leaves and pumpkins and the rich colours of autumn.

When I was about to start making the mask last night, and wanted to take a picture of the set up to colour the base paper, my camera complained of needing new batteries and wouldn't take the picture. So, I had to downstairs to get batteries and the break in flow reminded me it was nearly midnight and I suddenly got sleepy. I went to sleep, still thinking about the masque.

I woke up a bit after 2am and decided to work on the decoupage. I thought I took pictures, but.. umm.. 2am-ish *laugh*

I used orange and yellow Distress Inks with a water colour brush and pad direct to the paper to add colour. I dampened down the paper with water and added more. This paper is more like newsprint so sucked up the ink and water like a thirsty sponge. I sprinkled Perfect Pearls on the paper in three metallic colours and brushed it over the paper. 

While the paper was still damp, I cut it into squares. 

I used Mod Podge matte to adhere the paper to the masque base. Then I went back to bed, letting the masque dry.

I stamped pumpkins on vellum and embossed them with a sparkly black. I used the blender tool to add colour to to the pumpkins.

I added copper Perfect Pearls and fussy cut the pumpkins with a thin margin.

To make the leaves, I decided to colour a vellum sheet before die cutting. I tapped Distress Ink directly to the vellum adding a touch of green and red to the yellows and oranges.

With a wet brush and a little water, I blended and smeared the ink on the panel. I added metallic Perfect Pearls.

It's so hard to show on camera. The vellum, Distress Ink, and Perfect Pearls had a lovely translucence.

I used the Stampin' Up Leaflets dies to cut leaves from the vellum. I then embossed them with the flourish folder from the Sizzix French Connection set.

I used a clay shaping tool to curl the edges of the leaves. One of the things I love about vellum is how well it holds a shape in a crinkly way. I use a scrap of fun foam with the clay shaper to assist the cupping.

Once they're shaped the leaves have more character. The flourish embossing added even more character.

With Glue Dots, I added leaves, pumpkins, and peacock feathers asymmetrically to the masque. I also added the  orange and yellow ribbon.

I added in black and white guinea fowl feathers and one more pumpkin to finish the masque.