Party Like It's Mardi Gras Centerpiece...

Happy Saturday to you!

It's time again for another challenge at Our Creative Corner and I am so happy to be hosting this week as well.  Sadly, it will be my last DT post with this wonderful team. I have so much respect for them and their immense creativity and I've had the amazing opportunity of learning from each of them personally.   But I never like to part on sad terms, so we're gonna have a party!!

This week I have chosen an inspirational photo and the theme is....

Party Like It's Mardi Gras!

Create any project using the inspirational photo below. 

 Please explain what about this image inspired your creation.

I think this image looks like it could be a showstopper. The grandness of the details and the exotic gold leafing with the vibrant purples and greens inspired me to make a centerpiece and pull from it the greens and purples.  But first I needed something tall enough to take center stage.

So, I found this old candlestick holder.

With a sponge and Gesso, I lightly dabbed the entire surface to conceal the true identity and color; rather like a mask for Mardi Gras.

Next was sponging on lilac acrylic paint in a hit or miss random pattern, followed up by the same technique in metallic green paint. While the paint was still damp, I sprinkled on bits of gold embossing powder and then heated lightly.  

Once the painting was finished, I took a nail file to the edges and sanded down for just a little added character.

Next was to decide on the over-the-top focal point.  While perusing through some images, I found this gorgeous woman attired for the festive event. This is actually a photograph of someones real tattoo. She's been double printed so when the centerpiece is turned, it looks just the same on the back. Isn't the ink work amazing? But she needed a head dress of feathers and all I had was white. 

So, in a metal pie pan went 2 white feathers with a drop or two of Adirondack Meadow Ink and a spritz of water and colored them up. The second two feathers were colored with a combination of the lilac acrylic paint and water.

An edging around the rim of her hat and the eyes on the mask with SU! Champagne Glass was then added.

The final touch of the Fleur De Lis was attached  along with some white and gold mesh filler and my centerpiece was complete.

Initially I had pearls and gems and flowers and gold ribbon and I was really going to paint the town red, or purple, green and gold, in this case, but when I went to add them one at a time, it felt like the piece was rejecting them. It's bold, it's noticeable, it's vibrant in parts and yet it's refined with the the conservative base it all started on.

Well, that's it for me, let me know what you think and I'd really love it if you shot over for a visit to Our Creative Corner to see what stunning creations my teammates have made for 

Party Like It's Mardi Gras!! 

Hugs n' Happy Crafting,

Lisa xx