Sunday, October 19, 2014

Operation Salvage... and a double challenge entry

Good day friends! How has your weekend been so far? We're having a great time as the weather seemed to have mellowed a little and it was wonderful to be outdoors.

So today I bring to you something different. Instead of showing you the reveal at the beginning, I'm gonna leave it at the end just to explain how unbelievable frustrating the process of creating can be. It started out with a bad cold, which means I'm not thinking straight and that sometimes mean that my mojo gets as blocked as my nose.

So after some false starts, I ended up with this:


This was a photo I posted on my Instagram feed. The first attempt comprised of some doily stenciled designs and lilac mist, which I thought looked blah. So I made my own tissue paper collage and sealed it with some Ayeeda gel medium. Looking good so far.... 


And this happened. Nice try, lifting the color orange from the butterflies but IT. WAS. DISASTROUS. I know some of you may say this looks fine, but it was the exact opposite of what I had in mind. So this is one manifestation of two different syndromes that I currently suffer from: (1) the "Let's try this color and see how it goes. Oh SHIT..." syndrome and (2) the head-eye-hand-mis-coordination syndrome. At some point, we all face frustrations in translating the image we visualize in our head to reality. Sometimes it has to do with a mental block, sometimes it's a matter of finding the right techniques to help us express ourselves. 


And so Operation Salvage kicked in. I love it that many of my talented friends dabbling in mixed media find it fun when something goes wrong. It's that attitude of being able to restore something and transform it into something else; turning a mistake into a miracle. It's wonderful what some gesso can do. That's why it's my BFF. Now it doesn't look that loud anymore, but I still have to think of a way to add in texture and colors to create the look I had in mind. 


So repeat tissue paper collage.


Dab gesso randomly for a softened and whitewashed look and some gold glitter. Now we're talking!


Instead of using mists and paints, I whipped out something I've neglected to use for about 2 years - my stash of Pan Pastels. These are the Pastel tints which I bought but never found the chance to use. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to exhibit them now because of the soft cast they give.


Love that look! Now it's looking even closer to what I'm seeing in my mind.

Here is the sketch from Prima BAP and mood board at Scrap Around the World which I was trying to create this entry for:



And the final product of Operation Salvage:


I flipped the sketch and borrowed some elements from the mood board. The butterflies are my main inspiration and the picture I used was from one of my trips to the Butterfly Park in Penang. There are actually two of them on the stem and because it was such a delicate moment, I used the softer version of the colors Rachael had on the ring and also sprinkled bits of gold glitter around to show the classiness of these winged dancers. You can also see a bird cage, and I tucked resist canvas butterflies in the garden I created out of Prima flowers (there was fabric in the mood board as well). And don't forget the giant butterflies on my tissue paper in the background!

Some closeups:





So that's the story behind this page, and it was a fun one for me to share with you. Yes we have all at some point lost our mojo and end up staring blankly at our papers, determined never ever to touch this stuff again. Yet time and time again it's the journey we take every time we pick up our scissors, pen, brush (whatever it is you use to create) that moves us so deeply, and draws us back to this thing we call creating. To my friends who feel discouraged sometimes or are new to this, don't be afraid to make mistakes because there's always a beautiful lesson hidden inside.

Have a great week ahead!
love,



19 comments:

  1. the end results are just gorgeous...I love you showed the whole process!

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  2. Well, I'm sorry Jelissa... But Gesso can NOT be your BFF... Cos he's mine, LOL!!!!!!! Oh the beauty of that friend;) loooooooved & adoooooored & soaked I. Every teensy bit do this post....TFS..... & the result, of COURSE, is fabulous!!!!! And I bet it was GOOD to use yr poor, neglected pan pastels, too:):))!!!!!

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    1. Aww Lizzy! I know you're a wonderful lady and so generous at heart, for sure you won't mind sharing BFF right? LOL

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  3. I love not only were you willing to share what I'm sure most if not all of us have gone though from time to time... BUT! you transformed this into something ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!! Thank you for been inspired & playing along with this month moodboard over @ SATW! :) xo

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  4. Wow! This looks amazing! I love that you persisted through your "mistakes" to achieve the look you wanted! And thanks for sharing your process too. X

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  5. I totally appreciate how you take us through the "no mojo/I hate" parts to the gorgeous result that it is! Many times I done what you just beautifully showcased....the reality of creating! And yes, what would I do without gesso! ;) Cheers!

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  6. Thank you for sharing how you took this from disappointment to masterpiece... The end result is beautiful!

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  7. So much gorgeousness! Love the step photos and taking us "behind the scenes". Thank you for joining us at SATW this month!

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  8. It is a gorgeous page and I know the feeling although I am sometimes challenged with gesso and do not like the results of that either! LOL

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  9. Your perseverance has definitely paid off! This is gorgeous! Now I know I am not alone in the brain and hands do jive together syndrome! Beautifully done! All the best from SATW! :)

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  10. Love the finished product, thanks for showing us the steps to get there.

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  11. The learning you go through when you try to salvage a piece is the best way to get to know the mediums. Glad the Pan Pastels came out to play! The end product is gorgeous!

    P/s: My colour palette is so different from yours....lol..My Pan Pastels are bright bold colours. Pastels are soooooo hard for me.

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    1. I actually have two sets - the Tints and the Painting. Both are hardly used and I think I need to make use of both more else it's not justifying the investment LOL!

      I think you do wonders with bright colors Yvonne - somehow you just make them blend so beautifully! On the other hand, I totally suck at bright colors...

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  12. Wow Jelissa - this is amazing! I love the story behind the almost-disaster. It just shows that you can turn something bad into something great!

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  13. Gorgeous layout !! The background work is fantastic. I love the picture and all the flowers !! Thank you for playing at SATW :)

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  14. Very beautiful project Jelissa :) I love all that sweet details :) Thank you for playing with SATW :)

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  15. Brilliant work Jelissa & thank you for entering at SATW! Please remember to mention our name in full & link to the challenge next time!! Good on you for persevering - the outcome is amazing!!!

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    1. oh yes, that's right Helen! Will get down to it :D

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