Butterfly Slipstream

Trying out some new things, inspired by my Creative Expedition class with May Flaum this past month. and Finnabair my long time art rock star! Of course, I had to take it into a steampunk direction, and am entering my tag into Sandee and amelie's Steampunk Challenges where "anything goes"! I just love how creative that DT is with loads of steampunk inspiration! Well, spring is in the air over at A Vintage Journey, so I am entering my tag in that challenge also, since I can't wait for spring! And, at Anything But Cute, the challenge #12 is all about Earth Day and planet Earth, so my butterfly is fluttering over that way too! I was inspired by the butterfly, the vibrant green on the bird's head, and the lovely green fields on the mood board.

 Butterfly Slipstream - Reality has limits, imagination is boundless...Dream...

I am fascinated with the idea of butterflies flying thousands of miles each year, following their migration paths using some kind of inner compass. How do they know how to do this and return to the same summer and winter grounds? 

Perhaps they have a tiny clockwork compass to guide them??

I started by adhering all kinds of random buttons on my tag, then had to add in gears and cogs of course, and some of Finnabair's new art stones - fun product! Lots of great texture, and then the real fun begins! Time to get messy!!

Started layering the colors on to the tag,  and began with the distress paints over my gesso, and then added the golds and metals - oh yes! I do love my new Liquid Metal Color Bursts! They are really cool and I need to explore them more.

Is it any wonder my tag is green? It is my favorite color, but also, I really can't wait for spring to come and watch everything turn green and bloom and grow - then the butterflies will return too.

So yes, I am imagining thousands of butterflies getting ready to head north. Tiny clockwork compasses give the heading, and the slipstream is gearing up for the flight of the butterflies, well oiled, the levers are cranking up and soon the butterflies will follow the clockwork path to their destination. I think it's kind of like the Milky Way that we can see on some clear nights - we know it's there, even when it is not visible to us.

I hope the slipstream flows your way and brings the beautiful butterflies this season!