I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Work in Progress

Hello... yup, me again.  If you're back for a second visit (having already seen What's On My Workdesk this Wednesday), then you're doubly welcome, but it's great to see you even if it's your first time today, or indeed ever!

I said this morning that I needed to do some catching up with the 12 Tags of Christmas being offered up by the amazing Funkie Junkie a.k.a. Linda Coughlin.  The challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.


Linda's offering weekly inspiration between now and (nearly) Christmas, and you can play along in whatever order and whenever suits you, as long as you get all 12 done by 17th December.  Here are all the details - and don't worry that you're behind... so am I!!  Linda's on number 6... this here's my second!

This is an Inspiration Challenge - so one of the great things is that you can spin off from Linda's tag in any direction, as long as you let her know what it is in her work that's kicked you off.

I'm still resisting Christmas crafting, I'm afraid.  Not that I'm trying to be a Scrooge about it, but I just can't get my head round Christmas in October... I don't think I'm ever going to be one of those crafters who makes every single Christmas card.  My nearest and dearest might get lucky, I suppose...

So my tag has taken inspiration from Linda's original in terms of the background and gears, but taken them elsewhere.  And I'll make no bones about it, this was another experiment for me (I was waffling on about experiments this morning) - and a slightly reluctant one at that.







I didn't do the faux riveted metal technique when Tim Holtz had it on his September tag; I didn't do it in the Studio L3's Compendium of Curiosities II week.


It didn't really seem like my thing, but I've seen it look great at lots of my favourite blogs (like here at the fabulous Inkypinkycraft), so I thought it was about time I gave it a whirl.


And you know what, in the end I had a lot of fun with it!





I didn't have the adhesive metal tape, but used some metal paper from PaperArtsy and some glue instead.  And, being me, I went with blue tones on the background, and on my gears.

The gears are cut and embossed using Spellbinders' Sprightly Sprockets dies.


The ones at the bottom are cut out of black card, and treated to another TH technique using Perfect Pearls Mist which I've used before, and really loved.

I was going to trim them to the tag edges, so that it would look like an On the Edge die, as Linda's used (though hers were snowflakes), but I decided I liked the circles sticking out.






The gears in the middle are cut out of an old Diet Coke tin (you can still see some red text if you look closely at the edges!), and given lots of lovely alcohol inks to drink.














Okay, and a slight concession to Christmas in the trimmings, I admit it!











The letters are cream cardstock - cut with a TH decorative strip die - with an edging of Chipped Sapphire, and then lots of Perfect Pearls Mist in Pearl and Pewter.  













And the sentiment is pretty clear I think, both in close-up and the wider frame... I'm on tag number 2 out of 12, and I'm on an incredible journey with this crafting lark!  It's all Work In Progress.









Thanks so much for joining me for part of the journey, and I hope to see you again soon, either here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland.

There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes.
Richard Buckminster Fuller

I'm entering this (pretty obviously!) as Tag 2 in the 12 tags of Christmas at the Funkie Junkie

35 comments:

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Fabulous tactile tag Alison, love this technique, a favourite of mine. Love your blue tones, added gears for dimension and lettering. Wonderful. Tracy x x

Netty said...

Loving the blue and silver palette and all the fab textures. x

Karen McAlpine said...

Ohhh! Gorgeous! I would not have thought the gears were die cuts...fab job making them look metallic!! This tag challenge sounds really fun!

froebelsternchen said...

Alison ... this is so coool! I like this...wow!

Pemilukada Kabupaten Nganjuk said...

Hello i really like your blog and your writing, I hope you can visit my blog. thank you

Redanne said...

Hi Alison, love that you have taken the metal and made the embellies in your signature blue. The tag is fabulous, love the wording too.

Krisha said...

Fantastic tag! Love the blue tones and the sentiment.

Inkypinkycraft said...

Alison this is fab, thanks so much for the shout out you are very kind...that's made my day!
You have certainly nailedit,i love your tag ,the coke tin cogs are inspired and all finished with your usual care and creativity! Love it!! Love trace x

Inkypinkycraft said...

Forgot say ..spooky, have just posted another riveted tag myself!! You will be hooked!!trace x

Martina said...

Wow, Alison - your metal tag is gorgeous! Bravo once again!!! You are so inspiring!

Judy Biggerstaff said...

The blue and silver is a good combination. You always inspire me.

Chrissy said...

Fabulous Alison, wonderful metal tag.It looks so heavy and so real..brilliant.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Mrs.B said...

Hi Alison, you have created a wonderful finish to this tag with the blue tones and PP mists. Actually thought the cogs were real!
Avril xx

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

WOW, gorgeous metal tag! Amazing blue and silver color palette, love all the fab textures.
Thanks for sharing the progress photos.
hugs Anja

Julia S-W said...

Wonderful tag Alison. Again, it's full of fantastic texture and I just love the blue tones. I haven't been hit by the Tim metal bug yet but I suppose there's still time and this does look amazing.
Juliaxx

Janny Jager said...

Great and beautiful tag Alison.
love every detail.

Greetings Janny

Jenny Marples said...

Great version! Love those gears. And yes, so many tags so little time:O Thank goodness for Linda's generous timeframe. Hugs, Buttons x

Astrid Maclean said...

Woohoo, well done you'll get there yet! Your number two looks fantastic and I love how you have adapted it! I am still so pleased you got me onto this and I have to say, I'm feeling quite chuffed with myself cos I have nearly finished my tag no 6:o)

okienurse said...

Awesome tag! Love the gears and steampunk in particular!

Anonymous said...

Alison
What strikes me is that there is an amazing sense of movement on your tag. How fabulous that it isn't kinetic yet actually appears to be.
Wishes
Lynne

sam21ski said...

Fab tag Alison, great background and I love those letters

Sam xxx

Shoshi said...

Fabulous tag, Alison - I ove all the metal and the steampunk theme. I'll have to have a look for the Tim Holtz tutorial!

Shoshi

Kate Yetter said...

Ohhh, I am loving it, Alison! Steampunk and metal!

Daniella said...

I love what you did here! I really would like to check out this blog, and see what I can do to catch up, because I have been doing so much work for others, I haven't been doing any for myself! This looks like it would be awesome!! Your tag looks amazing!!!
And thank you so much for your comment on my pumpkin. You know what? Today, I said to myself "I've got it!! The pumpkin needs ribbon!!" and your comment suggested ribbon! I think this is a sign that I should follow your very wise lead and make some tags for me!!!
And I agree. Christmas now is just too early!!!
xxDaniella#22

Bridget Larsen said...

Wow that tag is awesome, love the colours, never ever thought to put grey and blue together
Bridget #41

chrissie said...

Great colours and textures on this tag

Love Chrissie xx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Just fantastic, love the metal look.

Kezzy said...

Alison wow I love this tag, I have seen the faux metal thingy quite abit but now yet had a go. I think I might pop on over and have a look at doing these tags, they seem like fun and I love taking inspiration from others and making it my own. I have bought some lovely crimbo bits of craft but not yet used them, thought I should get halloween out of the way first lol. Hugs Kerry :-) xxx

Alison said...

Fabulous tag Alison! I love that technique! x

Unknown said...

I love how you embossed your gears...it looks so good...keep well

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

So glad you are playing along with Linda! It's on my todo list! Love love love this Alison! Metal yumminess!

Bonnie Irvine said...

This tag is beautiful. I love the background texture and the blue tones you used. The gears add so much dimension and contribute to the industrial look. Perfect wording for this tag. I'm enjoying your creative journey, too.

Bärbel said...

Das Metall-Tag ist großartig, Alison, ich liebe die Zahnräder und die wunderbare Textur!

Marjie Kemper said...

Fantastic is right! It begs touching... and how I love the way you've used the blues with the silver.

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Great work on the riveted metal technique, Alison! Love the color palette and the sentiment is cool too. Terrific to have you joining in the fun with us this year for the Christmas tags challenge!

Hugs,
Linda