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...

Saturday 13 July 2013

Commemorate, Cherish...




Hello everyone... sorry my visiting hasn't been up to scratch lately.  I'll have some catch up time next week, as I'm working away from home.  


There'll be no chance to be at the craft table so I'll have to get my fix by visiting Craftyblogland.


I'm here with a (for me) quick post to share my take on Tim Holtz's July tag... so full of fabulous techniques, which I've adapted fairly freely this time.  


I have, though, taken inspiration from his thought about commemorating not only the Prescott firefighters, but all those who put their lives on the line on a daily basis for our sake.















You can get the details of the how-to stuff direct from the master so, as usual, I'll just fill you in on my variations.


I started by giving the tag a coat of Picket Fence distress stain, as I didn't want it to be to yellow-y, and then I did my brayering horizontally rather than vertically, so that I could differentiate sky and earth.



















Very happy with the sky effect!













I used the beautiful TH hedgerow stamp to add some foliage to the ground.  It's just one small stamp, stamped several times.













I loved doing the Cracked Stains technique - it's such a beautiful effect.  I shaded my colours across from light to dark, and there's even some Brushed Pewter in there somewhere.













One shot in the sunlight to capture that amazing sparkle...








I used the tissue tape to give Umbrella Man something to stand on, and tinted it with a bit of Broken China and Stormy Sky stains.  

Since it's under the umbrella perhaps it's a puddle of tears rather than raindrops?










The three words are from Tim's ChitChat Stickers, and given just a hint of Stormy Sky DI for shading.












The ribbons are very delicately tinted just to get a hint of colour.  

And I did play with adding a pewter trinket pin, but then I discovered it said Memoirs rather than Memories, so that wasn't at all what I wanted... and in any case, I decided simplicity was best for this tag.







Another fabulously inspirational tag from Tim - thank you! - and such fun to let the techniques lead me in a completely different direction for once.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm afraid it's going to be pretty busy here over the next few days - lots of projects due in a rush - so I hope you'll be able to drop in and see what's going on.  See you out there somewhere!

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. 
At the going down of the sun and in the morning 
We will remember them.
From For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon

I'm entering this as my July tag in Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013
And since there's very little stamping on it, for me, and only one small stamp used, I'd like to pop it into A Little Stamping at Simon Says Stamp and Show 

68 comments:

Chrissy said...

WOW...this is wonderful Alison, the light to dark on the image is gorgeous, and he kind of makes me sad..he looks lonely or something..the sky colouring is gorgeous, and love the stamps plants..just wonderful, I love this one.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Chrissy said...

Me again..it is the tilt of his head as he is gazing at the horizon...he must be thinking deeply..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Deborah said...

He makes a wonderful funeral mourner - how inventive! It's a beautiful tag.

Carol Q said...

your colouring on the figure is stunning Alison. the tag makes me feel lovely and cool on this scorching hot day!

Amanda said...

What a great take on Tims tag, your umbrella man is superb!!
Love
Amanda x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow Alison, I love this tag, I remember that I have that embrella man in my possition , but I never did something with him, so now you give me some amazing inspiration!!!Thank you very much!!

Greetings
Maria

Helen said...

I absolutely love this tag, Alison - the colours are just beautiful, I love the gradient from light to dark. Am in awe of this beauty.

Julia said...

I am almost speechless, this tag is so beautiful. The crackle technique works so well on your umbrella man. X

Matilde said...

WOW! I love this tag! It's incredible! :))

Chris said...

Beautiful Alison and your background is superb with such depth from the brayering and stamping, love those shades of blue and green too. Chris xx

Alida said...

love your take on the Tim Holtz tag, beautiful tag.

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...a stunning piece of crafting Alison, beautiful in every heartfelt sense of the word...Mel:)xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Fabulous Alison, the sky looks amazing, perfect backdrop for the umbrella man. Love the texture on the umbrella man too. Tracy x

Brenda Brown said...

Perfectly stunning Alison, a fantastic take on Tim's tag but totally 'you'. Love it.
Enjoy the weekend.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Mary Elizabeth said...

Wow Alison!! This is fabulous. I love the horizontal brayering. Brilliant idea for this tag. And the graduated coloring on your crackled element is such an amazing effect. It makes me think of the sun first coming out after a rainstorm and hitting this fellow in the left side. Absolutely beautiful piece to honor the sacrifice of the Prescott Firefighters. Hugs -- Mary Elizabeth

Claire said...

Hi Alison, a very beautiful tag. The colours you've used are just perfect together and I love the crackle effect too. A lovely take on Tim's tag. Take care, Claire x

pearshapedcrafting said...

I just love your take on the tag! A really thoughtful choice of words and pictures!!! Chrisxx

Meggymay said...

Mr Umbrella man is a favorite of mine, the background looks magical,
Yvonne

Rita said...

Stunning tag Alison. The colours are so vivid and I love the crackled man. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs Rita xx

Julie Lee said...

So many fabulous effects. I love the composition and those beautiful grasses - and - of course - the sentiment. Julie Ann xx

barbarayaya62 said...

THe umbrella man is absolutely stunning! FAntastic, really fantastic work! BArbarayaya

cathylynn said...

Alison I love how you did the sky and the background. Great tag and love the crackle. Your wording is always heart felt and so is your use of color.
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous tag Alison. The background colours and stamping looks wonderful and a gorgeous finish on the die cut.
Avril xx

froebelsternchen said...

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am in LOVE with this.. love everything about it... wow!

This is extraordinary BEAUTIFUL !
Have a nice sunday dear Alison!

Inkypinkycraft said...

Simply gorgeous, sorry I am so behind...I love the stain technique too and this looks fab here .take care hugs trace xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Gorgeous tag, love those hedgerow stamps underneath that beautiful sky and the crackle on the dark to light shading on Umbrella man looks fabulous!

Annie said...

What a fabulous take on Tim's tag. The background and stamping is stunning and I love the crackled man.
Hope you manage to relax at some point.

Hugs Annie x

toni said...

Fabulous take on the july tag! That background is gorgeous and the crackle effect on your umbrella man is fantastic really fab make x

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what the cracked stains effect is other than it is a gorgeous effect you achieved, so beautiful and I like the use of the hedgerow stamp.
Wishes
Lynne

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

PERFECT Alison...chapeau for this amazing tag!

Have a great weekend, Alie :-)

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Wow! The background scene is so wonderful Alison! Love the crackly Umbrella Man too! Fabulous stamping job here! I LOVE this tag! Thank you for stamping a little with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp & Show!!!

Margaret said...

What a beautiful tag! The background is amazing and the crackle is so cool! The quote at the end of your post is perfect to pay tribute to the brave firefighters. So sad when we lose our everyday heroes...

Jenny Marples said...

Love the way you've graduated the colours across umbrella man on this Alison. Hugs, Jenny x

Redanne said...

A beautiful tag and a wonderful tribute Alison - that quote is so moving........ Hope you find a little time for you. Hugs, Anne x

Mona Pendleton said...

Wow! What a gorgeous tag! I love the crackle effect on the die cut! Thanks for the inspiration!

chrissie said...

Wonderful to commemorate all the people who put their lives at risk in their jobs Alison.

It is a very beautiful tag you made for them and the texture on Mr Umbrella man is amazing

Have a great day

Love Chrissie x

craftimamma said...

Once again I've yet to even look at Tim's tag but I love yours. The colours are beautiful and Mr Umberella Man looks fabulous. The puddle under his feet is great too.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Marja's Stamp Addiction en Marja's Creativity said...

Very very great work. Very beautiful too. Love the crackle man.
lovely greet
Marja

Cocofolies said...

Wow that's a great tag Alison, with a wonderful crackled effect and colors !!!! And I prefer your version to Tim's one... :) Have a lovely week away your home. Coco xx

Anonymous said...

Oh so beautiful! I love your crackled brolly man, & fabulous background! x

House of Bears said...

Wow, we love the sky effect, and the rest if the tag too. Such a great theme and it really does make you pause for thought too.

Francesca said...

Lovely tag. xxx

Paper Profusion said...

Oh wow Alison - this is out of the ball park. Very welcome cool colours! I ADORE your sky and fresh foliage and your crackle and its shading are simply superb! Nicola x

sam21ski said...

Oooh love what you've done to umbrella man and your background is fab

Sam xxx

May said...

Fabulous tag Alison, Love the use of the umbrella man.. the background is Fantastic...Love the colours... Hugs May x x x

Dianne said...

OMG,STUNNING,I love how you use this rainman in a few of your tags, I was just on your pinterest,WOW what a visual delight that was :O). The background you created is unreal, it truly looks like you painted a gorgeous scenery with the sky meeting the field with those gorgeous hedgerow,with one small stamp you created a field full of them, fantastic.The results on the umbrella man it STUNNING, I loooooove it all thanks for sharing your brilliance, it'a breathtaking. Hope you have a great week and get a little rest time for yourself, big hugs...

Janny Jager said...

Amazing tag Alison with great details.

Greetings Janny

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oooh, I'm drooling over this one! Love the color palette you chose to work with and the way you built up the grasses at the bottom and then created the sky. Wonderful work with the technique on the umbrella man too! Awesome take on Tim's July tag!

Hugs,
Linda

Kelly said...

Gorgeous and rich in colors. I love the tones, perfect for the umbrella, a bit sombre. i will have to check out the crackled stain method, I love the way yours turned out. A fabulous tag Alison, love seeing your creations!!
Hugs Kelly

Shelby said...

Beautiful ink work and love how the landscape turned out. The cracked stain technique is just absolutely stunning...love it

Shelby

catherine said...

This looks fabulous Alison and such a great take on the tag. Love the image and the colours
x catherine

Claudia N. said...

Wow, your cracked shading looks brilliant, Alison!

A lovely tag and a wonderful variation of the master's monthly tag!

Hugs,
Claudia x

Netty said...

I especially love the beautiful background you created and the great crackling on the man,hugs Annette x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

How fantastic, that's a great take on Tim's tag, I love every detail.

Meihsia Liu said...

Hi, Alison, your creation is always amazing! Love the beautiful background and the crakcled effect is awesome! Thank you for sharing with us Simon Says Stamp and Show this week. :)

Candy C said...

Alison...your tag is absolutely gorgeous. Love your mottled background. Your umbrella man is fabulous and I really love the sentiment. This tag is just so calming to look at. Love it! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful tag with us at Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge (formerly known as Simon Says Stamp and Show). <3 Candy

Anna-Karin said...

Beautiful tag Alison!!! LOVE the soft background with the wonderful scene you created, perfect setting for the umbrella man.

Terry said...

Alison, this is pure perfection! Love the light shinning on the umbrella guy! What a tag! More hugs!

Elly said...

Cracked stains, hmm? Awesome! (:o)

noomiy said...

Just beautiful!

Kate Yetter said...

A gorgeous tag! Love the soft colors and the grass. The crackle on the man adds great texture.

Bonnie Irvine said...

Tim is not the only one who has given us fabulous inspiration with this month's tag. Your take on it is stunning. The background is amazing. The sky and gorgeous stamping create the loveliest atmosphere for umbrella man. His crackled appearance makes me smile. Love the simplicity at first glance yet complexity seen with further study of this tag.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous interpretation Alison. Love that you thought to brayer horizontally. It worked beautifully. Love the lightness of touch. You have achieved a dreamy look that works well with your poignant sentiment.

Anonymous said...

You've taken the techniques from teh tag and turned then into something even more wonderful. Love how you created your little scene of sky and earth and your inking of the crackled umbrella man is brilliant. Love seeing how you interpret the techniques.

Kezzy said...

Wow I love what you have done with July's Tag, the scenic theme is gorgeous and umbrella man certainly looks awesome with the background. Hugs kezzy :-) xxxx

Sus said...

Hi Alison, you make some gorgeous cards and I love the umbrella Mann. Just bought him - seven years later!! :)
Do you remember the number on that stamp you used?
Have a great day / Sus

Words and Pictures said...

Hi Sus, thank you for your lovely comment. I can't see another way to contact you, so I hope you find this response.

I completely agree about Umbrella Man - there's something really special about him. The hedgerow flowers stamp (which I assume is what you're looking for) comes as an individual wood-mounted stamp, U1-1344, and also as part of a set of cling-mounted rubber stamps, Nature's Discovery CMS049. They're very early Tim Holtz sets, so may not be widely available, but if you can't find them anywhere else, then the Stampers Anonymous site has them. (links below) Hope that helps, and thanks again for your visit.
Alison x

https://stampersanonymous.com/tim-holtz-wood-mounted-stamp-twigs-u1-1344.html

https://stampersanonymous.com/tim-holtz-cling-mount-stamps-natures-discovery-cms049.html

Sus said...

Hi Alison, thank you so much for your help- I will find them. Sus