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...

Friday 1 November 2013

Merry November!

Hello everyone!  November?  Yup, it's November - how did that happen?!  And not just that, but it's a Christmas challenge this month over at The Artistic Stamper, so we've got a Christmassy start to November here at Words and Pictures.

Hop over and see what some of my brilliant team-mates have been up to... and here's my little bit of inspiration for you:


For all that I prefer not to do Christmas too early, I did have a wonderful time playing with the Victorian Christmas stamps from Artistic Stamper - such lovely vintage images... and I also got my first chance to get inky with the new Artistic Stamper masks - very cool!

And my Christmas neutrals have finally given in to a touch of traditional colour too.




I started with smooshing the tags into some ink - Antique Linen, Picket Fence and Pumice Stone Distress Stains...








 ... with a hint of sparkle from some Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls spritzed onto the mat too.









Next, some inking - plenty of Vintage Photo... probably still my favourite brown - though I do like adding a touch of extra richness with Gathered Twigs these days.



Here come the layers (click on the photos for a closer look):


Some Antique Linen blended through the yummy Splats and Swirls mask.


Some Pumice Stone through the fabulous Chevrons.


And Pumice Stone again, used this time to stamp the Seasons Greetings (lovely delicate flourishy font) from Christmas Greetings #1 as background texture.








Then it was on to the stamping - mainly done in Potting Soil - and using images from Victorian Christmas sets #2 and #3.















Once stamped, I used a white pencil to highlight beards and snowfall (according to the relevant requirement!).















I love that both these Father Christmases look as though they enjoy a festive tipple!








I decided to add some vintage crackle, so it was out with the Rock Candy Crackle Paint to highlight a few areas.  It also gives a deeper richness to the colour of the inks underneath it, as well as that fabulous texture and glossiness.


I love the magic of crackle effects - here it's still not quite fully dry in places... you can see where the crackle has yet to creep across the smooth glossy surface.






The finishing touches are really all courtesy of the lovely Nicola at Paper Profusion.  (If you've never seen her beautiful work, it's well worth popping over to take a look.)  She won my candy back in the summer, and said she wanted to send me a little thank you for it.










I was absolutely blown away by the amazing package of goodies which arrived - including these lovely Christmas berries and branches, as well as the delicate fine twine and many, many other delights.

I added the Idea-ology trinket pins to the mix, and then realised that there really needed to be some colour elsewhere on the tags too.









So I got out a few Fresco paint colours and used a very fine paintbrush to add some colour detailing to the berries and leaves on the corner flourishes and on the Merry Christmas greetings.












And since they're all "natural" colours, I almost feel as though I haven't departed from my "neutrals at Christmas" kick at all!












Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Shakespeare and disrupted train journeys have kept me away from my computer and my craft desk more than I'd've liked this week, so I still haven't caught up with Craftyblogland - bah, humbug!  

The time will come...












In the meantime, I do hope you'll find time to hop over and see what my team-mates have been up to, and that you'll be inspired to join in with the Christmas challenge this month over at The Artistic Stamper.  

Look forward to seeing you there!









The mistletoe hung in the castle hall,
The holly branch shone on the old oak wall.
From The Mistletoe Bough by Thomas Haynes Bayly

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.
Bob Hope

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
George Carlin

51 comments:

Krisha said...

Gorgeous tags!!! and a great tutorial as always.

barbarayaya62 said...

Another amazing project! I do not know how to choose, all three are fabulous and have a wonderful vintage look! Barbarayaya

Helen said...

Love your vintage festive tags! I HAVE to make some more cards this weekend, I just have to.....!!

chrissie said...

Wonderful tags Alison and so good to see how you made them.

Love the word smooshing :)

Have a great day Chrissie xx

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous tags Alison, love the subtle masking layers.
hugs {brenda} x0x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow Alison, what a beautiful tags!!! I love them a lot, and thanks for showing us these masterpieces with a tutorial , they are great Christmas gifts!!!

Greetings
Maria

maj. said...

Just gorgeous!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Tags Alison. Thanks for sharing. Karen.x

Rita said...

Fabulous tags Alison. I love the vintage look. So beautiful. Hugs Rita xxx

hazel said...

Gorgeous Christmas tags.
xxx Hazel.

Claire said...

Great tags Alison! I love the vintage look and that Santa stamp is just beautiful! Claire x

craftytrog said...

3 fabulous festive tags! xx

Ink Art Designs said...

Hi Alison...these tags look amazing!!! I love the vintage style and the pop of red looks great! And such gorgeous stamps.
Dot x

Paper Profusion said...

These are absolutely gorgeous Alison and thank-you so much for the shout-out! Beautiful vintage stamps and I love how you've inked them up. So glad you brought your ivy too! Happy Weekend. Nicola x

Anonymous said...

Such heartwarming stamps those are and beautiful stamped against your wonderful background and I adore the touches of those red berries from the lovely Nicola.
Wishes
Lynne

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such lovely tags Alison - they make me feel all warm and peaceful! Have a great weekend x

Sandy said...

Your brilliant Alison and I am going to save this tutorial - love these Tags for Christmas. I hope I get my new stamps in time!!!!
sandy

Dorthe said...

Beautiful christmas tags Alison, so filled with the cozy feeling of december, and with a wonderful warm glow.-I love the background, and your crackle !!!
Hugs,Dorthe

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

The berries and branches really finish these tags Alison...great vintage Christmas look!

Unni A said...

Another amazing project. Fabulous tags! I love the vintage look and the vintage colors mixed with the christmas green and red!
hugs, Unni

Cocofolies said...

A very gorgeous trio of Christmas tags, I love them !!! Have an happy and creative week-end Alison. Hugs, Coco xx

Nan G said...

Your vintage Christmas tags are fabulous! Love the old-timey colors you've used. Really like your sets of three too!

House of Bears said...

Oh these are lovely, they make us feel all nostalgic for christmas past. We love the finish to your tags, the little extras like the special ties make all the difference.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

That's a wonderful set, great tags. I'm still working on my new craft room - hope to be creative in the next future.

Meggymay said...

A beautiful set of Tags, love the colour tones.
Yvonne

Netty said...

loving your sepia tags Alison. Enjoy the weekend, hugs Annette x

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous tags Alison and I love those bright touches of green and red for that extra festive touch. The white highlights looks great too against those sepia tones! Wonderful vintage Christmas goodness!

cathylynn said...

I totally love these antique Christmas tags. So beautiful and of course you did an amazing job!
Nice touch adding the berries and branches.
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

toni said...

Christmas is certainly in the air with these 3 gorgeous tags love the neutrals with just a touch of red and green very vintage x

Jenny Marples said...

Beautifully done as ever Alison. I love the muted colours and the 'krafty' feel to these. Jenny x

Mary Elizabeth said...

Happy Sunday Morning Alison! I've been trying to catch up with everyone since I took a break from crafty blogland to catch up on work and take care of my health.

Now it's time to check and see what you've been up to! I went and got another cup of coffee and I've settled in for a wonderful time on your blog.

Love these tags dear butterfly! The process you did to make the layers created such a perfect foundation for your vintage holiday images. Gathered Twigs, eh? Vintage Photo may get jealous :) Loved the Rock Candy crackle on the edges. Wow!!!!! Awesome effect on the tag! And I think we all want to thank Nicola for her gift ... topped these tags off with a flourish and gave you inspiration for the freehand colored flourishes at the bottom (gorgous!!) Gee -- I may need another cup of coffee to catch up with the rest of your entries :) What a fun Sunday morning for me! -- Mary ELizabeth

Annie said...

Gorgeous tags Alison and I love the colours. The stamps are stunning and already on my wishlist!!

Hope you are getting some relaxing time for yourself x

Best Wishes

Annie x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Fabulous tags Alison! Love the background and those images! The crackle is once again a stroke of genius! Chrisx

Claudia N. said...

Awesome backgrounds, Alison! And I loved seeing how they were made - always love to watch those "transformations" from plain card or paper to something special and artful!

Hugs,
Claudia x

May said...

Gorgeous tags Alison, the texture & stamping is beautiful...Love the crackle effect & added berries....Hugs May x x x

Katja/MezzaNotte said...

So loveley tags! Thanks for sharing!
Hug Katja

Studio Kaufmann said...

Thanks so much for showing me how you did this Alison. I may just try this out when I get a moment. Wonderful christmassy project. Happy PPF

scrappymo! said...

Hope you are well settled in your new home now!

Just stopped by to say these tags are gorgeous. Love the inky goodness of them and that neat crackly Èfrosting of the rock candy!

I did take my card over to the artistic stamper...I never think to enter there as I always think it is where the Stamping Stars shine (and I donèt see myself anywhere even close to that.

Glad you enjoyed my Eball skulls!

Check back next Halloween and I will hopefully do the full spooky display!

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous trio of tags Alison!

Meihsia Liu said...

Oh.. these tags are so wonderful, Alison. Love the step by step. :)

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Alison, yes I want to make tags instead of cards for Christmas, they won't be anything like these.
These are such warm, vintage, just delicious, I love to see you create your magic, amazing,loooove how you did them up, gorgeoussss, thanks so much for the inspration and sharing you wonderful creations..

Jools Robertson said...

Gorgeous! Vintage at its best

Hugs

Jools x

Hettie said...

Gosh Alison. These are so beautiful and right up my street.
Looking forward to a C weekend this weekend with my Buddy on Saturday crafting and then continuing solo on Sunday.
Hugs
xx

Anke said...

Wonderful tags Alison, so lovely.

Hugs
Anke

Kasia said...

Oh wow! What a stunning Chrismas tag :)

Kjersti said...

Wow! Love the tags, thanks for the tutorial Alison!
Have a nice Sunday!
Hugs Kjersti:)

Bärbel said...

Wunderschöne Weihnachts-Tags, ich liebe diese Motive.

Mrs.B said...


Gorgeous vintage tags and great step by step pics.
Avril xx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous, I'm so in love with these tags, I love crimbo traditional colours, and these are beautiful. I also love the added crackle effect which has gave them an awesome look. Hugs Kezzy :-) xxxxxx

Margaret said...

Your vintage Christmas tags are amazing! I love the aged finish!

Lisa Minckler said...

You amaze me! I can't compliment you enough on how beautiful and festive these are. I have so much loved spending all this time on your blog. I'm in serious need of motivation and you've been such a blessing!
Thank you for always sharing your love of art and creativity with all of us.
Big hugs,
Lisa x