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...

Tuesday 14 January 2014

I am creating...

Hello all, it's Alison (butterfly) here, with a catch-up hanging to share.  Since it fits right in with my January colour obsession of blues and greens, I thought now would be a good time to re-post it.

This was over at Artistic Stamper a few months back (in the final throes of moving house) and, as regulars know, I like to try to keep my virtual scrapbook of projects up to date here at Words and Pictures, so if you've already commented on this, please don't feel you have to again!







I've used some of the brand new Journalling Words stamps on this one.  If you haven't seen Jennie's fabulous new releases, check them out here... and don't forget there's a brand new line of Artistic Stamper masks too!

Back to the hanging... this was one of those makes where I just sat down and let it flow.  It was made in 5 minute segments, over several days, in between sorting and packing boxes, but oh my word, those minutes were lovely!  And I even like the finished piece too!

Because of the five-minute-flow-process, and the fact that my brain is really elsewhere at present, I'm afraid I haven't got any 'making-of' photos, but I'll show you some details and let you know approximately what I got up to as we go.












I started with the tag, doing a Distress Paint and Distress Stain combination with the wrinkle-free distress technique.  

You get lovely swirls of combined opacity and translucence - solid paint colours and glowing inks - and all in my favourite blues and greens.  

I then used some Broken China and Peacock Feathers Distress Inks to ink over the top, and then spritzed and flicked with water to add extra texture to the layers of colour.







Next step was some Picket Fence Distress Paint applied through one of the new Tim Holtz stencils.  

(I started the hanging before the new Artistic Stamper releases were out or I could have used one those new masks!)




And I then stamped the lovely Tim Holtz meadow grasses in Cornflower Blue Archival (one of the new Wendy Vecchi colours).
















I used Fresco paints to add some extra detailing to the flower heads, starting with Snowflake and adding South Pacific for some turquoise colour.  

Then I added some even finer detailing using the Inkssentials white pen.  I love how they've ended up.





I stamped the Tim Holtz bird in Wendy Vecchi's Potting Soil, and used the white pen again to add highlights to the image.

















The final step with the tag was to add some texture stamping, for which I used the TH Postcard stamp and one of my favourite Pink Paislee music advertisement stamps from my stash.











Next, it was on to the background and what else but corrugated cardboard?  

I started with a good coat of white paint, and then added texture paste through the same Cargo Letters stencil as on the tag.




I blended some Mowed Lawn and Broken China Distress Ink over them, and then added some texture stamping using the fabulous Artistic Stamper Mini Dots and Sequin Waste.





I used Distress Stains and a water brush to add some 'watercolour' inky detailing in the grooves of the cardboard - really love this!















I added some Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs, matching the Postcard rub to the Postcard stamp on the tag...










...and generally "keeping an eye" on things.  

I didn't want the Remnant Rubs to be quite as vibrantly black as they were, so I put a light wash of white paint over them, as well as inking them to blend in with their surroundings.




I was delighted to find that I could get these flourish transfers (sorry, that's what we used to call them when I was little) down into the grooves of the corrugated card too!












The words are stamped onto another tag that I'd done some wrinkle-free distress technique on - again with the combination of paints and stains.

The big create is embossed in Bright White over Versamark ink.





The new stamps - I am creating - are stamped in the Cornflower Blue Archival and then clear embossed.





I never tire of how the light catches on the glossy embossing - I love embossing my words!














So, a bit of Paper Distresser action around all my spare edges, and some torn, inked edges in other places...








Oh, and, of course, some Distress Stain dyed seam binding (but of course) and we're done.
















Can't tell you how much joy creating this provided in the midst of chaos and turmoil all around.  I hope it gives you just as much pleasure to look at!







I can remember so well the deep peace and pleasure it gave me to create this in between shifting boxes... Crafting has come to my rescue on so many occasions - what on earth did I do before I discovered it?!

Happy crafting all!

You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have.
Maya Angelou

42 comments:

Redanne said...

You always create the most wonderful backgrounds and I love the blues and greens on this piece. The bird looks gorgeous stamped in the Potting Shed too. I have just got that journal set too and am really looking forward to using it. Hugs, Anne x

Rita said...

Absolutely Stunning Alison. The vibrant colours are awesome. I need to pay a visit to AS and get those fabulous stamps too. Enjoy your Day. Hugs Rita xxxx

Terry said...

Beautiful tag in luscious blues and greens! Love the bird stamped in brown for a nice lift! I am in a corrugated cardboard mood or it may be the fact I am accumulating so much! Hugs!

Dorthe said...

It is so gorgeous, Alison,
love it,- the cardboard with all the different teckniques, the beautiful flower stamp, and the embossed words!!! So springlike and lovely.
xoxo, Dorthe

catherine said...

This looks fabulous Alison and just love how it all goes together
x catherine

froebelsternchen said...

GORGEOUS Alison!

pearshapedcrafting said...

A lovely spirit lifter! Love those layers of blues and greens. The grasses look so much like forget-me-nots - gorgeous! Those journaling words look fabulous embossed-I've had a bit of a shift around recently so that I can use my heat gun more. Chrisx

Mrs.B said...

Stunning - and such a wonderful depth to the background tag colours.
Avril xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

I am just loving those colours too Alison - in fact so inspired I have just bought some green DIs to have a go! Fabulous journalling too. It sounds as though life is very busy at the moment, so pleased to see you finding time to craft and hopefully rest as well! Jennie x

Netty said...

Loving your beautiful tag Alison, especially the gorgeous cornflowers,
hugs Annette x

chrissie said...

It sis wonderful that you enjoyed making this so much Alison and the joy shines through for all of us to share

Love Chrissie x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wat a beautiful tag!!! love the great background and the very beautiful colours, I olso love the very special details (like the eye)!!

Greetings
Maria

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Alison, I love it when you just let it flow, I FREAKING LOVE IT....
They are my favorite colors too, the stencilling is fabulous,, loooooove the bird, all the white accents, the words look fabulous,my favorite flowers, they are GORGEOUS,love the eye, all on corrugate,topped off with that gorgeous seam binding, this is one of my favorite :), thanks so much for sharing it, inspiration over load eeeeekkkkks :O), have a wonderful day..

Helen said...

I remember... I love everything about this Alison, it is gorgeous!! Those journalling words are fab, I must get some more...

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Texture check, fantastic colours check, great image check, wonderful design check. All in all a wonderful tag, love this Alison. Tracy x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A fantastic hanging, love the color scheme and the corrugated cardboard.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Great colours, so delicate...and the tag is lovely Alison!

House of Bears said...

Well we hadn't commented on this before but your creations would be well worth commenting on twice. This is beautiful. We often create in 5 minute bursts too. That way it still feels like we achieve something every day.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it such a great feeling with a project flow!
Beautiful use of colour and how I love that eye stamped in the top corner.
Wishes
Lynne

Jools Robertson said...

Another beauty! Love the pin stripe effect in the background, lovely layers of images and really gorgeous colours x

mark gould said...

what a beautiful citrus green and I love the addition of the eye x

Unknown said...

Love all of the steps Alison and the color combo is fab! Hope your new year is off to a great start. :) Hugs

Candy C said...

Alison...absolutely gorgeous make! Your work us always so inspiring and flawless. Your study in blues and greens combined with that vintage/shabby style is fabulous. I saw Jennie B. At CHA this morning and I just HAD to brag on your work. It truly is so amazing. Thank you so much for your always lovely comments that you have posted on my blog. Your words mean so much to me. Much love- Candy

Cinderella Moments said...

Ahhh! It looks like spring! I love seeing that right now. It helps me remember what's just around the corner. Beautiful work!
hugs♥,
Caroline

Anke said...

WOW WOW WOW Alison absolutely stunning, so beautiful, I love your tags.

Hugs
Anke

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous colours and details Alison. Another of your stunning makes.
hugs {Brenda} x0x

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Your backgrounds always look so lush, Alison and the colours are just pure yumminess. Fantastic tag! xxx

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Alison, beautiful background! thanks for sharing the technique. (mix stains and paints)
love every detail about the process.

cathylynn said...

My goodness Alison this is scrumptious! Love your stamping techniques and of course your colors. Another fabulous creation!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Maggie said...

Mmmmmm some of my favourite colours too they are so calming, I am still amazed how in the middle of moving and packing boxes you managed to make this little gem..... moving is soooo stressful maybe I must try this method if and I said if I move again lol

MaggieH

Anonymous said...

It is terrific, love the colours & layers.

Cocofolies said...

Wow... just wow!!! I can't remember if I already put a comment on this in the past Alison, but I'm quite sure I definitely LOVE this! So well worth telling it again if it is the case anyway Lol! Hugs Coco xx

Hettie said...

Loving what you have created here Alison. The colours are divine and this would look great on my Craft Room door!!
Hugs
xx

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous Alison! Love the pretty shades of blues and greens!

toni said...

Gorgeous tag Alison! Those beautiful spring greens and blues bring a cheer to my heart !x

Meihsia Liu said...

What a beautiful piece, Alison. I love this fabulous color scheme and those textures are wonderful! :)

Maelchen said...

Alison, dear, thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog, asking how I feel...
Admittedly I was a lazy blogger, letting real life take over.. But, I am back again, visiting you whereever I find you and as always, admiring the pieces of art you create. I am going to take this stunning tag and certainly the quote in the end to get my creative mind in gear. You are always so inspiring, dear Alison, thank you for sharing so much with us!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I just love this. Did it drive you crazy to work in 5-minute increments as you found time or do you thrive in that environment? I have to do start to finish otherwise there is no finish! The colors are gorgeous. I'm loving your blue and green phase even if this was from awhile ago. I totally wondered how you got the stamping down into the cracks of the corrugation but now I know your secret. ha ha!

scrappymo! said...

This is really beautiful. I love the inking and the contrast of the different textures.
Your work always has a fabulous flow to it. It looks peaceful...for want of a better word. I just get the feeling of an evolving, peaceful beauty as you recount the steps to make your projects.

Nan G said...

Your background layers are the most amazing! Love love love this hanging!

Sue said...

This is wonderful Alison, gorgeous colours, and I love how the white pen on the bird seems to give it such movement xx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning hanging which I'm in lurvvvve with lol. While I was ill, all I did was check emails quickly each day. I remember when this came through I immediately fell in love with it and ordered the Tim Holtz stamps with the grasses. It's great to read the full post and I can't wait to play with my stamps. Kezzy :-) xxx