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 1 March 2014

Words and Numbers

Hello all!  Yes, that's right, it's Words and Numbers today at Words and Pictures!  

That's the theme for this month's Artistic Stamper challenge.  We'd love you to come and play along... you could win a voucher to buy £15 of Artistic Stamper stamps.  You don't have to use AS stamps on your project, but if you do you get two entries to the draw.  

You can find all the challenge details - plus lovely inspiration from some of my team-mates - right here, but first let me show you what I came up with.  (Oh, and thank you for all the feedback on the exciting Vintage Journey news - hope to see all of you there playing along, come the 7th March!)


My project is a jumbo tag using the brilliant Artistic Stamper collage set Family Values.  I've used all three stamps in the set, all of them with Words and Numbers involved.




I started with a tag and a couple of ATC dividers (picked up in some sale somewhere at some point!) and some Distress Stains to create a base for my stamping.

As you can see, I started in a bluesy mood...




I stamped all the stamps over the blues in Potting Soil Archival ink.  

There are the two ATC-sized stamps - one letters, and one numbers.













And then the large stamp, which is very substantial - 5.5 by almost 4 inches in size, and full of delicious detail.












I cut the ATCs with the Movers and Shapers hearts die to create embellishments reflecting perhaps the most important of the Family Values mentioned: love.












By this stage, the inky colours had warmed up a bit to include Peacock Feathers, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo, blended on with a blending tool.








I printed the quote from the computer - another Albert Einstein favourite... he does crop up pretty often in my quotations collection - and then inked up the slightly textured paper to match the rest of what was going on.














I went rummaging for Idea-ology bits and bobs which would reflect other important values...













... knowledge, security, time together...
















And I had fun altering a couple of the metallic numbers with Distress Paints...













I used Vintage Photo and Broken China, if I remember rightly.















The topping is some seam-binding dyed with Distress Stains, and then tied with Idea-ology Paper String in my usual manner.











So there you go... 

What are the things you count on?  

What words hold your family together (or apart)?  

That's how I found my way into the theme this month at The Artistic Stamper... I can't wait to see how you interpret Words and Numbers for us.  Hope to see you there.



Words and numbers are of equal value, for, in the cloak of knowledge, one is warp and the other woof.  It is no more important to count the sands than it is to name the stars.  Therefore, let both kingdoms live in peace.
From The Phantom Tollbooth (a work of genius!) by Norton Juster

35 comments:

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely tag Aliaon, love the backdrop and the focal image is gorgeous. You have embellished beautifully Alison . Glad to hear about your new DT position too, huge congratulations. Tracy x

Astrid Maclean said...

Great letter and number work on this cool tag Alison. Love all the hearts! Funny, never really even noticed that stamp before, but have to say I really like it!

Unknown said...

I love this! The colors, pictures, embellishments all work SO well together - speaks to me!

massofhair said...

So many things to say about your tag & the thought processes behind it's creation. Instead one word, spectacular...

The quote at the bottom of your post is very metaphysical, i believe 'as above so below'. Life is sometimes just a balancing act of actions & reactions, this is what defines relationships & our own destiny. Sorry i waffled on..... :-) xxx

Ana K. said...

Beautiful Alison, I love the bunch of hearts with metal pieces and stamping is gorgeous as always! Hugs

Inkypinkycraft said...

Gorgeous colours us e of the letters and numbers theme! A great piece xtrace x

Maggie said...

Gorgeous tag Alison, I really like the theme you chose and a great stamp set with lots of lovely embellishments.

MaggieH

Anke said...

WOW WOW WOW adorable and so beautiuful, I love your tag.

Have a nice weekend
Anke

rachel said...

what a wonderful make Alison - brilliant stamps and the bits and bobs look so fab xx

Helen said...

I'm going to start with the quote - perfect for your theme - but the tag itself is just gorgeous - I love that big stamp you used, and of course all your words/numbers/embellies are just right too. Stunning!

craftytrog said...

I love that stamp set! This is fabulous Alison! xxx

Deborah said...

Lovely!

chrissie said...

Wonderful use of the stamp set Alison. Some wonderful emblies to add interest as well

Have a lovely weekend

Chrissie x

Julie Lee said...

Oh my, The Phantom Tolbooth - one of my beloved children's books! That reminds me of how you can truly lose yourself in books in childhood. I love this make! What a marvellous creative roll you are on! Loving all you are doing at the moment! Thanks for all the inspiration, Alison! Julie Ann xxx

Cocofolies said...

Oooo this is fabulous... really gorgeous Alison!!!! Coco xx

Redanne said...

A really beautiful and thought provoking tag Alison. In our family I think it has to be love and respect for each other. Loyalty is pretty high on the list too. Anne xx

Kate Yetter said...

Girl, you have been a busy little crafter. So many projects to see. This tag is stunning! I love your color blends along with that image. And the scattered embellies around the side look like a collection of family trinkets. Love it!!
Kate

cathylynn said...

This tag is phenomenal! Wow I'm near speechless!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Netty said...

Have never seen a tag with so much on it to look at Alison, beautiful work. Hugs Annette x

Nan G said...

Awesome tag, butterfly! So many delish details to look at. Bet IRL this is even better!

Julia S-W said...

Lovely colours Alison and that stamp you chose to use is wonderful (I may just NEED that set!!). A really gorgeous use of the other colours to warm up your piece.
Juliaxx

Debbie said...

Beautiful as always Alison! Love the colours and all your embellies! So much to see I went back and looked again! A real treasure!
Thank you for you lovely words on my blog. Muchly appreciated!

Wishes From A Broad
Debbie
^..^

Terry said...

So much beauty and details to take in! Love all the elements you added to this tag and what a great image! Hugs!

Unni A said...

Wow! I love the colors on this tag, and all the wonderful details. You always impress me with all the work you put down in your projects, and the results are always amazing!
hugs, Unni

Kasia said...

Beautiful tag! Love all those lovely details :)

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Alison, , shesh 3 post, be still my beating heart... Your such a brilliant little Butterfly, I looooove your blue and brown combos, the background is gorgeous,ATC dividers, I've never heard of those. The stamp wit the family is FABULOUSSSS, wowzer love all the embellishments you made and the ones you added, love your seam binding of course :), well this was a brilliant post with your wonderful words and pictures, that's you Miss Butterfly.. Thanks for sharing...

Marjie Kemper said...

Scrumptious! Love all the 3D aspects of this especially the multiple hearts.

Brenda Brown said...

Wow, you have gone to town on this one my friend, I just love all the details, TFS xx

hazel said...

A fabulous piece.
xxx Hazel.

Cathy L. Calamas said...

This is stunning! Such yummy details
and colors. Love that quote, too. Didn't realize Einstein said that.

Cathy L. Calamas said...

Forgot to mention; love,laughter, faith and trust hold our family together. :))

Shirley said...

Alison just when you think you can't be surprised anymore you come up with this beauty. Such a nostalgic looking stamp, another for my wish list.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Mrs.B said...

There's so much detail and love on this fabulous piece. Fabulous quote.
Avril x

Jools Robertson said...

Another beautiful project, love the colours and I just don't know how you do all that detail and it looks stunning

Jools x

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow truly awesome stunning tag. I love the background and the stamps you used are amazing. I love all the handmade embellishments :-) Kezzy xxx