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 21 March 2015

Harlequin's Other Half!




Hello all!  Thank you for all the lovely comments on the Harlequinade tag.  I'm back to share the tag which grew up alongside it... Harlequin's other half, as it were - so no, not Columbine!

This one was created with the extras and leftovers from Harlequinade, plus a little touch of something new.

As you can see, we're still very much in a springtime colour mode - despite the still somewhat grey March day outside as I write this - and you'll see all the echoes which make this a very close partner tag to the Harlequinade.

The background was created when I mopped up some of the spare ink from the watercolour page spritzing (the page used to cut the butterflies and the spare diamonds from last time).  I just grabbed a manila tag and splodged it around the base of the not-pizza box so that I didn't waste the lovely Distress Spray colours.









Obviously when I cut my coloured Harlequins for the first tag, the outer parts were left sitting waiting for something to do.

It didn't take long for me to try out how they looked sitting over my mop-up background... sold!  I'm having so much fun playing with these Mixed Media Thinlits.

Plus that spare butterfly was hovering...









First I added some extra layers to the background.

There's some stamping using the same tiny text from Stuff to Say as on the first tag.  The first layer was stamped in Antique Linen Distress Paint...











... and I added another layer of text stamped in Broken China Distress Ink.














There are also lots of splattered layers of both Antique Linen and Picket Fence building up a soft textured look.











I stuck down the two bits of spare Harlequin outers, and also echoed the idea from the Harlequinade of adding Glossy Accents to some random diamonds to give a touch of glossy dimension to catch the light.











The top half of the butterfly is cut from the same piece of spritzed watercolour paper (I cut four altogether so, yes, there's still one flitting around the craft table!), and has had a dusting of Ivory Frantage on the raised parts of the emboss.  It has a lovely delicate sparkle in the sunlight.










The lower layer is the butterfly which fluttered over from Harlequinade, Rock Candy crackle paint and all, having been surplus to requirements over there.

Double-layered butterflies have been around since very early in my crafting history - this new Butterfly Duo makes it such fun to create elaborate versions without much effort!







For the words, I cracked open my Handwritten Thoughts stamp set.  It's stamped in Cornflower Blue, believe it or not...

Something seems to happen when you clear-emboss the blue - probably to do with refraction of light - and you get this lovely ocean green effect.










I have had it happen to me before with the Cornflower Blue, but had forgotten until I was heating it, so it's a happy coincidence that the end result tones so well with the rest of the tag!












More splatter adds a little more textural detail.  Where it's splattered over the Glossy Accents it looks as though it's floating slightly above the rest of the paint - an unexpected bonus!












And of course we're all topped off with some dyed crinkle ribbon, fastened with Idea-ology Paper String which I curled around a slender paintbrush end.







And that's that for this one.  It's another tag which puts a smile on my face, especially since it came together without any effort from me at all - just mop-ups, extras and leftovers from the Harlequinade which all fell into place very happily.  As you can see, they are definitely related!


Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.  See you soon.

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Buddha

Nothing is more precious than being in the present moment.  Fully alive, fully aware.
Thích Nhất Hạnh

I'd like to enter this in the following:
Wings'n'Things at the That's Crafty Challenge Blog - making up my hatrick there!
And as another offering in the Anything Goes theme at A Sprinkle of Imagination

49 comments:

Nikki Acton said...

I think I prefer this one to the first! Adore all the subtle elements in the background creating your wonderful textured appearance. Nikki xx

Fliss said...

This is so gorgeous Alison and I just love those beautiful colours and all the amazing texture you've achieved too.
Thanks for your hatrick entry to our current That's Crafty challenge too and more good luck wishes coming your way!
Fliss xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

It's Wow for the 'now'! This is every bit as wonderful as the first tag - great to see them side by side! I know it's not all about the background but oh boy!! This is one amazing mop up starter - love the way the layers build up! Fabulous!!! Chrisx

Helen said...

Fabulous!! Gorgeous colours, just love the butterfly again. and what a great pair they make.

Claire said...

Beautiful tag - loving those wonderful spring colours and the clear embossing over the cornflower blue really does turn that into the most stunning colour, I love it :)

Meggymay said...

A beautiful tag to compliment your Harlequin one, the spring shades look lovely.
Yvonne xx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Upcycled, recycled...how can we call it....whatever...great use of the leftovers Alison...this tags looks lovely too!
(Wise words at the end of your blogpost :-)).
All the best, Alie

Redanne said...

Definitely related and very beautiful too. I think I like your second one even better than the first and the butterfly is just stunning. Anne xx

massofhair said...

Love both Tags but on reflection i like this one more because of the colours. Wonderful as always Alison:-) xxx

froebelsternchen said...

I think I love this one even a little bit more .. absolutely GORGEOUS Alison!

chrissie said...

Another beautiful tag Alison and a fine partner for the other one. So good to see right colours as reminder that Spring is here

Love Chrissie x

sally said...

What a beautiful pair these are, I'm so glad I don't have to choose a favourite :-)

Sally

Amanda said...

Couldn't pick a winner, what a fabulous pair of tags, brilliant!
Love
Amanda x

Deborah said...

Leftovers never looked so fab, Alison. They make a wonderful pair.

Shirley said...

This one is as gorgeous as the other Alison.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Dorthe said...

Gorgeous Alison, love the number two, also. the beautiful butterfly you created, and the leftover ink colours are perfect,in giving your tag life and movement.
I have tried to buy the Mixed Media die cut, but it is all sold out here, and in Europe,too :-((
Dorthe,xx

Marci said...

They are both lovely!

Lys said...

Pity there's no Columbine... I'm sure she would have been as wonderful as this second butterfly Tag! Gorgeous!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Fantastic work again :)

Jackie PN said...

A wonderful second half!! Just as gorgeous as the first- I love them both Alison!!
Happy Sunday! xo
ps....when do you start teaching? heehee

Unknown said...

What a gorgeous splash of greens in that tag!! I love happy accidents too, that ocean blue colour looks fantastic xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE this! Scraps are the best, and love that you just continued on! I SO NEED the Mixed Media set...waiting impatiently! Thanks so much for doing another!

Rita said...

Beautiful tag Alison. The colours are glorious and that butterfly is stunning. Hugs Rita xxx

Mrs.B said...

Another beautiful tag Alison, love the soft shades of this one - it's lovely to see them sitting side by side.
Avril xx

Chrissy said...

Beautiful tag Alison..love the colours and shimmer on the butterfly..gorgeous.

luv CHRISSYxx

Sue said...

Another beautiful tag Alison and they look so well together xx

Nan G said...

A gorgeous pair of harlequinned butterflies.! Wth this secnd being my fave. Love your blue/green creations. Huhs

Kelly Harms said...

I love the cornflower blue color you used for the sentiment. Which product line is that in?

Words and Pictures said...

Thanks for the visit, Kelly... It's the Ranger Cornflower Blue Archival Ink - one of the Wendy Vecchi colours.
Alison x

Lucy Edmondson said...

I love those glossy harlequins, Alison!

Lucy x

Cocofolies said...

Wow, what a fabulous set of tags they form together!!! Again, the background is amazing, and your layered butterfly is just Wow!! Hugs, have a good week to come Alison. xxx

Hettie said...

Oh Gosh! This is beautiful Alison. Love that die you are using. Not sure which I like more. Both of them.
Hugs
xx

Kirsten said...

So, so beautiful! Both tags are completely stunning.

catherine said...

Fabulous tags Alison. I just so love the blues and greens together
x catherine

Terry said...

Love the other half just as much, Alison. I really do have to get my hands on that die! Hugs!

Deb said...

Oh my gosh, this one is equally as stunning as the first Alison! Oh to be able to create such beauty without any effort, your talent is truly amazing.

Kelly Harms said...

Thanks Alison. I'm definitely going to go get me one of those -- I love the color you achieved.

Gio said...

Wow!! I love both, but this second one is my favourite. And it came by chance... these are terrific!

Inkypinkycraft said...

beautifiul tag and they make a gorgeous pair x

Pamellia said...

This one is gorgeous too Alison! They are so similar regarding products but yet completely different visually...it takes a special talent to be able to do that, well done!! hugs :)

Unknown said...

Harlequins, Harlequins, Harlequins! Splatter, Splatter, Splatter! LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Amazing Alison!! Smile on face-firmly planted :) :) XOXO-Shari

craftytrog said...

What a beautiful pair of tags! Fantastic colours and splatters!

Julie Lee said...

I love both these tags, Alison. I'm catching up tonight, having had a difficult and busy time and what a delight it is to luxuriate in your wonderful colours and textures. I love butterflies and these ones look ready to flutter off your tags and into the blue skies. Every little detail including the seam binding and so on is superb. Lovely,lovely work! xx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Your first tag is great but I think I like all the spare parts tag better. Both are fabulous though! I love it when the leftover parts just fall together like this did for you.

Ellie Knol said...

That looks so great!

Jenny Marples said...

Utterly beautiful - I LOVE that delicate double-layered butterfly. Jenny x

Ana K. said...

Again, awesome work, dear Alison!

Carol Q said...

I'm sorry Alison, I haven't visited for ages. I've been catching up and you are still making the most beautiful creations . I'm glad to see you are still using my favourite (and probably one of your favourite) colour combinations. I will make a point of coming back more often xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Ohhhhhhh!! Wow!! Speaking of "sold" ... yes ... I'm most definitely sold on these mixed media dies. I love these harlequin tags sitting side-by-side. It's almost as if ... hmm ... it's almost as if neither tag would have lived as fully alone. I hope that makes a little bit of sense. This tag reminds me God making Eve of Adam's rib from Genesis. Now I'm just trying to figure out how you made the first tag. Gotta run and find out! -- ME