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 3 April 2015

Through the Looking Glass




Hello all!  Don't be deceived by the title - it's not an Alice project, it's the new challenge theme over at A Vintage Journey.

Our host is the lovely Julia, and she's taking us Through the Looking Glass, with an invitation to make a project using glass (acetate) or mirrors (metal sheet).  You'll find all the details of the challenge, plus some fabulous inspiration pieces from my amazing team-mates, over at A Vintage Journey, so do check it out.

But for now, here's my offering.  I toyed for a while with ideas of mirrors, but ended up with bottles - and it only occurs to me now that they might have been inspired by the Alice connections of the theme title.

Perhaps I should have added some little labels saying "Drink Me"!  I did play with adding various labels, but I liked the purity of the glass vials without interruption, so they all got discarded in the end.









As you can see, I used the Tim Holtz Apothecary Bottles die.  I cut some discarded packaging acetate and started experimenting with various crackle and gloss mediums to create a dimensional glass look.











There are layers of DecoArt Crackle Glaze, Rock Candy Crackle Paint and DecoArt Triple Gloss Glaze involved in the final look.

I love the bubbles of imperfection...











... as well as the fact that some of the crackle layers peeled off in places...

... it all adds to that vintage glass look, I think.  They're now pleasurably hefty - a good 2-3mm thick, with a good dimensional curve to the edges, and they catch the light beautifully!








The background tag was a mop-up piece, sitting around on the craft table.  I've no real idea any more of exactly what colours went into it, though I do know that there was some Picket Fence Distress Spray reverse stencil printing at one point. 

That's what gives you the lovely cloudiness in places.  I just thought the watery look of it would be a great background for my glass bottles - tricking the eye into putting liquid inside the bottles too.










I did add some flourish stamping using Glacier White pigment ink.  Again, it's fairly subliminal, but it adds a nice swirling movement to the tag.










I used Inktense pencils to provide some shading under the bottles, so that they could stand more firmly.

We wouldn't want the glass to break, after all.











The words are stamped in Versamark and embossed in Seafoam White, and I also added a little touch of the powder around the edges of the tag.












And the ribbons at the top are dyed with Tumbled Glass (of course!) and knotted around themselves to stay in place.









I hope you'll check out all the inspiration, and then join us Through The Looking Glass at A Vintage Journey.

Remember you now have a whole month to play, so there's plenty of time.




As always, you could be in with a chance at the prize voucher, generously sponsored by Country View Crafts, and you might be selected as one of our three Pinworthy projects.  Hope to see you en route!!

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
Anton Chekhov

Among the many thousands of things I have never been able to understand, one in particular stands out.  That is the question of who is the first person who stood by a pile of sand and said, "You know, I bet if we took some of this and mixed it with a little potash and heated it, we could make a material which would be solid and yet transparent.  We could call it glass."  Call me obtuse, but you could stand me on a beach until the end of time and it would never occur to me to try to make it into windows.
Bill Bryson
And yes, I know I've used that one before, but do I love it!



It's been a busy start to the month as always...

If you missed my Flora and Fauna for the new Artistic Stamper challenge, or the Krafty Butterflies for Use Kraft Card at Country View Challenges, do check them out.

Have a lovely Easter weekend everybody, however you celebrate.


64 comments:

massofhair said...

Your finished bottles look a little like sea glass, how wonderful is that!

Glorious Tag Alison and some fantastic inspiration for the challenge:-) xxx

experiments in paper said...

Love these bottles, Alison - they look like the real antique thing! And your background is lovely - I especially love how you kept to white, which is a lovely complement to the texture/bubbles of the bottles as they catch the light! Great interpretation of this challenge, which I hope to join as well! xx Lynn

Shirley said...

How cool do those bottles look Alison, great tag.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

S@ndy Diller said...

I simply love this Alison, you have taken what some people consider trash and made it into a treasure. These bottles look so real. Great project and techniques.

Julia Aston said...

Your tag is so wonderfully watery Alison! I just love the crackle and bubbles you achieved on your bottles - the white embossed sentiment is perfect with it! thank you so much for creating for my Through the Looking Glass challenge!

Rupa Swaminathan said...

For me, this is my most fav creation of yours so far, Alison! Jaw dropping.....the glass bottles are so so beautiful and real! How did you do that??? Genius...I just love the dimension and the depth you have given with Inktense pencils is brilliant! So much to learn and thanks for the inspiration. have a great weekend. Hugs.

Deb said...

Gorgeous Alison, love your apothecary bottles, they look so very real with all the lovely bubbles and shine. Thanks so much for the great inspiration and sharing your process!

Sue Marrazzo Fine Art said...

REALLY special!

Helen said...

Your bottles are fabulous, love all the different crackles you used, the outcome is wonderful. That white stamping is pretty gorgeous too, seems I'll need that inkpad! Have a great Easter - I'm off for a walk with my cousin today, think we're going to get wet!!

Flo Langley said...

The effect with the bottles is amazing and the white script sets them off wonderfully. You are so clever. Inspiring as always. TFS.
Have a great Easter Alison.
Florence x

chrissie said...

Love the way did the bottle Alison-the background shows through so well

Love Chrissie xx

Amanda said...

Love the effect you have created with your bottles they look fab. Great tag!
Love
Amanda x

Astrid Maclean said...

Love the effect on the bottles Alison, lovely tag!

hazel said...

Fabulous! I love the bottles.
xxx Hazel.

Lucy Edmondson said...

Your bottles are just perfection, Alison!!!! You did right to keep it simple but now you have this amazing technique to hand I think variations of these bottles would work on lots of your projects. Sublime!

Lucy x

Unknown said...

really cool tags!

Jackie PN said...

Alison! I do love it when you experiment! What a great set of bottles- your trials are a success! Gorgeous texture and the tag is simply beautiful! xoxo
Happy Easter dear friend!

Marci said...

Enchanted...

Brenda Brown said...

What amazing glassy effects Alison, I too love the purity of the bottles and colours, they are so beautiful.
Have a very Happy Easter.
Hugs Brenda xxx

Pamellia said...

Wow Alison, so stunning and completely unique for the looking glass theme! Every time I visit you I end up with a half dozen more items on my wish list...you're costing me a fortune girl!! HAHA, just kidding, you are an inspiration! hugs :)

Lisa Minckler said...

Love, love, love!!!!! Reminds me of the vintage glass and pitcher I have from my in-laws. The cracked glass looks just like it. This technique would even make for a fabulous stained glass look. Beautiful work Alison!

Nan G said...

Love the bottles! Never would of thought of trying crackle on the plastic! So cool! Another inspiring piece Alison.

cathylynn said...

Outstanding Alison!! What fabulous bottles and your coloring is brilliant! Another fabulous creation by you!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Sandy said...

FAN-DANG-TASTIC! Definitely vintage glass - beautifully done Alison!!!
Sandy xx

Meggymay said...

Fantastic bottles, they look so realistic, great tips on how you made them.
Yvonne xx

Terry said...

The bubbles of imperfection is the icing on the cake! Alison, I love those bottles and cool effect of the various mediums. What a great take and interpretation of the challenge! Happy Easter! Hugs!

Dorthe said...

Wow Alison, wow, it is an amazing glass effect you have created , love I can se the "glass" stopper through the bottle, and all the bubbles and crackle making your bottles stunning. Also the background and the qoute are both beautiful!!
Hugs from Dorthe

Redanne said...

The glass (calling it that because that's what it looks like) is beautiful, I love the bubbling up and the gorgeous neutral tones you have used. The background compliments the 'glass' so well too. Anne xx

Anneke said...

I fel in love with your project.
It is amazing how your bottles look on
your wonderful tag. Great work.
Thanks for showing Anneke

Ruth said...

Oh!!! My!!! So intrigued and in awe of how you've created those glass bottles Alison! I want to play with this technique so much and the background colours are so perfect, just stunning! Ruth xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE this! Those bottles are awesome!!!

froebelsternchen said...

Gorgeous..what a fantastic idea with the bottles!
Happy Easter!
xxx
Susi

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Very inventive bottles Alison...another great technique ..very inventive!
Happy Easter, Alie :-)

Unknown said...

Oh wow Alison, those bottles are gorgeous and keeping the purity of them was probably the right thing as they are just beautiful on their own. What a great technique too, you m'dear, are a genius!! xx

Nikki Acton said...

Stunning and wonderfully creative Alison - the bottles are amazing! Nikki xx

Lys said...

Fantastic effect done to this acetate! Great bubbling bottles ! Thanks for inspiring!

Juliz Design Post said...

Those bottles are stunning Alison, loving the bubbles in them and they sit beautifully on your background.
Have a lovely weekend, Julie x

rachel said...

Hiya Alison - amazing look to the bottles alison - really gorgeous - I will enjoy trying to think of something to make to join in! Big hugs rachel x

Jenny Marples said...

The bottles have been crackled and aged so superbly they seem to have taken on a life of their own and the softness of the tag decoration emphasises that fact. As ever Alison you've risen to the challenge and surpassed it. Jenny x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Oh my gosh! I just adore these crackled bubbly bottles. So many types of crackle on them but it works! There is such a great fluid (ha!) flow to your tag. This is so like you and not like you because not a ton of little details, but what is there is 100% you!

sally said...

Beautiful sea glass effect bottles & they look stunning on that background :-)

Sally

Kasia said...

Wow, love the idea with these bottles :) Fabulous tag, Alison!

Kim said...

All I can say is WOW! Your bottles are absolutely beautiful. I love the the monochromatic look with the crackled bottles and the complimentary white for the sentiment and edges. Just lovely!

barbarayaya62 said...

Alison i'm speechless! your bottles are so beautiful, love the transparency love the colors, love each detail in this tag! Fantastic work! Happy easter! barbarayaya

Sue said...

This is really beautiful Alison, those bubbles are wonderful. I do believe I have this die - I don't think it's been taken out of the box yet so I will have to rectify that. Enjoy your weekend xx

Unknown said...

Hi Alison! Oh, I would most gladly drink from these lovely bottles :) They are so pretty in their purity and I do adore those bubbles in the finish! Perfect, in my eyes :) :) Reminds me of a rustic set of Mexican glass tumblers I used to have, completely resplendent in all of the bubbly imperfection :) Oh, and I do love how you've using a 'left over' tag used to sop up colors :) I'm trying to do the same myself...use what I've already made! LOL :)
Thank you so much for coming by my blog, Alison! I haven't had internet connection this past week and I'm just now getting caught up and visiting what feels like, long lost friends! Oh, technology! It's a blessing and a curse :)
I hope you're having a lovely Easter weekend!! XOXO-Shari

Hettie said...

This is gorgeous Alison. I just love the effects you have created. You have also used my favourite sentiment stamp too.
Happy Easter.
xx

craftimamma said...

Hi Alison, Sorry I've been such a bad blog visitor over the past few months. Life will insist on getting in the way of my crafting needs ;-)!

OMGoodness, this is a very clever technique and the bottles look totally realistic! I love the mop up background and you have used my all time favourite Tim quote too. Everything about this tag is beautiful in my eyes.

Apologies for not having time to comment on each post but I'm going for a good browse backwards now.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Neet said...

I love the bubbles too, not sure I would say they were 'imperfections' - they look as if they were meant to be and are so cool.
A great tag Alison and I just adore the background colour.
Hugs, Neet xx

Etsuko said...

Oh! This is Excellent tag Alison!! Love the effect on the bottles, bubbles are perfect and fantastic. Adore your work!! xx

Julia said...

I never cease to be amazed by your talent Alison. How you turned a piece of acetate into a beautiful bottle is just knockout, I love this to bits. x

Cocofolies said...

Fabulous effet created on the three bottles, they look so real!!!! I love this tag, stunning as usual but also so different from the others (how do you do to reinvent always art and techniques? I'm amazed!... :-)). Also the one for the Artisitc Stamper challenge is wonderful! Hugs, hope you are having a great end-end. xx

maj. said...

Great work, Alison!!!
Happy Easter !

www.deeadamsart.blogspot.co.uk said...

Absolutely stunning bottles love the bubbles and crackling and the colouring of the tag underneath.Dee x

craftytrog said...

Fabulous effects Alison!

Paper Profusion said...

These bottles look brilliant Alison. A fantastic tag! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Nicola x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, fantastic, the texture rocks.

Anke said...

WOW Alison, your tag is so beautiful. I love the effect on the bottles.

Hugs
Anke

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Late here so it's probably all been said - love everything about this but those fab 'glass' bottles are amazing! Chrisx

Kathi said...

Saw this on Pinterest and had to come take a look to find out more information!

It's fabulous. The bottles are absolutely wonderful! Thanks for telling us how you created the sea glass look!

Re-Pinning because otherwise I'd forget!

Annie said...

beautiful coloured tag Alison and the techniques used on the bottles look fabulous. Sending huge hugs Annie x

Kirsten said...

Stunning tag, the bottles are wonderful - I love the little bubbles.

Mrs.B said...

Just had a lovely catch up, so pleased I didn't miss this post. Those bottles look amazing, texture, colour, and they look wonderful against your wonderful background.
Avril xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

What a sensational experiment. I know I told you that I adore the translucent frescos for bottles ... but here is a reason to continue to have acetate in your arsenal of creative tools. Oh!!!!!! I am in love with this effect. So ... now I'm wondering ... for every experiment that "works" ... how many don't :) ? - ME