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...

Sunday 1 November 2015

Got the blues...




Hello all - it's the first of the month so it's time for a new theme at Country View Challenges, and for November Doreen has chosen The Colour Blue - so it's time to get out all your blue inks, paints, pens, pencils, chalks, mica powders, glitters, papers and anything else you can think of, and start playing.

I think Blue works differently for me according to the season I'm playing with it in, and at this time of the year it definitely took on a wintry hue.

It was a chance to ink up Dina Wakley's Scribbly Birds for the first time, even though they've been perched in my stash for some months now.

And my other challenge to myself (along with inking uninked stamps) was to attempt to keep things a bit simpler, so that there can be a few posts of short story length as opposed to War and Peace!!






I started with some simple wrinkle-free distress technique with Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky on the craft sheet.













I stamped the bird in Ground Espresso, but then decided he needed a touch more presence so I embossed him with some Wow powder in Bark (this has become quite a favourite for me - dark enough to be a powerful presence without being quite as full-on as black).

I used a watery wash of Chalk Fresco paint to make him stand out a little from the background, and added some watered down Ground Espresso too for the shading.










The words are by Dina Wakley too, though I stamped them in two lines rather than straight across, and they're also embossed in Bark.











I added some of the tiny Studio Calico stars to the sky, giving them a touch of the Chalk paint too to make them paler.











I masked the bird and stamped some of the Tim Holtz alphabet for extra texture.  It's from the Documented set, and has become a favourite stamp for adding detail to backgrounds.

A simple topping and we're done...










Do hop over to Country View Challenges to see what my lovely team-mates have been doing with The Colour Blue, and remember there will be more inspiration there throughout the month, so it's well worth dropping in occasionally, and come and play too, for a chance at the prize voucher from our generous sponsor Country View Crafts.



Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope to be stopping by myself round your way soon!

dive for dreams

dive for dreams
or a slogan may topple you
(trees are their roots
and wind is wind)

trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward)

e.e. cummings

Find it at Country View Crafts:
Dina Wakley - Scribbly Birds
Dina Wakley - Handwritten Quotes
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous - Documented
Distress Inks - Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Ground Espresso
Fresco Finish Chalk Paints - Chalk
Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon

49 comments:

Barbara said...

I adore this tag! it's so inspirational! Beautiful as always! barbarayaya

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great tag!!! I love the bird and the blues and the little stars on it!!!Super!!!
Have a nice sunday!!
Maria

chrissie said...

Really cute tag with the wonderful bird in perfect surroundings

Love Chrissie xx

Cocofolies said...

This one is so lovely!!!
I have also the Dina Wakley's Scribbly Birds, but never inked them yet too, a shame I know (especially when I look at your tag, so adorable!)
This new Wow powder looks interesting too.. Thanks for all the details as usual Alison...even when it is not War and Peace Lol.
Big hugs, Coco xx

Kirsten said...

Beautiful tag!

Julia said...

What a super scribble bird. The bark embossing powder works so well with the blues. It is a great tag.
Julia

froebelsternchen said...

An awesome tag Alison!So beautiful!!
Happy Sunday!
oxo
Susi

Hazel Agnew said...

This is an absolutely darling tag Alison.....great combination of elements....can't stop, off to get the blues! 😊

Redanne said...

Hmm, the Wow powder is such a great colour and so are the cool blues in the background. I love the scribbly bird too and I always love the way you finish off the top of your tags... Anne xx

Helen said...

I love Dina's scribbly birds, and your tag is fabulous!

Rita said...

What a pretty tag. Love the blue colours. Hugs Rita xxxx

Monika Gulyas said...

Beautiful tag, sweet little bird!!!

rachel said...

a wonderful tag Alison - really beautiful - love the simplicity and love the scribbly birds! Hugs Rachel xx

Marci said...

Very appealing tag with Dina's scribbly birds and the lovely shades of blue. I love the e. e. cummings poem. He and Emily Dickinson are two of my favorites, and I think you used her recently, too. Thank you for reminding me of them.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

A little birdie told me: I like this...and so do I, Alison!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
Alie

Dorthe said...

The sweetest tag, with this little round birdie, and the starry night. I love how you embossed him and the words, Alison.
Dorthe, Oxx

sally said...

What a chance you took inking up these scribble birds so soon! Beautiful shades of blue - it almost matches our sky in Scotland today :-)

Sally

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such fabulous blues Alison and I love that gorgeous bird! Jennie x

Chrissy said...

Gorgeous tag Alison..love the little bird and the beautiful blue with the added stars..and need to take that sentiment to heart I think..

Luv CHRISSYxx

SewPaperPaint said...

I so love this blue! The wooden stars are such a great accent! Love your background!!! Beautiful tag!

craftytrog said...

Wonderful tag art Alison x

Corrie Herriman said...

Contrary to poplar belief my favourite colour is blue so I really, really love this tag. I also really like these birds so it is a win win, Alison !
Corrie x

experiments in paper said...

Aww, I love your War and Peace takes, Alison! But I understand - time is precious! And so is this tag! Love the details of the type, and all those wonderfully distressed blues.... quite lovely! xxx Lynn

Meggymay said...

Love how you created this fantastic tag. The bird looks so good on the blues of the background.
Yvonne xx
p.s. I don't mind your War and Peace posts, that go with your inspirational work.
Yvonne xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love this fabulous tag - great background and I do love the scribbly bird! Brilliant sentiment! Chrisx

Amanda said...

Great tag with Dina's scribbly bird, I love that set of Tims stamp too.
Love
Amanda x

Paper Profusion said...

I love when you get your blues out Alison. This is really beautiful and your little bird chap makes for a great character. Gorgeous work. Nicola x

Anonymous said...

Alison
This tag is adorable and such a lovely shade of blue. Very sweet.
Wishes
Lynne

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Love how you made your bird more prominent with the wash of paint and he works perfectly against your icy blues, love the little wooden stars too. Lovely tag . Tracy x

Nikki Acton said...

Another stunning tag Alison - with another wonderful background. One day please show me how to do wrinkle free the Alison way - genius! Nikki x

Fliss said...

Hello from lovely Woodstock Alison and what a beautiful blue tag you've created. Such a gorgeous background and love the subtle colour on my favourite Dina bird too.
Fliss xx

Mrs.B said...

Love the frosty blues on your background and so pleased this little bird got inked up, they go together so well.
Avril xx

Sue said...

Really beautiful Alison, I love your tag, and it's always good to ink the rubber for the first time xx

Julia Aston said...

What a lovely blue tag Alison! Beautiful little stars and sweet bird!

craftimamma said...

Gorgeous tag Alison and like you, I have Dina's birds uninked except for one....once! It's shameful, lol! Love the wintery background and even the little bird looks like a snowy one. Cute stars too!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Hettie said...

This is absolutely gorgeous Alison. Love that blue tweetie bird!!
Hugs
xx

Deborah Wainwright said...

This tag is gorgeous Alison, I really love the background with just the touches of aging here and there. Love it! Hugs Debs xx

Adventures in Paperland said...

Love Dina's stamps and you did a fab job with this tag Alison. :)

Mona Pendleton said...

Such a pretty tag Alison! That bird is darling!

Rika said...

Such a beautiful tag!

Shirley said...

He looks so chirpy and chipper Alison even though he is blue. Beautiful tag.

Thank you for your kind comments I always miss the family when I leave them but this time round haven't had time. Still trying to shake off this cough.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Astrid Maclean said...

Such a gorgeous tag Alison! Love the wintry blue and the way you treated the bird is super! Love the simplicity of it all!

Kay Wallace said...

A very impressive tag, Alison, and one that carries an uplifting message for us all! Great blue "hues" here are a perfect wintry background. I have the same stamp set--uninked for months! Why do we do that? I am inking mine up today!

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Lovely card, Alison, I like all blue colors from distress line but always get amazed to see how you use it in your creations!!

Pawsitively Creative said...

Just saw your tag and had to come have a closer look. Love the blues and your creative approach to keeping it clean. I agree with you about that sentiment! Awesome sauce!

Etsuko said...

Beautiful tag and fab your Dina's bird image, I love the background. xxx

Julie Lee said...

Blue is most definitely a colour for all seasons! I love your winter take on it - such a beautifully composed and executed tag, full of wintry magic. xx

Unknown said...

Oh, Alison, this is so magical. I love those birds too! This tag is just arty heaven for me, it just makes me think of being in my grandparents garden when I was little and would see some robins amongst the frosty garden scene - thanks for transporting me back to a beautiful memory! This is more than just a stunning creation xx

Evelyn Walter said...

Alison, this little bird is adorable! The tag has a wonderful background as well, always a pleasure to be here <3
xxx Evelyn