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 1 December 2015

Winter Landscape

Hello all!  It's time for a new theme at Country View Challenges, and the lovely Rachel has asked us to Create A Scene.  I find myself a little uncertain around scenes (as you may remember from my recent guest spot at Try It On Tuesday), but with all the beautiful trees in various forms amongst Tim Holtz's recent releases, I found my way towards a scenic winter landscape in my art journal, and here it is...


It started as a mop-up of some inks from the craft mat - I think they were Pumice Stone and Stormy Sky if memory serves.






Then it sat around for a while as mop-ups are wont to do, but eventually I decided it would make a good starting point for a scenic background, so I started to add in my trees.






I started with the smallest row of pines from the Tim Holtz Tree Line stamp set, stamping them in Pumice Stone - a pale colour to give a sense of distance.













Then I used Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire as I worked my way forwards... first with the larger tree line and then with some of the individual trees to break up the uniformity.













Love how this set allows you to do that, creating layers with depth quite quickly with the multiple stamps and then breaking up the straight lines with the single trees.













I stamped the tiny stars/snowflakes - can't quite decide which they are - from the Christmas Magic set, and embossed them in white.











I love that you get not only a snowy gleam that way, but also some dimensional texture on the page, and I'm enjoying the white on white areas too - something so ethereal and fragile about the look.













The deer were an obvious choice to inhabit this winter wonderland... I cut them out of plain kraft card and inked around the edges.













Then I thought it would be quite nice if those stars/snowflakes (starflakes anybody?!  Remember the Snowcrow?  I just like making up new words!) were echoed on the deer, stamped in Coffee Archival this time.











They needed to be grounded, so I created some snowy shadows with some ink and a water brush.













And I decided to try out some of the Finnabair Snowflake Paste, applying it in rough swirls with a palette knife to create the look of drifting snow.







I like the additional texture and frosty sparkle it gives.












The sentiment - again from a Tim stamp set, Handwritten Holidays #2 - is stamped in Chipped Sapphire and clear-embossed.  You know how I love to catch the light when I can!












So there you have it...  It looks as though we're in for another grey, wet, uninspiring winter here in the South East of England.  I do envy those of you who get a proper winter wonderland, though I know it can make life very difficult... at least it looks beautiful quite a lot of the time!












You'll find lots more inspiration from my fabulous team-mates over at Country View Challenges today and throughout December, so make sure to hop over regularly, and we hope you'll come and Create A Scene with us this month.

There's a randomly drawn prize voucher to be won - sponsored as always by Country View Crafts - as well as the honour of being one of our Top Three or Special Mentions.  Hope to see you there!







The cold was our pride, the snow was our beauty.  It fell and fell, lacing day and night together in a milky beauty, making everything quieter as it fell, so that winter seemed to partake of religion in a way no other season did, hushed, solemn.
Patricia Hampl

43 comments:

Helen said...

I think you do scenic stamping beautifully - a dreamy winter scene indeed, if only the reality were like this! Love the layers of trees, using different colours really helps enhance the depth. Isn't the snowflake paste great?!

Lauren Hatwell said...

Oh so beautiful! A gorgeous snowy scene. I love how you stamped the deer with starflakes too. Fab! Lx

Astrid Maclean said...

Love this beautiful winter scene Alison! The snowy background is so beautiful and those leaping deer bring just the right amount of liveliness to it all, - lovely!

chrissie said...

I love to see your scenes Alison and this is wonderful . The movement you have created changes the whole scene

Love Chrissie xx

brenda said...

Just lovely Alison, love your snowy frosty feeling background and the hue as you look through to the trees, super work.

B x

Anke said...

Wonderful, Alison. So lovely ...

Hugs
Anke

Monika Gulyas said...

As always Alison, you have created a beautiful art journal page! Fabulous background, nice textures!

Marci said...

Sounds like you had fun making this. It is a lovely scene, the trees turned out really beautiful.

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous winter scene, love the background with the mop ups and snowy effects.
Yvonne xx

Moni said...

It looks great!
Hugs
Moni

Jackie PN said...

So magical and simply beautiful Alison!
xo Jackie

Lisa Minckler said...

You have proceeded to welcome winter into your blog and it's absolutely marvelous to observe. Between your card and this journal page entry....I'm captivated and transported to a magical wintry wonderland. And this Snowflake Paste you speak of....I'm off to check out that magical stuff!!
It's been a fabulous early morning visit to your blog. Thank you so much for your never ending inspiration, Alison.
Big hugs,
Lisa x

Pamellia said...

Wow, I would really like to visit this magical wonderland you have created! Gorgeous!! Just added that stamp set to my wish list and I think we should go with "starflakes" for sure!! Just stunning Alison!! hugs :)

Tarnished Rose said...

Beautiful page. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.

Marilyn

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

I can feel the cold! Fabulous texture you achieved too, and love the blue and frolicking deer!!!

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh Alison, this is one delightful scene! I love the gorgeous color mix and the texture the ink created on the page!

Sandy said...

Brrrr - I can feel the cold from here. December is here!
Did I tell you Alison that I am going to use your blog as a tutorial site? Anytime I need to learn a new technique, I need to go to your blog and find one!!
Sandy xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh my! A REAL Winter Wonderland! The snow looks as though it would make a proper crunching sound! Fabulous! Chrisx

rachel said...

absolutely brilliant Alison - I adore your pages - they look so very festive too - beautiful! Hugs rachel x

Anneke said...

Alison this page is beautiful. I love the combination of blue and brown.
Your forestvof pine trees looks wonderful. Very inspiring!

Willy said...

What a beautiful scene, love the colors and texture!!

Terry said...

Oh how beautiful! Alison, I love that wintry background and frosty effects! The deer are just so lovely on these pages! Love this! Hugs!

Rhonda said...

So beautiful. :o)

craftytrog said...

A wonderful, wintry scene Alison! xxx

Sue said...

Really beautiful Alison, the perfect Wintery scene xx

Brenda Brown said...

Brilliantly put together Alison (and not a window in sight lol). I love the layers of trees and the echo of the starflakes on the deer. A perfect scene. xxx

sally said...

A chilly scene rather like the one here yesterday- all melted now but getting due to be turning colder again tonight & pro anymore while stuff to come....I prefer a proper white winter like I get in France!

Sally

(Thanks for all your comments :-) recently!)

Kay Wallace said...

I always forget to tell you how much I enjoy the poetry you add at the bottom of each post, so am doing that upfront today! This one is particularly meaningful as we approach the wintry Christmas season where religion and weather meet head on! Nicely chosen, Alison!

Your scene is so very beautiful. Color, texture and elements beautifully choreographed into the most beautiful winter wonderland. Thanks for sharing how you created it. Love your (Kraft) deer!

Julia Aston said...

What a gorgeous winter woods scene Alison! I love the layered trees and wonderful snowflakes and the beautiful deer enjoying their environment! Julia xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Love all these blues, it makes it very wintery ! Gorgeous !
Corrie x

Kirsten said...

Gorgeous winter scene. I love how you built up the layers, the trees look great.

Julie Lee said...

Lovely to see those gorgeous deer gambolling in the forest. They always remind me of 'The Holly and the Ivy' and then that reminds me once more of the 'Ceremony of Carols' which I crafted along to for the first time this year on December 1st. As it was Advent, I allowed myself that luxury! I love the magical, snowy scene you have created. It really evokes the wonder of a winter wood.xx

Véro said...

Really magical!Wonderfull colours!

experiments in paper said...

Fabulous scene, Alison - I just love how you use your favorite palette of colors to such effect in so many different ways. And I agree - love the white on white, especially for a winter scene. Your creation of the forest has inspired me from past projects, as you will see soon should you care to look! The deer are perfect - I can see myself in a lovely, snowy forest witnessing something special/ And your shadows are magnificent- always learning from you! xxx Lynn

Deb said...

Beautiful as always Alison, I love your winter treescape and the deer adorned with the starflake stamp look right at home in your winter wonderland. A wonderful winter landscape, thank you for sharing it! Deb xo

Fliss said...

This is absolutely stunning Alison and your pages have such a beautiful frosty look to them too.
Fliss xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

A gorgeous winter woodland scene Alison, with so many fabulous colours and textures. The blues and the frosty look are fabulous. Jennie x

Deborah Wainwright said...

Wow Alison this is beautiful! I love the stamping of trees and the snow looks lovely. A fabulous make all round hugs Debs xx

Doreen said...

A beautiful snowy scene Alison,fabulous texture.xxx

Cocofolies said...

Both pages are so beautiful Alison!.. I envy you to have already Tim Holtz fabulous new tree line stamps and Finnabair snowflake paste... Lucky you!! :-) All these ingredients (but above that your talent of course) help to give an ethereal look to your scene... wonderful. xxx

Mrs.B said...

Beautiful pages Alison.
Avril xx

Hettie said...

B e a u t-i-f u l!!! (Think Craig of SCD!)
Hugs
xx

A Pink said...

A really wonderful winter wonderland ! Alison that I would love to take a walk through anytime . So dreamy , so calming ! hugs x