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 9 January 2016

Family Trees

Hello all!  Thank you so much for the feedback on my first Wanderlust pages - creating them gave me great joy, so it's lovely that you enjoyed them too.

After the bothersome news this morning, I've a bit of fun for you now - a tag playing with a couple of Stampotique stamps I treated myself to.  I know the quirky Daniel Torrente images are not my usual thing, but I've had a soft spot for them since I discovered them.  I do have Moth Fab, who has put in an occasional appearance here, and a couple of others and another resolution this year is to make sure I ink them up more often.


These two snowmen delight me... and I wanted to give them a nice snowy forest landscape to live in.





Family, eh... you can't choose your family, they say.  And some of them you really can't take anywhere...  (Don't get me wrong - I love my own family dearly.)

With the look on the little snowman's face...











... I couldn't resist this Small Talk sticker.

The whole thing started with me smooshing the tag into a combination of Distress Stains and Paints on the craft mat - but deliberately keeping the blues and whites separate to create sky and snowy ground.










The snowmen are painted with the same mixture of Distress Stains and Paints, with some detailing added with Distress Markers, and I mounted the one in the foreground on padded tape to add to the illusion of depth.












In the sky I stamped my favourite snowflake stars with Picket Fence Distress Paint, and I added shading to the landscape, creating billowing snow drifts, and of course there are lots of lovely trees for the forest.










They're looking for projects including trees at the Stampotique Designers Challenge, and it's so long since I've managed to play along, so I'm entering this tag in the Trees theme at the Stampotique Designers Challenge.


That's it for today.  I hope you enjoyed this bit of light relief, and I'll see you soon.

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.
George Burns

When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching - they are your family.
Jim Butcher

With the bluesy colours and the little snowman feeling so blue, I'd like to enter this in Oh So Blue at Stamps and Stencils too

79 comments:

rachel said...

so cool Alison - brilliant snowmen - love their forest home too - awesome make! Hugs Rachel x

chrissie said...

A lot of fun on this Alison with the quirky snow family.

Love Chrissie xx

Fliss said...

This is absolutely gorgeous Alison. Your snowy scene is such a perfect backdrop for those quirky snowmen and all your colouring looks fabulous.
Fliss xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I love your snowman and son! A brilliant fun tag! Hugs, Chrisx

Unknown said...

OH WOW, OH WOW... this is fabulous. Not only does it make me smile but it is just fantastic art work. LOVE everything about your MARVELOUS creation Alison. SUPER SUPER FINE! j.

Lauren Hatwell said...

LOL - I LOVE it :oD Lx

Meggymay said...

Loving your quirky snowmen. Its a fantastic tag and you cannot help but to smile when looking at it.
Yvonne xx

Chrissy said...

Awesome tag Alison..oh! dear..there is always one isn't there..lol..wonderful inking and colouring..love the scene you have created...[ and a pop up comment box..]

luv CHRISSYxx

Amanda said...

What a treat to have you using Stampotique, fabulous tag, I just love this!!
Love
Amanda x

Terry said...

Love, Love, Love your snowman fun tag, Allison! You have "Snowed" those Stampotique stamps and it is more of a treat for us! I love that wintry background!!! Hugs and Happy Weekend!

Helen said...

Fantastic!! I love the quirkiness of the Stampotique range, and your snowy scene is wonderful.

Margik said...

Love love this stunning tag, Alison! You've created a super scene with those fun snowmen, I really like them! The background is fabulous too.
Mar xx

experiments in paper said...

Love the whimsy here, Alison! And of course, your lovely scenery..... marvelous! Hoping to catch up on my Wanderlust stuff soon... just got home after being diverted by weather, so have lost a day of the weekend. Off to see your Wanderlust pages next! And thanks for the news on Blogger - Ive been thinking about changing to another service because I so often have layout issues with the Google platform....will have to mull that. xxx Lynn

Kathi said...

Wonderful tag. I love the background you've created, the colors, and the snowmen. The sentiment made me giggle too!

Thanks for playing along with us at Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Brilliant Alison, so fun to see you using Stampotique, I really must dust mine off and use them!
Hugs
Donna xxx

Almo said...

What fun Alison your little snowman made me giggle as did the sentiment, lovely tag. Mo x

Ink Art Designs said...

Oh I looove this Alison!!! I looks like so much fun.
Dot x

Nancy Dynes said...

Wow, Alison!! I'm loving your tag!! Fabulous doesn't even begin to describe it. Those sweet snowmen and the sentiment bring a smile to my face. The coloring you've done is beautiful (I love the palette you've chosen)! Wishing you many blessings throughout the New Year!
Hugs,
Nancy

brenda said...

I've not come across that make of stamp Alison, but they do make for a real fun and funky tag ably assisted by your unique design style.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring with blogger, I know it was announced only a week or so back and they say from 11th, but at the challenges we noticed a weekend of much change before Christmas when a good number lost followers.

B x

Sophie said...

Guten Morgen, Alison...
ich wünsche dir ein wunderbares neues Jahr in Gesundheit und Frieden.
Deine Schneemänner sind fantastisch mit der tollen Schneelandschaft dahinter.
Danke für mein Lächeln :-)

Herzlichst Sophie

WendyK said...

I just love those snowmen, and your tag is fabulous.

Etsuko said...

This is very dramatic scene and great theater. xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Totally delightful and I just love that you are expanding your usual style, yet stay true to yourself, love this!!

Redanne said...

I just love those whimsical snow people Alison, a real treat and such fun! Hope your bothersome news was not too bad.... Anne xx

Lys said...

I love this scene! So dramatic and funny too... The background is beautiful and the colours bright. Great resolution you made for this year!
Is the new comment window related to the new Blogger system?

Marci said...

What a sweet scene! You are a master at backgrounds, this does look so cold and snowy.

Shirley said...

Happy New Year Alison and I hope your holiday break was amazing.

Just got back from my hols this week and trying to catch up with everything. Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog.

I can see already I have missed a lot judging by this adorable and whimsically amusing piece. Those poor Snowmen look positively tipsy to me (sounds just like my family hic) x x

Off to see everything I have missed.

On the followers front I haven't bothered with any of that for years so hurray I am not affected but sorry to hear that people have been.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Lisa Minckler said...

That is the best when you open a blog and the coffee you just poured in bypasses the throat and lodges itself instead, directly up your nostrils! Snorting hot fluids was worth it because the laugh was priceless. Your tag is a hoot! Outstanding job with the realistic wintry environment and I truly appreciate the whimsy.
Big hugs!!
Lisa x

Jackie PN said...

Love the way you used the dimension here! I do feel really sad for the snowman though "(
Happy Sunday! xo

Dorthe said...

I love your beautiful background Alison, such a wonderful landscape,- as for the funny snowmen ,they are great here in your very snowy day, and funny sweet, too,- but they would not find way to my table , I don`t know what it is, but the same happens with Tim Holz birds !!
Happy sunday to you, dear friend.
Dorthe, xx

Sandra Cox said...

I love the snowmen! And your header is gorgeous.

Willy said...

Wow great tag!!

A Pink said...

An absolutely super cool tag! Alison . I have a few stampotiques stamps too and like you I rarely get around to inking them up so thanks for the reminding nudge.
Love these two snowman and your tag is fabulous both in design and execution .
Your sentiment made me smile ( wryly ) and works perfectly with the stamps !

So pleased you are able to enter this into a challenge that you've not managed to play along with in a long time - Good luck . x

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous tag Alison, those snowmen are really so sweet - and the perfect sentiment. A great fun make.
Avril xx

Kay Wallace said...

Perfect way to add a bit of fun to your art, Alison! Love it!

Nan G said...

LOL you've nailed it, butterfly! That's family alright. Love these snowmen. Nice to see a bit of whimsy from you. Happy New Year.

Julie Lee said...

Love this quirky and funny take on family!The text is the last thing I would have thought of putting with Snowmen, but it's just inspired! I love the wintry colour palette on this make! The Burns quote is brilliant too! I must remember that one! xx

Claudine said...

What a great set of stamps to treat yourself to. I love it!!! Thanks for joining us this week at Stampotique's Challenge.

cathylynn said...

Outstanding Alison! I love your snowmen. I can imagine how much fun you had creating this beauty. Sure brings a smile to my face as my eyes feast on your coloring. Great details as always! You did an amazing job. I love this! Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Monika Gulyas said...

Your tag is awesome, Alison! Totally satirical and this why it is funny as well!

Mona Pendleton said...

Fantastic tag Alison! What fun snowmen! Love the inky background!

hazel said...

Wonderful work Alison, I love the quirky snowmen.
xxx Hazel.

Annie said...

looks like you had a lot of fun with these S'otique stamps Alison xx Love the fabulous background you created...... xx

TFS and hugs Annie xx

Pamellia said...

Oh my gosh Alison, this is just hilarious!! I love that sentiment, it really adds extra character and tells a little story about the scene you created! LOVE IT! hugs :)

Gaby Bee said...

This tag is enchanting, Alison! I love your snowmen!

craftytrog said...

Wonderful tag Alison ! x

Julia Aston said...

Love your beautiful snowy sky and beautiful trees as background for these cute critter snowmen Alison! very clever design! Julia xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful Alison and thank for playing along with us over at Stampotique...
Corrie x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Love Stampotique and that's a brilliant depiction of my many families. Love your quirky winter scene!

SewPaperPaint said...

Unfortunately, I can relate to this tag in more ways than one! So funny and nice to see this side of you! Really great design and coloring. Hugs, Autumn

Kirsten said...

Such a great tag!

sarascloset said...

My favorite color paelette and the funkiest snowmen I've ever seen! I always enjoy your posts with the quotes at the bottom, and both are so perfect and spot on tur! big hugS Forgive any erros. Blogger has taken away my sight for wiriting tonight!

sarascloset said...

OhMY! I don't even know what I was trying to say! :)

catherine said...

Another fabulous project Alison and I do love that Stampotique stamp !!! Love how you have used it on your project
x catherine

Sam & Poppy said...

Gorgeous!!!
Thanks so much for joining in with us at Stampotique this week.

Sue said...

This is fabulous Alison, I love the snowy background you've made for the snow family. Thank you so much for joining in with us this week at Stampotique. Sue xx

maj. said...

Fabulous!!!!!

Margaret said...

Oh, I love this fun tag! Your snow and sky look fantastic and the sentiment is perfect! We had a snow family image created by a friend one year that had the kids in pieces by the dog. It was quite fitting!

Connie Mercer said...

these are awesome~wish I was family:). Thanks for stopping by my blog today:)

Candy C said...

Alison!!! This tag is adorable! I so love how you created your wintery sky and stamped the snowflakes using Picket Fence. That is genius! I also love your stamped trees creating the perfect woodsy background for this adorable snowmen. I have to admit, I have never been too drawn to the Stampitique images but these little guys are darling! I love how you did the one with his head fallen off. I think we can all relate to that poor fellow. And I love your sentiment as well. Thanks for your always positive comments you leave for me!! I really appreciate them.

froebelsternchen said...

ONE WORD: W O N D E R F U L !!!!

Paper Profusion said...

Terrific make! Superb inking. Nicola x

Sandy said...

You are definitely singing a song using my kind of notes. I especially like the way you have place the snowman who has lost his head. I jut gotta have these stamps. Love this company!!!! Love what you do!!
Sandy xx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Aaah, how cool, that's a fantastic tag, love the images a lot. I'm grateful that we haven't had much snow so far (I'm not a fan of winter).
So sorry, that I haven't been around for months. So I'm a bit late in wishing you a healthy, lucky and creative year 2015.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

I meant of course 2016 :D

Julie S said...

This is wonderful! I love the background. Congrats on the shoutout over at the SDC blog.

Cocofolies said...

Ooo what a great tag, so fun!!!!
Brilliant work Alison. Good luck for the Stampotique challenge, but I'm sure it's a winner so no luck needed I think! :)
Hugs, Coco xx

Heather said...

A gorgeous card Alison, a beautiful design with an adorable background & papers........your Stampotique fun snowmen/women are just adorable with the great sentiments!!

hugs
Heather xx

toni said...

Absolutely love this Alison! The stamps are gorgeous but it's what you have done with them that is so lovely! Thankyou for joining us over on Stamps and Stencils. Those little guys certainly look a little blue ! Toni xx

Kasia said...

The tag is amazing! Beautiful background. Love the snowmen :)

Deb said...

LOL, very cute Alison, love the expressions! Wonderful winter wonderland that you have created for your snowmen, thanks for sharing it! Deb xo

Anke said...

Liebe Alison,

nun bin ich sprachlos, dieses Tag ist der Hammer, sowas von schön. Ein SAHNESTÜCK, grandios und genial.

Begeisterte Grüße
von Anke

Cec said...

Super fun tag. Love your snowy background and those funky snowmen. The sentiment says it all and is probably something many of us say about our own families - good or bad. Thanks for joining us at Stamps and Stencils.
Hugs!
Cec

Jenny Marples said...

So adorable and I LOVE your choice of sentiment! Jenny x

Suzanne C said...

Oh I have many a day where my head felt like it was laying on the floor. :) What a fun and clever creation!

rachel said...

just popping back Alison to say thanks for joining us at stamps and stencils! Hugs rachel x

Vintagehandmade said...

Wow, what a hilarious tag, Alison! I love your super cool snowmen and that perfectly inked background! Simply awesome!
Thank you so much for joining in our Oh, So Blue challenge at Stamps and Stencils! Hugs! Branka DTx

Brenda Brown said...

Brilliant.
xxx

Gez Butterworth said...

STUNNING ♥♥

Thank you for joining the challenge at Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog. Gez