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...

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Bare Branches



Hello all!  I'm glad you enjoyed walking in my Ginger Wonderland but, apart from that flurry of inspiration, I've been having trouble getting back in the craftroom - partly busy-ness, then sick-ness, then can't-find-anything-in-there-ness - so I decided to dive in with a full-on challenge and try to catch up with the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas.

For the 5th year in a row the fabulous Linda Coughlin - the Funkie Junkie herself - has been offering up a Christmas tag per week for us to be inspired by, with prizes and vouchers sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

They started back in September, but I've got just over 12 days left to get my 12 tags done and posted.  So here goes with number one.

For the challenge, you can choose to follow Linda's tag closely, or just allow yourself to be inspired by a particular element or technique and see where it takes you.  If you check out Linda's Tag 1 here, you'll see that I've been inspired by...





1) the musical background (though mine is slightly different)...

I'm sure I've got a music stamp somewhere but it's lost in the throes of the can't-find-anything syndrome, so instead I used a sheet of old music manuscript and borrowed a trick I learned from Linda yonks ago of distressing the page by tapping sticky tape on and peeling it away.  It's had a wash of Fresco paint and some inking around the edges, and there's some tiny white paint spatter too.








2) the trees (though my tree is slightly different)...

I don't have the tree line, though I do have it on order, so I chose to use the wintry bare Branch Tree die, layered over some pine tree stamping to give the impression of undergrowth.  It's cut from kraft card and inked with Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso, with just a flick of water droplets.













3) the stars (though my stars are slightly different)...

I used Finnabair's Snowflake paste through the stencil for a sparkly look, and some of my favourite tiny Studio Calico wooden stars for dimension)...











4) the black Small Talk stickers (mine are only different in the choice of words!)...

I've said it before but I'll say it again - I simply don't know what I did before these fabulous little Idea-ology phrases were available.  Well, I do know - but how simple it is to add words when you have these around.









And for my topping I've gone in quite a different direction from Linda, down my favourite simple route - a rustic natural feel with a piece of twine.












So that's my Tag 1, and after one of the quietest years since Words and Pictures began, you're now in for daily posts until the 19th December deadline.  Wish me luck, and I'll see you tomorrow!

I often lay on that bench looking up into the tree, past the trunk and up into the branches.  It was particularly fine at night with the stars above the tree.
Georgia O'Keefe

I'm entering this as Tag 1 in the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique


31 comments:

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Woohoo, welcome Alison! So jazzed to see you playing in the 12 Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style again this year. I missed your wonderful work last year and am excited to see what you will be making. And you can definitely do it - a quick tag or two a day. Your first entry is fantastic. Love the music paper BG and the stars. And there is something calming about the stark branch tree. It seems to be silently waiting...

Hugs,
Linda

Pamellia said...

Beautiful tag Alison. I love the snowy stars background and the tree is just fabulous. Have a great weekend. hugs :)

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous tag, hope you are feeling better now. Hugs, Valerie

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a great start you have made! Love those gorgeous textured stars! Hugs, Chrisx

SewPaperPaint said...

I can think of no better way to get your creative juices flowing than to jump right in with Linda's challenge! What a fun and inspiring first tag, I love the stars and always love a good bare tree! Beautiful combo. Hope life settles for you quickly and the peace of the season fills your heart and home. Big hugs, Autumn

Dorthe said...

Allison I already looks forward seeing your 12 Tags... the one started it all is so beautiful, in your neutral tones, the lovely snow white stars, and wonderful tree. Thank you for the tape-idea, it would bring distressed looks on many things .
I hope you are well again, and will soon find energy, to solve the :" can`t find anything " lol. Lovely evening to you dear.
Hugs Dorthe

Candy C said...

Alison...this tag is beautiful. I love the musical notes in the background and the embossed stars over it. Love the old spritzed tree and the sentiment from that beautiful Christmas classic, "Silent Night".
Thank you so much for the lovely comment you left on my blog. I have been so awful about leaving comments lately. Seems like time is fleeting so quickly. But....I always LOVE your art!

Helen said...

you'll be going some to catch up - this one is gorgeous!! good luck playing catch up!

sally said...

Well done for jumping in! I have failed to make any of these this year and the same applies to the Tim Holtz techniques revisited tags... Not a single one :-/. Hope you're feeling better.

Sally xx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous take on Linda's tag, I've been following, but haven't had time to join in.
Looking forward to tomorrows tag.
Avril xx

chrissie said...

Hi Alison

Terrific tag and amazing that you are going to make all of them..looking forward to seeing the rest of them

Love Chrissie xx

sarascloset said...

Alison, so lovely to see your comment today, and now to see you've gotten your 12 Tags of Christmas started! A wonderful start--love those snowy stars and gorgeous bare tree! Great interpretation! I do hope you are feeling back to your old self and get to enjoy the peace and wonder of this season! Great to see you jumping in, and looking forward to the rest! Hugs!

Redanne said...

This is such a great way for you to get back into creating Alison. Your tag is beautiful, I love the bare tree and the gorgeous lightly sparkled stars in the background! Hugs, Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Its a gorgeous tag, you sound like a crafter on a mission. Look forward to seeing the coming days tags.
Hope you are feeling better.
Yvonne xx

Chrissy said...

The queen of tags is back and love this one with all that fabulous texture and the mighty tree and stars...love it Alison.

luv CHRISSYxx

suzyb said...

Love this tag as I do all your work! Great work with the music notes, the stars and the tree! Thanks for sharing.

Hazel Agnew said...

Some beautiful touches and useful tips Alison. Not heard of the Finnabair paste. Good tip about distressing the manuscript. Wonderful inspiration once again, thanks. Xx

Lauren Hatwell said...

Oh! This is just beautiful! I'm so looking forward to some more eye candy as you battle to achieve your tag making target. Lx

Amanda said...

What a treat for us to start your set of 12, lovely touches on this tag.
Love
Amanda x

Marci said...

This might be where I first saw your work, one of Linda's tags. Anyway, this is quiet and lovely! Good luck with the rest of the tags!

Paper Profusion said...

Ha, I think I also have that can't find anything in there syndrome! Wonderful tag Alison. Nicola x

craftytrog said...

Oh so beautiful Alison! Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of the rest of Linda's tags :-)
Alison xx

Nan G said...

Fabulous tag butterfly! Welcome back to the crafty room.

Sandy said...

Very attractive - you really do have the talent for design work.
Sandy xx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

12 tags in the next 12 days? I'd best pull up a chair and make myself comfy. I love your tree tag. I can see the inspiration you drew from Lindy and love the direction you took it.

Rika said...

Gorgeous tag, I love the tree!

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous way to get back into the crafting with such fabulous results. Hope you're feeling better now xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

A great start! Well done you, nothing like a challenge hey... Great to see you taking part! Hope you are feeling a bit better again!

Jackie PN said...

love the music and star filled background Alison! Beautiful!
Oh do, feel better soon! sending you healthful healing wishes and steam from fresh homemade chicken soup to aid you along heehee xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Neutral vintage gorgeousness. I love all the many stars!!!!

Julie Lee said...

I love that tree! It looks great on this background with the beautiful white stars! What a lovely start to this project of 12 Tags! xx