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 13 December 2016

Snow Flurries




Hello all... yup, I'm back again and, believe it or not, it's tag time.  I know, who would have thought it, eh?

I'm up to my seventh tag for the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  That's a whole week of daily postings after one of the quietest years on Words and Pictures.  At one point I was worrying I wouldn't manage 100 posts this calendar year but, thanks to Linda's tags, I am going to make it after all!

This is my version of her Tag 10 and it uses one of my favourite ingredients, corrugated cardboard.  If you check out Linda's original, you'll see that I've trodden pretty closely in her snowy footsteps, but headed off in slightly different directions occasionally.

For starters, my kraft card seems to be a darker shade than the one Linda is using, so that changes the look of things right from the get go.









And I did try a bit of stamping with the Glacier White pigment ink pad.  I don't know whether I've got a dodgy pad, but I don't seem to have much success with it.

Instead, I followed my favoured method of white stamping and "painted" a thin layer of Fresco paint (in Snowflake, appropriately) onto the craft mat and used that as my "ink pad" for stamping.  The DecoArt Chalky Finish also works really well for this.

NB - As Helen rightly points out in her comment, you have to clean your stamps really quickly after stamping.









I don't have Wendy Vecchi's polka dots, and I've already played with my Artistic Stamper dots once this challenge (for Tag 2 Oh Deer!).

Since one of my main reasons for doing this challenge is to remind myself of the contents of my craft stash, I picked out my almost unused W.V. Spatter Background and used that to create a real blizzard on the tag.









I do, however, have the large Weathered Winter snowflakes from Tim Holtz, so those got the same paint-stamping treatment.  Now the blizzard is even stronger...

I inked around the edges with Vintage Photo and then Ground Espresso, and moved on to the foreground elements.









No problem locating cardboard in the craftroom... the wall under my table is lined with flattened boxes awaiting use.  It's quite good extra insulation!

I tore a panel and used my finger to smear on some gesso, just as Linda did.













My layered snowflake has all four layers, cut from kraft card and roughly edged with gesso.














And it's sitting on top of one of the gorgeous Calico Craft Parts holly corners.
















Well, they call it Vine and Leaf... at Christmas, I call it holly!










I had planned to go with the chalkboard look for my sentiment, but looking at what I'd assembled so far I decided I'd rather go with an echo of one of my own earlier tags.  So I recreated my word panel in the same way as for Tag 9 Pine Cones Galore!












I even started following in the steps of Linda's creative process, gazing at the tag and feeling it needed something more, but unsure what.  In the end I reached for the rub-ons, and added some extra snowflakes in dramatic black.














They featured on Tag 2 Oh Deer! and I mentioned then that I always forget to use my rub-ons.  This Funkie Junkie challenge is really good for making me "shop my stash"!








In fact, I notice I've reversed the additional adornments on the last couple of tags.  Linda went for rub-ons on Tag 8 and die-cut snowflakes on Tag 10, and I've gone with rub-ons for this Tag 10 and die-cut snowflakes for Tag 8 Tis the Season.  See, I'm channelling the Funkie Junkie even when I'm not channelling her!

So there we are with my seventh offering.  It's a grim, grey day for photos today and this one could have done with some brighter light to warm it up - though that would melt the snow, of course.

I'm off to see if I can get some decent photos of the other ones I've finished, and then back to the craft desk for the final push.  While I'm busy with all that, there's actually a non-12-Tags post tomorrow... I know - shock, horror, right?  I hope you'll stop by to see what's afoot tomorrow evening.  See you soon!



Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.
William Hamilton Gibson

I'd like to share this as Tag 10 in the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique
I'd also like to enter it in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is Let There Be Snow

30 comments:

Marci said...

The layered snowflake is so pretty and so are the stamped ones. They look good with the Calico Craft Parts vine and leaves.

brenda said...

You certainly captured the cold and frost feel on your tag Alison.

Many thanks for your visit, much appreciated, afraid I too have been a bad blogger, fingers and arm remains a problem so reserve myself for inkiness as typing still takes forever.

B x

SewPaperPaint said...

What a gorgeous krafty interpretation! I love the kraft snowflakes and the way the sentiment mimics the wood of the dies. Gorgeous! Hugs, Autumn

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Another fantastic make, Alison! The darker kraft with the white looks wonderful. Thanks for reminding me that I have Wendy's spatter stamp too. I don't know why I haven't thought of using it for snow flurries because it works perfectly here. The laser cut "holly" chipboard is fantastic and I think your black rub on snowflakes are the perfect finisher. You are on quite a roll; can't wait to see the others!

Hugs,
Linda

Dorthe said...

Love your stamped snowflakes, and the snowstorm , you created, it looks beautiful on top of the dark craft paper. The layered snowflake is such a wonderful idea, beautiful, too, Alison !!
Hugs,Dorthe

chrissie said...

Fantastic use of one of your favourite colours. The snowflake looks amazing

Love Chrissie xx

Redanne said...

You really did create a wonderful blizzard Alison, Wendy's stamp is brilliant for that. I love the Kraft and white and your layered snowflake is just beautiful! Anne xx

Gitte said...

Beautiful.

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous tag Alison, need to catch up on your others. So pleased to read that you're going to make the 12 tags after such a late start.
Avril xx

Helen said...

ooh, nearly missed this one! Love the white stamping (I can't find a really good white ink pad either, the snowflake paint is brilliant if you clean your stamps fast! )

Juliz Design Post said...

Beautiful tag Alison, you can almost feel the chill from the blizzard.
Julie x

Meggymay said...

The layered snowflake is gorgeous, its a wonderful tag using the kraft card colour tones with white.
Yvonne xx

Amanda said...

Each one becomes my new favourite, love it
Love
Amanda x

craftytrog said...

Beautiful!!! I love the white and kraft! I have Color Box white pigment pad which works well on kraft.
Keep going, you're nearly there! :-)
Alison xx

sarascloset said...

Alison, is it possible that I have a new favorite?! Your snowy interpretation is just wintry goodness, and I love the word panel and how it echos the rich stained wood of the chippie. Beautiful falling snowflakes and an even more beautiful post! I do so enjoy reading your posts! Can't wait to see your next offering! Hugs!

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Love this one Alison with its beautiful vintage vibe to it, lovely and nostalgic
Hugs
Donna xx

Sandy said...

I have always love the look of Kraft paper - goes with any color really especially white and your favorite color red! Your tag reminds me of a Christmas cookie. Well done!
Sandy Claus

Jackie PN said...

Gorgeousness!! I love the white with the Kraft! You always marry your pieces so well Alison!
As for the Glacial White pad, mine comes out the same, so I choose not to use it for anything of fine detail
Jackie xx

Hazel Agnew said...

This tag really does look as though it has been left out on a frosty night Alison. Great combo of elements again! Xx

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful! And the black rubons are a fab finisher! It's hard to find a white ink pad that works nicely, I agree. Nicola x

Nan G said...

Fab snowy tag! Love stamping with paint. I keep a tin of water handy to wash off the painty stamps. I'm loving all of your tags so far. Just not able to comment on each post. Hugs

Cocofolies said...

A great Christmas tag Alison, I love the way you have put and arranged just a piece of corrugated cardboard under this wonderful layered snowflake.
And your background is beautiful too... I think you're absolutely right on the best way to stamp in white! Sharing your feelings, I'm always a bit disappointed when using white inks, even when it is said that they work well and are the best! :) xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Ohhhh, love this one, brilliant snowy effect!!! That white on Kraft is just such a winner!

Julie Lee said...

How gorgeous is this? I love the intricacy of the snowflake, the 'blizzard' background and that gorgeous Calico flourish! I'm catching up and loving all that you've been creating! xx

Barbara said...

Alison you're the Queen of neutral colors! You can be able to create wonderful projects with these shades! This is no different, it's fabulous! Thanks for joining us this week on Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! Barbara

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Too much blizzard on this tag for me! I'm gonna have to stay snuggled up underneath some blankets. I do like the kraft/white/and browns combo.

Lorraine A said...

Gorgeous tag Barbara, I love the kraft and white together, the whole design is absolutely fabulous :-)

Congratulations! you have won the $50 voucher on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge :-)
luv
Lols x x x

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh my gosh Alison! Congrats on your win at SSS!!! What a great Christmas surprise, have fun shopping! Merry Christmas, Autumn

Marty F said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous tag, love all of it! Congrats on your win at SSS and Merry Christmas!

sarascloset said...

So happy to see you win the prize at SSS! Yippee! Happy Boxing Day!