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Sunday 10 December 2017

A song of Christmas cheer






Hello all!


I'm glad you enjoyed my adventures with Invisible Ink Insects over at PaperArtsy, but now it's time to get back to the serious business of the season... the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  I'm on to Tag 4 now.


Music is at or near the top of the list of what makes Christmas for me, so I loved making this one.


I'm always happy to have an excuse for a musical tag, and an excuse to get out the wonderful Victorian Carollers die (sorry, I'm going to spell it the English way with two lls). 













The basic layout follows Linda's charming Tag 4, but I've borrowed one of the techniques from Tag 2 to create my version and gone my own way for the embellishing.













I really loved the stencilled crackled stars from Tag 2, so I decided to create my background that way rather than use an embossing folder as Linda did.















Once they were all crackled, I was able to lay the stencil over the top again and add some colour with Distress Paints and Inks, mixing Iced Spruce and Evergreen Bough.













There's a little bit of text stamping in the background too, following Linda's lead.

I also went with stencilling to add my snowfall.













I used Tim's Speckles stencil and applied DecoArt Snowtex through it.  It's nicely chunky and has a good dash of frosty sparkle to it.













And I added some more snow underfoot with a palette knife.














I cut my silhouettes in brown card and edged them with some Black Soot DI.














I added shadowy shading on the snow under their feet to ground them.  I hope they've got nice warm woolly socks on!












Some Idea-ology ephemera sheet music is there to remind them in case they lose their way in the carol.  

I couldn't resist some more greenery and pinecones for my decoration at the top of the tag... I seem to be completely hooked this year!













There's a festive Muse Token too, and some more of the frosted berries.














Finally, some more of the wonderful Idea-ology Christmas Clippings capture the musical mood.












This was another delight to make - thank you, Linda, for reminding me about the Victorian Carollers... I really enjoy these Dickensian figures - they seem full of character to me.






I hope you've enjoyed singing along with my carollers.  I'll be back with the next tag in the series very soon, and in the meantime I'll try to squeeze in some blog-visiting too.  Happy Christmas-crafting all!

Oh, by the way, for those who enjoy a theatrical extravaganza you might want to pop over to Cestina's Dollshouses - quick now, it's almost time for curtain up!

Christmas now surrounds us,
Happiness is everywhere
Our hands are busy with many tasks
As carols fill the air.
Shirley Sallay

I'd like to enter this as Tag 4 in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique
I'd also like to play along at Stamps and Stencils where the theme is Festive Stamps AND Stencils - so for once you need to use both stamps and stencils - I've used a stencil for the crackled holly and the lovely Gothic text stamp with its seasonal font
And I'd like to share it with That's Crafty Challenges where Tis the Season is the theme

34 comments:

Helen said...

Another fabulous tag - love the chunky snow!

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous tag, love the figures. Have a wonderful Sunday, hugs, Valerie

Dortesjs said...

LOVE your tags always they are so so well done. Do have a nice Sunday Alison ;O))

chrissie said...

Just enjoyed a long catch-up on your blog Alison and there are such wonders to behold as always.

Had to read the Words as well as I always did enjoy those and the Santa with the right idea will have me laughing all day

Love Chrissie xx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

I adore this one Alison, such a beautiful vintage feel to it,wonderful :)
Hugs
Donna xx

Marci said...

I really like the music components and the crackle. Lovely.

Craftyfield said...

Delightful, Alison! All the textures and soft vintage colours, the carollers die-cuts, the dimensional embellishments everything is gorgeous!

Anke said...

Wonderful, Alison. So lovely.

Hugs
Anke

Jackie PN said...

Delightful tag Alison! I am always happy to read what you have used and your steps- it helps when I ooohhh and aahhhh! heehee
And you can spell with as many L's as you want! LOL

Happy Sunday dear friend!
Jackie xoxo

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Yes! Love this! The crackled holly sprinkled with snow is wonderful! I really will have to get a move on!! Hugs, Chrisx

Dorthe said...

Beautiful feeling of Dickens movie , lovely figures, and the greenery behind them, gorgeous with the crackle .
I wish I had know the Snowtex, to use for my cards, it looks so wonderful , as does your whole tag, Alison.
Dorthe, xoxo

Chrissy said...

Wonderful Alison..my favourite tag.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Monika Gulyas said...

This is stunning, Alison!!! I love the crackles on the holly leaves, the texture of the snow!!! Wonderful interpretation of Linda's Christmas tag!!! Big hugs, xx

Redanne said...

You really have created the most wonderful snowy scene for the carollers, they both stand out beautifully against your fabulous background. As I look out of my window, the snow is coming down beautifully here, and we have had our first carollers today too! Anne xx

Patty O'Malley said...

I love this tag, Alison! It is so beautiful! I wish I had bought the Carollers die now!

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Your carollers really do seem to be having a jolly old times amongst all that festive weather. Don't you just love Snow-Tex!! Beautifully executed Alison with texture and techniques, another fab tag..
Warm Wishes Tracey xx

froebelsternchen said...

This is absolutely FANTASTIC Alison! WOW!
Happy start into the new week for you!
oxo Susi

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous take on tag 4 Alison, love the texture of the crackle stencilled background with the soft colours and the sprinkled snow.
Great shading on the carollers too.
Avril xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh I think this one is right up there with my favourites The crackeled holly in that subtle colour looks super, as does the snow, and those Victorian Carollers always do it for me! The embellishing is gorgeous too!!!

PS I was most impressed with your Stollen baking! Being German/Dutch. I cannot imagine a Christmas without Stollen, but have never attempted to make it myself, well done you, hope it worked out alright :o)

Meggymay said...

Oh WOW. this is a stunning tag, it has all the details, textures and colour tones that you use with such fantastic results.
Yvonne xx

Margaret Mifsud said...

This is gorgeous Alison!! I love the crackled holly .. what a fabulous technique .. must definitely try that one! Loving your colour choices and wishing I had that carolers die .. love them too!! A fabulous take on Linda's tag!! hugs x

hazel said...

I love everything about this tag Alison - it's amazing.
xxx Hazel.

craftytrog said...

I love your snowy tag Alison xx

SewPaperPaint said...

One of my favorites yet Alison! I really love the brown carolers with the black sponging and the gorgeous holly crackle. I am with you on the lush topper - how beautiful! Such an inspiration! Hugs, Autumn

Amanda said...

Ooooh another stunner of a festive tag,
Love
Amanda x

Julia said...

This is such a beautiful tag using the wonderful carollers die. The music sheet, the holly, the little blobs of snow - all perfect for a nostalgic, festive tag.

My name is Erika. said...

Love these carollers. :) I think you used them perfect!

Cocofolies said...

Absolutely adore this tag, Alison!!!
So fabulous in each and every detail.
Another favourite of mine... pinned on one of my Pinterest boards :)
Will look at your make for PA in the afternoon, as my girls are coming soon from school! :( xx

Gio said...

This tag has such a good vibe! It's my favourite so far amongst yours. Love the background and the mini sheet music, and it looks like it's snowing on it. LOve it!

Fliss said...

Love the snowy effects on this one and the carol singers look fabulous in shabby chic style.
Fliss xx

Julia Aston said...

I love these wonderful carollers too Alison! What a beautiful tag you created with them! Julia xx

rachel said...

Stunning tag again alison - and please don't apologise for spelling carollers correctly! Hee hee! Hugs rachel xx

Neet said...

Must check the card from my cousin in Oz as she had some die-cut Carollers on her card - wonder if it was this die.
Whatever, they are effective and I do like them in a brown colour. Still wrapped up with the dusting of snow you achieve on your tags. Do you mind telling e what you used please?
Hugs, Neet xx

rachel said...

Just dropping by again to say thanks for joining us at stamps and stencils! Hugs rachel x