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Sunday 24 December 2017

Christmas Bells Are Ringing






Hello all!  We've reached Tag 10 of the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas and, more importantly some would say, it's Christmas Eve.

So this tag comes with my very best wishes to you all for a peaceful and joyous Christmas, however you celebrate it.  The Christmas bells are ringing tonight.

(Oh, and if you like the jingling bells, there's lots more Christmas music going on over at Cestina's Dollshouses.)

To suit the occasion, there's more glitter on this tag than you've probably had in the whole history of Words and Pictures.

I'm happy to say, though, that the glitter is firmly in place.  There's no chance of this getting everywhere - it's entirely hardened and built in to my distressed brick wall background.












My main inspiration was the wreath hanging on the wonderful Tag 10 created by the Funkie Junkie, a.k.a. Linda Coughlin.

I combined that idea with my memory of the garland wreath from one of Tim Holtz's 12 Tags, back in December 2015.

Then I thought if I was going to have a Christmas wreath, I might as well hang it on a wall so that's how this tag came to life!

Thanks to the gleaming glitter, this one is very different in different lights, which is why you're getting two main photos of it.

I haven't the time just now to flick from one to the other trying to work out which one is the best.  Also, it's Christmas Eve - so you can have both in your stocking!











I don't have any glitter texture paste like the one Linda used, so I decided to make my own.  I mixed some of the Vintage Platinum Distress Glitter Dust into some semi-gloss gel medium and used that with the TH bricks stencil.











The background for the bricks is some smooshed DI in Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap.

Since the gel dries clear, you end up with this fabulously glamorous brickwork... not a look I'd go for most of the year, but I don't mind a touch of glitter at Christmas... especially since this glitter is not going to come off every time you brush past it.













The wreath itself is made with punched greenery (TH punches) in several colours of card.  Once you've punched them all (you can see a few in the photo above), it's just a question of alternating, scrunching, layering and gluing.














I followed Tim's instructions pretty much to the letter, so you can find all the details in his inspiration post here.













I cut plenty of snowflakes from the Mini Snowflakes Thinlits...
















... and layered them up with padded tape...















... with a touch of inking around the edges.















I thought of adding Distress Dry Glitter to the snowflakes too but decided that, in fact, there is such a thing as too much glitter - for me at any rate!















The Idea-ology bells are hung on to the crinkled bow with jump rings.












And the white seam binding used to make the bow had just a dash of Vintage Photo DI to give it a golden glow to match the bricks.














The bells even make a nice jingling noise when you move the tag!














And I found some Christmas Clippings words just right for the occasion - not only to mention the bells...














... but also to include the falling snowflakes.  I do enjoy finding the right words, as you know!











So that's my weathered wall, decorated with a wreath, though pretty sparkly and festive all by itself in truth, especially when the light catches it.

This tiny snippet of video - a little Christmas extra - is late at night and pre-splatter, but I wanted to capture the gleam of the home-made glitter paste for you.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and a very Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
Bess Streeter Aldrich



I'd like to share this as my Tag 10 in the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique

30 comments:

maria's knutselplezier said...

Your cards are so beautiful and romantic dear Alison, I wish you a very nice Christmas time , a good health and much happiness for 2018!!

Have fun!
Maria

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous tag, love the sparkle. Happy Christmas to you and yours, hugs, Valerie

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

I've never known brickwork look so delicious, magnificent and so effective. Your wreath looks so beautiful with its merry bells.
Wishing you an enchanting Christmas Alison..
Creative Hugs Tracey xx

Anke said...

Oh Alison your tag is so beautiful, the wreath is adorable.

Merry Christmas to you !

Hugs
Anke

froebelsternchen said...

An ADORABLE tag and post ! Love to see the sparkle - the short video shows it perfectly-
So interesting how your brain worked for this one! So creative!
Very Merry Christmas dear Alison!
oxo Susi

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is so beautiful, dear Alison, and I love the gel mixed with glitter. Wishing you a very happy Christmas,

Lucy x

Jackie PN said...

Alison, this tag is Brilliant in every sense of the word! I love the glitter paste you created and used for the bricks, I think this is my favorite part!

Thank you so very much for sharing with us all of your gorgeous artwork and incredible inspiration and creativity!
Merry Christmas time to you and your and may 2018 bring you all good things!
Love & hugs,Jackie

Helen said...

I think this is my favourite tag so far - the wreath is gorgeous!! so is the glittery wall.
Wishing you a very very happy Christmas; hope you eat drink and be merry!

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous and brilliant! Shimmery brick? YES!!! love how you layered the wreath over that fabulous background! Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Craftyfield said...

Love the glitter wall and the wreath... so beautiful! The shine is amazing, you were right to show the video, the pictures just don't do it justice.
As to the snowflakes... well I think they could have had a smidge of white glitter without being over the top, at Christmas at least!

Mac Mable said...

Yey to all that glitter. Great idea to mix it with the clear gel. I normally use the paste ready mixed, so I thank you for the inspiration to use up all that loose glitter, which I am not a fan of x Such a fabulous tag for Christmas Eve, beautiful, pretty and so very Christmassy x You've certainly had your glitter quota x Merry Christmas to you and your family and here's to a Healthy, Happy and Crafty 2018 x

Jane said...

What a fab glittering wall Alison...I love the sparkle. Gorgeous! Merry Christmas to you and yours. So glad to see you nearly at the goal post with your tags. Your makes have been beautiful. Hugs xxx

Marci said...

I love the brick wall you made. The wreath is lovely, too. Merry Christmas!

Nan G said...

Fabulous glitter wall butterfly! What a cool idea to put the glitter in clear gel! Made for a gorgeous tag. Happy Christmas to and family best Wishes for all good things in 2018! Hugs Nan

Patty O'Malley said...

Another fantastic tag, Alison! The wreath and bricks are spectacular. Love it!

Meggymay said...

Happy Christmas wishes to you and yours.
Its a gorgeous tag.
Yvonne xx

Sandy said...

So beautiful Alison - it looks so light and dainty and touchable! Gorgeous from top to bottom.
Merry Christmas Sugar!
Sandy xx

Mrs.B said...

A beautiful tag Alison, love the sparkling frosted look of the brick wall (and it sounds a great way if making your own paste)
Your wreath looks fabulous and so traditional with the hanging bells.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas,
Avril xx

suzyb said...

Your tag is amazing as usual. The glitter bricks? Fabulous idea. I have been enjoying your blog for a few years now and can't wait to see what you have on the table for 2018! Merry Christmas Alison and thank you for everything! Happy New Year too!
BIG Christmas hugs from Victoria, BC Canada

Fliss said...

An absolutely stunning tag Alison. The garland is beautiful and love the background you created.
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and hope 2018 is all you wish for.
Fliss xx

Gio said...

An amazing and super sparkling tag. Have a Happy Festive Season, dear Alison :-)

Chrissy said...

Oh my...this is another favourite Alison..just stunning..love it.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Another amazing tag, Alison. I love the glittery gold brick, very cool. The wreath is wonderful too. It's just an all around drop dead gorgeous piece of work. I hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas.

Hugs,
Linda

craftytrog said...

I love that opulent gold background Alison! It's a beautiful tag!
Hope you had a lovely Christmas!
Alison xox

Redanne said...

The glittery brickwork is fabulous (and what a great way to create non shedding glitter!) and so is your wreath. I love the added bells, they give a lovely traditional feel to the wreath. I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas. Anne xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Love the glittery wall background and the wreaath looks stunning! The snowflakes give it just the perfect lift! Hope you had a great Christmas! (Many people at my end pronounced the Kipferln as their favourite biscuit):o)
Please say thanks to Cestina from me again.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Wow! I love your glittery brickwork! The wreath looks amazing too! Hugs, Chrisx

sarascloset said...

Oh, ALISON! I don't believe I've ever seen a more beautiful piece of Christmas artwork! A truly lovely wreath set on that glittery brick wall! Good for you to come up with your own glitter paste recipe! It looks delicious! I hope your Christmas was as Merry as you have made me with this stunning tag! I'm slowly making my way around, but I better just give up on trying to comment on everyone's for now and just visit when I can. For now, I need to get outside and catch the last few rays of setting sun, because we are in for some cold, gloomy weather on my weekend off. Sending hugs!

Dorthe said...

This is amazingly beautiful, dear Alison. I love the glittery bricks , and your beautiful wreaths and snowflakes . So much romance, and Christmas magic in this gorgeous tag .
Hugs,Dorthe

Sue said...

This is fabulous Alison, I love your glitter and sparkle xx