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...

Monday 6 August 2012

Making time

Hello and welcome (back) to Words and Pictures.  A bit of insomniac creativity for you today - and I'm really going to try to keep it short and sweet...

I mentioned before that I'm getting ready for my brother's wedding: my main task is to create a wedding venue out of a scout hut - it's quite an undertaking (including various bits of craftiness, which I'll let you see after it's all over), and I have to admit it's giving me some sleepless nights at the moment - will I have everything ready in time, and will it work?!  So at 4am this morning, rather than lie there fretting about it, I got up to take my mind off it all in the best way I know how at the moment... I did some crafting!

I'm getting closer to my first Guest Design spot (it's for Top Tip Tuesday), and that's also been causing me some concern. Let's just say it's a challenge that's not exactly in my comfort zone... so the first thing I did at 4am was work through some potential ideas that had been swarming in my brain.  You'll get to see the results very soon.

Then I came up with this - I guess it's pretty clear where my brain was at!

It's on a tag handcut in chipboard to the dimensions of the large tag on the Tim Holtz die (which I haven't got), so it's good and sturdy.

I'd had the stripes nagging at me since unpacking when, by chance, a bunch of scraps and offcut papers ended up lying next to each other while I was putting things away.  I glanced at them and thought that actually they should be allowed to stay together.

There's a ruler from TH Crowded Attic, some DCWV Tattered Time, some TH tissue tape which I'd backed onto tissue paper, a touch of the Simple Stories Documented collection, and some bits and pieces from the 7 Gypsies Conservatory collection... talk about mix and match!

Once I'd worked out the order and stuck them in place, they all got a coat of Picket Fence Distress Stain for that lovely muted look, and a bit of Walnut Stain distressing at the edges.




The Weathered Clock is die cut on fairly sturdy chipboard too, for strength, but also to get a bit more dimensionality to it.

It's covered with the 7 Gypsies paper, and the edges are done with Walnut Stain.  I had to use a cotton bud to apply the ink, rather than the blending tool, for the narrow gaps between Roman numerals.


The hands of the clock are secured with an Idea-ology long fastener, and they're set to the time I woke up!!

The words are stamped, edged, and mounted on some padded tape to lift them away from the surface of the stripes.



There's some more TH tissue tape, this time from the Nostalgic set (backed on to tissue paper and tinted with Walnut Stain), forming the ribbon at the top of the tag, and I also added some simple, natural twine.

I really enjoy the gentle neutrals playing off each other... I think I needed something calming given the time of day and lack of sleep - lime green and neon orange wouldn't have been comfortable to work with!




Okay, it's back to the wedding prep; no rest for the wicked - though I do hope there'll be a bit more rest tonight.  Much as I love crafting, I'm quite fond of sleeping too...

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope that you find time to do all the things you love - and remember, if you're having trouble fitting everything in, you can always make time by getting up at 4am!






I'm entering this in the following:
The Time challenge at Vienna Impressions Inspirations
The Shabby Tea Room who are offering a lovely photo prompt, which you can see here on the right, and an invitation to use Soft Neutrals
I'm just in time, I hope, for the Crazy Amigos challenge Dies and Punches
Sugar Creek Hollow are playing Something Old, Something New (from your craft stash, that is), and given that I made this project to escape for a while from wedding preparations, it seems appropriate to join in!  The 7 Gypsies Conservatory collection was the first set of papers I bought for my stash, early this year when this whole thing began for me.  And the 'ribbon' is made from one of the latest additions, a part-roll of one of the Nostalgic set of Tim Holtz tissue tapes, part of a lot I won on ebay while away, and have just enjoyed unpacking and playing with for the first time.

So little time and so little to do.
Oscar Levant
Yeah... if only, Oscar!!



Just a little something I wanted to share - if you've never come across Calvin Nicholls Paper Sculptures, do go and have a look.  I sat looking at them in awe, jaw hanging.  Here's a little taster... unbelievable papercrafting!

33 comments:

Candy C said...

Hi Alison! I really love this tag! It is awesome and boy, is that sentiment ever the truth! Your work is always so well thought out and done so beautifully. I loved your last SSSS challenge piece. I hope you'll do one for the paints. I'm sure it would be your usual wonderful work.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I value your opinion.
<3 Candy

Jean Martin said...

Oh my gosh girl! This is beautiful!!! I LOVE it!!!! :)

Holly Young said...

Oh Alison, this is so pretty!!! Love the sentiment and the diecut clock! Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog,,,,I'm so glad you stopped by, because NOW I can follow YOU!!!! Hugs!

Holly

Shelby said...

I'm sure you'll do an amazing job with your brother's wedding! Another beautiful design and just love the vintage look and the paper you've used with the clock die cut is perfect.

Shelby

Martina said...

Alison, so gorgeous!
Good luck!
Greetings
Martina

Andrea Small said...

Here's another attempt at leaving a comment...where's the eccentrically-eyed little girl? Want her back! xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Alison. Super post. Fabulous tag. The paper art is amazing TFS the link. It's funny how crafty ideas seem to surface around 4 a.m.!!
Regards Florence x

The House of Bears said...

Fab, we have a thing about clocks and time at the moment so this really appealed to us.

Janny Jager said...

A great tag Allson.
love the way you used the paper and the clock.
Good luck with teh Challenge

Greetings Janny

Patti P. said...

Alison, so glad you stopped by my blog and I was able to visit with you. Thanks for your sweet words. I love your blog, such a great topper...don't know if it is your design or not but such vintage goodness! This tag is gorgeous and lol, as I was reading your info I thought this would be great at TSTR and their neutral challenge and then saw where you entered. I looked back through your posts and I was floored by the great gentleman mini album, just gorgeous.
Thanks again and have a great day.
Patti

Anonymous said...

Hi Alison
You made me :) with your comment on my butterfly shopping list pad.
Love the colours of your tag, as though they have been bleached by time itself and great use of all those elements.
Wishes
Lynne

Kathy Eddy said...

I love your tag! Gorgeous colors you used. Looking around your blog and enjoying it.

Anonymous said...

Hi Alison,
I am sure my Hedgehog in-laws have nothing like that in their Hedgehog Collection:-)

catherine said...

Alison you are very creative at that time of the morning!!. this is just stunning and love everything about it
x catherine

Bärbel said...

Ein wunderbares Tag. Die nostalgischen Papiere sind großartig!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

The details, colors on this tag are so nice together Alison!
Lovely...
Ande the paperartwork is amazing...I saw more of his paperwork on the www..unbelievable!


greetings, Alie :-)

Kezzy said...

Wow this tag is awesome and I really love the idea of the strips, I have loads of off cuts, what a fantastic idea. Thank you so much for visitng my fabric tutorial and commenting on my fabric hanging. I don't get many comments as the DT I'm on is new, but it was lovely that you visited my blog and my tutorial, gave me a really big smile. Loving the wood sculptures, they are amazing I have seen them before, have you ever seen the ones that can fit in a eye of a needle, talk about some talent they all have. Hugs Kerry xxx

Starr said...

What an awesome tag! The timepiece and colors are gorgeous, thanks so much for sharing it with us at TSTR this week!

Victoria said...

When I was a kid I used to watch Bernard's Watch on TV. This little lad had a watch that could stop time while he carried on doing whatever he wanted.... oh the things we could get done! Ah well. Your tag is fantastic and I'm sure so many of us can empathise with the sentiment!

Sue said...

What a beautiful Tag Alison. I love the tissue tape and twine and those fabulous muted colours. The quote couldn't be more true x

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Awesome tag, love design, all details and colors.
Hugs Anja

Gerrie Johnnic said...

Very cool, luv your work.

Marjie Kemper said...

Lovely tag! I was just playing with this theme as well. Good luck with all your to-do's!

Unknown said...

I can totally relate to your sentiment Alison. This is a wonderful tag and everything coordinates so well, love it!
Hugs

Lisa Somerville said...

Beautiful tag - love all the added die cuts and your choice of sentiment!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Cool tag!!! AND oh so true! Congrats on the GD spot...cool!

Ana K. said...

Awesome tag Alison...scrap paper background and sentiment are perfect!
Good luck with wedding!

Dr Sonia S V said...

The clock looks beautiful !
Cheers
Sonia
cardsandschoolprojects.blogspot.com

Netty said...

Loving this terrific tag, the circle of the clock would make it perfect for the Happy Daze challenge this month, x

Karen McAlpine said...

Great tag!! Love how you used the tape.

Julia S-W said...

You seem to visit a number of the same blogs that I do so, thought I'd pop over to find out more about you! Really love this tag - the neutrals have a strenght all of their own and I think they work beautifully together. I really like the composition too - very well thought out.
I'm now your latest follower so I can keep track of your lovely work.
Juliax

Renee Matarese said...

Wow...how true is THAT sentiment?! I love the clock cut from the printed paper. Thanks for joining us at Sugar Creek Hollow. Hope to see you again soon.
Renee

Vienna Impressions said...

Hi Alison! I am pleased to tell you that you have won the Vienna Impressions Challenge this month! The prize is a gift certificate for €10 in merchandise. My online shop is closed at the moment for a summer break, but will open again the first week of September. At that time you can select your prize, which I will send to you free of postage charges.
Kindly contact me if you have any questions.
Greetings from Austria, and congratulations!
Sulie
www.vienna-impressions.com
vienna-impressions@gmx.at