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...

Thursday 25 October 2012

Dance in the Rain



Foggy grey days, dim and grim... we'd better learn to dance in the rain, as it seems we'll be waiting a while otherwise!  Welcome all to another collection of Words and Pictures; I'm so happy you've stopped by.


I'm catching up with the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  Linda Coughlin, the Funkie Junkie herself is offering up regular tags of inspiration to play along with - find all the details here.  And since you have until 17th December, there's still plenty of time to play along.  If you manage all 12, there are prizes sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.


I've got as far as number 3 so far, and here it is.


It's based quite closely on Linda's original, but - since I'm still holding out against Christmas crafting (it won't be long now, I can feel myself slipping), I've dived off in a slightly different direction again!












I absolutely loved the mirror-like quality Linda achieved with her main ingredients of Weathered Wood and Pewter Metallic Distress Stain.

That's what I used in the Marbled Stains background, along with some Picket Fence, and on my Umbrella Man (cut with the TH die).  There he is, with that somehow hopeful inclination of the head, looking out from under his umbrella...









He got a good dollop of Rock Candy Crackle paint smeared over him, and I left him to get on with cracking up.

Once Umbrella Man is there, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that I'm going to end up with maybe my favourite of all the TH quote stamps - it just seems to me a match made in heaven.











And with that notion of dancing came the chance to try out some Graphic 45 stamps I got at a bargain price on ebay.  I love the movement of this couple... you can feel the swing of the hips as they go.











And the stamp along the bottom with the musicians is just fabulous - full of musical verve.  I love how the fiddler to the right seems to be gazing up at giant umbrella man, willing him to join in the dance!









I didn't have any broad metal mesh, so I took some plastic mesh ribbon and embossed it with silver embossing powder - pretty pleased with the result, and it allows Umbrella Man to stand proud of the action in the background.


It still needed something else though, and with the TH rays die, I found out what it was - what a great stamp for focussing attention into the heart of the piece.









And, as with yesterday's tag, there is a little nod to Christmas in the trimmings at the top... perhaps I'm starting to slide down that slippery slope to Christmas crafting after all!














So that's me for tag three... Such fun to take off from Linda's inspirational work and see what arrives - had no idea where this one would go, but I really like where it's arrived at.

And music again, you see... I just can't get away from it at the moment - but then, who'd want to?!





Thank you so much for taking the time to have a look - it's such a delight to share this journey with others, and your support and feedback is so much appreciated.  See you again soon - probably with another Funkie Junkie tag at this rate...!

I'm entering this as Tag 3 in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas

Dancing: the vertical expression of a horizontal desire legalised by music.
George Bernard Shaw

Dancing is the poetry of the foot.
John Dryden

33 comments:

Rosie said...

Wow, your tag is just stunning, love it

sam21ski said...

Fab tag, but then I just love the umbrella man!!!

Sam xxx

Cestina said...

Oh what a stunning Shaw quote! Made me laugh out loud :-)

And I love the twirly bit on top - a lovely echo of the dance theme....

Bonnie Irvine said...

This is a brilliant combination of stamps with the umbrella man. They are doing their best to convince him to enjoy the music and the moment. I think he's going to...I can almost see his toe tapping. Lovely background and substitution for the wire mesh.

Jenny Marples said...

That is SO how not to do Christmas! Love your take on Linda's tag (it was immediately obvious which one you'd been looking at:) Love the sunrays on the left and the fact that you've kept the colour palette so minimal. Gets me thinking Strictly!! Now for no. 4... hugs,Buttons x

Anonymous said...

Certainly umbrella man and that quote are so perfect together.
I like that it almost appears as though Mr Umbrella Man is climbing a ladder (the mesh).
Wishes
Lynne

Krisha said...

Great tag!! Love the soft shimmery colors.

Carol Q said...

great tag Alison. I do like the current trend to use wire mesh and your embossed plastic mesh works just as well.

Bärbel said...

Wunderbar und sehr inspirierend, Alison!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love this, fabulous colours and love that embossed mesh! I can hear music!!! Chrisx

annes paperfun said...

Wow! This is just gorgeous...
Hugs,Anne

Andrea Small said...

I love the grid - very effective. and the band! perfect x

Inkypinkycraft said...

This is so up my street , I love this wonderful blue against the silver and I love rain main,
This is another fab make Alison!!! I LOVE IT!! Love trace. X

Janny Jager said...

Great tag Alison
Love the soft colors and stamps very much.
Greetings Janny

cbee said...

That's amazing! Love the color and the details!!

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Fabulous tag Alison! I'm lovin' the crackle and the soft blue shades. I can't wait to see your Fran-tage in action - oh how exciting!!! xxxx

froebelsternchen said...

fabulous!

Liesbeth Fidder said...

Wow, a wonderful tag !!

Terry said...

Love how you used Umbrella Man to go along with that sentiment! Such a cool tag all the way around!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Your umbrella man looks fabulous. Love the use of the wire, just a wonderful tag.

Debbie said...

Oh my oh my! This is absolutely gorgeous Alison! Love those new stains and who doesn't love umbrella man! The added touch of the graphic 45 jazz dancers makes the tag even more lively! Fabulous idea!

thank you for visiting and your kind words! :)
Debbie
^..^

Hettie said...

Beautiful tag and love those Graphic 45 stamps you have used. I shall have to keep a look out for those!
x

Chrissy said...

Fabulous Alison, I can hear that jazz band playing all the way over here..now I'm going to dance in the rain, I feel inspired..fabulous work.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Kjersti said...

I love to visit your blog Alison, always such gorgeous projects - and every one of them are unik! Love the blue/grey colour here, and the umbrella man is a perfect match to the sentiment!
Have a nice weekend!
Hugs Kjersti:)

Sue said...

What a gorgeous tag Alison, I love the sun ray, and how your umbrella man has crackled. I don't think you will be able to put off Christmas for much longer though .... x

chrissie said...

Fantastic tag with some wonderful images. Just love the wire work--a real inspiration this tag.
Best Wishes Chrissie xx

Alison said...

A brilliant take on Linda's tag Alison! I love the crackled Brolly Man! x

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Again a delightful tag, love all elements you've added. It's a fabulous combined creation.
Have a nice weekend,
hugs Anja

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Wonderful!!! I love the all the metal! The topper wire and sequins is crazy cool!

Netty said...

I love that you have him climbing up the ladder and the great metallic shine, plus loving your bottom stamp, that is so cool. Enjoy the weekend, Annette x

Marjie Kemper said...

Love this! Looks like Umbrella Man is being serenaded. Your toppers are so fun and festive!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oh my, this is totally fabulous Alison. I am just drooling over every single aspect of it. Wonderful images and sentiment and the crackled umbrella man is wonderful. I really, really love that jazz band stamp on the bottom. And I am so impressed with your homemade mesh! This is just a wonderful piece of work.

Hugs,
Linda

Kezzy said...

Wow I so love love love this tag, I love the rain man but never bought the stamp or die, think I might have to invest in him lol. Love the blues and your wired trimming and sequins is fabulous. Hugs :-) Kerry xxx