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Saturday 20 October 2012

Danse Macabre

Hi everybody - happy weekend to you!  I'm delighted you're able to spend a little bit of it here at Words and Pictures.... and a big welcome to the new followers - thank you so much for your support.

Today I'm sharing my take on Tim Holtz's October tag in the 12 Tags of 2012.  I was in two minds about this one as there's loads of glitter (which I don't really do so far), but he's also using a wrinkly tissue paper background (one of my all-time favourite things so far).  So in the end the tissue paper won - and here it is:


There's definitely a soundtrack to this one - the music trickling down the centre in a streak of fiery blood is inspired by Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre - have a listen as you go, if you like!



Quite a lot of spinning off from the Master's inspiration here - as I had to invent my way round the lack of some of the supplies he's used.  

But I enjoyed trying to create my glitter alternatives - and, as it says, I'm pretty happy with some of the results!








As regulars will know, the tissue paper background is one of my staples.  I stamped it with the Kaisercraft music stamp in Archival Black first, glued it on nice and 'wrinklily', and then had great fun blending paint, ink and Perfect Pearls mist to get a good patina on it.







The bats and skull-and-crossbones came as little freebies with one of my Funkie Junkie Boutique purchases, and I'd used them to experiment with Andy Skinner's rust technique as part of the Timeworn Techniques workshop.  So they already had quite a lot of texture on.  

I added Black Soot Distress Embossing Powder to alter the colour and add even more texture.  






And I added a brushstroke or two of some sparkly embossing powder my sister-in-law gave me from her stash, so that I could approach a glittery look as well as texture.  

Behind it you can see that - since I don't have the spider's web stamp - I've used the crackle texture from the TH Ultimate Grunge set to give me my cobwebs in the background.





No big Boo! die to work with (boo hoo!), but I love the Happy Halloween calligraphy in the TH Apothecary set, so decided to try that out with a similar set of ingredients.  It's embossed with Black Soot embossing powder, and then got a good coat of Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  

As Tim says in his tutorial for this month's tag, it gives more of a lustre than an out-and-out bling effect, but I'm probably more of a lustre-type than a bling-gal, so it suits me fine!




The Arsenic label is also from the Apothecary set - stamped onto the corner of some old music paper, so it was already a good aged colour, but I've added some creases and tears, and some Vintage Photo to the edges nonetheless!  

I've also added the Poison label from a different Apothecary set - the Oxford Impressions Dr Coffin's Apothecary, and clipped it on with one of the Idea-ology hinge clips (so cool!).  






With no calendar ticket attached, I wanted to highlight the number 31 in another way - so there are some grungeboard figures, painted with acrylic, and given a good smear of Distress Stickles in Frayed Burlap.  (And edged of course with good old Vintage Photo!)

So, that's pretty much me for today.  I really enjoyed playing with this - as, again, it's taking me to new colour zones, and even this much bling is a lot for me... so thanks for the inspiration, Tim!  And thank you all for coming to check it out.  Look forward to seeing you again, here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland!


Lady Nancy Astor:          Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea.
Sir Winston Churchill:   Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.

I'm entering this in the Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 for October
And I'd like to add it to Anything But a Card's current challenge of Halloween or Autumn colours

Oh, and please forgive me for doing a little celebration dance - I'm so thrilled that the Sonnet Mash Up got a Top 3 spot at Simon Says Stamp and Show!!

32 comments:

Michelle Webb said...

Wow Alison, this is gorgeous. Now where do I start. First of all I love the colour of the background, and the use of the stamped scrunched up tissue, I just wanna reach out and touch it. The bats and the skull look like they've been charred, I love that illusion! I like the '31' with the frayed burlap stickles too, looking marvellous. And the ribbons just finish it off perfectly. Love it all! Michelle xx

Deborah said...

Love the glitter on this tag - it's subdued, slightly grungy glitter so it works perfectly. Fab!

Carol Q said...

doesn't that look good!

Andrea Small said...

Fab! The soundtrack had started playing in my head when I saw the title and it was great to click on to the actual music. Interesting how it affected my experience of the post...What a good idea to place the tag against the ivy'd wall - really sets it off. I love the "blood". And well done for the Top 3 spot! x

sam21ski said...

Great improvising on the T!m tag Alison.

I personally think it's better when you don't have the 'right' stuff then you can create your own make on it, just like you'd done here - stunning job.

Sam xxx

Cestina said...

I too was interested in how the music affected the post-viewing. Glad the ivy is coming in useful :-)

brenda said...

Fabulous colours and texture Alison.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

B x

Jenny Marples said...

Love the richness of the background and it's various shades on this beautiful tag. Great glittery elements too. Yet another winner I'm guessing:) Congrats again on your well deserved win for 'Sonnets' and have a great crafty weekend. Hugs, Buttons x

Janny Jager said...

Great Halloween tag Alison.
I love every detail.

Greetings Janny

Krisha said...

WOW! what a wonderful tag!

Sarah said...

Words and Pictures (and Music)...a complete experience. I find myself typing to the beat of the music! Phew..it finally slowed down.
Don't tell T!M but I like your tag better.

Redanne said...

I saw your win over at SSSS and was delighted for you, well deserved too! Love your gorgeous Halloween tag, so much detail, so fabulous. The music was a perfect accompaniment although I was enjoying it so much I did hang around for quite a while...... Crafty hugs, Anne x

Inkypinkycraft said...

Wonderfultake on Tims tag Alison, love the way you have created this tag...not a glitter girl either but I love that loose rock candy glitter as every colour shine s through in a non bling way...does that make sense! Another fab and accomplished make! Trace x

Rosie said...

Wow, your tag is gorgeous, love every detail on it.

Have a lovely weekend

Shelby said...

Such a cool technique on the background. i think the glitter looks absolutely stunning.

Shelby

Chrissy said...

Fantastic Alison...love the crinkly background and wonderful colours..beautiful tag..

Luv CHRISSYxx

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...stunning work Alison, loVe all the texture and the burnished orange on the background, great halloween loVelies and the smidge of sparkle on your numbers is perfect...a great take on this months tag and the mini verse between Nancy & Winston is so very apt, fabby stuff...Mel :)

froebelsternchen said...

it´s realy brilliant.. stylish and gorgeous... wow!

Astrid Maclean said...

Alison this tag is absolutely fabulous!! I love everything about it really but my favourite are the colours and the way the glow of them set of the added ephemera, or rather the stamped bits, so well. I also had great fun listening to the Dance Macabre again, in fact it's still playing while I type this. I had not listened to that for ages, so thanks for that too, love that piece, it's so dramatic!

Marjie Kemper said...

Wow, that's one beautiful tag! I love your rich background with all those fabulous wrinkles. #31 looks terrific, too, with that cool treatment!

Laine Kammeraad said...

Hi Alison

I hope this isn't a duplicate post. I absolutely love what you have created. It looks like it took a lot of patience and the details are wonderful. By the way I have a sweet surprise for you on my blog. Here is the link so you can check it out.

Hugs and smiles

Laine

http://hugs4theheartdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/10/liebster-award-thank-you-karon.html

House of Bears said...

We always think of glitter and stickles as producing pretty effects, but you've shown us how they can also create a spooky effect. We love this, and although we've tried your tissue stamping technique before, we always thought you had to be careful not to wrinkle it, but next time we're going to wrinkle and crinkle to our furry hearts' contents. Thank you for your constant sources of inspiration.

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous make Alison, I love all the additions and the rich colours.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Hugs Brenda xox

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wohooo, that's a fabulous tag.

gayle said...

Loving your sparkly embellishments! The apothecary labels and the little clip are a great touch too :)

Martina said...

Astounding! I absolutely adore the background and you have skillfully combined the colours. Excellent work, dear Alison :)

Francesca said...

Great tag, wrinkle tissue looks good. Francesca

Lisa Minckler said...

Hahahahaha...that is one of my FAVORITE quotes ever..LOL..Oh that Churchill!! Alison I love eerie presence of your Halloween tag and it makes even more intense as I listen to the wonderful musical link you posted. :)
Hugs,
Lisa xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh so sparkly! You should do more glitter...lol! It's fun and messy! Love your tissue wrap BG...fabulous!

Julia S-W said...

I don't know how I missed this Alison - I'm always on catch up!! This is a fabulous tag, full of rich tones and wonderful texture. I love the bats and the wrinkled tissue background - just gorgeous!
Juliaxx
(So glad you shared it with us at Anything But A Card too!).

Christy said...

AWESOME TAG!!! I love the glitter and the texture and that little clip is perfect! :) Thanks for joining us at Anything But a Card!!! :) :)

Kezzy said...

Wow Alison I love this tag, the colours are really intense and gorgeous. I am planning on some halloween tags as there are loads of challenges with this theme, I have done another cute card but really really want to get inky but keep shying away at the moment. But this has given me great inspiration and I have just remembered that I have quite a bit of grungy halloween elements so I think you have managed to inspire me to get inky, just got to get on with it as its halloween this week lol lol. Lots of hugs :-) Kerry xxx