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...

Friday 16 November 2012

A Romantic Postcard

Hello all, lovely to have your company - and an especially big welcome to the new followers... so happy you decided to join up!


I'm on to tag 8 of the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  Every week, Linda Coughlin (yup, that would be the Funkie Junkie herself) is providing an inspirational tag for us to play with... and if you complete all 12 by the 17th of December you'll be entered in a prize draw, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  All the details are here, and there's still time to play...


Since you can take the inspiration in any direction you like, and since we started way back in September, I've so far avoided linking my 12 Tags of Christmas to Christmas and this one's still on that track.


I love Linda's original but it is very Christmassy!  However, I've done what I think is known as "casing" it, borrowing the layout and techniques, but changing the elements and images themselves.


So I too have a large fabric flower, with mesh ribbon at the foot of the tag.  I have a stamped and embossed figure rising out of that flower, and words at the side of the tag.  I have an ink-blended background, with some additional stamping.  I have some die-cut lace and some ribbon trimming at the top of the tag.  But apart from that, it couldn't really be more different.





I've used the delectable damsel from the Graphic 45 Ladies' Diary stamp set.   I love the slightly coy turn of the head, and knowing smile - what on earth has she just read in that Postcard she's received?!

She's stamped and embossed in Detail Black embossing powder over a background of blended Seedless Preserves, Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs DIs.

I love any kind of text or script, so this stamp with it built in to the background is right up my street.

The Detail embossing powder really helps with an image this detailed... so they named it well!









For someone who is still a slightly reluctant user of flowers on projects, I really enjoyed making this particular flower - and I love how it looks on the finished piece!


It's cut using Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals die, and I layered white mesh from the Funkie Junkie Boutique with some creamy crushed silk type material left over from the wedding transformation I created for my brother and sister-in-law this summer.

The decorative brad in the centre is from BoBunny.



The background is packed with stamps I really love... the Postcard stamp is from Tim Holtz's Postcard collection, while the No Charges and the gorgeous Millinery label both come from the Graphic 45 Ladies' Diary set.

The little sprigs of flowers (Tattered Angels) were something of an afterthought, when I found I needed some stamping to lift the rest of the tag towards the bright cream colours of the fabrics.

And oh, how thrilled I am with the impulse addition of a tiny Versamagic Chalk ink to one of my recent purchases - it's like magic, so deliciously opaque and matte in appearance.  It was exactly what was needed for the sprigs, to lighten the tag.




And at around £1 - £1.50 they feel like you're almost not spending money (yes, yes, I know...)!

I love the glossy embossing next to  the chalky white.

The lace across the top is cut with TH's decorative strip die Vintage Lace...









As with my Bewitching Whites the other day, I had to exert considerable self-restraint in order not to start edging it with Vintage Photo DI - but I wanted to let the creams really stand out against the darker background.





At the top of the tag, I used some leftover mesh to create my 'hanger' strip, and then spent a long time fiddling with some seam binding to get a bow I was happy with.  I added one of my mulberry paper roses as a finishing touch instead of Linda's button.  I love that it tones in so perfectly with the tag background - happy chance!



So I've managed to continue my own personal little 'challenge within a challenge' to play the 12 Tags of Christmas without a sign of Christmas... Of course the last couple will happen within December, so I might just allow some Christmas crafting by then, if I haven't already slipped into it long before!

I hope you've enjoyed today's tag - I'd love to hear what you think.  For now, have a great weekend, and I'll see you soon!

I'm entering this as Tag 8 in the 12 Tags of Christmas over at The Funkie Junkie.  Come and play!!

And with the mesh coming from the Funkie Junkie Boutique, I'd like to add it in to the Sunday Share over at Frilly and Funkie too.

The perfect love affair is one which is conducted entirely by post.
George Bernard Shaw

More than kisses, letters mingle souls.
John Donne


28 comments:

sam21ski said...

This is gorgeous Alison. I too found that white ink and it's totally amazing, the best I've come across. Great embossing!!

Sam xxx

Laurart said...

I LOVE it! The flower is perfect. I know you aren't a 'flowers' person but maybe that is why, when you do go for the flowers thing, it works so well! I love that the flower has the mesh in it too - perfect! I wish I had joined the 12 tags now - Maybe next year? xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

This is beautiful Alison, love how you have cased the tag! So I am really curious now whether you are going to be able to resist Christmas right up to number 12....

I am two tags behind now but hope to get at least one done this weekend before the next one goes up on Monday....

May said...

Gorgeous work Alison as always... Beautiful stamping & design... I adore your flower... Hugs May x x x

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Beautiful tag Alison, very striking. Love the image and the white against the neutral tones is gorgeous as is your flower and bow. Tracy x

Unknown said...

Gorgeous tag! I personally LOVE the flower! You are so talented!!

Brenda Brown said...

Beautifully cased Alison, the interpretation using those colours is fantastic.
Hugs Brenda xxx

Debi said...

so vintage and pretty Alison, Debi x

Yvonne Garner said...

This is exquisite! I love every detail. Best, Yvonne

Inkypinkycraft said...

Another beautiful tag Alison, love the contrast between the colours and the chalky White againstvthe glossy black is fab! I havents started yet but am determined still to do all twelve...wish me luck!!!!! Trace x

Annie said...

Gorgeous vintage tag Alison. Beautifully pieced together x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous post Alison. Really enjoyed reading it. Gorgeous tag. Have a great weekend.
Regards Florence xx

Anonymous said...

A really beautiful tag Alison! I love your fabric layered bloom! x

Sophie said...

Wow, Alison, das ist mal wieder ein bemerkenswertes und geniales Tag.
Ich liebe die Stempel von Graphic 45

Liebe Grüße

Lisa Minckler said...

Man o' man, I love this tag, but that little bitty rose, it's the heart grabber for me! So beautiful when even the tiniest of details get so much attention too.
Hugs to you and happy weekend Alison.
Lisa xx

Redanne said...

Hi Alison, a really beautiful case on Linda's tag. The big flower is simply stunning and the while elements really 'pop'. The lady is rather fetching too. Crafty hugs, Anne x

Paper Profusion said...

The 'lady' stamp is a beautiful one and the way you have built around her is just gorgeous. Your decision to compose with the whites is inspired. Love how the top white lace die, bow and mesh balances the bottom mesh and fab flower. I really love the linking white chalk impressions! Have a super weekend. Nicola x

Janny Jager said...

A great and beautiul litlle bit vintage tag Alison.
Love the flower you made
It's really gorgeous.

Greetings Janny

chrissie said...

This looks amazing. Must get some of the white ink it adds so much to the effects on the tag

Love Chrissie xx

Netty said...

Feminine grunge really suits you and this is a fab example, enjoy the weekend, hugs Annette x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A beautiful tag, great colors combination. Love all the elements.

froebelsternchen said...

pure harmony ..the white accents pop up the two dark colors excellent.. great tag Alison... romance!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oh my, what a beauty you have created here Alison! The blend of colors is so pleasing and I do love the main image stamp you used. A perfect composition with the other stamps, the embossing, the chalk ink and that wonderful flower! Thank you so much for sharing with us both on Sunday Share at Frilly and Funkie and for the tag #8 challenge on my personal blog! Always such a pleasure to see your work in the challenge entries.

Hugs,
Linda

Bonnie Irvine said...

Simply stunning, Alison. I love the vintage feel, the amazing combination of stamps, and the crisp white next to the yummy background colour. Your flower is amazing as is the strip to hang the tag with the seam binding and tiny flower. All elements work beautifully together...the whole is more than the sum of its parts :)

Anonymous said...

So many gorgeous touches, that bloom in particular is catching my eye and also the mulberry flower at the top of the tag which looks as though it is rusted metal.
Gorgeous vintage creation.
Wishes
Lynne

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Lovely! Fab lace!

Bärbel said...

Mit diesem Tag ist Ihnen wieer ein wunderbares Werk gelungen, liebe Alison. Das Zusammenspiel der schönen Stempel liebe ich, es ist absolut harmonisch!

Mrs.B said...

This is gorgeous Alison, such a vintage feel and I love the pop of white on the stamping and that beautiful flower.
Avrilx