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...

Saturday 3 November 2012

Home Sweet Home


Hello all, and welcome to Words and Pictures!  I hope you're having a restful and restorative weekend...


I've another tag to share with you today that's been inspired by the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  This is my version of Tag 7 (nope, still no number 4 - stuck on that so far)... and, as regular followers will note, I'm still resisting Christmas!


You can take your inspiration from Linda's weekly tags in any direction you like, as long as you let her know what's sparked your imagination.


In her original this week I really enjoyed the green background full of trees (plants in my case); the gorgeous stamped cottage backed onto fabulously altered corrugated cardboard; the lovely mesh ribbon; and for the word-minded amongst you, her Happy Holidays (with its alliterative Hs) has become my Home sweet Home (spot the connection!).


I had a lovely time doing this - and I'm very taken with the final result...  That may be partly because we're in the throes of getting ready to depart from the family home of 40 years, so it gave me a chance to visualize an ideal alternative "home, sweet home" in the countryside somewhere...





The background gives me great pleasure... I used the Tim Holtz marbled stains technique, with Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint and Picket Fence distress stains.  And, for the first time, I was using a "crafting" tag as opposed to one of my cheap luggage label ones... and, botheration, I have to say it makes a real difference to how the ink moves on the surface.



I then used Forest Moss DI to stamp some of my new Artemio hedgerow stamps, bought with some recent winnings (I do like crafty shopping without a bill at the end of it).  I'm very in love with them!



The edges of the tag have had an encounter with the TH paper distresser.  The paper distresser had the best of it...







Rather than the snowy cottage which Linda used, I pulled out one of my other favourite Artistic Outpost images, the Old Grist Mill.  I stamped it in a mixture of Sepia and Coffee Archival inks, tore off the edges of the image, and edged it with Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs.


It's mounted onto corrugated card which has had some UTEE, some copper embossing powder and some Vintage Photo distress embossing powder added to define its ridges.  I love the rugged, rustic look the corrugated card gives to a project, and the dimensionality.







The fence is one of a dozen die-cuts I got on ebay, as I don't own the die itself.  I embossed it in the TH wood grain folder, and gave it a good inking with the various brown DIs until I liked the look of it.  At the foot, it's mounted on another ridge of corrugated cardboard, to get it to the right height.  




I love the fence against the meadow flowers (that's how it sat on my desk for a day or so, waiting for further inspiration) - it makes little phrases of Peter and the Wolf run through my head!












The sentiment is stamped with my trusty £1 alphabet, and glossed with UTEE, while the mesh ribbon is folded and then tied with jute twine - which I've also added to the top of the card.  



The button isn't really sewn on; I just threaded a bit of the trimmed off ribbon through the hole and glued the whole thing on with Glossy Accents!




If you haven't started playing the 12 Tags yet, there's still time to join in... you have until December 17th to complete all 12 to enter the draw - or you can just play along with the odd one or two simply for fun.  All the details are here.


But for now, I'd just like to say thank you for taking the time to stop by, and I'll see you again soon, either here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland!




I'm entering this as Tag 7 in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas
And in the Artistic Outpost November challenge, Anything Goes with an AO stamp

You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right.
Maya Angelou

Peace - that was the other name for home.
Kathleen Norris

Home is the place where, when you have to go there,
They have to take you in.
Robert Frost

34 comments:

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Beautiful tag Alison, love the stamped floral,image in the background and the inky colours too. Love how,you have showcased the AO image and I love,the addition of,the corrugated card for texture. The enamelled lettering is a lovely touch . Great to have you joining in the Artistic Outpost referral program, thank you. Tracy x

Candy C said...

Alison...thanks so much for the nice comment you posted on my blog this afternoon. Teaching the ladies was a complete blast. We had so much fun! I totally love your tags you've posted on your blog. But then, I always love your work! Your faded beauty tag is just lovely. And your home sweet home tag is so pretty as well. I love the creative thought that goes into your tags. They are always so detailed and beautifully done. <3 Candy

Sophie said...

Ein ganz bezauberndes Tag hast du gezaubert.
Die alte Wassermühle hast du wunderschön in Szene gesetzt.
Bravo!

Liebe Grüße

Anonymous said...

That is interesting re the tag as I use shipping tags but now I think about it, the tags I buy from Crafty Individuals, yes the ink does move more smoothly on the surface.
I adore all the little rustic details and that picket fence is perfection. What a gorgeous inky background.
Also, can I add that it is wonderful you take the time to add quotes. Today I enjoyed reading one of Maya's quotes as she is one of my favourite authors/poets.
Wishes
Lynne

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

This is absolutely gorgeous, Alison. LOVE the colors and the way beautiful background. The marbled stains technique has become one of my absolute favorites as well as the Old Grist Mill. The fence is a terrific embellishment and the burlap bow is the perfect finisher! So great to have another entry from you for this challenge!

Hugs,
Linda

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a lovely way you have of setting a scene, (picturing you humming Peter and the wolf). This is a lovely tag(as always) and I love the colour combination!
Love your clever little bow too. Chrisx

Sarah said...

I love your style and I do believe that I have run out of superlatives to describe it!

Astrid Maclean said...

This is just perfect Alison and the fact that you keep resisting Christmas just makes me smile! Yours is very different from Linda's but I recognized straight away that it was #7.Love the hessian bow specially (well and the stamp of course). Great tag!

Claudia N. said...

I especially love that background you created with all those lovely shades of green and the hedgerow-stamps (one of my favorites too), Alison!

And that ribbon is a perfect match!

Gorgeous!

Wishes,
Claudia xx

Redanne said...

Simply beautiful Alison, love the corrugated card backing to the Grist Mill, the fence is perfect and the inky background is sumptuous. You really are getting value out of your £1 alphabet too! A really beautiful tag. Crafty hugs, Anne x

catherine said...

Another stunning piece Alison and love the background and all the texture in the tag itself. Hope you enjoy your weekend
x catherine

sam21ski said...

Oooh great take on the original tag Alison and love it all the more for being green!!

Sam xxx

Bonnie Irvine said...

Alison, that background is so dreamy and inviting. It's like taking a walk through a forest when the sun shines through the leaves here and there. Love the UTEE and copper embossing on the corrugated card. Beautiful choice of images and that fence adds such depth to the scene. The little details like the shine on the HSH sentiment and that sweet bow add so much to your piece and keep my eye travelling over the whole tag. Lovely!

chrissie said...

Beautiful background and some interesting additions on the tag

Love Chrissie xx

Janny Jager said...

Reallly really beautiul Alison.
Greta details , background and colors.

Greetings Janny

Cocofolies said...

Absolutely perfect, wonderful tag, I love it much !!! Coco

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous interpretation Alison, the background is luscious with the colours and stamps you have used and a great central image.
Enjoy your Sunday.
hugs {brenda} xox

craftimamma said...

Hi Alison, I finally made time to visit your extremely interesting, inspirational and beautiful blog. Firstly I'd like to say thankyou on behalf of the Snazzys DT for the lovely comments you leave us. Your appreciation and encouragement means such a lot.

Now, I'd like to say how truly enjoyable my little journey round your blog has been. I've also had a good read of the 'About Me' section and your 'other life' because I found it so interesting. Thankyou for sharing all that. The inspiration you share obviously extends waaaayyyy beyond the realms of crafting.

I am joining your followers and also adding you to my blog roll so that I don't miss any future posts. As for your tag, well ..... it's really beautiful and very atmospheric. As Bonnie says, like walking through a cool, sun dappled forest or maybe I should say meadow with the lovely cow parsley stamps! There's lots of depth and texture and I really like the fence diecut run through the embossing folder. That's a very clever idea.

Thankyou for a very pleasant time this morning and I will be back often.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Cestina said...

It's enchanting. Though I am not sure I shall ever view cow parsley in the same light again after this summer!

Glorious green effects....

Lisa Minckler said...

I was swept away by the colors and textures. At some point I found myself looking at the words, but still in such a trance by the relaxing hues and tranquil scenery. I think it's just stunning what you've pulled from Linda's tag! Another tag that speaks volumes. :)

May said...

Gorgeous Alison... I love the detail in this tag.. The background design & colour is beautiful... the stamping & the fence is Brilliant... Love it all!! Hugs May x x x

Dortesjs said...

So beautiful, you have much creative talent love your stuff

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

So gorgeous!!!! I love the fence and I love the image. I would have sworn this was Linda's own work...lol! Totally gorgeous my dear!

Andrea Small said...

Ooh lovely greens and layers and I LOVE those hedgerow stamps x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

I'm missing words, your tags looks fantastic. Love the corrugated cardboard.

Inkypinkycraft said...

A super yummy background and I love the corrugated fence and ow you have added lovely natural feel textures to this piece!! Fab make Alison! Trace x

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous tag Alison, and such a beautiful background.
Avril xx

Kate Yetter said...

What a stunning background, Alison! Just love it and the colors!

Jenny Marples said...

Mmmm, this sends me to a wooded glade after a fresh summer shower when you can really smell the scent of the flora and fauna. Thanks for transporting me away from the dark, cold reality of November!! Love this. Hugs, Buttons x

Lisa Somerville said...

Beautiful tag! Love the marbled stains BG, fab details! Thanks for your continued support of Artistic Outpost!

Chrissy said...

This is fabulous too Alison, I love the green,the fence and image, love the textures, just wonderful.

luv CHRISSYxx

Bärbel said...

Ein großartiges Tag, Alison, der wunderbare Hintergrund mit den schönen Stempeleien und Ihre Gestaltung mit Wellpappe, der Wassermühle und dem gestanzten Zaun, das ist grandios!

Marjie Kemper said...

I love that tag with its glorious greens, and all your added texture and stamping just fit perfectly onto it. Lovely!

Kezzy said...

Wow I really love the background, it has so much depth, stunning. Love what you have done with the cardboard, really rustic and full of texture. Hugs Kerry xxx