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 13 December 2012

Toys, toys, toys!



Hello all, lovely to see you here today, especially as I'm sure you've all got plenty to be getting on with... the countdown continues!


I'm sharing my next tag inspired by the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  


We're heading into the final straight of this inspiration challenge now: Linda has now posted all 12 tags, and we've got until the 17th December to get them all done and posted in order to qualify for the prize draw, generously sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique (all details here, if you want to tackle 12 tags in 5 days!).  


I'm playing for the fun and the inspiration, since I've not been entirely Christmassy or wintry in my takes on the tags - but I've had an absolute ball - and I know I've helped tempt a few of you to join in too!


So here's my take on Tag 10 and, yes I've finally given in... it does have a Christmas(ish) feel to it - partly because I couldn't resist the adorable freebie image Linda offered with her original tag.  





Rather than cut it into a bauble though, I took inspiration from the brick embossed background to "hang" the advertising hoarding on a wall.



My wall is inked with Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap and Gathered Twigs rather than in red... I seem to be on a run with the neutrals at the moment (the Snowflake Jar excepted).  And red is a long way out of my crafting comfort zone!!








The toys letters are Idea-ology Alphaparts, given a coat of paint and some inky shading, and the tag they're on is stamped with the delightful Blackie's Children's Book Adverts stamp from PaperArtsy.


On the tiny tag behind, I wrote out part of a letter to Father Christmas full of Christmas toy wishes.




I don't have any icicles, so I've used snowflakes along the top of my tag instead.  I don't actually have this particular On The Edge die, but I bought some pre-cut ones on ebay.  


I inked the edges with a little Vintage Photo DI, and then added some of the Distress Stickles Rock Candy Dry Glitter.  I'm not a glitter person, but I'm a new convert to this - it has a gorgeous vintage shimmer, rather than full-on bling.



There's some more on the paper rose at the foot of the tag.  This was a plain white rose, part of a dirt cheap pack I got at The Range.  


Again it's had a touch of inking, a little glue, and then I dipped it straight into the pot of Dry Glitter.  Love it!!


In the final photo, below, you can see just how like actual frost the sparkling dry glitter is - I took the pictures with the tag balanced in amongst the branches of a rose bush covered with an amazing hoar frost... 







A little lace at the top and at the bottom, and we're done!  See, I'm doing my very best to keep it short so you can get back to frantic Christmas preparations.  As regulars know, I'm very bad at short posts...


Thanks so much for stopping by, and I look forward to coming by for a visit soon.  Happy crafting in the meantime... if you've time for any crafting, that is!




Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive.
Robert Lynd

I'm entering this in the following:
As Tag 10 in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas
The Christmas challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday
Frilly and Funkie are asking us to Make It A Tag
And at the Craft-room Challenge they would also like us to Make a Tag

43 comments:

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous tag Alison, again in my favourite tones. Love the TOYS lettering and the gorgeous vintage image set against the embossed background. The flower is stunning. Tracy x

Sarah said...

I am in love with this tag!!!! I love the colors, the image, the bg, the snowflakes....I love it all!!!

froebelsternchen said...

perfect Alison..I love this vintage feel.. fantastic ...there is all to fall in love with!

Redanne said...

A truly gorgeous vintage tag, that image is gorgeous and you have surrounded it with beauty. Love your faux icicles on the top and the flower is beautifully vintaged and the letters look brilliant coated in paint too. Beautiful. Hugs, Anne x

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh well done Alison, you'll get there yet! Love how you have used this beautiful image and the way you have put the whole tag together, - a truly gorgeous make!

Neet said...

Hi Alison, that is a lovely tag. I do like the idea of the poster hanging on a wall - and the rose makes such a good contrast to everything. Lovely tag!
Hugs, Neet xx

Rosie said...

Wow, a very beautiful tag, Alison

Debi said...

as beautiful and as creative as always- I love those letters, thanks for sharing with us at Craft Room Challenge again, Debi x

Inkypinkycraft said...

A really gorgeous tag..see glitter is fab isn't it!! You will get hooked....love you bricks too!! Trace x

Netty said...

Beautiful vintage tag and loving the colour tones, x

Shelby said...

Stunning vintage tag! You never fail to wow and the intricacies of your design is amazing. Beautiful work

Shelby

Chrissy said...

Fabulous tag Alison, love your letter to Father Christmas tucked in there and the image is so lovely...never remember to paint my alphabets to get the colour I want, must make a note ..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Evelyn S. said...

This is a fabulous tag....just beautiful! You've created so many rich details and dimension.

Paper Profusion said...

Love the hues, vintage feel and gorgeous texturing detail. Wonderful tag Alison. Nicola x

pearshapedcrafting said...

I just don't know how you keep coming up with such lovely tags - but you do! This is just beautiful, love your wall with it's poster and the little letter tucked in there and the rose is just a treat in the corner - Wow once again! Love Chrisx



Janny Jager said...

Very very beautiful and great tag Alison.
Love every detail .
Greetings Janny

Kate Yetter said...

Love this image. So nostalgic and lovely. The rose and background are fabulous as well.

craftytrog said...

Another stunning tag Alison...I love that beautiful, glittery Christmas rose!
Alison x

Lori said...

Your tag is gorgeous! Love the sweet image and the pretty glittery rose!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, that's an amazing tag with great details. Love the bricked background and the rose.

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

What a gorgeous tag Alison! The vintage kids are so cute and look at that flower! Amazing as always! xx

Sue said...

Love all of the detail of your fabulous tag Alison, and the rose is just stunning! xx

Hettie said...

Gorgeous tag Alison. Love that image and the toys! I do love the neutral shades.
Please don't scare me that we only have 5 days to complete....having a "play" on Saturday whilst Hubby is in bed!! Need to make his card too!
xx

Jenny Marples said...

Love the warmth of this one and hey! you're doing Christmas!! This has your style all over it. Love the snowflake edging too. Just gorgeous. Nearly there... hugs Jenny x

Annie said...

Beautiful tag Alison. Right up my street. Stunning colours and I love the addition of the word toys x

Annie x

May said...

Gorgeous tag Alison, Love all the fabulous detail, Beautiful image & perfect colours... Hugs May x x x

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Totally awesome, Alison!! Love the vintage tones of the brick and how you posted the advertisement on them. And your painted alpha parts look amazing in that color. Super take on tag #10 - the flower and snowflakes are sensational! Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Linda

Unknown said...

What an amazing tag, and so distinctly your style. Simply beautiful

chrissie said...

Terrific tag with a real vintage flavour. I love the message to Santa that you have tucked away.

Best wishes Chrissie xxx

sam21ski said...

Fabulous tag Alison, love those toys letters

Sam xxx

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous tag Alison, love the brick background and the rose has been totally transformed into deliciousness !
Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Sue C x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

YUMMY!!! So beautiful! The lace, the snowflakes, the vintage feel...all fabulous!

Anonymous said...

Hello Alison
I am here to catch up with what you have been creating and also to say Thank You for visiting (and commenting) over at my Blog.
Now onto your creation - full of festive goodness and Old World charm. A lovely sense of innocence to your tag and oh I love that crochet lace trim!
Wishes
Lynne

Karen McAlpine said...

Love how you thought this out. The brick wall... It is really cool how design process works! This is a another great tag. Love all the embellies too.

Andrea Small said...

Splendid :-) Love the letter and those outfits are quite impressive, aren't they? x

Charlotte Zweigoron said...

Beautiful and inspiring!! I just got the brick embossing folder and I have all the DI's... can't wait to try out your technique on this tag. TFS!

Lisa Minckler said...

WOOOOW, gorgeous yet again! Something about toys and children's laughter that brings joy to the heart. Beautiful job. :)

Bärbel said...

Alison, das Tag ist großartig! Ich liebe das Motiv, die Gestaltzung und die Schrift, ganz wunderbar!

hazel said...

I love, love, love your tag - it's amazing. Thank you for joining us at Craft-Room Challenge.
xxx Hazel.

Zoechaos said...

Beautiful Vintage Tag, thank you for sharing with us at Craft-Room Challenge XOXO Zoe

craft-roomjulia said...

Hi Butterfly, I am totally in love with your beautiful vintage tag, it's so festive, I will have to get that PaperArtsy stamp, its so nice. I love everything about this, (think its cause I'm going through a bit of a vintage phase myself at the moment lol). Thanks so much for joining us at Craft Room Challenge and good luck. Merry Christmas. Julia xxxxx

Anonymous said...

This is auch wieder so wunderwunderschööön!!
I love the details of your artworks!
The letters...are a die or chipboard or what? I am searching for letters which are not so big.
Sorry, my english is not the best ;)

LG siljan

Margaret said...

Vintage loveliness! I love how you displayed the image as a posted flyer and the dry glitter is fantastic! The letter to Santa was a wonderfully sweet touch!