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...

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Ring in the New

Hello and a very Happy New Year to you all... I hope 2013 brings you all you hope for!  I'm delighted to have you stop by today - especially since, according to tradition, anything you do on New Year's Day, you'll have to do every day of the year... Only kidding, though I'd love it of course!  And no, this doesn't mean I'll be posting every day of the year either... this was prepared in advance.  I wish I could, but realistically, it ain't gonna happen!!

But what a great day to start a brand new challenge over at Fun With ATCs, where we'd like to see Something New.


It can be a new technique you're trying for the first time, or the first use of some of your new Christmas stash (I hope that applies to pretty much everyone)...  

Just show us your ATC and let us know what it is that's new about it.  And do hop over and see what my fellow DT members have been creating - there's inspiration galore!

Almost everything on mine is new, or at least new to me...  The first thing regulars will probably notice are the colours!  

I've been stuck in neutral for a while... not that I haven't enjoyed it, and I do really love many of the pieces, but I was finding it hard to break away.  There was a gentle move into some very whitewashed, shabby colour with my New Year Manifesto, but this is a bit more full-on.   



And it's mainly thanks to some of the new Distress Stains I got from my brother for Christmas: I've used Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn here, together with the Peacock Feathers DI that I actually got way before Christmas, but hadn't yet used.  



I also used a spritz or two of one of my new Cosmic Shimmer mists, courtesy of my sister-in-law, Laura of Laurart.

The background tissue wrap is also new - to me - it was what the lovely Trace of inkypinkycraft used to wrap some little crafty bundles in when we did our Christmas tag swap, so of course I carefully preserved it all to add to the stash, and this is the first time I've used it - love it!  




I stuck it down nice and wrinklily (?!), so that there would be lots of texture.... much needed for the next gift to be put into use: some Treasure Gold in Aquamarine.

This was a gift from another friend who's been bitten by the blogging bug - Andrea shares random thoughts and fabulous music over at eclectic meandering.  

Treasure Gold is such gorgeous stuff: smeared on with the fingertips it gives an antiqued golden highlight to whatever it touches - great smell too!  I've used the White Fire on a couple of projects, but this Aquamarine is perfect with my new blues and greens.









I also used the Treasure Gold on the mulberry paper roses - you can really see the greeny gold on them.. and added some of the fabulous rusty wire that Trace sent me, and which is such an inkypinkycraft signature - very cool!

The flourish is from Crafty Emblies, and I also smeared a bit of Treasure Gold onto it in places (can you tell I'm hooked?!) to highlight the dark wood.







The Tim Holtz ChitChat stickers have also been sitting in my stash for a while, waiting to come out and play.  

They got a little touch of Old Paper DI, and an edging of Vintage Photo.  And as a sentiment, they will serve as my Crafting Manifesto for the New Year!




The final element was Vintage Photo Distress embossing powder added to the edges for texture and to tie the rustiness together.  

Once it was in place, it also got a little sweep of Treasure Gold - I love the effect of the two together!





I had an absolute ball making this... and there's lots more to come with these new colours.  They've really hooked me, so watch this space for more turquoise in the next few days.  

And get ready for my crafting manifesto in action: lots more imagination, discoveries and sharing in 2013. 

Looking forward to seeing what's new everywhere else in Craftyblogland too... Why not come and share your Something New with us at Fun With ATCs?  (In a 2.5 x 3.5 format, of course!)  It would be great to have you play along.

Think left and think right and think low and think high.  
Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!
Dr. Seuss

I'm entering this in the following:
Try It On Tuesday would like to see our New Stash in action... new Distress Stain and Ink colours, Cosmic Shimmer spray, Tissue Wrap, Aquamarine Treasure Gold, rusty wire
At Out of a Hat Creations they are playing with Birthstone Colours... it's not my own birthstone, but I couldn't resist the Aquamarine

49 comments:

Chrissy said...

The colours are truly beautiful Alison,I love the textured background with the tissue...gorgeous ATC..
Wishing you a very Happy & Healthy New Year…2013

Luv CHRISSYxx

Sophie said...

Das sieht ja wundervoll aus.
Gefällt mir sehr, sehr gut.

Ein gutes, gesundes neues Jahr 2013

Debi said...

Alison, this is a gorgeous ATC, all that texture! stunning! Debi x

http://blog.timetocreate.com.au/ said...

Whoah Alison - No wonder so many spend new years day in a daze! Seriously though you have used my favourite ( this week) colour on your Lush ATC.
Happy new year!

catherine said...

Happy New year Alison.This is just beautiful and so love the colours.
Here's to a wonderful and creative crafting new year.
x catherine

Gio said...

Have a very wonderful and joyful Happy New Year, Alison!

Following your advice, today I have to stop eating and find the time to sit at my desk!;-)

Astrid Maclean said...

A stunning ATC Alison, love your new colour pallet and the textured background! And yes, I'll say it again, have the most wonderful New Year, I'm so glad I met you in blog land!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous ATC Alison, the colours are beautiful (and my favourites!). Lucky you getting your hands on some Treasure Gold too ! Sue C x

Redanne said...

Hi Alison, you have the most wonderful ability to turn even a tiny ATC into an amazing adventure of techniques! This one is just gorgeous and I love that Treasure Gold (did not know it came in other colours), the embellie is stunning and the colours you have used on the background are beautiful. Love how you used Trace's bits too. Happy New Year and all the very best for 2013! Hugs, Anne x

craftytrog said...

It's gorgeous Alison...I love your textured background! Funnily enough, I was doing the same technique on the frame yesterday...great minds eh?!!!
Love the colours too, a favourite combo of mine!
Alison xx

Francesca said...

Happy New Year Alison, Its nice to get some colour in one's life. Your ATC has turned out fab. Love francesca

maj. said...

A really gorgeous ATC!
Happy New Year!

sam21ski said...

Happy New Year, all the very best for 2013.

Glad you've got back into some colour Alison, it looks stunning.

Now I wonder, what could I do.....

Netty said...

Loving your textured background and colour palette Alison. Happy New Year, Annette x

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Wow you have managed to fit so much interest into,such a tiny space. Love the tissue in the background and the colours are delicious. Love the texture and the swirl is gorgeous. Happy New Year . Tracy x x x

Victoria said...

Beautiful colours that work a treat blended together, and, as always, lots of wonderful texture.

Dorthe said...

This is gorgeous Alison,
I have LOVED your nature coloured pieces, and still have a big heart for those tones, but this fresh wonderful aqua colours ,with brown and gold, looks fantastic-thankyou for all the how-to!!
Warm hug,Dorthe

mark gould said...

Happy new year Alison, What a beautiful ATC, I love the colours and colection of techniques you have used, the gold rub looks like a great little tool to have.
I can't wait to see what this year brings from you in the crafty world.
Mark x

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Alison
You may have moved into colour but I love the distressed patina to it avoiding the colour being too vivid, it really is gorgeous.
May 2013 be nothing but kind to you and brimming with creative opportunities and good times.
Lynne

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

What a great creation Alison...very interesting background!!
I do hope, you will imagine, discover and share a lot in 2013!

Best wishes...Alie :-)

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A fabulous tag, I really love it. Great texture and elements.
Wishing you a Wonderful and Happy Year 2013.

Hettie said...

Gorgeous ATC Alison and Happy New Year to you. The colours are lovely.
Wish I had known about the anything you do today you do all year earlier.... I did the washing today!
Tee Hee!
Hugs
xx

Brenda Brown said...

I can see why you love the colours Alison, they are so fresh and perfect for the new year as is your ATC, a gorgeous design with lots of lovely texture. May 2013 bring you everything you could wish for yourself and more.
hugs {brenda} x0x

May said...

Gorgeous colours Alison, Love the design the background is Fabulous... Wishing you a Wonderful New Year... Hugs May x x x

Nan G said...

Fab color! Love the way you distress the edges with the embossing powder. A gorgeous ATC to start off the new year!

Jenny Marples said...

This has all the feel of deep sea diving in a waving coral reef about it. Love your choice and use of colour on this and that tissue wrap is the perfect background. Glad to see someone else loves the smell of Treasure Gold! Thought it might just be me being strange:)
I know 2013 is going to be the best year ever for you crafting-wise and I hope everything else falls into place perfectly too. Huge hugs as ever, Jenny xxx

Margaret said...

Treasure Gold? Oh, I think I need to go shopping because that looks fabulous!! The blues and greens are beautiful on this and your wrinkly background is the perfect canvas for them!

Keren Tamir said...

this is stunning Alison!! love the journaling

Lisa Minckler said...

I've just woken up and have my first cup of coffee in hand...the effect wasn't waking me up, but then I come to your blog..BAM! I'm awake, inspired and joyously loving this!!
Thank you so much for sharing this. :)
Hugs to you and Happy New Year.
Lisa x

Terry said...

Gorgeous ATC and I do love those color choices! Wishing you a wonderful New Year! Hugs!

Bärbel said...

Die Farben allein schon sind ein Highlight, Alison, das gesamte ATC ist ein wunderbares Meisterwerk, das ich bewundere!

Ich wünsche Ihnen ein glückliches und kreatives neues Jahr!
Liebe Grüße, Bärbel

Janny Jager said...

A very very nice and beautiful creation Alison.
love the background.

Greetings Janny

Cathy L. Calamas said...

Well, I think your foray into color is just fabulous. I am always completely stunned by your art. Inspiring!! You should link this to TIOT's "new stash" challenge. :))

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Gorgeous color! Love the added flourishes and roses! Beautiful atc's!

chrissie said...

Have a very Happy 2013 Alison. You have started it of really well with this wonderful Atc.

Beautiful colours and attachments and so lovely that you shared it with us at the Hatters.

Best wishes Chrissie xxxxx

Mynn xx said...

What gorgeous technique you used!!! LOVE the background that you created--the colors are gorgeous! I hope that you can come and play along this week at Inkspirational and this month at Technique Tuesday! We've got prizes, giveaways, and a DT call going on! :)

Bonnie Irvine said...

OooH, colour love!! Gorgeous atc, Alison. The textures are amazing and I love your use of Treasure Gold. Looking at this atc makes me very happy! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

This is gorgeous! I love the tissue background and the colours. Great piece.

Janet said...

Happy New Year Alison,love your colours!!! on your ATC.
Thanks for sharing with us at Out of a Hat.
Janet x

Rika said...

This is so beautiful!

happy new year!

Bridie said...

Fabulous ATC, what a lot of work you've out into it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy New Year

Claudia N. said...

Awesome, how you created this beautiful ensemble with all this new stash, Alison!

Looks, like all of it just had to go together like this and was just meant to be that way! Perfect!

Love every single detail, the colours, the wire, the treasure gold...well - really everything. *lol

Thank you so much for sharing this with us at TioT!!

Hugs,
Claudia xx

Nicecrane Designs said...

Happy New Year Alison,,,,, gorgeus and incredible creation,,,,love these stunning flowers and all over the blue back,,,,,,,,what a misteryous atmosphere here......wowwww...

Evil Edna said...

stunning as usual! thank you for sharing with us at TIOT.EE

Ellie Knol said...

can't stop saying - beautiful, beautiful!

Mrs.B said...

Hi Alison, Hope you had a great New Year. Obviously, it was a good Christmas with all that lovely new stash and what a wonderful way to use it. This is so beautiful, and so many details in such a small space.
Thanks for sharing at TioT
Avril xx

My name is Cindy said...

Hi Alison! You had some truly gorgeous pressies - still got to get the peacock DI for myself!! A gorgeous tag with brilliant colours and texture, Thank you so much for sharing with us at TioT. Cindy

Michelle Webb said...

I adore that little flourish. What a wonderful ATC, I love the grungy darkness of it, and the colours are defo my favourite too. Love it Alison. Michelle x

Kate Yetter said...

Somehow I missed this beauty!! Gorgeous. I love that background technique and the green makes those flowers pop right out.