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 16 May 2013

Simply Irresistible




Hello all, and a very warm welcome (though it's pretty chilly here, yet again)!


A new challenge starts today over at eclectic Paperie, and it's a really cool one!  Our host is Julie, who would like to see what we all get up to with Gel Medium.


It's such versatile stuff, and there's lots of different ways to get crafty with it - check out Julie's amazing technique here, along with all the challenge details and rules.


I decided to play one of my favourite games and create a resist for some inky loveliness.  Yes, I'm back with another tag!!


First of all, I gave the tag a coat of Picket Fence Distress Paint, so that the colour coming through the transparent resist would be paler than the straight manila of the tag.











Then I splodged some Golden Gel Medium (Soft Gloss) onto the craft mat, and used a sponge to apply it to my stamp... yup, you spotted it: the wonderful Unity hedgerow flowers, Delicate Flowers by Donna Downey.

After stamping, it was straight to the sink and plenty of nailbrush action to make sure I'd got all the medium off my precious stamp!








One of the lovely things about using the medium like this is that you get not only a glossy finish, but also a bit of dimension to your image.












I used Distress Stains and Inks to build up layers of colour onto the background.

The opaque Distress Paint underneath slightly alters how the colours "take", which I quite enjoy.









I used another Unity stamp, Christy Tomlinson's yummy SheArt Print Texture to add some, yes, texture to my inks.  Some stampings are done in Faded Jeans Distress Ink, some in Memento Teal Zeal, and some in Olive Archival.

I rolled it on and off pretty randomly...








The three sentiments are also Unity - Donna Downey again - and I stamped them in Olive Archival onto a sticky-back canvas ATC.










I cut round them and then used Faded Jeans to give the edges some definition







I love the texture of the canvas, and I also love that you can just peel off the back and stick it down - dead simple!








Well, it wouldn't be right not to top the thing off, and I went with one of my current favourite combinations: some dyed crinkle ribbon tied together with paper string.

I dyed the ribbons initially with Distress Stains, and then decided that they'd look better with a touch of the opaque shabby look that using Distress Paint gives them, so I added some Picket Fence DP to the mix.










So that's one pretty simple game to play with Gel Medium... I can't wait to see what creative games you all get up to with it!

There's a prize voucher for the eclectic Paperie store on offer, generously sponsored by the lovely Kim of eP - so get out your sticky thinking caps and show us what you've got!

For now, thank you so much for stopping by, and I'll see you soon - either here, or elsewhere in Craftyblogland!

Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind - even if your voice shakes.
Maggie Kuhn

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow".
Mary Anne Radmacher

It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.
Madeleine Albright


Click on the link to go straight to the product (I used Golden Gel Medium, which I think might be in stock quite soon - but either of the options here would also work):





55 comments:

Bonnie Irvine said...

I always enjoy your tags, Alison...don't stop making them! This one is gorgeous. I love the effect of stamping with gel medium and will have to give it a try. The Distress colours look yummy over the top of this bunch of flowers. I really like the random application of that text stamp...great idea to include the olive colour. The topper, as always, finishes off your tag beautifully. I like how you always think through the type and colours of ribbons and ties you use. It becomes such a gorgeous detail.

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great Tag Alison, love the white and blue contrasts , don't stop making your beautiful tags, we look forward to mee more!!

Greetings
Maria

Helen said...

I love the tags too - and this is another beauty. Love that hedgerow stamp.

Rita said...

Now ,this is stunning Alison. The colours are fabulous. Hugs Rita xx

Dorthe said...

Such a clever way to use the Gel Medieum, and the stamp shows the glossy finish ,so beautifully off! The aqua tones in your background ,and stamped text makes it a wonderful tag, Alison.
x- Dorthe

Krisha said...

Hi Alsion, I've been spotting this technic here and there, but you have really mastered it. What a great tag.

Chrissy said...

Beautiful colour Alison, love the flower stamp..and love this technique..fabulous tag.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Never apologise for making another tag!! This is so gorgeous - the glossy white of the gel medium gives a lovely ethereal feel against the lovely distress inks. Thanks for introducing us to another interesting technique!

Annette Green said...

Love that resist effect. Worked like a charm. Such a beautiful tag, once again Alison!

Claudia N. said...

Cooool! That definitely looks like a technique I have to try out as soon as possible, Alison!

Love your hedgerow tags! You should have quite a collection of them by now. I wonder how they look like being presented in rows or columns ;)

Hugs,
Claudia x

Kim said...

Stunning, Alison! I didn't know you could use gel medium this way...fabulous!! Love those soft blue colors and that stamp is just perfect! So pretty!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

A lovely styled tag Alison!


kind regards, Alie :-)

Carol Q said...

I immediately heard Robert Palmer in my head Alison lol.What a beautiful stamp and it looks perfect standing out against your lovely blue/green background

Fliss said...

Just gorgeous Alison. Love those delicate flowers against the blue and all the little stamped details look beautiful.
Spooky moment too as guess who got out her Golden Soft Gel this morning - must be fate!
Hugs, Fliss xx

Jenny Marples said...

Been considering using gel medium for a while - you've just pushed me over the edge! Love the way it has worked with the stains here. Off to see what the rest of the team have done too. Hugs, Jenny x

Keren Tamir said...

This is a fave tag for sure!! Love those dandilions. I can picture my kids blowing them in the wind.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A gorgeous tag, great technique and wonderful colors.

Redanne said...

Hi Alison, like others I have not used the Gel Medium in this way but I will do now after seeing your gorgeous tag - thanks so much for the inspiration! Hugs, Anne x

Annie said...

Fabulous tag Alison and very inspiring. Love the colours and those stamps are stunning

Crafty Hugs

Annie xx

THanks for the birthday wishes xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Great tag Alison and though I use gel medium all the time I have never used it as a resist, brilliant idea! I just love how we never stop learning on this craft journey!

Tincan Crafter said...

I so love this - too beautiful, simple and elegant!

Lucy Edmondson said...

Gorgeous! Wonderful crisp resist image,

Lucy x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Fabulous tag, the DD stamp is my kind of stamp! I haven't brought much away with me- the intention being to get the year books finished but ... strangely ... I did bring my CH gel medium with me - never have before! Love this technique using Glue and Seal so will give it a go! BTW loved reading your post about the dolls houses! Your TH tags were amazing too! Chrisx

Terry said...

Beautiful tag, Alison! Love the resist effect and the pretty blues! Enjoy the evening!

Kezzy said...

Wow wow stunning gorgeous tag, I love it I have never used gel medium for resist technique so I reckon I need to give it a try, I love how it gives dimension. I always used old toothbrushes, every time we replace our brushes the old ones go in a pot, I have found that they are also fab for splashing paint and also to use on the Gelli plate. Happy Crafting :-) hugs Kezzy xxx

barbarayaya62 said...

Alison another fab tag! You know blue turquoise green are my fav colors! BArbarayaya

Netty said...

terrific idea with the gel medium and love the stunning results. Enjoy the weekend, hugs Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

Brenda Brown said...

Love this Alison, especially the different coloured stamping and the resist technique. A great job.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Micki said...

Oh swoon..... I just love that color combo.... love it. And I knew about using it as a resist but did not think about applying it to the stamp and using like an ink.

Truly gorgeous tag.

Nan G said...

Simply gorgeous! A new to me technique that I will be trying soon. Love this color combo. Hugs

Inkypinkycraft said...

A really gorgeous make, not played with the medium like that ...looks great hugs trace. X

Anke said...

Wonderful tag, Alison. I love the resist effect and the blue and green colours.

Hugs
Anke

catherine said...

A great looking tag Alison and love the blue colour
x catherine

Alexa said...

Lovely vibrant tag - I thought it was faux bleach at first but seeing it done is matt medium is lovely and give is that shine and dimension - gorgeous! x

froebelsternchen said...

what great effect - waht fab tag again Alison?!
I am delighted with this!

Clare Lloyd said...

a gorgeous tag. x

Von said...

Wonderful resist tag Alison, never used gel medium like that before
Von ♥
Ok I have Robert Palmer singing in my head now swooooooon :)

Unknown said...

Definitely going to have to try that technique!! Absolutely stunning results!! I love those colors and the stamps are so lovely!! Great project, thanks for sharing!

Marjie Kemper said...

That stamp is so perfect for this technique! Love the fine details of it and the text popping through from the blues... beautiful!

toni said...

Another little beauty Alison! Gorgeous colours and great way to use the gel medium , so good this challenge I'm learning loads about gel medium! I so want that Donna downey stamp i love the way you've used it x

Donna-Marie said...

Great Colors and a new way to use the medium...yay!!!
So pretty :-)

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Gorgeous! I love the embossed foliage! It really pops!

Teresa Jaye said...

oh my Alison, this is so, so pretty. The color is amazing. Thanks for explaining the technique, especially the part about putting down the picket fence first - what a huge difference it makes -- so lovely.

Paper Profusion said...

Oh these hues sing of summer Alison! Thank-you for yet another technique and fab make. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

Cinderella Moments said...

That gel medium is incredible. That would look great in a dollhouse. I love all your tips. I'm not really in the scrapbook stuff. So you really help me learn what all this stuff can do. Thank you so much. You are a wonderful source of great ideas!!
hugs♥,
Caroline

Unknown said...

This is such a great technique and the colours and design of this tag are sensational. Gorgeous work :)

Anna-Karin said...

I love this tag Alison! I've never tried stamping with gel medium, thank you for the inspiration.

Dianne said...

You had me at the hedgerow, GORGEOUS, love the color, thanks my dear..

Unknown said...

How gorgeous this is. Beautiful colours and love the resist work. Fab. Chris xxx

Art By Wanda said...

Beautiful!!!

Broni said...

This is so beautiful! I love the soft aqua with the white flowers and the text peeking through is just perfect!

Sue said...

This is truly beautiful Alison, and definitely a technique I will have to try x

Anonymous said...

Fantastic Tag! I know, that you can use gel medium for the resist technique, but I don´t have it. Es hört sich nach viel Arbeit an, den Stempel wieder sauber zu bekommen. Das Motiv ist aber auch ein Traum!

Lg siljan

Margaret said...

So pretty! Your hedgerow flowers are gorgeous against the blue background!

Tracy said...

Playing catch up Alison and oooh ahhhh swooon...gorgeous tag,favourite stamp of mine and woohoo you explained how to..love it and thank you so much for sharing.
Big hugs
Tracy
xoxox