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 February 2014

Brotherly Love




Hello all, lovely to see you!

A quick tag today (has to be quick - so much going on at the moment) with two Artistic Outpost characters who live a rich and complicated life in my imagination.  They're from the fabulous Generation Redux plate.

This was also one of my first times playing with Pan Pastels (yes, I finally succumbed - and oh, I'm in love!).  

So these two brothers (a.k.a. - to me at least - the Coffee Guys)...  

The older one is sober-suited and slightly grim about about the mouth and eyes.  

You can feel the weight of responsibility heavy upon his shoulders, having been left in charge of the family firm (coffee trading, clearly) after their father's death.  But you also get the sense that he's probably unnecessarily tight-lipped about things.  If he could just soften a little, he'd enjoy life so much more.









However, he can't afford to because his younger brother, Mr Flash (I think he's almost certainly called Harry) - with that twinkle in his eye and the natty blue suit - is reckless and constantly falling into scrapes... financial sometimes, but mainly with unsuitable women, and it's earnest Ernest who has to pick up the pieces.












I absolutely love the look of the Pan Pastels blended over the glorious print block letters from the Secretary Pool set.

You just stamp in Versamark and then work the PPs over the top - it's like magic!












Apart from the Pan Pastels background, I've taken the bubble theme that's built into the main stamp and run with it.  













There's a matching bubble texture stamp on the same plate, so I used that around the edges of the tag, stamped in Potting Soil like the main image.













Then I added some UmWow circle confetti to echo the stamped bubbles, and on some of those I added the same bubbles in Vanilla White embossing powder.














A topping that is full of contrasts, like the brothers themselves: some twine, some silk ribbon (coloured brown, though I see it's gone a little pink by this morning - hidden secrets, anyone?!), and some linen ribbon fraying at the edges - as you feel Ernest must be by now... see how he's barely keeping it together with that gripped lower lip.












Okay, so not that quick a post... but as I say, the brothers have quite a grip on my imagination, and I guess they didn't want to be brushed off quite so lightly!  

It wasn't until I was writing the post that I realised there are no words on this tag - gasp! - apart from COFFEE, and all those alphabet letters.  I think the brothers must speak for themselves.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you'll be able to drop in on Friday evening when there's a really exciting new PaperArtsy release to share!  Hope to see you then...

What strange creatures brothers are!
Jane Austen

Since I return to these Artistic Outpost stamps again and again (and it's not just because I'm on the DT - they inspire me endlessly, especially this Generation Redux set and the Think and Wonder set), I'd like to enter this in the lovely Brenda's Five Year Celebration Candy - with the Generation Redux stamps as one of my favourite craft materials.  I can also see that Pan Pastels are going to become a new favourite!!  You'll find all the details of Brenda's candy challenge here.

52 comments:

Amanda said...

Great background with the PP's and those little circles to coordinate with the bubbles lovely touch makes for a great tag.
Love
Amanda x

Helen said...

Another gorgeous tag, love the blue/brown combi. A real winner.

Clare Lloyd said...

Love the colours.x

brenda said...

The "Coffee Guys" looks great on your tag Alison.

B x

Deborah said...

So inventive, from the backstory to the 'brothers' to all the great techniques. The Pan Pastels over the block letters are ace.

chrissie said...

Wonderful story you have woven around the brothers and a great tag with the pan pastels.


'What strange creatures brothers are!
Jane Austen'

Mine certainly is !

Have a good day

Love Chrissie x

froebelsternchen said...

I adore this romantic look with the industrial look... fabulous!

Redanne said...

A fabulous tag and I love the story you tell too. Anne xx

Julie Lee said...

I love the colour combo on this and the way the brothers come to life through your art! The background using PP is fabulous! You always respond to images and use technique with such imagination and such panache, Alison. The bubble theme is superbly incorporated! And the use of corrugated card - well, it just has the 'wow' factor! Then - as always - those perfect finishing touches! Great work Alison! Julie Ann xxx

Meggymay said...

A fantastic tag, love the story you wove around these two handsome chaps.
Yvonne

Edie Edie said...

Wow, I love your card. I love, love, love the story you woven around the brothers. The bubbles that make a subtle background and the circles are perfect. You are quite the story teller and a great artist. Thanks for sharing.

May said...

Gorgeous tag Alison... Love the story, the background is fabulous the image & circles are just great... Love it... Hugs May x x

Juliz Design Post said...

Wonderful tag and textures. Loved your story.

Julie x

Mrs.B said...

A lovely tag Alison and a very entertaining story too.
Avril xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

A fabulous tag and story Alison! and the background is just amazing. Another product on my wish list! x

Marci said...

Love the colors, great balance in your tag.I t doesn't seem to need words. The story was great. I guess now I will have to look up Pan Pastels, do not know what they are. Did you color the younger brother with distress marker? Oh, and love the circles, stamped and wooden. Great tag.

rachel said...

this looks fab and a great use ofd the pan pastels too xx

Candy C said...

Your tag is awesome, Alison. Love the blue and brown together. Your dapper gentleman stamped in the brown tones look quite dashing. Love your story behind them. All of your little circles and bubbles really make for nice embellishments.

Ellie Knol said...

LOVELY project, your use of the PP is gorgeous!

Geraldine said...

Wonderful tag Alison, the colours are fantastic and the use of the corrugated card is a great base. Love the story of the brothers too, your love of literature and craft shines in every post.

maj. said...

This is so beautiful tag, Alison. What a great background, such a nice colors!!!

Paper Profusion said...

Terrific tag and tale Alison! You are on top form with this. Gorgeously done and told. Nicola x

craftytrog said...

Beautiful blues & browns! I love those 'Coffee Guys', & the bubbles!
Alison xxx

cathylynn said...

I love your imagination and your story! Of course these brothers speak for themselves on this fantastic tag! Love those pan pastels too!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

maria's knutselplezier said...

Love your beautiful tag , dear Alison, love your background, such lovely soft colours and I love all the special effects!!Great desigh!!!

Greetings
Maria

sam21ski said...

WOW I love this tag, fantastic, superb colour combo xxx

Netty said...

Terrific tag Alison and am so loving that shade of blue.........wow.
Annette x

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

Anonymous said...

I love the back stories you give your projects! This is a gorgeous tag, the embellishments look great.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

So fantastic, it's a wonderful tag - great color combination.

massofhair said...

Am so pleased you love the Pan Pastels, they are wonderful. Hope you got some of the metallics too!

An exquisite Tag & stamp, the brothers lend themselves to your style & storytelling. Fantastic color palette & use of circles :-) xxx

Cocofolies said...

Gorgeous tag, I just love it Alison as it is really perfect!!! Love all these circles of various sizes and the bubble stamp, great addition! Hugs, Coco xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

Great use of those PPs Alison.

I have always thought you could be a novelist.... to my own surprise my sympathies are with Ernest on this one, I think it's that blue suit that puts me off Harry.... hmmmm strange that as he is much more my kind of guy really.
Anyway, enough waffle, a great tag! And looking forward to Friday of course!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Awesome use of the corrugated! Love the dots and circles...so clever, and it adds so much!

Brenda Brown said...

A beautiful design and fabulous background with the PPs (haven't used mine for months). Love the bubble theme going on here too. Happy Valentines Day xx

Cestina said...

Are you working your way through the family? Grandfather here, Grandmother two posts back....who is to be next I wonder?

I too love the back-stories :-)
xx

Mona Pendleton said...

Fabulous corrugated tag Alison paired with such an awesome vintage image!

Dianne said...

Wow Miss Butterfly, it's been like visiting the library and art gallery at the same time, all that in one of your fabulous tags. The colors are gorgeous, looooove all the bubbles, they look brilliant on the metal pieces,Looove the corrugated frame too, this was a fabulous post and your post are NEVER to long for me and no words, yes, the whole tag speaks for itself, this made my valentine day special, art is the love of my life :O) thanks Miss Butterfly, hope you have a wonderful one too ((( Big Hugs ))).

sara j said...

Oh Alison, I absolutely love the story of Earnest and Flash...just wonderful. I have thus far escaped the lure of pan pastels, sadly this post is just another little nail in the coffin of resolution. Another beautiful creation. Happy Heart Day!

Jools Robertson said...

Fab tag! Love the tale about the two coffee chaps!
Think your bang on with charactures, love the coffee colours with the blues and the embellishments are cool too!

Jools x

Anonymous said...

I am a sucker for any tale especially when combined with visual art.
I'd have to totally agreement with you on the assessment of the brothers!
Great tag.
Wishes
Lynne

Princess Judy Palmer said...

You have a very rich imagination. Rich, like the coffee Earnest and his brother sell.

A bit of pink... a family secret perhaps? Hmmm....?!

Much awesomeness!

brenda said...

Me again Alison, just wishing to thanks you so much for linking your Coffee Guys up to my blog celebrations.

I am also so pleased that Pan Pastels are becoming a favourite medium for you, as you know I am totally hooked on them.

Have a good weekend.

B x

Sue said...

Another brilliant tag Alison, I love your PP background, I'm afraid you'll be hooked now, you should try the metallics lol you'll be like me and working until you're 90! Have a great weekend xx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Love it...the colours, the shapes, the stamps...great tag in total Alison. Your artwork always is so special!

Mary Elizabeth said...

Ok ... love the story of the brothers:) I also must admit that I am green with envy over the pan pastels. I've been pining over them for the last year. Eventually I will break down and get some. Gorgeous background and I the repeated bubble effect over the entire piece is perfect. Having three brothers, I laughed out loud at the Jane Austen quote. Fun post Alison! -- Mary Elizabeth

Kathi said...

Great tag!

I love the images and adore the color combination you used as well as all the wonderful textural elements you added.

I've been resisting the lure of Pan-Pastels. After seeing this and your Lynn Perella creations, my resistance is weakening.

Hettie said...

Gorgeous Alison. Love the story too. I have resisted pan pastels up til now so don't make me spend more pennies!
Hugs
xx

Sandy said...

I think you have a rich and complicated life! You make me laugh and you say I'm funny!!!! All those circles are cool - those brothers look somewhat like trouble to me. Maybe you should have put a little message at the bottom saying "Beware - Trouble Brewing"
Sandy xx

hazel said...

A wonderful tag Alison.
xxx Hazel.

Jenny Marples said...

Thanks for reminding me about that print block background. Really must 'invest' especially after see the way you've used so beautifully here. Thank you for continuing to give my mojo a kick. Jenny x

Kezzy said...

Oh wow wow wow truly awesome tag. I love the coffee lads story and I'm sure that scenario is out there somewhere lol. Oh I'm so loving the pan pastels, I have quite a few I have been collecting over the past year, but not used them yet, I think I'm a bit scared lol. Kezzy :-) xxx

Margaret said...

What a wonderful story your tag tells about the very different brothers! I thought it quite fitting that you used an Austen quote since the story seemed to fit her writing style!