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 9 September 2014

Luggage Label







Hello all, I'm back with my second offering of the month for Jennie's Nautical theme over at Country View Challenges.

You can find the challenge details and lots of inspiration there.  Do come and play to be in with a chance of winning the prize voucher generously sponsored by Country View Crafts.

I double-checked the definition of Nautical - "of or pertaining to sailors, ships or navigation" - to see what I could find in my stash to fit.

The map notations on my Nautical ATB fit the bill well but, given that shipwrecks and undersides of boats and barnacle-y rocks form part of one of my only phobias, I don't really have much else in the stash that is particularly nautically inclined.












Fortunately, I remembered that I do have the fabulous Tim Holtz ship stamp, part of the Artful Voyage set.

I thought I'd seen a similar image somewhere, and found it amongst the pieces in the Expedition Ephemera Pack.  I realised that these ephemera would be able to come to my rescue, along with some papers from one of the Tim paper stashes... and this layered tag is what I came up with. 










The main background is one that's been sitting around on my desk for months.  (In fact I seem to remember I made it in the Czech Republic, which would make it about April or so!)

Finally the ocean colours and swirls of the Distress Paint marbling seemed to come into their own.  At some point I'd added the alphabet stamping with another plan in mind, but I decided that the swirly font just added to the flow of the water!









The largest extra layer is an additional tag, gently inked and then stamped with the ocean liner and some of the travel documents from the same set.

That's when I started to gather some more ship-oriented ephemera to layer into position.











The photos are cut from an 8x8 sheet in Tim's Menagerie paper stash.











There was another photo from the same page on my recent Missing You Postcard - they're such great travel images.

They've been inked and distressed around the edges - mainly with Vintage Photo, but I think there's a touch of Gathered Twigs in there too.













And the labels, and tags, and globes are all from the Expedition Ephemera Pack, all distressed and inked on the edges too, of course.











I added some thin twine through all the luggage labels.  I like the slightly messy random look of it - adding a bit of life to something which is otherwise a bit flatter than I'm used to dealing with!





I couldn't resist using the same twine to attach one of the fabulous Word Bands.

I've always been a hoarder of travel tickets and mementos.  Somewhere there's a whole boxful of stuff from my trip to Egypt (nearly a decade ago now), still waiting to be formed into a travel journal.  So the word SOUVENIR seemed appropriate.




Once everything was stuck down, I roughed up the edges even more, trying to add a bit more dimension and movement.  I hope you like it - I think it captures something of the age when travel still had a touch of glamour and adventure, rather than the dehumanising drudgery it tends to be these days!


There's more nautical inspiration throughout the month over at Country View Challenges, so do pop over every now and then to take a look.  And we'd love to see what you come up with for the Nautical challenge this month, so come and play along.

I'll try to get around to sharing some of my current travels with you soon, but we're working pretty much flat out, so there's not a lot of spare time, sadly.  I hope to fit in some blog-travelling soon...  Until then, happy crafting all!

We travel, some of us forever, to discover other states, other lives, other souls.
Anaïs Nin

Supplies available at Country View Crafts:
Stampers Anonymous - Artful Voyage and Typography stamp sets
Distress Paints - Evergreen Bough, Chipped Sapphire, Picket Fence
Distress Inks - Stormy Sky, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
Tim Holtz Menagerie Paper Stash 8x8
Idea-ology Ephemera Pack - Expedition
Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
Manila Tags




Also, a quick dollshouse update... you can now finally see inside the "old house in Paris, that's covered in vines" over at Cestina's Dollshouses.



50 comments:

Brenda Brown said...

Wonderful inky and stamped background for those fab layers of ephemera. Great luggage tag Alison and perfect images. Xxx

Helen said...

What a great tag, Alison! love all the nautical flotsam and jetsam (tee hee) you found.

Astrid Maclean said...

Brilliant take on the challenge Alison and very cleverly put together! Love the gorgeous blue background and the collage work looks fantastic!

Hope you had a fab time with Marjie and one of you took some photos!!!

Shirley said...

Another scrumptious tag that takes a life of it's own Alison. Adored scrolling down and seeing all the pics.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Dagmar said...

Oh Alison - what a fantastic Tag with all the great Details!!!! Hugs Dagmar

Deborah said...

What a wonderful collage of vintage pictures - the tag is a great way to display them.

JansArtyJunk said...

A lovely collaged tag of nautical-ness!! love those vintage pics!

Redanne said...

Oh what a fabulous tag Alison, you have reminded me of a trip across the ocean many years ago in one of those magnificent liners..... it was great fun. Love your nautical tag. Anne xx

Anneke said...

Wonderful blue background. This tag is gorgeous.
Love the look of it.The pictures fit so well together to make this tag look as a master piece. Thanks for showing Anneke.

Kath Stewart said...

another fabulous make Alison and now you've got me yearning after a slow cruise across the Atlantic in the company of all my crafting buddies...we can but dream xxx

Artyjen said...

Super set of tags on your tag! ;)
Looks fabby
xoxo Sioux

Evelyn Walter said...

This is a beautiful nautically (is this a word?)tag! I like the main tag´s color and the swirly script stamp on it very much!
I hope you are still having a great time in the big city :)
xxx Evelyn

brenda said...

A lovely inky background for a great collage piece of artwork Alison.

B x

Netty said...

wonderful travel tag, so perfect for your latest adventures. Annette x

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

Marci said...

Lovely tag, the background color is beautiful. Wonderful collage.

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Gorgeous tag,Alison. You do create the most wonderful emphemera laden works of art :)

Big hugs
Donna xxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is wonderful the way you have built this tag with it's many layers of nauticalness!!! I've been struggling a bit with this (not fond of the sea as a way from 'a' to 'b'!) but that's the point of a challenge or it wouldn't be called a challenge, right? This has really been an inspiration Alison - I can see a way forward now! Thank you, Chrisx

massofhair said...

Good to hear from you Alison and it's great to read you are enjoying your work over the pond...

I am not a nautical lover but your Tag is fabulous, loads of layers and great textures on there. Stunning :-) xxx

craftytrog said...

Wonderful tag Alison! xxx

Paper Profusion said...

Fabulous tag Alison - those trips must have been quite the experience. Varying according to one's deck of course! Hope you get more free time soon so that you can explore all the more. Nicola x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Awesome layers! Love how you did this!

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous tag, love all the added layers.
Avril xx

Julia said...

Lots to look at on this tag and the TH ship is one of my favourites. Great work. X

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

An impressive tag Alison...love the nautical theme...great pics and details.
greetings, Alie

Meggymay said...

A wonderful travel tag, so many fantastic details and images. Loved the old photos.
Yvonne

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A fabulous lable. Love all the torn edges.

Ruth said...

What a beautiful background, love the collage you've created. Fab tag! Ruth x

Doreen said...

What a gorgeous tag fab inking.xxx

Gio said...

Amazing as always, Alison. A gorgeous tribute to the land is hosting you right now! I know you're having a great time there, can't wait to read here some lines from you!

Neet said...

First I must say Alison, that I have become very remiss at blog hopping of late. I do miss seeing friends like you too.
Love the tag, lots of fabulous pictures on it but what a shame to cover that beautiful background you made. I would have got that out, looked at it and put it back - it really is a beautiful background - but then what good is it sitting in a drawer? Glad you used it and I love the finished product.
Hugs, Neet xx

Sue said...

Fabulous tag Alison, I love how it all came together. I must admit I hate covering things up - I know it's the right thing to do lol but I still struggle with putting something nice on then covering it up :-) xx

Terry said...

Wonderful nautical themed luggage tag, Alison! The background is a watery delight and perfect for the sailing! Love it!

Dorthe said...

Alison ,I love the collaged work you did, a wonderful way of showing so many pieces-Love the stamp and photoes- and your used twine for attaching -this is wonderful,dear.
Hugs,Dorthe

rkramadh said...

Gorgeous tag, love the colors and composition. You said it "dehumanizing drudgery" is what plane travel is these days. I have a 17 hr flight coming up tomorrow and I hope it's a pleasant one :)

cathylynn said...

Alison you have designed an outstanding nautical tag. Fantastic coloring and a great collection of stamps and Emphemera. All makes for an outstanding project.
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

May said...

Hi Alison, Fabulous travel tag. Love all the wonderful layers & images...Love the background too...You sound as though yo are working flat out don't forget to rest up when you can... Hugs May x x

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Alison, another gorgeous tag, I looooooove the background and how you added all the twine to the luggage labels, that looks fabulous,I love how it all came together. I hope your having a great time and some rest, I'm so excited about the doll house flying by there right now, have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS)))..

Julie Lee said...

Fabulous tag, Alison! I have a phobia of boats generally, so I sympathize. I love what you have done here, really conveying the excitement of travel! It's great inspiration for the current CVC challenge: I left a comment there. Julie Ann xx

hazel said...

A brilliant tag Alison.
xxx Hazel.

Jackie PN said...

I adore the background with the blues and the stamping! beautiful tag indeed Alison! xoxo

Lucy Edmondson said...

Gorgeous, love seeing that blue base layer. How is NY?

Lucy x

froebelsternchen said...

Fab layers of ephemera..AWESOME Art dear Alison as always!
♥♥♥
Susi

toni said...

Hi Alison ! Love your nautical tag! I've had some fun with the expedition ephemera on my cc3 # 10 project. I think it would go very nicely with your tag! Talk about great minds thinking alike ! Hope you are well and enjoying the weekend love Toni x

Martina said...

Wonderful new works which you have designed here, dear Alison! You've been very busy during my absence and one work is more beautiful than the next. I am excited! Hugs MARTINA

Unknown said...

Alison, I'm with you and having a bit of a phobia of shipwrecks and all things razor sharp found in the ocean (I respect the ocean so much, that I stay out of it!) :)
Your tag, safely, shares a nautical adventure! It's lovely with the blue background and all of the fun, vintage-y ephemera that you've layered! Love those pieces of twine, too!! This tag looks like it's travelled the world :) XOXO-Shari

Hettie said...

This is beautiful Alison. I started to look at this earlier in the week and we lost internet again and I have only now remembered.
I do love the luxury cruise liner and wish I was there right now.
Hugs
xx

Cinderella Moments said...

That is a great label. I love that you incorporated old photographs. Very nautical indeed!
hugs♥,
Caroline

Gaby Bee said...

Great tag, Alison! Love every detail, but especially the old photos.

Gaby xo

Anonymous said...

This is a great tag Alison
Wishes
Lynne

Kezzy said...

Wow awesome tag, really love the background and all the oldy worldy ephemera. Wow the school room looks truly amazing. Happy Creating :-) Kezzy xxx