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 12 February 2015

Long Rusted Love




Hello all!  I'm away for a week or so at the moment - hot springs in Budapest, (a flying stopover tonight at home) and then some music-making this weekend, so apologies if I don't make it round to see you for a few days.

But I made my Tim tag last weekend and it seemed appropriate to post it in time for Valentine's Day, even though I'm barely here (and usually do my best to ignore V-Day).

The whole hearts and flowers business of Valentines doesn't get much of a look in here at Words and Pictures, so this a very rusty take on love.

My tag has a couple from long in the past - the shiny smiles in the photo may have worn a little thin over the years...

Or perhaps they've weathered well together, sharing years of experience and adventures and trials, and growing ever closer.  Maybe they're wearing those smiles to this very day.




For all my inertia around V-Day, I had a lovely time playing with Tim's February Tag inspiration - it was one of those occasions where I just woke up knowing where I wanted to go with it, and had to sit straight down and act upon it.  If you want the how-to details, you can't do better than go and see how Tim himself does the job.  I'm just going to share some of my adaptations here...


The idea I woke up with was my variation on the portrait frame.  I don't have the stickers, but regulars will know I love my rusty wire.  I guess my wire-doodle-frame might have been subconsciously influenced by those new doodly Thinlits released at CHA... wherever it came from, I love the result!

(Oh, pish tush - as I was writing this, I've just caught up with the fabulous France Papillon's Journal on Monday from a couple of weeks back - I promise I hadn't seen it when I was making this - I'd like to claim the thinking alike of great minds!)






And I don't have red felt, so I decided to use some of Tim's Eclectic Elements fabric instead.

I stuck it onto some card and then onto some thick cardboard before running it through the BigShot and fraying the edges a little.

Sewing machines and I have a long and troubled history, so my stitching is completely fake sadly.






My bright young things were a happy accident.  I gathered up a handful of ephemera bits and pieces and, as I was sorting through them, it suddenly became clear to me that they were obvious candidates for inclusion.

If you're making a Love tag, then you need a loving couple in the story, don't you?

Looking at them in close-up here, I find myself really hoping that they have a "happy ever after" ahead of them... that these are long treasured memorabilia, merely a little timeworn rather than unloved and forgotten.










I stuck to neutrals with my ephemera, but because I knew I was heading towards a rusty look, I added some Quin Gold to my ephemera patchwork to warm up the images and papers.












I used various alcohol inks to create a rusted look on my WordBand, and then added the paint as in Tim's tutorial.  Of course the ink soaked into the pale paint, but I rather like the resulting weathered look.












I thought it would be quite nice to have a tiny echo of the photo of the couple in my heart charm... glancing across the tag you get to see both.











The heart charm also got a touch of the alcohol inks to tone in with the rest of the tag, and I even used Distress Markers to alter the colour of the 14 badge. Why have red when you can have rust?!












And it's all attached with some more rusty wire.













Improvising again... no arrows, so my other main embellishment is this key, DREAMS, echoing the phrase on the WordBand, and likewise altered with the alcohol inks and Antique Linen Distress Paint.












I used some of the leftover fabric as my topping, cut into strips and frayed for added texture.  I added twine to the frayed fabric and bound it together with a final touch of rusty wire.











I made sure the tiny attachers got a hit of rusty alcohol ink while I was at it, and the whole thing is mounted on some rustic corrugated cardboard.












I had such a lovely time with this one so thank you, Tim, for another brilliant piece of inspiration, and my thanks to all of you for your amazing comments and feedback on my recent PaperArtsy work.  I hope you like this one too.  Happy Crafting, and I'll be round to visit soon.

A sword, a spade, and a thought should never be allowed to rust.
James Stephens

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Lao Tzu

I'd like to enter this as my February Tag in Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2015
And at the Inspiration Journal where Love Is In The Air


54 comments:

Amanda said...

Best take I've seen so far of Tims February tag, love the rusted wire addition. I'm glad you didn't have all the right ingredients!
Love
Amanda x

experiments in paper said...

Wonderful creation, Alison! Your details are fantastic, and I love that key and the word band. Your subdued palette is also most welcome to my eyes. It reveals so many wonderful bits and pieces when looking at the whole piece. And yes, great minds think alike! Your love of rusted wire is well known, as is that of France Papillion - and both of you have given me incredible inspiration. Happy soaking and merry music making - thanks for posting this great take on the February tag! xx Lynn

massofhair said...

Beautiful Tag as always Alison and imho so much better than TH's!

Thanks for the step by step and the words and pictures that inspire all who visit.

Have a fab time away:-) xxx

Ink Art Designs said...

This is so beautiful Alison. So many gentle and thoughtful bits...I especially looove the heart locket.
Dot x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work as always Alison! I especially like the circle of wire behind the heart. LOVE IT! Karen.x

Helen said...

Fabulous work, Alison - hope you had fun at the Hot Springs! Your improvising is always ingenious, and the rusty wire is a great touch - one of your favourites as you say. Hope to see you soon.

Gio said...

Oh everytime I come here i think, one of her best...I know I know, but I really like it! Such a gorgeous worn, vintage look, definitely not the usual Valentine make :-)

froebelsternchen said...

Soooooooooooooooo beautiful Alison! Happy Valentine's Day !

Maggie said...

Fabulous "rusty" take on Tim's Tag love it Alison

MaggieH

chrissie said...

I like the rusty take on love and especially the wire work.

Hot Springs sound a wonderful idea and I hope you come back refreshed.

Love Chrissie

Redanne said...

I love your neutral coloured valentine tag, the Eclectic Element heart is beautiful and using the rusty wire to surround it gives it such a vintage feel. Hope you are making the most of those hot springs! Anne xx

Redanne said...

Forgot to say - thanks so much for joining in with us at Inspiration Journal! Anne xx

Pamellia said...

Holy cow Alison!!! This is the best Tim tag ever! Wow, I am going to be embarrassed to post mine after seeing this, what a breathtaking version of the February tag! Love the echo couple in the charm, genius! You are such an inspiration, Alison! hugs :)

Nan G said...

My kind of Valentine, butterfly. Aged and weathered love...beautiful.

Lys said...

Fantastique! when I saw February Tim's Tag, I wondered how could we escape from red and pink hearts... You did find the way! Thanks alison, maybe now I can give it a try...!

Hettie said...

This is beautiful Alison. I actually prefer it to Sir Tim's but don't tell him that!!
Love that tiny heart charm there.
Hugs
xx

Deborah said...

Rusty Love! I like it :-) Enjoy yourself in Budapest.

Meggymay said...

Fabulous tag, love the vintage, rusty details you added.
Yvonne xx

Lisa Minckler said...

Well I hope your trip is wonderfully eventful and you enjoy yourself immensely. I've loved reading your post today and I still see the repetitive nature of your valentine makes and yet, I find them incredibly captivating. I love your choice of colors or lack of and the rusty bits of wire and metal are incredible. Not using red at all in the traditional sense has made the viewer peer even closer into your creation that allows each person to decipher their own meaning. I think it's beautiful and I'm so glad you shared it, even from far away.
Safe travels back and hugs to you,
Lisa x

Ana K. said...

Again so many beautiful details...rusty wire, charm with couple and fabric heart...adorable!
Hugs

Rita said...

What a wonderful creation Alison. Love it. Hugs Rita xxx

Corrie Herriman said...

It's gorgeous Alison. I have used the same 'picture' of the couple on mine !
Corrie x

Dorthe said...

I hope you are having a wonderful time Alison,-
Your wonderful tag, I fell in love with at first sight,- I love the rusted sepia-look and the heart in frame,- also the happy two, whom belongs so much in this beautiful tag.
Hugs,Dorthe

Unknown said...

Wowcha!!! This is stunning!!! I'm seriously struggling with mine, but boy have you done his tag justice and then some!! Hugs, Georgie xx

Heather said...

Hi Alison - I had just sorted myself from moving house and country and then broke my arm - idiot!!! Two months later I'm just about to start commenting and visiting again!!! A beautiful tag - I love your design with the stunning elements and techniques........your fabric heart mounted on wire is stunning!!!

hugs
Heather xx

Chrissy said...

Superb Alison..I love all the elements and colours and the locket with the photo inside is gorgeous..beautiful tag..safe travels.

luv CHRISSYxx

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Your Valentine must be rusty but it is perfection in my eyes (my heart will always belong to neutrals).
Brimming over with the sweetest of details.
Wishes
Lynne

Ruth said...

Oh, I'm just loving this fabulous, brilliant take on Tim's tag...yes my favourite so far. You've incorporated some of my favourite elements with the fabric and wire and the rustiness, worn, aged paper and spritzing is just perfect. Gorgeous, gorgeous...GORGEOUS work! Hugs Ruth xx

Neet said...

Love your take on hearts and flowers - much more in keeping with what I like than the absolute mush I dream up for myself. Why do I not have your head for a while?
A fab tag - as always
Hugs, Neet xx

Julie Lee said...

Great tag, Alison. I've never been a hearts and flowers person, but I like to see a new slant on old traditions and I really enjoy seeing ways of presenting hearts and Valentine motifs in a new and unexpected way. I love that TH fabric, which looks just perfect on your wonderful rusty tag. I hope you're having a great time and that the music making has been really uplifting and fun. xx

Kirsten said...

Such a beautiful tag, the heart is gorgeous.

Etsuko said...

Stunning tag and beautiful work Alison. Great use of Tim's fabric, love the tag's ages color, nice the rusted wire under the heart and many embellishments, Just amazing! xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh I much prefer your grungy colour scheme for Valentines!! This looks super and I LOVE the way you did your heart!! Really like your ribbon on the top too, - a fabulous take on the original!!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

A very lovable tag Alison...grungy, vintage and yet the love on it still is modern!
Have a nice weekend, Alie!

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful collaging and depth Alison! I do hope you are having a wonderful time and return rested and reinvigorated. Happy Un-named Day! Nicola x

Yvonne said...

Wow..this is beautiful...love the neutral colors! fabulous the way you put it together! Thank you for sharing it with us at Inspiration Emporium!

craftytrog said...

Love the rusty wire & that fabric heart! Great tag Alison xx

Jackie PN said...

Absolutely stunning Alison!! I do believe a new favorite!!
How exciting your travels are- I wait anxiously for photos and words of your journeys- safe travels my friend! xo

Kay Wallace said...

I absolutely love this tag, Alison! So much texture and interest. Applause! Applause!

cathylynn said...

Only you Alison can make rust look so attractive!!! This is one fabulous tag! Another phenomenal creation!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

barbarayaya62 said...

Such a beautiful version of Tim's tag! The neutral tones are so perfect to get a wonderful vintage look to your tag!! Unusual color for Valentine's day but I love it so much!!!! BArbarayaya

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

MOST EXCELLENT take! LOVE!

Nikki Acton said...

Fabulous version - love the vintage, neutral take on Tims tag - the frayed material and the rusty wire. Nikki xx

Unknown said...

LOVE your rusty take on Tim's tag, Alison!! You know how I absolutely adore your rusty bits & pieces!! :) :) XOXO-Shari

Cocofolies said...

Fake stitching or not, this is a fabulous version Alison.... So beautiful with the wonderful heart in fabric and the rust here and there!!!
Hope you have had a great entertaining time this week-end too, that looks great :D Hugs, Coco xx

Margaret said...

Can I just applaud your beautiful journey exposing us to a more authentic version of love?! I don't have anything against Valentines Day, but I never quite understood the significance of buying overpriced flowers, or finding a special someone for one day... Your tag brings to mind something we might find going through Grandma's cedar chest or dresser drawer-a symbol of an everlasting love. The tag is wonderful and I love the precious heart charm with the photo!!!

Anneke said...

This looks gorgeous. Really love it.
Very inspiring. Thanks for showing Anneke.

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is beautiful Alison! You know I love these colours much more than the traditional Valentines colours - glad the shops are selling out of everything that they think is appropriate - he! he! Loving all that rustiness - still got to use my rusting powder - I'm not scared - honest!!! Trying to catch up, Chrisxx

Sue said...

This is beautiful as always Alison, we can't all be pretty young things forever, I think I'm a little rusty round the edges too now lol. You sound to be having a real fun time at the moment, enjoy! xx

Jenny Marples said...

Another fantastic take on a Tim tag and that heart is simply wonderful Jenny x

Heather B. said...

Love the your fabric heart and overall tone of your card. I thought about using sticky back canvas but chose to use a picture of a house as my heart- more symbolic for me. I'm totally in love with the tremendous texture of the edges of your card- awesomely fantastic.

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow so loving your tag, I love again those neutral colours and wow we used the same image lol. I did a journal page and looked through my Mr Holtz paper stash and saw the photo of these two and fell in love. Happy Art :-) Kezzy xxx

Mary Elizabeth said...

This is lovely. Of course I love the circled rusty wire behind the heart. ANd thanks so very very much for the before and after Quin Gold pics you have of the ephemera background. I see the difference. You've mentioned it often and I wasn't really sure what it did. This makes it so obvious. That's a great product to have around! The eclectic elements heart is really much better here than any red felt ever could be. Such a great take on Tim's February tag! -- ME

Annette Reed said...

Just saw this on Instagram. This is favorite! I love these elements.