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 3 March 2015

In the Undergrowth (Again!)

Hi all!  First off, apologies for being so sluggish on the visiting again at the moment.  Busy work schedules plus crafty deadlines plus a stinking cold mean I haven't been able to keep up the momentum as I'd like ... it's just all a bit much right now.  But I'm missing my Craftyblogland fix!

I'm falling behind here too.  As well as trying to catch up on my Lynne Perrella samples (catch the stained glass here), I've realised I also have a massive backlog of projects which made their debuts elsewhere and which I've yet to publish here on Words and Pictures, to keep my crafty scrapbook up to date.  Since for the first time in forever I've got a quiet start to the month here, I thought I'd take the opportunity to post an Artistic Stamper project from January 2014.  If you saw it then, please don't feel you have to comment again - it's just so that I can (eventually) get everything under one roof, so to speak.

This is a folded tag which I made as my mother's (Cestina of Cestina's Dollshouses) birthday card last January (these people with birthdays so close to Christmas...).


As I correctly guessed at the time, her complaint was that there were no fungi amidst the undergrowth, but I think she liked it, nonetheless.  The folded wallet structure comes from Linda Coughlin's brilliant tags offered up as bonuses in her 2013 Funkie Junkie 12 Tags competition.  I loved making my version so much that I've added it to the repertoire!




I started with some wrinkle-free distress technique on a large tag - colours, I think, were Evergreen Bough, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint, inks and stains combined.

I also added a couple of spritzes of Perfect Pearls Blue Patina to the craft mat, so there are lovely touches of shimmer.









I gave the edges a good inking with Walnut Stain - I never tire of how this gives such depth to the colours and draws the eye inwards.

There are a couple of flower stamps on the outside cover: the little one is from Botanical Plate 1, and the larger head is from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica set...










... as is the little butterfly on the flap.  All the stamping is done in Archival Potting Soil.












I added some Idea-ology Foliage, positioning them so that the petals of the lower flower actually form the closure to tuck the tag behind (very pleased with this little brainwave - and it works beautifully!).


And then lots of painty splatter - one of my favourite things to do at the moment.
















Once you open it up, you're heading into the undergrowth (seems I like it in the undergrowth!)...

The layered background started with mopping up the leftover inks from the front cover's wrinkle-free distress - so you get a paler version of the same shades.


















Here you get the full version of Katy's large flower...
















There's a little bug on the inside of the flap... bugs like to hide under things, I find, don't you?!











There's some stencilling: Evergreen Bough through the Artistic Stamper Splats and Swirls mask, and Broken China and Walnut Stain through the Tim Holtz Bubbles stencil.













Then I got going with one of the Tim Holtz flourishes to add some detail into the layers.














The gorgeous wording comes from the fairly new Grungy Greetings plate - what a font! - and it's stamped (Potting Soil still) onto kraft card, and layered over an inked book page (and I promise I didn't notice the words surrounding it until I was taking the photos...)







Closed up again, you get a full version of the flourish on the back, and a little butterfly stamp (from Unity) that, with my monogram, seems to be becoming my "signature".







Thanks for stopping by today and for putting up with this catch-up post.  I'll be trying to feed a few more of them in here and there so that I can keep my virtual scrapbook up to date.  We'll see how that goes!!  Happy Crafting all!

The dream was always running ahead of me.  To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.
Anaïs Nin

37 comments:

Helen said...

It's always a pleasure seeing a post from you, no matter when you made the project!! love the idea-ology closing on the flap, that is as you say inspired! Hope your cold goes soon.

Anke said...

WOW wonderful work, I love the flowers and the colors. So beautiful !!!

Hugs
Anke

massofhair said...

Hope your cold disappears very soon Alison!

Gorgeous card for your Mum, so many lovely little touches, the bug for example and i really love the Splats mask from TAS it is one of my favourites and go to stencils.

Glad you took us into the undergrowth, it's a lovely place to be:-) xxx

brenda said...

Lovely fresh spring colours Alison. You are in the fashion, but hope it soon clears up.

Bx

Astrid Maclean said...

I have to confess, I had quite forgotten tis, - it's lovely and no doubt was much appreciated!

Hope your cold gets better soon! xx

chrissie said...

Sorry your time is running away too quickly Alison but please don't think you have to visit my blog--I know you are there and love to see what you make.

Great idea for the birthday card and I am sure Cestina was thrilled with it too.

An apt quote for your words today.

Stay Happy

Love Chrissie xx

Rupa Swaminathan said...

You have a way with backgrounds, Alison and this "under growth" is no exception! I loved the colors here and how you you built up on the bg. Always a pleasure to be here. Hugs,.

Redanne said...

A truly beautiful piece of work, I love that font too, it is wonderful. I enjoyed my trip through the undergrowth... Hope that nasty cold goes away soon. Take care! Anne xx

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Alison! I really love those flower stamps, adding those to my wish list! I love how your background turned out, I think the spritz of blue was a fabulous touch! Perfect 'undergrowth' design! hugs :)

Jackie PN said...

Just beautiful Alison!! I always love the way your pieces come together- your color palette and design- always so lovely! Don't fret about not getting around- I know the feeling- my husband was down two weeks and now I have the stinkin bug again myself- I am blaming this long pent up winter! Argh! Fell better and visit when you can! xoxo

Mrs.B said...

Gorgeous card Alison, the stamping looks wonderful on that background colour.
Hope you're soon feeling wel.
Avril xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Gorgeous little match card! LOVE the color, the splotches, and the inside!

Dorthe said...

Your background is stunning Alison, with the wonderful flourishes stamp, and flowers, - and I love your little bug hiding away , seeking the dark corners .
I hope you will soon be on your feet again, and wishes you to feel better !!
Hugs,Dorthe

Cocofolies said...

A fabulous version that I wouldn't miss for the world!!!... I absolutely love these stamps, they are so beautiful stamped in this way and combined to all the greens shades and shimmer you put on your tag-pocket. Gorgeous work Alison!! Hugs, Coco xxx

froebelsternchen said...

Get well soon, we had the same for nearly three weeks here in the house(the whole family)... take care and stay in bed!
This is an AMAZING , fantastic project Alison.... Absolutely GORGEOUS!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous idea!! Such a beautiful tag, love the greens, always so calming and the beautiful embellishments on the front... gorgeous xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful, Alison. A birthday card made our of a tag is a great idea which I might have to 'borrow' some time.
Corrie x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Such a gorgeous make Alison!
greetings, Alie :-)

Meggymay said...

A beautiful folding wallet, the colours are beautiful and the splatters look lovely.
Yvonne xx

rachel said...

such a beautiful tag card Alison - really gorgeous - wonderful colours and a great use of Katy's stamps! Big hugs rachel x

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Alison
I completely understand as I am also spending less time in blogland and it can be a struggle maintaining my own blog, so please know that I relate.
This is beautiful. I love the idea of the flower doubling up as a form of closure for the tag card.
Wishes
Lynne

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is beautiful Alison! As long as you keep showing your lovely art I will be happy! I bet your Mum loved this! Hope you'll better soon, hugs, Chrisx

jasann said...

This is a beautiful piece, thanks for sharing!!!

Inkypinkycraft said...

this is really pretty , hope things calm down a little soon x hugs x

Kirsten said...

That is so beautiful - inside & out. Hope you're feeling better.

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow such a gorgeous tag envelope, I really do love the distress with the water droplets and white splats, they do looks awesome together. I hope your hectic life calms down soon, and that your cold gets better. I ended up at the docs today after starting a cold at the beginning of February but after 4 weeks I still had no voice. He said I shouldn't have left it so late as I had a serious throat infection that had spread to my sinuses and started on my chest. So be warned, if after the normal two weeks your still not feeling well, go to the docs, not like me waiting 4 weeks lol. Lots of warmful and healing hugs. Happy Art :-) Kezzy xxx

Hettie said...

This is beautiful Alison. I have made a few of these (great to tuck gift cards inside) but they have not been as wonderful as yours.
Hugs
xx

craftytrog said...

This is beautiful Alison! xx

Paper Profusion said...

It is beautiful Alison, always love to see your gorgeous work, repeat viewings are welcome. Hope you are well on the mend soon, Nicola x

Sandy said...

So pretty Alison! Sorry you are not feeling well and hope you are better. Alison, you get more done in a year than I do a year!!!
Sandy xx

Sandy said...

I think I said that wrong - you get more done in a MONTH than I do a year!!

Fliss said...

A tad tardy to say how beautiful this is Alison and somewhat sluggish with my visiting too as I'm so busy at the moment I hardly get any time to myself.
So sorry to hear you're not well and hope the nasty cold goes soon.
Fliss xx

Deb said...

Gorgeous Alison, love your colour palette and all your layered stamping. Hope you are feeling better very soon and can't wait for more of your update posts to see what other treasures you've created!

Unknown said...

This is beautiful, Alison! I like it in the undergrowth, too :) It's much more shady there, although I can do without the little creepy crawlers! Oh, just got sight of your beetle there--oh, goose bumps!! :) Completely love your tranquil color palette--I swear I can see a soft patch of scotch moss to lay upon right now looking at this folded tag card!! Happy Birthday to your Mom, Cestina!! XOXO-Shari

Kasia said...

What a beautiful creation, Alison! Love the colors :) Hugs!

Julie Lee said...

I loved these folded tags: there is something so special about them! I remember having a go at them inspired by Linda and seeing this I feel inspired to make some more. The colours you have used are so beautiful and I love the stamping in Potting Soil and the lovely embellishments. This must have been such a beautiful birthday card for your mother. My husband has a birthday ten days before Christmas Day - just when preparations are beginning to hot up, so I know how hard it can be to create something at this time! I do hope you feel better soon. I've had a migraine for a couple of days and that has set me back with visiting too. xx.

Mary Elizabeth said...

Thanks for posting this here. I didn't catch it over at AS. So your mom like fungi? I have no doubt she loved this birthday card even without the fungi. I had so much fun sifting through the underbrush. Love all the layered stenciling. I didn't even see the flourish stamping (even though its one of my all-time favorite stamps) until later. Great way to create the background base by mopping up ink from the "front". Such a simple thing to do, but I often don't think of those simple things. ME