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 3 September 2015

Cracklin' Chap(lin)

Hello all!  I'm back to share some more details of my Crackle Tag at Tag Along where I'm the guest host this fortnight, challenging you to a theme of Crackle.  I hope this will also serve as a nudge to any of you who had planned to play along…


This is the half way mark, so you've still got a week.  All you need to do is create a tag with any kind of crackle - stamped, pasted, painted - and leave a comment with a link to your tag here at Tag Along.  It would be lovely to see you there.  For now, here's how I came up with my Cracklin' Chap or Chaplin (yes, Julie Ann, it's definitely Charlie!).




I used Andy Skinner's fabulous Old Film stencil and applied DecoArt Crackle Paste on to the whole tag through it.  Once that had dried and crackled, I applied various layers of Antiquing Cream - putting it on, allowing it to dry, and then wiping back with a damp cloth.








I liked the depth this gave it, but I decided I wanted something a bit brighter, so I started adding DecoArt Media Acrylics in blues, greens and turquoises until I had a look which made me happy!












Given that crackle is the theme, I really didn't want to cover it up too much.  I found a Photobooth photo with a suitably 1920s dapper chap - someone who might well have been a minor matinee idol working in the shadow of the great comedian…














… he's only a small star in the Hollywood firmament!












There's a little bit of ephemera layered around him, including my beloved book pages.

The word "explore" is cut from the same paper as I've used snippets from in the collaging.










And then in the opposite corner the crackled butterfly (he's a Calico Craft Part) warns of the short career span of most silent film stars in the 1920s.  With sound just around the corner, many of them wouldn't survive the transition, so they needed to flutter as brightly as they could while they were still loved.












My current favourite topping is back in action (in fact this is becoming a bit of a "set", colours and style-wise).












And nothing could get in the way of Chaplin's legacy, especially with crackle like that!

I hope you like the tag, and I really hope you'll be able to come and play along with me at Tag Along.  You have until Wednesday 9th September.







Thanks so much for stopping by.  I've just got one of those stupid summer colds (summer, what summer? I hear you cry), so that's slightly cramping my style, and I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself if truth be told!

But it always cheers me up to hear from you, and to spend some time wandering around Craftyblogland seeing what you're up to... so that's my plan for the next few days, all being well.  Happy crafting all!

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

We think too much and feel too little.

Failure is unimportant.  It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.
All quotes by Charlie Chaplin

30 comments:

Helen said...

it's a fantastic tag, Alison!

chrissie said...

Wonderful tag Alison with terrific crackling. Charlie looks very different without his usual guise.

Lots of wise words today.

Love Chrissie xx

sally said...

A delight to see & especially to read the story behind the man! Hope the cold surrenders soon, I usually take Vit C and find it helps - also started taking a honey & cinamon mix last winter to keep snuffles at bay....I'll see if I can find the recipe!

Sally

Lucy Edmondson said...

This iß fab, Alison, I love that crackled stencil and all the embellishments you have added. Perfick. Julie Ann and I are still fantasising about the men in your life; one each so we are quite happy!

Lucy x

hazel said...

An amazing tag Alison - love the stencil and the crackle's fabulous.
xxx Hazel.

Candy C said...

Gorgeous tag, Slison. I love Andy's stencil and I love what you've done with it. The crackle paste and colors are fantastic! The square cut out and the vintage photograph complete the tag so beautifully.,Love it!

Hazel Agnew said...

Love the quotes Alison! Think that your fabulous tag will prompt me to persevere with the old crackle! As always your work is soooooo inspiring! Hope that you feel better soon! Xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Another crackly beauty!!! LOVE the color and patterned design!

Gio said...

Maybe he's only a small star, but YOU are a great star in the creative world! Wow!

Sandy said...

Good morning - good morning - it's great to see what you do and how to do it in the morning!! Good morning to you!
Sandy xx

Lys said...

I hope you feel better soon, Alison. This tag is just perfect with its crackles and what a joy to discover Chaplin's silhouettes I didn't notice first!

Shirley said...

Love the tag Alison and the step by step. I especially like the way you have put the single word of 'explore' in white it really draws you eye and makes everything pop.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Evelyn Walter said...

Oh, dear Alison, sad to hear from your disease! Here, some tea for you and a little caress ;).
Your tag is beautiful! I always love crackle very much and you did it in a perfect way again. The colours are beautiful and the stencil looks so great (I received today the same one and I look forward to use it soon!)
Get well soon, dear!
xxx Evelyn

Lisa Minckler said...

As you telling what you used, I'm grabbing it from my shelves. I absolutely love this tag and Chaplin. It's gorgeous and has inspired me to get messy. Sorry you don't feel well. I'm just getting over mine now. It loves to linger, but I keep telling it, 'we're not buddies." Feel better soon!
hugs,
Lisa x

Chrissy said...

Wonderful tag Alison and totally wonderful CRACKLE..love the colours and details..awesome. I'm feeling sorry for myself too after my tumble and now I have such a stinking cold and my nose is too sore to wipe or blow..lol..

luv CHRISSYxx

Willy said...

Beautiful!!

Meggymay said...

Fabulous crackling and details for your background and a super found photo of Chaplin.
Yvonne xx

SewPaperPaint said...

This background is just fabulous! I love all of the elements you've used, fantastic work!

Connie Mercer said...

awesome tags !!!

Lynne Moncrieff said...

He looks to be right at home on your fabulous tag.
Alison, I wonder if that is Prima wire, it looks like it could be - I say this because I have some myself, not in every colour, I am not that naughty!
Wishes
Lynne

Words and Pictures said...

Yes, it's the Prima wired thread - marvellous stuff. I've only got it in the ivory though... don't make me go and look for more! xx

Mrs.B said...

The crackle background looks fabulous, and a great stencil to use for this would be movie star.
Avril xx

Vintagehandmade said...

Oh, Alison, that crackled background looks so yummy! Love all the details, colours and that Andy's stencil! Fantastic work! Branka x

Deb said...

I hadn't even noticed that Charlie was on there Alison, what a great stencil! Hope you are feeling better very soon, sending you some virtual chicken soup! Deb xo

pearshapedcrafting said...

I did wonder how you got those Charlies! Hope you are feeling better by now! Chrisx

Kirsten said...

Stunning tag!

Sue said...

Brilliant Alison, I really like this one. The crackle and colours are stunning! xx

Jackie PN said...

So very cool crackling! And such a catchy title! heehee Love your tag! xoxo

craftytrog said...

That's a crackin' tag Alison! ;-) xx

Marjie Kemper said...

I do believe this is my favorite of this tag yet... it's wonderful!