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Friday 29 September 2017

Winter Light

Hello all!  It's Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey... that extra Friday in the challenge month where the Creative Guides get to take a tag out for a spin and see where they end up.  I've found myself at a rather wintry destination, partly because I've been so embedded in my new quote stamp sets, and EAB05 The Winter Edition grabbed my mojo with these words.


Yes, there's a chill wintry air blowing across these tags, and that magical winter light which lays bare the bones of the natural world so that they can shine with their own particular beauty.






To be honest, I'm not really certain exactly what went on here.  I'm pretty sure that's some gesso, or it could be white acrylic, scraped on to the tags with a palette knife.  And I think it's Weathered Wood Distress Spray dribbled on from the sides, though it does look very dark.









There are layers of stamping - the Gothic book text background stamp by Wendy Vecchi, one of Seth's fabulous new large word stamps from Impression Obsession, and the glorious grasses are by Penny Black (a lucky Ebay win).

And I'm pretty sure everything is stamped in either Watering Can Archival or Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.











Last but not least, I blended on some Weathered Wood Distress Ink, so you have that lovely icy tint in the air, and I decided the pair of tags needed to live the other way around for a more balanced look.













There's plenty of spatter, both Weathered Wood Spray, flicked from the end of the inner tube, and white paint, spattered with my preferred spattering paintbrush.













And that's really almost the full picture... apart from the words of course.

They're almost all about magical winter light, so the choice of large word from Seth's set was pretty easy!













These are words by L.M. Montgomery, but from The Blue Castle rather than the much better known Anne of Green Gables books.













I love that you could use any one of these phrases by itself, or put them together in any order you like.














I've kept things very loose and informal here.
















They're stamped in Watering Can Archival, and I used a grey pen to add the doodled frames.














Then I played with the arrangement of the phrases until I was happy with how they carried my eye across the tags.














I used the grey pen to add some subtle frames around the tag edges (you can probably tell that I was still slightly under the influence of my Singing Zinskis!).






And I finished things off very simply with some cheesecloth and rustic twine for the toppings.














You can probably guess that the phrase about the moonlight on the birches will get to come out and play soon with the beautiful Tim Holtz birch stencil, which is one of my favourites to use.















And I'm looking forward to experimenting with creating some icy ferns too - maybe on a dollshouse window or two - we'll see how that goes!













For now, I'll wish you a happy Tag Friday (do hop over to A Vintage Journey and see the tag trips my fabulous team-mates have been on) and a wonderful weekend.

Can you believe October is almost upon us?  Happy autumnal crafting all!



Nothing can match the crystal clear silence of a winter morning or the sea smoke rising off a bay in soft tendrils. There is a special quality, not only to the scenery, but also to the quieter pace of life. Winter's peace is incomparable.
From Maine's DownEast & Acadia Regional Tourism information - they've snagged a decent writer there!

With lots of layered stamping, and some of them being inked for the first time, I'd like to share this at Frilly and Funkie where the theme is Show Us Your Stamps

37 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

Your tags are fabulous and so inspiring - love that you are well on your way with the winter tags. Can't wait to see what else you are up to. Hugs, S@ndy

My name is Erika. said...

I love these tags Allison. They feel like a beautiful and cold winter morning. Hugs-erika

Helen said...

these tags are so gorgeous! I love the soft blues, and you are right that stencil is wonderful.. Might have to go and look that out! Happy crafting.

Lucy said...

I just love these colors. They are so peacefully wintry. Beautiful.

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous tags, love the soft colours. Hugs, Vaerie

Monika Gulyas said...

Stunning, both!!! I love the grass stamping on the dribbled Weathered Wood ink!!! Fabulous winter colours and texts!!! Big hugs

Redanne said...

Beautifully cool and icy colours and those beautiful bare stem/grasses blowing in the wintry air....the colour tones are so perfect and of course your stamped words are wonderful on top! I am totally in love with your winter stamps! Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous winter tags, the background colours remind me of a winters morning, all crisp and clear. Your word quotes are fantastic.
Yvonne xx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Beautiful tags Alison, really evocative of a frosty winters day......guess who has given into temptation and is now getting that very stamp set of yours.......
Hugs
Donna xx

Jackie PN said...

Alison!
Gorgeous, Gorgeous and GORGEOUS!!!!
Even though these tags speak of a season I am not ready for, they are truly pulling me in with their beauty and warmth, yes, I said warmth. I don't know why, but they speak of warmth to me, maybe because ofa cozy fire on wintry, blustery days?
Whatever,the reason, I just know I absolutely love these tags, as I love all of your artwork! heehee
Have a beautiful weekend,my friend,
Jackie xo

2amscrapper said...

This is soooo beautiful!

craftytrog said...

Absolutely stunning Alison!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Alison xx

Dortesjs said...

awww totally in love. love love

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous tags Alison, I love love the frosty colours and how the colour runs from the side. The meadow style stamping is the perfect image to accompany those frosty colours. Have a lovely weekend. Tracy x

Corrie Herriman said...

Love those cool blues and greys ! How genius to swap them around ! fantastic end result !
Corrie xxx

maj. said...

So beautiful and delicate!!!

rachel said...

these are really yummy alison and its so nice to see your winter words - resisted them so far but I suspect it won't be for long!!!! Big hugs lovely lady xx

suzyb said...

These tags are pretty and chilly. I love them Alison, but then I love all your stuff! I am so loving these oxide inks and what they can do. I enjoy working with all the distress inks but the oxides are my favourite. Your colour choices are my colour choices. Love the words too. Thanks for sharing!!

Margik said...

Really beautiful tags, Alison! Love the delicate design.
Your quotes are fabulous!
Mar xx

simo said...

Oh my Alison...so delicate and beautiful!! Love it...huge Hugs! Simona

Kate Yetter said...

Loving the delicate and cool tones to your background! So lovely Alison!

Astrid Maclean said...

Beautiful wintry tags Alison, specially love the use of that wonderful PB stamp, gorgeous subtle colour tones!

Kirsten said...

Gorgeous wintry tags!

Dorthe said...

They are gorgeous, and makes me shiver, only by watching them, Alison. You captured winter and cold so beautifully , and I love how you used your stamps !!
Dorthe, xx

Lys said...

You could be the only one who can make me love winter... seen like this, it's a pure delight! I love the subtle layers of stamps, and the colours are just soothing.

A Pink said...

These are so beautiful, Alison. The lovely tones of blue, grey and white emit a wonderful wintry chill whilst the foliage stamping gives a subtle sense of movement. Your chosen phrases bring everything to life.
x

Mia said...

Beautiful tags, Alison. I love the blue-grey colours!

sarascloset said...

Alison, you've really captured the beauty of a cold frosty morning here on your lovely tags! I loved reading how these came together, and I've always loved your weedy images. Once again, your phrases mingle brilliantly with your 'pictures'. Hugs!

Fliss said...

Gorgeous frosty effects on these and fabulous layered texture too. Love them!
Fliss xx

Hazel Agnew said...

Alison, I am in awe of your talent. I feel sure that if you chucked your "chosen ingredients" up in the air, you would produce something magical! Love these tags, feeling inspired once again! Xx

Sue said...

Brr you can feel the chill in the air with these! The way you effortlessly create light and shade is amazing! xx

Annie said...

Love the colours and the stunning stamps and splatters Alison. Your beautiful quote stamps are the perfect additions. You haven't used it here but I do love your bleak mid winter quote, which is a favourite of mine for many reasons.

TFS and huge hugs
Annie xx

Nikki Acton said...

Wonderful tones, layers of paint and stamping create so much depth on a project with a limited palette! Superb! xxx

SewPaperPaint said...

I love this mirrored effect on the two tags and the beautiful earthy blue palette. Love the way you added these soft, whispy toppers. Hugs, Autumn

Ruth said...

Wow, the gesso and weathered wood...isn't it wonderful when something just happens and is perfection....beautifully further embellished and adore the result! Ruth xx

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

The details here are exquisite, Alison! I love the color palette...so perfectly wintry. All those gorgeous layers of stamping and mixed media give the tags such an artsy feel. Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Frilly and Funkie "Show Us Your Stamps" challenge!

Jenny Marples said...

Beautiful subtle stamping and colours which allow the words to sing Alison. Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie xx