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...

Friday 3 August 2018

Irresistible Insects

Hello all!  After the July lull, it's a busy start to August here at Words and Pictures.  Do check out my Celebration of Friendship, if you missed it, particularly if you're in the mood for something pretty and summery.

But now things are taking a turn for the grungy here, with my pair of tags for this month's brand new challenge at A Vintage Journey.  Our host is the lovely Amanda, and she wants to know How Can You Resist?!  Obviously, we're looking for as many different resist techniques as you can come up with.  As ever, my fellow Creative Guides have been busily creating fabulous things to inspire you, but here's my offering before you hop off to check them out.


I used a gesso resist to create the background for these grungy tags, and simply had to ink up some of the fabulous insects from Tim's recent Entomology stamp set.  They've been waiting to see some action, and I couldn't resist any longer!





It's really all very simple... I used an old credit card to scrape some heavy gesso onto a couple of tags quite roughly - no particular design or plan at this stage... just get it on there.

(Sorry about the shadows - the recent sunny weather doesn't help at the craft table, mojo-wise or photo-wise!)











Then I used Distress Stains to add my first washes of colour - Pumice Stone and Vintage Photo, and maybe a darker brown too, Gathered Twigs or Ground Espresso, I suspect.














Next, it was out with the Broken China Distress Oxide to add another layer.















The gesso doesn't resist the Oxides, so you can break up those white areas with lovely splotches of colour.















I also used the Broken China Oxide to stamp a couple of postmarks here and there.














I still wasn't quite sure what my focal images might be, but you can't go wrong with a postmark or two.














Finally (after faffing around with a couple of die-cuts and some metal accents, and discarding several stamp choices), I worked out that it was the insects I wanted to use.














Not being in the craft room very much leads me to be very indecisive when I do get in there with a deadline to meet...














They're stamped in Jet Black Archival ink.  It's unusual for me to use black for stamping, but they're such good vintage illustrations that I felt the need for a conventional vintage look.














I prefer not to meet most of these in real life (butterflies excepted), but I love them in stamped form!














I stamped some of the tiny vintage script from the same set - this time reverting to my favoured brown ink.













I added some more gesso with the credit card, this time using the edge to make straight lines in various places around the edges of the tags.

I doodled some white pen frames around the edges too...











... and of course there's plenty of spatter, not only in white, but in a mixture of PaperArtsy Mermaid and Bora Bora paints, to tone in with the Broken China Oxide accents.














There had to be some words, naturally (look at the name of the blog!), so I selected some phrases from the Idea-ology Small Talk stickers for each tag.













They're all very apt for my world of creative planning/dreaming at the moment.  There are life changes afoot... and in the midst of a very busy work period, it's useful to remind myself of that.











Some simple twine finishes them off, and there you have it.  I hope you won't be able to resist coming along to join our How Can You Resist? challenge this month at A Vintage Journey.





Check out the inspiration from my wonderful fellow Creative Guides, and we hope to see you somewhere along the road.






Thanks so much for stopping by today.  If all this grunginess doesn't appeal, then remember there's a lovely summer meadow to go and relax in (with fragrant lavender to calm the nerves, no less), and there are no insects in my Celebration of Friendship either, I promise!

I hope you all have a wonderful August.  I'm away from home for work for most of it, but I'm aiming to line up some Encore Posts amongst the occasional new offerings, so hopefully it won't be quite as silent as July was round here.  For now, happy crafting all.


In summer the empire of insects spreads.
Adam Zagajewski




With all these creepy crawly insects hovering around, I'd like to play along at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, where they are looking for Wild Things

34 comments:

My name is Erika. said...

I can't "resist" these buggy tags. They are gorgeous Alison. Hugs-Erika

Julia Aston said...

I love the colors you mixed for your resist background Alison and your black bugs are the perfect images for them along with your small talk stickers! Wonderful splatter and streaks of white!

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful tags, love the great backgrounds. Hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

Fabulous insecty tags! I am hoping to get back to some decent crafting sessions too soon. I've become very lazy in the heat.

Diana Taylor said...

Just wonderful - I love the backgrounds, the touch of green is perfect. I especially love the bugs - I'm a huge fan of bugs and have the stamp set but not used it much yet - I'm now inspired to get cracking with it!
Diana x

Jackie PN said...

Totally fabulous tags!! I just LOVE your layers Alison! Even while your mojo is on vacation- it still works out your art beautifully!
May I ask, how did you apply the distress stain? with the credit card as well?
I do love your choice of "bugs" well done!
hugs,Jackie xo

ann barnes said...

Alison, I always admire your work and these are some amazing grunge tags. The insects were a great choice for the focal! I never really thought about the oxides layering on the gesso and will definitely need to keep this in mind next time I am layering up som gesso resist and inks, the broken China looks awesome! Thanks for sharing. x

froebelsternchen said...

These tags are simply gorgeous dear ALison! Who can resist them?!
Fabulous!
Hugs, Susi

Paper Wishes said...

There is a kind of magic happens when a piece all comes together and a deadline sometimes makes the process of creating self conscious and makes it much more difficult to reach that magic. I'm so impressed at the wonderful projects you have managed while you have been so busy - and so hot! The magic worked in these tags perfectly. love the bugs but apart from butterflies, bees and ladybirds I too prefer then vintage. x Amanda

Annie said...

Your tags are stunning Alison x Love this wonderful background details and the insects look quite happy sitting there among the resist techniques you have incorporated

Have a great weekend and TFS
Annie xx

Fliss said...

Your tags are simply stunning Alison. The resist tecnique gives such a lovely grungy effect and the touches of blue look fabulous with the brown. So much wonderful detail on there.
Fliss xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Isn't gesso such a fabulous medium, we take that little guy so much for granted but it's such a workhorse within our art. I love everything about these grungy backgrounds and subject matter with the words wrapping them both up so nicely.
I think we all day dream of changes and possibilities when life is at it's busiest, we are so lucky you have found time to create and share with us all.
Creative wishes Tracey xx

Dorthe said...

They are so beautiful, Alison- the colors together always doing magic, I love them, too- and the beauty of your stamped insects- they are wonderful.
As always I love the splatters around the tags, and your chosen sentiments -
Thank you for your visit- I know you are awful busy , and am happy when I see you, there.
Dorthe, xx

Lenie said...

You always make such beautiful things Alison. You have words enough but I have no words to tell how much I adore your work. Thanks for sharing. Love, Lenie

Evelyn Walter said...

Oh, so fabulous tags, dear Alison! I love this grungy background and the stamped insects are great (I am with you - I only love them stamped or from the distance).
Have a wonderful weekend!
Evelyn xx

Craftyfield said...

I feel exactly the same, when under tight timescales I can't think clearly and faff a lot. Lots of faffing to come as I need to create for my respective DT before going on holidays.... It all came good for you in the end though... Your tags look perfect!

Amanda said...

Gesso resist at its best, fabulously designed tags. I brilliant touches all over.
Love
Amanda x

Redanne said...

Beautiful layering, wonderful colour tones - I love how the Oxide works on the gesso - and the bugs look amazing! I hope your August is not too busy and that you get some crafty time! Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Wonderful tags and I have to admit that those bug stamps kinda look beautiful, but I would have to look away if I saw some of them in real life. It is a fabulous project.
Yvonne xx

Deb said...

Beautiful as always Alison, adore the Oxide on the gesso and the droplets of Bora Bora and Mermaid complement the Broken China DOX perfectly. I wasn't too sure about those Entomology stamps but now that I've seen your beautiful makes they are a must have! Thanks so much for sharing them, Deb xo

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh those backgrounds!!! Yumminess! LOVE the bugs on them too, so unexpected and so much fun! Wonderful!

Cocofolies said...

Both tags are absolutely gorgeous, Alison. I have looked at this stamp set of insects, so beautifully featured on these creations! A simple but great way to illustrate the 'resist'!
Hugs, Coco xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Stunning tags Alison. The backgrounds are just amazingly wonderful with all those layers over the resist. Your choice of stamps is just perfect too x

craftytrog said...

Really love this pair of tags Alison! Great backgrounds and choice of images!
Alison xx

Nikki Acton said...

So glad the insects have seen some action as these tags are great! The gesso resist for the inks works perfectly and, as always, you have achieved exquisite depth! Nikki xx

A Pink said...

I'm a big fan of the gesso resist technique and you have shown it off superbly . Alison. Love the Dox's on the gesso too. As always your colour palette is gorgeous and the bugs were definitely the right choice. Two totally fabulous tags and a wonderful post . Thanks for joining in the challenge.

Hugs x

Astrid Maclean said...

A fabulous pair of tags Alison, great backgrounds, super use of that stamp set and of course your signature colour palette always appeals....

Kath Stewart said...

stunning tags Alison, love the colour palette and that amazing background sets off those bugs perfectly, thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, hugs kath xxx

Paper Profusion said...

Your tags are superb Alison - I reckon you made all the right choices as you went along - everything works perfectly. I do hope that all the changes that are happening work out exactly as you wish for. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

Sue said...

What gorgeous tags Alison, I love these grungy colours and stamps. Have a very happy week, Sue xx

sally said...

Fabulous backgrounds for these insects to find themselves on! They are on my wish list as are the dies lol.

Sally xx

Kate Yetter said...

Wow! These grungy tags are so beautiful! I love all the rustic touches to the background and those insects. LOVE IT, Alison.
Kate

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous tags Alison, the grungy backgrounds look perfect for your 'bugs'
Avril xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh my! These backgrounds are fabulous on their own! They really have made the perfect home for your bugs and butterflies! Hugs, Chrisx