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Friday 30 November 2018

Silent, soft and slow

Hello all!  Thank you for bearing with me through a few Encore Posts, collecting together my Design Team projects into the fold here at Words and Pictures.  But, as promised, I'm finally here with something new again, because it's Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey, and I've never missed a Tag Friday - so by hook or by crook I had to join in.  And as so often happens around here, whilst aiming for one tag, I ended up with two.


Nothing complicated about these.  They started out with me just having a play with one of the new Oxide colours - one of my favourites, which I've been (im)patiently waiting for, and it finally arrived in this last batch... Chipped Sapphire.






So I did some dipping, smooshing and spritzing using the Chipped Sapphire in Oxide and traditional Distress Ink forms.  And once I was done with the inks, I spattered on some white paint.













Chipped Sapphire must be very pigment-heavy because, as often happens when using it, the paint soaked up some of the inky colour.  The white spatter became a sort of pale Chipped Sapphire too...













Those backgrounds hung around for a while until suddenly I realised I needed a Tag Friday tag, and decided to have a play with my new snowflake Flurry Thinlits dies.  I played around with the positioning for a little while, with a couple of my PaperArtsy EAB05 Winter Edition quotes in play too.









But then thought I'd like somewhere for the snowflakes to land, rather than have them just floating in the sky.  I stamped one of the Tim Holtz tree stamps in embossing ink and used some Wow Bright White to get some nice snowy treelines.













I also spattered some more white paint and added the Bright White powder to the spots and dots.














That gave me a slightly snowier look than the earlier Chipped Sapphire-infected spatter, and I adore the texture of it.












The snowflakes themselves also got a coat of the Wow Bright White.  The plain card was fine, but the embossed texture gives them just a little more interest.














I didn't want to cover up the trees too much, so I ended up with a more formal composition of snowflakes and quotes.














It meant trimming the second quote too, but I'm fine with that.














This really was mainly about the backgrounds for me, and so it's no accident that my favourite part about these tags is the look of the treeline against that snowy night sky.











Do hop over to A Vintage Journey to see what sort of tags my fabulous fellow Creative Guides have been creating.

And we'd love you to join in and share any tags you've made through the month of November.  Just link them up to the Tag Friday Linky, and you might win a spot on our Pinterest board.  





I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, whatever you're up to.  I'll be mostly singing, a Winter Songfeast workshop on Saturday; and then, on Advent Sunday, we sit down by candlelight and write and decorate our Christmas lists... so a festive weekend all round.  I hope it stops raining - we could do with some snow instead for extra atmosphere.

Oh, by the way, I'm not the only one starting to feel the winter chill... there's a family of bears getting wrapped up warm for the winter weather over at Cestina's Dolls Houses at the moment.  You'll get to see the renovations of the house they've moved into, as well as their new winter outfits.  Hop over there for some ursine entertainment.  See you soon, and happy crafting all!

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of world, and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?
J.B. Priestley

33 comments:

My name is Erika. said...

Wow Alison, these tags are gorgeous. We've had a lot of snow lately so they feel like my view...but at least I can enjoy yours from the warmth of my house. :) happy almost weekend. Hugs-Erika

Kate Yetter said...

A beautiful, wintry set of tags. I love the elegance of the blue and white!
Kate

Roosterhead Designs said...

Hi Alison~ The winter nights sky is amazing! And the frosty embossed treeline so gorgeous~ (I agree, the treeline against the nite sky is my fave too; it's crisp : ) (imho)
All your layers of inks and paint created the perfect texture to set off those (love love) snowflakes! and beautiful quotes~ (I think the soft touches of vanilla here & there, (w/the sapphire,) add a realistic glow)
Thank you for sharing your process and gorgeous tags~ Hugs, karen o

S@ndy Diller said...

Fabulous tags. I love the color and textures you used. These definitely say Winter is here for awhile. Hugs, S@ndy

Helen said...

Your tags as always, are gorgeous. chipped sapphire is one of my favourites too, i need to get hold of the final set of oxides. loved the bears new home (and clothes)

Brenda Brown said...

These are just so delightful, that gorgeous sky is the perfect backdrop for the snowflakes and the tree line helps create a perfect snowy landscape. Brilliant xxx

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful tags, love the soft and wintry look. Enjoy your weekend, hugs, Valerie

Amanda said...

Beautiful tags, I’ve waited for the arrival of chipped sapphire too. Love the snowy look of these
Love
Amanda x

Cestina said...

So delicate and pretty. And once again the quote is spot-on. Thanks for the pointer to the ursine entertainment. I have now added two things to the end that I forgot! xx

froebelsternchen said...

These tags are simply gorgeous!
Have a great start in the christmas season dear Alsion!
Hugs Susi

Dorthe said...

So gorgeous Alison, I love the trees below the snowflakes, and the embossing, giving a little shine, and texture ,too. So beautiful, dear.
Hugs, Dorthe

geezercrafter said...

Those trees Alison are just fab, just right for the snowflakes!. I am looking forward to playing with Rusty Hinge, also one of the new Oxides!!

experiments in paper said...

Exquisite set of tags! I adore your background.... am almost at the point where I can have a play in my new place, and this is fabulous inspiration! And I've enjoyed the encore posts - always wonderful to view your work. Happy weekend - sounds lovely. xxx Lynn

Julia Aston said...

I always love to see how you layer, splatter and paint your wonderful backgrounds Alison! Love the blue/white on these - the perfect backdrop for your big delicate snowflakes falling above the lovely pines! Two beautiful tags! Julia xx

Mac Mable said...

Wonderful backgrounds and great tree line on your gorgeous tags. Glorious oversized snowflakes and wonderful splats. Perfect sentiments and hope the bears stay warm ....LOL x
Have a lovely weekend singing and enjoy the writing your Christmas lists and your festive weekend x.

Patty O'Malley said...

Fantastic tags, Alison! I love the color blue and I love anything to do with snow so I am particularly drawn to your tags. I just purchased that snowflake die and you've inspired me to make something with it.

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous tags Alison , t is a beautiful blue shade you used and the white embossed trees look awesome.
Yvonne xx

Redanne said...

Your tags really do have the wow factor Alison, the backgrounds are gorgeous and the second white splats look beautiful, the trees are so pretty along the bottom and the snowflakes are stunning - my favourite Tim dies this year.

Looking forward to seeing your progress with the doll houses. Anne xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Two fabulous snowy tags Alison, those trees in white are so effective and those snow flakes are just stunning against the beautiful backgrounds!

Annie said...

Love your wintry tags Alison x great background with those amazing trees and you have reminded me to use my snowflake die x TFS and hugs
Annie x

Craftyfield said...

Just beautiful, Alison! A perfect rendition of a snowy winter's night. xx

sarascloset said...

Alison, so sorry to be late to the Christmas party! Wow, These are a stunning pair! I love the wintry sky and seeing and reading how your twin set came about. Really inspiring and makes me wishful for some chillier air. We are back to summer again this week after a couple days of Arctic air.Sending warm hugs!

Paper Profusion said...

Gosh! I absolutely love those backgrounds! Fantastic tags Alison!! x

Sue said...

What beautiful tags, the Chipped Saphire looks amazing with the white embossing. I must admit I don't have this yet, but I can see that it won't be long until I do. Enjoy your singing, and have a fun December xx

Deb said...

So gorgeous Alison, I adore Chipped Sapphire and combining it with the white is just perfection! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful wintery tags, Deb xo

pearshapedcrafting said...

Two beautiful tags Alison! Love the colours! What a lovely weekend you must be having! Sorry the snow couldn't be ordered!! Hugs,Chrisxx

Jackie PN said...

Alison, your tags are exquisite ! I mean truly!
As I sit here in my son's great room, I think, now this is a decoration he would like! He is of the contemporary type and is very fickle about what I can decorate with while I am here! (yup, he's a stinker for sure!)
So, tell me more about your Advent traditions and your list making! I love this!Do you have relatives over or just immediate family? I miss having my love ones close for the holidays, I mean my other loved ones, as Riley and Chum are the loves of my life! ")
sending hugs,Jackie xx

Diana Taylor said...

I haven't blogged much for a couple of weeks and I've missed so much gorgeousness - these tags are beautiful and the inky background is just fabulous - I want to step into that background (with my woollies on of course!).
Diana xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh my word, the sky is so gorgeous. ..so snowy looking and mottled perfectly. Gorgeous tags!!!

Anneke said...

Your two tags look stunning. Even without the snowflakes they look marvelous!

sally said...

Suitably wintry tags that rather match our cold weather this morning! It's -4C outside and a thick hoar frost....no snow locally but there is on the hills up at Braemar.

Sally xx

Neet said...

Beautiful wintry tags, perfect colours and gorgeous snowflakes. I think I need to look out for the die!
Hugs, Neet xx

A Pink said...

Your two tags make my heart happy , Alison . I share your love for Chipped Sapphire and impatience waiting for its release . When its partnered with snowy white (in your very able hands) it makes for two fabulous wintery tags.
Hugs x