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Friday 4 January 2019

Winter Sun

Hello all, and a very happy New Year to you!  I had planned to be here before now for some slightly more timely well-wishing, but it didn't work out.  But today it's time to start a new challenge at A Vintage Journey, so I'm here with some inspiration for you.





The lovely Deb is our host this month, and her theme is all very straightforward... she'd simply like you to Put Your Stamp On It.

All the details are over at A Vintage Journey, along with some brilliant inspiration from my wonderful fellow Creative Guides.

I decided to keep things as simple as possible, and let one magnificent stamp take centre stage.

Actually, I lie - there are two stamps involved because, of course, there are also the words, taken from one of my own PaperArtsy quote sets.

But either way, this tag is pretty much all about the stamping.














Of course, that's not really true either because if I'm going to "put my stamp on it", I need something to put my stamp on.

I created the background with some PaperArtsy Fresco paints and a natural sponge - one of my favourite ways to apply paint for a soft, blended look which still has some texture to it.















There's Snowflake for the brightest sunlit part of the sky...
















... a touch of Sky (of course! but sadly discontinued, I think) blending out to the richer Turquoise, for that vivid winter blue sky.














Down amongst the undergrowth there's the rusty Cinnamon (also discontinued) and the darker shadows of French Roast (which I hope and pray they never discontinue!), with just some specks of Snowflake sponged lightly on top for a frosted look.

The birds perched on their branches are just one side of a 6x6 inch stamp by Impression Obsession. 












It has made the occasional appearance before, but I really must ink it up more often - it's gorgeous.  Here, I've stamped it and then embossed with the wonderful Primary Bark embossing powder by Wow.











There's some worn rusty mesh framing the quote in the bottom corner.  It's from EAB05 The Winter Edition.  I cut off poor Henry David Thoreau's name from underneath, as I wanted a smaller panel so as not to cover up too many branches.













And some bare rusted wire forms the topping - bleak and spare like the branches stamped below it.











And that's your lot... unless of course you head over to A Vintage Journey to check out the fabulous projects there, created for your delectation.  We hope you'll decide to Put Your Stamp On It and join us on the Vintage Journey some time this month.  We'd love to see you there.

In the meantime, happy crafting all, and I hope 2019 will be kind to us all.

And now we welcome the new year.  Full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke

"You can't get too much winter in the winter."
From Snow by Robert Frost




UPDATE - For all those coveting this stamp, it's Impression Obsession Birds On Trees CC102.  Thanks for the lovely comments so far, and happy shopping all!

37 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

Your tag says winter from start to finish. Love the colors and the way you added that snow. The wire on top is perfect for the feel of this one.

Deb said...

Gorgeous as always Alison, a beautiful blended background and I adore that beautiful bird stamp, have to go investigating to see it it's still available! And your wonderful quote stamp is the perfect finishing touch to this elegant tag, love the rusty mesh underneath. Thanks so much for joining the challenge! Deb xo

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...


This is out of this world, Alison. I love how you treated the background and explained it, too. The rusty wire was the icing on the cake (or tag). Beautiful tag, beautiful art.

Helen said...

What a beautiful tag! love the paint colours you picked. That stamp is gorgeous too. Might have to track that down..!

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a gorgeous tag, I love the realistic look, and what a nice text!!
Happy newyear to you and your family!! Have a wonderful and healty year!!
Greetings, Maria

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous tag, very wintry, I can feel the chill - or is is coming in through my open window? Hugs, Valerie

Lace Age Girl said...

i love the textures you have built up. What a stunning stamp. The sentiment is presented perfectly with it. Love it!

chrissie said...

Fantastic tag with just the right colours and stamped images. Well done with the snow if I try to add that it would be far too much I reckon.

Happy 2019

Love Chrissie xx

Beulah Bee said...

This has the feeling of a crisp wintery day, your color choices are brilliant and the background painting/sponging technique is magical. I hope that stamp is still available as it has really caught my eye.

Jennie Atkinson said...

Fabulous Alison, from the background, to the embossed birds and the sentiment. All so brilliantly pulled together on your wonderful wintry coloured tag. Jennie x

Dorthe said...

Beautiful winter day , in the garden- love your embossed birds, and the winter sky ,you really captured the look of one, and also the bare bush with the visible soil is gorgeous made.
Hugs, Dorthe xox

A Pink said...

Simple you say , Alison but when you look closer theres depth, detail and feeling that makes for a really stunning tag.

It takes a talented hand and eye (yours) to master simplicity so effectively x

Hope you have a lovely weekend x

Sue said...

This is so beautiful Alison, gorgeous colours, and those stamps really are the stars of the show. Have a very happy weekend, Sue xx

Patty O'Malley said...

What a lovely tag, Alison! I love how you created the background and also the bird stamp and quote. This tag speaks to my winter-loving soul!

froebelsternchen said...

This is so beautiful created !Professionalism and style all along the line! WOW!

Happy weekend
Susi

Astrid Maclean said...

A truly stunning tag Alison, the sponged background looks fantastic, so much light, yet cool, really like the winter sun! That main stamp is just perfect against it, and I shall have to check out that EP, - such a great colour. The quote of course is perfect too. A real beauty!

Craftyfield said...

Ohh it is gorgeous, Alison! The sponged background look so beautiful and the stamp too. Perfect!

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a stunning tag! You have captured the beauty of the winter beautifully 😁. The background looks amazing and the stamp that you used is perfect! Thanks for the inspiration and wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x

Redanne said...

Alison, the colours are gorgeous, your design, as always is beautiful (love those birds) and you created such a gorgeous wintry atmosphere. It is a real shame about the rusty cinnamon, it is such a beautiful colour! Anne xx

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous winters tag Alison, its a perfect background for this time of year.
Belated Happy New Year wishes. I hope 2019 will be a good one for you.
Yvonne xx

Marci said...

Beautiful tag!

suzyb said...

This tag is amazing. I LOVE the colours, the stamp!!! Love the stamp!
The browns at the bottom do honestly look like the bushes that the birdies are perched it. I really would love to try and make one like it. I gotta get me that stamp!!!
Really love your art Alison. Happy New Year and best wishes for 2019~

My name is Erika. said...

The winter birds and flakes of snow are perfect for January. And the blue like the sky. I think (at least here) the sky is the only bright color at this time of year. Happy New Year Alison. Hugs-Erika

craftytrog said...

I adore the colours on your beautiful tag Alison, and the birds & bare branches against the blue sky!
Happy weekend,
Alison xox

ginag said...

You are kind to us all with your brilliant inspiration! Thank you.




Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

I too am later than intended, so many stops and starts at the beginning of the year. Love that stamp Alison, thank you for the update on what and where it's from. Your colours and mixing of the combination creates a delightful scene. I can almost hear their dawn chorus.
Happy New Year!! Creative wishes Tracey xx

Lenie said...

This tag is so beautiful Alison and the way you let the light shine on the right side of the tag is so wonderful!
I tried it too, with cheap paint and another stamp and even than it looks wonderful. Thanks for your pictures and words to explain how you made this tag. And also a Happy New Year!! Love, Lenie

Anne (cornucopia) said...

This is stunning and gorgeous. I love this art piece. And it' a great example of a picture tells a thousand words. Well done.

Mac Mable said...

The most perfect colour combination and the snow looks so atmospheric. The tree stamp and the birds looks fabulous and so is your tag...love the bare rusted wire too x

Julia Aston said...

A beautiful tag Allison! in your signature colors! Love that branch stamp with the birds - your own lovely sentiment stamp and the beautiful highlighting of the colors in your background for ground and sky! Julia xx

Mrs.B said...

A beautiful tag Alison, wonderful background and the branch stamp looks stunning against the snowy sky.
Avril xx

Paper Profusion said...

Exquisite!!! Happy New Year Alison! Nicola x

Roosterhead Designs said...

Hi Alison,
Was so glad I had a bit of time to do a little visiting, and found this awesome post of yours~ This tag is beautiful! I love every detail and color. (Blues & browns are a great mix) And the birds! Some of my fav images. They speak to me : ) Thank you for all the detail you share (as you are creating.) The textures are wonderful! Have a lovely day~ hugs, karen o

pearshapedcrafting said...

I love the way your sponged background makes it look as though there is a little bit of Wintery sun around! A truly beautiful tag! Hugs,Chrisx

sarascloset said...

Loving this tag--so full of what winter is--pale blue skies (well ours is blue today for a change), tangled branches with birds roosting among them. I can almost feel the chill. Our birds seem quite active today, though, because for them it's a spring day with temps finally pushing out of the 40's (anything below 40 here is horrifying). Your tag is so pretty!

Tee said...

Most beautiful winter scene-gorgeous!

Jackie PN said...

WOW! I had not realized it had been so long since i commented!
Well, playing catch up with you over the next week, so you are sure to see a lot of me! LOL
I just love this quote on your tag as we are still in a deep freeze here and truly, the sun ablaze is what i desire!
Beautiful tag Alison!
Jackie xo