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 31 May 2019

Silent Strength






Hello all!  It's an exciting day over at A Vintage Journey.  Not only is it Tag Friday - always one of my favourite stops on the journey - but we are also welcoming three new Creative Guides on board.


Do hop over there to see the new arrivals as well as all the fantastic tags everyone has created.  You can join in too by sharing any tags you've made this month in our Tag Friday Link-up. 


And remember Tag Friday means you've still got a week to come and join us on our current Book It! challenge too.

















As you'll know from my absences, it's been a busy time behind the scenes here lately, so perhaps it's no wonder that I was drawn to a message of peace and silence for my tag.











The background has been sitting around for a while... another of my playtime Oxide/DI tags, just messing around with layers of colour and spritzes of water droplets.

Over that I stamped the glorious Tim Holtz architecture stamp in one of the many white ink pads I've tried over the years.  It was deliciously subtle, but a little too much so.  (You can still see faint echoes of it in places.)











So I restamped (in Hickory Smoke) and used Bright White Ultra Fine Wow embossing powder to create a bolder white structure amidst the greenery.













I love the texture and the light-catching shine you get with an embossed stamping.















From there, it's really very simple.  Some ivy cut with a Thinlits die out of some Pion design paper (or Maja Designs, maybe)...
















... some of my favourite dried flower stems...
















... a Typed Token altered with alcohol inks and a smear of white paint to highlight the lettering.













And then, of course, there are the words.   They're from one of my earliest PaperArtsy quote collections, EAB03 Music & Silence.














A few ivory sequins dotted around help to catch the light.

And the whole tag is mounted on white card, trimmed to size as a frame to draw the eye inwards.














And some crinkle ribbon tied with fine twine tops everything off up at the head of the tag.






I love the delicate dimension provided by the flower stems, and the intricate lines of the arches behind them.


I didn't really intend the flowers to be sprouting out of the token, but that seems to be the effect.  I supposed they have to grow out of somewhere!








Given the tag was already inky, this really didn't take long to put together.


It was definitely following a deep impulse for peace, gentleness and serenity.


And I think it fulfils that need very well.  It may be simple, but it makes me deeply happy.  I hope you like it too.


I hope you enjoy Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey as much as I do, and I hope you find some peace and silence amidst the hurly burly this weekend. 
















Oh, since you're here... if you missed my Puddles of Paint over at PaperArtsy I'd love it if you had a moment to check them out.  I was rather pleased with how I managed to turn a crazy idea of continuously-pouring-paint into reality!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'll see you again in June.  June... seriously?!  Yup, June!  Happy Crafting all!

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
From the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann





I'd like to play along at Emerald Creek Dares where the theme is Flowers on the Wall
At the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, they would like us to Frame It.  My framing is a very simple matting and layering, but it's still a frame!

36 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Your tag is amazing. Of particular note, is the ribbon and twine treatment, and the embossed arch. Are those flowers babies breath?

I could go for some peace and serenity about now. I was certainly impressed with this tag and agree there is a gentleness about it.

Although I saw your canvas yesterday and still applaud you for the way you created the drips on the canvas, as well as your fantastic handwriting, I am not sure I could give up three paint brushes to one canvas. But that's me and my craft budget is probably far more limited than yours, dear Alison.

Helen said...

I love the tag for Tag Friday, love the colours and the embossed arch is fantastic.

Brenda Brown said...

That architecture stamp is glorious indeed, the whole tag has a feeling of strength and determination to it in that calm natural setting. I love the emotions you have evoked and the visual imagery. Enjoy the weekend my friend xxx

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful tag, love everything about it. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

Gerrittina said...

Great tag!

Let's Art Journal said...

What a stunning tag! You have captured peace and serenity beautifully in your design and I love the colours, shine from the white embossing and quote - perfect 😁. Thank you for the warm welcome, I'm so excited to join you as part of the Creative Guide team! Wishing you a peaceful and happy Friday and weekend! Jo xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Wonderful tag! Love the quote.

froebelsternchen said...

This is the most beautiful tag ever! I am simply in love with it!!!!
Happy weekend dear Alison!
Susi xxx

Dorthe said...

I love that stamp, Alison, and like you, I have tried to find a white ink pad which really gives a white result, but have not had the luck yet . This embossing is beautiful, and the details are to be seen.Also such a lovely result with the diecut and dried flowers - so adorable and the text suits so well , together with the metal Peace .
Hugs, Dorthe

Mrs.B said...

A beautiful tag Alison, love how you've paired the architectural stamp with the die cut leaves and dried flowers.
Avril xx

Deb said...

Gorgeous as always Alison, love the embossed stamping on your beautiful Distress background and the simple embellishments along with that perfect quote set it off so beautifully. Hope that you will be able to enjoy some peace and tranquility for awhile before your next project, Deb xo

Astrid Maclean said...

A gorgeous tag Alison! Love the architecture stamp stamped in white, it makes the perfect backdrop for the mood you are conveying with the sentiment and other elements. A real beauty!

sarascloset said...

There's that architecture stamp again, and I love it in the white embossing against the blues! You are tempting me to put this stamp on my list. Wonderful tag!

A Pink said...

Silence and serenity are so often the key to inner self restoration and your tag emits both so wonderfully, Alison . Tfs

Thank you for all your recent visits to my blog and the lovley kind comments you have left me on both my blog and TC 's blog aswell as the warm welcome to being a Guest blogger for PA . I really do appreciate you taing the time to stop by .

Hope you have a lovely weekend
Amanda x

Mac Mable said...

The white heat embossing sure does work on your beautiful tag. The colours are fabulous and love the intricacy of the wonderful stamped image. Great sentiment and great tag and thank you for the stunning inspiration x.
Loved your fun puddles of paint too x

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful architecture stamp you used for your background Alison - lovely colors and feathery light stems - a beautiful tag with your own quote sentiment stamp! xx

Meggymay said...

Its a fabulous tag Alison. It does look so restful with the colours you chose and the lovely quote adds to calming effects of the project.
Yvonne xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Hi Alison, hope you are well. Gorgeous tag, loving the architectural focal image and the colours and some of my favourite ❤️

hazel said...

I love everything about your tag Alison - It's wonderful.
xxx Hazel.

Ann Chuang Crafts said...

Your tag came out great Alison! I love the delicate dimension provided by the flower stems too and the intricate embossing white lines of the arches behind them are just wonderful. I am so thrilled to have joined as a Creative Guide at A Vintage Journey and I am really looking forward to following your journey with the team. Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs, Ann

Craftyfield said...

The stamp detail is gorgeous and I love the design of the tag. Hope you get a sunny weekend where you are. x

Redanne said...

I just have to say Alison, your tag is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!! Gorgeous colour, beautiful embossing and wonderful embellishments. My definite new favourite of your tags, I love it!! Anne xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Stunningly gorgeous Alison! in colour, texture and fabulous embellishments. Jennie x

Julia said...

I always love your distress ink backgrounds, I have a box full of experiments myself that have yet to make it to a finished project. This tag is a great inspiration for getting to work with some of those.
I also have that beautiful architecture stamp that I have not yet had the time to use. That is sad, it is too beautiful to stay in the packaging.
I love the white embossed image on the colourful background and as always, the words are fab. x

Chrissy said...

Oh, wow.this is so lovely Alison..I love the soft colours and added textures..I'm hoping now that Winter has set in here in New Zealand I can stay closer to the PC..lol..and do catching up..thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Margaret said...

Beautiful! I've missed your wonderful creations! Hoping to have a little more time now to visit!

Meihsia Liu said...

Such a gorgeous tag! Alison. I love the beautiful embossing and colors on the background. Love your great inspiration! :)

Neet said...

I love architectural images so this instantly appealed to me. What you have done with the stamp is lovely. I like how you used the white against that DO background. Just perfect, even though you did have a struggle, maybe one day we will have a perfect white pad!
Your added diecuts and the other ephemera fits the bill and the quote says it all. What a wonderful tag this is Alison, but then you always create the most beautiful pieces.
Hug, Neet xx

Annie said...

Wonderful details on your stunning tag Alison x Love the architectiral stamp and of course those stunning words x Sometimes silence is essential!

Huge hugs
Annie x

Fliss said...

An absolutely stunning tag Alison and love those serene and calming shades. Sorry to have visited for so long due to various family issues and hope to be back again very soon.
Fliss xx

Katie said...

Gorgeous tag

My name is Erika. said...

Love this tag. I am really fond of that stamped image. You used it so well and created this gorgeous piece Alison. Hope the weather improves. Hugs-Erika

Margaret Mifsud said...

Ooohh!! I love the background colour of this gorgeous tag Alison! The architecture stamps stands out beautifully without being overpowering and, along with the diecut and the dried flowers creates such a lovely scene! You have certainly achieved the peace and tranquility you were aiming for! So love this! hugs xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Alison! How beautiful! Such lovely colours! Chrisx

Roosterhead Designs said...

Hello Alison, I am much behind in my visits : / but am so glad I could stop in today and see this amazing tag! Ans speaking of behind, I have not even seen these THoltz architecture stamps! (Oh my!) They are wonderful. I love that you used a white emboss; seems to be the perfect touch~ Looking and reading, I feel immediately drawn into a conservatory! (a place I could walk and spend hours in) With your beautiful babies breath and the die-cut stems, I imagine a place of quiet loveliness~ Thank you for sharing! Beautifully done~ Hugs to you, karen o

Marci said...

I really like this tag, the colors, embossing, that stamp. Wonderful!