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 29 November 2019

A journey of your own








Hello all and welcome to another round of Tag Friday over at A Vintage Journey.

It's that extra Friday in a challenge month when the Creative Guides get to play with tags, and you can share any tags you've been making this month with us in our Linky Party.

There's no other theme or requirement... just a tag.  And it doesn't matter when you made it, just any time in the last month.

Here's mine.  As you probably know, I've not been making much lately, so this was a good push to get me going again (hopefully!).
















It's a mop-up tag I used to smoosh up the leftover inks when I was making the flowers and twilit sky for Sunrise, Sunset.

There's Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs in the mix as well as tiny touches of Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky.













As I did with the wallflowers in my cottage book cover, I added some extra Stormy Sky for a touch of contrast, and stamped one of my favourite "weeds" from Rubber Dance's Weed Love set.

Then it was mostly a question of gathering up other leftovers - scraps and bits and bobs which have been lying around the craft table for far too long.












I put down several strips of design tape and tissue tape and scraped some DecoArt Crackle Paint across it.












Then over that I layered some scraps of lace which have been hovering around for a while, as well as some leftover handmade paper scraps which were also cluttering up the workspace.

The long strip is actually lace on its own sticky tape so you don't even need any glue.












I mounted the Photobooth photo on some scraps of card so that there would be room to wrap the rusty wire around behind her.  This girl has been hanging around on the desk for at least a few months.











She's left behind her "partner" - the two of them were originally going to feature together on a pair of tags a while ago before I changed direction with those tags.

(It was my Birthday Bubbles for Simon Says Stamp - there's even a picture in the post of the pair of them trying to claim their place before being discarded - so they've been waiting to be used since July, and now one of them will have to wait on alone!)











I find that I can make my peace with shades of pink as long as I've got some nice rust to go along with it (it's happened before!) so, as well as the Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo inks, the rusty wire was definitely an important ingredient here.














The tiny autumn leaves also bring a welcome touch of earthy brown to the mix.














They're punched with a Tim Holtz punch, and have been putting in regular appearances this year on my autumn creations.















I think we may finally have come to the end of the punched leaves I can manage to squeeze out of the card I inked up at the beginning of October!













I picked up these lovely dewdrop embellishments as part of my lucky SSS prize win recently, and I'm so happy I chose them.














Regulars here know that I love to catch light in my creations whenever possible, and these do that in a wonderful way.














The brilliant Idea-ology Clippings stickers provide the words.














I've slightly snipped and amended them to suit my purposes... or rather the purposes of the girl in the photo.














I love the confident glow of expectation in her eyes, and I definitely wish her well on the journey ahead.














A little rustic twine finishes things off at the top of the tag - again a snippet which has been hanging around (but then there's always plenty of twine around!).














There's just a touch of the crackle still visible, but it does add a nice extra textural detail I think.















Quite a few of the vine tendrils have disappeared under the layers but what you can see makes me happy.














And the same applies to the smooshed ink around the collaging.  I never tire of ink splotches!













I hope you've enjoyed collecting leftovers with me.  I'm glad I managed to sit down and make something for the first time in two weeks... even if it is just a gathering up of what was already on the craft table!  (I don't count sticking down the pages of my Orchard Fruit art journalling, given it was all basically done before I got ill.)









Over at A Vintage Journey you can see what fun my fellow Creative Guides have been having with their tags, and there's a Linky for you to share any and all tags you've been making this month.  Come and join in the Tag Friday fun with us!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you again soon.

It's not leftovers that are wasteful, but those who either don't know what to do with them or can't be bothered.
Julian Baggini

I'd like to play along at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog where they are looking for Lovely Leaves
The challenge theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week is Tape It Up - I promise there's tissue tape, design tape and lace tape buried under there somewhere!
In a happy piece of timing the challenge at Moo Mania & More this week is to Use Your Scraps
At the Bleeding Art Challenge as always Anything Mixed Media Goes

44 comments:

Helen said...

What a fabulous tag, Alison!

Etsuko said...

Brilliant Tag Alison, the background clolurs seems to see a beautiful gems. Detail of a fabulous layers including the white laces and the great the focal point photo even so many textures. I love it. xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

You never cease to amaze me, dear Alison. I have to admit that your scraps are a lot prettier than mine, and you assemble them so much better, too. This is a memorable tag.

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such a gorgeous tag Alison, the background "mop up" tag was a fabulous background to create on. Fabulous layers and embellishments (as always!). Jennie x

Paper Profusion said...

Very beautiful tag Alison. It looks authentically vintage, and gorgeously feminine. I hope that all is well with you. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

froebelsternchen said...

An AMAZING tag Alison!WOW!!! Thank you for joining Moo Mania & More! Happy weekend!
Susi xxx

Let's Art Journal said...

Such a beautiful tag! The inky background looks so delicate with the pretty wildflower stems and your additions of the lace and leaves showcases the photo and wording perfectly 😀. I hope you are feeling much better, sending you healing thoughts and wishes! Happy Tag Friday and have a wonderful weekend too! Hugs, Jo x

ann barnes said...

Such a beautiful tag! Glad you are feeling better. Hope you have a wonderful weekend xx

craftytrog said...

I love this beauty Alison! xx

Hazel Agnew said...

This tag has such a homely, cosy feel to it. Alison. For some reason it transported me back to my grandparents home in Lincolnshire.
Thankyou for dropping by and leaving me a note. I am having a hibernation period at the moment. Snuggly and content to watch others create their magic. I am still dabbling a little, but purely for my own enjoyment. Still meeting up with Andrea Small too and sharing our musical interests. Xx

Beulah Bee said...

Charming! Such pretty tints, too.

sirkkis said...

Lovely tag full of beautiful details 🧡

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

Gorgeous tag!

Craftyfield said...

Where have I been… a good thing you popped up to remind me of Tag Friday, I have been remiss and not very productive either! Love your tag, shabby chic and Vintage with yummy textures. And I don't mind the pink, it does coordinate quite well with Vintage shades. xx

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous vintage style tag Alison.
Yvonne xx

Chrissy said...

Beautiful tag Alison and can even see a tiny hint of pink,although technically not pink, it has that hue about it and very soft and pretty, love the photo and glad you are feeling better..take care.

luv CHRISSYXX

My name is Erika. said...

This is really a pretty late autumn tag. Love the cloth texture and that "water drop". This is a great entry for the tag challenge Alison. Hugs-Erika

Elkes Lebensglück said...

a romantic wonderful Tag!!!!
happy weekend
Elke

Rosie said...

I love your gorgeous tag, Alison

Thank you for joining us at MOO MANIA & MOREThank you for joining us at MOO MANIA & MORE

Annie said...

Gorgeous background and additional elements on your tag Alison x The photograph is beautiful and the perfect choice for the vintage style depicted x I hope you are feeling better xx
Have a lovely weekend
Annie xx

sarascloset said...

Really beautiful, Alison! It's amazing what you can do with the bits hanging out on your worktop! This girl from the PB is definitely a favorite of mine, and you gave her a place of honor on your fabulous inky mop up tag! Love all the details, and as always, reading how this came together. While I'm here, I will thank you kindly for playing along in our Lovely Leaves challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog! Sending hugs!

Gio said...

Such a lovely tag, Alison, so feminine and with a bit of grunge!

Amanda said...

A fabulous use of your leftover bits and pieces making for a beautiful vintage tag.
Love
Amanda x

Patty O'Malley said...

My most favorite thing to make is a tag. Your tag is so beautiful, Alison. I am finding it hard to make anything these days--I want to but can't seem to actually do it!

Dorthe said...

It is so very beautiful dear Alison,
I love the colors used, yes you know I`m more pink than you lol,- the stamped weed, and your leaves so wonderful from the tag paper you made earlier .And I totally agree ,the dew drops are gorgeous looking, I love them, too. What a most amazing tag - you always make me want to create when visiting you . xoxo

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous vintage style tag Alison, love the addition of the lace and rusty wire, the leaves just finish it all perfectly!

Redanne said...

Your mop up background is stunning Alison and I am so glad that you had that final punched leaf because it is the perfect embellishment on your beautiful tag! Anne xx

Sue said...

This is really lovely Alison. Those tiny splotches of colour and the crackle look amazing, and the photo booth picture fits in perfectly. Have a very happy week, Sue xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Left overs seem to be my best friend at the moment for personal artwork as this dreaded flu virus keeps pulling me back. I hope you are now feeling at least a little better as this piece is surely a tonic for good health. Beautifully designed using a little family of odds and ends brought together as one happy family. I do love the dew drops, I have some clear and amber in a jar unused for years it maybe time to wake them up in the new year.
Thank you for sharing Alison, always a wonderful sight to see when I visit.
Warmest of hugs Tracey & enjoy the rest of your weekend xx

Lace Age Girl said...

Alison, your blog always inspires me! It's like I'm standing there peeking over your shoulder at your whole process. I enjoy it so much, especially as vicarious craft is all I can fit in, a minute here and there as too much illness and worries are upon my family at the moment. We are living in bushfire smoke from two fires which may burn all Summer, or may get blown our way at any time, only about 50 kms away. Scary. I now have to practice our petrol pump for when power goes out,so there goes any craft time...After Summer I hope to get back to doing something beautiful again. Sending love to you... Jesse XXX

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

The background is beautiful and you layered it so wonderfully. A lovely vintage tag.

-Soma

Mrs.B said...

A gorgeous tag Alison, love the mix of background colours and lace creating a lovely vintage backdrop for the photo.
Avril xx

Cec said...

This is a lovely vintage tag with lots of inky loveliness. Thanks for joining us at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.
Hugs!
Cec

Kasia said...

Beautiful tag, Alison :)

Roosterhead Designs said...

Dear Alison,
You are amazingly and absolutely a gifted artist! So so beautifully done~ So clever and creative! (I always learn something; every time I visit.Seeing your 'mop-up' tag made my brain go Bing! (hello : ) I usually just use a scrapped piece of paper - but how smart to use something you will again create with) And loving the bits of lace and all your well thought embellishing~ TFS! karen o

Suzanne C said...

Such a soft and pretty background for a lovely fall inspired tag! Love the leaves and twining branches behind the beautiful photo! Lovely tag! Thanks for playing along again with us in The Funkie Junkie Boutique Lovely Leaves Challenge!

Ginny @ Polly's Paper Studio said...

Love all the mixed media layers on this vintagy tag! Thanks for joining us for our challenge at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Crafty hugs from Ginny at Polly's Paper Studio.

sally said...

So nice to see that this lovely lass has found her destiny even if she has had to leave her young man behind, those colours look wonderful together :-)


Sally xx

Cocofolies said...

What an exquisite tag... with texture, dimension, lovely romantic colors and a great harmony as all you do. Gorgeous!!!
Hugs, Coco xx

Neet said...

Playing catch up (the wrong way around) I came across this pretty tag. Love the way you have created the background which reminds me of a print that might be found on the fabric of the dress she is wearing. She might even have a lace trim somewhere on her clothes which marries with the lace you have included on the tag.
So many additional details make up one heck of a lovely tag.
hugs, Neet xx

Marci said...

It amazes me when you create something out of bits and pieces just laying around. So pretty!

Julia Aston said...

A beautiful tag Alison with the addition of the purple to your usual blues - love the crackle and the pretty leaves scattered here and there! xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Given that I too am not a great fan of pink, I am amazed that this is probably one of my favorite tag backgrounds that you have made. Never realized how well it plays with rust. I must try that!! Hmmm ... this gives me an idea for a project that I am working on right now. Of course, I also feel that the addition of the Stormy Sky at the top really made this background. Lovely. How big is your craft desk? Seriously?!? I am amazed at how much has been "having around" lately :). So fun to see how these bits and pieces came together to create this true journey tag. By the way, isn't stickyback lace the best? Ciao for now -- off to the gym. -- ME

Words and Pictures said...

It's less a question of how big the craft table is, and more one of how high the teetering piles of stuff are that are crowded on to it, Mary Elizabeth! I'm really enjoying your catching up time - happy that you are too... enjoy the gym!
Axx