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...

Wednesday 11 March 2020

Full of bright hopes







Hello all!  Thank you for the lovely feedback on the Useful or Beautiful tiny houses.  I'm glad you liked them as much as I do.

Just a tag for you today, and I'm taking the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge at their word in entering it there.  They say they want A Bit O' Green... well, there is a very little bit of green, but it's what brings the tag to life, I think.

And speaking of life, it feels like spring this morning outside, so I am - as the post title and the tag say - full of bright hopes.

I'll try to keep this pretty short so that we can all enjoy some of the spring sunshine... before it vanishes again (hope is a fragile thing!).













I started by putting some texture paste through this fabulous Gothic stencil by Prima.  (It was the Prima Plaster Paste I think.)














I added a wash of PaperArtsy French Roast paint over it, rubbing it in with a cloth to get a nice textured finish with some movement.














I used a PaperArtsy sanding block to sand back the texture revealing nice white highlights.













Then it was just a question of deciding what should go on top of the background.

This chap was an early candidate who kept demanding to be included.















He's layered over a scrap of book text and some of the fabulous Idea-ology film strip ribbon, and attached with some tiny staples.














The stickers are from a couple of different sets of Idea-ology Clippings - one from the regular collection and one from the Halloween set.













I wonder if you can guess which is from which!  I think the little phrases work well with his expression.














There's a little Type Charm attached at the foot of the photo.  I chose H for him/he to match with the "his"s starting each of the little phrases.














It was all looking a bit gloomy so I grabbed the grassy die-cut stem which was sitting nearby, leftover from or left out of some project or other.














I added some Perfect Pearls detailing to the stamens (stamens?), and some droplets of white paint over the top of that to get a nice textural effect of seed pods or some such.











There's a tangle of simple cotton thread adding a swirl of movement.















Some simple rustic twine, and some scissor-scraping of the edges of the tag and the pale card behind, and we're pretty much done.
















Oh, apart from the white spatter of course...

I hope you're having a great week, and I'll be seeing you soon either here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland. 









The promise of spring's arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter.
Jen Selinsky

I'd like to play along at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where they are looking for A Bit O' Green

30 comments:

Dorthe said...

I love your tag, with the text background, stenciled, and love the spots left from sanding - he looks so sweet , and I`m sure he is waiting for more than spring :-) xoxo

Karen said...

Love this! so much attention to detail ~ the pop of green was a terrific idea ~ and I'm thankful for a sunny day toooo!

froebelsternchen said...

All those fantastic texture and detail! Amazing Alison! You never cease to amaze me!
Big hugs,
Susi

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

As always, your attention to detail is perfect, Alison. I just discovered REAL (as opposed to my homemade) molding paste, so I am anxious to try sanding mine, too. The book page layered behind the film strip is noteworthy, and your gentleman really fits the part. This is a genuine beauty and has the PERFECT amount of green that doesn't overpower the tag.

Helen said...

What a cool tag!

experiments in paper said...

Wonderful bit 'o green indeed! I love the use of the darker PA paint... one of my favorites, and then the highlights of the sanded text. And, as always, your sentiments fit the bill! And of course, that bit of green is perfect - I love how you've embellished it with the seeds. xxx Lynn

aussie aNNie said...

Sensational tag, textures and amazing result..xx

Margaret Mifsud said...

Love, love, love your tag Alison. The stenciled background is gorgeous (am making a tag myself at the mo and have also stenciled my background .. snap!! LOL!) Your handsome chappie is the perfect topper and I love the film strip and the book page you have layered underneath him. So much detail in such a small space! Love it!!! xx

Mac Mable said...

Wonderful texture from the text stencil/paste and extra loving how you did the seed pods. The pop of green sure does finish off your tag beautifully x. Great mix of sentiments too x.

craftytrog said...

Great textures and a wonderful composition Alison. I love the words you used too.
Alison xx

Lagene said...

Awesome tag! I love all the texture and layered elements, so vintage!

Sue said...

This is fabulous Alison! I love how you've sanded back the text to reveal the white, and the book page under the film strip is just perfect. Beautiful colours and textures as always. Have a very happy week, Sue xx

Craftyfield said...

Lovely tag Alison, it's all in the choosing of the elements for the cluster. The hardest bit as far as I'm concerned! x

Redanne said...

Such a wonderful tag Alison, I am totally in love with that stencil, it is fabulous, and sanding it back gives it such a lift. Your embellishments, as always are just perfect and the pop of green is just the icing on the cake. Anne xx

Aimeslee Winans said...

hELLO, Allison! What a yummy tag, definitely textural and I love that stenciled background. I just received an order from an Etsy vendor who wrapped my items with braille paper and was reminded of that. xoxo

Chrissy said...

As always a great tag Alison with textures and layers and great splatters, I love a good splatter..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Christine Alexander said...

OMG Alison that tag is a stunner, and BTW I have to get that script stencil :)

Let's Art Journal said...

Stunning tag 😁. I always love following the steps you took to make it and I'm loving the textured background and curled tag edges and as you say that pop of green works so beautifully - perfect! I hope you've had a great week, wishing you a happy Friday and Weekend Alison! Hugs, Jo x

Dortesjs said...

whooo yet another gorgeous tag, thank you for showing, i to love follow the tag all through to the end

pearshapedcrafting said...

There's no doubt about it, this is a wonderful tag, from the sanded texture to the stickers you used and the white spatters! Today though, it is the description of the making of it that really made me smile! If I couldn't have seen this I would still be able to imagine it! Chrisx

Diana @ Playing Without Limits said...

Love what you did. Thanks for taking the time to show all the details on this. It gave me much inspiration about what I might do with some of the supplies I have in my collection as I am hunkered down at home during this time.

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Always love a tag! and this one is tagolicious! You're right the green is the perfect addition and really pops. Love it all. Happy creative week, Angela xXx

suzyb said...

I just LOVE your work!! This tag is no exception! Love everything you do. Have a lovely day and hope it's sunny in your part of the world.

Monika Gulyas said...

Fabulous tag, Alison!!! The background stencilling with the PaperArtsy paint looks awesome!!! Great design!!! xx

Cocofolies said...

Another wonderful tag!!!
Hugs again, Corinne Xx

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous tag and I do love that stencil.
Avril xx

Neet said...

"Just a tag" - it is never a "just a" with you, it is always a piece of artwork that is simply delightful. This is no exception.
Oh, Alison, you have done it again, now I want that Gothic stencil I love script and this is beautiful, especially how you have used it on here. The guy is perfect and I love how you have layered him on the text and film strip. And you are so right, the words fit perfectly as does the type set charm with the green flower lifting the whole tag along with your signature splatters.
I would love to be on lockdown with you, I would learn so much and have so many things to play with I think it would be fun.
Take care and stay safe and well, Hugs, Neet xx

sarascloset said...

Bravo on this tag in that rich coffee background and great stencil work! Love the effect on the paste sanding and of course, those pops of spring greenery. Just perfect, Alison!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Again loving this stencil, and the vintage components are wonderful...fab tag and pinned!

sally said...

That pop of green......makes hope seem possible in these dark times!


Sally xx