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 15 April 2020

I must have (wild)flowers







Hello all.  I do hope you are all doing okay.

It's time for the second of the non-blue/green tags.  If you've no idea what I'm talking about, then you must have missed my Double Glazing tag.

That was an elegant, somewhat restrained piece.  This one is altogether wilder, with layers and layers of meadow flowers drifting away to the far horizon.

You'll notice it has some elements in common with Double Glazing, but for the most part it headed in a different sort of direction.

(Apologies for the extremely annoying smudge on the camera lens which I've just noticed as I was editing the photos - bah!













In case you've forgotten (or haven't seen the other post), here's where they both started.  I added some inks to the same flourish stencil as in tag 1, spritzed with water and printed onto the right hand tag (which had already had a priming of gesso to whiten the yellow-ish manila.











The swirling shapes are pretty subtle, and many of them got lost under later layers, but you can still see them in places by the end.

And I do think the swirls of movement influenced the wilder journey this tag took.












I added some tangled branch stamping, blended on some brown inks and splotched extra browns to give a bit more detail to replace what had been lost in the blending.















There came a point when I really wanted to embrace the colour palette Brenda had used during our Creative Skypeing session, so I added in some Victorian Velvet to the mix (and maybe a touch of Seedless Preserves - not sure any more).












I smooshed a mixture of Inks and Oxides in the same colours to create a third tag, and that's what the flower stems were cut from for both tags.












Time for some more grasses and some more Glazing!  I used the Weathered Wood Embossing Glaze to layer on some tangled meadow grasses.  It's a Tim Holtz stamp.














But this time I stamped the image in Stormy Sky Oxide, so you get an altogether bluer version of the translucent glaze than appeared on Double Glazing.














And there's that glint of light on the glossy finish which makes me so happy.

As with the first tag, I didn't want to cover the background up too much.  Besides, it was already looking pretty busy!












So aside from the Wildflower stems, cut from that third tag, and with some additional mottling courtesy of Oxide splatters in Stormy Sky and Victorian Velvet...












... there's some white twine bound around the tag, on which is perched one of the Entomology insects, stamped and die-cut, and embossed in Primary Bark.

The words are also a little wild - they're one of my PaperArtsy quotes from EAB01 Trees & Flowers - because of being stamped over all that already-embossed texture underneath.











I don't mind the scattered grains of powder exploding out from the words.  And I know very well what they say, so it doesn't worry me that for once they're maybe a little blurry!












The metal token is another echo of the Double Glazing - this one has a rusty look, courtesy of some alcohol inks, and some more Distress Crayon to highlight the lettering.















I'm so happy that you can still see some of those stencil-printed swirls...
















... and I do like the soft colours in the sky...















... as well as that insect just poised to skitter away if he senses danger.








So that's pretty much that for this tag.  I hope you like it.  And just in case you're curious, here's how they look lined up as a pair.  I think they have enough in common to work well together and enough differences to each have their own individual character.


And here you can really see the difference in the Weathered Wood Embossing Glaze - over clear embossing ink in the first tag (and with some Hickory Smoke also along for the ride) and over Stormy Sky in the second.  It was nice to take a short break from the springtime blues and greens, but rest-assured, they'll be back very soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'll be along to visit soon (virtually obviously - no breaking of the quarantine here!), and I'm looking forward to seeing what you've been up to.   I hope you are all staying safe and staying well and staying sane.  See you soon!

Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odourless but all together perfume the air.
Georges Bernanos

In a meadow full of flowers, you cannot walk through and breathe those smells and see all those colours and remain angry. We have to support the beauty, the poetry, of life.
Jonas Mekas

I'd like to play along at Try It On Tuesday where the theme is Have Fun With Stencils - the fun is all the way in the background, but it's definitely there
At the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge they are playing E is for... embossing powder in my case - still experimenting with the Glazes, as well as using my favourite Wow Primary Bark

34 comments:

Annie said...

Hi Alison x What a delight your tags are x I love the wonderful backgrounds you create using inks and stamps x fabulous embellishments too xx
Take care and huge hugs xx

aussie aNNie said...

Stunning tags, and most adorable goodies used, love the texture used..x.Keep crafting and smiling.xx

craftytrog said...

Another beauty Alison! You are the queen of backgrounds!
Alison xox

Nan G said...

Another superb tag Alison! Love all the textures and ...that bug. :) long distance Hugs Nan

Karen said...

Both beautiful ~ so many details and textures ~ you're right when you said that the metal grounds the piece, it's like the icing!

experiments in paper said...

Beautiful duo of tags.... I adore the depth on this one, and how those colors work together. And that top stem is absolutely on of my favorites. Those glazes are amazing, and wonderful how you've mixed them! Will have to look into the Primary Bark EP - love how it worked on your little beetle! So nice to see the inspiration stemming from your wonderful Skype session with Brenda and Nikki - such a lovely idea! Take care - xxx Lynn

Helen said...

Loving these ones as much if not more than the previous ones... take care and stay safe. Helen #4

scrappymo! said...

Beautyiful tags. I like these colour combinations.

Your work is always so uplifting. I enjoy it here and on your pinterest account!

Sue said...

This is really lovely Alison, both on its own and teamed with its partner. What a great idea to create a 3rd tag so that your die-cuts would coordinate perfectly. Have a very happy week and take care, Sue x

Valerie-Jael said...

Fantastic tag Alison, so beautiful, and love the bug - bugs on paper don't scare me like real ones. Have a great day, stay safe, hugs, Valerie

Meggymay said...

Another stunning project Alison. I'm happy you had some fun with the background stencils and have joined us over at Try it on Tuesdays.
Stay safe and well.
Yvonne xx

kathyinozarks said...

Beautiful piece I love it

Cocofolies said...

This is another fabulous tag!!! I adore your insect, so realistic.
And the two tags go together so well, wow. Beautiful... Waiting for the third one of course, now :)
Coco xx

Amanda said...

Another stunner, love the glazes lightly catching the light in the background a wonderful backdrop for the showpiece flower
Love
Amanda x

Diana Taylor said...

Wow, both these tags are stunners - I love the colours and the little beetle is just adorable. It's always so enjoyable and interesting to see how your work evolves, and I love how these are so different to each other but so perfect together.
Stay safe and well,
Diana x

froebelsternchen said...

Oh so utterly beautiful Alison. Adorable!!

Craftyfield said...

I like that one too... the background reads just like a meadow and the colours are so harmonious and subtle! x

Redanne said...

The tags look so, so beautiful together Alison! I really love the colours on your second tag and the bug is a fabulous addition - a stunning set of tags. Anne xx

My name is Erika. said...

You sure made that insect look real. I like this tag, and I happen to like insects-well not that ones that bit or get in the house/food, but some of them like bees and ladybugs are actually quite fascinating. OK, I am a geek. This tag is a nice match to your last one. Thanks for sharing with us at Try It On Tuesday. Hugs-Erika

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

These tags are fabulous, Alison. I really like how you gave yourself permission to let the embossing powder go astray on the words. Now I won't feel bad if that ever happens to me (grin). I have to admit, there's nothing subtle about these tags. Love the bee, too.

Anneke said...

This looks beautiful! I always love when blues and browns are used together! Thank you for your tutorial!

Neet said...

I do not like beetles and things like that but this one has captured my heart. Is it the way you have coloured him or what, I have no idea but I can now see beauty in him. Love how he is perched on the string as if he has just slowly crawled his way alongside the stem of the flower and stopped on the strings of a cobweb.
Of course the background plays an important part in the beauty of the tag itself and I like how you have placed it alongside the previous tag showing a depth in colour which is further enhanced in the third tag which you used to cut the flower from.
I did think you were going to make a trio of tags and each one was going to use the same palette but go darker as you went along. But I am sure your next project will be equally stunning, it always is.
Hugs, Neet xx

nwilliams6 said...

Totally cool! Love the techniques, the look, the color and the charm. Wow!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Gorgeous and love the bug!!!

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome tag, Alison! That insect looks quite real!

pearshapedcrafting said...

What an amazing background! I'm so pleased that you didn't cover it.
Another fabulous entry for Try It On Tuesday! Thank you, Chrisxxx

Mrs.B said...

Love how you transformed that pale and delicate background adding depth with the meadow stamping and the wildflower looks fabulous in the same colour tones.
Another beauty, so thanks for linking up to Try it on Tuesday, Avril xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Nearly missed this one which would have been a great shame. I love the little bug it's a great finishing touch. Have a lovely creative week, Angela xXx

Dorthe said...

Oh, oh, oh Alison, this is amazing , two so beautiful tags, - I love the glossyness the lovely colors - -your third tag is a fantastic beauty to cut the flowers from, giving them life ,and when put onto the gorgeous background - they both step out , wonderfully, and also belongs , just there.
I hope all is well ,and you are cosy and safe. Hugs, Dorthe

Helen said...

Gorgeous background on your awesome tag! Just so pretty! Thanks for joining us at Try it on Tuesday!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Love, love, love these Alison! Perfect colour choices and I love the elements employed. Absolutely stunning!! hugs xx

Joan said...

Fabulous tag, I love the colours you have used and the beautiful background

Thanks for joining us at Try It On Tuesday Challenge

Joan

Aimeslee Winans said...

Again, I love those soft backgrounds, especially the middle one. Ack, though. I cannot stand Tim's bugs they are a bit...lot too creepy real, haha. They look as nice as they possibly can on your art, though. :-))) xox

Cocofolies said...

Alison, this tag arrived safely yesterday at home, and this is such a beautiful, wonderful, delicate and exquisite gift that I don't know how to thank you!!!!!
I will certainly create something for you in a close future. I thank you for all, you literally spoiled me in several ways, I also adore your words set, wow!
You're a true kind and unique person, thank you SO MUCH my dearest Alison.
Sending much love to you, despite the barrier of language and frontiers, consider me as a friend... and don't hesistate to ask me anything you would need or wish at any time too :)
Corinne xxxx