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Sunday 9 August 2020

Corrugated Quotes

Hello everyone!  I hope you're doing well, and not suffering too much in the heat (if that's what's happening where you are!).  I wanted to pop in to share probably my favourite samples from my latest round of stamp releases, launched by PaperArtsy in June.  It's a lo-o-ong one, so grab a cup of whatever keeps you going!


There's one sample for each of the stamp sets, so one quote comes from EAB18 Gardens & Growth, one from EAB19 Life & Living, and one from EAB20 Night & Day.  The colours for each were specific to each stamp set, but intended to co-ordinate overall with one another, so these work beautifully as a trio.








I was going to try to write this post in New Blogger, but then I decided I didn't want to waste my time getting frustrated.














For as long as Legacy is here, I'm sticking with it.  I can write a complex post very quickly.  With N.B. even the simplest post is a trial.














But on to happier things... this trio of tags.  You can see what they have in common... the Paper Dolls, the regular-sized colourful tag mounted over corrugated cardboard...
















... the Tim Holtz Wildflower thinlits and Lin Brown's fabulous grasses from PaperArtsy ELB30.  These grasses always seem to play a part in my quote stamp samples, and here they are in triplicate!














I was also enjoying playing with 3D quotes with these arched banners.  Some of them were done on acetate (check out Double Sided Acetate if you missed those ones) but on two of these I went with a more conventional substrate for my arched words.








What's great about this technique is that you can use a quote that might be just a bit too wide to fit on the card or tag and still get it all on!















Let me take you through a few process pictures so you can see how they all came together, but mostly I'm going to share pretty close-ups, so feel free to scroll on and enjoy those!














Let's start with EAB18 Gardens & Growth (might as well go in number order so that I don't get completely confused!!).

I stamped the grasses in paint over a brayered background - there's a lovely softness to the paint stamping, as though the grasses are blowing in the wind.














I decided to have another layer of stamping, so this Hot Picks wildflower stem appears in Leaf Green Archival.  I stamped the stem again upside down to make it long enough, and you get one of those lovely knotty bits in the stem into the bargain - very true to life.













I cut the Thinlits stems from another piece of painted card, and used more Fresco paints to add the petal details. 













Some are tucked behind the tag, and some are layered on top.  It all adds depth and dimension.















The twisting cotton thread adds movement and intricate detail.













The quote is stamped in Leaf Green Archival and clear-embossed so you get that little touch of gloss to catch the light.













And I blended on a little bit of co-ordinating paint around the edges to draw the eye in towards the words, before fixing it in place with a couple of Idea-ology fasteners.















I love this little girl, so I'll forgive her for picking flowers in my garden!














Onwards to EAB19 Life & Living...  a quick look at the early stages first.  For this, I used one of a pair of sponged tags (you've seen the other in action already on the Life & Living acetate tag linked to above).














This time the grasses are stamped in Archival so you get that lovely sharp look.  I combined Leaf Green and Olive Archival inks directly on the stamp for a slightly variegated look.














The tag I cut some of the Wildflower thinlits from was a bit dark, so I sponged on some gesso and got this really lovely mottled look.













And you'll see that others have a little bit of script stamping to add extra detail.

Again the cotton thread swirls around to help give a sense of movement and life.  (Ignore the little seedpod near the bottom star - it's not a permanent fixture.  I was photographing outside.)













Speaking of the stars - they're moulded in paperclay in one of the Finnabair silicone moulds.













Since it's clearly twilight, I thought the stars might just be starting to appear.

I gave them a rough coating of white embossing powder so that they would be the same colour as the text stamping, rather than just having the plain paperclay matte finish.












And there's another segue to the white-embossed words themselves.  Since the colour palette for the Life & Living samples included the lovely Lavender and Wisteria Fresco paints, I decided to echo the twilit sky at the top of the tag for the quote down at the bottom.











It brings those soft purple tones to the fore on the panel as a whole.  It's fastened in the same way as the one on the Gardens & Growth panel, even though this quote would have fitted lying flat.













The boy is one of my all-time favourite Paper Dolls, so it's only fitting that he takes his place on this, with one of my favourite quotes (by Oscar Wilde).















And it may also be my favourite of all the samples.

(Sshhh, don't tell the others - and in any case the Gardens & Growth girl and tag is such a close second as to make no odds!). 















And so to Night & Day... (This post has probably taken you all day and all night so that seems appropriate!).  I don't seem to have anything in the way of process photos for this one, but you get the idea by now.















The ombre tag in the background is another sponged affair - I love the subtle blending capability a natural sponge gives you.  (Again, you can see its partner in the acetate tags linked before - you get a better look at the effect there.)














And I think here we're probably at the start of the day...  throwing open the windows to the day.  The window might be very weathered (with PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze), but it still lets in the golden dawn light.
















The Thinlits stems here play the role of the ripening corn...













... as do the grasses, stamped in Pumice Stone against the sky.














The quote is stamped in some Stampendous powder which happily echoes the Sky Fresco paint of the background, as well as catching the light to make me happy!













I decided I really wanted to include the author of the words this time.  Quite apart from anything else it adds an important balancing element to the composition of the whole piece down there at the foot of the panel.














Our Paper Doll looks more than ready to throw his heart into his day's work, whatever that may be, but however high his heart is leaping... 















... his feet are firmly grounded on some Idea-ology Design Tape.
















Phew, I think we made it!  I hope you like them as much as I do.  I really enjoyed creating this triptych... even though it was an unconscious one.  I didn't plan it like this from the start.

They weren't made together... each was created along with the samples for the rest of that quote set, but as the days progressed I obviously gave in to letting them echo one another, and by this third panel, it was a conscious process.























I wanted the Lin Brown grasses again, so I used them again.  I wanted some more corrugated card,  so I grabbed some more.  I wanted the Wildflower Thinlits to add another layer, so I let myself have them.  I wanted another arched quote, so I made one.

And by the end I was a happy woman.  As a triptych, they're one of my favourite makes of all time, all the better for being slightly accidental.  Serendipity is a wonderful thing.



















Thank you so much for stopping by today.  As you know, this blog is as much my own personal scrapbook for my creations as anything else.

It's an endlessly happy bonus to have your company as I keep my records of what I did and how.  For that, and for your lovely comments and for the inspiration I find as I hop around Craftyblogland, you have my thanks now and always.  Stay safe, stay well everybody.

I am working here (in Amsterdam) on my last big triptych, which will be a tremendous story, and which gives me a more intense life and exhilaration. My God, life is worth living!
Max Beckmann

22 comments:

Karen said...

Wonderful colors, details and quotes ~ I can't pick a favorite, I like them all! Blessings on the week ahead

kathyinozarks said...

Hi Your tags are gorgeous-I love them
Kathy

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous trio of tags Alison, love the light and airy feel to the backgrounds and those wonderful quotes.
Off for a catch up.
Avril xx

Helen said...

having done my Kew post yesterday on new blogger I decided you were right with your comments and don't like it... why everything has to be "fixed" I don't know... Anyway, to better things - your tags are fantastic and I love the nonchalant leaning on the window!

Mac Mable said...

Glorious colours and texture and wonderful attention to detail....A fabulous trio of tags and of course wonderful sentiments x.

My name is Erika. said...

These tags are wonderful summer pieces Alison. I love partially striped corrugated cardboard. It makes such a cool effect. And I am always surprised by those TH found relatives when one of them reminds me of someone. The gentleman you used reminds me of a friend. Hope August is going well! Hugs-Erika

Christine Alexander said...

Alison I love how you layered the backgrounds, so pretty :)

scrappergirl56 said...

Fabulous tags and like you say, work so well together. Strange how things work themselves out when we let them...spoken from a complete control freak!!!

Fonda said...

I'm always happy to see your creations. I love the pale greens.

Neet said...

Nothing nicer than a lazy sunny afternoon sitting outside sipping an iced lemonade whilst looking at this blog post. Lovely!
Absolutely beautiful work as always Alison.
Love the texture from the corrugated card to begin with and then all of the additional pieces, especially the crackled bits. Each tag telling a story and yet matching perfectly. I am sure you could weave a wonderful tale around these three.
hugs, Neet xx

Unknown said...

Amsterdam, that is inspiration on it's own. Enjoy.
These three tags do not disappoint, your work never does! I love them and everything about them. I like them all equally but if I had to pick a favourite, it would be the girl with the flowers. I like the colour choices and the quotes seem to belong to them. :) Thank you Alison for sharing your "scrapbook" of art.

Meggymay said...

Fabulous tags Alison and your word stamp quotes are super additions. It has been a pleasure for me to read your post today.
Stay safe.
Yvonne xx

Lagene said...

Your tags amaze me, they are FANTASTIC!

Redanne said...

I can really understand why you are happy, they are a delight. I love corrugated card, it adds such lovely texture and dimension. The background stamping highlights the beautiful die cut flowers, the window is a lovely addition for the guy to lean against (I love that part). The quotes are beautifully highlighted too! Keep safe and well. Anne xx

Chrissy said...

A great way to use up corrugated card Alison, I love how you added your tags onto it, and love the leaf/branch dies, the window is fabulous,and I love to read all the quotes..

Luv CHRISSYxx

craftytrog said...

A gorgeous trio of tags Alison! I love that corrugated texture!
Hope you're having a lovely week,
Alison xx

Paper Profusion said...

What a feast! These are so very lovely Alison! I've just been looking at your new quote stamps - congratulations - so glad for you that your love of words has been such a success. All elements look wonderful and combine beautifully. I'm having quite a panic attack though to read that there is a new version of blogger! H'mmmm, there's no way back for me so! I hope that you are very well and that all is as well as possible with you and yours. Nicola x

Sue said...

Such beautiful tags! You always amaze me with how much you can get on a tag, but it never looks too busy or cluttered. Corrugated card is the best isn't it! Who on Earth thought that new Blogger was a good idea, I spent 10 minutes trying to remove a photo and ended up having to start again, grrrr!!! Have a great day, Sue xx

sarascloset said...

My goodness, Alison, it's been a great long while since I've left a comment on your lovely blog! But it's not without taking a peek every now and again. I have no excuses other than I've just gotten out of my routine, and have lost my desire to spend much time at all in front of my computer. But, I have missed your wonderful eye candy, but more than that, reading your words. It does my heart good to see that someone can still write well these days!

Oh, but I do love this trio of tags and the stories they tell. You may have your favorite, but mine is the man ready for his day's work.

I've got plenty of catching up to do, and perhaps someday I will, but more than likely will only be able to leave a comment every now and again. I do have to say I enjoyed seeing and hearing you on your You Tube interview and was delighted to know you are even more delightful 'in person'. What a wonderful sense of humor and zest for life you have!

pearshapedcrafting said...

I love this trio Alison! I finally made my mind up on the choice of word stamps - you will probably wiill guess which one! Hugs, Chrisx

Craftyfield said...

A fabulous trio! Amazing you could craft with gusto with the hot weather too... I'm looking forward to renewed oomph this weekend with the cooler temperatures! x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Your quotes are so meaningful and great to read. LOVE the images on each and the corrugate backgrounds make these extra special .