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...

Monday 26 October 2020

Insects of Doom for Simon Says Stamp

Hello all.  It's my final week in the Designer Spotlight over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  It really has been an honour and a delight to create alongside the brilliant team there, so many thanks to Lols, SSS and the team for having me.


I'll admit the theme for this week slightly stumped me at first... we are playing Movie Inspiration.  But then I had a brainwave about some tag backgrounds which I had brought back with me from the Czech Republic, not having found anything in my travelling stash that worked with them, and everything followed from there.

So here are my tags inspired by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  It's not my favourite of the Indiana Jones films, but even then it's still head and shoulders above so many other adventure films, and I'm always happy to watch it if I happen to catch it when it's on.

To be honest, I'll happily watch Harrison Ford in pretty much anything, but Indy probably makes me happiest (with Han Solo vying for a tied first... oh, and the policeman hiding out with the Amish community in Witness - and The Fugitive - and Blade Runner, of course - okay, I love Harrison Ford... back to the crafting!).

These were the backgrounds which kicked the whole thing off... they looked to me like ancient stone walls, with cryptic inscriptions and plenty of blood spattered around the place.

I'd been going for a rusted look, but it works equally well as blood stains!  

And when I got back from CZ (where I'd been to liaise with the builders ready for my upcoming move), one of the parcels awaiting me was Tim's new Specimen stamp set.  As soon as I saw the giant insects, a huge lightbulb went on in my brain.

I suddenly remembered that scene where Indy and the boy are stuck in a rocky chamber underground... and poor Willie Scott (played by Kate Capshaw) has to gird her loins to deal with the huge bugs and centipedes crawling all over her...

... whilst putting her hand into a cavity heaving with even more of the creatures to pull a lever to save them...

... with the cogs and gears representing the machinery of the mechanism which she has to operate before the spikes on the walls closing in run right through Indy and Short Round...

... and all the while from the huge cavern beyond you can hear the chanting accompanying a blood magic ritual where the high priest pulls the heart out of a man's chest while he's still alive - hence the blood!

It really is one of the darkest of the films, with child slave labour, extreme poverty and starvation balanced against ridiculous wealth, torture and cruelty, black magic and the dark arts all playing a part.

But it still has all the usual Indiana Jones delights... solving historical mysteries which have bamboozled others for centuries...

... searching for ancient artefacts...

... while evading all sorts of weird and wonderful mechanisms designed to protect those artefacts from looters...

... and seeking the key to cryptic puzzles.

It's a rollicking ride from beginning to end and, of course, there's always the fabulous theme music to get the blood pumping too (sorry, more blood!).  I think it's probably pretty clear what I've used here - various Distress Inks and Oxides, including the vivid new Crackling Campfire colour playing blood, and Pumice Stone in the role of the rocky cavern walls. 

        

The insects are of course from the Specimen stamp set; the Faded Type stamp set provides the ancient inscriptions; while the Halloween Word Bands add a few reminders of the ingredients in an Indiana Jones script.  I hope you like them and I hope you'll be inspired to come and play along, letting us know the Movie Inspiration behind your creation.

Of course there's lots more inspiration from the amazing Simon Says Stamp Monday team over at the challenge blog, and as always they'll be highlighting some of their favourite entries at the end of the week. And one lucky randomly-generated winner will receive a Simon Says Stamp gift voucher and enjoy a little shopping spree.  


I hope you've enjoyed this month of projects for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge as much as I have.  I had to take a deep breath when saying yes, knowing I'd be in the midst of packing up to move while it was happening - but I thought it would be good to have something to force me to stay creative, and not let the moving stress take over my life completely, and so far that's exactly how it's been.  I've had a ball!


Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you're also finding ways to stay creative no matter what other stresses life is throwing at us all right now.  Stay safe, stay well, and I'll see you again soon.

"Look at this. It’s worthless — ten dollars from a vendor in the street. But I take it, I bury it in the sand for a thousand years, it becomes priceless."
"We do not follow maps to buried treasure, and X never, ever marks the spot."
"It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage."
Professor Indiana Jones

At Tag Tuesday they are playing All Hallow's Eve as the theme - well, I've no ghoulies or ghosties, but I do have some long-legged beasties, as well as plenty of gory bloodstains, so I hope these will fit in
And the same hope goes for Halloween Time over at Try It On Tuesday

#newbloggersucks

26 comments:

Anna-Karin said...

These three tags are fantastic Alison!! What a great idea for the challenge theme. The backgrounds with all the textures area wonderful and the insects look great. I got that stamp set too end of last week. I am so glad you joined us in the midst of packing. Good luck with your move and everything surrounding it!!

Karen said...

Terrific fall colors and metal work. I like the lacy add ons to.

Mrs.B said...

I'm sitting here squirming at the sight of that realistic looking beetle!
Fabulous tags Alison, the backgrounds look amazing and it definitely looks like dried blood to me, so definitely a great take on Halloween.
Thanks for sharing with us at Try it on Tuesday.
Avril xx

Maura said...

Awesome buggy tags, ALison!! I love those Indiana Jones movies, and I immediately pictured that scene you mentioned. Have a lovely week! Maura

Christine Kiehl said...

These are fantastic~! So creative!

Paper Profusion said...

Oh my word !!! You have my heart thumping reliving that movie!! It has been decades since I watched it in cinema but its all come flooding back! Quite partial to Harrison too! LOVE your tags!!! Very beautifully done and perfect pairing with the theme! Many congrats and very well done on managing to feature at Simon as well as so much else going on.

Stay well and safe, Nx

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful tag, although I am not a friend of creepy-crawlies! Thanks so much for joining us at Tag Tuesday and at TIOT, much appreciated. Have a good and safe week, hugs, Valerie

My name is Erika. said...

Clever inspiration Alison. That is a tough challenge but using those insects as you did is really a clever take on the challenge. I like these stamps because of their size. You used them well. Great tags! Hope all is well. Hugs-Erika

Michele said...

your tag trio is brilliant! so glad you linked to our challenge at tag tuesday! i love harrison ford aslo by the way! xo

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Great tags Alison. I am so in love with those insects. Happy creative week, Angela xXx

Christine Alexander said...

Wow Alison these tags are incredible. I love the colours, I know they are your usual palate :)

Anke said...

Oh Alison your tags are so beautiful.

Hugs
Anke

Lorraine A said...

Gorgeous tags Alison :-) I love the Indiana Jones theme!! the backgrounds are fabulous and the insects and details are just perfect!
I need to watch the film again, haven't seen it for years!

Thanks so much for being in the spotlight! It has been a fantastic month having you along with us and I am sure we'll get to do this again when you're all settled in your new home :-)
Good Luck with the move! I hope it all goes smoothly xx
Keep in touch!
luv
Lols x x x

Cestina said...

Oh an excellent take on the theme. If somewhat gruesome...xx

Helen said...

These tags are so creepy but so beautiful!!! LOVE them! Thanks for sharing with us at Try it on Tuesday!!!

Mac Mable said...

What fabulous tags with great stone like walls, ancient, grungy and a great take on the movie theme x. Thank you for the inspiration Alison x.

WendyK said...

Fantastic tags, love all the textures and composition. Brilliant as always, love your work. Thank you for sharing with us on Tag Tuesday.

Lagene said...

Beautiful creations, I especially love these insects and your description of the movie scenes.

Sue said...

Wow you do know your Indiana Jones don't you lol. They are really good films aren't they. I love your tags Alison, right from the very first picture they were fabulous, and they've just got better and better. Take care and carry on packing! (now there another film ;-) )x

Chrissy said...

What a great tag Alison, the colours and textures are stunning and I love the bugs..as long as they are on the tag I love them, not crawling around, then,not so much,but they belong here and look amazing, and the sentiment strip, the details, fabulous.

luv CHRISSYxx

craftytrog said...

Beautiful tags Alison, those backgrounds are scrumptious! xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh these bugs never looked better! LOVE the rust and grunge...so fun and yet so beautiful!

Redanne said...

I do love how you interpreted the theme, the rusty backgrounds work perfectly for blood and the bugs are just fabulous. The wire accents are great and the layered sentiments are a wonderful finishing touch. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing all your makes during your month at SSS. Anne xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Yes Alison, very suitable spooky, but despite the dried blood these are all so beautiful too! I must have watched that film a dozen times with my boys! A bit under the weather metaphorically and literally here, but we'll get through it! Hugs, Chrisx

Sandra Wright. said...

Awesome tags, the backgrounds are stunning.
Thank you so much for playing along in our challenge at Tag Tuesday x

Craftyfield said...

This made me smile from beginning to end... Harrison Ford does it for me too... and I love the way you illustrated Indiana Jones films with your tag. Lovely colours and details, beautifully done Alison!