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 6 November 2020

Dreams, Thoughts, Moments

Hello all, and thank you so much for stopping by.  I'm in denial about the date (moving is imminent), but I can't deny that it's Friday and time for a new challenge at A Vintage Journey.  The wonderful Toni is our host, and she's looking for Pairs, Trios and Sets.  This is definitely a challenge after my own heart - I create in pairs, trios and sets more often than not, so here's what I came up with...

There's obviously a wealth of inspiration from my fellow Creative Guides over at A Vintage Journey, but before you go, let me share a few close-ups and details of this leafy tag trio.  I'll try to keep it short, as I don't have many spare moments as I try to bring my dreams and thoughts to fruition by moving to a new country in the middle of a global pandemic!!

I'm mostly crafting in quick sessions and then throwing things together from those sessions.  So the backgrounds were from some quick inky playtime to start the day before packing.

There are both Distress Inks and Oxides here - a range of colours, not sure I can be comprehensive with a list of colours...


... but somewhere in there are definitely Vintage Photo, Crackling Campfire, Faded Jeans, Broken China, Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge, Stormy Sky.


And then just lots of dipping and smooshing and water-spritzing, always drying between layers to get the inky splotches I love.

The other crafting session was one inspired by Tim Holtz's Saturday demo on leaf-making... not that I need any encouragement to make autumn leaves, as anyone who's been paying attention around here lately could tell you.


But I did have a lovely time playing with inks, dies, embossing folders, stamps, mica sprays, and gilding wax to create this pile of leaves ready for shushling through.

Many are cut using the Fall Foliage Thinlits dies, some of which have stamping to give the impression of vein texture while some have the wonderful 3D Leaf Veins embossing folder adding glorious actual impressions.

Some come with their own embossing built in - the dark Impresslit leaves, for instance...


And some come with their own embossing folder included with the die - these large Layered Leaf ones, which have been longtime favourites.


The shimmers of Treasure Gold White Fire gilding wax add to the burnishing of the Distress Mica Spray which you can see gleaming in places.

So, with the backgrounds and the leaves all ready to go, it was just a question of grabbing a couple of other bits and bobs to create my little collages for each tag.  I try to position things so that it creates a nice journey for the eyes travelling from tag to tag as well as looking at the whole set.


Photobooth photos often seem to do the trick.  They're really useful when you're creating a set or group because you have an element which is the same, but always different because each face, each personality is different.

Though I will confess I deliberately sought out some nice cheerful expressions for this particular trio... trying to keep my own chin up as moving day draws closer and there still seems to be a LOT to do.

The cheesecloth scraps serve a double function - creating a pale layer between the leaves and the background, so that they show up better...


... and creating lots of movement and delicious organic randomness with the frayed threads escaping all over the shop.


The film strip offers great vertical architecture to give the otherwise organic and scruffy collaging a sense of structure.

It also catches the light beautifully - which, as regulars will know, is an ongoing obsession in my creative journey.

There have to be words - this is Words and Pictures after all...


... so I did a bit of snipping of some Quote Chips to get individual words to suit my mood and the look of the tags.

And a bit of Rusty Hinge/Crackling Campfire/Vintage Photo blending around the edges makes them pop as well as tone in with the autumnal theme all around them.


Some simple fine twine to top things off, and we're pretty much there, I think.

I hope you'll be inspired to create some Pairs, Trios or Sets this month with us.


There are some wonderful projects over at A Vintage Journey to help kick you into action so do take a look.


As always, we'll be picking some of our favourites to feature on our Pinworthies Pinterest boards at the end of the month.  So I hope we'll see you somewhere down the road with your group projects!!


Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Stay safe, stay well out there - or even better, stay in and stay creative.  See you all again soon.

How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and colour are their last days.
John Burroughs

Country View Challenges are playing Anything But A Card this month so I'd like to play along

At Tag Tuesday the new theme for this fortnight is Texture - plenty of that going on here!

Almost all these leaves are dry Embossed so I'm sharing them at Try It On Tuesday

32 comments:

My name is Erika. said...

Before I get carried away and forget, thanks for sharing at Try It on Tuesday. The carry away part is for those leaves. Holy cow. They are absolutely amazing Alison. I think I might need to play around and make some leaves. And your tags are great.The blue and rust works so well together. These are another great set of tags. Happy Friday. Hugs-Erika

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I had to laugh because I read completely through this post wondering where Paris came in. At the very end, I realized I had misread Pairs for Paris. DUH. I went back and reread in great detail, really enjoying the beauty of these tags. They truly DO work well together, especially since you used many of the same/similar elements in all three. The leaves are unbelievable. I think I need a die cutting machine that will make these incredible leaves. And the photo booth people all go so well together, too. But of course, I can't forget the cheesecloth and the lush backgrounds. But still, those leaves really DO bring out the beauty of these tags. AWESOME, Alison.

I wish I lived closer. I'd be glad to help you pack and move. I enjoy organizing and packing. PLEASE keep us updated.

Helen said...

I love this pile of leaves, they look so real Gorgeous tags, as always, texture, colour, everything is perfect. Good luck with the rest of your packing. You are very brave.

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful tags Alison, love the rusty look and the leaves. Thanks so much for joining us at Tag Tuesday, much appreciated. Have a great weekend, Valerie

Cestina said...

You need to arrive here complete with those leaves - we have gone overnight from a scattering of golden red leaves still on the trees to bare branches rimed with frost. So pretty, so maybe we won't stick yours onto the trees...
xxx

Lys said...

Fabulous trio of tags, Alison. The leaves are just beautiful, and I love your delicate pale background to reveal them at their best. Warmful sight. My best thoughts for your moving.

Nan G said...

Oh I’d love to go ‘shushling’ through those leaves! They are so beyond fabulous. Your tags are a delight for the eyes dear Alison. I shall enjoy studying them while I start my holiday paintings. All the best with the finish up of packing and the move. I hope the latest lockdowns does not delay it. Warm hugs.

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what an amazing trio of tags! The background texture and colours of the inks are so beautiful and I love the leaves that you created, they look so real - stunning 😀. I hope your packing is going well, not sure how we find ourselves a week into November already! Thanks for the inspiration and Happy November packing and travels! Hugs, Jo x

Helen said...

Absolutely stunning set of tags!! LOVE all you did on these!! Thanks for joining us at Try it on Tuesday!

WendyK said...

Absolutely wonderful, fantastic texture and colours, my very favourite. Thank you so much for sharing with us on Tag Tuesday. Keep safe, Wendy.

Neet said...

I remember having a brown coat as a youngster and mum bought me a turquoise scarf to go with it and I loved the outfit - think I was about eight so it is a long long time ago. Your beautiful tags with their blue and rust reminded me of those happy days of childhood and I must say how beautiful the two contrasting colours are.
As for you watching TH doing leaves, I reckon you could teach him a thing or two - the leaves are so realistic they are unreal. If you follow my thoughts on that contrary sentence.
A trio of absolutely beautiful tags, each leading from one to the other seamlessly. I just don't know how you manage to do it every time - and with so much going on in your life at the moment.
Brilliantly beautiful.
Hugs, Neet xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a fabulous trio Alison, I can't imagine where your head must be right now but here you are creating these beauties and shrugging it off as 'throwing things together' Of course, you had the the tags and those fabulous leaves but these look nothing like thrown together, all individually beautiful and collectively a truly beautiful group of art! Good Luck with the move - it sounds as though it's going to look beautiful when you get there! Whoops nearly forgot, Thank you so much for joining us at Try It On Tuesday. Stay safe, Hugs, Chrisxx

craftytrog said...

Such luscious layers, these are simply stunning Alison! xx

experiments in paper said...

Fabulous backgrounds in and of themselves - I'm swooning! And those leaves!! I somehow missed notice of both of those Tim & Mario live sessions, so have been catching up, and this trio is fantastic inspiration! As are your IG posts - you've been busy! Thinking of you, and wishing you snooth sailing with the move (though I think it is more likely all driving)....look forward to hearing about the journey and settling into your new home and crafting space! xxx Lynn

Craftyfield said...

The splattered Distress inks background is just gorgeous, Alison! And the leaves... luscious colours and glints of gold, superb. Haven't got around catching up on Tim's demo yet so that's something to do during lockdown...

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Great tags and gorgeous inky backgrounds. Loving the colours and the leaves with their beautiful texture. Wishing you a lovely creative weekend, Angela xXx

Cocofolies said...

Wow and wow!!!!
A fabulous trio of tags. I adore your leaves, I really wanted to have a try today on Tim's technique, based on your amazing samples.
Will do it either this week-end if I can, or at the beginning of next week! Will not resist any longer!! :)
Enjoy your week-end, I hope it will be a beautiful one for you my friend. Corinne xx

Sue said...

Alison these tags are amazing! I really love the backgrounds, and the leaves are just perfect, so much detail! I have these photobooth pictures somewhere but I don't think they have ever come out of the packet, I shal have to remedy that! Good luck with your ongoing packing, and have a very happy weekend, Sue xx

Mia said...

Alison, your tags are amazing!
Thank you so much for entering our challenge at Try it on Tuesday. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
Regards,
Mia
Designer for Try it on Tuesday
craftartista.blogspot.com {My Blog}

Christine Alexander said...

Alison I keep looking at all the wonderful layers of colour on all your elements. Love the tags :)

Margaret Mifsud said...

Looooove the inky backgrounds on these tags Alison. Your choice of colour is simply awesome and the leaves you created look so real .. I can just imagine them crinkling in your hands. Fabulously layered elements too. A truly beautiful trio of tags. Hope the packing is going smoothly and that you are able to move when you are ready. hugs xx

Redanne said...

The tags are gorgeous Alison, such a beautiful mist of colours and those leaves - they are stunning!

I hope you get to the end of your packing and are able to make the move as and when you are ready. Keep safe and well. Anne xx

pinky said...

Alison your tags are just so DAMN good!! I could stare at them all day. The process you shared is truly professional and I am just in love with your work. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Tag Tuesday xx

Marci said...

Your leaves are gorgeous! I don't know how you are making wonderful projects in the middle of packing and getting ready to move. I hope all goes well for you.

Jennie Atkinson said...

Stunning inky backgrounds and the best leaves I have ever seen! What a wonderful trio of tags Alison ..... just gorgeous x

Mac Mable said...

What amazing leaves, textural, autumnal and down right fabulous x. Wonderful trio of tags with glorious colours and design layouts. These tags look like you are in your happy place Alison....I love them x. Continuing to think about you and the move and sending positive thoughts x.

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

PINNED these beauties! LOVE the backgrounds so much and those leaves are a WOW!!! Hope you are getting the moving over with soon.

Rika said...

Gorgeous set of tags!
i love the mix of materials.

Jane Elizabeth France said...

Oh my word!!!!!!.... I have never EVER seen such beautiful leaves, my jaw is actually on the floor, absolutely stunning!!

Lagene said...

Gorgeous tags! I absolutely love your rustic leaves!

Monika Gulyas said...

Beautiful tag trio!!! I love your autumn colours and the textures!!! Your leaves look so realistic!!! Wonderful design!!! Thank you for joining the November challenge of the Country View Challenges!

sarascloset said...

My oh, MY! Look at these beautiful tags with those luscious backgrounds and incredible leaves! Love these and it's no wonder they were selected as favorites among the entries at Country View! I hope you are settling in at your new home and enjoying this Christmas season. I think of you often; just no time or inclination, I guess to sit at the computer.