Friday 24 January 2014

Lots of Love

Hello everyone, Alison (butterfly) here with a folded tag which I made as my mother's birthday card (these people with birthdays so close to Christmas...). I'm writing this before the birthday (though it will all be over by the time you're reading this) and I'm guessing that her complaint will be that there are no fungi amidst the undergrowth - I'll have to get Jennie onto that for the next stamp release! - but I hope she'll like it, nonetheless.

The folded wallet structure comes from Linda Coughlin's brilliant tags offered up as bonuses in her recent Funkie Junkie 12 Tags competition.  I loved making my version so much that I've added it to the repertoire!


I started with some wrinkle-free distress technique on a large tag - colours, I think, were Evergreen Bough, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint, inks and stains combined - and I also added a couple of spritzes of Perfect Pearls Blue Patina to the craft mat, so there are lovely touches of shimmer.


I gave the edges a good inking with Walnut Stain - I never tire of how this gives such depth to the colours and draws the eye inwards.  There are a couple of flower stamps on the outside cover: the little one is from Botanical Plate 1, and the larger head is from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica set...


... as is the little butterfly on the flap.  All the stamping is done in Archival Potting Soil.


I added some Idea-ology Foliage, positioning them so that the petals of the lower flower actually form the closure to tuck the tag behind (very pleased with this little brainwave - and it works beautifully!).


And then lots of painty splatter - one of my favourite things to do at the moment.  Once you open it up, you're heading into the undergrowth (seems I like it in the undergrowth!)...


Here you get the full version of Katy's large flower...


There's a little bug on the inside of the flap... bugs like to hide under things, I find, don't you?!


The layered background started with mopping up the leftover inks from the front cover's wrinkle-free distress - so you get a paler version of the same shades.


There's some stencilling: Evergreen Bough through the Artistic Stamper Splats and Swirls mask, and Broken China and Walnut Stain through the Tim Holtz Bubbles stencil.


Then I got going with one of the Tim Holtz flourishes to add some detail into the layers.


The gorgeous wording comes from the fairly new Grungy Greetings plate - what a font! - and it's stamped (Potting Soil still) onto kraft card, and layered over an inked book page (and I promise I didn't notice the words surrounding it until I was taking the photos...)


Closed up again, you get a full version of the flourish on the back, and a little butterfly stamp (from Unity) that, with my monogram, seems to be becoming my "signature".

Thanks for stopping by today.  You've still got time to play along in our challenge this month: Love Is In The Air.  With Valentine's Day around the corner, I'm betting you've been working on something that fits the bill.  You don't have to use Artistic Stamper stamps on your project, but if you do you get two entries into the prize draw!!  Hope to see you there...

Ingredients used:
Artistic Stamper Stamps: Botanical Plate 1, Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica, Grungy Greetings
Artistic Stamper Mask: Splats and Swirls
Distress Inks and Distress Stains: Evergreen Bough, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain
Tim Holtz stencils - I used Bubbles but you could use any of these
White acrylic paint
Idea-ology Foliage
Large Tag - size 10
From my stash: Tim Holtz flourish by Stampers Anonymous (lots of lovely alternative possibilities here), Unity butterfly stamp, book pages,

38 comments:

massofhair said...

Stunning Tag Card Alison, loving all those layers & colours, spring like and lush.

Everything is perfect, the wording and stenciling really transforms it into a 3D look :-) xxx

Nan G said...

Oh my! Wow! A fabulous tag. Your layering of ink/stains/stamps never ceases to amaze me!

Mona Pendleton said...

So very pretty Alison! Love the pretty color palette! The splashes of white look like beautiful shimmery goodness!

Helen said...

This is fabulous, Alison, and I am sure your Mum loved it too... the flowers are wonderful, well everything is!

Brenda Brown said...

Gorgeous Alison. Xx

Deborah Wainwright said...

Alison this card tag is stunning. I love the colours you have used and the grungy sentiments are fab. Thank you for sharing your process fantastic as usual xx

froebelsternchen said...

GORGEOUS --- this is such a wonderful creation! AMAZING!

Craftyfield said...

Gorgeous make! Difficult to believe you started with a blank piece of card...

Sid said...

Loving the colours !

Artyjen said...

Great inkyness going on... Like the closure idea ;)
xoxo Sioux

Artyjen said...

Great inkyness going on... Like the closure idea ;)
xoxo Sioux

Ink Art Designs said...

Such beautiful colours...so perfect for the feel that you wanted to achieve. Totally gorgeous! Love these stamps too...
Dot x

Redanne said...

The colours, the design, the splashes, the way it closes - all wonderful - and then the stamps - just gorgeous! Anne x

Astrid Maclean said...

Loving the beautiful colours Alison and the closing is genius!! The inside is lovely too with all those stamped and stenciled layers! I'm sure it will be much appreciated even without the mushrooms...

Astrid Maclean said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cestina said...

Where are the fungi? ;-)

It's just lovely - has pride of place on the mantelpiece. (I'm astonished to find that's spelled "el" not "le".....)

Sue said...

This is beautiful, I love the yellow/green combo and the way every layer shows through - just perfect xx

hazel said...

A gorgeous tag card, the colours are beautiful- your mum must have loved it.
xxx Hazel.

rachel said...

this is just amazing - love the burst of colour - beautiful xx

cathylynn said...

At first I thought it was a purse. Never the less this is a gorgeous creation. Love those flowers and each stamp is marvelous! I think my fav is the bug under the flap. How clever you are!!!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Paper Profusion said...

Happy Birthday Alison's Mum! I'm sure she will treasure this wonderful tag /pouch with such beautiful techniques. Nicola x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Just fabulous Alison - so inspirational x

Elly said...

Love the colour and the splatters. I think i have a new use for giant tags now (:o)

pearshapedcrafting said...

So beautiful, the colour, the stamps and the fact that it's another folded tag! Bet your Mum loved it! Chrisx

Cocofolies said...

Fab, fab, fab...!!!! Coco x

Clare Lloyd said...

It is gorgeous Alison.

Dorthe said...

Alison, it is a gorgeous card, -beautiful colours and stamps, and your way of treating it all, makes it a magical birthday card - yes the closure is a wonderful idea, too-
Hugs,-Dorthe

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! I love the little insect hiding under the flap.

May said...

Stunning work Alison, Your dear Mum will treasure this I'm sure... the detail, colour, stamping & the spatter is Fabulous....Hugs May x x x

Anonymous said...

Gorgeously ink tag/card with the addition of the shimmer spray.
The butterfly on the flap is beautiful.
Wishes
Lynne

Meihsia Liu said...

Such a beautiful creation, Allison. The color scheme is gorgeous! :)

Julie Lee said...

Nipped over yesterday but couldn't find it. So glad I tried today. This is lovely. Gorgeous colours and great stamping. I love your brainwave with the foliage too! Linda's idea with the tags is a great one; I've used it lots for little notes to people. This interpretation is exquisite. Julie Ann xxx

Dianne said...

Glad I finally got to see this, all made with love singing all over,the colors are eekks my favorites, gorgeous stamping,those flowers are fabulous,it's awesome to see perfection in the making, thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Birthday to your Mom..((( BIG HUGS )))..

Annie said...

Wonderful colours and stamps. I am sure your mum will treasure it Alison

Hugs Annie x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Such a gorgeous creation.

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

Wow !!! gorgeous card !!

craftytrog said...

Simply gorgeous!!! xxx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning folded tag. I love the greens, and the wrinkle free distress technique really does look amazing. I love all the stamps you used. Kezzy :-) xxx