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 5 September 2012

Friendship Tag


Hello all, a very warm welcome to you all, and an especially big welcome to the new followers - it's an absolute pleasure to have your company for the journey.

I've got a little something today using a Stampsmith stamp which delights me... she's called Serena, and the piece is inspired by this month's Stampsmith challenge Bags and Tags.  It's a tag in a bag!

I used a tissue bag which actually came as part of the packaging in a delivery from the Funkie Junkie Boutique - waste not, want not, you know!  It's quite shiny so I wasn't sure how well it would take the images, but I'm delighted to say it worked very nicely.





I think it's such a beautiful image that the only stamps I was prepared to use alongside it were from my favourite floral set, the Autumn Leaves silhouette branches.  I like that they're slightly thorny, not straightforwardly 'pretty'.

Serena is stamped in Color Box Archival in Khaki Green, and the stems are in Ranger Coffee Archival.




As well as being shiny, the bag is also translucent, so there's a lovely ghostliness to the image... according to the light she's either there or not quite there, a quality which I love!








On the tag inside, the Serena image is stamped in the same ink, but this time onto tissue paper.  I did some wrinkle-free distress on the tag surface using Bundled Sage and Frayed Burlap, so there's a textured inkiness already there... and then I glued the tissue-stamped image down, getting some actual wrinkles involved as I did so.






(I tried to keep Serena's face relatively wrinkle-free, however - a girl's got her pride after all.)  I love this technique which I discovered while playing recently.  It gives a great vintage look, almost like fabric.






On the reverse of the tag is another Stampsmith stamp, this time a quote very close to my heart.  I've always loved it and was so happy when I saw that it was available - it's pretty time-consuming to stamp such a long sentiment letter by letter!




Again, I've stamped it on tissue paper, and before sticking it I blended some Bundled Sage over the tag first.  I edged the tag with Frayed Burlap, and I also wiped it lightly over the creased surface of the tissue paper to highlight the wrinkles a little.


The tiny rusty heart here, and the one on the outside of the bag, are cut from some rusty experimenting I've been doing as part of the Andy Skinner Timeworn Techniques course online.  (You can see the results of another experiment here, and there'll be more to come I'm sure.)



In fact the tiny tags are also backed onto the rust, but I forgot to turn them over so that you could see.  And on the back of the large heart it says "LAUGH", since that's the most important thing for me within a friendship...  The words are stamped with another of my £1 alphabets - incredible bargain buys from The Range; I have three different fonts.





I attached them with very fine burlap twine, as the piece seemed too delicate for the bulkier regular one.


I loved making this, so I'm thinking it may not be my last entry in this month's Bags and Tags challenge!


I'm entering this in the following:
The Stampsmith's September challenge Bags and Tags with a Stampsmith stamp
The Fashionable Stamping Challenge at the moment is Anything Floral or Handmade Flowers
Simon Says Stamp would like us to Put a Stamp On It
Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stamper challenge is Stamped Flowers at Ink on my Fingers
It may not qualify, as I didn't actually buy the bag, but it did come from the Funkie Junkie Boutique, and so I would like just to share it at the Sunday Share at Frilly and Funkie
Another go in the Heck of a Challenge inaugural Anything Goes

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.
Henry David Thoreau

Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer.
Anonymous

Friendship exists, clear and absolute from the beginning.  You don't make friends, you recognise them.
Isabel Paterson

44 comments:

Deborah said...

Wow, that is one stunning bag and tag. Just brilliant!

Hels Sheridan said...

Absolutely stunning creations... love the almost translucent bag, totes gorge! Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Stamper x

Anonymous said...

Hi Alison, Truly delicious. Love your tag. I am in awe Oh talented one.
Regards Florence x

JoZart Designs said...

Your bag and tag is just stunning and you have really captured an atmosphere in it!
joZarty x

Redanne said...

Hi Alison, this is gorgeous (apologies for using the same word all the time with your work but it really is gorgeous). That Stampsmith stamp is wonderful.

I love ordering from her as everything is so beautifully presented and your little bag is no exception. Crafty hugs, Anne x

Mrs.B said...

Hi Alison, what can I say - Just Beautiful!
Its a beautiful image and you have used her to perfection on the tissue.
Avril xx

Anonymous said...

Be still my heart.
Yes, Serena behaves so well on all manner of surfaces, she just never lets a stamper down!
Beautiful, ethereal quality to this which I adore and also the nature inspired colour choice.
Just quite stunning Alison.
Thank you for sharing with us at TSC and good luck with the Prize Draw.
Wishes
Lynne

Anonymous said...

Alison I have taken off my TSC cap and return with my FSC cap on :)
Beautiful take on the flowers theme at FSC.
Delicate and a favourite of mine is when pretty is juxtaposed with more rustic/natural elements.
Thank you for joining us at FSC this fortnight with those stunning creations.
Wishes
Lynne

Sophie said...

Ein traumhaftes Tag, so filigran und fein abgestimmt.
Eine wunderschöne Arbeit.

Ganz liebe Grüße xx

Nicecrane Designs said...

Wowww Alison love your vintage tag,,,so neat, so different, You asked me to sponsor your magazine,,,,and I said yes, I am waiting for your answeer about you need my friend.

Sonia said...

Just wonderful card ^_^
Thanks for joining us at Heck of a Challenge this month and good luck.
DT Sonia
http://passionidicarta-sonia.blogspot.it/

Janny Jager said...

Your tag and bag are very very beautiful.
Love every thing you used.

Greetings Janny

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A breathtaking creation. Wonderful romantic look. Thanks for joining us at FSC this fortnight.

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

It's absolutely stunning Alison! Love this image as well, and the vintage coloring is perfection!

House of Bears said...

This is stunning. What a fab image and a lovely sentiment to work with.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

You're a great artist Alison! THis looks amazing again,really enjoyed it!

All the best, greetings,Alie :-)

catherine said...

This is amazing Alison. i love reading how you create your work and so very creative you are
x catherine

Jenny Marples said...

And now I know what to do with my bag too!!! LOVE it. Such an ethereal image looking so soft with your choice of colours. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Buttons x

Cathy L. Calamas said...

oh my goodness, this is stunning.I'm a follower now. Thanks for stopping by my blog, too.

Patti P. said...

Alison, this may be my fave of yours, at least for today,lol. Love the softness to your image (which is beautiful) and love the technique....off to check out your link, have a great evening.
hugs....

Ali H said...

Hi Alison thanks for stopping by - this tag is beautiful so serene & moody (in a nice way !) - as you say a touch other worldly ! Thanks for sharing the techniques !
Ali #57

Mary said...

What a beautiful tag and your description you wrote make it all the more lovely. Thank you for visiting my site, because you did, I was able to find yours! I will be back! Good luck I've entered you into my blog-aversary drawing. Have a very crafty week.

May said...

Stunning... Gorgeous creation, so delicate the soft tones are so relaxing.. I could look at this for hours.. Beautiful! Hugs May x x x

Marjie Kemper said...

Oooh lah lah! This is SO incredibly gorgeous.... I can't get over how you were able to use that waxy bag surface. Thanks for the inspiration!

Michelle Webb said...

This is wonderful, so many cool ideas on the front and the back. I love it. Michelle x

toni said...

Fabulous work alison, I've got that stamp its beautiful and you have really done it justice with this creation

Cheryl said...

So soft and stunning! This is a gorgeous tag.

--Cheryl--

Stop by my blog to check out my {Belated} Birthday Blog Candy!

chrissie said...

Just Fantastic. Dreamy and adorable.

Love Chrissie xx

Claudia N. said...

This is so delicate, Alison!!!

And your idea of using the semi-transparent bag with this lovely tag is sooo creative! Stamping on paper tissue is so much fun! Keep on playing, please, so I can see some more!

Hugs,
die amelie xx

Gio said...

You are always so inspiring with your original pieces!

Rita said...

Apologies Alison for being so late with my comments this week. Really its all been said. I'd never heard of Stampsmith till recently and your Tag and Card are stunningly beautiful. Hugs Rita xx

Karen McAlpine said...

Love the way you repurposed the packaging bag. And, also like the idea of the sentiment on the back of the tag. Thank you for sharing your lovely creation with us at the Stampsmith Challenge!!

Lady E said...

Absolutely adorable! Lovely colours, so original! Great piece of art!
Thank you for joining us at Heck Of a Challenge!
Good Luck!
Hugs
Lady E xx

Candy C said...

WOW...this translucent gift bag with the tag tucked inside. It is amazing! LOVE IT!!! So vintage feeling and such a beautiful piece! You are so talented! Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment about the Halloween steampunk skeleton tag. That stamp is amazing...you're gonna love it! <3 Candy

Shelby said...

This is a great way to use the bag and your work is so elegant and absolutely perfectly vintage!

Shelby

Bärbel said...

Das ist absolut großartig, Alison, ich liebe es, wie sie das Motiv gestempelt und gestaltet haben!
Ein schönes Wochenende!

Maisie Moonshine said...

Simply beautiful

Ana K. said...

What a beautiful tag...vintage and romantic, perfect for my taste!

Esther said...

A beautiful project - such gorgeous colours and techniques, love that tissue crinkled look and the subtlety of the image on the bag...Thanks so much for sharing with us at FSC...Esther xx

Yvonne Garner said...

Be still my heart! This is just gorgeous. Thanks for joining us at FSC! Best wishes, Yvonne

Sanna Saksija said...

Stamping on tissue paper, what a great idea! Have to give it a try since your tag looks so stunning. Thanks for your comment on my blog and have a nice week!

Debbie said...

Absolutely STUNNING! Love this technique and how you've made Serena more beautiful! Thank you for joining us at The Stampsmith Challenge!

Debbie
^..^

Julie Mutch said...

Wow, Alison, just stunning. I'm lovin' the tissue paper technique and the use of the rusty embellies - so much fun!
Thanks for joining us at The Stampsmith Challenge and all the best in the prize draw! :)
Hugs,
Julie

Marcea said...

Thankyou so much for joining us for STAMPtember at Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog with your wonderful creation. Good luck with all of the blog hop prizes xxx