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 17 July 2013

You'd better not shout; you'd better not cry...


You'll see why I'm worried that you might: yes, Santa Claus (or Father Christmas, as I've always known him) is coming to town - or at least to Words and Pictures - a good five and half months before he's due.  It's all Artistic Outpost's fault, not mine!!




Our bloghop theme this month is Christmas in July...

I know there are some incredibly organised people (unlike me) who like to get their Christmas crafting started good and early, so really this one's for you!

If you'd like to see what the rest of the DT have created, here's the full hop list of my amazing team-mates:
Gerrie, Lisa, Suzz, Tracy, Linda, Alison, Terry, Kate

And here's my contribution...  just look at all that wonderful Christmassy sunshine!









I decided to stick with simplicity, and let the amazing images from the Snowy Woods plate speak pretty much for themselves. 















This is one of AO's very few A4 sized stamp sheets - in fact maybe the only one? - and it's completely worth it.  

(Just look at that festive door... beautiful!)










Every single stamp is simply lovely.  And I've barely used half of them for this set of gift tags.











The images are stamped onto tea and coffee-stained tags, using blended Sepia and Coffee Archival inks.














Each tag has a white snowflake added, stamped in paint on separate tags and cut and inked for added definition.









I added a "dusting of snow" (a.k.a. gesso) around the edges, as you can see on these close-ups of some of the stamps.

Fabulously gnarled St. Nicholas...











Wonderful Gothic font in the sentiment... 



Astounding detail in the image of the poor chap tramping through the snow - just look at the trees in the forest, the toys in the woven hamper, and the little trumpet and tambourine at his side, never mind his shadow stretching away before him...  

I love this stamp.










And, of course, no tags of mine are complete without their little topping decoration.  Raffia, twine, and some shabbied up seam binding for these...









Thanks so much for dropping in today... If you want some more a-seasonal inspiration, do visit my teammates to see their wonderful creations.  If you get lost along the way, you'll find all the details here.

I know it's been a busy few days here at Words and Pictures, what with the romantic canvas for Our Creative Corner, the crazy salty ATCs for Fun With ATCs and now Christmas with Artistic Outpost... so let me just say again how much I appreciate your visits and your wonderful feedback.  It's a joy sharing this journey with such creative, generous, warm-hearted folk. Thank you!

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?
Bob Hope

I'd like to enter this over at the Stampotique Designers Challenge, where they'd like to see something Cleaner and Simpler than our usual style.

65 comments:

Brenda Brown said...

You have indeed been busy Alison and with such fabulous projects. These tags are gorgeous, with lovely images and stamping to create your special vintage appeal. They will be wonderful additions to presents and cards when Christmas comes around.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Helen said...

They look gorgeous!! Perhaps if I imagine a wintery scene it will help temper this heat we have here!!

Jenny Marples said...

Boy I bet this theme was a challenge! I remember how long you resisted the 'C' word last year:) Great tags - as you say, the images speak for themselves and it's definitely a case of less is more. Hugs, Jenny x

Sophie said...

Alison, das ist genau die richtige Zeit für Weihnachtskarten-und Tags.
Draußen ist es heiß und wir kühlen uns mit dem Weihnachts-Thema ab :-)
Ich liebe es <3
Das sind wunderschöne Tags, sie gefallen mir alle.

Liebe Grüße von Sophie

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous tags Alison, love their vintage sepia tones, just my kind of Christmas colours! Like you I am having a hard time thinking about Christmas and Christmas projects in July, but I must say, you have done very well here. Love this set of tags and as I actually own these stamps you have just about inspired me to pull them out when I get home. And that is saying something as the earliest I normally start is October, and I remember well, how you last year were at that time still firmly resisting Christmas with Linda's tag challenge :o)

froebelsternchen said...

they look so wonderful grungy and vintagy.. fantastic!!! and your other post with the salt is fantastic too dear Alsion...have a good day!

xxx Susi

May said...

Gorgeous tags, These stamps are amazing...Love how you have showcased them... they are added to my wish list, Have a great day... Hugs May x x x

chrissie said...

I thought I had slept for a few months when I saw the Heading--what a relief to find out that Christmas is still a very long way off lol.

Love the tags Alison and picture them on present wrapped in old fashioned brown paper with a beautiful ribbon.

Bob hope was right :)

Love Chrissie x

Rita said...

What magnificent tags Alison. I think I need to invest in those. The sepia looks beautiful. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx

Cestina said...

I love the Robert Frost one - may I make a plea for it on one of my presents? Wrapped of course, as usual, in brown paper as Chrissies guessed :-)
xx

Deborah said...

Oh I can't think of Santa in this heatwave! :-)But I do love your rustic tags.

Paper Profusion said...

Oh my gosh my golly!!! I have just got to get this stamp plate - these are wonderful Alison. Gorgeously done!

Having taken a break to enjoy the sunshine I now have completely lost the wherewithal to craft!

Nicola x

Mary Elizabeth said...

What a fabulous set of tags to showcase these stamps Alison. They are incredible (tags and stamps). The vintage/rustic feel of the tags are perfect for these stamps. Really loved the dusting of "snow" you added. I've got try that. It's been a busy week here at Words and Pictures. Honestly -- how do you get it all done??? I'm glad you did:) Gorgeous! -- Mary Elizabeth

Netty said...

oooh way to early for Christmas but love your beautifully stamped tags...now get out there and enjoy the sunshine girlfriend, hugs Annette x

Nan G said...

Beautiful vintage tags!

Maelchen said...

Thanks Alison, you faitful friend, for your sweet comments on my blog. As much as you seem to crave for Christmas, heehee, I live in the summer... I can hardly find the time to craft as the garden and its pleasure keeps calling for me. Nevertheless I can still appreciate the wonderful things you create! Thanks for sharing... And now, I too, dream of Christmas in July...
Greets, Manu

Gerrie Johnnic said...

What a wonderful way to showcase an entire stamp set!

Terry said...

Alison, adorable collection of Christmas tags! Love the neutral colors and splashes of wintery white! Hugs!

Inkypinkycraft said...

These look fab and some group groups images , great neutral colours too hugs trace x

Julie S said...

Love the vintagey colors you used. Beautiful tags.

Margaret said...

oh, I love these, Alison! The vintage old world images you used for the tags are wonderful!

Kate Yetter said...

Beautiful collection of tags, Alison. I love how you used the colored ink on neutral tags and kept it really simple. Very elegant!
Kate

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely muted tags Alison, the muted colour palette really allows the images to do the talking. Fabulous. Great design. Tracy x x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Great Chirstmas cards,great colours I love them!!

Greetings
Maria

Redanne said...

Beautiful vintage tags Alison and they would equally good on a card or used as tags - so versatile too! Hugs, Anne x

Carol Q said...

love the rustic feel of your tags Alison. works really well with thee traditional images.

Chrissy said...

Fabulous tag collection Alison..I so admire vintage images and colours, but just cannot do them..love these images and seniments..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Now this song is in my head grmblll :-)
Your tags are great Alison...so little colour and yet so expressive!

kind regards, Alie :-)

Hettie said...

It is never too early to start Christmas projects! And what a start you have made Alison. These are gorgeous!
xx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Great Christmas tags, wonderful vintage feeling.

Anonymous said...

Just catching up Alison so will check out your other projects next. Your tags are gorgeous, I love the images and the sepia tones. Sue C x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

OH these Christmas tags are GORGEOUS!!! Vintage and so perfect! I love each one!

Elly said...

Very refreshing with 30°C outside(:o)Have you ever been on a spanisch island with christmas? That's nearly the same. Walking in the sun and watching christmas trees here and there. But however, your tags look great. Love the vintage feel (:o)

Lisa Somerville said...

Fabulous vintage sepia Christmas Tags!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Love the sepia palette you created these in. They look fab with the dusting of gesso snow. Great idea to make a series of tags and won't they com in handy for labeling packages at Christmas? Terrific take on the challenge theme.

Hugs,
Linda

Unknown said...

A fab collection of tags. Love the imagery you've chosen. Chris xxx

hazel said...

A wonderful collection of Christmas tags.
xxx Hazel.

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous set of tags and envelope! Love the combination of kraft and the Sepia tones! Beautiful details!

toni said...

Merry Christmas Alison! These are fabulous vintage style tags. Love the stamps you've usedand the lovely sepia tones , gorgeous! X

Julia said...

Ah, I do so look forward to reading your blog posts and looking at your artwork. These are great, love the gesso with the sepia. Julia x

Yvonne Garner said...

Hi Alison! Beautiful tags. Love the colorations and how you allowed the images to stand front and center. Always enjoy your tag tops, too! You have been quite busy my friend! Take care.

sam21ski said...

Lovely set of tags Alison

Sam xx

Neet said...

Don't know what happened to my comment but I had a feeling it hadn't gone through.
I love these tags, so subtle in every way. You were right, the images speak for themselves and you have not taken anything away from them. Love the string you used.
Hugs, Neet xx

2amscrapper said...

I actually OWN this stamp set. I bought it because of the poor chap trudging in the snow--love that image. I've never used the set. You have inspired me to work with it. I love your sepia tones.

cathylynn said...

Each of your tags are gorgeous! The stamps are great and I always love your toppings! Great work!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Keren Tamir said...

another fabulous tag!! I just love it!! getting xmas ready very early WTG!!

Sam & Poppy said...

Just what we need in this hot weather, images of snow and things to cool us down! They're lovely Alison :)

House of Bears said...

Ohhh these are wonderful, we just love vintage Christmas themes, reminds us of our cubhood! We start off organised for Christmas, then we think 'meh' and abandon the organisation!

Gez Butterworth said...

WOW! LOVE these Alison. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for joining Stampotique Designer's Challenge this week. Gez

Lindsay Craftymonster81 said...

Really gorgeous, love those vintage images and the colour is fab
Lindsay xx

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

OHG, I cannot imagine making a Christmas related project when I am virtually melting right now lol :). Fabulous tags Alison and the images are lovely. Enjoy the hot weekend! xxx

craftimamma said...

Oh these are gorgeous Alison! There's nothing I like better than a 'rustic' Christmas and these fit the bill perfectly. The Father Christmas trudging through the snow is exactly like one I have on display at Christmas and although I love jolly red and white Santas, this one is my absolute favourite. I can just see gifts wrapped in Kraft paper, tied with string and one of these beauties!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Tracy said...

Oh my giddy aunt Alison..swoooon time every time I pop on over to admire and drool over your stunning art work!!
Truly stunning each and everyone!!
Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs
Tracy
xoxx

Dianne said...

You have showcased the beautifully, love vintage cards, the stamps are beautiful, they look fabulous on your tags, your girls are SCARING ME LOL, thanks for sharing..

Annie said...

Stunning tags Alison......thank goodness Santa is not coming to town yet!!!!! But you have made a start. Gorgeous images

Have a lovely weekend

Annie x

Sue said...

These are beautiful tags Alison, I love how your blended your inks and the fab gesso snow. I for one. So Christmas eh, not just yet thank you lol.
Thanks so much for playing along with us again at Stampotique, and enjoy your weekend. Sue xx

Kay Wallace said...

These are just so very beautiful, Alison! I love the vintage stamps, and your have presented them perfectly with your sepia inks and background. Your stamps may not be "clean and simple," but your presentation of them is...all elements beautifully choreographed! Bravo!

Lucy Edmondson said...

These are gorgeous, Alison! I will let you off for doing Christmas as you have used Snowy Woods which is nice and cooling and we need that at the moment but as I have shouted at Terry I guess I should shout at you too - it's TOO early! I am still quite happy with my AO non-Christmas crafting,

Lucy x

Shelby said...

Thanks for the reminder that I haven't done diddly for Christmas:) These vintage tags are just fantastic and whomever receives these will just be blown away

Shelby

Mrs.B said...

Hi Alison, gorgeous images that don't need anything - it would spoil that lovely vintage look.
Avril xx

Bonnie Irvine said...

Those stamps are incredibly detailed. I really like the combination of Sepia and Coffee ink. It lends such a lovely vintage feel. The repeated snowflake detail is lovely and adds subtle contrast. Great tags, Alison!

Bärbel said...

Wow, Alison, ich bin überwältigt von den Tags mit den wunderschönen Stempeln!

Kjersti said...

You have been busy lately Alison, have enjoyed being around for a while to be inspired of all your beautiful creations and art! Thanks!
Hugs Kjersti:)

Marjie Kemper said...

Love this pallete! Beautiful tags, as always. Thank goodness for bloglovin' as it let me catch up after absence for holidays. Hope all is well!

Kezzy said...

Wow these are beautiful, the stamps are just how I used to imagine Mr Clause to be. I love the sepia vintage tones you have used, amazing. Hugs kezzy :-) xxx