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...

Sunday 18 August 2013

The Coffee Guys




Hello everyone!



I'm so happy to be back online!  Thank you so much for your loyal visiting while I've been out of action... I'll be doing my best to catch up on some visiting in the next couple of days.


I'm here with a quick tag today, using the wonderful Coffee Guys (that's what they're called in my head) from the Generation Redux set by Artistic Outpost.


I stuck to the neutrals again for this one (there's been plenty of colour around here lately, after all)... lots of Pumice Stone DI, Sepia and Coffee Archival and, of course, some corrugated cardboard.












I cut the cardboard to a tag shape, and peeled off some of the paper, before giving the whole thing a rough coat of gesso.

I tore one of the Tim Holtz Crowded Attic paper stash papers to create an extra background layer, and added some texture stamping with the bubble-wrap stamp (also from the Generation Redux set).













The Coffee Guys themselves are stamped in Sepia and Coffee Archival on a torn book page, gesso'd first so that the image stands out nice and clearly... but I love the look of the text hovering in the background.














The three words are from the Huck Finn stamp set... 















... and I stamped them in Sepia Archival (adding some Coffee to the stamp too in places)...














... onto some of the leftover bits of the Tim Holtz paper.













The coffee label and the numbers are from Generation Redux again...













... and stamped onto another bit of the gesso'd book page.















I've also added some more of my rusted bits and pieces... 













... some good old hardware straight from the DIY shop...












... and one of the Idea-ology hinge clips.












It's topped off with little bit of satin ribbon, happily the perfect colour to go with the subtle greys of the papers and the Pumice Stone used to edge everything, and tied with a bit of Idea-ology paper string.






So, that's me for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and, as I say, I hope to do some long overdue travelling around Craftyblogland to have a look at what you've all been up to recently.  See you soon!

Coffee - the favourite drink of the civilized world.
Thomas Jefferson

I'd like to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is Monochromatic


64 comments:

Nan G said...

Great layered tag, butterfly! You do 'rust' so well! Please do tell...!

Helen said...

It's beautiful, Alison! Enjoy your Sunday.

Yvonne Garner said...

Hi Alison! So glad your computer woes are gone. Great tag! One of my favorite AO plates, Generation Redux. Love your tip for Gessoing the book page for a cleaner image. Hope your weekend is going well.

Neil said...

Hi, love the colours and all the layers too. Thanks for sharing.

Inkypinkycraft said...

a gorgeous make Alison, love these guys and the colours you have used...the rusty bits are fab...just rusted a key myself for something ..wonder if we did it the same way...great that you are now back online . take care trace x

chrissie said...

Pleased you are back online Alison and hopw it stays that way now for you.

Great tag with terrific images and some beautiful rusty pieces.

Have a great day

Love Chrissie x

Redanne said...

Good to see you back Alison, you have been missed! Your tag is wonderful, I love the background you created and your rusting is fabulous. Hugs, Anne x

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous Alison, I love the mix of stamps you have used and the fabulous textures and colours. A superb tag. Glad you are sorted with the Internet again, it's amazing how big a part it plays in our lives isn't it?
Take care.
Hugs Brenda xxx

Tincan Crafter said...

OMG OMG OMG - loved the rusty parts - you know how much I am into rust right now!!!! You do some amazing collage work - I bet your house would be like a crafter's LSD or something, not that I have ever taken LSD - but I imagine seeing all your stuff would put me in a very happy place!

Von said...

Love the combination of the grey and the brown Alison :) lovely tag
Von ♥

brenda said...

This looks beautifully tactile Alison such a great combination of images and elements of interest.

Hope you have a good Sunday,

B x

Shirley said...

Lots to see Alison but I especially love all the muted colours.

Crafty hugs from Shirl x x x

Amanda said...

Alison, fab tag love your signature colouring, dimension and textures. I feel your Internet pain mine is currently up and down and resolving it quite painful!! But glad you're back
Love
Amanda x

Dagmar said...

Wow Alison, it's such a fantastic Tag - great work!

Cocofolies said...

What a great and wonderful tag Alison !!! And don't worry if you can travel everywhere on Craftyblogland to look at all what you was not able to see... We have all the same problem sometimes ! :) Coco xx

Astrid Maclean said...

First of all, welcome back, that must be a big relief!
Fabulous tag with great stamping and layering and I have to say I am most impressed wit our rusting!! Would love to know how you did it! Oh and I do adore it when you use neutral colours!

Rita said...

Fabulous tag Alison. I certainly missed your posts too. Hugs Rita xxx

Unni A said...

I learn so much from you! I love your style, it's very different from mine, but I would really like to try out some of your techniques!
hugs, Unni

May said...

Hi Alison, Gorgeous tag Love those stamps...The layers are Fabulous, Great rusty pieces too..Lovely to have you back... Hugs May x x

Julie Lee said...

Ooh, two of my favourite textures - corrugated card and rust! I love the perfect blending of elements on this project, Alison! It's just great! Those guys are a lovely stamp too! They remind me of old movies. I am also really in love with the ribbon and yarn you have used to thread through the tag. It goes so very well with the whole project. Julie Ann xx

Deborah said...

Knew you couldn't stay away from brown for too long :-) This is fab (especially the rusty bits!)

Carol Q said...

lovely rusty tag Alison. peeled corrugated card makes such a great background doesn't it?

Claudia N. said...

A great tag, Alison!

I love the selfmade rusted bits 'n pieces and the coffee guys too! The corrugated card makes a perfect background for them!

Hugs,
Claudia x

sam21ski said...

Wow, simply fantastic

Sam xxx

Candy C said...

Alison...such a lovely tag. I love the rust feeling of the inks and the metal pieces against the white wash background. As always....so pretty! <3 Candy

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Fabulous tag Alisom , I love the mix of corrugated card and rusted elements. Wonderful texture and dimension and I love the image. Tracy x

Paper Profusion said...

So stunning Alison - its all beautifully done. Happy for you that your 'downtime' is over - its always a treat to see your work. Enjoy the rest of Sunday! Nicola x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Great masculine tag Alison, I already so it on Pinterest several times, before I could visit your blog :-)

kind regards, Alie :-)

Mrs.B said...

Hi Alison, Great to see you back online and such a fab tag to show. Love the layered background and wonderful rusting.
Avril xx

FerrellGraph-x said...

Cool tag! Love the rusty findings!
Kindest regards,
Jennifer

Jennie Atkinson said...

Another gorgeous tag - I love this colour combo. I also love your layered background and rusty embellishments. Jennie x

Sandy said...

Those men do not look like happy campers. I do think they need their coffee and maybe a martini or two! Yes men do get old and rusty so I find your embellishments quite fitting. (no pun intended) I really admire you sense of design Alison.
Sandy

sara j said...

Another great piece Alison - the overall effect is simple and stunning but as we see, took many, many layers to achieve. Really nice.

House of Bears said...

Where to come to see the perfect tag? Butterfly's blog, of course. We love it. Now, where's our cardboard stash?

Meggymay said...

Fabulous tag, super textures and images.
Yvonne

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Another awesome tag, love that composition.

ria gall said...

Hi Alison
this tag is so you and you know that I love this style so much.
You have got wonderful layers and texture and the whole thing looks amazing, love it
Ria

Kate Yetter said...

Hello Alison. I am loving your classic neutrals and all the layers of paper. Great stamping under that rusty hardware.
Kate

cathylynn said...

I bet you are sooooo happy to be back on line. I'm so happy that you posted a new tag. Gosh this is great. I too love brown tones and coffee!!! Hey I love the rust too! Esp. that paper clip!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

PetraB said...

This is brilliant, love all the layers and textures! And the rusty elements are so perfect!

Jenny Marples said...

Welcome back to the Internet! though I think all that spending time in coffee houses has clearly rubbed off :) Coffee guys!! Mind you, wouldn't mind bumping into these two at the local Costa Coffee, must say! Great tag as ever Alison. Hugs, Jenny x

Cathy L. Calamas said...

I love all your art but I do love your neutrals. The rusty hinge clip is the perfect addition.

toni said...

Hi Alison glad to hear you've got your internet sorted! so frustrating but It hasn't blunted your fabulous creativity. love your tag! it's a great combination of colour, texture and subject matter. have a lovely day toni x

Sophie said...

Oh, Alison, ich bin wieder so begeistert von deinem schönen Tag.
Wunderbare Kombination und Farbe.

Umarmung von Sophie xx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A fabulous tag with great elements and texture.

Gerrie Johnnic said...

Ha ha, "coffee guys"! Great tag, luv those rusty embellies.

Cinderella Moments said...

I love this tag too. The ribbon on top, the clip on the side, and the color! Everything is perfectly put together!
hugs♥,
Caroline

Elly said...

Beautiful tag and i love the rusty washers, i use a lot. They make awesome jewellery with glossy accents on top (:o)

Crafteezee said...

Ouuuuu I'd love to come and play round your house. Love all the rust, how did you achieve that on the idea-ology hinge, looks fabulous. Lol, it's funny isn't it that if you found rust in the home you'd be mad but here we are trying to create it.
Hugs Tracy x

Iris said...

What a great tag. Love the vintage look and all the rusted bits and pieces. So cool.

Janny Jager said...

Wow Alison what a great tag.
Love every detail.

Greetings Janny.

cheiron said...

Wonderful tag. I love the cardboard texture. Thanks for playing along with us in the Monochromatic challenge this week over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Dorthe said...

Happy for you ,you are back Alison!!
I`m still waiting for mine to be cleaned!!
Your gorgeous tag spoke to me at once- the words you used being so importent in our lives to remember and use !! and the stamp of the guyes on the wonderful created background ,looking so great!
Your rusted pieces are fantastic..wonder how you does that.
xo, Dorthe

Anonymous said...

Yipee! You are back :)
Adore this tag as I have to say, the neutrals are my favourite - hmmm, possibly doesn't come as a shock to you that particular statement lol.
The little bits of this 'n' that are perfect.
Wishes
Lynne

Dianne said...

Oh man I was here earlier but didn't get the chance to scroll back and see all this color, starting with the sunshine, the colors are beautiful, and those gorgeous embellishments, all the layering is fabulous, you do color just as well as you softer vintage colors. that green box of gets my feather all a quiver, and all those leaves and wildflowers ooow soooo pretty, and then the texture, I'd love to feel it, and as always fabulous sentiments, I think the green looks fabulous on those cloudy days:).. Your journal page OUTSTANDING work Miss Alison, and isn't it wonderful just to create for yourself, just going with the flow. I loooove all the stuff with all the stuff you like :). It's just a gorgeous piece of art and all just for yourself. It's pink and gorgeous, I love the links thanks for sharing them, fabulous artist both of them and I loooove the tag in the bag, fabulous idea. woohoo, you know I love all the photos, what something you can't do, say it isn't so LOL, ahhh make me feel a little better :), who would notice if you hadn't pointed it out, I thought you were just doing a shabby chic thing. the bag turned out gorgeous, and that tag is so beautiful, love oh man everything, your explanation on how you made it, there is soooo much to see and let it sink in, you should be proud of your self, another fantastic piece of art. Now about those fairies, I believe, because I see them in my Magpie eye so there LOL.. OMGOODNESS 2 fabulous green beauties, the backgrounds are stunning, I have to give the rock salt a try, all those stamped insects look fabulous, sorry I just really run out of descriptive words, I just loooooove the sentiments, living in the moment it's the only way, the dragon fly one is fantastic, and the white paper ribbon is perfect on there, amazing work... Now that butterfly, I'm speechless :), it's well I just have to stand and applaud you for this amazing creative work on your ATC, gorgeous background and those corner pieces are outstanding. Your coffee gentleman loving it, starting with the corrugated torn piece, all the gesso,stamping, those rusty pieces, too die for, gorgeous work. Dear Alison you are THE BOMB ****. Sorry for the long comments but I just had to get caught up with everything you have made, you inspire me immensely, thanks for that my dear, hope you have a wonderful week..

Mary Elizabeth said...

Alison ... "Coffee Guys" is a perfect name for these gents :) . Love the texture of cardboard, paper and gesso on your background. You make it look so effortless (yet I know it took quite a bit of effort). Of course, you know I love the rusty embellishments. Fabulous vintage tag!! -- Mary Elizabeth

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE this Alison! The rusty bits and browns on this corrugated is fabulous! Great AO images...marvelous work!

Debbie said...

Oh I just LOVE this tag Alison! All the bits and bobs and techniques! The "Coffee Guys" are very handsome fellas! Thank you for showing us how!

I went back and peeked at your older posts, as I have been on vacation (London! Belgium! Amsterdam!) Our first trip!

Love your creations, especially the butterfly ATC! Beautiful!

Wishes
Debbie

Kezzy said...

Wow awesomettag, I do love your rusted bits. I have some rusted powder from crafty notions I really should use it for tags like this. Amazing :-)Kezzy xxx

Gio said...

May I marry one your coffee men? ;-)

Love the tag and the rusted details, of course!!

Unknown said...

Love the worn feel and the fantastic stamps you used. Terrific tag Alison!!

Maelchen said...

You know what, dear Alison? I should just copy the longest comment ever, by sweet Dianne, as it comes straight from my heart, too!
Thanks so much for your inspiration which never fails to move me!

craftimamma said...

Wonderful tag Alison with lots of my favourite Archival ink colour as well as my favourite drink, lol! Together with the 'Coffee Guys' this tag was bounds to be right up my street.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Bonnie Irvine said...

Awesome combination of stamps on this tag. The coffee guys are very cool. You have combined some of my favourite elements: rusty metal, corrugated card and book text. They create such a well-loved vintage feel and glorious texture. This tag makes me smile and sigh...a two-fer.