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 15 October 2014

Sparkle and Shine

Hello all!  I'm back with my second sparkly and shiny offering of the month to inspire you to play along with Doreen's Sparkle and Shine theme over at Country View Challenges.  It's a tag trio full of mixed media textures.  We're photo-heavy today, so grab a cup of coffee!


I cannot tell you how much fun I had with these tags! I may have trouble remembering the ins and outs of their creation though, as it's quite a long time since I made them - late July, I think.





I had to get them done before setting off for New York the first time.  I tried to take photos as I went, to remind myself as much as anything else, so here goes…

I was inspired by these fabulous tags by Aida - owner of the very cool Polish 13Arts store.








I suppose mine are a combination of the two sets in the post I've linked to, but since there was no step-by-step, I had to sort of "reverse-engineer" my version - pretty much making it up as I went along to create something similar.










I started with three standard tag backgrounds, stamped with some of my favourite Tim Holtz meadow grasses and a flourish, and then inked with Distress Inks.














Over that I painted a thick coat of multi-medium and then pressed the tags against one another to create waves of texture in the medium.






As well as the texture, the medium "seals" in the Distress Ink colours, so they won't run during any of what follows.













While the medium was still tacky, the next step was to add some more dimensional textural elements.












So at this point I glued down some cheesecloth, some tiny beads, and also some white paper roses as I knew they'd take the inky sprays well once I got going.










I added some glass bead gel medium too for extra sparkle.













While the tags were drying, I stuck some green glass pebbles to some book text.

I was quite precise about picking the words to highlight - I wanted lots of sparkling positivity!












Once dry, the medium gives you these fabulous transparent ridges over the inked, stamped background.












Time to glue down some more embellishments.

I added some buttons and some wooden ornaments, and I also tried out the positioning of my glass pebbles.











I quite liked the arrangements even in the "naked" version, but I was after some more shimmer and sparkle, so it was time for some spritzing.













(I hadn't glued the pebbles down yet, though everything else was stuck in place.  I took them away during the spritzing so that their surfaces would stay free of any inky splatter, keeping the words clearly visible.)













As well as Dylusions and Ranger ColorWash for intense colour, there are various sprays involved: Perfect Pearls Mists, Tattered Angels and Cosmic Shimmer - basically anything that was to hand which would add a touch of mica sparkle.











I was really pleased with the effect of the ridges of texture… 













… so I highlighted it by rubbing some Silks Acrylic Glaze and some Treasure Gold over the top.













And I love how the glass beads took the colour differently from the background so that they stand out.













The last step was to add the ChitChat stickers - again lots of positive thoughts about the adventures to come (New York being still ahead of me at that point).  So there's hope…














adventure… 













and possibility…














… to go with the positive glass pebbles: remember (which I'm not good at - I definitely live in the moment!)…








beautify...













and amazement.

See - I knew those roses would look good all inked up - and the glitter still works through the new colours!












The loose woven ribbon at the top was something I picked up somewhere along the line - it was already a vivid shade of lime green so I added some Distress Stains to give it a multi-shaded tint.  I like how it echoes the cheesecloth on the tags.










I'm really pleased with how the colours of the cheesecloth vary so widely, from a bold vivid green to the softer blues.

And I'm very happy to finally have pressed those beads into action!












The same goes for the wooden ornaments which soak in the ink for a matte finish.  I considered glossing them up with a coat of glossy accents, but I decided we had enough sparkle on the go...

… though I will admit there are touches of Treasure Gold just about everywhere, giving a gilded finish.



So that's my sparkly trio for you - I hope you like them.  I certainly had a ball getting really inky and messy, and even getting into the swing of Sparkle and Shine.


I hope you'll come and play along with us at Country View Challenges this month.  There's a prize generously sponsored by Country View Crafts, and you still have two weeks to get sparkly!


Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll see you again soon.

Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars.  Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait.  The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.
Henry Ford

67 comments:

Nikki Acton said...

Just when I was in need of some inspiration, thank you! Adore these, the techniques and textures and love the words through the beads. Nikki x

Anke said...

WOW WOW WOW Alison fantastic tags, absolutely stunning, I love all the details. Great work !!!

Hugs
Anke

toni said...

Beautiful tags Alison ! Love the gorgeous colours and the way you have acheived the texture with multi medium x

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Beautiful texture with muti medium. Liked your tag with charms and beads, Alison

Helen said...

So glad I took time to read- even if it was a speed read - this post before I go to work - what stunningly beautiful tags!! Love all the layers of texture and shimmer and "stuff" - they are wonderful.

brenda said...

Such lush colours Alison and as always lots of lovely texture and interest.

B x

SiódmyAnioł said...

Beautiful tags, great effect!

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous!! Lots of wonderful textures and great colours as well as all of my favourite techniques, wonderful make!

Deborah said...

So much to look at and delight in. They are gorgeous.

Cestina said...

What glorious colours! And yet another fabulous quote....
xx

chrissie said...

Stunning and very clever all at the same time Alison. Would never have thought of placing the tags together to get that wonderful texture. Thank you for always sharing your ideas it is very inspiring

Love Chrissie x

Amanda said...

Stunning Alison, love all the textures and your colour choice you do green so fabulously!
Love
Amanda x

AngelicaS said...

Beautiful tags Alison! Amazing textures and I love the color.

craftytrog said...

Absolutely gorgeous textures & colours! I love these beauties Alison! xxx

froebelsternchen said...

I think you made them
JUST FOR ME..
am I right?!
My favourite colors...these beauties are GORGEOUS Alison!
♥♥♥
Susi

Rosie said...

Wow, Alison, these tags are all gorgeous, love them

Rupa Swaminathan said...

These are a beautiful Triplets! Absolutely brightens up the soul...the colors and the ridges you created with the multi medium...to good. Thank you for sharing the details, Alison.

Gitte said...

Beautiful Tags in great colors.

Dianne said...

WOW, WOW, WOW, Miss Alison I'm in BLISS, this sure fixed my fix I've been craving.. All those fabulous techniques, amazing, I can't stop looking at them they have my Magpie eyes all googly. I'm out the door but will be back for another long look, thanks so much for sharing these beauties, have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS )))..

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

HELLO Mixed Media goodness!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE these Alison! The colors, the texture, the cheesecloth, the beads, and your steps...all wonderful! PINNED!!!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

What a great tags, I've read your step by step story...so interesting and inventive. Gorgeous results Alison!
All the best, Alie :-)

Renee said...

These are gorgeous! You made it look so simple.

Netty said...

Loving your under the ocean tags, great textures, colours and design. Hugs Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

sam21ski said...

Wow what a lovely trio and great to see so much colour xx

sally said...

Love all those lovely aquatic colours! Just the thing on a dismal grey day :-)

Sally

Paper Profusion said...

I could just dive in to these hues!! Stunning crafting Alison with insanely incredible textures. Nicola x

Willy said...

Wow...beautiful tutorial, thank you!!!

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous textures and colours, loved all the photos.
Yvonne

Redanne said...

Oh how wonderful are these Alison, the colours are beautiful and I love all the texture you created. Thank you for taking us through the process too! Anne xx

Anonymous said...

These are INCREDIBLE! I fell instantly in love with them, even before I saw how you'd made them.

One Question though ...

Could you tell me how you got your seed beads glued to the tag? What glue did you use? I've wanted to finish a particular project for weeks and can't seem to work out which glue to use in order to sucessfully glue some little clear glass seed beads to it, so that they look like fishy bubbles. When I saw your seed beads I thought I'd ask. Hope you don't mind. Many thanks!

Ellie Knol said...

lovely, lovely, lovely... one for each tag :)

hazel said...

Wonderful tags, the colours are gorgeous and I love how you've put all the elements together.
xxx Hazel.

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Wow, your texture and colors are sensational! Love what you have done here - very inspirational! Makes me want to run to my studio and get messy :)

Hugs,
Linda

Kay Wallace said...

Beautiful texture today, Alison! Love the mixed media and colors!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, these are fantastic tags. Love the colors, the texture and all.

Jools Robertson said...

Fabulous tags, incredible colour and I love that texture
Looks like water trickling down

Jools x

geezercrafter said...

Colours and textures are just breathtaking....
Bryan.

Unknown said...

Beautiful sparkly & shiny tags, Alison!! I especially love how you pressed the cheesecloth into the wet medium to add even more fun texture! So pretty and calming, just the breath of air I needed!! XOXO-Shari

Craftyfield said...

Phew!!! so many details. Absolutely love these tags, the colours are gorgeous, the textures, the beads, the sparkle... awesome!

barbarayaya62 said...

I'm in love with your tags! Beautiful, bright, sparkling One word: I love them!!!! BArbarayaya

Anonymous said...

Gorgeously lush - I want to run my hands over that texture!
Wishes
Lynne

Dagmar said...

Fantastic!!!! What a great work of Art!

May said...

Gorgeous work Alison, The techniques are brilliant...the texture, colours & elements....Thank you for the amazing inspiration....Hugs May x x

Chrissy said...

Stunning Alison..I love the colours,textures,sparkle and creative brilliance..those glass beads are gorgeous with the text behind them...beautiful.

luv CHRISSYxx

www.deeadamsart.blogspot.co.uk said...

Alison this is really beautiful I really love how you have created them. Dee x

Lys said...

Wow! It's always a delight to follow your process and it looks magic how it leads to these beautiful tags.

Dorthe said...

FANTASTIC dear Alison, OH WOW !!!
They looks amazing with your tecnique ,colours ,and beautiful texture from also the cheese cloth !! Fabolous in every way , they are !!
Hugs, Dorthe

Ruth said...

Yummy, gorgeous sea greens and sparkle. Fab step by step instructions and wonderful take on Aidas inspiration. Wonderful trio of tags, all that texture, right up my street. thanks Alison. Ruth x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tags Alison ! Love the matt medium ridges ! The colours are gorgeous too ! Sue C x

Annie said...

Stunning tags Alison. Beautiful shades of green with fantastic texture and details
Hope all going well in the Big Apple x

Hettie said...

Wow Wow and Double WOW!!! These are just beautiful. I bet they look even better in real life.
Hugs
xx

Sandy said...

Oh gosh Alison, I can see why these tags are among your most favorite makes. The truly are beautiful!
Sandy xx

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous tags Alison! Such a beautiful color palette! Love all the texture and shimmer!

Jackie PN said...

Just stunning Alison! Thanks so much for sharing all of your steps- I loooove your colors and all of your shimmer and shine! _You know the saying, "Some gals are just born with glitter in their veins!" I think you are ! xoxo

Evelyn Walter said...

Wow, Alison, these tags are so stunning! I love the rich texture and these sparkling colors! The little beads and again the glass pebbles and .....
Well - love everything ;o)
xxx Evelyn

Cocofolies said...

Wow FABULOUS Alison!!!! I knew I was right to do a bit of catch-up more on your blog hahaha... LOVE them, we can feel the pleasure you have had to create them! Coco xxx

Jenny Marples said...

Such a clever way to add the texture over the stamping and inking - and then to add even more on top is just creative genius! Jenny x

Matilde said...

Lovely background!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Glad I didn't miss these on my massive catch up! They are absolutely gorgeous - the texture, the colours and the fabulous way you put everything together! Wow! Chrisx

Kasia said...

These tags are amazing, Alison! What a wonderful background! Stunning creations :)

Unknown said...

What a wonderful trio Alison! Love the texture and detail on these. xx

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow Alisan these tags looks amazing!!!Thanks for sharing how you lmade them I will certainly give it a try!!!

Gretings
Maria

Lucy Edmondson said...

So glorious, Alison. Love the different greens and the textures,

Lucy x

Gio said...

Wow, these are a feast for eyes! Gorgeous technique on the background, I have to try it, and the colours are so rich!

Kezzy said...

WOW wow wow I lurrrrrve these tags, the colours and texture are amazing and all those techniques wow. I love the way you have done the medium texture I so must have a go at that. Truly stunning. Happy Creating, Kezzy :-) xxx

Lisa Minckler said...

GASP!!! Is it weird to want to roll in all the textured yummies? These are scrumptious bits of tantalizing eye candy my friend.

Julie Lee said...

Wow, Alison, I just love the effect you created on these tags with the multi-medium! I so want to give that a go! These tags look like a terrific fun project and they are incredibly beautiful too! xxx