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 23 August 2015

Simply because...

Hello all!  Well, it's raining again... grim.  And there are many many things I'm supposed to be doing, but my Ground Espresso Distress Ink arrived, and I needed to play with it.  So here are a couple of quick tags, simply because...


It's not just Ground Espresso - love, love, love it! - but also Blueprint Sketch and some good old Stormy Sky in the mix.





First of all I used Distress Sprays, spritzed onto the mat and wrinkle-free distressed up again onto the tags.  And then some inks blended on and spritzed and flicked.

Very happy with the backgrounds, so I needed to not cover them up too much.











I also needed to make sure whatever I stamped would show up against the dark mysterious depths, so it was out with the Vanilla White embossing powder and the delicate daisy stamp.












I cracked open my new Ledger Script stamps to add some detailing in the background.

Some of the text is stamped in Stormy Sky and clear embossed so that it shimmers.












And some of it is stamped in Picket Fence Distress Paint to add lighter highlights.














I used just a hint of watered down Faded Jeans Distress Paint to shade the petals and leaves.












Just love the ghostly look it gives the flowers.

Since there was a bit of paint left on the mat, I splattered the rest around the tag surfaces.













A couple of very simple phrases from the Small Talk stickers...












... softened with Stormy Sky and Antique Linens DIs, and with a shading of Ground Espresso around the edges to bed them in to the tags.








It's so lovely to have new blues and browns to play with!  Of all the new colours so far, Ground Espresso has shot to the very top of the favourites list - and it's challenging the original browns too.


There's just a wonderful, wonderful depth and richness of colour to it.  You can see why I had to put other crafty deadlines and dull administrative chores on hold (though at some point I'll need to do some invoicing so that I can be paid!) in order to play with it.







Simple toppings - lightly dyed seam binding and some twine - and we're pretty much done.








It had to be indoor photos since there'd be an almighty spritz and flick disaster if I tried to take these outside to photograph in the pouring rain!





And now I'd really better get on with some of the stuff I'm really supposed to be doing today.

Hope to be round to visit soon, and I hope your Sunday is sunnier than mine!





Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
Albert Einstein
(I think I may have used this quite recently, but I don't care - he's brilliant!)


I'd like to share these in the following:
Anything Mixed Media/Creative/Inky Goes theme at the Love to Create Challenge
Get Texty at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge
Repeat Yourself at the Stampotique Designers Challenge - as so often, I have created in double - mirror images and repetitions are built into my creative process!
Sending You Flowers at Try It On Tuesday - so long since I've managed to play along there!!

67 comments:

sam21ski said...

Oooh these look great Alison, I re-visited my DI's today and had forgotten how much fun they are xx

Amanda said...

Fabulous tags Alison colour looks fab! can't wait for mine to arrive, should be in my hand tomorrow
Live
Amanda x

Dorthe said...

Oh Alison, you call these simple tags, I call them amazing tags, and with quite a lot work behind, in my world :-)
They are really so very beautiful. those colours you mixed looks so wonderful together, and the embossing of the schript is great ,too. I just love them !!
Dorthe, xox

craftimamma said...

Oh wow, Alison these are gorgeous! I was determined I wasn't going to buy the new colours as I felt I wasn't using the others enough but I've drifted back to them a bit recently and you've definitely sold me on these two. What a stunning combo! Love the different treatments you've given the background text and the daisy looks so pretty. Hope the rain has passed you by now as it's just started here in Notts...... and it's throwing it down, lol!

Hugs
Lesley ~Xx

Helen said...

Gorgeous tags, Alison - two - just seen your comment on my TIO tags.. so it's quite funny. Love that flower, and the new brown DI - and there I was thinking why did we need another brown ink... so I guess I'll have to get it after all...

brenda said...

Hi Alison,

Playing catch up after holiday, lovely tags, always like blue and brown as a combo. Am definitely in need of that new colour DI, not least because I am am hooked espresso anyhow.

B x

Anneke said...

This looks gorgeous. It really is amazing.
Can't wait and hope mind is coming this week.
It's such a beAutiful color. And the way you have used
It with some blue is great. Thanks for this blog post.
Very inspiring Anneke

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Lucky you. ..you got chance to play with new distress ink colours . It looks fantastic on your tag. Tags are just...fab!!

Lauren Hatwell said...

I can see why you didn't want to cover up that gorgeous background. The white embossing is just perfect and shows up really well. I feel your tags would be lovely on cards..... but then you might have to give them away.... so maybe not. Lx

Deborah said...

Got to play with new stash. It's the law! :-) And how apt is Stormy Sky. Beautiful tags.

froebelsternchen said...

Gosh ! More than amazing! What fabulous colors and in your wonderful style.. every little detail is GORGEOUS!
A big thank you for joining in at TIOT's Alison!
Wish you a happy new week!
oxo
Susi

Gerrittina said...

Great tags!

hazel said...

I love your tags Alison - they're fabulous.
xxx Hazel.

Jane said...

What delicious colours Alison and such great tags....I love them x

Chrissy said...

Gorgeous tags Alison..the smooshed background colours are really lovely and those flowers are superb with their subtle colouring and I love the text on the background too..beautiful.

luv CHRISSYxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I have just sat for a while……just so taken with these gorgeous tags couldn't think what to say! Still feel that to say they are fabulous isn't enough! I love how you combined the colours (the Ground Espresso is so rich!) and the embossed script is wonderful! I love the blue and white flowers that allow this background to shine!! So pleased you joined us at Try It On Tuesday! Chrisx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous colour combination indeed! Simple yet beautiful tags! Xx

sue :) said...

Amazing tags the colours look fab together, my new espresso distress ink arrived Saturday morning whilst I was unpacking so haven't had time to use it yet. Great project.x

Redanne said...

Oh yes, I can definitely see why you had to put other things aside... I love the Ground Espresso too, I think it may be my new favourite, it is so rich. Your tags are gorgeous in those colours and the flowers really do look stunning against the darker background. Lovely work Alison! Hugs, Anne xx

rachel said...

oh my alison - these tags are absolutely gorgeous - i adore them! Can't wait to play with my new colour now when i get home - goes so well with blueprint sketch and stormy sky - fabulous! hugs rachel x

sally said...

Simply beautiful....& yes we had sunshine today which was a lovely welcome home!

Sally

Meggymay said...

Absolutely stunning tags, the backgrounds with the new colour looks great, love the white embossed flowers. Thank you for joining us over at TioT's this time.
Yvonne xx

Julia said...

Do I need that Ground Espresso Distress Ink Alison? Oh, yes, of course I do. Those tags are have the Wow factor, beautiful things.
Julia x

Lynne Moncrieff said...

The white against that amazing background is spectacular.
I can well understand why you are drawn to those colours. I had my eye on them already but holding off, just for the moment at least LOL.
The tags are truly elegant.
Wishes
Lynne

Margik said...

Gorgeous tags with a fabulous background. The daisy looks so beautiful, and I also love the colour combo.
Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday. Mar xx

Astrid Maclean said...

I'm grabbing just a few seconds here and there to visit blogs, so let me start by apologizing, I'm sure I must have missed quite a lot here....

These tags are wonderful, and that new brown is yummy!!! It will be on my orders list as soon as I am back. The flowers in white against it, look fantastic! As does the script of course, - always a favourite. Gorgeous, gorgeous all round!!

Julia Aston said...

Your backgrounds are just gorgeous on these tags Alison - the white embossed flowers are perfect! Julia xx

Cinderella Moments said...

Oh that background is incredible! I think I need some distressing spray. That would look great as an accent wall in a dollhouse.
hugs♥,
Caroline

Cestina said...

Oh these are stunning. Love the flower but can see a Destroying Angel (Amanita Virosa) there instead...
Xx

craftytrog said...

A stunning pair of tags Alison, those backgrounds are delicious! xx

Hazel Agnew said...

More treasures! Perfect contrasts! Beautiful lines! Need to play! Xx

Cocofolies said...

Hi Alison, just a very quick visit on your blog this morning (I'm still on holiday), to tell you that both tags are simply really gorgeous!! Love the grim colours that make the white flower really pop!
Hugs, your friend Coco xx

Nan G said...

Brilliant tags butterfly! I was immediately drawn to their ghostly hue and couldn't wait to find out how you managed it. Love!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Stunning and impressive tags, Alison...love the misty look on them...wow...
hugs, Alie :-)

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

I haven't gotten the new brown yet. I LOVE your tags using it and the Blueprint Sketch...what a gorgeous marbled background. Of course you love it! The simple flower is perfect!!!

Marci said...

These are a joy to look at!

Claire said...

Gorgeous tags, those inky backgrounds are stunning and I love the subtle effects you've created with the stamping too. Thanks so much for joining us at We Love 2 Create this time
Claire xx

Vicki G said...

These are absolutely GORGEOUS! I LOVE that stamp and the mix between the feminine floral and the masculine looking background! Thanks for playing along at stampotique!

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous tags Alison! The background looks fabulous! Love how the embossed images pop! Hope you have a great week!

Unknown said...

BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL Alison - even that piece of twine is PERFECT... wow... just LOVE. j.

Ellie Knol said...

These are both gorgeous!

Terry said...

Alison, I am a huge fan of darker earth tones and these backgrounds really take my breath away! I have that color on order and can't wait! Love these tags MUCH! Hugs!

SueC said...

Fabulous tags Alison, love the background and the simplicity ! Sue C x

catherine said...

These look fabulous Alison. i have yet to try the new distress ink but your tags looks very inspiring. Love how you have done the stamped image on top. Sorry for not having been around much lately and I do hope everything is ok with you
x catherine

Neet said...

I would have been very happy with mym backgrounds too. Think I need to invest in that new colour if this is the kind of result you get. Alison, I just love these two tags. Fabulous work as always.
Hugs, Neet xx

Brenda Brown said...

Totally scrumptious, just love all the effects especially of the new colour. Hope mine arrive soon xxx

Annie said...

WOW !! Looks like I need to order that new DI after all xx These tags are just beautiful Alison and although on a dark background they are so wonderfully feminine. Stunning x

Apologies for my lack of commenting but life is pretty busy at the moment and I will need to spend some crafty time over the next few days for future posts....just need more hours in the day.....but I am not complaining as its all good x

Sending my best wishes to you
Annie xx

*Arwen* said...

Wow these tags are brilliant! Beautiful <3
Thank you for joining us at the Stampotique Designers Challenge this week.

xx Arwen

SewPaperPaint said...

What an amazing background! I love the simple white flower over it!

Rika said...

Gorgeous tags Alison!

Lys said...

I love the "fausse simplicité" of your tags, Alison. Your talent playing with browns and blues is endless... Fabulous!

Sam & Poppy said...

Really beautiful Alison.
So glad you joined in this weeks challenge at Stampotique

Hettie said...

These are beautiful Alison. I love them both. The depth of colour is wonderful.
Hugs
xx

experiments in paper said...

WOW, WOW, WOW......WOW!!! Incredible, brilliant, fabulous. I am going to be shamelessly stealing this whole color/embossing approach (but of course I will give you credit!) xx Lynn

Jackie PN said...

omgosh Alison,
you are too cute!! I love that you had to play because the new supply arrived! teehee- I'm with you- why wait?
Lovely tags!
xo

Sue said...

These are gorgeous Alison, I had thought that I didn't need this colour, but after seeing these tags I think I'd better order it :-) xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

If this is what you do when it rains and you have other things to do, then by all means, please let it rain more often (and I know you are always busy). Love that Ground Espresso. Stunning background my friend. And I really like the touch of Faded Jeans on the petal. Wonderful. -- ME

Gez Butterworth said...

Fabulous tags ♥

Thank you for joining the Stampotique Designer's Challenge. Gez

Paper Profusion said...

Organic never looked more beautiful imho! You've made me want Espresso too. Love your style! Nicola x

Etsuko said...

Simply and beautiful shabby chic. I love these. xx

Barbara said...

All your works are wonderful, and during this holiday season I can't comment all! I apologize for this! But this .... hit my heart! It is stratospheric! I believe it's amazing: colors and idea! I love it! Barbarayaya

Donna B. said...

These are just gorgeous! I love how you used the white on the dark background. Thanks so much for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

Unknown said...

Beautiful tags, Alison!! I love the color combo you've created in the background and the white embossing is stunning against it. My Ground Espresso goodies should be arriving this week, so I can't wait to play around :) :) With inspiration like this, I can't wait!! :) :) XOXO-Shari

Melanie said...

I love everything about this - the ages worn look, the white images and the flower stamp is beautiful. Great projects. Thanks for playing along with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog!

Deb said...

Alison, simply .. elegantly ...beautiful tags! I adore this colour palette (note to self, order some Ground Expresso and Blueprint Sketch DI!) and the addition of the script stamps in the multiple colour ways is just fabulous, especially adore the embossed Stormy Sky script. Thanks so much for sharing these beauties and hope that the sun has come out! Deb xo

Mrs.B said...

Stunning in their simplicity - love how you've shaded these colours together and the white embossing is stunning.
Avril xx
p.s. Thanks for linking up to TioT x

Ruth said...

I already pinned this when it popped up on Pinterest and now I can see them in all their gorgeous grungy blue brown distressed glory! These and the grey tags have to be 2 of my favourite tags ever. Just perfection! Ruth x