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...

Thursday 15 December 2016

The Holly and the Holly






Hello all... and yes, I did mean to put that as the post title.  This tag is holly and then more holly!

I hope you were able to hop over to PaperArtsy yesterday to see my Golden Letters from Samarkand... one non-tag post in the midst of all this 12 Tags mayhem.

But today we're back on the fast track to the deadline.  I'm here with my eighth tag in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, and I'm finally getting around to tag number five.

Okay, I admit it, I was waiting for an order to arrive.  I know, I know... I said I was using this challenge to reacquaint myself with the contents of my craft room, and to force Mr Mojo back into action, but I will confess that I have been tempted into a couple of purchases along the way.












The Mixed Media Christmas Thinlits, with this fabulous holly cut-out was one of them, and it only arrived yesterday, so I sat straight down to play with it, and here we are today with the finished tag.

If you take a look at Linda's original, you'll see it's pretty much a direct CASEing, apart from the changes in colour and final embellishing.













I started with some wrinkle-free distress smooshing using various green Distress Inks and a spritz or two of Brushed Pewter mica spray.














As we had on Tag 9 Pine Cones Galore! and then the leftovers used for the greenery on Tag 8 Tis the Season, you get a lovely shimmer built in to the colours.












Die-cutting, tearing and inking the sprays of holly was all pretty straightforward.

I love the Gothic font of Wendy Vecchi's Vintage Text stamp, so that's one I do have.













It's stamped in Olive Archival both underneath the torn holly panel, and on the cut out leaves which wind their way around the rest of the card.













I chose a sentiment where the font is similar to the Gothic of the background stamping, and stamped it on white card.  As I've done on a couple of occasions during this challenge, including Tag 10 Snow Flurries, I traced around the rubber base of the stamp to guide my cutting of the panel.











And my embellishing takes the form of some twine wound around the card and topped off with some small pine cones.











It's a feature I've borrowed from my own design for one of my closest friend's barn wedding in November - see, I haven't been entirely craftily idle this year!













There are more pine cones to come on my favourite two tags of all... but I'm saving them until last, so you'll just have to contain yourselves!











The final touch was some spatter with the PaperArtsy White Fire Fresco paint - it has such a subtle pale shimmer to it - I love it a lot.

It's the second appearance for White Fire splatter - you saw some on my favourite so far, Tis the Season, too.  I'm still working to create links across the tags to make them work as a group.







I promise the White Fire shimmers (as does the mica background) - it's just that there's not enough light to make a star twinkle today...

So that's my version of tag five, coming in out of order, but fulfilling two-thirds of the challenge.

I'll let you in on a secret... I've actually now finished all twelve (some full-on crafting time on Wednesday did the trick), but I'm going to stick to a post a day.  It's also time-consuming taking, sorting and editing the photos, not to mention writing the posts, so I'm going to pace myself.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, and I can pretty much promise I'll be back with a fresh tag tomorrow (barring internet issues, computer collapses, camera malfunctions or appalling photograph-unfriendly weather).  Hope to see you then.



"If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly, "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.  He should!"
From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I'd like to share this as Tag 5 in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique

20 comments:

Dorthe said...

Dear Alison, another wonderful tag. I love you used both the cot out and the left over paper in the same creation.beautiful with the green background and the twine and cones.
Also love what you designed for your friends wedding, barn wedding sounds so romantic :-)
xoxo

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oooh, your green background came out lovely! It truly makes this tag what it is - beautiful! Love the Wendy Text stamp beneath the ivy panel and great work finding a sentiment with a similar font. The pinecones and twine are the perfect finishing touch. I'm thrilled to learn that you have finished all 12 of the tags - great work and I'm sure a great inspiration to others who are working to cross the finish line for the 12 Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style.

Hugs,
Linda

Helen said...

oh I like this one a lot (and the wedding invites too!) I am very impressed that you have caught up completely, and look forward to the next few days for the next posts.

Fliss said...

A really lovely tag Alison and ove the colours on there as well as the twine embellishing.
Fliss xx

Meggymay said...

Those pine cone embellishments and twine look a fantastic way to complete your super tag.
The Wedding invites looked beautiful.
Yvonne xx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Absolutely stunning Alison, I so look forward to seeing all your Christmas makes :)
Hugs
Donna xx

chrissie said...

Another stunning tag with lots of interesting details.

Love the Dickens words today. It wouldn't be Christmas in our house without some version of A Christmas Carol.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the tags

Love Chrissie xx

Amanda said...

Another stunner with the fabulous kraft and green combo
Love
Amanda x

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous tag Alison, and I love the background shades. I've still got a couple to do, and I've also just ordered this die, (CVC's Advent offers) but don't know if it will arrive in time.
Hugs, Avril xx

Brenda Brown said...

Absolutely gorgeous, like you I love the greenery and the holly and more holly looks amazing xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

The green background looks super, a great case of casing! Love how you finished yours, the little pinecones look fantastic!

craftytrog said...

I love this beauty Alison! And, those wedding invites are stunning!
Alison xx

Julie Lee said...

Ooh, this is so gorgeous! Every little detail is perfect down to the twine and the tiny pine cones, which I love! I've been working to the tune of 'The Ceremony of Carols' again. I wonder if it's still your 'wake up' music? Thank You for creating so much winter beauty! xx

Hazel Agnew said...

You certainly are fulfilling your challenge Alison. Great smoothing, loving the twine and pine cones! Xx

sarascloset said...

Can you hear the squeals of delight? Love that green background and what a lovely backdrop to the kraft holly! Those wee pine cones are perfect finishing touch and I love the sentiment panel! Another favorite here, and no, I can hardly contain myself! It has been so inspiring to see you back at the craft table with such gusto! Well done for getting them all done in such a short period of time! I'm so looking forward to the remaining two posts! Hugs!

Sandy said...

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Love that color of green. Makes me think of an old Christmas song - The Holly and the Ivy - I can hear it now.
Merry Christmas Sugar!
Sandy Claus xx

Jackie PN said...

Another stunner! holly & Holly- Perfectly Jolly! heehee

I love your palettes Alison,as I probably have told you before!
I am now anxiously awaiting the next tags!
Happy day to you!
Jackie xo

Redanne said...

The thinlits die was such a great purchase, you have used them beautifully on your tag, I love the soft greens with the Kraft The pinecones and twine are such wonderful finishing touches too. The wedding invites are fabulous!!! Anne xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE the positive and negative use of the holly...wonderful!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I've always admired your ability to splatter paint but it really speaks to me in the card--the white on the kraft. It is like a fine dusting of snow that you'd expect to see on holly branches this time of the year.