Pages

Monday 7 May 2012

Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue?

Oooh Yum!

Though I have really enjoyed trying out lots of new techniques and using bright colours recently... I have to say, I was doing the Happy Dance when I saw that Hels Sheridan's challenge over at the wonderful Sunday Stampers was brown and blue.

Any one who visits my blog regularly (thank you!) will know that a 'Hoooge' percentage of my crafting focuses on these two colours. Vintage Photo and Broken China were my first 2 purchases of Distress Ink and in my opinion, they work together beautifully... and though I have half a dozen more Distress Inks now, I have never lost my love of these two shades.
Inspired by my friend Anita Houston's use of jumbo sized tags (genius!) Anita Houston I cut an 8 x 4 tag from plain white card and created a background using brown and blue Distress ink and Picket Fence Distress Stain dolloped onto my glass cutting mat and smooshed about until it looked pretty (well to me anyway!) I added a diamond shaped stamp and edged it with gold and then my home made foam flower stamp created for a recent Tim Holtz challenge.
I stamped and embossed lots of flourishes using my CTMH flourish set which was a gift from my friend Sue, these are gorgeous stamps. If you live in The States, you can buy Close To My Hearts products directly  from Sue - they are very deeply etched and a real joy to use. Here is her link: Sue - This Life
I added a Tim Holtz die cut bird cage which I wanted to look old and unused, like the birds had just used it as something to perch on in a garden. I dyed some ribbon to match and added a couple of Graphic 45 butterflies to finish it off.

I'm sure that little bird at the bottom of the tag is just about to nibble one of my embellishments!

This is my entry for Sunday Stampers Brown and Blue
As my little home made floral stamp is my favourite at the moment, I am entering this into the 'Show your favourite stamp challenge over at: Simon Says Stamp
In am also entering this into a new challenge for me, floral frenzy over at My Mojo Monthly and the 'Tags' challenge over at The Cheerful Stamp Pad and the Man, the Myth, the Legend - Tim Holtz challenge at Corrosive Challenges and the distress challenge at Polka Doodles

38 comments:

Fliss said...

I'm in total awe of your fabulous background Anna. It looks just amazing and the patchwork effect is wonderful. All your embellishing is just gorgeous.
Might have to do this one too as I love brown and blue as well and have neglected Sunday Stamper for far too long.
Hope you have a lovely day.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Redanne said...

Hi Anna, your background is wonderful and I love the way that birdcage really does look very old and worn. Anne x

Vicki Fraser said...

I love this Anna - some of my favourite colours too, wish I used them more! I love the bird perched on the top of the cage, it looks like it's watching the little butterfly :)

Sue said...

OMG! This is gorgeous, Anna. Blues and browns are a fave combo of mine as well, so this tag just speaks to me.

Candy C said...

Anna, your jumbo tag is amazing! I hope we get those in THIS country sometime! I always see them on projects done in the UK! :) I am a huge vintage photo and broken china fan, too. You've done a fabulous job of combining the two to create such a beautiful dimensional tag. I love your birdcage and your birds! They are so sweet. I also love your added gold embossing and the bits of lace. Beautifully done! <3 Candy

Marijke said...

beautiful tag, I love the background you made

Dr Sonia S V said...

WOW it is a masterpiece-- you do excel in this elegant stylish vintage!!
Thank You for the sweet comment on my blog

Cheers
Sonia
cardsandschoolprojects.blogspot.com

Elaine said...

Stunning background - love all the layers and the gold embossing!

Evil Edna said...

lush!EE

Lynne Forsythe said...

Anna......your tag is just SCRUMPTIOUS!! the colors....layers....EVERY LITTLE BIT about it!! SCRUMPTIOUS!

Thanks Bunches for playing along this week with Simon Says Stamp and Show!!

Hels Sheridan said...

Simply STUNNING tag Anna, LOVE all those details, layers and gorgeousness! Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Stamper x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A breathtaking tag, wonderful background and stamping.

Karin said...

fantastic tag, beautiful colors!

mark gould said...

HI, great looking tag, I love the texture it has and your right about the colour combo, they work really well together.

Yvonne said...

OMG, this is drop-dead gorgeous, Anna! Standing "O" for you :)

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

You don't need any inspiration from me....you inspire me!!!! This is absolutely drop everything and craft gorgeous!!!! WOW!!! That gold...I can't take my eyes off of it! I love the background...in love with it! This is my new fav Anna!!!! WOW!!!

Sandy said...

Your tag is really wonderful -- I love it and only wish I knew how to do it. I just have to keep reading and trying. Anna, your tag is so very beautiful - a work of art!!
Sandy

Marjie Kemper said...

Wow, how gorgeous is this!?!?! Love it. the color combo and your awesome stamping. How fun to use the foam stamp again so quickly... gotta love it!

pooky said...

Wow, wow, and wow....this is awsome!!! You have to do a tut on your background...please pretty please:) Love your tag Anna!

Carol said...

What a fab tag Anna. I love the birds and embossing.

PetraB said...

A gorgeous tag, love the background you created! Thank you for playing along with the Cheerful Stamp Pad.

Terry said...

Now we have a real stunner here! I love that color combination also and what you have done with it is pure pleasure to the eyes! Love this tag!

Anonymous said...

what a gorgeous background - so lovely and I love the color scheme - I'm in awe of the creativity!
Mary x

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Wozers, Anna! This is just incredible. What an amazing job you have done with that background. Love how you made stamps with the tattered florals die and those diamonds edged with gold. Fab job on the birdcage too - just an all around fabulous piece of work!

Hugs,
Linda

Maria said...

This is gorgeous, Anna! So many lovely details here!

Sue said...

Amazing tag - so many layers & wonderful colours. Sx

Sarah said...

truly wonderful - so much to see. Love the colours and layers of ink and stamping...looks fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing this amazing tag with My Mojo Monthly! Sarah.

Sandra said...

Very cool jumbo tag! Love everything about it. The background is amazing!!

trisha too said...

Beautiful background, you didn't even have to put anything else on it, it was so gorgeous!

:)

Connie said...

Hi Anna, Thank you for the sweet visit to my blog and thank you so much for following, I am now following your blog too. I'm looking forward to becoming blogging friends. Have a wonderful weekend, Connie :)

Vicki Romaine said...

This tag is beautiful. Thanks so much for joining us at The Cheerful Stamp Pad's "Tags" challenge.

Vicki Romaine said...

This tag is beautiful. Thanks so much for joining us at The Cheerful Stamp Pad's "Tags" challenge.

Terry said...

Hey there Anna, thank you for sharing your AMAZINGLY made Tag with the DT from SSS and S....wowzerss your background and those colors are amazing, thank you for sharing. Hugs Terry xxxx

knitmachinequeen (KMQ) said...

I love vintage and you did a great job showcasing Tim Holtz products. Thanks for joining our fortnight challenge at The Corrosive Challenge. Please join us again soon.

Rachelle
CC DT

Anonymous said...

So, so beautiful!!!

Sandy said...

Beautifully done - your tag is gorgeous!
Sandy

Sandy said...

I love your tag so much that this is the third time I am posting. This is truly beautiful!
sandy

anna christensen crafts said...

Thank you all for your wonderful comments - they have really cheered me up and i appreciate each and every one of them xx