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Sunday 29 July 2012

2nd Star on the right, Straight on till morning

Before my current career, I worked for 7 years in Wardrobe Departments in the Theatre, mainly based in the West End of London, so I love a good bit of theatre and spectacle!  It goes without saying that I  absolutely adored Olympic Creative Director Danny Boyle's glorious Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday night. It was an absolute triumph for the creative arts. 
My 'best bits?' Oh, so many... The smokestacks rising atop idylic England, Sir Kenneth Branagh's reading of Caliban's speech, the Queen and James Bond! (How awesomely sporting is she?) Dame Evlyn Glennie leading the thousand  Drummers and super best bit... the Olympic Cauldron itself, a total triumph for the charismatic (and rather gorgeous) designer Thomas Heatherwick.... google him and you will read for DAYS!
So this little tag is my tribute to the Olympics... and it was a BEAST to take piccies of, just couldn't capture the gold and silver!
The 'faux leather' tag was inspired by Anita Houston's brilliant video tutorial yesterday (I think you should have got that phone to ring again Anita, it could've become a trademark!!) This is a really amazing technique which was taught to Anita at Ranger U by the God of Grunge himself, the amazing Tim Holtz and I liked it so much I used it straight away to make 3 backgrounds... the one on the right was then used for this tag. This picture was taken before I pounced and ironed! Here is the link to Anita's Tutorial post:  Faux Leather Tutorial
I used a mixture of Tim Holtz stamps to create the background, all stamped with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink. The 3 gentlemen and those funky circles both reminded me of the opening ceremony and seemed to be the right ones to use. The rising sun seemed a fitting tribute too (Oh, what an old romantic I  turned out to be)

I used brads and Glassine paper to create my own Olympic sign... couldn't quite get that blue right though, but I am strangely proud of my little creation.
I added one of my own reinforced burlap flowers and gave it lots of gold around the edges (my tutorial to make these is here:)   My tutorial The bike reminded me of those extraordinary winged cyclists going around the arena towards the end of the show and also is there to represent sports generally. I had so much fun making this (well, when don't I?) I just had to take an extra photo showing our colours...
I am entering this into a few of my favourite challenges
The ever inspiring Sunday Stampers Challenge 'gold' Fields of Gold
Anything goes at Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Happy One Year birthday to you (so annoyed I didn't see the DT call for the New Challenge... I would have been brave and applied. I love this site, it is always squished full of inspiration and has an amazing DT) do check them out if you are not yet familiar with them. Anything goes and Anything goes at: Simon Says Stamp

19 comments:

Hels Sheridan said...

Fab interpretation Anna, I loved the ceremony too... I do think that it appealed more to us Brits than the rest of the world, so relevant and the doves were my fave bit.... genius! As for the cauldron? Beat that "rest of the world" there ain't ever going to be a cauldron like that... ever.... Thanks for joining in with the Sunday sTamper... now you have done your entry and have free time you can pop round here and help me out with the Room of Trash lol x

Fliss said...

This is fabulous Anna and I'm not surprised you loved the background as it looks amazing!
I loved the ceremony too and had a lot of fave bits (the Queen and 007 plus Rowan Atkinson etc etc etc.)
Sorry you missed our DT call but love that you've entered our anything goes challenge.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Mrs.B said...

Hi Anna, These backgronds are fabulous and I love the finished tag! A great interpretation of
the ceremony, which was amazing.
Sorry to read you missed our DT call - but Thank You for your continued support of our Challenges and thanks for joining our Anything Goes Anniversary Challenge.
Avril xx

Words and Pictures said...

I saw Anita's tutorial too - so cool, and your take on it is fabulous! Love that retro stamping over the top...
Alison x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

I missed seeing the opening ceremonies...so wanted to! Love your descriptions! And you crazy girl...carrying on like that....love you!!! I never would have even thought to stamp on this...brilliant!!! I am totally in love with your background...rocking awesome! Great design and a fabulous tribute piece Anna!!! Kudos!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tag.

Redanne said...

Your tag is such a fitting tribute to the wonderful games. My fav bit has to be the cauldron but I also thought the Queen with 007 was hilarious (and the corgies loved the spotlight too). I won't please many but Sir Paul was a bridge to far for me, he was so brilliant years ago.....and I would prefer to remember him that way. Anyway, your tag is almost as spectacular as the ceremony! A x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, that's a fabulous creation, great take on the olympic games.

Shirl said...

Anna beautiful tag with such an amazing backfround.

Yes I to saw the video tutorial and I have just ordered the Ink essentials refresher, mmm can't wait to try it.

Thank you for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.

Hugs Shirley x x

Sue said...

Beautiful tags, Anna.

Sue said...

This is fabulous & just love those coloured brads in the brass frame. Sx

peggy gatto said...

Fantastic creation of layer and layer and layer!!
A gold medal for you!

Yvonne said...

I love the opening ceremonies too :) Your tribute is wonderful, Anna!

sofi said...

Fantástico y muy creativo!!

Lynn Stevens said...

I Loved the opening ceromonies too.!!! Wonderful tribute to the Olympics!
hugs Lynn

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

WOW what a awesome art work. Love all the details and color combination.

Heather said...

What a unique way of displaying the Olympic emblem. Such a fantastic desing and colours so many stunning details.

hugs
Heather xx
Thanks so much for joining us with Simon Says Stamp challenge.

Claire said...

Hi Anna, what a gorgeous tag, that background is amazing and I love the way you were inspired by the ceremony. It was fab wasn't it?
I'm off to check out your tutorial now but before I go, thanks for joining us at FSC
Claire xx

Trish Latimer said...

Gorgeous tag Anna, love your burlap flowers!! xx