1 August 2012

A Trip to Italy

Welcome to my new followers and to those of you who have had the tenacity to stick with it from the early days!! Gonna start with huge congrats to our gold, silver and bronze medal Olympians, and to all of those who fought through lifes ups and downs to earn the opportunity to represent GB in London. Next, a massive well done to Anne, Trace, Sue and Helen who were winners in T!m Holtz July Tag challenge, and Anna who is about to make her debut in the September issue of Craft Stamper. The talent in this proud nation spreads way beyond the sporting world.

Now to my tag for today - I am squeezing in late for the Artful Times challenge - A Trip To Europe On A Tag (which is sponsored by Oyster Stamps). Truth be told I changed my mind several times about how to do this and (typically) ended up creating my first idea anyway!!


I have a new Michael Powell stamp which depicts an Italian villa. Rather than just colour it I decided to create postcard tiles to add interest and dimension. Should have known that it came up so well I was in two minds about cutting it up in the end! (see below)


The 'how to' involved the ink, spritz/flick technique for the background, SB postage stamp dies, and the resultant tiles being covered in Crackle Glaze and DI Walnut Stain. A few close-ups...




For me the jury's still out on this one, but one positive - I have decided to start taking step by step photos of techniques/projects not fully covered by Tim's Compendiums in order to create my own reference book as I can't store everything learned from you guys out there in my head. There's just too much other rubbish in there!! Meanwhile, if todays tag helps anyone elses mojo out there then it's done its job. Time to get back to it - a gold creation started for Hels, another drying for the ladies at FSC and the August tag to consider. Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are really appreciated. Hugs, Buttons x

19 comments:

  1. Buttons... you are such a darling! Thank you so much for the mention in your post. You have no idea how happy that has made me. My daughter is away in France, so have only shared this news with bloggy chums and you have all been brilliant! Now, back to the 'main event' your tag! That is one of the bestest tags I have ever seen! (and yes, I am an English teacher and know bestest isn't a proper word)You should send that to Mr Powell, he would love it... I have a few of his stamps and will pinch (um, be inspired by) your idea to have a go myself xx

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  2. Hi Buttons, I have this stamp too but would NEVER have thought up this brilliant idea! It is amazing, the stamp alone, coloured is fabulous but you have taken it to another level. I love it. Great idea to do step by step, good that you have the patience for it.........thanks for the congrats, you are an angel, I am still on cloud 9. Crafty hugs, Anne xx

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  3. WOW Buttons you've put so much work into this tag and your efforts have been rewarded, it looks stunning.

    Thanks for travelling with us this week.

    Sam - Artful Times xxx

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  4. ...simply stunning Buttons, so much work with so much detail, loVe the crackle & all the colour, a stand out from the croud Tag!...Mel :)

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  5. Really wonderful tag Buttons! I love what you've done here and you know how mad I am on texture; crackle; layers etc.!! I really love that stamp. . . . .
    Juliaxx

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  6. Love all your accolades to the people!!! Your tag is brilliant the way you mosaic'd it up...lol! Love the altered coloration too...so cool! Fab work here!

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  7. Wow wow wow !! I love this Buttons. Lots of techniques and full of inspiration x x

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  8. What a clever crafter you are Buttons. This is totally gorgeous. It works for me on lots of levels but in particular I love the idea of the little snapshots, the tint pieces of memory that we store from what we see particularly when travelling. I tried to buy these stamps but have needed to settle for the lighthouse series - which are also delightful. Now I just might snaffle part of your idea for use with some of those.
    You are so right about recording what you do. I have lots of bits and pieces and haven't a clue about the how for them:)
    The excitement of the crowd for the rowing last night was brilliant!

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  9. What a great idea!!! Love the way you have made this tag, the pop out elements work wonderfully against the background! Thanks for the mention, so chuffed! Trace x

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  10. What an awesome tag ! and such a clever idea of spotlighting with postage stamps :)
    Thank you for sharing it with us at Artful Times
    Von ♥

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  11. What a fantastic idea to give these wonderful stamps that little bit extra! It looks amazing!

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  12. What a fab tag! Not seen this stamp - need to investigate as I love his stuff.
    Blown away by the novel way you have used it as I only thought of stamping on a colourful background and colouring in - shows how uncreative I am. This tiled effect is superb.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Artful Times. Hugs, neet xx

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  13. This is so clever. I have this stamp and never would have thought of using it like this!

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  14. Fabulous tag... what a great idea.. I would never have thought of this one... I dont have any of these stamps.. But I think that will change soon...Hugs May x x x

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  15. Any jury in the world would be crazy not to love this tag. It's absolutely brilliant - the blended background and then those scintillatingly coloured and crackly foreground pieces in full detail - I'm blown away! Love, love it (thanks for the heads-up Neet!)...
    Alison x

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  16. Came by via Neet...no jury necessary - they're wonderful!

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  17. Neet sent us to your blog - I absolutely love your MP tag - really amazing! Would you want to reveal where you got the lovely stamp? The idea to die cut is fabulous!
    Hugs,
    Cardarian

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  18. Hi Button came via Neet too :D
    And yes was definitely well worth a look have one of his stamps I bought with Neet when in Manchester. seems so long ago but was in May.. so nice, nay really great to see a brilliant new way of using it like this. I love your first pre-cut version too and can see why you were reluctant to cut it up thanks for sharing. Shaz in Oz.x

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  19. Hi Buttons, popped over from Neet's blog and can see why she directed us here - love what you have done with that stamp, it's a unique treatment and quite brilliant. Thanks for sharing. Elizabeth

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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