Wednesday 15 May 2013

Blooming Marvellous At Artful Times. . . . . . .

The challenge this fortnight at Artful Times asks us to show how we display our flowers. I love making flowers and just had to find time to play along with Von and Neet. If you don't know these lovely ladies, follow the links to their blogs and to Artful Times - you won't be disappointed!

Another tag from me - I just can't resist making them to be honest. I love the display area they provide and you can pack so many elements into your design on just one tag.

I've used another family photo (copy, of course) and I'm so proud I can say that because I think it's delightful. The photo shows my paternal Grandmother as a little girl and the family resemblance is certainly there.

The finished piece. The photo of my Grandmother looks a little blurred because the original doesn't have anything like the resolution we can achieve now. The main spray of roses is attached to some wire which I've covered with the sari silk so the tag looks reasonable from the back as well as the front.
I've used some more sari silk at the top and bottom of the tag. In real life, the colours match perfectly but I couldn't achieve that on the photos!
The tag was coated twice with gesso. Scraps of Tim tissue tape were glued here and there. The two layers which followed were a mixture of DecoArt Americana and Fresco paints.
Stamping of florals was done using archival ink. You can see the tissue tape peeking through here. The little diamonds are waste from some washer die cuts used previously. They have been painted using the same colours.
After the paint, the diamonds were coloured with pencil, followed by Treasure Gold, dry brushed Americana and finally a thin later of crackle. Some tissue tape also peeps out on the left of the photo.
All the rose blooms were made with die cut tattered florals. Before construction they were painted with Fresco. After construction, archival ink was randomly applied, mica spray was spritzed all over the blooms and when dry, the edges of the petals were swiped with a little Treasure Gold.
Sari silk was pleated and added to the bottom of the tag. To the right of the diamond shapes you can see some script. To achieve this, modelling paste was applied through a stencil and then the area was treated in the same way as the rest of the tag.
For the 'frame', thick card was embossed, layered with Americana acrylics, antiqued with several washes using Americana paints and finally a light coat of Treasure Gold was applied to give definition. You can also see some dry brushing in this image (on the right, under the stamping) which was applied to the tag background.

Hope you like my tag. I've missed a few challenges at Artful Times so it's really good to be back playing with the ladies again.






35 comments:

  1. Wow gorgeous vintage tag, love the flowers & texture. Your photography is beautiful too! Have a great day, Shirleyx

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  2. very beautiful tag - and the flowers look stunning xx

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  3. A truly stunning tag Julia, you have aged it so well and the photo of your Grandmother is beautiful. The flowers are fabulous and the sari silk is a lovely finishing touch. Really beautiful. Hugs, Anne x

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  4. Wow, stunning tag! Love the vintage feel created by that beautiful photo and I love the flowers. The diamons are a great touch too and the crackle and paint effects on them look amazing! Love this!!

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  5. Oh Julia that photo of your grandmother is beautiful and you have displayed it to perfection. The processes you have used for the background on the tag have created wonderful effects and the flowers and silk have added fabulous dimension. Love this.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  6. Wow, Julia, this is gorgeous! Love the photo of your grandmother and that beautiful textured frame you made for it. The tag itself is scrumptious!

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  7. Awe, she is so beautiful Julia and you have done her proud with this gorgeous tag my lovely xxx

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  8. Gorgeous tag! I haven't got mine finished yet for this challenge! Love the vintage look, and the pretty photo! Valerie

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  9. Love all the fabulous texture on this amazing tag Julia! xx

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  10. Ooh stunning tag sweetie. Tons of luscious layers for an amazing vintage look, brilliant job my lovely. What a beautiful photo too and even more special because it's your family.
    Huge huggles x x x x

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  11. Wonderful and what a great old photo and fantastic way to show case your relatives. I am not sure I understand all that you did but I sure do like it!!
    Sandy

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  12. gorgeous, lots of lovely techniques and I love the flowers creeping over the edge of the tag. I agree - it's definitely a great area to work with.

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  13. Hi Julia, a beautiful tag - the colours are lovely, so vintage, and I really like the little touches of treasure gold here and there. Claire x

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  14. Fabulous tag Julia with beautiful details and colors.
    Greetings Janny

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  15. A stunning tag Julia, you're so lucky to have that beautiful photo of your grandmother. I love the trailing flowers. Xx

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  16. A gorgeous tag with fantastic details. Love the texture.

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  17. Utterly beautiful, Julia - what astounding layers of paint and crackle over those beautiful diamonds... and the tissue tape provides another layer of wonderful texture in your outstanding background. The photograph is enchanting, as is your spray of roses - like an old-fashioned corsage - a beautiful vintage make!
    Alison xx

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  18. This is beautiful, lve the details....the crackle looks wonderful, the flowers are gorgeous, love all the layers of subtle texture that make this a stunning piece , hugstrace xx

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  19. A stunning tag Julia which showcases your lovely photograph so well. The background is fabulous - so many different techniques! Your flowers are gorgeous too - I must investigate the fresco paints and the treasure gold.

    PS thank you for all your lovely comments these last few weeks and your support. I really appreciate it x

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  20. Love that picture of your grandmother as the centerpiece of this great vintage tag Julia.
    Your detailed work is again great!

    hugs, Alie :-)

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  21. Beautiful tag with a lot of gorgeous details!

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  22. What a wonderful piece of delicacy, Julia!

    Love especially the texture with those tiny diamond shapes and the blended edges of the paper roses. So much thought and love put into this creation of yours. A real treasure!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  23. You never cease to amaze me with the amount of texture and interest you get into your projects. Astounding attention to detail too. This has so much going for it Julia. Wonderful as ever. Hugs, Jenny x

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  24. Oh how I'd love to see you build this one up! Simply stunning!!!! All the layers of mediums are just wonderful, and that crackly vintage background is to craft for!!! I love the photo of your grandmother...gorgeous! PINNING!

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  25. Oh WOW! That is truly gorgeous. Love every single thing about this tag and especially how the flowers 'bloom' off it at the base.
    magnificent!
    Hugs, Neet xx

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  26. Hi Julia, your tag is so beautiful, the photo is lovely and I love the way you've done the flowers.
    xxx Hazel.

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  27. Hi Julia...wow, this is an amazing tag! I love it when someone puts everything into a tag!!! Just beautiful.
    Dot x

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  28. Hi Julia :) another of your stupendous tags with such detail just love how the flowers trail off the tag :)
    Thank you for playing along with us at Artful Times
    Von ♥

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  29. STUNNING! A total work of art. Cx

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  30. What a lovely piece Julia. Love that it is a photo you are attached too as well.

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  31. A beautiful tag Julia, the detail is brilliant.

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  32. Very beautiful tag - and the flowers.

    Regards diane

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  33. Beautiful vintage tag! I love how you arranged the flowers!

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  34. I looked at the first picture and thought, that is a very lovely old-fashioned looking tag, then I read your process with all these terrific close-ups and liked it even more. Thanks for a really interesting post.

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  35. Oh my goodness, this has texture to the hilt! I love it!
    Your grandmother was a cutie pie as a little girl. :)
    And you use sari silk for your fabrics?? How cool is that!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax