PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Sunday 4 March 2012

Ethereal Enchantment Alphatag

This is the first of my three Alphatags to be submitted for the Baroque Guild Swap this month. The full title is "Ethereal Enchantment with an Elegantly Embossed Emerald Elf" but that was a bit of a mouthful for my blog post heading let alone writing it to fit onto my theme panel.

front of tag
angled photo to show
sparkle of snowflakes 
close-up of elf showing dimension of her
double embossed body & dress
back of tag showing
tone on tone stamping
close-up showing paper pierced
scallops & inked edges of theme panel
The scene was created by heat embossing the trees & butterflies with clear embossing powder, likewise the elf (but using a green embossing powder & embossing the body plus dress a second time so as to give them greater definition & depth of colour) prior to sponging the background with the various Distress Inks. The clear embossing was then ironed off & the snowflakes stamped & heat embossed (this time using a sparkly transparent powder) whilst being very careful to avoid flattening the embossing of my elf through overheating. A few flattened elves now reside in the bin but I certainly practised my sponging techniques in the process.

The back was decorated by simply repeat stamping the tree image using the Emboss Stamp Pad & allowing it to dry giving a tone on tone effect.

Recipe
Stamps Chocolate Baroque UDLSP0227 Dragonfly Faeries (elf & folded wings butterfly), UDLSP0226 Gossamer Wings (extended wings butterfly), UA5SP0252 Tall Trees (trees) & UA6SP0267 Winter Wonderland (snowflake).
Inks  Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Old Paper & Shabby Shutters Distress Inks (sponged background); Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy for inking various cardstock edges; Emboss Tinted Embossing Stamp Pad with Stampendous Embossing Powders (Detail Clear - trees & butterflies, Emerald Green - elf & Stardust - snowflakes).
Markers VersaMarker Watermark Pen. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner.
Cardstock White & assorted greens in various finishes from stash.
Die Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Tag & Bookplates.
Punch Woodware (scalloped rectangle).
The ribbon is from stash.

Challenges Entered
Allsorts Week 144 - Spread your Wings
Flutterby Wednesday 192 - Open but must include a butterfly, fairy or angel
Simon Says........ ANYTHING GOES!
Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - March: Springtime

23 comments:

jackiescrafts said...

This is beautiful Paula, that elf really stands out with the double embossing on the body and dress. I love how you have sponged the background and the colour is great

Jackie x

veronica said...

great idea Paula -the elf really stands out, looks diecut. Lovely background too, very ethereal

Deborah Frings said...

Hi Paula - sorry not to have been in touch for a while - but as you can imagine, it's a bit mad here!! I love this tag - the winged Elf is just so pretty and I love the resist stamping too! Take care.

Wiccababe said...

well it's definitely worth all the time you put into this Paula, what a beautiful tag - love the deep emerald of the fairy/elf :)
Debz
xx

Cathy A said...

The elf has wonderful dimension, so glossy I just want to touch it!

Lorraine said...

oh wow this is so brilliant Paula i love he super adorable fairy and the background is amazing hun i really love this one hun xx

brenda said...

Your tag is totally magical Paula. The embossing of the fairy looks so rich and stands out beautifully against the resist background elements.

Thanks so much for joining in my Things with Wings theme at Allsorts this week, good luck and hope to see you again.

I think you tag would also fit our Springtime theme at our sister challenge Penny Black and More

B x

Aquarius said...

Well done - you are ahead of me because my next three tags are still 'in my head'. I love the alliteration but it does make for long titles!!

GinaA said...

Great take on all the E's Paula, and all that practice did make perfect. I love green, and those tree stamps are gorgeous, makes a FAB background.

Sandra said...

Great tag Paula, that fairy looks as if she will float away! (Almost finished mine.) Sandra

Kathryn said...

Excuisitly executed, extraordinarily eyecatchingly and extremely Excellent etc :) xx

brenda said...

:) :) so pleased you linked up Paula.

B x

debby4000 said...

Beautiful tag Paula.
Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamps Challenge.
luv
Debby

Karen Wilson said...

Very pretty!!! Thanks for fluttering with us at FBW!

Elizabeth Allan said...

Paula you truly captured ethereal magnificently! Wonderful glow around the fairy and the other stamped designs seem to float with whimsy!

Pink Dandelion said...

Wow what a great tag Paula, love the colours and how the embossing really makes the fairy stand out. Debs xx

Tracy said...

Gorgeous creation, thanks for joining Penny Black & More @ Allsorts challenge, good luck.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Ellibelle said...

So beautiful! Love the embossing! The sponged background looks stunning!
So glad you joined us at penny black and more! Good luck and hope we see you again soon!

Gail Is This Mutton? said...

Very pretty and ethereal. Gorgeous embossing

xxxtglxxx said...

This is just gorgeous Paula! :) Love all the techniques used in this - its so effective.

The little embossed fairy is just delightful, and such great detail for an embossed image too :)

Love everything about this - ticks all my boxes! :D

.......and no your eyes didnt deceive you, it was variagated thread ;)

Hope you are having a good day hun,

take care

hugs

xxalisonxx

Annie said...

a beauty Paula! I love the soft background you have for the silhouette fairy and the embossing really makes her pop! enjoy your weekend. hugs, annie x

Clare said...

Very nice work, Paula! I love your fairies!

I am now a follower! :)

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful...I love the soft colours & the double embossing you have done,very dimensional Paula.
Shirley x