PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Monday 8 October 2012

Umbels & Ultramarine Alphatag

The inspiration for my "U" Baroque Guild Alphatag came from the scenery along Brecon Canal where my husband & I often (weather permitting) walk. There are numerous hedgerows to one side which act like a screen through which the Beacons Mountains are visible.  Both these hedgerows & the canal banks are full of tall umbellifers (plants of the Umbelliferae order where the flower-clusters or umbels have stalks nearly equal in length springing from a common centre so as to form a flat or curved surface). I've imagined my plants silvery with one of the early frosts approaching the winter months & my sky is a pale wintery one, appropriately created utilizing the colour ultramarine.
front of tag 
close-up of upper section
close-up of lower section
angled view showing wet embossing
& the different silvers of flower-clusters
back of tag
close-up showing paper pierced scallops & inked edges
of theme panel plus tone on tone background stamping

The cloudy sky was watercoloured using Aquatone watercolour sticks (mixing Ultramarine, Chinese White & Ivory Black) on watercolour paper. The mountains were sponged with the Distress Stain, misted & dabbed with a paper towel to soften the effect. I wanted a contrast in the silvers on the floral image so used an ordinary silver gel pen for colouring the stalks & leaves plus a silver  Sakura Stardust pen for the flower-clusters.

Recipe
Stamps Chocolate Baroque UA4SP0176 Wild Meadow.
Inks Emboss Tinted Stamp Pad with Stampendous Detail Silver Embossing Powder (focal images), Pumice Stone Distress Stain, Brilliance Starlight Silver (tone on tone stamping on back & inking various cardstock edges).
Pencils/Markers etc… Derwent Aquatone watercolour sticks, Signo uni-ball silver gel pen, Sakura Stardust gel pen, Staedtler Triplus Fineliner.
Cardstock Winsor & Newton Cotman 190gsm Cold Pressed/NOT Grain Fin Watercolour Paper; assorted pale blues from stash.
Dies Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Tag & Bookplates.
Punches Woodware (scalloped square).
The gems & ribbon are from stash.

22 comments:

jackiescrafts said...

This is gorgeous Paula, what a great idea, wish I'd thought of using that stamp

Jackie x

Gill said...

A very delicate, classy and beautiful tag Paula. Your talents are amazing!
Gill x

Sarah said...

Gorgeous Paula - beautiful colours and fab embossing! Sarah x

Aquarius said...

Snap!! Umbel is the very word I've come up with for my tag and also the same stamp although at the moment my design is still in my head rather than on a tag (it won't be a copy of yours I promise). Great minds really do think alike LOL!!

GinaA said...

Hi Paula, can't believe that we have chosen the same theme for U, I have done umble as well but mine are not half as beautiful as yours. Will do a blog so you can see! Yours is absolutely gorgeous.

Sandra said...

Lovely tag Paula - I can picture the scene now as I walk the same canal just a different part!!
Sandra

Pink Dandelion said...

Beautiful tag Paula, love the view of the mountains and sky through the plant. Take Care Debs xx

Sally H said...

A gorgeous gorgeous tag, Paula! I love those stamps - so delicate and gorgeous in silver.

Elaine said...

Beautiful tag Paula, superb embossing and lovely delicate shading. You have used one of my all time favourite stamps here. I love Wild Meadow and this one especially. Elaine x

Cathy A said...

Paula your walks sound wonderful and I have learnt something today!
Such gorgeous silver spikes of flower on this tag.

~ Ali Robertson ~ said...

Oh my simply fantastic Paula love the whole appeal of this one. the silver is very effective. Love it

ali x

Anonymous said...

Oooo! Beautiful tag Paula. Love the colours and the embossing. Very elegant.
Regards Florence x

Jan Hennings said...

so gorgeous!

Elaine said...

Another gorgeous tag Paula.
I adore these soft and delicate colours which are a perfect background to the soft flowers. They look fabulous embossed in silver.

Beautiful attention to detail as always

Big hugs
Elaine xxx

Elizabeth Allan said...

Paula you achieved the perfect combination of color and contrast with the Ultramarine and silver embossing. Striking!

Kath Stewart said...

such a beautiful tag paula...love the soft muted blue and the silver embossing just makes those flowers pop...hugs kath xxx

alexandra s.m. said...

Beautiful tags Paula!
Thank you so much for your sweet comments today ;-)

Greetings from Chicago~

Heather said...

Just beautiful Paula, your background is stunning, just like a misty morn and the I love the silver stamping of the cow parsley (or umbelliferae to give it the correct name)
A magical tag!!!
hugs
Heather xx

Wiccababe said...

I love the cool, subtle tones you've used here - really freshand crisp :)
Debz
xx

xxxtglxxx said...

This feels really fresh, breezy and cool! :)

Beautiful tag Paula, I love everything about this :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

veronica said...

great idea Paula - was thinking of that stamp for W! Love the colours, looks very wintery

Anonymous said...

Great Tag Paula and love your description and can imagine walking there.
Suexxx