Followers

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Mixing it up!

Hi all,

Some of you may have noticed that I don't enter challenges very often any more. In fact, I think there may have been 2 or maybe 3 projects I have entered for something so far this year!
My reasons for that are simple. I don't like entering a challenge unless I have made something specifically for it. I don't have the patience to try and fit my already completed projects to as many different challenges as I can find after the fact, so simply don't bother. I know many people do, and that's fine, but it doesn't work for me.

Having said that, sometimes I am inspired by a challenge, and want to make something. And other times, while I'm thinking of what to make, I come across another challenge that inspires, and the ideas start to mingle.

This is what happened to me the other day. I realised that it was once again time for Darnell's NBUS challenge, and it being my favourite challenge in Blogland, I really wanted to play along. So I ruminated on what Never-Before-Used-Schtuff I was going to finally get around to using. While I was doing so, I followed a link posted by a friend, to find the latest challenge over at Rubber Dance Art Stamps. I was immediately drawn by the gorgeous February colours, so threw them into the mix. As the colours made me think of Ground Espresso, Aged Mahogany and Broken China Distress inks, I made the link to tags, and then I had my NBUS! You see, I had a pack of size 10 tags sitting in my Tim Holtz box that I'd never managed to get around to using - normally preferring the size 8's. Perfect.

Tag decided upon, I figured a quick trip to Tag Along was required for more inspiration, and their Think Outside the Tag challenge sounded like a lot of fun, so off that went into the creative stew in my head (less tasty than it sounds, lol)

And finally? I promised Di that I'd be coming to play at the Playground again, so snippets of some sort were going to be needed!

WOW! I didn't actually intend to write this much, but I thought I'd include my haphazard thought-process here for a giggle. Well done if you haven't fallen asleep yet!

On to my tag:


Now, I can very definitely tell you why said size 10 tags were NBUS... They're HUGE! It didn't seem like it at first, but once I started working on it, I realised I didn't have any stamps big enough, lol. So a combination of TH stamps came to the rescue.
My snippets are the two small pieces of Hessian/burlap. All that was left of my 1m square... I really hope the habby gets it back in stock, as I do so love working with it.

The acorn got a treatment of both glossy accents and sparkly spray ink, and the leaves were covered with Crackle paint (also all gone now!)


to finish it off, I added some ink-stained ribbon and twine, a couple of mini pine cones, and some of TH's remnant rubs and small talk, edged with my Sakura Clear star pen.


And now I think I have waffled at you all long enough!

Have a fantastic day!

Sammy-x


18 comments:

Jane Savage said...

Autumn in a tag! It’s a stonker, Sammy! And that sentiment is sooo true! xxx

brenda said...

I am totally with you on the challenges Sammy, I make an exception for Snippets and Butterfly challenge and Mo' monthly Rudolph one, but that's about it.

There is so much texture and lovely Autumnal colours going on with your tag, it#s just gorgeous.

B x

Deborah said...

Fabulous Autumnal tag, Sammy. I love the string and burlap - they make a wonderful contrast to the glossy accents.

Di said...

Wonderful tag Sammy - true Autumn there! Like many, I have a few favourite challenge but that's about it - sometimes I see that folk have entered as many as 40 challenges with one card - how do they keep track?

Hugs

Di xx

Pawsitively Creative said...

Lovely Autumn tag you have designed. That acorn is fantastic and I want to touch it. :) Your sentiment is perfect and perfectly true dearie! Awesome sauce! ~Niki

cotnob said...

A fabulous tag Sammy, a lovely autumn design.
Pauline
x

McCrafty's Cards said...

Gorgeous tag Sammy, I like the colours all the texture and the acorn
Kevin xx

aussie aNNie said...

Beautiful tag Sammy and so much to see...love the image and colours.
{The Journey Is The Start aNNie my personal blog}

Sarn said...

I pretty much only enter the Snippets Playground challenge . . . and an occasional foray elsewhere . . . but like you . . . will make something specifically for it.

Loving the look of this pretty autumnal and wonderfully inked up tag.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Jennifer Scull said...

this is just a fabulous tag! love all of the heart and time you put into it to make that much more extra special. :) I can taste the pumpkin pie and apple cider now! grins!

MaryH said...

I hear you with the challenges. My reason for not doing many also included having time to pay visits..Life always seems to get real busy just when I need to be returning visits, and I get behind. Having said that, I've been struggling to find time to enter Darnell's NBUS - and I'm glad you did. This is one super splendid tag with the coppery autumn colors. Love the textures & weaves of the burlap trims with the rusty-green on the leaves, and the glisten on this gorgeous acorn. Loved the touch of the tiny embellie on the snippet of burlap on the bottom corner, and the tiny 'bug' up at the top. The sentiment treatment works wonderfully too. Great work! TFS & Hugs

Desire Fourie said...

Sammy this is a beautiful autumn tag. Loving the textures and how you did the wording.
{Would love you to visit my blog and join my 1,100 Follower Give-Away. Thank you so much, if you have already entered, and good luck.}
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Tracey said...

Gorgeous autumnal tag Sammy :o)
Hugs
Tracey
xx

Irish Cherokee said...

I also understand about the challenges. I just do not have the time to do the cards. Like yo I love Darnell and her challenges. I don't really care if there are prizes, I just really like Darnell.

It is amazing what your thought processes are to come to the point of creating this tag. Beautiful. It very much reminds me of fall.

Love, Hugs and Blessings
Ji8m

Cathy said...

Gorgeous tag Sammy the colours are beautiful, Cathy x

Kat W said...

Your tag is fabulous, such lovely rich colours and great textures. I really enjoyed reading how the ideas and inspiration all came together to make this gorgeous design :-)

Big hugs, Kat xx

Bibi Lindahl said...

Hi Sammy! I love your tag and it's such a good use of our February colours. Thank you so much for making this especially for our challenge. I also like to be inspired by challenges instead of trying to find some that fit something I already made. Thank you for joining our September challenge. Good to see you there! :-) I hope you will come back and look at our new challenge on October 1st. I think you might like the coliurs... ;-)
Sorry for commenting so late, I've been ill.

Darnell said...

Can I just say simply that I can't remember the last time anyone made me feel THIS special, Sammy. I'm finishing up for the night and a bit tired and you've just verbally wrapped me in the BIGGEST hug and made me feel like it's all so worth it! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I was feeling badly that I'm so behind in commenting because this time the turnout was astounding and because of the Mister being bedridden for five weeks and you've given me renewed energy! Your tag is spectacular. Period. The journey you took to get there? So inspiring and serendipitous! And that's how we create and then we look at what we created and ask, "Wowza. I did that?" To which we answer, "Hell, yeah! I did that!" You're truly a dear, dear girl! And oh, so talented! Mwah forever!! Darnell