Skip to main content

The Tree

I tried. I really did. I tried so hard. All I wanted to do was make one card for the latest Color Throwdown. But, my daughter just wouldn’t have it. No way. She was pretty unhappy today. I have no idea why. She just cried and cried. She’s not sick or anything… So, my card never got made.

But, that’s why I am so glad I decided to post some of my “pre-blog” stuff up. Here is one of my all-time favorite layouts. And, it goes right along with the “Quiet” layout I posted the other day.
IMG_7438

Please click on my photos to see them bigger. There is actually a lot going on in this layout. Let’s start with the photo itself.

IMG_7440

You really need to see this one blown up… Why? Because I am IN this tree! It’s hard to tell with the photo being so small. This is the same cemetery I wrote about the other day. It’s in Salem, Mass. I love this tree. If I could take it home and keep it forever I would. It’s so majestic, old and beautiful. Yes, I am a Tree-Hugger! I sit in this tree for so long whenever we visit Salem. It could be my favorite place to be in that city. Please note: that little tombstone in the lower right corner is a tiny embellishment that I aged a bit and added on. Looks like it belongs there huh?

IMG_7441

So I drew this title. But not only that, this was a plain piece of cardstock to start off! I used my beloved wood grain stamp across the whole thing, then I tore the cardstock, and aged it with Distress Ink in Weathered Wood, Walnut Stain and a bit of black. Then I drew on my title. This was my second try. The first was too small.

IMG_7442

I used the same techniques on this piece of cardstock. These are my feelings about this tree. It’s been a few years since we’ve visited Salem. I was hoping we could get there this year, but that doesn’t seem possible. Maybe next year…

I made this layout in 2006, but it is still one of my favorites. I really love everything about it. The distressing, the words, my title, the photo itself… but I especially love the emotions that I feel when I think back to sitting in that tree. I was at peace. One with mother nature. The tree and I were so very alive, in a place that housed death. A beautiful contradiction.

Labels:

Comments

Rebecca {bellacarta} said…
I love the wood grain and I'm enjoying your stories about Salem! I hope Rhi gives you a few minutes for yourself today :-)

PS I totally ADORE your halloween blog background!
October 9, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Arts by Sara said…
Alison! This is awesome! I love this layout! I am also intrigued by cemeteries! You did a wonderful job, the wood grain is awesome! I take it you draw? Thanks of sharing! Have a wicked day! Sara
June 29, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Holiday Hop and Collaboration: Day 5

Hello!  All of this week, the  Stampendous  and  Dreamweaver  teams have been playing with a mix of their products, along with some wonderful, SAND-ABLE papers from  Core'dinations . We've sanded our way to the "core" of all things Christmas and the Holiday season. ***If you are looking for my Day 17 post for the 31 Days of Halloween, please scroll down to my next post.*** Of course, there are prizes, and we are giving away the best...this time with a mix of fun  Core'dinations products as well. To be one of three prize package winners, follow the posted link lists from each day, leave comments, and winners will be selected from these comments at the beginning of next week.  I've been sharing a few car featuring the Stampendous set, Forest Friends . It's such a sweet set. I was going through my Dreamweaver Stencils, and I came across the Open X-Mas Tree . Then it came to me. Remember the part in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, when the song Silv...
24 comments
Read more

SBS and MIC Collaboration: Day 2!

It's Day 2 of the totally rad Simply B Stamps and Make it Crafty collaboration! If you missed anything yesterday (though I don't know how ya could have missed this!), below is all the info you need to know.  Make it Crafty and Simply Betty Stamps are really excited to be bringing you the combined Hollywood Release! Simply Betty Stamps has a range of characters from Betty Monroe, through to Action Chris the movie director!! Make it Crafty has a range of background scenes perfect to switch and match with your famous characters!! Of course we are going to have heaps of fun with this theme and June 1st & June 2nd we will be showcasing our stuff and then June 3rd we're bringing you a fun guessing game... Will you be able to guess the movie??  We'll be giving you some clues to help!! Join us for the two inspiration days and leave a comment along the way for your chance to win a selection of new images. There will be FOUR winners each day recei...
41 comments
Read more

Echo Park Blog Hop with Imagine

Greetings! This is my second post for the day. This one is not part of the 31 Days of Halloween, but rather a super-duper blog hop that the Artists in Residence for Imagine are doing with Echo Park . So if you're here for my Day 7 project, please check out the post HERE . But before you do that, scroll on to check out this one. There are prizes up for grabs, so be sure to check out the Imagine Blog as well as the Echo Park Blogs for details. I created my background by applying Dandelion and Tangelo Memento Ink to my brayer. Then I sprayed it with Ink Potion No. 9 to help the colors blend and to act as an extender to keep the inks wet longer. After I rolled the colors out on to watercolor paper and let it dry, I stamped the lovely doily-like image from Echo Park's Simply Sweet Stamp Set with Grape Jelly Memento. I also received the super pretty Heart Doily Designer Die  which I used with a true purple cardstock. But it needed something....and in rolls the super fabul...
50 comments
Read more