New Year, New Tag, New Job and an Old Resolution

I love that Tim is revisiting previous tags this year, and I remember both the tags he is using for inspiration this month. The November 2013 tag - I did that one, kind of, but I didn't have any chalk. But the January 2014 tag - Industrious Metal - was the tag that really clicked with me and started me doing the tags in earnest so I was very pleased to see that again and any excuse to get my metal tape out is okay with me!

I started a new job this month, same employee but in a new role, and I've been a bit unfocused on crafting because of that. But I had my crafty friend Louise (aka Zuzu) over yesterday so we decided to do the tag for this month together. It's fun to have company when crafting.

I did have the embossing folder that Tim used but we both decided to do something different.  I used the ATC sized Rays folder. My tag has a travel theme (again, from someone who rarely goes anywhere because hubby doesn't have wanderlust in his soul but hope springs eternal) and I used the globe blueprint stamp, and overlaid it with the vintage globe die cut and then again with the continents from the same die, this time using embossed metal.  Easier to see then explain...

And I STILL don't have any chalk so I had to revert to the same substitute I used before, which was a pale silvery embossing powder from Zing, and Louise used a white pastel crayon for her tag.  

Louise's tag is based on the compass stamp, and she used the pocket watch die.

Here are both our tags, mine on the left. I put a little colour on the continents with alcohol inks and a slight amount of red paint on the Rays.

I am looking forward to revisiting previous tags, and maybe catching up with ones I didn't do. Great idea Tim!

Here's the supplies I used:

And the finished tag

Been drooling over all the sneak peeks and CHA releases that Tim has been blogging. Oh, I want them all but particular the distress crayons and the add on items to the village dwelling collection. Can't wait to build more houses! Hurrah!

Oh, old Resolution? To do all the 2016 tags, like I did last year.

What have I done?

I seem to have messed up the links to my blog. I really shouldn't fiddle with technical things I have no clue about.

Castle Keep

Before I put my Christmas Village away until next year, I just had to make a castle.  This one is based on a Scottish Tower House, and there are many of these dotted around the countryside hear abouts.  Particularly in the Borders area of Scotland (near the border with England) as there were many cross border skirmishes and lots of cattle rustling in days gone by. These houses were built as defensible strongholds, no windows near the ground and usually only one door to defend. Livestock would be kept secure on the ground floor and people lived up high, away from fire and arrows.

Here's a couple of real tower houses, but I not sure what the names are..

Gorgeous to look at, but probably not very cosy to live in.

Back to work tomorrow. Blurgh.