12 Tags - August

I have been horribly remiss in my participation in Tim Holtz's monthly tags.  I think my last one was March.  I had to do a bit of experimentation on this with mixed results.  See Tim's August tag by clicking HERE and here is my tag.

My first bit of experimentation was using Memento ink instead of Ranger's Archival Ink.  I really need to pick some of that up but thought I could get away with not having it.  How many black inks does one really need?  Apparently one more.  The Memento didn't really work on top of the tape so I used black StazOn instead.  It worked okay but I had to do some touching up on her face with my Pitt pen.

My next bit of experimentation was using embossing paste rather than texture paste.  The stain didn't seep into the embossing paste like it did the texture paste.  I kind of like the way it turned out though.

My third experiment was to combine regular acrylic paint with Distress Paint on the gears.  That worked out pretty well too.  Good to know.

I'm adding this to the Stampotique Designers Challenge Bows challenge this week too.

Have a great week!

Calendar Tags and yet more ATCs

Yes, indeed.  Jumped right into those SCS swaps with both feet a couple of months ago.  Now all of the due dates are on my doorstep and I've realized that with fall right around the corner the Steed household will be a beehive of activity which equals less craftalicious time for me so I've avoided signing up for (many) more.

This weekend found me and my inky fingers finishing up a Calendar Tag swap and Alphabet ATC swap (my letter is H). 

That's a lotta tags!

The tags need to be in "Tim Holtz style" and my months are August and May.  I previously shared my August tag HERE  but here is my tag for May:

I especially like how the peacock background turned out.  I was thinking Mothers' Day for May but it could also simply represent spring, weddings or graduations I suppose.

My alphabet ATCs are an ode to recycling and my penchant for saving EVERYthing.

 

 I had no clue really what I wanted to do when I started so I took out my blanks and began gluing torn bits of paper towels that I'd used for mopping up excess ink (mostly Dylusions).  Happy with that I added some stenciling over the top (the stencil is from sequin waste).  Following the stenciling I dumped out scraps of paper that had bits of ink, paint, stamping, etc. and cut them into heart shapes.  A little washi tape and a phrase finished them off. 

Off to package these up and send them on their merry way.  Have a great day!

12 Tags of 2013 - June

Schwoo!  Just getting this one in under the wire.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute...

Senor Holtz created a beautiful dragonfly tag this month using watercolor techniques with his Distress Markers.  Sadly, I have nary a one Distress Marker so I improvised with cheapo kiddie watercolors and Distress Inks to create my Coffee Lady tag.  She's popped up in a lot of my creations lately - love her.

I used a waterbrush to do all of the coloring on her. 

 The base image was stamped with Memento Black Tuxedo.  

I thought she needed a little something more after I added the button images.  

Lavendar DMC floss tied in nicely with her robe methinks.

Love this sentiment! I had to do this twice.  I learned that the ink smudges a bit when adding water.  Here's my before shot:

 I just flipped it over, applied the background and then stamped the sentiment.

I'm not sure why I thought a wood grain background was the way to go, but it felt right to me.  I wasn't sure if this technique would work but I'm happy with the way it turned out.  

I took Walnut Distress Stain and swiped it across a manila tag from side to side.  On some of my swipes a blotch was left on the edge - not part of the plan.  I turned them into wood knots with a Sharpie; the 'planks' and woodgrain are defined using a Sharpie as well. 

Hope June has been good to you.  Thank you for stopping by!

Tag Swap - August

I mentioned in an earlier post that somebody recently pointed me in the direction of swaps on SplitcoastStampers website.  I went a little overboard and signed up for a bunch of them.  My art journal is buried someplace in my studio right now so my participation in the swaps in getting my creative mojo back in gear.

I took a couple of spots in a "Tim Holtz-like" calendar tag swap.  I had in mind using some laser cut wooden shapes on my tag, but it morphed as I worked on it to turn into this:

 

I started with a #8 manila tag.  Rubbed on some Faded Jeans and Dusty Concord DI, then Barn Door, Wild Honey and Squeezed Lemonade DS. 

When dry I stamped the flourish with Versamark ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.
Next I went back over the colors with the same inks - all DI - except for the Squeezed Lemonade. Flung a bit of water about and randomly stamped a script image with Walnut Stain DI.
The quote is by Wallace Stevens (printed on copy paper and colored with Wild Honey DS).

On the bottom of the tag is some tissue tape that I colored with Barn Door stain and crumpled up ruffle-style. I added some staples to help it stick and because it needed a little something extra.
The flowers are a Memory Box die.
One of the requirements was to add the month somewhere on the tag.  I used a Sizzix bookplate die that I've forever and cut it out of grungeboard which I then covered with Tarnished Brass and Antiqued Bronze DP.
The brads were really shiny gold so I toned them down with a mix of Wild Plum and Watermelon alcohol inks.
Last is the ribbon at top which is seam binding that I dyed with Dusty Concord and Faded Denim DI.

And there you have it.  More than you could possibly ever need to know about my August tag.  ;)