mixed media "merry" tag...

it started like this...

I had a completed unused tag 

sitting there looking at me...

really...it was...

it's a #8 manila tag that I had cut down to 5 ½ inches tall...

the background was made with my archival ink,  metallic mixative & rubbing alcohol technique...

as a review...

swipe the tree branch pad onto the craft sheet...

shake the gold metallic mixative, then add one drop on the craft sheet & add rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) for my UK friends...

make sure to add plenty of rubbing alcohol, because it quickly soaks into the manila tag...

add more alcohol than you think!

it's inexpensive, so don't be skimpy!

incase you're wondering...

for large surfaces, like a big art journal page, or if I want more intense color, I'll use a drop of archival reinker...

but for smaller pieces, I use the archival pad...

use a palette knife or craft stick to mix the alcohol into the ink, set the tag in the solution...

it sucks it right up...

give it a quick dry...

MAGICALLY...

the alcohol does not warp or damage the manila at all...

the tag stays nice & flat with no pills or bubbles...

next the tag was stamped over,

 using a text stamp with watering can archival...

the edges were inked with gathered twigs distress ink...

so that's where this tag

 started...

I stenciled stripes along the left side with watering can archival, stenciled thru the stripes border stencil... 

I wanted some bling, since this would be a holiday themed tag...

I thought I'd add some metallic polka dots to the right side with my gold metallic embossing paste...

I knew the center would be covered, so I didn't add any metallic embossing paste there...

when you open the gold metallic paste, it's kind of a yucky not cute butterscotch color...

fear not!

the magic happens when it drys...

it looks like this...

beautiful & metallic...

while putting stuff away, I found this kraft color paper doily...

to alter the doily, I used the blending tool to add tree branch archival ink, then sprinkled it with tree branch embossing powder, melted the powder with the embossing tool & inked over the cooled powder with potting soil archival...

you'll see a gold edge on the doily...

I love using the tarnished brass distress stain for that...

I partially backed it with a black cardstock circle...

here's the

quick easy transformation...

keep in mind that it can be changed to many colors...

to make a poinsettia, I inked the large & small art parts 6 petal flower with red geranium archival ink, sprinkled on the red geranium embossing powder & blasted it with the embossing tool...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the texture that happens when the embossing powder melts...

to make the poinsettia center, 

I added dandelion archival ink to a gumdrop with the mini blending tool...

gumdrops make THE PERFECT flower center & can be customized to any color your project requires...

the gumdrops can also be colored with alcohol ink...

I wanted something to layer on the doily & this 

new label die fit the bill...

there are 17 die choices in the pack which makes it a great value!

I cut the label from a manila scrap, then stenciled the yikes stripes with tree branch archival...

I used gathered twigs to accent the edges...

to create these holiday greens, I inked a manila scrap with fern green archival ink, then embossed it with fern green embossing powder...

before running it thru the vagabond, I added Ranger's new adhesive sheet to the back...

just peel off the backing paper from one side...

stick it to the cardstock & leave the second backing paper in place when die sitting...

it turns the die cut into a sticker...

this is perfect for adhering fragile die cuts...

& is great for people who are heavy handed with wet glue...

there's no chance of the glue seeping out...

after test driving the placement of the greens & the poinsettia, I knew where to stamp the flourishes...

I used jet black with this stamp...

you'll find it here...

 if you need just the single flourish stamp &

if you like wood mounted stamps...

to create this dimensional "merry" die cut...

I inked a black cardstock scrap with red geranium, and embossed the piece with red geranium embossing powder...

before die cutting the holiday word, I added a piece of the adhesive sheet to the back...

I die cut 2 more "merry" 

from black cardstock

 and layered them to create the dimensional piece you see above...

make sure to add the adhesive sheet...

this makes it so simple to add layers...

why use black cardstock?

because the edges are already finished, which saves a step...

and the black helps to convey a shadow effect!

now...

everything gets glued in place...

I used glue n seal to add the label to the doily & the doily to the tag...

I have no clue how I ever lived without this adhesive foam...

ps...

it's black!

it creates the perfect height & the adhesive is really super strong...

and it's BLACK...

so it fades into the background!

and here's how it turned out...

oopsie...

I used the Sizzix alterations mini scallops/pinking on the edge die to add a black cardstock border to the back bottom of the tag...

this is the JOY of mixed media...

it's a use what you have...

"anything goes" way to play...

& a fun way to combine older supplies with new...

a manila tag, art parts, embossing powder, embossing paste, inks...both archival & distress...

merry mixed media!

don't you love the texture of the gumdrop with the texture on the poinsettia?

before I head to the studio...

shhhhhh...to play with new stamps...

I wanted to say...

THANK YOU 

on this Veteran's Day...

GIGANTIC Heartfelt THANKS

TO ALL the men & women 

who have served & are currently serving our country...

I salute YOU!

THANKS so much for

keeping us safe so we can...

make art!

wendy

no tricks, but I do have a TREAT!

I'm O V E R Halloween & on to...

CHRISTMAS...

but I DO have a Halloween treat for you today...

keep reading...

let's start today's project...

I originally planned to make an ornament, but this piece took me on another adventure...

I started with one of my original art parts...

the 3 inch square frame...

art parts LOVE embossing powder, as you'll see...

starting on the left side of the solid base piece,

 I used leaf green archival to stencil the large tree, then the smaller tree, 

then the large tree again...

making sure to vary the height of the trees...

and also to vary the intensity of the leaf green...

it looked like this...

next,

I added gathered twigs to the whole background with the blending tool...

the next step was to use snow cap pigment ink with my spatter background stamp to add "snow" to the base...

psst...the spatter stamp is back in stock!

working on the smallest art parts house from the "residences" art parts set...

psst...these make cool ornaments & are fun to customize for gifts to package decor...

I'll be making some samples to post here...

I used tree branch archival with the mini blending tool to stencil the "yikes, stripes" stencil...

using it sideways makes it look like a log house!

hey...you might have to use your imagination on this one!

I inked the art parts roof with watering archival ink, then added the watering can embossing powder & heated it to melt the powder...

I inked the frame with forget-me-not archival ink & sprinkled on the cornflower blue embossing powder...

before melting the powder, I wiped away the powder from the edges of the frame...

I like this worn effect...

after the powder cooled, I added some potting soil archival ink over the frame...

I used jet black archival to stamp the sentiment at the top & bottom of the frame...

*remember* to give it a quick dry...

the frame looked like this...

I'm totally loving the texture the embossing powder creates...

I used a small piece of the industrious border sticker & altered it with tree branch archival...

I LOVE the industrious stickers so much...

they are so easy fun to change to any color with the archival inks...

this started out as a silver sticker... 

I used Glue N Seal 

(so HAPPY it's BACK!)

to add a dictionary page to the clear version of clearly for art...

then stamped the holly with jet black...

the coordinating stencil makes it fast to ink just the holly leaves...

I used fern green with the mini blending tool...

love  how it works!

after repositioning the stencil, it was time to add red geranium to the little berries...

after I cut out the holly, I heated it to soften the CFA & then shaped the leaves...

after gluing the frame to the solid base, 

I added a tiny bit of Glossy Accents to the lower left corner & sprinkled on 

the yummy rock candy glitter...

I wanted it to appear that the snow had accumulated in the corner...

this is where this piece took on a life of it's own...

I originally planned to make this a hanging tree ornament, but I felt it needed a larger base...

the base is the insert from the large square art parts frame...

I inked it with tree branch, sprinkled on the tree branch embossing powder...

wiped the powder off the edges & blasted it with the embossing tool to melt the powder...

I added potting soil to the edges & to the perimeter of the frame...

I knew the center would b covered...

here's a blast from the past...

this background stamp is from my very first stamp release, W A Y  back in July of 2008...

it's LCS007

it has teeny tiny script that says...

"have yourself a merry little Christmas"...

I stamped it over the base using potting soil...

after shaking the tarnished brass distress stain, I added a gold edge to the base...

*make sure the dabber top is fairly dry...NOT saturated*...

and here's everything all assembled...

do you see the log cabin?

after everything was glued in place, I added bits of "snow" to the roof & a little pile of "snow" just above the berries...

I used the glitter "snow" in 3 areas to create a visual triangle...

haha...almost makes me feel like I know what I'm talking about...

so instead of an ornament, 

I have a fun little shelf-sitter...

NOW...

I HAVE A TREAT

for YOU...

I have the

HAPPY HOLIDAYS stencil

and

the HOLIDAY ICONS SiSi to give away...

just leave a comment on this post & Rick will choose a lucky winner who will get BOTH the stencil & the SiSi...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to you!

enjoy your weekend & remember to

get out your supplies, eat candy &

make art!

wendy

a new art journal is born...

my new embossing powders inspired me to create a new art journal...

today, I'll share the outside front & back covers...

 the front cover started like this...

I used the etched art parts art journal, 

without the etched frame this time...

it's about 5 ¾ inches square...

I like this size because it's square & I've not seen square art journals in stores before...

I also like to create my own journal, so that I can choose the surfaces that I want for creating the pages & I can make them any size...

I also enjoy working on one flat page at a time...

that makes stamping & stenciling easier for me...

I also find it very freeing...

if the page turns out butt ugly, in the trash it goes with no evidence whatsoever...

I like that!

this journal can be a top opening or side opening orientation...

your choice...

this one is a side opener...

I used the blending tool to add some cornflower blue archival ink to the front cover & purposely did not add ink all the way to the edges...

while the ink was wet, I sprinkled on the cornflower blue embossing powder, then heated it to melt the embossing powder...

next, I added potting soil archival ink to the edges & partially over the blue embossing powder to age it...

I used watering can archival with the checkmate stencil to fill in the empty areas around the perimeter...

the white dots were added with snow cap white pigment ink, using my spatter background stamp...

this creates an authentic graniteware effect...

I used watering can archival to stamp the text you see...

it's from LCS066 & it's titled "remnants of art"...

the large art parts heart was inked with red geranium archival ink, sprinkled with red geranium embossing powder & heated to melt the powder...

again, I used potting soil around the edges & a tiny bit of tarnished brass distress paint to add a worn gold edge on the heart...

I used watering can archival with the vintage mesh background to stamp over the heart...

the art parts words ART & FOR were painted with black soot distress paint...

to create the art parts geranium, 

I inked the flower portion of the art part with red geranium ink, sprinkled on the red geranium embossing powder & heated it...

then I covered the leaves area with fern green archival ink, fern green embossing powder & heated it...

next, I inked the geranium stamp with jet black archival & pressed the art part onto the inked stamp & gave it a quick dry...

***REMEMBER***

the embossing powders are opaque when melted, so if I stamped first, the stamped image would have been completely covered up by the powder...

make sense?

so add the embossing powder first, melt it & then stamp on top with archival ink...

the little art parts flower was finger painted with an uneven coat of salty ocean distress paint & a tiny bit of wild honey distress paint was added to the flower center...

I used multi medium to glue the art parts to the front cover...

it looks like this...

with a little pen stitching around the heart...

here's a look at the geranium detail...

I used the black glaze pen to add dots to the flower centers...

 decisions...decisions...

I had planned to make the back cover red & use something blue as the focal point...

just the opposite of the front...

but 

then I spotted the watering can embossing powder & decided to use that as my background...

I followed the same steps as I did on the front cover...

the art parts bird was inked with forget-me-not archival ink & then I sprinkled on the cornflower blue embossing powder, making sure to wipe the powder from the edges to create a worn effect...

after the powder was melted, I added potting soil to his legs & the un-embossed areas...

I used watering can archival to add the polka dots to the bird & the wing...

I test drove the bird placement & before gluing the bird to the cover, I used jet black to stamp the flourish that appears under his wing...

he needed something to stand ON, so I used 

the art part bow with the coordinating stamp...

I inked the art part with brushed corduroy, then used the coordinating stamp (LCS097) with jet black...

if it stands still in our house, 

it just might get heat embossed...

see the star?

it's one of tim's mirrored stars...

easy to alter...& it can take the heat...

I used the blending tool to add some tree branch archival ink & then sprinkled on the tree branch embossing powder while the ink was wet...

a little heat & the powder melts...

I added a tiny bit of potting soil to darken it a bit...

idea-ology adornments are fun to alter too...

I used the perfect mediun embossing pen, inking the leaves first, then sprinkling on the fern green embossing powder & melting it...

the I added the embossing ink to the flowers & gave them a dose of orange blossom powder...

when the powders cooled, I lightly swiped the red geranium archival pad over the raised areas of the flowers to add some shading...

it looks imperfect, vintage & crusty...

just what I wanted...

***be very light handed with the embossing pen***

it takes very little ink to add the embossing powders...

adding too much embossing ink will cause the powders to chip off or peel off metal & glass...

I'm excited to have a new journal to work in...

pages this size can be completed in a short play session...

good timing for the busy holiday season...

did you hear that Santa delivered early?

I'm THRILLED that...

the matte finish 

GLUE N SEAL is back!

this is 

BY 

FAR 

THE 

BEST 

paper adhesive in the 

whole universe!

seriously...

T H E  B E S T...

whenever I want to adhere paper to any surface, 

like chipboard, art parts, grungeboard, wood or card stock

I choose Glue N Seal...

why?

because it doesn't warp paper...

even vintage dictionary pages, which are very fragile & don't do well with any moisture...

my favorite use is to paint a thin layer of Glue N Seal onto a sheet of

 my clearly for art (CFA)...

add the dictionary page, brayer it & give it a quick dry...

NO BUBBLES!

then I'll either stamp on the paper side & 

cut it out with tim's scissors or

 use a Sizzix die to cut the CFA...

to create a strong dimensional embellishment..

that's reason #1 why 

I LOVE Glue N Seal...

reason #2...

if you add a thin layer to a glass bottle, when it's dry you can then add tim's rock candy crackle paint & it STICKS, CRACKS & stays securely attached to the glass like MAGIC...

rock candy crackle paint over glass without 

Glue N Seal doesn't stick...

it flakes right off...

it needs tooth to grab onto...

the most cost effective way to buy Glue N Seal is to buy the small jar...

it's super convenient to have the brush built right in the lid...

no mess...no cleanup...

and then get the large jar to refill the small jar 

or you can use it with a larger brush for larger projects...

you get lots more glue that way & 

it's a much better value than buying 2 small jars...

THANK YOU RANGER

 for listening to our request 

to bring back GLUE N SEAL!

that's it for today!

THANKS so much for stopping by!

I hope you'll get out a journal &

make art!

wendy