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

altered art...

I've had several requests to provide the measurements for the wood tree ornament that I've been playing working with...

 it's exactly 5 inches tall & you'll see the length of each layer to the right...

you sure could cut these same lengths from grungeboard or chipboard, if you can't find the tree...

I would love to find these trees in a smaller size, but it's easy to cut the dimensions in half & that 2 ½ inch tall tree would be so fun for a card front or as an embellishment on a gift box...

I've also had several emails asking for suggestions on what to look for when you're out & about...

what items are good to alter?

what surfaces work well...

anything to avoid?

so the title of the post is altered art...

but these items are in the PRE-altered art stage...

keep in mind that the prices for these things range from 50 cents to the most expensive, the wood frame which was $6.99....

but still a reasonable price for a handmade gift...

and it's double dipping...

you get the joy of making something cool & the recipient gets a handmade gift...

double dipping!

also...even if you don't have the same exact item, I'm sure you'll find something comparable & can play along with the ideas...

if you find something that has a good solid base, but the graphics are butt ugly, remember that both  embossing powder & embossing paste are opaque, so the ugly can be covered up completely & quickly!

first up is this hanging metal piece from Hobby Lobby...

great design...

sturdy metal & lots of potential...

I'm expecting to use my embossing powders on it...

***REMEMBER***

heated metal gets H O T & it takes a bit longer to cool than you expect...

trust me on that one...

especially a large piece like this one...

it stays warm for a while...

next is a resin candle holder from Hobby Lobby...

it's price was $2.50...

it's very heavy & will be fun to add my archival inks...

and maybe embossing powders?

still thinking...

it's about 31/2 inches in diameter...

and by using an unmounted stamp, I can stamp on some of the petals...

this makes a great gift because it can easily be customized for any decor...

I'll add some clearly for art leaves under it to take it to the next level...

this next wood frame is from Marshall's...

and was the most expensive item at $6.99...

I love it because the opening is square...

still thinking on this guy too...

there are lots of options...

embossing paste...white paste, 

that gets colored before with my reinkers...

or after with the distress spray stains...

I can stamp into the wet embossing paste so that it dries with texture...

or...

use archival inks & embossing powders...

this will be fun...

the next piece is a $2.00 glass bottle from Hobby Lobby...

I like this one because it has flat sides, which will make it easier to stamp on...

I'm planning to ink this with archival ink, then add my embossing powders...

if you're working on glass, it's important to ink the glass with archival ink & that will hold the melted embossing powders securely on the bottle...

if you try to use any of the embossing inks,

 the melted powder peels right off...

trust me...

if you're covering glass with embossing paste, embossing pastes stick very well to glass...

EXCEPT 

if you're adding crackled texture paste, you need to add a very thin layer of either gold embossing paste or silver embossing PASTE & dry it before adding the crackle paste...

that thin layer of the metallic paste holds the cracks firmly attached to the glass...

here's another little metal piece...

I'll have lots of fun for only $1.00...

ah...another Hobby Lobby find...

it caught my eye because it was worn looking & surprised me when I picked it up...

it's a box with a magnetic closure...

and for $5.00 it's a great price & it's strong & sturdy...

nice size & adorable!

remember that if *it can take the heat* it can be embossed with embossing powders...

all these pieces are also fun with my embossing pastes for a whole different mixed media altering direction...

so...be on the lookout (big box stores, flea markets, second hand stores, Dollar stores, Goodwill etc) for inexpensive, well constructed 

metal, glass, wood & resin pieces...

they are perfect when you want to...

make art!

wendy

ps...I'm PACING & patiently (that's a JOKE) waiting for the UPS guy to arrive with my new...

(stamps)...

"on the truck for delivery" 

makes me giddy with excitement...

CHA is only 2 months away...

yikes!

one ornament done 2 ways...

today I'm over on the Ranger blog with a fun holiday ornament tutorial...

I thought it would be fun to take the same ornament & show you another way to alter it...

with different colors...

and a different style...

here's the ornament I started with for both this post & the Ranger post...

it's a simple, thin wood ornament that I picked up at Hobby Lobby...

I'm sure you can find something similar...

and here's the finished ornament...

I recently updated to another iPad & somehow...

the step out photos are LOST IN SPACE...

they're not on iCloud...

they're just lost in space...

boohoo...

but I think you can follow along with these simple steps...

the ornament tutorial over at Ranger does have step out photos to help...

so I hope you'll check it out...

ok...

for this ornament, ink the large circle portion with tree branch archival ink, sprinkle on the coordinating tree branch embossing powder & then heat it to melt the powder...

when the powder is cool, add shading to the edges with potting soil archival ink, using the blending tool...

ink a text stamp with potting soil archival & stamp randomly over the embossing powder, to add a little extra layer to the background...

then give it a quick dry...

next...

ink the spatter stamp with snow cap white pigment ink & stamp over the embossing powder & give it a quick dry...

it's simple to change the top to metallic with the distress stains...

I used brushed pewter...

remember to SHAKE before using!

when the stain is dry, ink the polka dot stamp with watering can archival & stamp over the ornament top...

to create the holly, brush a thin layer of glue n seal onto a piece of clearly for art...

I used the clear version...

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

 use jet black archival to stamp the holly on the paper side...

with the coordinating stencil, use leaf green on the mini blending tool, to ink just the leaves...

you'll see photos of this step over at Ranger...

now cut out the leaves, heat to soften the CFA & shape to make the leaves dimensional...

***no need to ink the berries, since they will be covered***

the next step is to ink the 6 petal art parts flower with red geranium archival ink, sprinkle on red geranium embossing powder & heat to melt...

ink the vintage mesh background stamp with watering can archival & stamp over the art parts flower...

and again...

give it a quick dry...

to create the flower center, ink the reverse dots background stamp with dandelion archival ink & stamp onto a manila scrap...

use a ½ inch paper punch to punch a circle, which is a perfect fit for tim's large custom fastener...

add a drop of multi medium to the fastener center & that holds the polka dot circle securely in the fastener...

use an awl to make a hole in the center of the art parts flower...

it needs to be large enough to accept the custom fastener prongs...

the LOVE art part gets inked with watering can archival ink, sprinkled with watering can embossing powder, then heat embossed...

when the powder cools, use watering can archival to stamp polka dots over the word & dry...

now that the holly leaves are ready & the flower is complete, test drive their placement to help you decide where to stamp the flourishes...

they will be peeking out from under the holly...

use jet black to stamp them...

use multi-medium to glue the pieces in place & add a hanger to the finished ornament...

the back is a perfect spot for a stamped sentiment/holiday greeting...

if you're giving this as a gift, make sure to sign & date it...

 here's a little peek at the other version of this ornament...

 you'll find it over on the Ranger blog...

click here for the Ranger tutorial...

as always...

thanks for stoping by...

have a great day &

make art!

wendy

bare wood ornament...PLAN B...

a few weeks ago I showed this altered wood ornament & promised to be back with plan B...

here's THAT tutorial...

on to plan B...

same bare wood ornament...

this time I used the 

new distress spray stain in peeled paint 

to color the tree...

mist it on & dry...

QUICK & E A S Y!

I used the brushed corduroy stain to ink the tree trunk...

this is a super fast project & could easily be mass produced...

I used fern green archival to stencil the stripes on the 2nd & 4th layer...

it looked like this...

next, I used fern green again with 

the checkmate stencil 

to stencil over the 1st & 3rd layers...

to protect the 2nd layer from any unwanted stenciling,

I placed a piece of 

painters tape over it...

I inked the reverse dots background stamp with potting soil archival & pressed the trunk onto the inked stamp...

***the reverse dots background is a good stamp when you want to add lots of inky color...

it stamps the background, NOT the dots***

and there's a little promo for Hobby Lobby!

I used the lace border stamp with jet black archival to stamp the lace on each layer...

***look at this next photo & think...

CAKE***

by removing the trunk, it looks like a cake!

you can bet I WILL be doing that and using 

my white embossing paste 

to create (lo cal) frosting!

I wanted to add "ornaments" to the tree and this idea is actually what sparked this project...

here's how to transform tim's charm clips into ornaments in any color you need...

*these are discontinued, 

so I hope you have some in your stash*

and a lesson to be learned...

when you see it...

GET IT before it's gone!

I added some cornflower blue archival ink to a manila scrap & sprinkled the wet ink with cornflower blue embossing powder...

then heated it to melt the powder...

then with a paper punch I punched circles to fit...

they are a tiny bit large, but easily pop into the clips...

in the photo below, I wanted to show the easiest way to add the embossed circle...

the charm clip on the bottom is the way I like to do this...

so that it's sitting flat on the craft sheet...

just used something like a craft stick or hemostat to press the circle in so that it fits securely...

and you have custom ornaments in no time flat!

the photo below shows that I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted the bow to look like...

the uncut bow under the ink pad is stamped onto sticky back canvas (with red geranium)...

the sticky back canvas has been added over Clearly For Art...

this allows shaping of the bow...

and it makes the bow super strong, for packing it away after the holidays...

on the right you'll see the bow stamp, under that the canvas bow I ended up using & the one under that is a kraft cardstock scrap that I added to CFA with Glue N Seal...

time to add the bow & the first ornament...

when using a screw eye, I like to pre-start the hole...I did that with an awl type tool...

and I find it easy to hold the screw eye with a hemostat to screw it in place...

this shows that I put the screw eye thru the bow, & thru the charm clip, then screwed it into the wood...

I didn't want to cover the hanging hole, but I didn't want it to be visible either...

hmmm...

I inked a small art parts star with 

forget-me-not archival ink, 

not inking the edges...

then sprinkled on the cornflower blue embossing powder & heated it to melt...

the little stamps shown below are 

the large collage background stamp 

that I chopped cut apart to create 9 individual mini stamps...

I used jet black archival to stamp the mesh part over the star...

and here's the finished ornament...

the star covers the hole from the front, but the hole can still accept the hanger...

the "ornaments" are all held on with screw eyes...

oops...I used jet black archival to 

stamp "merry christmas"

 on the bottom layer...

oh...and I added a 25 remnant rub to the tree trunk...

remnant rubs work great, as long as you make sure the ink is very dry...

here's the side by side comparison of the 

same inexpensive bare wood tree, 

done with plan A & plan B...

ah...that was fun!

can't wait to get going on plan C!

C just might be for CAKE...

now it's time to announce the WINNER of the drawing from the last post...

these are going to...

 Cec said...

FAB-U-LOUS project and loved the step x step! I agree about Halloween so I started making Christmas gifts today. I wanted to use your embossing powders that I ordered from The Funkie Junkie Boutique but they haven't arrived yet - Customs & Post Office must be working at a snail's pace :( Thanks for the opportunity to win the stamps/stencils.
Hugs!
Cec

Cec...

please email me with your shipping info...

lots of computer stuff to get done today

(YUCK) 

before I can...

make art!

wendy

ps...as always...

THANKS so much for popping in...