Journey's end - Weeks 10-12

If you have been following the Build-a-Tag journey,

you will be happy to know that by the time you scroll to the bottom,

it will have come to an end.

(Phew!  What a relief!  [I hear you say] )

Week 10

Cut out and adhere a main focal image to your tag.

This can be drawn, stamped, collaged, downloaded or cut from a book/magazine.

I'm not sure that these images are my main focal point,

however, they are in the foreground.

Tag 1 - mushrooms

Tag 2 - hare

Week 11

Add doodles, marks and/or embellishments

The mushrooms and hare were outlined using a white sharpie pen.

Tag 1

There are more white dots doodled on the lady's necklace and in the spokes of the stencilled layer.

Tag 2

Oops!  I obviously forgot to take a photo of the extra doodles, but you'll see them in Week 12.

Week 12

Find a word in a book or magazine to attach to your image.

The tags are now finished, complete with words.

Tag 1

I came across 'ghostly greetings' and thought it very appropriate 

as the lady certainly has a ghost-like appearance.

Tag 2

Perhaps this girl is a 'dreamer' as the hare dashes across her path.

So, there you have it - 12 weeks of Build-a-Tag finished.

What do you think?

It was a bit out of my comfort zone as I usually do more clean & simple,

but I'm really happy with the completed tags.

Hopefully, it will give me more confidence in my creative journey.

Happy Crafting!

Fast tracking weeks 7-9

The fast-tracked journey is almost over, so bare with me just a little longer.

Week 7

Add more stencilled layers

To add more texture to the tags, I used Ferro "Graphite" by Viva.  

This is a gritty paste and once dried it has quite a rough feel.

Tag 1

As there was plenty of space on this tag, I was happy to use a slightly bigger stencil.

Tag 2

The butterflies seemed a perfect fit for this tag.

Week 8

Use clear gesso to completely cover your tag

The clear gesso leaves a rough feel on the tags.

Week 9

Stamp one or more images across your tag 

I didn't want to cover too much so used a narrow border stamp, 

which also grounds both girls.

Tag 1

Tag 2

What do you think so far?

Please feel free to leave a comment and come back again tomorrow
for the final installment of the "Build-a-Tag" journey.

Happy Crafting!

Next installment - week 5-6

Welcome back ..... 

Week 5

Add a layer of translucent paint

This step had me a bit stumped.  I liked my tags as they were from Week 4 and wasn't sure about covering them in a layer of paint.  

However, after thinking about it, I decided I'd use some Art Alchemy acrylic paint called 

"Opal Magic Violet-Green"

This paint has a definite purple/violet appearance while still allowing what is underneath to be seen.

It's a bit hard to seen the sheen, but it is certainly there.

Tag 1

Tag 2

..... and now on to the next week.

Week 6

Spray or drip a contrasting colour of paint or ink

across/down the tag

I wasn't too sure about this step as I didn't want to cover over the girls, so after thinking about it, I decided to puff some Ken Oliver Color Burst powder paint in 'Orange' on the top of the tag, spritz it with water and let it run down the tag.

Tag 1

Tag 2

Pop back tomorrow when I'll add weeks 7 - 9.

Happy Crafting!

The journey continues - weeks 3 & 4

..... and so the journey continues.

Week 3

Press modelling gel/grunge paste through stencil of choice

For this step, I chose to use Modellier Creme 'Mother of Pearl Champagner' by Viva
as it has a lovely sheen to it as well as adding more interest.

Tag 1

Tag 2

It's starting to look interesting seeing the different layers being added.

Week 4

Add some collage with matte/gloss medium, or your preferred glue.

Add a layer of matte medium over the top the collage pieces.

A while back, I was given some collage sheets but wasn't sure where to use them.
These two girls were the perfect choice for these tags.

Tag 1

Tag 2

I was really pleased with how the tags were coming along, and there is a definite favourite emerging.

I'll be back tomorrow with Weeks 5 & 6, so please come and have a look.

Happy Crafting!

I've been on a journey

I've been on a journey ......

a journey that started with a blank tag 

that has lasted 12 weeks and has now come to an end.

Around the beginning of September, I joined a facebook group, 

which was just about to start a weekly journey called "Build-a-Tag".  

It sounded interesting and I decided I wanted to play along.

I hope you'll join me as I go through each week 

and be inspired to create something which may be outside your comfort zone!

Week 1

Create a tag, any size.  Add one layer of gesso, when dry, add one colour.

Tag 1 - white gesso

Tag 2 - black gesso

As I had no idea where this journey was going, I decided to play with two tags, one gessoed white and one black.  I would use the same colours and follow each step for both.

Tag 1 - add colour

Tag 2 - add colour

I was really not sure where this was heading, but I guess that's sometimes part of the journey.

Week 2

Add a further paint colour to your tag and while it is still wet, draw or write into it with the end of a paintbrush or pencil.

Tag 1 - second colour

Tag 2 - second colour

Until this step, I thought I preferred Tag 1 but now I'm not so sure.

Please come back tomorrow and see where weeks 3 & 4 take me.

Happy Crafting!