Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Why I Don't Do Shabby-Chic...

... or vintage, or distressed, or steampunk, or any of the many styles I admire outside of my usual clean and simple (CAS) way:


This is what I end up with.
I have to admit, I have grown to like this artsy tag I have created -- good thing too, as it took shape over three days! This tag is really the responsibility of two very talented people. (But don't blame them.) The talented Savannah O'Gwynn posted this tag a few days ago. Isn't it beautiful? It made me realize that a tag would be a great canvas for experimentation. Somehow it seems more, I don't know, wasteful to experiment  on and perhaps trash a card? Then another talented crafter, Janna Werner, posted this great tutorial on how she makes her artistic background layers.
My background layer started with a piece of an LCBO paper bag. (Ontario readers will know of which I speak.) My first discovery: paper bags absorb acrylic paint REALLY EASILY, so the lovely vine pattern on the paper immediately disappeared. Oh well. Janna then uses this incredibly cool tool called a punchinella to add some decorative circles to her paper. Nope, don't have one. What I do have -- BUBBLE WRAP! I brayered some peeled paint distress ink on it and stamped it on. Then, just for good measure, I ran the brayer over part of the paper, too. Next I added two stamps from the Unity August 2010 Kit of the Month. I now had a background paper I liked, so I layered it on the tag layer, which is... a piece of an old manilla folder. I stamped the sentiment, from the October 2010 Kit of the Month, on another piece of the folder. Needed to fancy that up a bit, so I restamped part of it on white cardstock and made a faux brad of the "L". The bottom part of the tag has some Tim Holtz tissue tape and my first ever rolled paper flower.


The flower could probably be bigger, but if I spent any more time on this little tag, I might have to claim it as a dependent on my income tax. :D
After all is said and done, my little tag has the colours and just enough decorative embellishments to qualify it for the current Embellish Magazine challenge!
Now, to figure out what people do with the artsy tags they make...
(Note: regularly scheduled programming -- i.e., my usual style of stamping -- will resume shortly.)

Supplies: manilla folder, paper bag, white cardstock, white acrylic craft paint, unknown green patterned paper, Unity August and October 2010 Kits of the Month, peeled paint distress ink, bubble wrap, Tim Holtz Symphony tissue tape, raffia

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13 comments:

Angela said...

I love all the chances you took on your tag -- that background really is fab, and I love the "faux brad" on your sentiment, too!

Ashley Cannon Newell said...

What a cute tag! Love the paper rosette! Thanks for joining Embellishes Decorative Trim Color Trends Challenge.

Karin said...

A tag is so small, yet I totally struggle to make them...Why is that? lol. This is a total winner in my book, and I have that tape so I may have to give it a try!

Emily Leiphart said...

Way to break out of your zone, Linds! The background is really pretty. I love how creative you got with the bubble wrap because that texture and pattern that resulted is wonderful! I look forward to your next creative venture. :D

Meg said...

Oooh, it's so fun to see stampers break out of their comfort zone--and that tag is such a fun result! Love that faux brad and background paper! And that memory tape is just the perfect touch!

Amanda said...

You know how much I laughed at the bubble wrap, right?! Too funny...but what a great idea. And I would never have realized that was LCBO paper.

farmhouse-story said...

lindsey, i love how this turned out:) your rose is awesome!

Donelda said...

I think your tag turned out great!! This tag is so creative, from using the LCBO paper to the bubble wrap, to the home-made flower!! You should continue to do more "outside the box" stuff!! :-)

Janna Werner said...

Hi Lindsey! First of all: thanks for your kind comments, love reading each of them :-) Now to the important part *hehe* I LOVE this tag, and the backgound is soo cool! I got that tissue tape as well and its one of my favourites!! Have a lovely weekend, lovely lady! Hugs Janna

marilynprestonn said...

Awww, this tag looks good to me. ;) Well done my dear Lindsey, you did good. I have a thing for shabby chic and vintage too. I try them out once and awhile even though they are so out of my comfort zone. Feels good when you're done right! Love your tag, that rose is gorgeous and talk about your vintage colors! WOW :)Peggy

kasia c. said...

Oooh! this is fabulous! I love the fact that you used bubble wrap. :)
It is good to get out of your comfort zone every once in a while, kudos to you!

sunghee said...

I LOVE this tag! You did a fab job! The tissue tape with flower accent is so gorgeous! Yup. gotta love Janna.

Jocelyn Olson said...

Your post made me laugh out loud! I love the tag--great design and the colors are so pretty!