Saturday, July 6, 2013

"Genuine" Fun

Hi Everyone! 
We are back from our little adventure up the California coast.  What a nice time we had visiting family, seeing friends and doing a little junk shopping (okay, and I might have bought a few pairs of shoes too).  We had a great time although I wish we could have avoided the darn 98 degree weather that was hanging around.
Today's project might take a few hours to complete but it was so relaxing I'm already planning another project using the same technique.  The best thing about?  there is no wrong way to do it.  Just pick the colors you like and color away.
I started the project with the Tattered Flower Garland decorative strip and some Ranger manila cardstock.  I cut the decorative strip twice to get enough of the flowers and leaves I needed.
 I arranged the flowers on a large #10 tag.
 Then used Glue n' Seal to adhere them to the surface.
 Once they were glued down I went over the entire surface with Glue n' Seal.
 Then dried it with the Heat it tool...it only took about a minute.
 Once dry and cooled off, I covered the entire surface with Gesso.

I gave it two thin coats and set it aside to dry.
Once the Gesso was dry I covered the background surface with Distress Stain.  I used Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon, and a touch of Tumbled Glass.
Spun sugar is so light that I used it all over the background, dabbing off the flower areas.
Next, Worn Lipstick.
I went around some of the flowers.  My goal was to get the stain into the part between the flower petals.  The color comes out bold which is fine...just keep following along.
Next, I dabbed stain with a small piece of a dry paper towel, sometimes blending the stain with my finger tip.
 Once you like the coloring, wipe the flower with a wet wipe.  Super easy.
 I did the same thing with small patches of Ripe Persimmon.
 And the Tumbled Glass.  Love how you can build a layered background with the colors.
I used Distress Markers to "paint" the flowers and leaves.  Starting with the leaves, I used the brush end of the marker to colored one half of each leaf (one or two at a time).
 Then used a water brush to draw the color across each leaf.
Once I finished the first layer, I dried the leaves with a Heat it tool.  It won't dry completely at this stage but it will allow a little more control with the next color, Pine Needles.  This time I colored part of the leaf and then blended with a Q-tip (use the water brush when needed).
 Here are my finished leaves.
I used 2 kinds of flowers on the tag.  If you look at the previous picture you can see the difference.  I decided I would color all the flowers with longer petals yellow and the rounder flowers in purple/blue since they reminded me of violets.  I didn't have a plan when I placed the flowers so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the flowers were mixed on the surface of the tag.

Working in small groups, I outlined each flower with Mustard Seed.
 Then drew the color to the center with the water brush.
 Again, use a small bit of paper towel to lightly dab the center.
 Then color the center with Dried Marigold.
Blend with a Q-tip.  Dry with the Heat it tool.
Once the flower center is dry, use the fine point tip of a Walnut Stain Distress Marker to create pin dots in the center of the yellow flowers.
Just one more yellow flower to color in and I can move on to the purple flowers.
For the purple flowers, I colored each with Weathered Wood base coat.
 Then went around with Dusty Concord.
 Water Brush is next for blending and of course the paper towel to dab the strong center color.
 I went back with Mustard Seed and Crushed Olive and the water brush to finish off the center.
 Almost done!
Want to add in a drop shadow?  Pumice Stone is my favorite for this.  Just draw around the flowers and leaves...
 and blend with your finger tip.
It's coming along...
I added a small Instagram photo of three of my favorite kids...what fun you can have with a pack fake mustaches and goofy coke bottle glasses from the dollar bin at Michaels.  Four year old Little Miss in the front looks like a blonde bandit!  Totally in character the whole time.
When I glued the flowers on the surface I had every intention of cutting off the flowers that are hanging over the edge.  In the end, I liked the way it looked so much that I decided not to.
Title: Stampers Anonymous - Simple Sayings
Compass Coin + Numeral - painted with gesso and several colors of Distress Paint
Gem Clip - colored with Alcohol Ink
Muse Token with white Dabber Paint hanging from a Ring Fastener.
Crinkle Ribbon - colored with Faded Jean Distress Stain
Mini Gears + mini fasteners

Well that's all the fun for today! I had so much fun doing this project...so relaxing just coloring the afternoon away.  I can see these techniques used over and over from journal covers to cards.  Hope you can too!
Okay, now back to working on secret CHA samples...
carry on,
paula

61 comments:

  1. love this!!!! how cool...I def need to give this a try with my beloved distress markers!!! thank you for inspiring!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. Definitely going to give it a go.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely Stunning Paula. The outcome is so fantastic I want to try it now. Thankyou so much for sharing the tutorial. Hugs from Scotland. Rita xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the tutorial. I may give this a try.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a gorgeous tag - thank you for the step-by-step tutorial, Paula! I love that cute photo, too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are so talented. Love this.

    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  7. I LOVE it! So pretty Paula...tfs!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great tutorial, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How cool is that? Very inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love to see how you've blended All the colours & glad you left the flowers overhanging :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Really like your tag! It looks like a lot of fun and something we can all try.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great idea! The flowers look as if they are tiled into the surface...like a mosaic. Very cool! TFS!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, this is absolutely fabulous! I'm going to have to try it out. Thank you for sharing the tutorial, it is beautifully written and photographed! What a lot of work you've put into it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is just exquisite! Thanks for such a beautifully detailed tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great idea!!!! I love it! I need to try something like this. TFS.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awww, this is brilliant...love it...great tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  17. wow what a great idea, love it!
    Groetjes Karin

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is just beautiful -- thanks so much for the great tutorial! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely project! Now I want to have Distress pens...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fabulous project, strikes just the right note for a touch of summer crafting. You are a great inspiration x

    ReplyDelete
  21. PAula, I love this tutorial! I want to try it with a lot Tim's dies! I really think I will! It's' simple but absolutely wonderful! I like very much to see the colors used so soft, I'm still not able to do this but I will work to achieve this because it is truly sensational! thanks for sharing it! BArbarayaya

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love the tag. I haven't been able to get a set of your markers yet but sure have lots of plans when I do get some. Thanks for shareing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love the tag. I haven't been able to get a set of your markers yet but sure have lots of plans when I do get some. Thanks for shareing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love the tag. I haven't been able to get a set of your markers yet but sure have lots of plans when I do get some. Thanks for shareing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. That sound was Paula hitting another one out of the ballpark! I have got to try this latest technique soon!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love it, so nice. Thanks for a great idea. Have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really REALLY like this technique: gotta try it soon! thanks for sharing :D

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful technique! I love the flowers hanging over the edge..and I love the pin dot centers. Cute, cute kids....made me smile. Love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great tag! Love how you've done the flowers in such a realistic way... fab!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. So beautiful. Love the flowers over the edge and terrific and fun pic of the kids with their mustaches. Definitely one of a kind!

    ReplyDelete
  31. GREAT tag! Like the flowers. TFS all the steps! Three great kids, too. Hee! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great project and fun techniques.

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a fun tag, fun to make & fun photos!

    Sally

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a great way to "paint". I'm going to give this a try for sure. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a fascinating project and I love how it came out!! Thanks so much for showing all the steps - I am definitely going to give this a whirl!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thank you for the inspiration, you certainly inspired me today. I've made my favourite card ever! C x

    ReplyDelete
  37. Awesome-awesome! I love it so much. I can't wait to get to my craft room to try it out. Gotta cook breakfast first.

    Thanks for sharing. I love it!

    Have a great day. (We've had rain for five to seven days now. I've lost count, but it's great for crafting.)

    Take care,

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  38. So beautiful, that technique is amazing... adding it to my must try list :) !

    ReplyDelete
  39. The tag looks like so much fun to create.
    I'll have to try it out tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love the end result! Thanks for sharing Paula.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Fab technique and beautiful tag. I will be trying this one - thank you for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love how the tag starts out. That technique is going to be a new fave for me!

    ReplyDelete
  43. What a surprise finish! Loved the tag.

    ReplyDelete
  44. super lindo!!! me encanto tratare de hacerlo.

    ReplyDelete
  45. bellisimo tag, gracias por compartir

    ReplyDelete
  46. Gorgeous tag and fantastic tutorial. Put this on my project list for March.

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a fantastic technique!! Have to try this 😄😄

    ReplyDelete
  48. Fabulous tag and technique , will definitely be giving this a try.thanks for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
  49. Love your tag. Thank you for excellent tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I'm glad you had a great trip and I'm happy you are back with this very helpful project.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This is gorgeous....such a creative project. I can see myself becoming completely engaged is a process like this...one of those times dinner doesn't get started!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this entire tutorial and the tag is among my very favorites! Thank you so much for the step by step! I am a novice and really appreciate your ideas and detail!

    ReplyDelete
  53. So pretty and facinating to watch how it evolves! I don't 'do' distress anything, so it would cost me a small fortune to get started!! But i would love to, with the help of your direction, maybe...Thanks, Kathy (darling kiddos)

    ReplyDelete
  54. YOUR Tutorial is so cute i love love , that you have picture laying around to used like you used here. thank you
    MaryRedford

    ReplyDelete