Rainy Day Experimentation

Rain, rain, rain.
Perfectly describes what our weekend consisted of here on the Central Coast.  It is of course, what every Californian has been praying for since we have been experiencing a drought for quite some time.  We figured we should make the best of it by staying indoors and experimenting with new techniques and tools. As you can see from the picture below, things got a little messy!

maddie using the new spritzer tool

The girls start off by looking through Tim's new book for a technique they would like to try.

 

They found one....Monoprinting.  Which is simply, a single impression of an image made from a reprintable block (like carved wood or an etched metal plate).  In our case, we are using Layering stencils. Monoprinting, just like the name implies, refers to the fact that no print can ever be reproduced exactly, which seemed quite intriguing to them.  After reading the instructions in the book, they dove right in to experimenting with the technique. 
I will say, they started with very light colors.

 Which is nice for a subtle background surface.

 

From there, they quickly moved on to Mowed lawn, Mustard Seed, and Seedless Preserves.  Look at the result using the Woodgrain Stencil.  Loved this combination of Distress Inks (the new minis are perfect for pouncing on the stencil surface).

Britney used Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers, and Mustard Seed for her next test run.  I will say, when Britney choose the Stripes stencil I was unsure of how this would turn out.  I haven't used this stencil as much as others, like Lattice or Dot Fade, but she wanted to test out the pattern.

 

 She was right...a-maz-ing!!  The colors worked so well together and transferred to the manila surface quite beautifully.

After a short discussion, we decided the stripes of color looked like rain pouring down.  It was an easy choice to add an Umbrella Man die cut over the stenciled background.  The stenciled numbers are from my favorite SA Merchantile stamp set.

 

I had to try the Lattice Stencil...this stencil should be in every stash of "go to" products.  I just works every single time I use it.

I cut off the top of the tag, added a stamp from the Random Quotes Stamp set and used the Spritzer tool and Distress Marker-Walnut Ink to add the splatter.

Here is the resulting card made from the #8 manila tag.  I added a Jute string and a Monocle with a Remnant Rub phrase and Mirrored star.  Don't you love the colors?

I have one last tag to share.  Britney used the Doily stencil with Seedless Preserves and Peacock Feathers.  When she printed the tag, she thought it was a complete fail because the pattern of the stencil is so fine it did not transfer like she thought it would.  After drying it with the heat tool, she threw it across the table to her sister, to put in the trash can.  Maddie looked at the tag and said, "it may not have come out like you were expecting, but it would make a great background".  She threw the tag back across the table so Britney could take a second look.  That was all the encouragement she needed to finish the tag.
I suggested the Eiffel Tower stamp from the Paris Memoir set, which she stamped in Black Archival ink.  She also added the Paris labels from the same set using Seedless Preserves and used the new Spritzer tool to add a fine mist of Broken China.  Love that detail.

She colored some Crinkle Ribbon to match and there is it.
One of our favorites of the day...that almost ended up in the trash can!

 

Just in case you are in need of a refresher...I'm have a signed copy of Tim's new book,

 A Compendium of Curiosities - Volume III

I not only have it, but I am giving it away!  Just leave me a comment and I will post the winner on Wednesday, March 5th.

now carry on,
paula

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