12 Tags of 2016 – April Challenge

Since I won last month’s 12 Tags of 2016 challenge, I am determined to participate each month. So here is my tag for the Tim Holtz, 12 Tags of 2016 – April Challenge.

I decided to reverse Tim’s techniques a bit and make the tag a mosaic and the bird a textured piece. The bird was a total happy accident and I love how it turned out. I like the mosaic in the background.

First off, I don’t have the Distress Paper Mosaic kit, wish I did but I don’t, so I had to make do with what I had.

I applied a very thin layer of Texture Paste on a piece of Sizzix Paper Leather. This is a nice durable surface that worked well for this tag. I let it air-dry completely then die cut it with the Tag and Bookplate die.

I die cut the bird out of My Mind’s Eye Necessitites Light Wood printed paper using the Sizzix Bird Silhouette die. Next, I embossed the paper using the Crackle Texture Fade leaving the head un-embossed.

Then I followed Tim’s technique of applying white, Picket Fence, Distress Paint. I let this dry before applying the Adirondack Color Wash in Espresso {I didn’t have any Distress Stain}. I sprayed it on my Craft Sheet, sprayed some water and dragged the die cut bird through it. I finished with a light touch of Tea Dye, Distress Stain using a Blending Tool.

For the mosaic, I wanted to use paper that resembled a ceramic pattern but also had a nice variation in colors without being too busy. I found the perfect paper in my Basic Grey stash. The colors flow from blue/grey to yellows to orange. I cut the pieces and started dry-fitting them on the tag. After I was happy with how they looked, I adhered them to the tag. Once the glue was dried, I applied Tea Dye, Distress Ink to soften the bright white of the “grout”. Next, I used Glossy Accents on top of each paper piece to create a shiny, ceramic finish, being careful not to let it spread onto the “grout” background. I let this dry overnight.

I die cut a little ticket out of some Paper Leather scraps, scrunched and stained it then adhered some letters from my stash. These actually pierce through the Paper Leather so I used the back side of my Stampers Secret Weapon so I wouldn’t damage my desk. I liked how the Paper Leather could take the piercing without tearing. I glued this finished ticket to the top of my Tag.

I love how this bird turned out. The Crackle Texture Fade created feather shapes and the white Picket Fence Distress Paint resisted the Stain. As a final touch to the bird, I used a tiny black brad for the eye.

To finish the tag, I attached the Ruler Ribbon to the bottom. I used Crinkle Ribbon, scrunched and dragged through Marmalade and Tea Dye Distress Inks to finish the top. I had so much fun with this technique that I will probably get the Distress Mosaic Kit and create more art. I love how this looks.

PRODUCT LINKS

Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die – Tag & Bookplates by Tim Holtz