Technique Tag Book

I recently joined another swap hosted by Lenna Andrews - a technique tag book.  Everyone purchased the same tag book (ten tags with ten envelopes), and decorated the tags with a technique.  Lenna generously provided the participants with some sample techniques (including pictures) that we could use, or we could use one of our own.  I decided to use a technique that I modified from one I learned in a class I took from Kelly Kilmer in 2005.  Kelly showed us how to stamp a pattern with gesso on top of acrylic, and then paint over with another colour of acrylic.  I added the additional element of stamping a background with Stayz-on ink.

I used the same base colour on both the tags and the envelopes (Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold).  I stamped the background on under the gesso stamping (the flowers) for the tags, and over it for the envelopes.  The secret is to let each layer dry very thoroughly before moving on to the next.  Even though the technique is fairly quick, this drying time made it seem like I had been working on these for much longer!  The top colour on the tags is turquoise, and on the envelopes it is yellow.  You can see how the background darkens or brightens accordingly.  I didn't want to cover up too much of the background since the technique was the whoe point of the swap, but I didn't want to leave them plain either.  I settled on some faux postage from ARTchix Studio as my focal point for both the tags and envelopes.  

Thanks to Lenna for another fun swap!

Comments

[Bleubeard and Elizabeth]

I had to read this technique twice to get the entire thing. I might just have to try this one, since I'm such a technique junkie. Thanks for showing the beautiful tag and envelope, and for sharing the technique.

[lenna young andrews]

This is so cool, Cindy! Thanks so much for sharing here how you did your technique, I am going to be so thrilled to receive these and swap them out! lenna

[Autumn Clark]

Beautiful Cindy! BIG SHOUT OUT on your Somerset Halloween publication. Woo hoo! Doing the happy dance for you.
xx,
Autumn Clark

[lenna young andrews]

These envelopes and Tags are really awesome Cindy. I have now received them!! I look forward to trying out this technique myself. Thanks again for everything; great write-up here. Your Tags will be up on the creative swaps blog shortly. : ) lenna