Thursday 28 March 2013

Alcohol Inks And Corrugated Card In The Garden. . . .

Morning everyone. It's a beautiful sunny day where I am but having already been outside - it's not as warm as it looks and the clouds are trying hard to spoil the Spring sunshine!

I've made a garden based tag with some alcohol ink mosaic pieces mounted on some corrugated card. I even used some twigs I've saved from the gorgeous flowers my daughter sent me for Mother's day!

I'm going to enter my tag at Artful Times for their Alcohol Inks challenge. I love this challenge blog and you really should pop over there if you've not been before. Everyone is so friendly and their challenges are always great fun.

There are two other challenges, one at Eclectic Paperie which is to use Corrugated Card/Cardboard. The other is the Craft-Room challenge who ask that we go 'Into the garden' and make anything but a card. Right up my street then! I've never entered either of these challenges before but have seen some of the inspirational DT work and thought I'd like to have a go.

Here's my tag - hope you like it:


The top layer of the tag is watercolour paper and the first thing  I did was to make a background using various shades of watercolour wax crayons.

Three tiles were made using Tim's Shrink Mosaic technique and alcohol inks. I don't have a melt polt so some scary heating of utee was done in a foil dish! (you can easily find this method in one of Tim's books or on his blog).
Close up to show the colouring on the shrink plastic tile done with acohol inks and the image stamped onto tape at the back.
You will also notice here that a piece of corrugated card has been usded as a backdrop for the tiles. This was treated to some Fresco paints and some distress inks to achieve the look desired. The tiles are then placed onto card which has a piece of chicken wire to stay in line with a 'garden' theme.
The twigs are real but rather delicate - I have no idea what plant they're from though.
(Thanks Rebecca!!)

Some die cut lace (watercolour paper) was coloured with matching shades to the main tag. It was double embossed with clear EP. Whilst the second coat was still liquid, the lace was over stamped to add interest.

Various stamps and different kinds of inks were used in the background to achieve the desired look.

At the top of the tag, a bookplate die cut was used to add interest. This was coloured and stamped using some matching inks and images to the main tag. Finally, two layers of clear EP were added.
Some chunky and fine jute twine were used at the top of the tag to finish the look - this also stays with the garden/natural theme.

Close up to show background layering with colours, different inks and stamps. I did notice the little bird is much tinier than the bee but decided it's ok in a make believe garden shot!

Another shot to show detail and how the tag changes colour from dark green to brilliant blue as it goes up the tag. This is the central area and therefore distance is indicated by the lighter colours.


That's me for today! I had a great deal of fun making this tag and do please let me know what you think, if you have time. Oh yes, the sun has disappeared since I started writing this post and we are back to dull grey skies - no change there then!

39 comments:

  1. Hello Julia thank you so much for sharing your fab tag with us at Artful Time I love the tiles and way they are displayed on the corrugated card, the bird not to small lol he's just further away ;)
    Von♥

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  2. Hi Julia, this is so gorgeous and Spring-like, your background is really beautiful with the plants and insects. Love the corrugated topper with the wire elements and your tiles are stunning! A really beautiful tag. Hugs, Anne x

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  3. Oh Julia, I have got to do a major catch up on blogs but saw this and had to dive on in straight away. LOVE it. Love the depth you've achieved with the colours and stamping. Adore the shrink tiles - they are just like jewelled ornaments. Your corrugated card and embossed embellishments finish it off perfectly Awesome work as ever. Hugs, Jenny x

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  4. What a brilliant make - so many awesome details and textures to discover!!!! Love everything: the tiles, the embossed lace border, the aged piece of card holding the tiles, the colours... well, the whole tag is absolutely lovely!!!!

    Happy Easter!

    Claudia x

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  5. Wow ! What a fabulous creation ! I loved the stamping,colors , corrugated card ,its distressing !The shrink plastic tile look amazing !

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  6. Such gorgeous detailson this tag, Julia!

    Happy Easter!

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  7. Love love love this tag!! I love those tiles and the stamping. It's so harmonious! :)

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  8. Another beautiful tag, love the tiles and the fabulous background stamping.

    Sylv xx

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  9. Beautiful tag! Love all the details! Valerie

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  10. What an amazing details on this gorgeous garden tag Julia...you surprise me every time!
    GREAT

    kind regards, Alie :-)

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  11. Love those tiles Julia. A great tag, fabulous colour and texture. Xx

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  12. Hard to say what part of this tag I love the most. Amazing!

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  13. Oh, Julia, this is stunning! Love the three pieces on top and your amazing background. I agree with Deborah - it's hard to choose a favorite part. Thanks so much for sharing it with us at eclectic Paperie!

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  14. Completely and utterly sensational, Julia! The glowing alcohol ink panels are just wonderful against the corrugated texture, and that background of hedgerow plants and beautiful blended colours is glorious - I'm completely in love with this tag!! So happy to have you playing along with us at eclectic Paperie!
    Alison xx

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  15. A marvel the sort of wonderful inky art I wish I'd made, your tag is perfection Thank you for sharing with us at Craft-Room Challenge XOXO Zoe

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  16. What a stunning creation Julia. I love the vibrant colours too. Have a Lovely Easter. Hugs Rita xx

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  17. STUNNING card Julia,the colors are beautiful love how you have them hanging on that twisted wire, those buds are fabulous,the background is amazing, brilliant piece of ART WORK, I LOVE it.. Have a wonderful holiday weekend..

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  18. Julia, so lovely to have you join us at the Craft Room :-) especially as your tag is just divine! what amazing colour and texture and I just love that honey bee, thanks for sharing with us at Craft Room challenge, Debi x

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  19. FAB-U-LOUS!!! I LOVE every shrinky dink, corrugated, stamped, embossed, chicken wired bit! It's elegant, it's artsy, it's original, it's perfect! Wonderful work! PINNED!

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  20. Julia you are a lady after my own heart. Only real, old rusty corrugated iron stirs my heart more only that's difficult to put in an envelope.

    Your tag is delightful. The alcohol inks shimmer with colour - perfect against the corrugated cardboard.
    Have a lovely Easter.

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  21. Hi Julia, it's usually me entering your ABAC challenge so it's lovely to see you over at the Craft Room challenge. Your tag is divine. I love the depth of colour and attention to detail, Suzanne xx

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  22. A spectacular tag and love the use of all the different things for the challenges.

    Best wishes Chrissie xx

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  23. I think your tag is absolutely gorgeous..love the colours and detail. I use to worry about the true size of things like your bird being smaller than the bee, but it doesn't matter..its 'art' and anyway and it looks fabulous. Love the stamps you have used. Great photos and info - thanks for sharing that... Gill x

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  24. Your tag is wonderful Julia, I love all the details. Thank you for joining us at the Craft Room Challenge.
    xxx Hazel.

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  25. Stunning work as always! There are so many details but I just love the tiles - very creative use of your stamps. They look gorgeous. Good luck with all the challenges!

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  26. Sooooo Inspirational!!! All the different techniques and ideas blend so nicely creating one amazing piece of artwork...and I mean "art" this piece should sit next to the dictionary definition:-)Thanks for coming out to play with eP!! You really rocked this

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  27. Wow this is beautiful - love how you've used the wire

    Superb tag

    Sam xxx

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  28. This tag is just fabulous. I love every single detail. The background is so rich and has wonderful depth. The tiles are beautiful and look amazing next to the corrugated cardboard and the chicken wire. Love what you have done with the top of the tag...so much inspiration here. Thanks for joining our corrugated challenge at eclectic Paperie. I'm so glad I got a chance to stop by for a visit.

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  29. How do you manage to cram so much delicious inky goodness into one tag Julia?! It's a work of art!
    Have a wonderful Easter, see you next weekend,
    Alison xx

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  30. Wow, what a gorgeous tag Julia, I love it. You have captured a beautiful ethereal and magical look with your colours, fab job sweetie.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  31. A beautiful tag and some fabulous photographs as you walk us through the process you undertook to achieve that fab result.
    Thanks for joining us again at Artful Times, Hugs, Neet xx

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  32. How very beautiful! I love all the techniques you have used, a real work of art! X

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  33. Hi, fabulous tag, love the colours.
    Thank you for sharing at Craft Room Challenge, welcome again;-))m

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  34. This is lovely and such a great way to preserve a bit of the flowers from your daughter!

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  35. Hi Julia
    Sorry I have missed your posts, life is most definitely getting in the way at the moment however, moving on, here I am and will sit back and catch-up with your glorious art.
    Those tiles are so yummy and it is amazing the clarity of the words and images, it has to be said I am awe of this. Gorgeous use of colours.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  36. Wow your tag is truly stunning Julia..the tiles are amazing...the colours are gorgeous and love the use of chicken wire and plant you used as well!!
    So glad you joined us over at eclectic Paperie..love your work.
    Hugs
    Tracy
    Xxx

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  37. ooohhhh love that color combo. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Wonderful way to incorporate corrugated into the tag. Thanks so much for playing along with the eTeam and for sharing. Good luck in the drawing.

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  38. Beautiful tag! Gorgeous colours and great use of the corrugated card to back those fabulous tiles, thankyou for joining in with the eTeam challenge x

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax