Tuesday 8 October 2013

Tattered And Torn. . . . .

This week's challenge at Tag Tuesday has the wonderful title of 'Tattered and Torn' which conjures up all kinds of lovely messy fun.

I've been looking for sometime now at vintage images online and I recently found some amazing pictures from the east end of London at somewhere near the turn of the century (1898-1900). Why am I telling you this, well, one of those images inspired me for my Tag Tuesday piece today. It depicts a young girl sat probably on a windowsill, playing with her pet rabbit. The curtain in the window is full of holes and the little girl herself is very crumpled and unkempt looking. I printed out the picture hoping to do an image transfer but sadly, I've got hardly any ink left, it didn't work and I had to print another copy which is probably lighter than the first - grrrr!

Not to worry, I still used this poignant image and here's the tag to show you how:

More corrugated card simply because it's free and I can't resist it for texture and versatility!
A tag shape was die cut from old packaging and the top layer ripped off in various areas. DecoArt Traditions were then applied in the colours shown until I was happy with the result.

A wash of Quinacridone Gold was added - very heavy with paint and allowed to dry. Some lightening of areas took place and once happy, everything was dried  The two flat areas of the tag were stamped with a Tim stamp and coffee archival ink. Before it dried, embossing powder  in frosted crystal was applied to give it a worn finish and to enhance the stamping.

An oval was cut from scrap packaging to mount the image on. This was given two coats of DecoArt Traditions (med beige) to help the image stand out well and to smooth and seal the surface. Some lace was coloured with a watery mixture of the medium beige Traditions along with some burnt umber from the same range. Considering the lace was pink to begin with, I was very happy with the results and pleased how well the paint worked.


The middle layer is made from embossed packing card which was given a  Timeworn treatment with DecoArt Traditions paints again - it didn't work very well but I thought I'd keep it and found it came to good use on this tag!


The words were printed out on a label maker, stuck onto card and muddied with the same colour Tradition paints as used for the lace.

I couldn't resist this picture! Clearly the curtains have seen better days but it evokes many thoughts of bygone times and how they compare to our lives now.

Another small section of lace was added at the top of the tag just to ring the changes and to match the edging at the bottom.

So, that's my offering this week for Tag Tuesday, why not pop over and see what the other talented artists have come up with? The tags produced take many forms and use a wide range of media - right up my street!

Other news: we have now exchanged contracts on our house and have a fixed moving day - YAY!! Now the fun begins in earnest!

Thanks for looking at my work and I hope you enjoyed the details of how I achieved the end result.

27 comments:

  1. Still playing catch up and yet never getting caught up ....so this is just to say hello , have been looking at your lovely pieces and hope to get back to my normal comment levels soon, I know , I know I keep saying it :( but I do have the very best intentions! hugs Trace x

    This is gorgeous , you rock those paints xx

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  2. A lovely picture indeed, Julia,

    and an even more lovely tag! Adorable texture and colours - as usual with your artwork! LOVE IT!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  3. Lovely work, she looks as though she is having a major strop! Love the look of it. It is very powerful piece. x

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  4. Gorgeous tag sweetie, fab techniques as always. What a stunning picture, she looks so very serious though bless her.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  5. just stunning - thanks for the step by step - love it x

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  6. Stunning tag Julia, love all the texture and paint effects you have achieved and that picture is so striking. No wonder you couldn't resist it, one of the best vintage images I have come across, the expression on her face is priceless. Would love to have a link to the source.....

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  7. Wow Julia, this is just amazing, such fabulous techniques and colours. The image is very beautiful and poignant in its own way and works so well on your brilliantly textured and embellished tag. Glad to hear you have got contracts exchanged and a moving date. Good luck with it all.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  8. Gorgeous tag, love the textures, the girl doesn't look very happy though.... Cheers, Shirleyx

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  9. What a beautiful tag, that little girl definitely looks tattered and torn, maybe depression era? waving hi from the hills of North Carolina ♥ ( ppsstt...discounts and give away on my blog, just sayin' )

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  10. Love it! Great colours and texture.

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  11. Fabulous tag, Julia. The photograph is perfect for the challenge and the stamping and that embossing powder on top of the paint is very effective - one to try for myself :) Elizabeth xx

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  12. Poor you...up to your ears in boxes I expect! But you still find time to craft? Good for you to ease the stress!!! This is fabulous and that little girl would be proud. Such a sad little face xxx

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  13. Really love the look of this tag. It is so vintage.
    Love the design too. Thanks for your explanation. Anneke.
    www.annekescardart.blogspot.com

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  14. Corrugated cardboard is hard to resist with it being so readily available and always an amazing surface to incorporate into our art.
    This is fabulous - that image is captivating, the story she could tell. It is all the more beautiful for being offset against such a rustic background.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  15. Your tag is simply gorgeous Julia and your how-to steps are always so clear! Many, many congratulations on your DT post with Deco-Art, your are so worthy of a position with them, your work is always unique and fabulous! Hugs, Anne x

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  16. Another amazing tag Julia. How you are finding time to create such masterpieces in your current maelstrom is beyond me! Jenny x

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  17. That's a beautiful tag with great texture.

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  18. Oh wow this is just fabulous, love that background!!

    Sam xxx

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  19. Totally scrumptious tag, Julia, with amazing techniques and gorgeous distressed textures. Brilliant work! And huge congratulations on being on the DecoArt team - I'm so excited for you, and excited to follow this new adventure - yay!!
    Alison xx

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  20. Ridiculously fabulous base! LOVE it so!!!! Great image too!

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  21. absolutely stunning...just gorgeous.

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  22. Stunning tag Julia, gorgeous details and distressed textures.
    Congratulations on joining the DecoArt Team.
    Avril xx

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  23. Stunning Julia. That picture has so much emotion in it and speaks volumes. love the stamping on the tag.
    Hope all goes well friday.

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  24. Wow Julia! What a gorgeous tag! Love the rustic vintage vibe! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  25. I love, love, love what you did with the corrugated card, which is my favourite material for working on at the moment! I can't get enough of it! I also love the effect you got with the stamping on the smooth bits. The image is so moving. This is just an amazing tag. Thank you for sharing! Thank you also for dropping by Magpieheaven and leaving such an encouraging comment. Julie Ann xx

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  26. Even faded its a fabulous photo, you use all of my favorite things, colors, your tutorials are fantastic, love every centimeter of it, thanks for sharing..

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