Tuesday 2 July 2013

The Letter Z At Tag Tuesday. . . . .

Not long after January 2012, when I first began blogging, I went on the waiting list to allow me to post at  Tag Tuesday and I'm delighted to say that I now have a place!

Tag Tuesday is a wonderful 'community' where people create tag art to a given theme, using any medium or technique of their choice. Sounds like heaven to me!!

I'm joining at the end of a long running alphabet challenge and I've chosen the letter Z for my tag and the word Zip. I thought that was appropriate given my previous life as a Textiles Teacher! I'm sure lots of others will go down this same route and why not?! Here's my tag:

I've gone for a contemporary look for my tag by using one of my gelli plate prints in a fun way.


I wanted to use a real zip and found that by working with grunge paper as a base, I could sew the layers together and achieve a level of 'drape' that normal card would not give.
The top layer of the tag was created with the gelli plate print made using DecoArt Traditions and Americana acrylic paints. I cut up the pieces and created a patchwork on the grunge paper then machined over the joins. The opening for the zip was created and stitching applied to make it look as if the zip had been inserted in the normal manner. I then glued the zip into place - cheating I know but so much easier!


A layer of gelli plate print was glued over the back of the grunge paper to act as a lining to cover the zip. The base tag was cut from Amazon packaging and covered with another layer of gelli plate print.
The letters were die cut, painted with DecoArt Traditions acrylic, stencilled with versamark then embossed with gold embossing powder. Finally, a light layer of DecoArt Triple Thick glaze was applied for shine.


Each side of the top tag layer was folded open and secured to complete the look of the zipped opening.
The turquoise paint was added through a stencil onto the gelli plate print for extra interest.
 This has been a fun project and now I've got to think about the tag for next week! Never been to Tag Tuesday? Click here and pop over and have a look at the wonderful art work on display. If you fancy joining in, the details are all on the blog.

Once again, thanks for having a look at my work, it's much appreciated.


29 comments:

  1. An amazing tag the ideas and the colours are so eye catching

    Love Chrissie x

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  2. This is just fabulous....a running zip on tag !

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  3. Wow what a tag sweetie! Love the zip theme and stitched details, perfect. I adore your gelli print, just my colours and patterns tee hee.
    Huge huggles x x x x

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  4. Wow that is such a beautiful tag, so unique with the zipper. Awesome design! Shirleyx

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  5. Your ZIP tag is AMAZING Julia...what a lot of skills on this tag...you did so well!
    Love it.

    kind regards, Alie

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  6. Ha ha. Such great fun. The sewing adds such a great bit of interest and the fold down flaps really do hang like material. Congrats on being part of the group. You will be a perfect addition for them x

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  7. You've done it again Julia :)brilliant design !
    Von ♥

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  8. Oh my, Julia, I'm absolutely stunned and blown away ... this is so adorable! Each and every detail, the idea and of course the colors. Love the zipper, the stencil work and the sewing ... so awesome. Hugs, Suzanne xxx

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  9. wonderful tag Julia. such cheerful colours, lovely stitching and innovative layout!

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  10. Congratulations on your place at Tag Tuesday and what a way to start. This tag is so well thought out and I think the use of grungepaper is fabulous with that zip.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  11. congrats on your place, a fab tag and great layers and textures , sorry playing catch up hugs trace x

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  12. Love this Julia, fabulous layers and colours and such a unique piece of art.
    hugs [brenda] x0x

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  13. What a really brilliant idea Julia - I love your zip, its so very clever. Gorgeous colours too and wonderful effects with the gelli plate. Love, Margie x

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  14. ...how very inventive Julia, the past and the future all sewn up together, a superb & inspiring tag...Mel:)xx

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  15. How cool, that's a fantastic idea, a breathtaking creation.

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  16. Really fun and fantastic !!!! Excellent !! Coco x

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  17. Fabulous tag Julia, love the way you have inserted the zip. Great colours with the Gelli plate and they look wonderful as patchwork.
    (know what you mean about lack of time and playing catch-up)
    Avril xx

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  18. This is truly wonderful - when I see such creativity I grin from ear to ear - you should see me now - my face hurts from smiling so big!
    Sandy

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  19. Congratulations Julia. What a clever, clever tag! Love it! Fantastic layers, textures and colours. perfect for 'ZIP'! Cheers, Di

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  20. Well unzip my heart and let the love pour forth for this tag! I am blown away by the design! SO SO SO COOL! PINNING! Love the stitching and piecing together of the material, but the folding down of it is awesome, not to mention the fabulous color too! FUN FUN FUN!!!

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  21. Unbelievably clever Julia! What a genius idea to use the zip down the middle of the tag. It's like a reveal on the background that would normally get covered. Definitely one of my all time favourite tags. I bet they are thrilled to have you on board at Tag Tuesday too with this level of skill. Huge hugs, Jenny x

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  22. A brilliant tag - great design and fab colours.
    xxx Hazel.

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  23. Brilliant. Your tag shows the exactly meaning of interactive (:o)I love zipper!!

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  24. I really appreciate this whole tag - the bright colors and the sewing and especially the zipper! I've been trying to figure out how to use some short zippers that I bought thinking it would be fun and easy - NOT! So.....thanks for the inspiration and I'm enjoying your site. Sally

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  25. WAUWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Julia this is an amazing tag.
    Love how you used the zip
    It"s really a great piece of art.
    Greetings Janny

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  26. Julia you are on fire at the moment.... love what you have been creating!

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  27. How fabulous!! Love the way you've added so much rich texture and color to your Zip tag.

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  28. Julia, this is fantastic! How marvelous to use an actual zipper and give the appearance of it working!!!

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