Stamps Ahead

I recently completed the April 20 Day challenge over at Junk Journal Ideas and Inspiration (JJII) on Facebook.  Challenge 12 was "It takes two to tango". In my case black gesso and texture paste are doing the Tango on tea bags. Here is what I created. Left is a greeting card (or page for my junk journal) and right is a small pocket and tag for my junk journal. I loved the idea of the pocket so went ahead and created 8 more as a table gift for a table I was hosting at a local fund-raising Afternoon High Tea.  I filled them with a tea bag (I found some that had a black top) and a roll of Mentos as a sweet treat. A small flower die cut (shortened to fit size of pocket) and a small adhesive word complete the pocket. Here is the process I followed.   I opened up used tea bags that I had dried and removed the tea leaves. Tea residue I put in the compost. Using a paint brush I coloured the tea bag with black gesso and allowed to dry, of course, I was impatient and got out m...

This is a layout I have created for a challenge over at SOUL Scrappers Challenges.  The challenge is a favourite of mine - Tic Tac Toe (TTT). Here is the TTT board - my selection die cuts, staples and tag (s) I went mixed media on this layout - gesso, Vintage Photo Crackle Paste, watercolour splotches and much more.  Die cuts/tags - all tags were die cut and covered. The orange cogs were die cut.  I also added some old and rusty 'things' I recently recovered, locally, from being thrown out! Staples - holding the title I stamped on calico.. Staples also on the tags to represent the cell bars.   This is what the layout looks like with tags tucked in the side.  Note: that gentleman you see is one of the exhibits in the ground.  Of course, he had to be included. Close up of the larger tags.  The pattern paper is actually photos I took, printed on matt paper and then chopped up!  I have also used tea bags that allowed to dry, removed the tea and t...

My area is currently in lockdown, due to Covid Delta virus outbreak in Sydney area.  So what have I been doing - why exploring of course!  No, not in a plane, or in a car, or on a bus or train....but exploring Pinterest!   I came across tea bag art...why not give that a try I said to myself!  Here is what I came up with... In my searching I came across  The Crafters Workshop Blog  post by Patty using black gesso and texture paste on these little miniature works of art.  I have left her a thank you for the inspiration. Firstly, I need to dye the tea bags.  I only had the square bags on hand.  I placed 4 of the tea bags into boiling water into a cup (just like making a very strong cup of tea) and left them to steep through.  When I decided they were ready I carefully opened the bags and disposed of the tea onto the garden and then I put under cold water to remove any remaining tea.  I then allowed them to dry.  I loved the r...