Gesso resist ala Studio 490

I hear tell that at a retailers convention last week Tim taught them about using gesso as a resist.  I've seen several of the retailers since post their tags as well as brief descriptions of the technique.  I tend to have a heavy hand with gesso but I'm still pleased with the end result.

Once the gesso was dry I scribbled distress stains over it until I was happy satisfied then dried the tag again.  Using Studio 490 stamps, the solid flower image was colored with distressed markers, huffed on, then stamped.  The sentiment and stitched line were stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink (c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y flipped the image upside down); the dots were stamped in Olive Archival Ink but sprinkled with Ancient Gold Embossing Powder before it dried.  I went around the tag with a Black Micron Pen.  A simple black twill bow and voila!

Studio 490 stamps:  All About Art, Art-fully Said, Just Sew Artsy

'L' is for leaf

Have you used your masks and stencils lately?  Seems like they're all the rage lately.  Over on the Inspiration Emporium blog they've issued a challenge for them.  One lucky winner will be randomly chosen from all the entries to win a $50 gift certificate to the store.  Are you in?  I am...

I don't honestly remember what the background mediums are on this tag, nor the colors.  However, I do know that Bundled Sage distress paint is on top...I used it to mute the base colors since I don't care for the color in this medium and this seemed like a good way to use it.

At the top of the tag I've used a Studio 490 stencil with translucent embossing paste mixed with a drop or 2 of Peeled Paint reinker.  I tapped the paste with my palette knife while the stencil was still in place.  The added dimension makes for interesting texture.  Tim's alpha masks spell out the word 'leaf'.  You can barely see The Crafters Workshop leaf stencil (pinkish-red) all around the word. 

#8 tag; TH alpha masks; Sizzix tattered leaves die; TCW: Mini Leaf Frame Stencil; Studio 490: Lovely Leaves stencil; Dreamweavers: Translucent Embossing Paste; Ranger: distress paints, distress reinker, clear rock candy crackle paint, Claudine Hellmuth studio paint; Stampendous marble cube stamp; white sharpie; black micron pen; paper tape; chipboard letter

Masks and stencils...they're not just for journals!