Thursday 3 November 2016

Tags, Bags and Boxes at Stamps and Stencils

Hi everyone, it's November already and we are fast approaching the festive season. Cec is our talented host for this months challenge and she has kept that in mind with her choice of this months theme.  'With Christmas coming up and the gift buying underway, we are going to need something to wrap them in.  Let's make some mixed media tags, bags and boxes that will be as treasured by the recipient as the gift itself.  Don't forget to include some stamping or stenciling.'

I had a lot of fun with this one and opted for quick and easy techniques that are hopefully effective. It's a photo heavy post as I created variations on the colour theme to include other occasions, hope you enjoy...


I started off altering a small Kraft bag but then decided to decorate a gift envelope and different sized tags for Christmas, a Birthday and as a Thank you.


This is the step by step for 'Thanks'  but I'll explain the variations along the way. Firstly brayer some chalk fresco roughly over the background, it will dry in no time.


Next brayer a little copper, gold and caramel fresco in places.


A few scraps of masking tape and a little stamping in black, sepia and plum archival and the background is created in minutes


I think these colours go so well together.



To finish the bag, I applied some die cut book page leaves and a ready made flower was 'frantaged'... shabby white embossing enamel melted over it.


The sentiment was stamped on painted book text and I added some stamped leaves.


For the envelope I added plum and sepia stamped images, the sentiment embossed in black and wiggly lines around the outside....super quick.


The tags are a mixture of the techniques and stamps already used and sticking to the same colour palette creates cohesion.



Next it's Christmas


A claret fresco paint background, crackle glaze and chalk paint top coat.


A gold snowflake has been 'shabbified'...aged with ink and paint. Stamping in plum archival and white frantage (I know I keep using it but I just love the effect a little sprinkling gives to to a project)



The crackle just transforms the tags


The last one is for a Birthday and is super quick.


The background is just white gesso scraped on with a credit card...


Add a die cut, sentiment and frantage...job done.


The die cut started off as cream paper which had been lightly brayered with paint  and stamped as in the first step. You can see a little of the torn paper added to the bottom of a tag.


The trio displayed in all their glory.




These were all such fun to make and genuinely quick and easy. I now have a lovely stock, especially useful when you are on the last minute...

Hope you'll join in with our challenge and for more inspiration pop across and see what gorgeous makes the talented DT have made. x

6 comments:

  1. You have no idea how timely this is, Ruth! I've just bought a load of kraft bags with the idea of jazzing them up with paint and stamps. Now I know what to do with them. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm off to see what everyone else has made :)

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  2. Oh Ruth! These are gifts in themselves! All of them absolutely beautiful! Hugs, Chrisx

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  3. Dear Ruth, they are all so wonderful. I love the colors you used, they are lovely soft, and looks amazing on the brown bags. Your decorations are gorgeous on all of them, and the tags perfect to add, to any gift,- as said ,they are already gifts in themselves,and should only be displayed .
    Thank you for the how to, I enjoy reading and visiting you, always !! Dorthe, Xoxo

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  4. my word Ruth - you have been so busy - and they're all stunning - love them to pieces xx

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  5. Ruth
    This is such a beautiful collection.
    I like the idea of the complete set, making them so useful because we all have times when we need a card, tag or packaging.
    Beautiful backgrounds.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  6. Gorgeous Ruth, how busy have you been Lol! They are extra nice as they all work together too, love them all, Angela xXx

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It would be lovely to read any comments left, I really appreciate them all. Thank you so much for taking the time to drop by.