Be Curious

Hello friends,

I'm so excited to be here and share a fun idea-ology project with you all! Before I dive into the details, I wanted to talk about the spark of inspiration behind it. As I do every year, I recently watched the captivating entrances at the Met Gala. This year, Janelle Monae's truly brilliant outfit, a Thom Browne creation featuring a striking monocle suspended from a bowler hat, completely captivated me. It immediately sparked an idea: I had to recreate that iconic element using idea-ology products (I promise to share the inspiration photo at the end just in case you didn't see it).

To get started, I pulled all the red Collage Strips from the package. You can use any color combination from the package, I just decided to go with red.

I decided to cut up the the Collage Strips to edit out the photos since my centerpiece is a big photo image. 

The four rows of Collage Strips do not fit perfectly on the panel. Three strips fit + one strip that needs to be trimmed to fit. I placed the skinnier strip towards the center so it would be covered by the 2nd panel. If you look at the image of the final panel, you will see that you don't even notice the difference in the size of the vertical rows.

NOTE: The open space will be covered by the 2nd panel. 

The panel is thick so I added Design Tape to the edge. I picked a black trim with numbers. I used Collage Medium on the edge of the panel before adding the tape. Then set it aside to dry.

Once the tape was secure, I scribbled some Walnut Stain Distress Crayon on the edges and used a wet wipe to move the crayon around until I was satisfied.

While that is drying, I worked on the 2nd panel. I added Backdrop paper to the panel + a bit of Collage Medium over the top.

Again, I added more Design Tape to the edge of the panel. This time an alphabet with a cream background.

Once the tape was secure, I added a bit of Distress Crayon on the edges.

I used my fingertip to add Picket Fence Paint to 4 Screw Heads. Once it was dry, I added Walnut Stain Crayon over the top and rubbed it in so it looked aged.

Add the 4 Screw Heads to each corner of the panel with Collage Medium.

TIP: just between me and you, I should have waited to add the Screw Heads till after I had sandwiched the two boards together, so I could have placed heavy books on top for the drying process. It was difficult to do this with the Screw Heads in place. Live and learn!

Use your clear ruler to get a 1" straight line on the left side, then add the panels together with Collage Medium. 

While the panels are drying, I worked on a Baseboard Frame. Even though I did not take photos of the process, here's what I did:

1. Paint frame black

2. When dry, sand heavily with steel wool 

3. Scribble heavily with Walnut Stain Distress Crayon

4. Pounce over crayon with wet wipe to remove some of the crayon

Add Scor-tape to the back of the frame.

Add a transparency to the back.

(Now you can see the finished texture of the frame...paint, sand, crayon, wet wipe)

Use 3D foam squares to add the frame to the vertical panel. The foam squares are important so the frame sits up above the panel. A gear will slip under the frame at a later stage.

Next up, a wood ruler. I needed it to be thick so I decided to sandwich two rulers together. Here are the easy steps:

1. Cut rulers to size (use your Tonic scissors)

2. Punch holes at ends with Crop-A-Dile

3. Glue rulers together

4. Once dry, rub ink directly over wood surface 

5. Use your fingertip to add Collage Medium over the ink so it wicks and creates a smooth surface.

6. Dry with a heat tool or set aside to dry

Add the ruler to the bottom of the black frame with Scor-Tape. Drive two Tack Nails into the holes to secure (no I did not hammer on my glass mat).

For our centerpiece, I chose this Portrait figure and colored him with Distress Crayons. The Aged Mahogany over his jacket is just divine. The jacket, vest and neck scarf were colored directly with the crayon, then rubbed over with my index finger. I also used a Detailer Water Brush to color the buttons on his coat and his eyes. Cheeks are always done with a cotton swab + pouncing with my fingertip.

I wanted some kind of hat, so I cut this guys hat off!

Then colored it with Blueprint Sketch, Salvaged Patina (highlight) and Fossilized Amber for the hat band.

I added the hat to his head with Scotch Tape.

I loved the scarf color but then I thought it might be even better with the white dots. I made those with a POSCA Paint Pen.

I added the man with double stacks of 3D foam squares.

I used Collage Medium to add the "monocle" under the brim of his hat. It was made with a Memo Pin that I painted white, then added Walnut Stain Crayon to. He is looking mighty dapper, don't you think?

PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to cut the Memo Pin shorter, you must wear protective eyewear and cut with wire cutters. Memo Pins are made from steel so you cannot cut them with the standard Tonic scissors.

Now the gears!

I used the entire pack of Industrial Gears. 

Here are the four easy steps:

1. Paint with Iced Spruce Distress Paint.

2. Use a wet wipe to wipe away (or pounce over) the paint to give more variation. If you wipe off too much, just add more.

3. Use your fingertip to randomly add Black Soot Paint.

4. Once dry, sand gears with steel wool to remove the harsh black color and reveal the metal or paint below.

Add a wood plug to one of the gears. Add a Quote Token to anther gear with 3D Foam Squares.

Now to add everything to the panel.

On the right - the large half gear and the Quote Token (use a Tack Nail to secure to the frame).

On the left - the gear with the wood plug. The wood plug helps it to sit up above the frame and not fall off to the left. Then the small gear slips under the frame that was raised earlier with 3D Foam Squares.

Add a stamp from the Postmarked Sticker Book to the top of the frame. Secure with a piece of Cello Tape. 

Paint a Hinge Clip with Black paint, then sand with steel wool to age. Tie a bow with heavy string and add the Hinge Clip to the top of the frame. Again, another reason to have that Baseboard Frame raised from the surface.

Gosh he looks good in his fancy duds!

I love all the layers of the Industrial Gears - I think that is what makes this so interesting!

I guess its time to share my inspiration!!

Now that you've read all the steps, you can see just how easy and straightforward this project is. I sure hope you'll give it a go!

Now carry on,

paula

Distress Spritz Tags

Hello Friends,

Inspired by Tim's LIVE demonstration last Saturday, I decided to experiment with applying Distress Spritz over Distress Crayons tags. Creating these tags is so fun because each one is uniquely beautiful, thanks to the varying color combinations and layering techniques. The addition of Distress Spritz, along with another secret sparkly touch, gives them a wonderful glow!

To get started, grab a few Distress Mixed Media tags. These are #5 tags (4 3/4 x 2 3/8") which makes them the perfect size for using on a gift. These coated tags are the best for wet techniques with lots of layers. There are so many color combos but I'm going to share just three that I came up with. This one is Salvaged Patina, Cracked Pistachio and Uncharted Mariner. 

Now let me walk you through the easy steps:

1.  Spray tag with water (Remember, I am using Distress Mixed Media Tags which are made with a coated paper - that is very important in this technique).

2.  Working quickly, scribble crayon over tag.

3.  Use a paintbrush to move the crayon around, blending between the colors. You may need to add more water or use a wet wipe to pounce over crayon.

4. Dry with a heat tool then repeat steps 2 and 3 (add more crayon and blend again).

NOTE: When using a paintbrush, you must rinse the brush between colors or use more than one brush.

5. Add more crayon and repeat the process. Remember, this tag will have other layers so it does not need to be perfect.

Once the tag is dry, stamp with Archival Ink. I used both Nature's Wonder and the Flutter stamp sets on the three tags.

I added Sparkle Texture Paste (which is translucent when dry) through one of the "Everyday Art" stencils to add the stem. Set aside to dry.

Once the Texture Paste was dry, I sprayed with Distress Spritz Fossilized Amber over the tag. I also opened the bottle and used the end of the plastic tubing to drip a larger amount of Spritz directly around the edges of the stem.

Lets change colors to Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Abandoned Coral. Follow the same steps to get the base color.

Use a different Everyday Art stencil to create dots over the tag (still using Sparkle Texture Paste).

Once dry, I added Walnut Stain Ink and Squeezed Lemonade Spritz over the top. I wish the Sparkle Texture Paste and the Spritz come through on camera as good as they do in person. It's so sparkly!!

And our last one: Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac and Crushed Olive.

I loved adding the second layer of colors with more Shaded Lilac and Tumbled Glass.

This is time I used a very small cloud-like stencil from the Everyday Art stencil set...a bit hard to see in this photo but its there! I added ink and Peeled Paint Spritz to the small tag. The Spritz appears as dark dots but in person it is very sparkly.

I hope you will give these little tags a go. The Distress Spritz along with Sparkle Texture Paste really make these tags fun. And with so many color combinations of Distress Crayons - well, sky's the limit on color!

I have two other posts of Distress Crayon Tags that can be found HERE (all the basic of coloring with Distress Crayons on tags) and HERE (adding embossed embellishments).

Here's to some fun creating time this weekend!

Now carry on,

paula