Kitsch Flamingo Etcetera Tag

Hello Friends! 

I'm happy to be here today to share my first Kitsch Flamingo project! If you missed the Live and would like to watch the replay, you can find that HERE on Tims blog.  It's about 50 minutes long and so worth it to hear him talk about the different color mediums and how they work on surfaces (plus see the samples that were created).

The first project I'm sharing is a Small Etcetera tag watercolored with Kitsch Flamingo Distress Ink using the easy no-line watercolor technique.  Let's get started!

You will need a few supplies:

Small Etcetera Tag 

Distress Watercolor Cardstock - I used the smooth side (8 1/2 x 11")

"Dearly Departed" stamp set

Adhere Distress Watercolor Cardstock to the Etcetera Tag with Collage Medium.  

Flip tag over, onto a self healing mat to cut away excess paper with cutting knife. 

Using the flower from the Dearly Departed stamp set + Antique Linen Distress Ink, stamp a "pattern" over the entire surface of the tag.  The stamping should be light so the lines disappear during the watercoloring process.

I'm using the Glass Media Mat so I am able to make a palette of ink directly on the glass.  I am using just a small brush for todays project but you can also use a Water Brush.

I began coloring each flower with Distress Ink Kitsch Flamingo.  Each flower was given a light wash of color and then built up form there. 

NOTE: I did stamp a flower on a scrap piece of Watercolor Cardstock so I could practice before I started on the real thing.

After the pink was dry, I started on the leaves using Peeled Paint and then Bundled Sage. The tiny brush came in handy to easily color the stems and tips of the leaves.

The center of the flower really could be any color.  I chose Fossilized Amber then followed up with dots of Walnut Stain when the Fossilized Amber was dry.

I used another stamp from Dearly Departed for the text.  This time I changed ink to Antique Linen Oxide. Since it's a mix of dye and pigment it will work better for such fine text.

I did not use a block, but rather hand "rolled" the stamp where I needed it.  This way it is easier to only use portions of the stamp.

So here is where you need to make a choice.  You can leave the tag as is, or you can distress the surface just a bit to give it more of an aged look.  My favorite way of do that is using Distress Crayon, but you CANNOT use a Distress Crayon unless you SEAL the surface of the tag.  Distress Crayons need a slick surface.

OPTIONS:

1. Leave tag to dry for a day, then lightly paint a thin layer of Collage Medium over the top to seal.  I have done this many times with very little or no smudging of the ink.  The dry time is very important since if you add the Collage Medium right away you have much more chance of smudging the ink (you can always test a corner or an area that will be covered to see if it is dry)

2.  When I am in a hurry (or just impatient), I will go outside and spray aerosol Fixative over the surface.  I have used many brands over the years like Prismacolor, Krylon and Grumbacher.  I don't have a favorite but Krylon is usually the cheapest and it does a fine job sealing the surface.  You don't need multiple coats, just a good 'once over' making sure you got all areas will suffice.  Once you have sprayed the Fixative, you are able to add the Collage Medium right away with no smudging.  Hence why there is a can of Fixative in my garage at all times.

After the surface was sealed with CM, I scribbled around the tag with Walnut Stain Distress Crayon. I rubbed it with my fingers, then pounced over the crayon with a damp wet wipe (as apposed to a wet, wet wipe - I swear there is a difference).  Remember, this surface is sealed, if you hate it or you get it too brown just wipe it away, dry the surface and start over.

Aging the surface can be very subtle and really enhance the depth of your surface.

A Found Relative was taped to a Lace Frame and added to the tag surface with Foam Squares to raise it up.  You can use any kind of leaves - mine are cut using the Garden Greens Sizzix die.  The Bouque Flowers were sprayed with Kitch Flamingo Distress Spray Stain.  If you don't want them so bright, just add a little Antiqued Linen to the mix.

The Vintage Flair button is from idea-ology as well as the Velvet Ribbon that I had left from Christmas.  I did use a hot glue gun to add the ribbon to the frame.  The netting is vintage.

The words Free to fly are from Quote Chips.  I cut the dovetail on the left end and added a Hardware Head to the right.  It was added to the surface with Collage Medium.  I thought the saying went with the Vintage Flair pin.

The Vintage Clip has been painted with Picket Fence Distress Paint then once dry, I added Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the surface.  The 1929 comes from the Remnant Rubs sheet.

I hope you liked the first of the Kitch Flamingo projects.  I love the painting part of this one because watercoloring is calming to me (even though I am far from being an expert). The flower from Dearly Departed is just perfect for this kind of watercoloring.  Lots of open space to even mix colors on each petal.

now carry on,

paula

<!