Tutorial | Great Things Take Time

Today I started my day with a walk.  That isn’t my normal routine but something I NEED to make a routine.  I planned on walking on my treadmill but when I looked outside and saw the sun shining I grabbed my pup and walked around my neighborhood instead.  It felt great to be out in the sunshine in the spring breeze doing something good for us both.

When I got back to my work table I decided to create a tag inspired by the sunshine and about beginning something new.  I chose the colors of the spring sunshine and a stamp that reminded me of the droplets of sun showering down on me and the pup as we walked.  I thought a lot about starting new habits and the number of times I have started again (and again and again).  In the end, the focus and meaning ended up slightly different, but that is how art works.  The meaning is a good one just the same!

We recently shared a video on the Ranger Ink blog featuring Dyan Reaveley.  I adore Dyan and her art.  She is so inspiring!  I was really fascinated by the video or her technique of using baby wipes to apply paint.  I couldn’t wait to try it!

Begin by picking up a small amount of Lemon Zest Dylusions Paint with a baby wipe.  (I picked up paint from the lid, it is easier to limit the amount of paint picked up on the wipe.)  Apply the paint to the top half of a #8 Ranger Manila tag.

Pick up Squeezed Orange Dylusions Paint with the baby wipe.  Apply the paint to the lower half of the tag.

Dry the tag with a heat tool.

Mist the upper part of the tag with Sunflower Perfect Pearls Mist.  Mist the lower part of the tag with Mandarin Perfect Pearls Mist.

Allow the mist to sit for a moment.  Blot the excess mist with a dry cloth.  Dry the tag with a heat tool.

Wad up a clean baby wipe.  Pick up some White Linen Dylusions Paint with the baby wipe.  Blot the wipe randomly over the tag.  (Don’t you love the look at this point?  It reminds me of faux finished wall.)

Dry the tag with a heat tool.

Sand the edges of the tag with a sanding block.  Sanding will add texture to the edges and expose some of the paper below the paint, which will take the inked edge differently than the painted surface.

Apply Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the edges of the tag.

Place the Dylusions Bubbles Stencil over the upper left part of the tag.  Pounce Wild Honey Distress Ink onto the tag through the stencil using an ink blending tool.

Place the Dylusions Bubbles Stencil over the lower right part of the tag.  Pounce Scattered Straw Distress Ink onto the tag through the stencil using an ink blending tool.

Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the wet Distress Ink.

Melt the embossing powder with an embossing heat tool.

Apply a punch of brighter yellow (Squeezed Lemonade) Distress Ink with an ink blending tool near the edge of the top left and lower right corners of the tag.

Lightly ink the number stamp from the Basic Backgrounds stamp with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  Randomly stamp the numbers over the tag.

Buff over the embossed areas with a dry cloth to remove any ink from the top of the glossy embossed finish.

Dab White Linen Dylusions Paint with a baby wipe or blending tool over a medium and small Timepiece, a Number Brad, and assorted Sprocket and Mini Gears.  (You could also use Picket Fence Distress Paint.  I chose the Dylusions Paint since I was already working with it and had some already on a baby wipe.)

Dry the paint with a heat tool.  Hold the pieces in your hand and sand over the surface of them with a sanding block to add striations and “wear” to the surface.  (Remember, NEVER sand on the surface of your craft sheet.)

Dab Cracked Pistachio Distress Paint randomly onto the surface of the metal pieces.

Heat the pieces until the paint is ALMOST dry.

Buff the almost dry paint with a dry cloth.  Buffing will remove some of the paint creating a weathered and aged look.

Randomly dab Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the painted metal pieces with an ink applicator tool and felt.

Tear a piece of vellum to place on the tag.  (I used on of the Dylusions Paint jars as a tearing edge to create a round-ish piece.)  Ink the torn edge of the vellum with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink using an ink blending tool.  Adhere the vellum in place with a strip of clear adhesive tape.

Add lines of machine stitching through the vellum and tag.

Adhere the larger Timepiece to the tag on top of the vellum.

Place the Number Brad through the center of the smaller Timepiece.

Adhere the smaller Timepiece to the top of the larger Timepiece.  Use a strong clear quick drying glue that works well on metal to metal applications.  (I have great luck with Beacon 3 in 1.)  Cut two strips of Filmstrip Ribbon.  Slip the two pieces under the Timepieces so that they look like one long strip running under the embellishments.  Place a Mini Fastener through the center of the Mini Gears.  Adhere the remaining gears under the edge of the Timepieces.

Note- The large open Sprocket Gear fits perfectly around the Number Brad and one of the Mini Gears.  It also fits “almost” around a Gumdrop.  Using it to frame other elements is a fun way to use it and add more interest to your embellishment clusters.

Brush the edges of a Small Talk Sticker with an ink blending tool.  Place the sticker below the embellishment cluster.

You may already know how much I love Perfect Pearls Mist… it adds the perfect touch of shimmer to projects.  I love the way it comes and goes when the tag is turned to different angles.

I love what clear embossing powder adds to a tag- shine, texture, and added visual interest.

It is a subtle touch, but look closely at what sanding can add to the edges of a tag… do you see the dark lines on the left corner?  The are striations from sanding.  When you ink over striations, they take ink and create detail.  Also, exposing the paper pulp below the paint, creating a “raw edge” allows you to have a very bold inked edge.

It is funny how a project never ends up where you think it will when you start.  It reminds me of a favorite quote…

“I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else.” – Pablo Picasso

I started this tag thinking about new beginnings and the sunshine but ended with a reminder that all things that are the most worthwhile take time, like metal that ages, weathers, and strengthens with age.