Wednesday 19 July 2017

2017 #9 Aqua: Teabag Art Canvas {by Alison Hall}

2017 Topic 9: Aqua



Alison Hall is here with a fabulous idea for tea bags! Only she would think to gelli-print tea bags! If you ae a tea-drinker who loves Aqua, then this one is for you, although I can easily imagine it would look equally amazing with any colour of your choice too!
 
Hi everyone, it's Alison/Craftytrog with you today, and I'd like to share a teabag art canvas with you, that I made using PaperArtsy Eclectica Ellen Vargo stamps.

Since I discovered the joys of using teabag papers, I can't stop collecting every teabag I use. I have plant pots on my kitchen windowsill, just to drape them on to dry! I simply wait until they are totally dry, tear the bag on one side, and empty out the tea leaves. The tea leaves make fab texture when you add them to paint, gels and pastes too. The papers take ink and paint beautifully, and on this project I used them to take prints with my Gelli Plate, using PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Paint.


I started by picking out the aqua family group of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Paint. These are Mermaid, Bora Bora, Beach Hut, and South Pacific. They go from light to dark, and all tone together beautifully. Then I picked out 3 great stamps sets by Ellen Vargo, that have a variety of fabulous patterns in them. They were perfect for the abstract background I had in mind.
Using my 3x5 inch Gelli Plate, which is the perfect size for 2 teabags, I decorated a multitude of papers by stamping into the paint with various stamps from the 3 Ellen Vargo sets. I got quite carried away at this point, as I hadn't decided what size canvas to use.



As I was taking the prints, I stamped the paint from the Gelli Plate and stamps onto an old PaperArtsy Paint chart. This made a great background that I would use later. 


After I'd collaged my chosen painted teabags onto a 6x6 inch box canvas with matte medium, I decided I needed a focal image. Using Little Black Dress Fresco Chalk Paint, I stamped the circle and line image from EEV03 twice, onto the background I'd created on the paint chart, then cut it out.



I finished my trees/flowers off with some pretty shell buttons tied with string. Then, to add some impact and to frame my canvas, I painted the edges with Little Black Dress Fresco Chalk Paint.



I hope you'll give teabag printing a try. It can be very addictive! You need to be a little careful when glueing, as the paper is quite delicate, but it doesn't tear as easily as tissue. I usually apply matte medium to my surface, lay the teabag on, then paint the medium over the top so that it soaks in and adheres both layers. I love the look of the tea grains that are still stuck inside the bags. You can see them quite clearly above in the close up photos. 

I look forward to seeing your projects for the challenge.

Alison x

Blog( I've switched to Blogger): Craftytrog's Arty Adventures
Facebook: Alison Hall
Twitter: @craftytrog
Instagram: @craftytrog

Fantastic Alison, this is super-cool recycling, and you are right, the tea leaves peeking through are such a cool contrast and definitely give an appropriate nod to your source! Love how the EEV stamps have worked for this project. Thankyou! ~ Leandra



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19 comments:

Miriam said...

Fabulous canvas Alison - I love what you have created here!

Craftyfield said...

And, not for the first time, I feel left out by my lack of tea drinking... Starting to think of a way to join in without touching the stuff right now... Maybe coffee filters? Mine are brown though!
Fab project Alison!

Helen said...

I don't know what made you start your teabag printing,but I am glad you did, the results are fabulous!

SewPaperPaint said...

I just love working with teabags and you've used them brilliantly here Alison! Love this!

froebelsternchen said...

This is an AMAZING project Alison! Brilliant!

whyducks said...

Lovely

Lauren Hatwell said...

Niiiiiice! Lx

Unknown said...

Love the idea of the tea bags and they make a gorgeous project xx

Amanda said...

Love this Alison
Love
Amanda x

Seth said...

I love everything about this Alison!

Susan Battensby said...

This is sooo beautiful. Shame I only drink coffee and OH drinks loose leaf tea!!
Going to give this a go with tissue instead. Love all the aqua shades, going to look out for them.

Dorthe said...

It is wonderful Alison, love your teabags, with prints, and the sweet flowers partly made from the extra stamping onto the chart, - you created a beautiful art piece.
Dorthe, xx

Hazel Agnew said...

Just love this Alison. Love the whole concept. Clever girl! Xx

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is fantastic, Alison, so clever and inventive!

Lucy x

craftimamma said...

Fab little project Alison. I love how you used the teabags but sadly I can't have a go at this one.....neither of us drink tea, lol! It's a neat idea though and I love it!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Mac Mable said...

Such a creative and unique idea...absolutely love it! x

Etsuko said...

What a stunning canvas Alison, I love the teabag idea and beautiful images by aqua. xx

Words and Pictures said...

Love this so much, and couldn't comment at the time as my keyboard's been playing up... Now have an external one plugged in so I can hop by to say "brilliant"!
Alison x

Corrie Herriman said...

How lovely ! x