Hi everyone, nice to be back with you again; Keren here with you today.
I was thrilled to have been sent the new JOFY Christmas range. Today, I'm looking forward to sharing with you easy ways to create multiple tags using a few backgrounds.
I really hadn't intended to create 7 tags, but when you've got all the elements you need and multiple prepared backgrounds, the tags just kept on coming! I also loved the challenge of creating trees out of non-tree images!
I have always wanted to create my own tartan/plaid and thought that this would be a great background for JOFY's stamps and stencils.
To create a tartan background you just need some paint and some not-too-sticky washi tape. If you to be really precise, do measure out your spacings before you start. I just eye-balled it!
The process is simple but leave yourself an hour or so to create the pattern.
Having removed a bit of the tape's stickiness on your clothes, lay out the washi tape leaving equally spaced gaps. I started with my lightest colour.
Now add the washi tapes at a 90 degree angle from the first stripes and paint between them in the same colour.
Now position the washi tapes to cover all of the white spaces so you end up with just some of the green squares showing. Paint with a darker colour and you'll end up with a gingham effect.
Next place the strips so there's a small gap between them, roughly in the centre of each green stripe. Add slightly smaller gaps for the gaps either side of these to add interest.
Now do the same again but rotated by 90 degrees and add the final colour. I used London Bus which worked particularly well as it's a translucent so added a little more depth to the finished result.
You can see in the previous picture where the paper ripped. My washi tape was really sticky, and it also helps if you leave the paint to dry really well. I didn't mind the finished look and the PaperArtsy Heavy Smoothy cardstock stood up to a lot of faffing with it! Below is my finished result.
You could create more traditional types of tartan, but I thought this went excellently with Jo's modern style of Christmas stamps and I just loved the colours!
Next I needed to create an inked embossed background, stamp and colour and try and get some trees created!
I wanted to use white embossing powder and stencilling on acetate to add layers to my tag.
Simply adding ink over the embossed lettering from JOFY 143 and flicking water over it provides a subtle background layer.
I simply love acetate and so using JOFY Stencil PS478, I taped it securely onto a sheet of acetate and daubed onto each section.
The end result is just lovely!
Next up I grabbed some more acetate, a little Grunge Paste and used a palette knife to add over the JOFY PS479. I did try and add some mica powder to the Grunge Paste but it ended up thickening it, and after thinning it down with water, the mica sheen wasn't obvious, so I added that to my list of 'not quite successful experiments'.
Jo Firth-Young's images are always sized well to colour, and so I used my alcohol markers to add graduated colour and depth. I used a combination of different sets.
JOFY trees are always fun, but I also saw several new trees in the leftover images so set about arranging them.
All I needed was to compile all the different elements to create various tags...
I added lots of details using micro beads, twine, attaching acetate using eyelets and stacking elements together.
These designs are great for getting-ahead, ready for Christmas. I know it's months away, but honestly it creeps up so quickly and then you don't have time for those extra special details like handmade tags. I have a tag box that I add to gradually and by the time December rolls around, it's filled up in no time!
If you change up the colours, it will give such a different look and there's plenty of scope for glitter and ribbon too.
I've loved creating with Jo's new range and I just know you will too! Grab some friends and host a tag making day. These stamps are the perfect candidates for it!
See you soon!
Happy creating.
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