Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The 12 Tags of Christmas -- Day 8

Masks And Wire

No, not part of a robber's kit or a bondage outfit, but two of the cool techniques in Tim's day #8 tag.  This was a challenging tag for me to make.  While I loved the one Tim did, I'm less than thrilled with the two I came up with.  Part of it might be my stubborn determination not to copy; the mask Tim used is just perfect in size and shape for the tag.  Well, it is what it is, and I learned new techniques, so what am I complaining about?


Tim used the outside of his santa sleigh mask (the part we usually discard) as a stencil, positioning it on the tag and inking it and stamping over it.  I cut my own mask from the pine tree die instead, working vertically on the tag instead of horizontally.  I added some extra trees with a Stampin' Up stamp (one of my favorites, BTW).  Love the technique, not wild about my execution.  I think I should have positioned it lower on the tag and eliminated the trunk.  Also, my stamping over the stencil was a bit sloppy imperfect. (I'm embracing my imperfection, honestly, I am!)

I didn't have the distress stickles that Tim used to give the look of snow on the rooftops, so I substituted a regular stickles called stardust.  Not quite as effective and it took forever to dry. 

Also loved using wire to create the look of smoke coming out of the chimneys.  I didn't have the same gauge wire Tim used, and I would have liked to have the thicker wire.

I also like using my retro Dymo label maker to create the look of a banner, and that's a technique I'll use again for sure.

The last technique Tim used was dabbing metal with white paint, then rubbing it with a finger tip for a nice shabby look.  Tim's metal pieces included corners, a clock face and a spinner.  Because of my tag's orientation I really had no place for the corners, and though I tried a clock face on mine, I didn't care for it.  I opted for a grommet with a brad that fit inside the hole, trying for the look of the moon in the sky.  Hey, I said trying, not succeeding, LOL.

And now, my Wendy version:



I think this one works a little better, but I guess I just have to admit that today's attempts are not my favorites. 

This one obviously doesn't have a Christmas theme.  I started by making a mask from the Sizzix lovebird die.  After inking the stencil part of it on the tag with different shades of green, I over stamped with one of Wendy's stamps, using olive archival ink. The leaves in the background (done with coffee archival ink) are also from a Wendy stamp.   Since I opted not to use the townscape on the bottom, instead of using wire for smoke, I used it for tail feathers, pretty much following the curves of the tail on the die.  Again, I wish I had thicker wire for this technique.

My whitewashed metal includes corners (smaller ones than Tim's), a funky little piece I had in my stash that fit perfectly on the bird's head, a tiny brad for the eye, and a larger brad which is keeping all the wires in place.

Instead of a Christmas sentiment, my label has one of Wendy's favorite sayings, make art every day.


16 comments:

Cariena said...

i LOVe the trees! i think your tags are marvelous and your imperfect improvisation magical!!

Vic said...

They're both great! They are Eileen-esque!

Neil said...

I always enjoy your posts and today is no exception! I also found today a challenge, I used the bird from the fanciful flight for my mask and felt, like you, that it was too small for the tag! But I think you have done a great tag, I really like the trees and your houses too.

Tammy D said...

Today's Tim version tag is my favorite so far. Cold, cold go away!

france papillon said...

i think you did great in your not wanting to copy! this tag is gorgeous! and the Wendy Vecchi twist looks lovely too!

slbt17 said...

lovely! Great use of masking, nice interpretation of Tim's tag
Love the bird!
I wish I did not have so much work and I could go play!
Sandra

Lori said...

I haven't made it this far yet, but yours look great, and I love the Wendy version, that bird is terrific! I think the pine tree mask on Tim's is brilliant, and I love that Stampin' Up stamp, too! Thanks for the reminder!..lol...

Dorothy said...

Fantabulous tags Eileen!!!
Clever girl!

Nancy said...

I think your tags are great, Eileen! I'm still behind, so haven't tried this one yet - and will probably use Tim's mask 'cause I actually have it, but I like what you did, cutting your own, too.

Valerie Brincheck said...

You're being way too hard on yourself. The tags turned out wonderful!

Diann said...

More fantastic ART tags! These may not be your favorite but many of us wish we could follow in your steps and create from a challenge and it turn out your personal way and to look awesome too....you go girl! I've enjoyed all your tags!
Diann

Becky T. said...

Your tags are excellent! :-)

SusanK said...

I agree, this tech will take some practice but can see lots of fun uses for it. Love both - the moon is superb and the Wendy one is fab! This 12 day exercise is to get us to create, play, be inspired and learn...looks like you've got those bases covered! Have fun, after all it's only ink and paper...until you put pricey embellishments on it! lol

Unknown said...

Well, I think your Tim tag came out gorgeous! I love the trees, and I may use that one on mine as well! And, when you talk about not lining up the stencil so well, I think it looks like uplighting (like you see in expensive landscaping). And, Wendy's tag is wonderful! I've been trying NOT to do Wendy's with a Christmas theme cause I don't have ANYTHING Christmas from Wendy (didn't know she had any--lol).

Heidi Bound said...

LOVE these Eileen!

Angie Hall Haviland said...

More BEAUTIFUL tags....I'm really enjoying seeing your tags :)