Thursday, March 1, 2012

So Many Challenges, So Little Time

I'm back from a blissful week cruising the Caribbean; I feel invigorated, but still haven't figured out how to squeeze an extra hour or two into the day.  So, when I get the opportunity to create something that can be used for more than one of my favorite challenges, I do jump at the chance.

Here's the rundown:    Grungy Monday 37 calls for wearable art
                                     Simon Says Stamp and Show.....idea-ology
                                     Tim's March edition of the 12 Tags of 2012 features a beautiful mosaic
                                          technique

Tim used his butterfly movers and shapers to create the mosaic; I went for the tattered florals.  He used Ranger's cement embossing powder from the Antiquities line; I used their ancient gold.  And I have a surprise.....the flowers on my tag are actually a pin that can be removed and worn.  My flowers are embellished with some idea-ology that has been colored with distress embossing powder (I used scattered straw, shabby shutters and worn lipstick), so I'm covered for all three challenges.  Wearable art, check.  Idea-ology, check.  Mosaic technique, check. 

Without further blah blah blah, here is my tag:



My background is a gorgeous Hero Arts stamp, lightly inked with tea dye distress ink.  Some antique linen was sponged on afterwards, followed by a spritz of pewter perfect pearls mist.  I wanted a very subtle background so that my pin would pop.

The sentiment is a Wendy Vecchi stamp and the stick pins are from Maya Road.  And here is a closer look at the pin.



Tip:  if you're trying the mosaic technique on very small shapes (like the smallest of the flowers), and therefore using very small bits of paper, you might find it a little difficult to precisely place the glossy accents on the paper only, and not the heat set embossing powder.  I just squeezed a blob of it on my craft sheet and used a small brush.  I didn't exactly brush it on; it was more like a gentle dabbing, but it got the glossy accents exactly where I wanted it, and it self leveled nicely.  BTW, I used a tie tack finding  to make the pin, and all three flowers were glued together with matte multi medium (held in place with small clamps until dry).

Oh, and this is completely off topic, but here are a few shots of Caribbean tranquility:





30 comments:

Alicia B said...

Your ART is amazing and your Cruise pictures are so dreamy- would love to be back in the area again myself! *Hugs*

Vic said...

Wonderful tag! Welcome home!

Linda Ledbetter said...

This is gorgeous and brilliant and utterly fabulous (just like you!). LOVE the pin on a tag idea! And your photos make me want to go back to the sea...

Hugs,
Linda

Anonymous said...

What a pretty tag...love the flowers....I just ordered some of the Wendy Vecchi sheets...can't wait to get them.....I'm so excited to get to see your ART again!!!

Valerie Brincheck said...

Hey.... welcome back! Lovely art as always and the blue water in those pics is fabulously eye popping. Can't wait to see you in the Keys soon.

Dorothy said...

Love the tag and the pics of your trip!!
Glad you're back!

craftyM said...

WELCOME BACK! WE have missed you... It has been quiet, quiet, quiet... No one stirring up trouble!
And I SO want to just FALL into that water in the 2nd and 4th photos! OMG! OMG! I am JEALOUS big time! BUT THE KEYS ARE COMING! YEAH!!!! See you soon, my friend!
Marita

Kathy Eddy said...

I love this Eileen and the pin is awesome! The pictures really make me jealous! I need a vacation!

Dana said...

Love your tag and the versatility of having the flowers come off as a pin. Great job.

Yogi said...

love the tag. Nice that it's wearable. Nice pics of the Carribean.

Wish you didn't have word verification though

Patzee said...

So glad you're back and creating amazing art. Love the tag and the flowers pin. Nobody meets triple challenges better than you!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh my goodness...I so miss the Caribbean...thanks for memory lane! For new flowered jewelry pin is rock'n awesome...holy cow wow!!!

Unknown said...

I Love your flowers..and so clever to make them into a broach!! Lovely holiday pics too...

Candy C said...

Eileen...our spring tag is lovely! I love your mosaic flowers!!! They look awesome! Oh my goodness...I so wish I had seen that beautiful Caribbean scenery! Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show! Great job on the tag! <3 Candy

Tammy D said...

Eileen I love you tag. It is great. Sorry so long on the comments. Blogger won't let me comment on the other computer.

Lori said...

So glad you were able to get away for a while! Looks like it was wonderfully relaxing! Your tag is awesome, the flowers turned out great!

sara j said...

I'll just add my admiration to the rest. It's a great pin/tag/piece...
And as a fan of vacations I say good on you! Looking forward to your next creation.

Terri said...

Your flowers are beautiful!

Merete/Scrappeguri said...

Beautiful tag and flowers!
Merete

inge said...

Hello Eileen,

been on a cruise ! ? without Tim this time, I guess, but I hope your gears are winded up again and you can get creative and tackle the worries in your life again with a light heart !

I really like your flower pins : especially because you can wear them !
I could have used this technique for my "Gaudi" page in one of the evolutionsjournals...
Your mosaicflowers look real mosaics.

greetings from Belgium
Inge

Unknown said...

LOVE your pretty flowers Eileen ... and your holiday pictures ... I just wish I was there! Thank you for sharing your work with the team at Simon Says Stamp and Show.

Anonymous said...

Love your flowers....I think I like them better than butterflies!!
Great idea to use them as a pin..
and those photos...awesome!

LaNell said...

I really, really love this. Thanks Eileen for sharing all the details of construction. I don't have the butterflies so will try this technique with the tattered flowers die.

Winnie said...

I love your tag! I think the tip about using a larger shape would have made it easier for me. As a New Yorker, I love your vid! As yes, Art does save lives..I agree!!Thanks for sharing.

Deb Neerman said...

This is beyond fabulous ... it's beyondulous!!!!

Congrats on being featured on the ATT Home Page ... you rock!

Terry said...

Wowzersss loving the flowers, fabulous colors and great work and fabby picci's on the cruise wowzersss Good luck and thanks for sharing with the DT from SSS and S. Hugs Terry xxxx

goodling4 said...

Eileen...can't wait to give you a hug in The Keys!!!!! You are still overflowing with very artistic ideas and ways to improve on TH's ideas. He should hire you, ya know! Want to hear more about the cruise.
XXo Gina

Unknown said...

oooh the Carribean looks LOVELY! Great work on the Tim tag too!

Anna said...

Beautiful! I love the wearable pin!! I think I like the flowers in mosaic better than the butterflies!

Unknown said...

Went to post my tag on Tim's blog, and I was skimming the other tags and yours just screamed to me ... love your flowers! I wasn't surprised when I clicked on it that it was by you.