Before I ever glue anything down, I like to do what I call a "dry-fit" to check how things will look.
I decided on this placement of the String Alongs - Gothic onto each Chipboard Decorative Tags X Large. For the two tags on the right and in the middle, I simply cut the "string" section above the hole, glued that tiny piece and then moved the rest of the string along down below the hole.
Next, I used clear gesso to prime the front and back of each tag. I used clear gesso to "seal" the chipboard, but leaving the brownish background to add the color to. The gesso will also keep the chipboard from acting like a sponge and sucking all the paint or color up, thereby using less paint or inks.
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| adding gesso to back of tags first |
Next, I used the Distress Oxides with a blending tool to cover the background, as shown. I spritzed with water and used my heat tool to dry the ink.
Then I hit the chippies and the edges with the black DO and blending tool. I spritzed with water and used my heat tool to dry the ink.
I used a soft brush to add the green DO inside and next to the chandelier, then spritzed water droplets over the background to form these circular ripples, using my heat tool to dry it.
To intensify the colors, I used the soft brush to pick up the colors from the ink pads and brushed it randomly over the tag, blending some as I went along. The brush allows you to get close to the chipboard and to control where you put the colors. Spritz droplets over background again and dry with heat tool.
Cut a random shape from the Brick Wall Small, lay onto Candied Apple DO pad and, using blending tool, add color to the chipboard. Dry with heat tool.
Lightly add Black Soot DO with blending tool, just to add dimension.
Glue pieces to left side of tag, as shown. I also darkened the chandelier string along with Black Soot distress ink, then picked up more colors with my brush and deepened the colors where I felt it was needed.
Now that I knew I wanted to adhere pieces of texture sheets to the remaining two tags, I went ahead and glued them down before adding the colors. I used pieces cut from the Texture Sheet Diamonds on the left tag, and pieces cut from the Chainlink 8 by 8 Inch Panel on the right tag. I also painted the texture pieces with a coat of clear gesso to prime them, just as before.
On these two tags, I added the same Distress Oxide colors using a re-inker, a brush, and water. I liked this technique a lot because I could get stronger colors down much quicker than I was able to achieve with the pads. If you don't have the re-inkers, you can still pick up the colors from the ink pad, as before.
Next, use blending tool to add Black Soot DO to the edges and chipboard embellishments on top of the tags.
Mist backgrounds with water and water droplets for the organic look from the Oxides and dry with heat tool. Use brush to pick up any colors and "dry brush" any areas that you feel need improvement, such as blending or deepening colors.
Place a drop of Black Soot DO from re-inker onto craft sheet. Use wet paint brush to make a wash and flick drops of the black over the backgrounds. If you don't have re-inkers, just rub the pad onto the craft mat and make a wash with the ink from the pad.
Add spooky phrases to each tag. You can computer generate them if you don't have these stickers from Tim Holtz. Use a black pencil to shade around each sticker, and add distress oxide colors to blend in with the background.
Then I hit the chippies and the edges with the black DO and blending tool. I spritzed with water and used my heat tool to dry the ink.
I used a soft brush to add the green DO inside and next to the chandelier, then spritzed water droplets over the background to form these circular ripples, using my heat tool to dry it.
To intensify the colors, I used the soft brush to pick up the colors from the ink pads and brushed it randomly over the tag, blending some as I went along. The brush allows you to get close to the chipboard and to control where you put the colors. Spritz droplets over background again and dry with heat tool.
Cut a random shape from the Brick Wall Small, lay onto Candied Apple DO pad and, using blending tool, add color to the chipboard. Dry with heat tool.
Glue pieces to left side of tag, as shown. I also darkened the chandelier string along with Black Soot distress ink, then picked up more colors with my brush and deepened the colors where I felt it was needed.
Now that I knew I wanted to adhere pieces of texture sheets to the remaining two tags, I went ahead and glued them down before adding the colors. I used pieces cut from the Texture Sheet Diamonds on the left tag, and pieces cut from the Chainlink 8 by 8 Inch Panel on the right tag. I also painted the texture pieces with a coat of clear gesso to prime them, just as before.
On these two tags, I added the same Distress Oxide colors using a re-inker, a brush, and water. I liked this technique a lot because I could get stronger colors down much quicker than I was able to achieve with the pads. If you don't have the re-inkers, you can still pick up the colors from the ink pad, as before.
Continue adding colors with the brush and re-inkers.
Next, use blending tool to add Black Soot DO to the edges and chipboard embellishments on top of the tags.
Mist backgrounds with water and water droplets for the organic look from the Oxides and dry with heat tool. Use brush to pick up any colors and "dry brush" any areas that you feel need improvement, such as blending or deepening colors.
Place a drop of Black Soot DO from re-inker onto craft sheet. Use wet paint brush to make a wash and flick drops of the black over the backgrounds. If you don't have re-inkers, just rub the pad onto the craft mat and make a wash with the ink from the pad.
GSL String Alongs - Gothic
GSL Brick Wall Small
GSL Texture Sheet Diamonds
GSL Chainlink 8 by 8 Inch Panel
Distress Oxides Ink Pads & Re-inkers
Spiced Marmalade
Wilted Violet
Twisted Citron
Candied Apple
Fossilized Amber
Black Soot
Distress Ink - Black Soot
Blending Tools (Ranger)
Tim Holtz Halloween Clippings Stickers
Paint Brush
Water mister bottle
Wire edged ribbon
I hope you enjoyed my creepy Halloween tags, and that you will be inspired to make some for yourself with any of the laser cuts available from Gypsy Soul.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a super safe and fun Halloween!
Barbara
