Be Awesome

[Challenge win: Top rocker at 613 Avenue Create challenge]

My sister and I are back with another round of Inspiration Station, where we have our respective creative sessions based on a common theme. This time, it was my turn to set a theme, and I came up with this tic-tac-toe board –

I chose Recycled + Polka Dots + Metallic Colors. After a few false starts, this is the mixed media tag I created –

I recycled packaging cardboard for this tag. I dipped the tag in water for a few seconds, which helped me partially tear the paper at its front, which makes for some delicious texture.

I created polka dots on the non-corrugated part of the paper, and pounced metallic acrylics over a polka dots stencil. I then used scrap paper from a previous gel-printing session, and again used metallic acrylics on a different polka dots stencil.

I was stuck for a long time because the two of them didn’t come together very well, so I scrapped the stenciled side of the scrap paper. Instead, I adhered the scrap-color-filled reverse side onto the tag.

I then added washi tapes–some of which have polka dots (even metallic ones) on them–over the background, tearing them up for a grunge effect. After this, my creative stream started flowing smoothly again.

I added more texture to the background by using acrylic drips, stamps with dye inks, and a distress ink vignette at the edges. (The stamped content seemed to disappear after a while, though…) I also punched an eyelet hole at the top of the tag, made a diecut eyelet, colored it using Copic markers, and stuck it around the hole.

For the focal flower, I applied metallic acrylic paint over a diecut. And for the quote, I used dye inks with a stamp, fussy cut the sentiment, pounced distress ink at the edges, and applied some watercolors over the words. I then adhered the quote and the flower over the background. Ta da!

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I think my sister picked a difficult combination of items; she nailed it, though. Check out her colorful card that has a hanging picture!

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With this tag, I’m joining these challenges –

613 Avenue Create Challenge – May – Anything Goes	Arty Divas Challenge – May – Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers May Anything Goes with Dies Challenge	Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – Not A Card
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes	Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero – May – Get Scrappy