Rules To Live By...

...well, I have always loved this stamp from the hand of Wendy Vecchi... her Studio 490 stamps are my most beloved (oh, you already know that though right?)  This stamp has oft been the starting point of a creation and today this tag is no different.  You know I said I have the brand new Wendy Vecchi Signature Designer Archival Inks?  Well, I have got thoroughly inky and made a few tags and had a play, you know, just cos it would be rude not to!  This is a quicky tag I made, just trying out the inks on different surfaces and for different stuff.

I had seen on Wendy's blog that she had been using her new Archivals with her Stencils... so being as whatever Wendy does, I have to try, I ...erm... had a try!  Using small squares of Cut & Dry foam to apply the inks thru the Stencil is simples... the inks are a beautiful medium to use and because they are Archival, they won't budge when you then ink with a waterbased ink (like Distress) right over the top.  I started out doing the leaves at the top with Fern Green and added a stripy bit at the bottom with Cornflower Blue.  Little Mr Birdy was added with Watering Can (excuse me whilst I have a fit of the vapours, this is my new FAVE colour... I have oft yearned for a grey Archival... and now we have one... and a chuffing brrrilliant one at that!)

I then gave the inks a quick zap with the heat tool just to ensure they were set and then did some Distress Ink blending with Broken China, Bundled Sage and Forest Moss and added a frame with Walnut Stain.  I squidged Broken China onto my craft sheet, spritzed with water and use the large background from Heirloom Art, dipping it into the inky/watery mix, stamped over the tag and then allowed it to react with the Distress for a few moments... once the ink had started the react with the water, I heat dried the tag.  I love the bleached stamped effect of this technique.  Very delicate.  I made a little messagey bit for the Rules to Live By stamp and then made a floral embellishment. Stamping the flower onto Grungepaper three times with the Watering Can and colouring with Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge DI... and the ickle spiky flower from Funky Flower Art was stamped with Cornflower Blue and coloured with Broken China.  I stamped the leaves in Fern Green and overstamped with the same and then coloured with Forest Moss DI.  Check out the ickle rose in the centre... that is an Embellish Your Art piece, lightly coloured with Orange Blossom Archival... so I think the only one I didn't use was Red Geranium... but I made up for that with another tag I made earlier soo..... 

I must away... I keep glancing at the clock... any second now Mr Virgin is going to turn off our internet... yikes, how will I cope without my internet allll day???   Typically, the day that the internet is changing, Grim is on a loooong job... so when the new jobbywotsitthingymibob arrives from BT today, he will be out ... so the setting up of the new internet and email stuff will have to be done tomorrow night when he gets home... or on Friday.  Whatever, I have a swanky smart phone now and it has 3G stuff (you can SO tell how teckernologikly minded I am right?) so I will be able to get online... I just won't be able to blog.  Hopefully, all will be set up and I will be back blogging over the weekend!  Or sooner!  I am off to sit by the backdoor now and wait until the Lord Alfonse of Dirty-Stop-Outsville turns up.  He snuck out about three hours ago and when I tried to get him an hour ago he looked at me, hooked his tail over his back and scarpered off down the path.  He isn't allowed out at night for this very reason... ie, he turns into a loony!  So, I shall be awaiting his return... pointless me going to bed as there is no way I will sleeps til I know he is home safely... could be a long night eh?  Thanks for looking, have a cool day (gonna be a hot one again I hear!)  TTFN

Hels x