By the Sea Tag

Hello to everyone.

It's been a really, really strange Summer here in the middle of the 

United States where I live. As I sit here, it's July 3rd, and it's supposed

to be HOT...usually. But I'm in a sweatshirt and have on socks, wrapped

in a flannel blanket. By the time this posts, it will have
probably gotten hot... again. It's very, very strange.

Having said that, I'm longing for the ocean, the sea, a beach with the sun

shining and the waves rolling in. With sand and seashells all around,
 and the look of mica shinning on the shimmering water.

So, this was my project for the 

Finnabair Blog.

I hope you enjoy it and find inspiration to create.

  

I started with a #10 manila tag that I painted almost entirely with Heavy 

White Gesso. When dry, I added Modeling Paste with the 

Ripped Fishnet Stencil. (appropriate, eh?)

While this was drying, I took scraps of cotton trim 

and soaked them with the Sculpture Medium, formed 

them the way I wanted, and set them aside. 

When dry, I added them to the tag with 3D Gloss Gel. I used

 a wide swath of gel and sprinkled the Mini Art Stones and

 Art Stones into it.

When it's all dry, you can start to use your Mica Powder+Water Sprays

to add layers of color. I used a blue/Teal and a darker blue spray on the

left side, and the gold on the right.  Next I added the lighter pale silver and

Rose/Gold Opal Magic+Water Sprays.

I used a mixture of Copper Micro Beads and Copper Glass Glitter

to give it some sparkle in spots adding them with Soft Matte Gel.

I coiled up some hemp cording and sprayed with the Gold spray, 

painted a chipboard cutout of coral with the 

Fresh Orange Metallique

 + Rose Gold Opal Magic paints, 

and glued them down with the Heavy Body Gel. 

The 2 Rusty Gear Mechanicals were slipped into the Gel. 

The background got another spritz of mica spray and the Mini Stars 

are added. The Word Strip Paris Vol. 1,  from my friend Rachel Greig

 and Darkroom Door, is cut up and added

 for thoughts along the theme. 

The Rust Glass Beads and a few Art Stones in a glass vial are the last

 to go on with the wonderful Heavy Body Gel. 

(That stuff is amazing!)

This is another look at a different angle that changes color as you move the

project around in the light. You can see the shimmer of the sprays here.

A top-coating of Heavy White Gesso creates a contrast on the

darker colors.

Probably my favorite parts of this tag are the tiny shells that float in the trim.

 These shells were given to me by my dear late brother-in-law

 who was a soldier on a Pacific Island during the WWII. 

He gathered them up, put them in a small plastic cigarette box, 

and after many, many years, decided that I might like them. 

I treasured them, but never really knew what to do with them until 

I stepped back and looked at this tag.

 It seemed like the perfect spot to tuck in these little gems. 

I now have a special tag that will always remind me of him.

 It’s so much better than having them hidden away 

in a drawer and never being used.

Hope you're inspired to check out these new products from 

Finnabair. The Sculpture Medium is an amazing product that creates

a solid structure out of fabric or trim. And the Heavy Body Gel

never ceases to amaze me or work on holding heavy objects

in place when it dries. 

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

Products Used:

Art Basics-Heavy White Gesso, Modeling Paste, 3D Gloss Gel, Heavy Body Gel an Soft Matte Gel

Elementals-Ripped Fishnet Stencil

Art Extravagance-Sculpture Medium Clear

Art Ingredients-Glass Beads Rust, Copper Glass Glitter, Copper Micro Beads, Mica Powder Blue, Gold, Teal, Opal Magic Gold and Pale Silver,  Mini Art Stones and Art Stones

Mechanicals-Mini Stars and Rusty Gears

Art Alchemy Paints-Metallique Fresh Orange and Opal Magic Rose/Gold