Garland Wrapped Tags

Tag on the left is covered in Gesso, the tag on the right is as it printed,  the letters have a layer of Gesso

First finished tag

Five finished tags

The last couple of days I have been working on tags and garlands to wrap around them for my Happy Mail.

For the tag base I printed off some tags from Tati Scrap (scroll way down) or here. But, since my printer was running out of ink, they printed beige at the top (about 1/10th) and purple at the bottom. Not liking to throw things away, especially things I print, I saved them.

Since I printed the tags with my inkjet printer, the ink is not waterproof. I first used a waterbrush and let the ink bleed. Then on the first tag, I used alcohol ink and pens letting the ink bleed. But, on the set of five tags, I used Staedtler Watercolor Crayons in blue and red, blending them with my waterbrush. After the background dried, more or less, I stamped an Inkadinkadoo swirly dragonfly stamp and on top a Heidi Swapp word background stamp using Tsukineko Memento Elderberry and Brilliance Galaxy Gold inks respectively. For the finishing touches on the single tag I outlined the tag with a brown sharpie and then edged the tag with a white Sakura Gelly Roll. I didn't like the brown as well as I thought I would, so I didn't use it on the other tags, but did stick with the white Gelly Roll.

For the garlands, I glued one of the glitter butterflies in the center of red crochet thread. On either side of the butterfly I glued punched flowers and hearts.

Garlands

Once everything was dry... waiting is so hard to do, I wrapped the garlands around the tags and tied a bow. I made some bags out of the tops of page protectors I had cut off for last years summer vacation scrapbook.

For the bags' sides I used the Fuse tool. The trick for me when I use the tool is to make sure it is fully heated before trying to use it to stick the plastic together. I always hurry the waiting for the iron to get hot and then the plastic sticks temporarily. I have learned to check the seal and if it didn't work, wait for the tool to get hotter and then try.

Garland wrapped tag

The last set of tags have two coats of Gesso and are glued back to back. then I used the watercolor crayons to add color. I am thinking about what to do to them next, probably stamp something on them and then add some doodling. I am planning on putting the tags in the Happy Mail with the tags with the garlands.

Have a wonderful day!

Theta

Tags with two layers of Gesso, glued back to back, and with watercolor crayon

2016 Happy Mail Envelope #4 (4 out of 4)

Fall Envelope #4 Front

Here is envelope #4. For this one, I doodled around the address and then kept on going making a sort of frame around the address. The doodling under the return address looks a bit like lace in the picture.

On the back of the envelope I wrote and filled in Yay Happy Mail. then added some doodling, a snail, and words: Happy mail, Yipee, Snail Mail, and Open Me.

If all goes well tomorrow I'll start posting the Happy Mail flip books.

Have a lovely day!

Theta

Fall Envelope #4 Back

2016 Fall Happy Mail Envelope (3 out of 4)

2016 Fall Envelope #3 Front

On this envelope I started out outlining the addresses and then doodled randomly from there using patterns and words.

On the back I wrote and filled in Yay Happy Mail, added a snail and some doodles, and some words: 'Happy Mail', 'Yipee!!!', 'Open Me', and 'Snail Mail'.

Two recipients have received their mail, so I'll post them after envelope #4.

Have a beautiful day!

Theta

2016 Fall Envelope #3 Back

2016 Fall Happy Mail Envelope (2 out of 4)

2016 Fall Envelope #2 Front

This envelope was also started around the address and grown from there using different patterns. I didn't outline the return address on this one.

On the back I wrote "Happy Mail Yay" and filled it in. Then I added some doodled hearts and swirls along with the words: yay!, love you, you go girl!, and wonderful you!

2016 Fall Envelope #2 Back

Have a wonderful day!

Theta

2016 Fall Happy Mail Envelope (1 out of 4)

2016 Fall Envelope #1 Front

I sent out some fall/autumn Happy Mail and the next 4 posts will be of the envelopes. This should give the recipients time to get their mail, hopefully. Then I'll post the contents :) On the fronts of the envelopes I made busy doodles and on the back I pretty much went just with words and a few doodles. It takes a long tome to do the fronts and I actually wanted to mail these out before fall ended.

2016 Fall Envelope #1 Back

So, for this envelope I basically drew a design around the address starting out with swirls and moving outwards with different patterns. On the back I wrote and filled out "Happy Mail Yay". Then I added 'You go girl!', 'Wonderful You!', 'Love You!', and 'Not Bills'; some doodles; and a snail. Very fun!

Have a great day!

Theta

Note: I matched the wrong back with this envelope, so I switched the pictures.

ATC Quote #14

#596 Quote

This is the last of the ATC Quote cards I made in this grouping. #596 is akin to stop and smell the flowers. One of my favorite things to do on a fall morning is sit outside wrapped up in my jacket, drinking coffee, feeling the cool air swirl around me, and absorb the autumn ambience.

ATC Quote #13

#594 Quote

 #594 is a romantic quote, that in certain moods, I can relate to. As for the other quote, I certainly climb mountains, well hills really, to see the view and get exercise. For some reason, I simply have no desire to climb a mountain just to tell people about it. I like watching the airplanes, helicopters, cars, and people down below and I like taking pictures and looking at flowers and rocks. I also like hiking above tree line because my allergies decrease, like they do in the desert and in the middle of the ocean.

Have a wonderful day!

Theta

#595 Quote

ATC Quote #12

#592 Quote

Life doesn't really start all over again in the fall, but when school starts, it is a new beginning for the kids. In some ways the next card ties into card #592. With a new beginning it is not necessary to look back at the past, move on. Well, sometimes it is good look back to analyze the past so the same mistakes don't get made again, but don't dwell in the past it doesn't do anyone any good.

I like the way the colors bled on card #593.

Have a great day!

Theta

#593 Quote

ATC Quote #11

#590 Quote

#591 Quote

Howdy, two fall ATCs today. #591 makes me think of the nursery rhyme:

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails
And puppy-dogs' tails
That's what little boys are made of

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And everything nice
That's what little girls are made of

probably because of the "spice and everything nice".

I do hope some of you reading this will experience the leaves turning beautiful colors this autumn, it will be brown in the desert and green around the houses where I am. I don't miss the leaves turning, but when I am where they do, I enjoy watching them turn and fall. I like watching the leaves blow in the breeze and tumble along the ground until the rain comes and makes them stick.

Have a colorful day!

Theta

ATC Quote #10

#588 Quote

#589 Quote

One of my favorite things to do is ride trains. They can take you to all sorts of fascinating places and there are usually many interesting things to see on the way. I like trains with big windows and comfortable seats the best, but subways are interesting too. One of the most entertaining things to do when taking the subway in a place I don't know well is to get off at a stop one before or after the stop I want and walk back to the stop I wanted. I do this to learn the area and when the stops are close together. Sometimes I like to get off at an unfamiliar stop and just go see what's out there above ground. I've been to some neat parks and used bookstores this way.

I'm not sure that life begins at the end of your comfort zone, someone has to do the dishes and laundry and they are alive, but the most interesting things in my life have usually happened when I was out of my comfort zone. Take, for example, riding the subway. I'm always out of my comfort zone when I travel and taking the subway presents all sorts of ways to be uncomfortable, especially when English (my functioning language) is not one of the languages that the stops are presented in. I can't see out the window to get my bearings so it's nearly always a surprise when I exit the stop to see where I am, no matter how often I have left the train at that stop. In Paris one time we stumbled upon the Museum of Sewers ( Musée des égouts de Paris ). It is an excellent museum: informative and very interesting and fun for everyone in the family. We had small children and teens with us when we went through the museum and all of us would go through it again. Anyway interesting events occur when I am out of my comfort zone, but most of my life is lived in my comfort zone - laundry, dishes, dinner, and homework... I think it's important to live life wherever and whatever your circumstances are, in or out of your comfort zone. I don't think an adrenaline rush is needed to live life fully. If it was always sunny or rainy, I wouldn't appreciate the rain or the sun.The same goes for living out of your comfort zone; if you live outside of your comfort zone, it becomes your comfort zone.

Anyway, those are my verbose thoughts for the day :)

Have a great day in or out of your comfort zone!

Theta

ATC Quote #9

#586 Quote

Well I must have traveled by horse instead of motorized vehicle today, since I'm posting later than usual.

I don't know that I 'd rather travel by horse only, especially over long distances or in the rain. It could be uncomfortable and undoubtably would be tiring and dirty. But, it is fun to pleasure ride through the countryside with no real destination in mind.

Personally, I like taking paths that are less traveled, but not in the dark... It's hard to draw in the dark...

Have a wonderful day!

Theta

#587 Quote

ATC Quote #8

#584 Quote

Autumn is on the way. Where we are, we should have another month of  heat and then it should start to cool off. The summer here is so hot the trees go into a sort of hibernation. Many trees loose their leaves in the spring instead of the in the fall. The trees are now green with new growth as we move into autumn. Soon we will be able to plant annual flowers and they won't fry. Many people will plant petunias in bright colors and our hibiscus's will flower in white, pink, and red.

Have a great day!

Theta

#585 Quote

ATC Quote #7

#582 Quote

One fall and one travel card today. I like the imagery that Oscar Wilde produces in using the word collapsed in the phrase 'summer collapsed into fall'.

#583 brings to mind how nice it is after being away to sleep in ones own bed. I think Lin Yutang is more likely referring to the beauty of looking back on the memories that are gained from travel.

Anyway, have a lovely day!

Theta

#583 Quote

ATC Quote #6

#580 Quote

Two more travel cards for today. I totally agree with Seneca, but possibly not always the way he meant... Traveling with children does make my mind more vigorous, but often with making sure I know where the kids are and if we have all our stuff, like tickets and passports :D

For me, the mountains call, but the sea's call is much stronger. I sort of pine without the sea near. by near, I mean that I need to be able to reach it within a morning's travel. The funny thing is, I don't actually have to go to the sea, it just needs to be there. The best place to be is by the sea with the mountains rising behind or on a mountain looking out to sea.

Do the mountains call you? or the plains, the forest, the sea or beach, the desert, the snow, the lake? or instead of a landform is it a place?

Have a wonderful day.

Theta

#581 Quote

ATC Quote #5

#578 Quote

Card #578's sentiment doesn't really resonate with me. I get where it's coming from, but I can't really apply the message to grocery shopping :)

#579 is the corollary to the card I previously posted - I want to make memories in Switzerland. This one is more general, but since I enjoy traveling just as applicable. The color posted grayer than it actually is in reality.

Have a great day!

Theta

#579 Quote

ATC Quote #4

#576 Quote 

#577 Quote

Now these two quotes are more along my line of thought, but as I've stated, I like to travel. My son's comment on #576 was that people who don't travel not only haven't read one page, they haven't even read a paragraph.

These two cards are bright. I was playing with pens and color. #577 works for me better than #576. On #576, the green became too involved with the orange and mud is beginning to happen.

Have a colorful day!

Theta

ATC Quote #3

#574 Quote

Unfortunately, I'm a little late today.

I don't find the quote on ACT #574 to be quite accurate, but it made a fun experiment.

Card #575, I agree with... it's one of the ones I made for our vacation album. In a later post, I will have a similar quote - I want to make memories all over the world. Since I enjoy traveling, both #575 and it's corollary I find to be true. Finally a quote I agree with ;)

Have a wonderful day and make some good memories!

Theta

#575 Quote

ATC Quote #2

#572 Quote

Here are two experimental quotes for today's post. These quotes do not express my feelings, but they are short and interesting.

Usually when I hustle, I make a huge mess and things get spilled all over the place and I have to spend what feels like ages cleaning up... I like the way it looks though. It came out rather pretty.

#573 is not quite right. I didn't get the CAPS quite right, but since it is an experiment, I decided to go with the card the way it was... I think I could use the top half and just cut off the bottom. I like the arrow, flower, and LIVE. Plus I agree with the top part - Live today. That makes sense. Living in caps would be annoying.

Anyway,

Have fun today!

Theta

#573 Quote

ATC Quote #1

#570 Quote

Today I am beginning a series of quotes. The first cards are experimental (well, in reality all my cards are experimental, but these are particularly so). I used watercolor paper, markers, alcohol ink pens, and watercolors, with highlights of white gel pen. I'm not necessarily in agreement with these quotes, but they were short and good for trying out color movement.

Have a colorful day!

Theta

#571 Quote