WOYWW: A beautiful mess!

Ever been in the throes of creating when reality draws you back and you awaken to a beautiful, creative mess before you?  This happened while I was creating fall tags for a swap I am hosting.  My desk is littered with beautiful spools of ribbon, yards of yummy Sari silk ribbon, my favorite glue, silk leaves, a newly found over sized pad of tags, and a Halloween mug full of gingerbread flavored coffee.  Bliss… 

About the latest transfer: My boxes are moved and I have a temporary classroom.  I will be moved into a permanent room in December. My new students are not happy about losing their beloved teacher and have already tested me.  These are students who cannot function in a traditional classroom and have been removed from the mainstream students.  I have had zero training in dealing with their needs or behavior problems and I won't get any:  sink or swim!   Your encouraging comments and prayers from last week were so appreciated and needed!  I tried to get around to all of you who left comments but the need to catch up on my sleep got the better of me.  

Swapping

Let's Build a Tag Journal #3: Fall Theme:

No. 5 shipping tag: front

New 3.5" x 8.5" watercolor paper tags:

 The background was created using a dictionary page sprayed with Walnut inks in walnut, terra cotta, and jave.  After it dried I zigzagged stitched the paper to the tag then pushed modeling paste through a stencil.  Once dried I used various Adirondack inks to stain the modeling paste then splattered the tag with black gesso.  I then glued a strip of olive green offray along the left side.

 I created this portion by wrinkling brown craft paper, distressing the edges with VersaMagic ink in jumbo lava.  Sprayed a strip of cheese cloth with Walnut inks in walnut, terra cotta, and jave.  Once dried I sewed it to the bottom layer of craft paper. Glued the magazine photo to the top layer of craft paper which I then glued to the bottom layer.

I used the same leaf found in the photo, painted it with Martha Stewart's geranium.  I tied a bit of the inked cheese cloth to the stem then glued it to the tag.  This photo gives you a better view of the background.

Second tag:

I originally thought this would be the one I would send to my partner as this is one of my favorite photos taken on a road trip last fall.  I added the sprigs of dried Sweet Annie to represent the weeds that were growing around the old barn.

After looking at both of the completed tags I opted to send her the orange leaf tag as it was more fallish, not as dark as this one.  Instead, it will go into my Fall art journal.  

About these new tags: I was disappointed that they could not handle the added weight of the modeling paste and ephemera.  They need to be reinforced either by gluing two of them together or cutting and gluing on a piece of card stock.  Live and learn.  

I look at these tags and I love seeing my style evolving; finding a way to incorporate my photographs with my love of texture and sewing.

Go HERE to see my creative process for this Shutter Memo Holder I altered over the weekend.

So, what beautiful mess have you made this week?  

Joining up with What’s onYour Workdesk? Wednesday where desk snooping is not only allowed but all part of the fun!  Won’t you join us!