Mixed-media Tags and Stars

Do you need a priceless gift that doesn't cost money? Why not make a jar filled with Puffed Stars for someone special like I showed during this LIVE Drama-free Friday show?

To make the little stars, use any kind of lightweight paper. I used my 8″ x 10″ Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate to add holiday colors and patterns on copy paper. It's definitely easiest to fold these little stars with thin paper meant for printers. Watch the video to learn how to create the stars and then have fun making them. Once you catch the folding and puffing rhythm, I bet you'll enjoy adding messages for your special person.

I also painted several large sheets of Canson XL Mix Media Paper with a Speedball Brayer and acrylics. I cut the painted papers into Tags which will later be used for gift tags. After cutting out the tags, I rounded the bottom corners with my favorite Corner Chomper which chomps through just about anything! 

Inspiration for the Tag designs can be found at ClothPaperScissors under DecemberDoodles. I created my version of the Christmas Tree tag. Be sure to check out the post at CPS. All their designs are great! After I finished streaming LIVE, I made several other tags with my own designs. It's addictive! I can't decide which one I like the most. 😉 

Quick Tip: Sometimes pens are cranky about writing over acrylic paint, so having a variety including Black Gelly Roll Pens and Pitt Artist Pens or Pigma Micron Pens is handy. When one refuses to write, try another! 

To create the second tag during the LIVE stream, I began with Spellbinders Nestabilites Stars. I die cut each star from card stock to use as templates. I arranged the star card stock templates on a tag and drew around them. I added dark lines to look like hanging strings along with a few patterning details. I even added some embellishment with colorful Gelly Roll Pens, too. The final touch was a bit of soft graphite blended with a paper stump to create shading.

When the tags felt finished, I inked the edges, stitched a border with my sewing machine and added some shiny fibers through the hole. Fun!

Be sure to check out the first part of of the video to see a very special fabric postcard from my new friend, Paxton. You don't want to miss the extraordinary creative abilities of this special young man and his wonderful teacher, Ann Scott!

I'll see you next Friday at 2pm Eastern for the next episode of Drama-free Friday.

Until then ~

Remember to Get Creative today! It's Easy!

Barb