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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Life ... Make it Count

I'm so very excited to be a Guest Designer over at Frilly and Funkie today!  Shelly has chosen such a perfect theme for September -- Chalk it Up.  As a mathematics teacher, I use a lot of chalk.  Now that school has started back after a great summer break, I'm up to my eyeballs in it.  So it really is fun to put that chalk to use in my crafts as well as in my classroom :).  And what's more perfect for a chalk-themed project than a back-to-school tag.
 
I started my tag by taking a piece of Tim Holtz’s Ideology paper that had the alphabet on it for the background.  I adapted Tim’s “chalkboard” stamping technique for use with a stencil. (You can find a complete tutorial of Tim’s technique on his November Tag for 2013 blogpost.)  For my stencil adaptation, I began by applying Distress Embossing Ink through Tim’s Numbered stencil with an ink blending tool.  I sprinkled on Ranger Ink’s frosted crystal embossing powder over the stenciled numbers.  I heated the embossing powder per Tim’s directions on his blog.  Then I put the stencil back over the embossed numbers and applied white chalk over through the stencil on top of the frosted crystal embossed numbers.  A cotton swab made the perfect tool for rubbing in the excess chalk through the stencil.  I then removed the stencil.  I was so excited because only the stenciled image had chalk on it! (Usually I get chalk everywhere on a project like this!)   A thin black marker was used to provide some shadows around my chalked numbers.  What a really cool background for my school-themed tag.



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I stamped three apples from Tim Holtz's Mini Schoolhouse blueprint stamps on watercolor paper.  I colored them with Distress Markers and a water brush detailer.  After that dried completed, I fussy cut the apples and gave them three coats of Ranger’s Melt Art Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE).  Love this effect!  


I also fussy cut some of Tim’s Found Relatives (that looked like they were dressed up to go back to school).  I added the relatives and apples to my tag with foam adhesive squares. Some tissue tape and a pencil stub tag tie topped the tag.

 And with my love of teaching and mathematics, I gave a little play on words for the sentiment.  I always love the beginning of the school year.  It has such promise and you really can make the semester as great as you want it to be.  I wanted my tag to remind students to make the most of the school year with my "Life ... make it count" sentiment.  Of course ... make it count can be taken in a mathematical sense as well :).

Oh ... I almost forgot ... I do want to enter this in the Numbers Challenge over at Country View Challenges (thanks Allison!!).  

  

Thanks Frilly and Funkie for the opportunity to be a Guest Designer.  I have had so much fun making this chalked-themed tag!   Hugs to you all -- Mary Elizabeth

8 comments:

Paper Profusion said...

Saw this over at F&F Mary Elizabeth, it's a stunner of a tag. Brilliantly done. Nicola x

A Pink said...

Fabulous ! Mary Elizabeth Love how your chosen profession was the inspiration behind its creation .Love the pop of red the apples give against your really cool background. The string and the pencil as the hanger - genius !
Congratulations on your Guest design spot - obviously much deserved !
Hope your school year goes as smoothly as they can do and all your pupils really do make it count ! x

SewPaperPaint said...

Such a neat and thoughtful project, that row of folks just make me happy, like sweet reminiscence. Love the pencil hanger too!

Words and Pictures said...

Gorgeous chalky numbers - and I love your shiny apples. Perfect gift for teacher from the teacher's pet!! I don't think I'd noticed the Schoolhouse Blueprints before - how cute. Congratulations on your well-deserved guest spot at Frilly and Funkie, and I do hope you'll come and play along with our Numbers theme at Country View Challenges with this wonderful tag!
Alison xx

Sue said...

This is a wonderful tag Mary ELizabeth, and I love how it ties in with your working life too. Those chalked numbers are fab! Thank you so much for joining in with our challenge at Country View Crafts, and have a great weekend. Sue xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Chalk is rarely used anymore...love that you use it. This tag is wonderful...the whole design! LOVE the educational theme to it too. Love those kids! Fab tag!

Barbara said...

Stunning tag my friend! I adore every details, apples are so cute and I love vintage image! Stencil are beautiful! Wonderful tag!!!! barbarayaya

Mimi said...

Omg, I thought the apples were buttons! How awesome of a tag! Thanks for the inspiration, and keep up the awesome work!