Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Summer of Color, Week 5: Green, Green, Pink


I'm once again joining Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle Like a Star for week 5 of SOC 5.  I can't believe how fast this summer has gone.  Seems only yesterday we were contemplating what Kristin had in mind for SOC 5 colors this summer.   And now it's nearly over.

My colors of choice this week were taken from my handmade shimmering mists.  One is a nice dark green, the other is a lime green and my "go to" color when I want the shimmer to really show in a photograph.  Yes, this is another piece of bed sheet and I have plenty more where that came from.  I've always said if you want a lot of yardage for not much money, visit a thrift store, ask your neighbors, and/or raid your own linen closet for worn, old, or discolored bed sheets.

After applying the mists to the sheets and allowing them time to dry (you can see a bit of the green in the background), I decided to make a packing tape transfer.  Here you can see I've already added the tape to the image I found in an old calendar.

One thing I should mention is I laid the packing tape sticky side up on my craft sheet.  I know lots of people will tell you to lay the image face up on the table, then place the packing tape sticky side against the image.  However, I have found the image adheres better when placed on top of the tape.  I think it has something to do with static electricity (or maybe my magnetic personality).

Now it's time to burnish.  Burnish like your life depended on it, because the transfer actually DOES.  Burnish back and forth, right and left, then at a diagonal.  Burnish until your hand falls asleep.  OK, that was a bit facetious, but by now you should get the idea.

Place the tape transfer in a bit of warm water and walk away.  Walk away.  Walk away.
 
Take the dog for a walk, make other art, clean a closet, but please walk away. 
  
Once the paper part of the transfer has had time to absorb the water,

it should pull back easily.

Be aware, anywhere there is white on your image, it will now be clear.  Don't rub too hard as I seem to have on the leaf and the flower.   That could also be a sign I didn't get the image burnished well enough to transfer the color to the packing tape.  You will now need to remove the rest of the paper, but don't be too concerned if a tiny bit of paper still clings to the tape.  There are various products that claim to remove all the paper, but since I've never seen them, I won't advise it.  Just keep plugging away until you get most of the paper off the back of the tape.  If you want a grunge look, intentionally leave some of the paper on.

Once you have as much of the paper off the back as possible, remove the water to your yard, or a potted plant.  DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EMPTY YOUR CONTAINER DOWN A DRAIN, WHETHER SINK OR STOOL.  If it is winter in your area, add the water to a plant, strain it, or find a way to safely remove it somewhere outside.  I don't want anyone saying I didn't warn them when a pipe clogs from this mess!

Next it was time to add color to card stock, then add my sentiment.  These are the same colors I used on the bed sheets, but fabric and paper react a bit differently to these mists.

Although I believe it needs something else, here is the completed project for week 5.  Not as interesting as the previous weeks, but it's finished.  And in case you can't read the quote:
Flowers are love's truest language.

~  Park Benjamin
And because it scans differently than it photographs, here it is scanned.  It is my opinion the photo is closer to the true colors, even though the final photos were taken at night.  I assure you, there is no red in these flowers.

Materials used included a white bed sheet, shimmering mists, tape transfer (see above), pink pigment ink, pink stamp, variegated green thread, green thread, computer generated quote on shimmering misted card stock, and a tree branch to hang the quiltlet.

For three weeks I visited everyone, even though I can't leave comments on Facebook, Flickr, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and some G + blogs.  However, last week I got caught in a time crunch and Monday arrived before I even realized it.  I promise to do much better this week, and appreciate your continued support.

Finally, I realize there will be many accolades given to Kristin next week, but I want to thank her this week for all the hard work and effort she puts into each and every one of these entries.  I don't know too many blog hosts who have as many entries as Kristin has each week, yet still manages to visit each of us.  For that, I applaud you, dear Kristin.  Your SOC is something I won't ever miss as long as you are still up to the task. 

49 thoughtful remarks:

sue :) said...

Fab results, loved to see your technique for transferring images too. I liked the "walk away" comment as I am quite impatient and almost certainly would start picking. Lovely piece. x

TwinkleToes2day said...

I love this Elizabeth!! I think this colour palette works beautifully together and your linen and flowers set each other off perfectly.
Thank you for the detailed info and step out pics of the packing tape transfer. I've read about it before but never felt confident in my understanding of the process enough to try it, but now I do, so thank you again.
Thank you too for your lovely comment on Wee Man's T post, he enjoys reading what people think of his posts and came up with the smiley idea himself. {{Hugs}} Mo

peggy gatto said...

Thanks for the tape reminder! This turned great!

Wanda said...

What a beautiful and time consuming project....but the results are just beautiful. I'm brand new to the group and so sorry there is only one more week.

Monica said...

well done as always.

Sharon Fritchman said...

Oh I so agree, Elizabeth! I don't think that I have ever seen as many participants that Kristin has for the SOC! And everyone here is so nice - including YOU! And talented! That includes you, too. I can't tell you how much I enjoy visiting your blog and learning how you make your beautiful creations. This week you have created a gorgeous work of art! Thanks for the explanation on how you made it, too! And I just love what you did with the transfer tape.

Halle said...

Another great piece. Love the quote!

Christine said...

beautiful piece!

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful work, you did a lot of hard work here! Have a nice week, hugs, Valerie

johanna said...

i love how your tape Transfer turned out! and no better Thing than old bed Sheets!!

Michelle Webb said...

Elizabeth I've really missed reading your blog, it always makes me happy, I love the way you write. I've just been a busy bunny teaching and the likes, so glad I popped round today. I'm coming back more often. Michelle xxxxxx

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

Fabulous art work, Elizabeth, love the subtle green background. I once had a tote bag like that.

Love and hugs
Maarit

BJ said...

It's beautiful Elizabeth, thanks for the "burnishing until your hand falls off" tutorial and the reminder that you have loads of "spare" bedsheets and will not be sleeping "rough" tonight - LOL BJ

Deb said...

This is beautiful. I love the tape transfer. Very creative.

froebelsternchen said...

Wow... fab tape transfer Elizabeth and the endresult is gorgeous.. what a fab and unique take on this weeks colors Elizabeth!
xxx
Susi

ULKAU said...

Your work looks so wonderful!
I tried this tape-technique many years ago, but I must do it again... Ulrike

Linda Kunsman said...

this is so beautiful Elizabeth! Haven't done a tape transfer in ages and you gave some very sound advice in regards to making them.

Miriam said...

Oh! wow!! This is lovely and what a lot of work has gone into it. A very creative piece, again. I can't believe that next week is the last week! I wonder if we will get a bonus piece again?

ionabunny said...

Hi Elizabeth. Love the transfer you made. Might have to try this. A lovely piece.

Darla said...

Great tape transfer and the piece came together really well.

Darla

Krisha said...

Very nicely done E

I had a lengthy comment, but Blogger said "ERROR TRY AGAIN"....

GlorV1 said...

Beautiful piece. Very creative.

Kelly said...

Lovely! I keep seeing your stitching work and am chomping at the bit to have my machine set up again. I have lots of old sheet pieces I need to find a better way to store in the new space. Let me know if you'd like me to share a variety. Creative Blessings! ~Kelly

Mary Ann Potter said...

I haven't done a transfer in quite awhile; your beautiful art here has inspired me to do it again! Absolutely wonderful work!!!

Valerie said...

I love it :-)

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Now that I finally had a chance to finish at last the background of my piece, I could come around for a visit.

I really love how this came out--the tape transfer is wonderful and you can probably guess that I think the quote is perfect and true!

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is beautiful Elizabeth! You have set me off to make image transfers again!! The flowers on yours really are gorgeous and using those mists have made such lovely effects! Hugs,Chrisx

Electra said...

It is lovely, Elizabeth, and I have the same struggle with giving a true image. :-)

Tammie Lee said...

wonderful to see how you did this,
it turned out really nice.

Karla B said...

What a fabulous piece, my friend!I've just learned again with you.Thanks Elizabeth!

SCarol said...

Lovely and what a great technique to do the transfer. Wonderful!

Screaming Feline said...

That is a very interesting process. Love the end result!

kat said...

Lots of green and lovely pink here, these colours are just fab!

CJ said...

Thanks for the instructions on the packing tape transfer. I'll have to try that.

Thanks for stopping to view my SOC for this week.

Robyn Oliver said...

Lovely fabric work Elizabeth, have dabbled in the photo transfer technique some years back, but yours looks fabulous...coll wall hanging and thumbs up to flowers.

denthe said...

Very interesting piece! Love reading all your steps, and I'll remember your advice about burnishing ;-)

Ayala Art said...

Oh wow!!! This is awesome!
And here in Cali, the water HAS to go to a plant... we are so dried up, poor plants ;)

debs14 said...

I love how you have shown the whole process - and what a beautiful final piece. Absolutely lovely!

Kristin said...

xo ;)

Nordljus said...

This looks wonderful! Absolutely love your tape transfer! What a great idea! I've only ever tried a few image transfers on paper, usually with mixed result.

Dolly B said...

Very Clever and pretty
Mary

Jenny said...

It is gorgeous Elizabeth... I love the idea of the packing tape transfer... and your quote is so lovely...

Jenny X

Anonymous said...

Perfect rendition of the pink and greens. Your transfer is great. Wish they make packing tape with a matte finish. That would be super. Nice piece. Xox

Annette P.-L. said...

Beautiful work!

K J D said...

I love what you did for SOC the colours are so vibrant...

I enjoyed the tour of your work spaces too:)

Karen x

Neena said...

This is beautiful. Love the stitching. You did a great job on the transfer. I know exactly what you mean by "walk away". Waiting is hard to do, for me at least. Putting the tape in the water just before going to bed works.

Miriam said...

Hello Elizabeth. I have just noticed in your profile that you might be having problems with e-mail? I sent two and since I haven't heard from you I think they have been swallowed up by the great computer in the sky! Anyhow, I just wanted to say thank you for visiting me and requesting a postcard which I would love to send you. Can you let me have your address? Miriam xx

Jennifer Rose said...

very pretty :) Going to have to try that tape transfer method :)

Caz said...

Oh lovely, and such a great idea!