Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Messed up tea

Kimmie and all my Tea Tuesday friends are drinking tea (or something fun) today and proudly displaying their tablescapes, their vignettes, their landscape, their art, their tea, or even their tea cup.


Since I still have no way to take photos, something you really need to do on Tea Tuesday, I decided to make some art. I started with a background using some Twinkling H2Os and gold leaf pen as a resist. In case you have never tried this technique, it is one of my tutorials, shown in its entirety here.


I also cut a teapot from a computer generated design, and planned to use my coffee/tea cup I made last year from a recycled plastic lid.


I glued some of the background paper to an 8 inch by 8.5 inch by 1/2 inch wooden board. When it was dry, I added the tea bag that I used in Tea Tuesday last week. Apparently I didn't let the glue of the tea bag dry enough because as I was outlining the stencil using my Micron 0.5 black ink pen, it stopped working. Yep, it's now dead from my stupidity. That's the second time I've "killed" one of those good Micron pens. They never recover, either.

That's when I grabbed the India Ink, but didn't realize how thin India Ink was and how much it bleeds, especially on a thin tea bag. So, instead of coloring the tea pot, and adding a bigger mess on top of this mess, I have decided to call this "Messed Up Tea" and submit it as my Tea Tuesday entry. I will gladly take any suggestions I can get on how to fix this mixed media mess and turn it into something acceptable.

Don't forget to visit Kimmie for tea Tuesday links. I'm sure she and the rest of my Tuesday pals have tea that is not messed up today!

18 thoughtful remarks:

Yvonne said...

Oops, I messed up ;)...I didn't realize it was Tuesday already. Boy how time flies when you are having fun. I will have my tea post up later, so be sure and stop by. :)

Darla said...

While I know you want to take photo's it seems your current situation is forcing you to think it different artistic ways. That's not always bad. I don't think your collage needs repair myself.

Darla

ImagiMeri said...

I see absolutely nothing wrong with your piece. I'm of the thought that there are never mistakes, only happy accidents. There's actually quite the contrast going on, and it creates interest and action. Leave it be please.

Hugs,
Meri

Unknown said...

I totally agree with the happy accidents theory! I love how SOLID the ink outline makes the teacup. To me, it's the perfect "weight" to go with your vibrant background, and I wouldn't change a thing either!

Halle said...

Good job for making the best out of a lame situation without photos!
Happy tea day!

Nancy said...

I love your background paper and the teacup on a teabag is a great idea.
But if you really feel you need to change it, I agree with Marilyn Rock (above comment) about using gesso--the all-round fixer-upper :)

~*~Patty S said...

you're funny E
I think we can all relate to "messed up tea" at one time or another...I'd say you are improvising nicely for being without a camera (that would have me chomping at the bit)

Happy T day to you!
oxo

voodoo vixen said...

I love how you manage to get around your issues... no matter what the challenge is!! I like the bright colours and the contrast of the teacup!!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Your mess looks like art to me. I certainly wouldn't be able to create such a beautiful mess. Happy tea day. Tammy

Unknown said...

I was going to say, gesso! (the White Out of the art world), but someone beat me to it (it's only 1:30pm here- duh! time for AFTERNOON tea!)

I can only echo what everyone else has already said-- bravo you for continuing to blog without a camera to take pictures with! Hope the camera fairie visits soon!

Anonymous said...

You are a bold girl and you just plow on through whatever stands in your way, love your spunk! xox Corrine

Unknown said...

I have ruined ALL of my micron pens for the very same reason!!
you might be able to scratch into the india ink with a sharp thing like an awl or a needle ... I imagine a scratchy doodle outline over and over again - just a thought :)

so sorry about your ongoing woes - you seem to have made do just fine today though - if you will notice I haven't got a picture of my teacup either (wink)

cheers! and happy tuesday!

*jean* said...

i wonder if you could scratch into it too! like swirly hot spirals surrounding your cuppa!! i gave up on micron pens, i like the fine point sharpies best...they write over everything...happy tea tuesday!

voodoo vixen said...

In answer to the Christmas post... no :( very sad face... it appears to have got lost in the trip or is taking an exceedingly long scenic route... which in some way is a blessing as your present is in a box but not finished... Christmas sort of got away with me this year!! ;)

Lynn Cohen said...

It looked like fun to me!!!

Dianne said...

I do love that background! painting around it with gesso is a good idea... you could also just glue a square of black fabric or black paper over the whole teabag and try again with another image, perhaps in white instead of black. the black highlights your bright background and makes a wonderful contrast. or even sew something over it with your sewing machine...especially since you've done so well sewing journal pages. I know you'll think of something. it is so cool that you share all of your art challenges with us.

Shelinwa said...

Looks like fun to me for sure!!!!
Did you get my last email sent tonight?

Morti said...

Missing you from this week's WOYWW! Hope to see you again next week!