Monday, April 14, 2014

T stands for Teabag Beauties

Before I jump to my recycle post for T today, I wanted to update you on the tea bags from last week. 

They are now completely dry.   I can't wait to remove the tea from these so I can make art using the bags.

As for the watercolor paper I dried them on, I am still pondering whether to keep the six colors intact, or cut them into smaller pieces.

Also, I want to apologize for not visiting you, my loyal blogging friends and followers these past few days.  Hopefully after Sally returns from Costa Rica tomorrow, I'll have a bit more time to devote to computer time.

As for this week's T(ea) Stands For Tuesday post, I recycled some very different tea bags.  After all, it's still all about recycling.  It began a few weeks back when I started this in my collage altered book,

then added tea bags that did NOT like to come apart.  It was about that time I came up with the concept for this spread I call "Teabag Beauties."  Remember, these tea bags are what some people would consider trash.

I had hoped this would put the entire spread in context, but the lighting was not especially good.

As I've explained in the past, this book is larger than my scanner, so you don't get the full effect this way.

I should explain that I first laid down two shades of green paint, then thought the pages were too dark, so I added a bit of white paint to tone the colors down.  Next I added the cheap tea bags that don't open well.  In a way, I actually preferred the distressed look. 

I added two flowers and two buttons I hoped would compliment the floral colors the girls wore, but the buttons turned out a bit unbelievably garish against the green background and vintage look of these little beauties.  I noticed it more so in the scans than when I took the photos, so I'll more than likely try to either remove the buttons or live with the spread as is, since it doesn't look garish in real life.

Today was Day 15 leading up to Earth Day and I recycled five tea bags, sent the spent tea to the compost pile, used some gifted images, added two gifted flower petals, and included two buttons I removed from an old dress.

Now it's your turn to show how you celebrated T(ea) this Tuesday.  Remember, you don't have to take the photos on Tuesday, you don't have to drink tea, you don't have to drink anything, as long as you can relate the post back to something tea related, as I did with this spread.  Be sure to use a direct link below so Bleubeard, all our Tuesday T(ea) friends, and I can visit you, too.  And remember please, not everyone visits on Tuesday, so please make sure you add the link associated with Tuesday T(ea), and not to your blog in general.


 

20 thoughtful remarks:

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I like the distressed look of the teabags. It supports the vintage looks of the girls!

You are such a good friend to look after everything for Sally!

Carol said...

I agree, the distressed bags go great with the vintage pictures. I also don't think the button looks garish at all . Great looking pages to your journal. ♥

Rebeca Trevino said...

love those tea-bag-beauties . . . they are very kool.

the other day at an art opening - all the art was mad from recycled materials . . . i saw the most magnificent teabag art piece. (wish i had a picture to show you, but it was a little girl's dress made out of tea bags. the bags were, sewn together, with the tea still in . . it was wonderful. all the tea bags were round and the same color. i loved the way they had the piece hung, it cast a wonderful shadow on the wall.
anyway, something to think about.
i love the color that your tea bags left on the water color paper too.

i may try to completely color a whole sheet with the tea bags . . . i may need to invite all of my friends over for a big tea party (said Alice to the Queen . . .)

Dandelion and Daisy said...

Great page! I really like the "shabby" tea bags, they give so much character to the page.

Krisha said...

WOW! I really, really like your tea bag journal pages!! The distressed tea bags are so perfect for the vintage pictures. Leave the button!

~*~Patty S said...

Your tea bag art looks fabulous Elizabeth...the ragged edges are perfect!
We are off to CA for a reunion with our sons and family...
hope to visit everyone at some point
Tootle=Loo
oxo

dawn said...

Hello and Happy T Day! This is so pretty, love this vintage look. The buttons look good to me. Love how you used the teabags and such pretty pictures. You are doing great, keep up the good work!

Have a good day and hope it's not to busy for you.

Darla said...

The images and the torn tea bags go together so well. Nice spread.

darla

Linda Kunsman said...

the tea bags are perfectly imperfect. I love these pages and the addition of the sweet images look so good with the tea bags! I also like the pop of color with the buttons:) Happy T day!

Divers and Sundry said...

the tea bags provide the perfect background to set off these photos. I'd have never thought of that. you are so creative! :)

Dianne said...

These little beauties are so sweet! I agree, the distressed tea bags are quite lovely, but certainly must have been frustrating to disassemble! and love the red color that the one tea bag left! off to read your assemblage post...:) happy T day my dear!

Dianne said...

By the way, when I clicked on the #5 link, for Linda K, I was routed by to your blog post Elizabeth! how to fix...?

Robin said...

I know about using tea bags for distressed color however I never thought of using the old bag itself for projects. I love the distressed look behind the pictures and how you pulled it all together! Great job! Hugs, Rasz

Rita said...

They really are tea bag beauties! And I love the effect of the tea bags drying on the watercolor paper. Especially that red tea--wow! You'll have to show us what you decide to do with them and whether you keep them together or cut them apart. I'm not sure what I would do, either. Happy T-Day!! :)

Denise Price said...

Great to see how you're using tea bags in art.

The buttons are my favorite part! I vote that you keep them where they are.

Anonymous said...

Just love those buttons! I had no idea that tea bags made such wonderful vintage backgrounds!!!! Thank you for that brilliant idea :) Wonderful journal pages
Lynn x

Halle said...

I love this page!! I've only successfully taken apart a few tea bags...very frustrating process...but worth it in the end.

pearshapedcrafting said...

How beautiful! Teabags we're clearly meant to be frames - background id perfect! Chrisx

Hettie said...

I LOVE what you have done with the t-bags in your journal! The green looks great with the white wash over and the distressed t-bags suit the girls. I even like the buttons too!
Hugs
xx

Jo Murray said...

Teabags are great to work with. I have a friend who makes amazing art with them:

http://www.kimschoenberger.com/