PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Friday 20 January 2012

Blushing Bloom Alphatag

I often use dark colours such as black or brown & consider a white gel pen essential equipment espcially as I have a tendency to also use dark colours for my personal message panels. A pet hate of mine is "blobby" writing or unpredictable flow & I find the Inkssentials White Opaque Pen has too broad a point for my writing. I thought I had found the perfect pen with the Pergamano brand but find it is too translucent for use on cardstock. Since I came across Kathy Racoosin & her technique of white accenting using a White Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen I have looked out for that, but it is not readily available in the UK. Finally, only last week, I found a White Pentel K118 Hybrid Gel Grip Pen at my local Craft Shop & it suits me perfectly.

Another "essential" item I recently found is the Memento Black Dual Marker (available here) which is ideal for filling in any imperfectly stamped line & can be used when colouring with either alcohol markers or a water based medium (it is reliably waterfast when heat set).

That was somewhat of a long-winded introduction to my absolute delight at being able to use both the black & white pens to accentuate the stamped grid pattern in the centre of my flower on the second of my Baroque Guild Alphatags. In addition I found that with some judicious positioning part of the large heat embossed swirl appeared as if it were the flowerhead's stem & leaves.

front of tag
close-up showing flowerhead's
stem & leaves plus small
black flower sequins 
close-up to show grid pattern, shine of heat
embossed flourish & sparkle of black
Moondust cardstock used for tag base 
back of tag
close-up showing tone on tone stamping &
paper piercing of theme panel


Recipe
Stamps Chocolate Baroque UA5SP0297 Fresh Blooms & UA4SP0358 Nature Swirls.
Inks Memento Tuxedo Black (flowerhead), Emboss Tinted Embossing Stamp Pad with Stampendous Detail Black Embossing Powder (heat embossed swirls), Black Soot (tone on tone swirls & inking some black cardstock edges) & Spun Sugar (inking pink cardstock edges) Distress Inks.
Colouring Copic Ciao & Sketch Markers, Copic Multi Liner, Staedtler Triplus Fineliner, Memento Tuxedo Black Dual Marker, White Pentel K118 Hybrid Gel Grip Pen.
Cardstock An assortment of white, pink & blacks in various finishes from stash.
Die Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Tag & Bookplates.
Punch Woodware (scalloped squares).
The ribbon & flower sequins are from stash.

Challenge Entered
Simon Says Stamp & Show Anything But a Card!

18 comments:

jackiescrafts said...

Wow Paula this is beautiful I really love it. I never think of using dark card stock but I think you may just have inspired my to give it a try

Jackie x

judith@poppy cottage said...

Gorgeous tag Paula, love the black stamping on the dark cardstock. The flower looks stunning. Judith xx

Annie said...

very striking and a fabulous bloom - love the contrast of black and pink and the shiny swirly background.
love and hugs,
annie x

Deborah Frings said...

This is fabulous - love the subtle stamping on the black card, and the flower is gorgeous!

Paula Whittaker said...

pretty tag

Aquarius said...

Gorgeous tag and whoever gets this one will be lucky. I love the placement of your swirls to look like foliage/stems and neat work with the pens too.

Elizabeth Allan said...

Paula the burst of color from the flower is fabulous set against the black embossed background. Stunning!

GinaA said...

Oh Paula, this is just perfect, it looks so professional. If I were you I would have to make two and keep a copy. Love the style, the colour and the superb quality of your work.

veronica said...

just beautiful Paula, love how you used the swirls. Know what you mean about white pens, I like the Pentel ones too

Lorraine said...

oh WOW WOW WOW I absolutely love this one huni its fab the colours the back of the tag all the detail is wonderful you are really good at these hun xx

Nancy Wethington said...

Great tag Pep. That background is beautiful and so is the flower. Thanks for joining the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show.

Miranda said...

Hi Paula, I've missed this one. It's beautiful those contrasting colours together! At the moment I am working a lot with these flowers. They are great for colouring, creative greetz Miranda

Cathy A said...

Gorgeous tag, the embossed background gives it such richness. I got my signo white gel pen from paper chase, but I also know that stampin up do them if you have a local person in your area. Hope this helps.

Unknown said...

Wow, this is really lovely! I love black, white and pink together. and am always partial to b & w patterns in accents. (love the middle of the flower!) the simple details really make this special!! So pretty!

Hugs!!

Wiccababe said...

now I really love this one, so striking - you know me, I like bold!
fantastic contrast between the bright flower and the self coloured embossing on the black background
Debz
xx

xxxtglxxx said...

I am loving your work on tags! :) This one is so striking and very very stylish! Wonderful way to make the image really pop out and fabulous colours.

That background embossing is like velvet! :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

Sandra said...

Hi Paula
Just to say I was the lucky one to get the "B is for Blushing Bloom" tag. Absolutely gorgeous - your attention to detail is fabulous. Can't wait til C and D. Sandra

Heather T said...

Just browsing through your blog and I found this stunning tag. I love the pink and black together and must pull them out soon.