Stained Tags Booklet Step 1
This is the first step of the ART TAG BOOKLET we are putting together at The Artists Circles. We were to take tags and use coffee or tea staining on them. This is my first time doing it. I think several turned out well. But I find the process to take too long for me. I am a very impatient artist...lol.
I used three mixtures of coffee:
- A. Regular coffee brewed strong.
- B. Instant coffee mixed where it was thick.
- C. Plain instant coffee crystals.
IMAGE 1: I first dipped the bottom quarter in the thick instant coffee mixture. I let it absorb up as high as it would go then let it dry. Then I dipped it into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Then as that was drying I took a tea cup, wetting the bottom I set the cup on top of the dry instant coffee crystals and then sat the cup on the still wet tag. I let it set overnight before removing the cup.
IMAGE 2: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. I let it dry then took a paint brush and splattered the thick instant coffee mixture on to it. Then as that was drying I took 2 tea cups, wetting the bottoms I set the cups on top of the dry instant coffee crystals and then sat the cups on the still wet tag. I let it set overnight before removing the cup.
IMAGE 3: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Then as that was drying i would layer brushes of regular coffee and the instant letting some puddle to dry.
IMAGES 4, 5, 6 & 7: I dipped the tags into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Let that dry then I brushed over it with the instant coffee mixture. For the larger circles I dipped little metal condiment dishes rims in the instant coffee mixture then sat them on the tags at random spacing. For the small circle in image 4 I used the lid off a medicine bottle. It caused a neat inner circle due to the extra rim inside from the child safety lock. I let these set over night before removing the items off them.
IMAGE 8: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Then brushed it over with a layer of instant coffee. The shape on it is from a clothes pin that fell over on it during the night off of tag 9. It sat all night on it as it dried. A happy mistake :)
IMAGE 9: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Then brushed it over with a layer of instant coffee. Then while still wet I took clothes pins and dipped the ends in the thick coffee mixture and stood them up. I left them standing all night and got this really cool design effect.
IMAGE 10: Using the thick instant coffee mixture and a straw I stamped circles all over this tag and let it dry. You can tell where I reloaded the straw by the blurred circles. The heavier the mixture on the straw end the more blurred they were and the finer the circle lines the less mixture on the straw.
IMAGE 11: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Taking wide paint brush I twisted the brush to form the circles. The smaller circles were made using a straw.
IMAGE 12: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it, let it dry. Then I took a beaded necklace and dipped it into the heavy instant coffee mixture and laid it across the tag. as that dyed I would occasional brush coffee randomly from both coffee mixtures on the side until I was happy with what I saw.
IMAGE 13: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it and then took the strings from all the tags and dipped them in the thick coffee mixture and laid them on the tag randomly. Once that was dry I brushed over the top of it randomly alternating between my coffee mixtures and as a final touch i sprinkled some dry instant coffee crystals on it then carefully dropped a drop of water on the crystal so they would bled outward.
IMAGE 14: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Then I took several keys I had lying around and wet one side of them then dipped them into the dry instant coffee placing them randomly on the tag. The crystals would melt forming those images. Be careful here if you have too thick of a layer of crystals it will goop up and look nasty. If this happens let the tag dry then take a damp sponge and gently rub the goop down to a acceptable look.
IMAGE 15: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Then brushed it over with a layer of thick instant coffee. Then while still wet I took old medicine bottles and dipped the ends in the thick coffee mixture and stood them up. I left them standing all night and got this really cool design effect.
IMAGE 16, 17, 18 & 19: These tags I crumpled up in a little ball and tie it together with the strings attached. Then I dropped it into the regular coffee mix for a quick dip then dropped it into the thick instant mix for twice as long. When the tag started looking really soggy. I pulled it out and cut the string off and gently straightened it out. It dried quite stiff and has an amazing texture to it.
IMAGE 20: I dipped a string in regular coffee and laid it on the tag. Then I commenced to spill my tea cup of coffee on my work surface and over my tag. I picked it up and laid it aside figuring to come back to it.
IMAGE 21: I Taking wide paint brush I twisted the brush to form the circles. Once the circles were dry I brushed a light coat of regular coffee over it.
IMAGE 22: I crumpled the tag up and placed it into the regular coffee mixture. Counted to 20 and pulled it out. Gently straightened it out and let it dry.
IMAGE 23, 24 & 25: I dipped about 10 strings off the tags into regular coffee and laid it on the tag. Once that was dry I applied a wash of instant coffee to 23 and a wash of regular coffee to 24 & 25.
IMAGE 26: I folded the tag accordion style and submerged it into the regular coffee mixture. Counted to 20 and pulled it out. Gently straightened it out and let it dry.
IMAGE 27: This effect was achieved in several steps. First fold the tag accordion style then dip one side down in the instant coffee mixture. Let is absorb the mixture for about 5 minutes. Then turn it upside down still wet and dip the opposite side into the mixture. Let it sit five minutes absorbing the stain. The stain from the first dipping will run down the inside of the according fold creating a ladder effect. Gently straighten out the tag and let dry. Once dry brush a layer of regular coffee mixture over the tag.
IMAGE 28: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it and then took the strings from all the tags and dipped them in the thick coffee mixture and laid them on the tag randomly. Once that was dry I brushed over the top of it randomly alternating between my coffee mixtures and as a final touch i sprinkled some dry instant coffee crystals on it then carefully dropped a drop of water on the crystal so they would bled outward.
IMAGE 29: First I crumpled the tag then brushed the regular coffee mixture over the card. I let it dry. Then I did another brushing and sprinkled some coarse salt over the tag and let it sit all night to dry. Then next morning I brushed the salt off.
IMAGE 30: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Once that was dry, I brushed over the top of it randomly alternating between my coffee mixtures. While the card was still wet I sprinkled paprika on the card and let it dry over night. The next morning I brushed the loose paprika off the tags.
IMAGE 31: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it and then spilled some of the thick instant coffee on it.
IMAGE 32: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it and then while it was still wet I sprinkled regular table salt over the card. Letting it dry over night. The salt caused a really cool rough surface effect. Though I wonder if it is still going to degrade over time. I will just have to see what happens with this tag.
IMAGE 33: I dipped the tag into the regular coffee mixture completely submerging it. Once that was dry, I brushed over the top of it randomly alternating between my coffee mixtures. While the card was still wet I sprinkled dry instant coffee crystals and coffee grounds on the card and let it dry over night. The next morning I brushed the loose crystals and grounds off the tags.