Colorful Stenciled Happy Mail Tags!

I love getting and sending happy mail! I especially love to create cards and tags with bright colors lots of texture and little bits of vintage type! I recently received some super fun happy mail from a art BFF of mine and I thought that sharing my process for making stenciled happy mail tags would make a perfect last post for my time here with TCW Design Team.

So lets get creating!

Supplies for Happy Mail Tags

Supplies for Happy Mail Tags

Supplies:
TCW687 Positivity
TCW689 Dutch Spring
TCW Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
Blank Office Supply Tags
Tissue Paper with a Colorful Pattern
Spray Ink
Gelli Plate
Brayer
Scissors
Pitt Artist Pen Fine Tip
White Ink or White Gel pen
Old Book or Text
Paintbrush (flat and round)
Optional: Extra embellishment items or special ribbon

To start I remove the strings from my tags, I save them in a little jar for other uses. You can dye them or use them for texture in your work or braid them for a thicker string on a tag for another time.

Remove the strings of the tags

Remove the strings of the tags

Next select a color for the base layer of your tag and use your palette knife to spread the paint onto your tag in an organic way. This creates texture and variation on each tag. You can see in the simple below you only need about a dime size amount of paint for this technique.

Use a palette knife for variation

Use a palette knife for variation

Next use your spray ink to add additional dimension and texture to your background. I selected a blue color to keep my background in a similar cool (blue and green) family knowing I am going to add warmer colors (reds and oranges) over the top later.

Spray ink for added texture

Spray ink for added texture

Next add a layer of patterned ripped tissue paper this adds interesting transparent color and pattern. You can see in the photo below how the white and even the colors have a bit of show through to the textured painted background.

Tissue paper adds interesting transparent color and color

Tissue paper adds interesting transparent color and pattern.

You can then use the colors in the tissue paper to influence your color selection for your next layer. Below in the next 2 photos you can see I used a small round brush to hand paint lines, dots, marks and patterns that mimic the tissue paper. This creates continuity but also gives your tags a personal style and whimsy. I also watered down a bit of paint and used it as a wash over some of the areas where there was tag showing through.

Hand Painted Pattern and Marks

Hand Painted Pattern and Marks

All 3 Tags with Hand Painted marks and pattern

All 3 Tags with Hand Painted marks and pattern

Next up is some Gelli printing! I used a bright orange and stencil TCW689 Dutch Spring to print over all 3 of my tags. I thought orange would make a fun layer since it is the complementary color to my background blues. I also printed up a few extra pages and a few pieces of tissue paper to add to my stash for later use in projects or art journals.

Gelli Plate Fun!

Gelli Plate Fun!

Below are my tags with the printed orange stencil TCW689 Dutch Spring layer and a doodle layer using a Pitt artist pen and stencil TCW687 Positivity. I also used white Higgins ink to add contrast to the flower on one tag and details to the doodles on the other two.

Over Printing and a bit of Doodling

Over Printing and a bit of Doodling

Next lets add a little found poetry! I used an old book page and a pair of scissors to cut out and match up words and phrases to add to my tags. I love how the added little poems enhance these tags with another dimension of fun and interest.

Old books make wonderful found poetry

Old books make wonderful found poetry

Using my Pitt Artist Pen again I added one more doodle layer to draw added attention to the found word poems. This also adds a bit of whimsy and a personal touch to my stories.

One More Doodle Layer!

One More Doodle Layer!

The last things I added were a little shimmery vintage ribbon and some gold stars and the tags are all done! Check out the finished Happy Mail Tag photo and close ups shots below!

Finished Happy Mail Tags by Artist Tori Weyers

Finished Happy Mail Tags by Artist Tori Weyers

Right tag close up

Right tag close up

Center tag close up

Center tag close up

Left Tag Close Up

Left Tag Close Up

I love how these turned out! So much texture and so many layers give them a joyful and playful look! I would love to know how your Happy Mail Tags turn out so be sure to share your thoughts and pictures on The Crafter’s Workshop Facebook page or by tagging The Crafter’s Workshop on InstagramTwitter or Pinterest! Also tag me @Drawriot if you share your creations on Instagram!

As I mentioned at the beginning, this is my last blog post for The Crafters workshop. Being part of TCW Design Team has been a super fun experience! I have pushed myself in so many ways and learned so much about my process. I also learned a ton form the other talented artists and wonderful and supportive TCW community! Thank you all so much for your comments and for coming along with me over the past years journey of creative fun! If you want to keep seeing my tutorials and all the things I am up to you can find me on Instagram @Drawriot or over on my blog at www.DrawRiot.com I am sure our creative paths will cross again.

Until next time! Enjoy your Creative Journey!!
XOXO – Tori Weyers (aka @Drawriot)
The Crafter’s Workshop Design Team Member

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. This post also contains affiliate links. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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