When Tina Walker, designer, artist and StencilGirl® Collaboration Columnist, put out her call for participants in a new StencilGirl® Products collaboration I jumped at the opportunity. This was a different take than I had seen her do and really liked the idea. We were each to create two #5 tags for each participant, and of course use StencilGirl® stencils. However, we were only to create a background and then we were to swap the tags out with each of the participants. Once we receive our swapped tags, two from each person, we needed to create a tag book/journal in any method we choose. Below is a YouTube video showing the process.

FIRST STEPS

I choose to use my recently discovered Alcohol/Watercolor technique. Above is the YouTube video showing the process. Using liquid watercolor’s by Ken Oliver, I created my background then added a contrasting element that I created on deli paper using the alcohol ink and stencil method. I then adhered torn pieces of the deli paper over the watercolor effects background. Once my backgrounds were done, I sent two tags off to each of the participants, along with a few extra goodies. I used two StencilGirl® stencils on my background. The stencils I used were: L761 Tokyo by Natalie Kalbach on the tag and S640 Journal Texture #10 by Pam Carriker on the deli paper.

I then had to patiently wait for everyone’s tags to arrive. Receiving them was super fun, as there were such different ideas used and so many different StencilGirl®stencils. I knew immediately that whatever I choose to do with them would be a challenge but unifying them into one cohesive piece would be an even bigger challenge. I must admit I sat on them a while and would just flip through them, trying to be inspired on what direction to go in. One evening right before bed (this is my usual ah time) it came to me what to do. I was inspired to do something regarding travel, but not your usual travel. Because each tag was so different it had to be based on an unusual style of travel. This tag journal would be based off of the Tollbooth Travels of Milo from Norton Juster’s book The Phantom Tollbooth. This book was a beloved read for me when I was young. It marked a change in my attitude about life. It is a must read for anyone of any age.

THE TRAVELS

I began by adding a hinge to all my tag sets. This is the beginning of the the books binding and my first step. To travel we essentially need roads and guides so that is where I began. I choose StencilGirl® M258 Neighborhood Map designed by Mary C. Nasser and using black and/or white acrylic paint, finger painted through the stencil onto the fronts of the tags sets. This accomplished two things, it gave us roads to travel and it also starts to bring each of the vastly different tags, into a common whole. While they dried, I pulled out my trusty old Smith-Corona typewriter and typed all the book quotes I wanted to use, onto piece of extras that each participant had sent me.

My next step was to add visual elements to the layouts. I choose from the extra piece’s that each participant sent, as well as added bits of map pieces to each layout. Next, I then went through and sewed black marks onto the layouts. Many of the marks I used were from the legend on maps. I made each layout different than the prior layout. After sewing on the marks, I then applied a bit of white gesso using my fingers, pushing some areas back or softening edges. From here I was ready to add my final visual touches. Stitching, ink pens, a Fineliner filled with acrylic paint, a gold gel pen were all used to add highlights, shadows and a bit of pizzaz.

CREATING THE STORY

Now I needed to bring it all together. I choose to create a front and back cover using two UmWow Studio chipboard tags and a map sheet from my Collage Mixed Variety Pack. I covered the chipboard tags with the map sheets and then cut the remaining into strips and braided them into a long wrap to close the book. Next I adhered the hinged layouts to each other and the covers.

I created a flip through on my YouTube channel so you can see all the layouts. You can click on the image below to hop over to YouTube to watch it. Don’t forget I will have all the supplies I used as well as links to all the participants final works, listed below the video in the YouTube description box.

You can read the full StencilGirl® Blog post, HERE. This journal ended up going over to the Southern Arizona Artist Guild gallery here in Tucson and was sold to a lovely lady who had never read Phantom of the Tollbooth but has since gone on to read it.