Perfection is Overrated

Hello all!  I'm here with the last of my samples created with the new PaperArtsy Minis designed by Seth Apter and launched earlier this month.  This pair of tags may be my favourite of the lot, I think.  

I had one more Mini left to ink up by this point, so that one is in action here.  And this time I've layered a couple of the minis together to create my grungy backgrounds.






The first layers were created with several Fresco paint colours brayered onto the tags (as done with the ATCs), and then some Distress Inks and Oxides smooshed on the top (as used on the first tag trio) - so this pair brings the whole collection together by using both techniques.













The last Mini which needed to see some action was Eclectica³ Mini 48 EM48.  I love these grungy circles (they remind me of the rusty bubbles on my Bubble, Bubble, Boil and Bubble tag last year).

I'm a bit confused about how they turned out, mind you.












I stamped them in Acorn Archival ink - which is earthy brown at first stamping.  But when I then applied clear embossing powder to the stamping, they turned this rather nice green colour (like unripe acorns, I suppose!).











I don't know whether it's just my inkpad, or whether it's the case with all Acorn pads (let me know if you've got one and have tried clear-embossing it!).

I'm not objecting... I rather like the effect.  In fact, I decided to have both acorn colours together, so I used the same Acorn ink to stamp EM 44 around the tags.












This time I left it un-embossed, so the angular lines in acorn-brown contrast with the squiggly circles in acorn-green.












I thought these two chaps from the Idea-ology Paper Dolls suited the look of the backgrounds.
















They each have a casual strength in their confident stance which works well with the energy of the background layers.
















Strips of torn book page help them to stand out from the busy layers behind them, and some dark tissue tape provides the "ground" for them to stand on...
















... and a couple of metal cogs add extra interest.
















The words are again chosen from Finnabair's Art Daily Words You Need pad of words and phrases.













I think the bold font and the capitalisation suits the self-assured mood of the men and the excitement of the grungy layered backgrounds.

I used some simple twine to top the tags off, before mounting them on inked white card as a frame.









I thought I'd finish off by sharing a quick shot of the whole "collection".  They were all done in one morning, following an urgent request from Leandra for samples to go on the show display boards.

Look at what you can get done when you don't have time to think!   The truth is I really got into the "zone" or my "flow" or however you want to put it.  I had an absolute ball playing with these stamps and getting my grunge on.  I hope you've enjoyed them as much as I did.  

Hope you all have a great weekend - perhaps a little cooler, with luck!

Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.
Salvador Dali

It is reasonable to have perfection in our eye that we may always advance toward it, though we know it can never be reached.
Samuel Johnson

I'd like to share this pair of tags at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where they'd like to see anything which is Not a Card
At Tag Tuesday the challenge theme chosen by Wendy is Circles
And how about some more Splatters and Splodges for the challenge at Try It On Tuesday