Squirrely Challenge

It has been a while since I participated in my friend, Nancy's, "Squirrely Challenge". This was a simple charge - use Washi tape. If you have read my blog for some time, you know this was right up my alley! It seems as if Washi tape is everywhere - but is it actually Washi Tape?
Washi is a type of paper from Japan, often used in Origami. The tape is made similarly - often from pulpy paper sources. It has a distinctive weight and finish (both the paper and the tape). There are a lot of decorative tapes out now - some are true Washi, while others are tissue or craft tape. The Tim Holtz/Ranger products are tissue tapes. They are made differently, have a different texture and adhesive. The behave differently, particularly with wet media.
All that being said, I used a variety of tapes on this card for the challenge:

The trees and striped tapes are "craft/tissue" tapes and the blue text is actual Washi tape. The "Keep Calm and Merry On" is from a clear set of Darcy's Christmas stamps. Had a bit of a problem as the stamp is not very deeply etched. It will definitely require "surgery"! The embossing folder used on the card is by Stampin' Up. I made my own red and white twine with string and a Sharpie!

Metal background

As a little tag project for Camp Scrap, I decided to try Ranger's Sticky-back Foil. I cut the square of foil into pieces, some large and some not so large. I pulled off the backing and stuck the foil, piece by piece, all over the tag. I over lapped some parts, and used the entire square.  An embossing stylus was used to draw stitch marks, doodles and circles into the foil. Then, out came the alcohol inks! Below is the tag to this point:

From there, I stamped a variety of images (Artistic Outpost) and cut them out. The bicycle is from   Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante. I added a few gears, a token and some trim. Tag complete!

New Line from Ranger

Ranger has picked up the Dyllusions line from the UK. I remember seeing advertisements for Dyan's stamps, sprays and paints in the UK stamp magazine "Stamp It". No paints at this point, but there are a set of very brightly colored sprays, rubber stamps (by Stamper's Anonymous) and stencils (made by Crafter's Workshop).

Took a photo of the sample display - I think the artwork looks a lot like Teesha Moore's work:

I must say, I like the bright non-sparkly colors of the sprays. I was able to try them out at the Crafter's Workshop booth and they spray wonderfully. Fairly fine mist, no huge blobs and no clogs (like another brand). I have been using Crafter's Workshop stencils for years - and love the new designs (as well as some of the stamps).