Seashells remind us ...

Another group challenge this week was to use a seashell as our inspiration.  I initially went to my favourite place for images, The Graphics Fairy, and found some lovely vintage images!  But, after attempting to colour them first with watercolours, next with coloured pencils and finally with alcohol markers - I realized I wasn't happy with the look I wanted.  Those coloured bits of shells were neatly stored for some future project.  :-)

So there I was, looking at my small box of mixed media odds and ends bits and spotted a little grouping of items I'd gotten on a recent adventure with my motorized wheelchair (I rode it all the way up to Tuesday Morning and Joann's and back home again! lol) -->  Batik Sun Stones Disks, Cowrie Shells, and small wooden disk beads.  AHAH!!!

A tag was begun.  This is a large tag, approximately the size of a saltine cracker box side (which is, in fact, what its made upon).  :-)

seashells remind us ...

The background was a free image of Batik Textiles resourced through my membership with RGB Stock Photos.   I loved the movement and patterns of texture amongst those beautiful colours! 

The Cowrie Shells and wood beads at the bottom were layered atop a small bedding of cheesecloth that was stained with a Victorian Rose colour.  I used a little bag of dried potporri bits to add texture.

The little shells postage stamp was cut from a 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper.  I placed it atop a little rectangular tag coloured in a golden mustard brown, trimed with a zigzag scissors and added little bits of glitter.  It says:  Live Learn Discover.

Another Cowrie Shell grounds the unknown author's quote, in a spray layout, which says:

seashells remind us
that every passing life
leaves something
beautiful behind

LOVE that!

Its finished at the top with more stained cheesecloth and a paper butterfly, embellished with a little more glitter.