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Monday, November 2, 2026

Rescued

I saw a version of this idea using layers of ferns as a trees on line and wanted to give it a try. I think the concept is a winner...and I hope to make a batch of Christmas cards. I will never grow tired of making sun prints.

Back when I was putting together torn paper collage supplies for Lily....I made several tags as floral collage samples. I punched the backgrounds out of different heavy weight papers including one from a not-so-great cyanotype.

I wish I had a photo of the original tag....but the print was washed out...and as I glued on the torn papers the surface of the inexpensive watercolor paper started to peel. So it got set aside....but not thrown away.

I just came across it again and wondered if I could somehow rescue it. Turns out I could!

I painted over the parts of the washed out print with an inky blue watercolor to intensify the color and help conceal the peeled parts. I added some gold and outlined the flowers and leaves with a black pen. I actually love it now.

The back is a cyanotype print from a stencil...that I also outlined.   

 

From the start of this rescue....I had in my mind that it was make a fun next tag for my Tag Project 2.0. Nope! 

But I had used my tag punch...which is a different size and shape than the tags for my project. I'm not sure the flow would have been right anyway. So now I have a rescued little tag for just the right gift or journal.

I like the concept of outlined collage flowers on a cyanotype background. And painting in washed out backgrounds will be a good way to rescue some reject cyanotype prints! 

I'm calling this rescue a win win!

10 comments:

  1. [commenter's not: I DID comment on last night's post, but I DON'T know where my comments went—I only know where they did NOT go!!! ! I'm forgiving myself and starting with a clean slate tonight!]

    Love your star-topped cyanotype fern Christmas tree set against a star-studded sky, MaryAnn! I look forward to seeing the many variations on this theme that are likely to evolve in the coming weeks.

    Great rescue with your ragtag set-aside tag. A definite win-win in and of itself, a bunch of new strategies now in your creative tool kit, and you've now got a tag at the ready for an as yet unknown gift or journal.

    You got this week off to a terrific start!

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    1. Sorry your previous comment got lost in the cosmos. I rechecked....and it never made it to my in box. Thanks for cheering me on with fern cyanotype and my tag rescue. Win win for me indeed! So many ideas....gotta make the time to play with them all!

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  2. Creativity abounds!
    Kathy

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    1. Ha ha...some days that's true....and other days I just watch the birds! I need both!

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  3. I love your save…and that you saved it in the first place :-) Can I say how much peace I get from visiting your blog and seeing all the beauty you share? Its a highlight of my mornings.

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    1. Thank for your kind words Cherie! Getting acquainted with you has been one of the many highlights of my blogging!

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  4. Love, love, love them!
    Lily

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  5. Seeing that whimsical fern/tree was just what I needed on a stressful day! It is really delightful!! And your rescued artwork tag is charming! Love seeing what you make, MaryAnn!

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    1. So glad you like them! It's been a long day...and it's going to be a long night.

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