Shikishi Art Collage

Instructions:

1. Color the Shikishi art board with thinned acrylics paint using a dry brush technique with a soft sheep hair brush.. Swirl around the color in a circular manner with the brush loaded with color. Keep going over the surface of the board until the pattern is even. Do not saturate the board with color. Set aside and let dry.
2. Tear a strips of paper and attach to the gold card stock using a light coat of Nori paste. Trim rayon paper along edges of the card stock. Set under something heavy to dry.
3. Decorate the tags with rubber stamps and color them with fabric markers, gel pens and interference green acrylic paint. Add a strand of Mizuhiki cord to each tag and tie a simple knot to finish. Trim ends about 2" from knot edge.
4. Attach a piece of origami paper on the painted shikishi art board. In this case we are using a piece that has been pre-glued with a Xyron, but you can use a glue stick or any stick flat glue.
5. Color the background of the stamped tag with FabricMate markers, starting with pastel aqua, sky blue and then mist grey. Color the white part of the Koi with Gel Xtreme gold and Bronze. Accent the background with interference green acrylic.
6. Fold a strand of red/purple Mizuhiki in half and put through the hole of one tag. Put the ends through and create a little knot. Trim ends about 3" long. Repeat on the other tag.
7. Cut small pieces of double-sided tape and attach to the Mizuhiki turtles feet. Cut strips of double-sided tape and lay them on the back of the tags. Cut small pieces of tape and apply to the back of the metal word.
8. Attach the gold card stock (with rayon paper) on top of the origami paper background.
9. Arrange the turtle and two tags onto the board, peel off the red liner from the tape and secure to the board.
10. Attach the metal word at the bottom of the collage.
11. Attach the round acrylic circle to the smaller tag.
12. Punch two 1/8" holes about 2" apart at the top of the shikishi board. Insert brass or aluminum eyelets and set with pliers.
Tie a piece of cording with a square knot at the front for hanging the board. (Optional)