Gone Fishing

The Craft Barn had a Fishing theme last week so when the challenge came round (Masculine Pastimes) I stuck with the fishing theme, coz by then I'd had the vision.
It sounds more dramatic than it is, but, as is the case so often, a series of serendipitous things came together and I couldn't wait to bring my vision to life.

First a fellow blogger explored a technique on this post and I followed a link to a video by Andy Skinner. Then I saw him play with Stampendous Mixed Media stamps and creating faux rust then... well I can't remember but all these inspirations gelled into this:

The base of the tag is Kraft coloured and I applied several layers of paints and several layers of stamping. Only the top layer is really recognisable (Grunge by Stampendous) but I also used one of Prima latest texture stamp.
The wooden sign has been stamped with a Prima cling stamp (Trust the Magic by Finnabair).
The fisherman and his catch are a partial impression of a Paper Artsy stamp on tissue paper.

I hope you get the rust, distressed wood and general grunge of the piece. I'm quite happy with it except for the shine on the stamped image. I did use Matt Mod Podge but obviously it isn't that matt.

Should have I used matt gel medium instead?

        Also entering A Sprinkle of Imagination, Artful Times and That's Crafty challenges