Torn Tag, Butterfly, Female

I'm using something a little bit different for today's Tag You're It DT challenge tag - gorgeous natural looking Spider Web.  I hadn't come across this type before and I've got to say...  I absolutely LOVE it.

My tag takes it's inspiration from the very lovely Jeanne Jachna (see below). 

An off the edge butterfly, lots of flowers, some script text and dots, patterned paper, fishtail flags, three gems, twine...  and a strip running across the middle.  Can you see the script and dots on my tag?   And the flags?

No?

Well, in fairness to your eyesight that was a bit of a trick question...

The dots are acknowledged on the butterfly die I chose to use (see the round holes?), the script (my background) is actually from an old Lili of the Valley script stamp...  and the fishtail flags have morphed into leaves.

Oh yes...  and I didn't forget about the embossing...  I just substituted for a bit of texture paste :)

Now you might be wondering why on earth I tore the edges off those corners like that.

In truth, it was a last minute decision...

You see, Jeanne is super talented when it comes to layering up lots of pretty bits of paper...  and I am not.  So to give the illusion of more layers than there really are I opted for a bit of paper tearing.  

It also lends itself a little better to CAS with some white showing - it's a linen texture backing tag, but I'm not sure that shows up in the photo.

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Die-namics 'Flutter of Butterflies - Lace'

Elizabeth Crafts 'Curvy Leaves'

Memory Box 'Fancy Blossoms'

Stamp:

Lili Of The Valley 'Vintage Backs' collection (discontinued)

Stencil:

Tin Holtz 'Bricked'

Other:

Spider Web

Twine

Gems

Embossing Paste

Challenges I'm Entering...

Simon Says/Wednesday Challenge

'Flowers'

The Sisterhood of Crafters

'No Design Paper'

Creative Card Crew

Challenge #112  'Anything Goes'

CASology

'Tear'

If you have the time, why not join us at Tag You're It?

We would love to see how you've been inspired to play along.

Wishing you a happy/restful/peaceful weekend...

Donna. x

Button Card, Peeping James, Male/Female

I reconnected with an old friend that I hadn't seen for a number of years recently...  She's one of those kind hearted souls that will do her best to help anybody.

This card is one of three I'll be posting over the next little while that are all baby themed...  and all for her.  She's helping me out by trying to keep me busy.

I'm still not quite ready to go into details as yet (if ever)...  but suffice it to say that this is the hardest, saddest year I have ever had to face - and it will not get better.  Not ever.  Yes, I know it will hurt less in time, but trust me on this one.  There is no coming back from it.

So...   I'm sorry that I'm behind on my commenting yet again.  I do save the emails I receive so I will catch up with you all just as soon as I'm able.

I rewrote my blog profile yesterday and coined a phrase that I'm not sure if I've made up myself or heard somewhere else before...  'Gluing my life back together one craft make at a time'.

Anyone heard that before?

Either way, it's spot on for me.

So...  Now that I've given at least some sort of explanation for being MIA, here's a peek at my card.  (He is called 'Peeking James', after all)...

This might not look much like a baby card to most of you.  Young child?  Yes.  But baby?  

They are really not my thing at all, so I've made them all 'Donna' style - and tried to make them all very different from each other.

You know...  I was messaging a lovely craft friend of mine just the other day and bemoaning how long it takes me to take a photo I'm happy with.  And I finally did it...  took a decent photo where my square card looked square enough...  and then realised AFTER spending an age editing it that the mini envelope on the card looked like it was falling apart. Which it wasn't...  It's just that the top flap is actually not glued down in reality and it made for a strange optical illusion. 

So I had to secure it with a spot of White Tac - just for the sake of the photo.  It's a shame because now it's lost some of it's dimension.  But at least in reality it's flap free!

I mess around a lot with different ideas (see photo below)... 

After more than a week of staring at the New Arrival sign that I added to the card I still couldn't decide which one I liked the best...  The before or after?

So I sent a HELP ME message to the same lovely lady I mentioned earlier and quite truthfully said I think I prefer the before - what about you?

She (thankfully) agreed with me.

But what about YOU?

Do you prefer the first or the second version of this card?

My husband and the woman I'm making them for both prefer the second...

Supplies Used:

Stamps:

Lili Of The Valley 'Peeping James'

Sentiments from Crafters Companion

Die:

Marianne Design/Collectables 'Tab With Text'

Punch:

Woodware 'Scored Rectangle Envelope Punch'

Inks:

Stazon 'Timber Brown'

Tim Holtz Distress 'Walnut Stain'

Other:

Twine

Buttons

Challenges I'm Entering...

Stamping Sensations

'Anything Goes'

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

All Snippets

Aud Sentiments

Challenge #155  'Anything Goes'

The Sisterhood of Crafters

'No Design Paper'

Creative Card Crew

Challenge #112  'Anything Goes'

Thanks for stopping by...

Donna. x

Large Tag, We Do Not Remember Days, Female

I have a very simple CAS tag to show you today.  After all, it IS a Friday...

Time for another challenge at Tag You're It!

When I initially made this tag I chose muted colours as I thought that it would end up as a Sympathy or Thinking of You card - if added to a card front obviously!
But now that it's finished I think it works as a Wedding or Happy Anniversary tag!!!

Is there something very wrong with me that my brain can think that?  I mean, some of the happiest AND some of the saddest moments in a person's life BOTH being suited to this design?

Which would you use it for?  Either?  Neither?  Both?

Anyhow...  I've based my design on this tag, which comes to you courtesy of my fellow DT mate, Carol Mayne...

I've kept faithfully to her design brief...  Stencilled background, graduated inking, sentiment stamp and flying insect - except that I've chosen to add all of my elements to a tag, swapped out the dragonfly for a butterfly, snuck in two tiny butterflies as additional 'embellishments' and added my graduated inking to a flower stem.

As Carol didn't use any sequins or gems, etc I didn't either... but if I was making this again I think I would be tempted to try adding some in place of the tiny butterflies...   some clear Morning Dew drops maybe?
 That's the joy of designing for me.  How even the smallest of changes can make such a big difference..  and you don't know until you try.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:

Penny Black 'We Do Not Remember...'

Die:

Tim Holtz/Thinlits 'Wildflowers'

Punches:

Tim Holtz 'Butterfly' (Large)

Martha Stewart 'Pop Up Butterfly'

Inks:

Memento (Tsukineko) Rich Cocoa

Memento (Tsukineko) Expresso Truffle
Ranger 'Perfect Medium' Embossing Ink

Other:

Stampendous 'Detail Black' Embossing Powder

White Vellum

Creative Expressions 'Birch Tree' Stencil

White Organza Ribbon





Challenges I'm Entering...

Simon Says/Monday Challenge
(April Showers Bring May Flowers)

Addicted to Stamps and More

(Challenge #189 'Clean and Simple'

Aud Sentiments Challenge

(Challenge #153 'Anything Goes'

Creative Card Crew
(Challenge #110 'Die Cut'

Unicorn Challenge
(Favourite Time of the Year) - Late Spring

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(All made from my 'snippets' stash)

Have a good weekend...

...  and thanks for stopping by...

Donna.