Monday 22 August 2016

Flower Tag, Vellum, Thinking Of You

Are you playing along with the current Tag You're It challenge?

If you are you will know that our Featured Artist is a lady by the name of Michelle Short.
Michelle created a tag full of colour, with one single flower that had a lot of petals!

Here's my version of Michelle's tag - made into a card so I can play along at CAS Mix Up, too.









Cards with shiny surfaces are notoriously difficult to photograph, so here's a close up shot that shows the colours in a truer light...
(If you look closely, I think you can even see some sparkle).






When I looked at Michelle's tag, I was struck by the intensity of her bright, bold colour choices.  

Let me show you so you can see for yourself...






To make this design 'me' however, I had to look past those beautifully vivid colours and see what else I could see.
A bold black outlined flower stamp with a coloured centre that draws the eye in, lots of petals, some text...  and a very pretty splodgy/dotty background.  
I can work with those, I told myself...  and set off to create my tag.  

I decided that I wanted to make something that was the 'polar opposite' to Michelle's tag, yet it still holds true to many of her design features.
I knew immediately that I only had one stamp that was similar to Michelle's.  The outline isn't as bold, but good enough for what I wanted to achieve.
Stamping the flower image onto vellum a few times - twice for the bigger flower, once for the first, (plus one bigger flower centre),  gave me my 'multitude of petals' look.  
But can you see that those petals don't really look like vellum?

Here's how I did that...

Use Black Stazon Ink and stamp image directly on to the tag.
Then...
Use Black Stazon Ink to stamp images directly onto vellum.  (Reminder: Two large flowers, one small flower, plus one large flower centre).
Flip vellum over so the stamped images are on the back, tape down (otherwise the vellum will curl like crazy) and apply a few thin layers of White Gesso
Leave to dry.
Then...
Cut out one big flower.
Do the same again, only this time leave out a few petals at random intervals whilst cutting.
Cut out the large flower centre and the smaller flower.
Using a Red Marker Pen, carefully colour all of the centres of the flowers.
Leave to dry.

BEFORE assembling the flowers...  
Colour the flower stem with Green Marker Pens, add splatters of Twinkling H20's to the tag (not a colour lift like Michelle's design, but it still gives a splodgy look - even if mine's much more sparse)...  and add an embossed sentiment.  (I stamped mine in Black Stazon Ink again, but before inking up in Black I inked up in Perfect Medium embossing Ink first.  Just stamp the text as normal, then add a clear embossing powder, shake off the excess and heat set. 

Now to assemble the flowers...
Put a small dot of glue behind the centre of the small flower, align with the stamped image on the tag and glue into place.
Do the same with the large flower, then layer on the flower with partial petals, followed by the flower centre.
Leave to dry, then shape petals on the large flower using the side of a thin paintbrush to curl around.
Mask off both flowers from the rest of the tag by placing scrap paper under the petals.  Make sure that the tag is completely covered by scrap paper and that only the flowers are showing.
Then...
Spray with Glitter Varnish and leave to dry.
(Not only does the Glitter Varnish leave a beautiful finish to the petals, it also acts as a sealant for the water soluble Marker Pen that were used for the flower centres).

Once the main body of the tag was done, I added a ring link.  This was made by gluing three layers of the die cut together (see Supplies Used for the die used), and then adding a layer of Crackle Accents to both sides and allowing to dry.  
Once dry, the link was thread through a Chain die that was treated to a layer of Silver Gilding Wax.  (I had to cut the link to do this, then glued it back together with a spot of Collall Tacky Glue).

All that was left to do was to make a quick background.
I used an Embossing Folder on a piece of Kraft Core Metallic card, sanded it to see some of the core beneath...
...  and then glued everything into place - using 3D Gel to add dimension underneath the tag.
Then I mounted the whole thing onto silver card stock for colour continuity.

It's not as complicated as it all sounds - I promise!
I'm just a very 'wordy' person!



 Why don't you come and join in with us at Tag You're It!?
The current challenge started on Friday so there's plenty of time to play along.
We'd love to see you there. x







Supplies Used:

Stamp:
Uniko 'Pure Florals' - Cosmos

Dies:
Mama Elephant 'Tags A Lot'
Poppystamps 'Delicate Chain'
Poppystamps 'Righteous Rings'

Ink:
Stazon 'Jet Black'
Ranger 'Perfect Medium Embossing Ink'

Marker Pens:
Stampin' Up 'Raspberry Ripple'
Stampin' Up 'Gumball Green'
Tsukineko/Memento 'Bamboo Leaves'

Embossing Folder:
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Texture Fades 'Distressed Frame' 

Other:
Twinkling H20's  - Pearl Blue
Pebeo Gilding Wax - Silver
Tim Holtz Kraft Core - Metallic
Stampendous - Clear Embossing Powder
Collall - 3D Gel Glue
Crafters Companion 'Spray and Sparkle' - Pearl Diamond





Challenges I'm Entering...

CAS Mix Up Challenge
(I chose Stamping, Spray Varnish, Markers and Twinkling H20's 'Splatting')


Simon Says/Wednesday
Make For The Border


Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge
(The whole tag's made from snippets)!





I hope you had a good weekend and are ready for whatever today brings your way...

'Crafty Hugs' to you...

Donna. x



*



I went out early this morning and came home to be greeted by some lovely Happy Mail...  
My first Pocket Letter from my very lovely craft friend, Hazel Kingvig-Paul.
Thank you so much, Hazel.
You sure did brighten my day.

I couldn't quite fit it all into the one photo, though...




Isn't it amazing?
So much thought and attention to detail...
...  And what a lovely way to use up some of those odds and ends that I know we all have.

Sending you a very big thank you 'hug', Hazel. 
Mwah. x

27 comments:

  1. Beautiful card, beautiful picture!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Super looking tag card in YOU colours!
    Happy Monday.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sarn. x
      Happy Monday to you, too :)

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  3. This is just fabulous. I love how you have embossed the metallic background. A great idea. Looks super with the tag and what a lovely one it is too. I love the vellum flower. Hugs Mrs A.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you :)
      You know what it's like when you decide you need a particular style stamp and then spend ages searching for one? That's how I ended up with this stamp!
      Thanks for your kind words. They mean more than you know. x

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  4. Wow Donna - after all that work you really came up with a beauty here! Every tiny detail is just so lovely, nice work my friend!

    Hugs

    Di xx

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Di.
      I have to try and do Loll, Bonnie and the rest of the DT proud, you know... Well, at least try to! They are my unofficial teaching group, you know!
      Sshhh... Don't tell them!
      Have a lovely day. x

      Delete
  5. This is a real stunner Donna! You put such thought into every little detail and it always pays off so beautifully! I LOVE that silver background and that little tag is adorable! Have a good day my friend! Hazel xx
    My Card Attic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Hazel.
      I'm very thankful for your super kind words of encouragement.
      Needless to say, hubby doesn't like it. I just ignore him now!!!
      Enjoy the rest of your day. X

      Delete
  6. This is so beautiful Donna. Love all the details to create this fantastic card. And such a lovely surprise you received from Hazel. She is such a generous and kind person. Thanks for sharing this amazing creation with us at CAS Mix Up! xx

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Loll.
      I thoroughly enjoy your challenges :)
      ... and yes, I agree... Hazel is so lovely.
      Have a good day. X

      Delete
  7. Oh my gosh your tag card is beyond amazing! A pure work of art!
    I love your pocket letter from Hazel..... just seeing her little notebooks got me hooked and I am making some for the grad kids! Its a beautiful pocket letter!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Marybeth :)
      Hazel told me yesterday that you are a Pocket Letter fan... I think I may well be, too. Such a lovely idea, aren't they?
      Have a great day. X

      Delete
  8. OMG Donna... your card is a work of art! TFS all your details. Your vellum flowers are the prettiest I have ever seen. TFS and joining us at CAS Mix Up. Hugs, Nancy

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Nancy...
      I'm not sure if my 'spray' technically counts for this challenge - but as it's integral to the look of the gesso/vellum flowers I wanted to share it anyway. It's always fun trying out new ideas to see what happens.
      Have a lovely day. X

      Delete
  9. This is a wonderful creation Donna! love your velum flowers and your stitched tag..who`s is this tag please..
    Hugs Pam x

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like the card, Pam.
      I'll message you as I'm not clear on the question. x

      Delete
  10. Donna you have wowed me again with your creativity! What beautiful flowers and the tag is gorgeous on the metallic background! Thanks for sharing the details! And thanks so much for sharing this with us at CAS Mix Up!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Bonnie.
      Yes... there sure were a lot of details. Trying to remember to include them all was more challenging than making it... well that, and the list of supplies. I tend to forget at least one thing and have to go back and edit!!!
      How's your UFO box doing?

      Delete
  11. Beautiful! Love the shiny metallic background!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sheri.
      This metallic kraft core card is amazing. I love quite a few of Tim Holtz card collections, mind you!
      Have a good day. x

      Delete
  12. Wow This is fabulous Donna. Love the way you made those flowers and thanks for telling us how. Must have a go at that xx

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like it, Andrea.
      Like most things I had a few trial runs whilst I learnt through my mistakes. Worst two... not taping down the vellum before applying Gesso and accidental bleeding of marker pens when applying glue. Just a small blob in the centre is enough, but don't do too much or yours may bleed, too. x

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  13. Thank you for your step by step I really enjoy how cards etc are made and learn form them and gain a massive amount of inspiration x. Great tip about stopping vellum curling...Thank you x Such a creative interpretation of the challenge and so very clever. Thank you for sharing this beauty! x

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. It's lovely to meet someone new :) I've often admired your work but never realised you had blog until today. You are very talented and I know I will gain a lot from seeing more of your work.
      One quick question... Do you have a 'follow by email' button on your blog? I wasn't sure if I just missed it. X

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