Bookmark Tag, Flowers, Tassel

To those of you who were kind enough to stop by after reading my last blog post - and the mini blog attached to it, I want to say, 'thank you'.  It's people like you who help me on the bad days...

Just one quick update to those of you that had the time to read the whole thing...  

I made contact with a researcher who works for the BBC just yesterday.  I'm not holding my breath, but I'm hoping that somehow what I've written will help others some day.  

If I get any news worth mentioning I'll let you know, but either way...

at least I've tried.

*

Well...  It's 'Tag You're It Friday' time today, and I wanted to take a little twist to my tag by making it 'bookmark' shaped...

What do you think?

I've elongated the shape of the tag by adding a 'skirt' and I've made a tassel - my first one ever! 

(Don't you just love it when an idea in your head actually works)?

 I just love making tags.  

There's none of that effort involved in lining up score lines or trying to cut straight  (Do not get me started on shop bought card blanks as they are never cut properly either)...  

Simply cut out a tag shape and then straight to the fun part of choosing a design.

(Okay, I confess that sometimes it's the other way 'round for me and I know the design before I know which tag shape I want to pair it up with.  But you get the idea, don't you)?

But you see, I hate the thought of tags being thrown away...  or anything handmade for that matter.

I mean seriously, have you ever seen some of the breathtaking works of art that sneak their way into our challenge?  And I'm not just talking about our Featured Artist or the DT, you know.  

So my tag is bookmark 'shaped and styled' today.
Why?
Because it gives the recipient the option to repurpose it...  (plus hopefully it's an idea you might like to try out someday, too). x

So be encouraged to play along, and then maybe use your tag to make a card, or a bookmark...  or leave it just as a tag.  It's good to have options :)

As long as you're following our guidelines and include how you were inspired (that's the important part that some of you forget to mention) we would love to see your creations.

Plus the winner gets the chance to come back and play along as our Guest Designer if they so wish.

So what are you waiting for? 

  

 Karin Åkesdotter (our Featured Artist) has put together this oh so incredibly cute little tag for us to use as our inspiration for this challenge - the first of 2017.

I loved the gentle tones of her colour palette as soon as I saw this tag and immediately knew that that would be my focus, but I have also included a bow and a spotty, dotty background of sorts.

How will you be inspired, I wonder?

Supplies Used:

Die:

Mama Elephant 'Tags A Lot'

Embossing Folder:

Sheena Douglass 'Snowfall'

Stamp:

Uniko 'Pure Florals/Cosmos'

Inks:

Stazon 'Black'

Holtz/Distress 'Pumice Stone'

Holtz/Distress 'Broken China'

Holtz/Distress 'Stormy Sky'

Other:

Enamel dots from stash

Crafter's Companion/Spray and Sparkle 'Pearl Diamond'

Twine

Challenge I'm Entering...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(It's another 'all snippets' make from me)!




Have a good weekend...
and stay warm and well if you possibly can.

'Bye for now...

Donna. x

Engagement Card, Photography Enthusiast, Congratulations

I haven't posted for a while, have I?

There is a reason why, and for those of you that have been on my Facebook page today you may have already seen and clicked on the link...  so you will know.

But for those of you that may not use Facebook, you can click 'here' if you want.

At least then you'll understand why I disappear from time to time...

Anyhow...

I wasn't planning on making anything for a few days yet, but on Tuesday of this week at around midday my husband messaged me to ask if I had an engagement card to hand for one of his work colleagues.

I did not, but being a 'crafter' meant that the need to make one couldn't be dismissed - even if time constraints meant it would be dark in a matter of four hours max.

And I can't craft in the dark.

Believe me, I've tried...

Even with decent 'daylight' bulbs and lamps I can't get past the fact that I'm not seeing colours in their 'true' form.

So this was a quick 'make' for me that took about three hours - 

at least half an hour of which was used just on trying to get this card blank 'square'.

I still haven't figured out why I can't manage this feat which is why I'm not even attempting to cut and score my cards from scratch as yet - except for the odd exception when I have no choice, of course!

Here's the card...

It's not my best work, but it's ok...  especially as the main recipient was for a man and a suck at making cards for men!
(Should I 'say' that out loud?  Oh well, I just did)!

At least it's not overtly girly!

As this photograph was taken in the dark (it went straight off to work with my husband the following morning), the colours may look a little 'off', but I've messed around with the White Balance (thankfully my editing app now supports this), so hopefully you will see that you are looking at a white, black, red and grey colour combination.







Supplies Used:

Dies:
Simon Says Stamp! 'Sketch Heart'
Marianne Designs 'Filmstrip'
Memory Box 'Heart Delights'

Embossing Folder:
Sizzix Texture Fades 'Notebook'

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress 'Black Soot'
Ranger 'Perfect Medium'
Memento/Tsukineko 'Tuxedo Black'

Embossing Powder:
WOW 'clear'

Other:
Tonic/Holtz 'Paper Distresser'
Stamp from stash
Padded fabric heart from stash






Challenges I'm Entering...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge
A card made entirely from scraps/snippets

Simon Says/Wednesday
'Something New'
(Hopefully an engagement counts)!

Now that November and December are finally over with (I completely ignored Christmas just to be able to cope with it - but I did at least make a batch of last minute Christmas cards that hopefully made their way to those of you whose address I have),  I'm hoping to get back into the swing of craft making.
I haven't wasted my time away from Blogland, though...
Sometimes tidying and sorting is just as therapeutic as 'making'.


Thanks for stopping by...

Donna. x