"I'm Hungry" Tag, Squirrel, Pumpkin (Penny Black)

It's 'Tag You're It' Friday time again folks!

You know how it works...

We have a Featured Artist who provides us with his or her own tag for inspiration...  and then we get to play.

...  And as long as you can explain how you were inspired you can let your imagination run wild at this point...

I sure did!

But I have to confess...   What I've ended up with this time is just so darn cute to me that I'm refusing to part company with it.

It's mine... 

 ...  and I'm not sharing it or giving it away to anybody...

(...  and yes, I am fully aware of just how SAD that makes me sound).

Want to see what makes me so happy every time I look at it?

It's not perfect...  but it's not supposed to be.

That's the absolute beauty of these Penny Black Brushstroke Stamps - they are made to be 'imperfectly perfect'...  

And I just love the way it looks like this squirrel is busy eating!

So what inspired me?

This perfectly perfect little Autumn tag - that just so happens to also be made using an image from Penny Black!

I was struck by how beautifully this had been coloured in and initially my thoughts went to making something Autumn/leaf related that would also use these colours...  but then I got to thinking about other things that speak of Autumn.   Before I knew it I'd settled on my (bought but unused for about a year) Penny Black 'Pumpkin Patch' stamp...  and the Clearly Besotted squirrel and 'I'm Hungry' sentiment just became a natural progression.

(Of course, this could be based in part on the fact that a squirrel is venturing into our garden once again.  I adore squirrels and their scampering antics - they are so utterly charming to watch).

What about you?

Are you a lover or a loather of squirrels?

Of course, it's more than obvious that I've gone for 'selective colouring' this time 'round.  

You may well think I've gone 'nuts'...  (seriously no pun intended - but hey...  if it works, it works)!

Squirrels...  nuts...  oh, never mind!

...  it's just that I wanted the focus of the colour to be on the pumpkin and nothing else.

It makes for a very 'clean' looking tag this way.

Here's a quick rundown of the supplies used:

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Stamps:
Penny Black 'Pumpkin Patch'
Clearly Besotted 'Great Job'
Clearly Besotted 'Nom Nom'

Tsukineko/Memento Markers:
Toffee Crunch
New Sprout
Rich Cocoa
Pear Tart
Bamboo Leaves
Dandelion
Olive Grove
Tangelo
Expresso Truffle

Other:
Stamp Positioner Tool
Embossing Powder - Clear Gloss
Distress Paint - Picket Fence
Ribbon - Brown
Twine - Brown
Thread - Brown
Needle
PVA glue
Paper Distressing Tool

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Yes...  you really did read the word 'needle'!
I stitched the ribbon together before tying the twine around it...  then applied a small amount of PVA glue directly onto the twine's knot to keep it secure.

Of course, I think I'm going to have to seal my tag with some spray varnish before I accidentally mark it somehow.
I'm thinking just plain spray varnish rather than my subtle glitter finish varnish...
What do you think?



If you have the time, why not take a look at my team mates tags for this challenge?
You just never know how you might be inspired!

Enjoy your weekend...

Donna. x 

Bunny In The Snow, Christmas Tag, Fir Trees

Apologies once again that I've been MIA...

I have started catching up with everyone again  - but it might take me a while!

...  and one other thing...

'Thank You' to those of you who were kind enough to stop by after reading my last Tag You're It post.  

Your kindness is appreciated far more than you will ever know.  x

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It's Tag You're It Friday time again, people.

Here's my cute little bunny stamp at use again today  :)

I had so much fun coming up with this little tag design, but I've got to say I'm not having a huge amount of success with Mirror Stamping.  It's not as crisp an image as I would like, and try as I might I failed miserably using one well known MISTI aided technique and resorted to another out of sheer desperation!  As I have never used a mirror image stamp before today, I would welcome any advice from those of you 'well seasoned' in the art.  Just because I'm on a DT does not mean I know it all, you know. X

Oh well, at least I got there in the end - as best as I could!



I am a huge fan of Loll's so I'm so happy she's our Featured Artist for this challenge.
(Thank you, Loll). x

Take a look at her tag...

It's easy to see where I got my inspiration from, isn't it?

The snowy Christmas trees, the torn edged snow, the stamping and the colour combination are all there - I've just stamped in black and changed the sentiment to a bunny.  Okay, yes...  I did sneak in a few stars, too...  and I changed the tag shape to circular.  But in all fairness her tag was half there already with that rounded top edge, wasn't it? 

And that's the fun of being inspired...

You just never know until you give it a go  :)

I'm not sure if the photo shows it, but if you look very closely you should just about see some very subtle blue water colouring in the background.  Just some simple scribbling onto an acrylic block, watering down as needed and then painting on with a brush.

I did also coat the bunny in a few layers of spray varnish (after cutting it out and layering it up several times) - just for some added shine.  

And the trees?

White acrylic paint.  I do have Gesso and Stickles, but any old white acrylic paint will do and as I have some - why not?

It's all about adding texture and visual interest whilst keeping a CAS look to this design.  That's why the bunny doesn't even have a hint of pink in its ear today  :) 

Supplies Used:

Stamp:

Clearly Besotted 'Woodland Kisses'

Die: 

Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Circle Tags'

MFT/Die-namics 'Stitched Circle STAX'

Impression Obsession 'Fir Trees'

Memory Box 'Cosmic Star'

Holtz/Distress Marker Pens:

Tumbled Glass

Stormy Sky

Other:

Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue 'Frosted Lace'

Acrylic Paint - White

Crafter's Companion 'Spray And Shine' Varnish

Ribbon - Hot Pink

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today.

I'll be spending the weekend taking the rest of my photo's for Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags.

It's the last day today, but thankfully she's extended the deadline so those of us playing along can get everything posted that we need to.

I know that Tracey puts a lot of effort into this challenge, and for me...  it's the only thing that's kept me going this past few weeks.

So 'Thank You', Tracey.

I've thoroughly enjoyed supporting you in this. x

Have a lovely weekend...

Donna. x

Some Bunny Loves You Tag, Acetate Layer, Rabbit

I'm sure you've noticed that some stamps have a sentiment that just pairs with them so absolutely perfectly that they look like they were always meant to be together.

 You have noticed that, haven't you?

My tag for today's new Tag You're It challenge just so happens to be one of those pairings.  

I don't often do 'cute' images, but I just couldn't resist this sweet little bunny - it's so adorable :)

Here are two close up shots.  Isn't bunny just the sweetest thing? 

...  and if you look really closely at the last image you will hopefully notice my subtle embossing :) 

 Now at first glance I will admit that this tag of mine looks like it has nothing in common with our Featured Artist's inspiration tag for this challenge.

However, if you look you'll see that not only do Richard Breaks stamp and sentiment pair perfectly;  he's also only really used the one main colour - variations of brown with a few complimentary colours thrown in (artistically, of course)!   And he's also embossed his background.

Now I may not have used brown, or coffee, or gone for a heavy embossed look...  but I have included those key features in my own unique way :)

(This bunny sure does make me smile, have you noticed)? 

Now I don't know what you normally colour your images in with if you are using acetate, but I had a 'eureka' moment by accident whilst experimenting with this design.

You see initially, I wasn't sure if I was going to stamp in black or white, so I got out both of my Stazon Ink pads for a quick practice on scrap acetate packaging.

I had never used my Cotton White ink pad before and it did not go well...  and I followed the instructions on the packaging three times over!  

So being suitably unimpressed, and resigning myself to the fact that this was a bad purchase on my part that would have to be binned, I put this to one side and stamped with my black Stazon instead.

But then I got to thinking (it happens occasionally)!

What if rather than throw the ink pad away (if you know anything about this ink pad you will know that it comes as a dry pad with a separate bottle of ink that you apply yourself), I used the Inker bottle ink to paint with?  'Eureka' indeed!

So I applied two coats of ink to the back of the stamped images (with drying time in between), added a touch of 3D Gel Glue behind the bunny and then sandwiched the two tags together.  Then it was simply a case of adding a few bright and colourful embellishments...  and job done :)

(If you missed my post the other day you may be wondering how I achieved the deep pink look to my tag.  It was super easy as all I had to do was use some Crafter's Companion/Spectrum Noir Aqua Tint Ink.  Just wet your paper and splodge it on.  It really is that simple).

I hope my little bunny tag made you smile today, too :)

Why don't you have a go and see what design you can come up with?  Whether it's coffee or not or brown or not, my team mates and I would love to see you give it a try.  

So come and join us at Tag You're It :) 

Supplies Used:

Die:

Mamaelephant 'Tags A Lot'

Stamp:

Clearly Besotted 'Woodland Kisses'

Inks:

Stazon 'Jet Black'

Stazon 'Cotton White'

Other:

Crafter's Companion/Spectrum Noir 'Aqua Tint Inks' - Perfectly Primary

Acetate

Wooden Button

Micro Button - Heart Shaped

Green Raffia - Two shades of Green

3D Glue Gel

Challenges I'm Entering...

Simon Says/Wednesday

Anything Goes

Words 2 Craft By

W2CB#33   'Every Child Deserves A Champion'

(...  and what better way to champion your child than to remind them that they are loved)?

Tic-Tac-Toe

Challenge #18 - I chose Stencil, 3D Project, Back To School

(Can you imagine this in a school lunch box - maybe with a lollipop tied around it - just to remind your child that they are loved)?

Aud Sentiments

Challenge #165   'Anything Goes'

Out of interest, have any of you also had failings with the Cotton White Stazon ink pad or am I just uniquely blessed in that department?

Don't laugh...  I'm uniquely blessed in lots of ways!

Have a warm, safe and peaceful weekend...  and if you can't have all three, be safe at least.

Big hugs to you for stopping by today...

Donna. x