8x8 Card, Layered/Mixed Media, Butterflies

If you saw my last post, you should (hopefully) recognise this tag.

If you did but you don't, then...  well...  I can either go crawl back into bed and have a good cry or decide that you've had a very long day.  

And if the latter's the case, maybe you should go crawl back into bed and take a nap, or sit down for a bit with a good book to read.
Or...  or...  what do you like to do when you are tired?

My challenge for myself was to take this layered/CAS tag and to turn it into something not CAS at all.  Yet overall, there's still a 'clean' look to this design. 

Let me tell you what I've used...

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Mama Elephant 'Tags A Lot'

Lifestyle Crafts/Quickutz 'Clock'

Poppystamps 'Theo Butterfly'

Sizzix/Holtz 'Tiny Tattered Florals'

Papertrey Ink 'Wet Paint Cuts'

Memory Box 'Peaceful Butterfly Wings'

Embossing Folders:

Spellbinders SCF-002 'Fabric Weave'

Crafter's Companion/Textures 'Wood Grain' (8x8, 5x7)

Crafter's Companion/Textures 'Hessian'

Crafts Too 'Cherry Blossom'

Cuttlebug 'Butterflies 3x3 Tag Team Combo Set'

Holtz Distress Inks:

Frayed Burlap

Walnut Stain

Bundled Sage

Stencil:

Crafters Workshop 'Ferns'

Other:

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

Ranger/Holtz 'Distress Collage Medium' - Crazing

Pebeo Gilding Wax - Silver

Dew Drops - Clear

Crocheted Lace

Paper Tearing Rulers x 2

Raffia/Thick Paper String - White

Silver Twine

Tonic/Holtz Distress Tool

Paper Punch

 I may have beaten my personal best for how many different elements to incorporate into just one card - and trust me when I tell you that this was not a labour of love, but of sheer grit and dogged determination.  

(Now there's a phrase I'm going to have to try and remember to look up).

I hate being beaten by a card that refuses to 'play nice' - Don't you? 

And I hate how my lace strip in the photo looks like a badly drawn straight line...  which it isn't.

It's as perfectly straight as straight can be.  There are just some very strange optical illusions at play - mainly caused by where the white raffia wraps around the card, I think).

Grrrr...  Maybe my card got it's own back on me after all!

Challenges I'm Entering...

Simon Says/Monday

(Handmade Flowers)

Allsorts Challenge Blog

(Week #406    'Ladies and Girls')

CAS-ual Fridays

(CFC169    'Off The edge')

Use Your Stuff

(#255     'Dry Embossing')

Just Us Girls

(Trend Week #384     'Use A Stencil')

Wishing you a 'Happy' day, wherever you may be...

Donna. x

Butterfly Clock Tag, Textured + Layered, CAS

This is an exceptionally simple, but textured/layered CAS tag, created for the new challenge starting today at Tag You're It.

I don't think you can tell from the photo, but there are two layers of glitter varnish on the base tag - sprayed on and left to dry between coats to build up that sparkle that so many of us know and love.

I have to confess, I'm not much of a glitter girl at heart, but this spray gloss varnish with added glitter had me hooked as soon as I saw it being demoed on a UK craft channel.  

It's subtle...  just the way I like it.

(And I just so happen to know that the company that make this product launched into the US market last year).

My tag was inspired by this very pretty creation by Marion Vagg...

It really is quite beautiful, isn't it?

I wanted to stay true to the beauty and the texture and the layers...  but in a simpler, more CAS form.  So I've kept the clock face (mine's die cut and embossed rather than using texture paste), swapped out the layered flower with that pretty central focus for a butterfly with a central feature and swapped out the foliage for the clock hands.  

Many, many thanks go to my oh so very lovely friend Pam who very kindly sent me this butterfly die - along with a few others to play with.  

I actually didn't know that I liked this die at all until it arrived in the post and I used it.  I'd looked at it so many times in 'die' form and discounted it as not for me.  

How wrong was I...  and how right was Pam.

It's actually turned out to be just what I needed and one of my favourites, too.

(Seems she knows my craft tastes better than I do)!

But in my defence, I am still learning...

(Don't be surprised if I still use that excuse in five or ten years time).

Shhh...  Don't tell! x

So what exactly have I used to make this tag?

Let me tell you...

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Mama Elephant 'Tags A Lot'

Lifestyle Crafts/Quickutz 'Clock'

Poppystamps 'Theo Butterfly'

Sizzix/Holtz 'Tiny Tattered Florals'

Embossing Folder:

Spellbinders SCF-002 'Fabric Weave'

Holtz Distress Inks:

Frayed Burlap

Walnut Stain

Other:

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

Raffia/Thick Paper String - White

Think of this as Part 1 of a two part post, as next time I'm planning to show you how I used this tag to create an 8x8, Clean and Layered/Mixed Media card.

And why do I want to show you?

Because I'm hoping to inspire you to play along - I'm not going to lie about it!

You see, a few of you very lovely people (you know exactly who you are)! keep telling me that you don't make tags - yet you make very lovely cards or I wouldn't stop by for a visit.

So I've decided to come up with a few ideas as of late that show how to use a tag in a slightly different way.  In other words - you've inspired me to try and think 'out of the box' - even if it's only just a little bit.

I've made a bookmark, a CAS tag on a CAS card...  and so this time the obvious choice was a CAS tag on a non CAS card.

You see, there's a perfect logic to what I've been doing!

Make a CAS tag, play along with the challenge...  and then spend time making it into a card.

Like I said, perfect logic...

(If you could see me now I would have a big grin on my face at this point)!

So if you can, come and play.

And if you can't, thank you for looking/for stopping by/for sharing your time with me.

Because either way, it's people like you who make people like me very happy to be a part of 'blogland for crafters'.    

Bye for now...

Donna. x

Christmas Tag, Baubles, Blue + Brown

I was immediately struck by a gorgeous colour scheme that I opted to use for Day 22 of 

Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags.

It's a classic blue and brown colour combination for this tag...

...  and here's what I was inspired by.

Aren't those shades of blue and brown just so lovely?

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Mama Elephant 'Tags A Lot'

Impression Obsession 'Pine Branch'

Quickutz 'Ornament'

Holtz/Distress Inks:

Stormy Sky

Peacock Feathers

Walnut Stain

Embossing Folder:

Darice 'Snowflake'

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

Donna. x

Christmas Tag, Lantern, Poinsettia

Here's my second tag for Day 1 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags...

As you can see, this tiny tag is purely for decoration only!

In case you haven't seen my last post, my tag is based on this beauty...

(Thanks again, Pam). x

It's such a pretty tag, isn't it?

I've focused on every detail I could manage to include this time - the poinsettia, the green foliage, the candle, colour scheme, natural twine...  everything except that scribble which I've switched out for a spot of acetate embossing.

This is far more in keeping with the look of Pam's tag, isn't it?

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Sizzix/Holtz 'Hanging Lantern'

Memory Box 'Fanciful Poinsettia Ornament'

Quickutz 'Poinsettia'

Punch:

Martha Stewart 'Branch'

Embossing Folder:

Sheena Douglass 'Snowfall'

Other:

Acetate - liberated from craft packaging and saved from the fate of the bin

Spectrum Noir AquaTint Inks - Perfectly Primary

Pearl effect embellishment - red

Natural twine

Hope you have/had a good day...

Donna. x

Engagement Card, Pears, Congratulations

 I love my Memory Box and Poppystamp dies.  But you already know that, don't you?
They take up well over three quarters of my collection and get used a lot...  but I'm not brand loyal to any one company (is anyone..?) so if I see something I like, I buy it.  Simple as...  My only caveat (other than can I afford it?) is that it has to compliment my existing collection OR I know that I will use it a lot.

Speaking of simple, there's just something about the old Quickutz dies that I love.
Yes, I know...  they aren't trendy or popular and most of you probably have a neglected stash somewhere or other.  But I haven't been crafting for that long compared to most of you and missed the boat when these may well have been 'in'...  so I'm making up for lost time with a collection that currently totals about fifty.  And I still have a few more to go!

As I'm trying to 'use' rather than just hoard my stash, (I've borrowed this phrase from the very lovely Jeanne Jachna), I've paired this Lifestyle Crafts/Quickutz 'Pears' die with a ring I made from a tiny Poppystamps die, a sequin and a gem stone.
One other die for the hearts, one for a decorative strip running left to right, an embossing folder for the bow, a stencil, some watercolours and shaving foam (used to create a very 'clean' looking marbling technique), 3D glue gel, the use of a paper tearing ruler, a stamped and heat embossed sentiment...  and this card was done.

I've included a close up or two of the ring as I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  Using embossing powder on the band makes such a difference, don't you think?  I so love adding dimension...

Now I'm seriously not a fan of messy techniques, so playing along at CAS Mix Up this month was a real challenge for me.  As it is, I've already been working (again) on my issue of using black for this challenge...   AND I've started using my husband's very intimidating looking camera for my blog posts.

(Still a long way to go on that one)! 

Baby steps.

This works for me.

Recognising what I don't like to do (craft wise), then just giving it a few teeny tiny tries.  I guess it's a bit like aversion therapy although seriously, it'll never work for me when it comes to spiders!

We had a HUGE, sprint running beastie in our house the other evening.  My poor husband gets the honour of depositing them outside.  Don't laugh, but after he's caught them I make him take them out the front door and across the road!  It may well be ridiculous, but it makes me feel better!

So...  a 'clean look' marbling technique with minimal shaving foam and paint it was.  It won't win any prizes, but at least I gave it a shot.  

 Do you think I would prefer it if I bought some alcohol inks and floated them in water instead?  Maybe I should investigate that thought before buying as I refuse to buy what I will never use...  which is obviously very different to bought but just haven't got around to using yet!!!

I'm sure you understand...

Oh, and just before I forget...  I should probably mention that although you can't see any evidence of it in the photo's I did actually use two black inks on the stencil.  Bottom layer Brilliance 'Starlite Black' and top layer Tsukineko/Memento 'Tuxedo Black'.  By putting on a thick bottom layer and dotting on a second lighter layer you get the depth of a darker black with some added shine from the Brilliance Ink underneath.

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Quickutz/Lifestlyle Crafts 'Pears'

Poppystamps 'Paper Chains'

Paper Smooches 'Tiny Hearts'

Impression Obsession 'Tied Line'

Stencil:

Crafters Workshop 'Butterfly Collage'

Ink:

Brilliance 'Starlite Black'

Tsukineko/Memento 'Tuxedo Black'

Ranger 'Perfect Medium'

Embossing Powder:

Ranger 'Liquid Platinum'

Stampendous 'Clear Detail'

Embossing Folder:

Spellbinders/Celebrations 'Fabric Weave'

Other:

Crafter's Companion/Spectrum Noir AquaTint Inks 'Essentials'  - Black and Gold

Stamp from stash

Sequin

Gem Stone Embellishment

Shaving Foam

Paper Tearing Ruler

3D Glue Gel

Challenges I'm Entering...

CAS Mix Up

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(Large scrap of white used, plus tiny snippets on pears, ring and hearts).

Curtain Call Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Challenge #163   'Anything Goes + A Sentiment'

Allsorts Challenge

Week 380   'Anniversaries and/or Special Occasions'

CAS-ual Fridays

CFC #156 Dimension & Bling

Enjoy your weekend...  and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.  It really is appreciated far more than you know.

Donna. x

Mixed Media Tag, Rustic House, Male/Female

I'm much later than I had hoped to be with getting anything finished, photographed and posted on this blog...  and I'm woefully behind on commenting again...  but truth be told I'm dealing with some stuff that's hellish right now.  I'll update the Autism section at some point soon to give more details...
All I'll say for now is it involves my daughter and in many ways we're going through a similar situation to the hell we faced five years ago.
Life can be so very unfair...

 I'm sorry to those of you I regularly stop by to say hello to.  I will try my best to catch up again...

*

I'm here today to share my DT take on Erin's tag over at Tag You're It.
Are you playing along?

I tidied up my craft area over the Christmas break so I could finally get back to something a little more 'messy' design wise.  A little bit of ink, some texture paste and my beloved dies were all that was needed for this quick and easy make...

Now normally I would get myself all 'het up' about that cloud at the bottom not being perfectly done.  But seriously, you go look up at the sky and find me a perfectly formed cloud.  

You found one...  Really???

In other words...  I can live with it.  Just this once.  And if I change my mind it will be very easy to place the stencil back over and reapply a bit of extra texture paste.

Here's Erin's tag...

I was initially stumped over what to do instead of that caravan (I have no vehicle dies or stamps) and toyed with the idea of a window, tree and cloud mini scene design...  until I had a rummage through my die cuts and found this house.  It's so basic and 'rustic' looking, but there's just something about it that I absolutely love.  And it has a door AND a window...  just like the caravan :)

Supplies Used:

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress 'Mowed Lawn'
Tim Holtz Distress 'Stormy Sky'

Stencil:
Memory Box 'Mini Clouds'

Dies:
Quickutz 'House'
Marianne Design/Craftables 'Tiny's Pinetrees'
Marianne Design/Craftables 'Tiny's Winter Village'

Other:
Texture Paste
Brown Twine


Challenges I'm entering...

Pixie's Crafty Snippets Challenge
(All snippets)

The Sisterhood of Crafters
(Something Old, Something New).
Although the Quickutz Die is old, it's new to my die collection...

Craft Rocket Challenges
(Challenge #7 'Clean and Simple')

Have a good weekend...

Donna. x

Christmas 'Drop' Ornament Tag, Holly & Berry, Female

I'm jumping out of order with this post as it ties in to Day 6 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event.

Here's my design for today...

...  and once again, it's Tracey's tag (below) that has inspired me to play along.

I've stuck fairly closely to Tracey's design idea's this time around. 

The ornament shape is similar, but rather than add a sentiment on top I've cut into my tag to create an aperture.

 Then it was simply a case of stamping a sentiment onto a scrap of acetate and mounting that behind the front tag piece, adding a scrap of scripted pattern paper (for visual interest) and then adding a white tag behind before sandwiching it all together to neaten it up.

 I also added in the mismatched holly leaves.  

(Thanks for sharing, Tracey.  I never would have thought of that)!

As you can see, I went for a stitched button die with Glossy Accents instead of bells, but all in all...  still quite similar, I think.

Dies used:

Memory Box 'Drop Ornament'

Spellbinders (Nestabilities) 'Small Circle'

Quickutz 'Holly'

Poppystamps 'Stitched Holly Leaves and Berries'

Poppystamps 'Stitched Buttons'

Other:

Cuttlebug 'Snow' Embossing Folder

Crafter's Companion 'Christmas in Mulberry Wood' Stamp

Centura Pearl Cardstock

Acetate

Glossy Accents

Backing Paper

Silver Thread

I'm also adding this to Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge as once again, it's a whole tag made from snippets...

...  and as Happy Little Stampers still have their Christmas Tag challenge running I'll add it to that, too ...

...  and 

That's Crafty Challenge Blog

I'll post more tags for Christmas next week.

Thanks for stopping by...

Donna.

Christmas Tag (Folding), Poinsettia, Female

I wonder what this week has in store for you?

For me, it's plenty of errands early on in the week, household chores...  but none of that is what I want to be doing.  

I want to make more Christmas tags!!!

Did you know that Tracey (inmycreativeopinion.blogspot.co.uk) has her 25 Days of Christmas Tags event running right now?  If you didn't, where have you been?

There are prizes up for grabs, so there's no excuse not to find some motivation to play along...  Wouldn't you agree?

Here's my first tag that I'm linking to Tracey's event...

...  and here's the tag  (below) that I chose from Day 1 to play along with...

Dies used:

Waltzingmouse 'Folding Tag'

Quickutz 'Poinsettia'

Memory Box 'Twigs and Berries'

Other:

Memento 'Tuxedo Black' Ink

Burlap

White Brad

Black Button

I'll be posting more Christmas tags over the coming days and weeks!

Hopefully you may see something here that inspires you to play along, too :)

'Bye for now...

Donna

PS.  Almost forgot to say...  As the poinsettia and leaves were cut from my snippets stash I'm entering this little make into Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge.

Why don't you come and play, too?