12 Tags of 2014: May

(In just under the wire - phew!)  ;-)

Here's my tag:

Materials/tools used:
 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags
 - Ranger Distress Ink: Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Weathered Wood
 - Ranger Distress Markers: Faded Jeans
 - Ranger Matte Multi-Medium
 - Ranger Inkssentials Collage Glue Stick
 - idea-ology: Arrows, Design Ruler, Industrious Stickers ("Frames & Trims"), Label Letters, Linen Ribbon, Mini Fasteners, Muse Tokens, Pen Nibs, Sanding Grip, Trinket Pins, Wishbones
 - Tim Holtz 8x8 Paper Stash: Collage
 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool
 - Sizzix Big Shot
 - Sizzix Shadow Press embossing folders: Documented
 - Sizzix Movers & Shapers die: Mini Hearts
 - Tonic Studios Craft Scissors
 - Chipboard
 - 1/8" Hole Punch

Tips and techniques are on Tim's blog.  :-)

I didn't pack quite as many things onto my tag as Tim did in his example.  I had all the stuff, but I just didn't like the way it looked quite as much.  I *did* obtain a jar of multi-medium for this month.  And then opened the drawer where I keep my painting stuff to find that I did indeed already have a jar, and it was sitting in there with the gesso.  (At least I wasn't going crazy, thinking I'd already bought it!)  If I had it to do over again (a third time!), I might get the smaller bottle with the nozzle applicator, though.  I was using it to attach small fiddly things, and I think it would have been a little cleaner, than how I was using it with a small paintbrush.  Oh well!

More views:

As we head into June, I'm going to try to be a little more timely with the challenges I *do* opt to do, rather than waiting 'til the end of the month.  :-)  (And if it rains as much this week as they're predicting, my next post may be quite soon indeed!)

'Til next time,

BAC

Bombshell May Colour Challenge: Baked Tones

Hello all!

I know it's been a little while since I had a post for you.  As summer approaches, I find myself getting busier and busier, and spending more and more time outside, rather than cooped up in my studio.  :-)  So here's my commitment until the fall: at least 2 challenges a month, one of which will be Tim's 12 Tags.

The tag below was created for Bombshell Stamps' May Colour Challenge ("Baked Tones").

These were the colours to match:

Here's my tag:

Materials/tools used:

 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags

 - Ranger Distress Ink: Brushed Corduroy, Shaded Lilac, Vintage Photo

 - Tsukineko Memento dye ink: Tuxedo Black

 - Copic Sketch markers: B34, B37, E35, N6, R02, RV34, W1

 - idea-ology Linen Ribbon

 - Bombshell Stamps "Pirate's Life" stamp set

 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool

 - Tonic Studios Craft Scissors

Other than actually trying to match the given colours, this was a pretty easy project.  Stamped on the tag with my Memento dye ink, coloured in with my Copics, added some Distress with my foam tool, and a ribbon to finish it off!

More views:

(Really not sure why the darker blue in this picture came out looking so royal!  

Trick of the angle/light, I suspect.  The colour is more accurate in the first picture.)  :-)

Well, that's it for tonight.  Check back tomorrow for my May tag for 12 tags!  :-)

'Til then!

BAC

Simon Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes!

Hello everyone!

Today's project is for SimonSaysStamp's Wednesday challenge ("Anything goes").

Here's my tag:

Materials/tools used:
 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags
 - Ranger Distress Ink: Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn
 - Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black
 - idea-ology: Label Letters, Tissue Tape (Commute)
 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool
 - Sizzix Big Shot
 - Sizzix Texture Fades: Subway
 - City skyline stamp by Tim Holtz for Stampers anonymous: CSS27911
 - Apple stamp carved by me
 - Paper trimmer
 - White cardstock, foam dots from my stash

More views:

That's it for now!  Sorry for the quick post, but I'm headed out now for a much-needed mini-vacation.  :-)

'Til next time!

BAC

Simon Monday Challenge: Not So Mellow Yellow!

Hello again!

Today's project was created for SimonSaysStamp's Monday challenge ("Not So Mellow Yellow").  Here's my tag:

Materials/tools used:

 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags

 - Ranger Distress Ink: Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade

 - Ranger Distress Stain: Mustard Seed

 - Ranger Distress Paint: Mustard Seed

 - Ranger Archival Ink: Chrome Yellow, Jet Black

 - Studio 490 Embossing Paste: White

 - idea-ology: Crinkle Ribbon, Jump Rings, Philosophy Tags, Wire Pins

 - Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous Layering Stencils: Burlap, Splatters

 - Stamps by Tim Holtz for Stamper's Anonymous: CMS183, CSS30195

 - Ranger Heat Tool

 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool

 - Plastic palette knife

 - Painters tape

To create this tage, I started by laying the Burlap stencil over my blank tag, and taping either side of the stencil to my craft sheet with painters tape to keep it in place.  I applied some embossing paste to various areas of the stencil, and used the palette knife to scrape the paste so that it was even with the surface of the stencil.  I carefully removed the stencil, and used my heat tool to speed-dry the embossing paste.   Then I used my blending tool to add a couple shades of yellow Distress ink all over my tag.  I taped the Splatters stencil over the tag, and used a darker yellow shade of Distress to create the splatters.  I stamped the hashtag stamp and the sentiment stamp with Archival ink, and then set the tag aside to work on the pieces for the top.  The ribbon was coloured with Distress stain, crumpled up, and heat-dried.  I dabbed Distress paint all over the surface of the Philosophy tag, until it was in all the recessed areas, and then wiped off the surface of the tag.  A little heat to ensure the paint was dry, and then I attached it to a wire pin with a jump ring, and then to the ribbon at the top.

More views:

'Til next time!

BAC

Inspiration Journal April Challenge: A Few of My Favourite Things

Okay, last project for tonight - I promise!  ;-)

This project was created for Inspiration Journal's April challenge ("A Few of My Favourite Things"), and is also being submitted to SimonSaysStamp's Wednesday challenge ("Anything Goes").

Here's my tag:

Materials/tools used:

 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags

 - Ranger Distress Ink: Antique Linen, Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Fired Brick, Stormy Sky, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain

 - Ranger Distress Stain: Tea Dye

 - idea-ology Chit Chat

 - Maya Road Twine Cording: Blackberry

 - Ranger Heat Tool

 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool

 - Ranger Inkssentials Mister

 - Tonic Studios Craft Scissors

 - Stamps by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous: CMS162, CSS25900

Ever since I was a little kid, I've thought trains were cool.  So, since I've already submitted a Moulin Rouge tag to this challenge this month, I figured trains would be a fun theme.  :-)

I started by covering my tag with Distress Stain and heating it to dry it.  I splattered some water droplets on it, again drying it, and then began to stamp some of my various train-themed stamps.  All of the stamps except the train were stamped with colors, and the train I stamped in black, to make it stand out. Once I was done stamping, I edged my card with Vintage Photo Distress ink, inked a Chit Chat sticker with a little Antique Linen, and added it to the tag.  Lastly, I cut a piece of the Maya Road twine cording, and ran a foam blending tool with some brown ink on it over it to make it look a little older and dingier, and tied it through the hole at the top.

More views:

Well, I may be back before the end of the week, but this is definitely it for April's projects!  See you next month!

BAC

A Vintage Journey: Spring Flowers

Here we are with Part 2 (of 3) of my posts this evening.  :-)

This project was created for A Vintage Journey's Challenge #4 ("Spring Flowers"), and I'm also submitting it to SimonSaysStamp's Wednesday challenge ("Anything Goes").

Here's my tag:

Materials/tools used:
 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags
 - Ranger Distress Ink: Broken China, Bundled Sage, Dried Marigold, Iced Spruce, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Salty Ocean, Vintage Photo
 - Ranger Distress Paint: Peeled Paint, Picket Fence
 - Ranger Distress Stain: Tea Dye
 - Ranger Heat Tool
 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool
 - Ranger Inkssentials Mister
 - Ranger Inkssentials Collage Glue Stick
 - Tim Holtz 8x8 Paper Stash: Collage, Menagerie
 - idea-ology: Crinkle Ribbon, Long Fasteners, Sanding Grip
 - Tonic Studios: Craft Scissors, Paper Distresser
 - Sizzix Big Shot
 - Sizzix dies: Tattered Florals Bigz, Tattered Leaves Bigz
 - Stamp by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous: CSS30218
 - 1/8" hole punch

To create this tag, I started by putting some Tea Dye Distress stain and Peeled Paint Distress paint on my craft sheet, and swiping my tag through them until it was covered.  I dried it with my heat tool, and then covered it with Iced Spruce Distress ink.  Then I splattered some droplets of water on it, and dried once again with the heat tool.  I then inked around the edges with brown Distress ink, and distressed them with the Tonic distresser tool.  Next, I stamped my butterfly with white Distress paint, cleaned my stamp, and used my heat tool to dry the paint.

Next, I set the tag aside, and began working on my die cuts.  I cut pieces from four different pages in the paper stashes, and die-cut 4 sets of the Tattered Floral pieces, and 2 single leaves from the Tattered Leaves die.  I lightly sanded the edges, and then used my foam tool to add some color to my flower pieces.  Each flower above contains 2 sets of Tattered Floral pieces, but I mixed and matched the different paper designs for variety.  I used my tiny hole punch to make a hole in the centre of each flower piece, and began to put my flowers together, from the top down, on long fasteners.  I alternated rolling the petals inward or outward to create some dimension.  Once my flowers were complete, I attached the leaves to my tag with collage glue stick, and used some Glossy Accents to adhere the completed flowers.  Lastly, I took a piece of crinkle ribbon, spritzed it with water, rubbed a yellow Distress pad on it, crumpled it up, and dried it with my heat tool, for the perfect finishing touch on top.

More views:

Back in a little bit with my last post for this evening!  :-)

BAC

12 Tags of 2014: April

Wow!  My second year doing 12 Tags, and I'm already a third of the way through it!  :-)  Time flies!

I'm also sharing this project with A Vintage Journey ("Spring Flowers").

Materials/tools used:

 - Ranger Inkssentials Manila tags

 - Ranger Distress Ink: Iced Spruce, Milled Lavender, Mustard Seed, Shaded Lilac, Squeezed Lemonade, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain

 - Ranger Distress Paint: Broken China, Peeled Paint

 - Ranger Glossy Accents

 - Ranger Matte Glue 'n' Seal

 - idea-ology: Crinkle Ribbon, Grungeboard, Jump Rings, Jute String, Mirrored, Philosophy Tags, Sanding Grip, Tissue Tape (Sketchbook, Symphony), Wire Pins

 - DCWV adhesive backed cork

 - Tim Holtz 8x8 Paper Stash: Menagerie

 - Ranger Heat Tool

 - Ranger Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool

 - Ranger Inkssentials Mister

 - Ranger Inkssentials Collage Glue Stick

 - Sizzix Big Shot

 - Sizzix dies: Tattered Pinecone Bigz, Trellis Frameworks

 - Tonic Studios Craft Scissors

 - Hot glue gun

 - Toothpicks, paper towels

I'm not going to devote a long post to what techniques I used.  My 12 Tags post is always based on inspiration from Tim Holtz's post, so head there for all the tips and techniques!  :-)

I will note that I was aready elbow-deep in project when I realized that what I was remembering as a jar of Multi-Medium, was in fact Glue 'n' Seal, so I wound up using that instead, to attach my trellis die cut, and it worked pretty well.  I put a heavy book on top of it for about 10 minutes, just to keep it in place and let it bond.  I used dots of Glossy Accents to adhere the center pieces into the trellis.

The technique for turning a tattered pinecone into a tea rose is cool, but takes some practice.  I did okay on the first rose (the yellow one), but then on the second (purple), when I was loosening and repositioning the petals, 2 of them separated, so that I basically had 2 spirals, instead of one.  It still came out okay, but I think I still need some practice making those.  :-) (Also, fun fact: the hot glue gun doesn't lie.  It's hot.)

More views:

I still have two more projects I completed for the end of April to share with you this evening, so check back in a little bit for installments 2 & 3.  :-)

BAC