Tag Book

The Stamp Cult Chicks are going to try out some new techniques on tags. Here is the book that we made to keep track of the tags. We plan to take turns teaching each other a variety of techniques and on #5 and #8 tags and keep them and their instructions in the pockets of this mini book.

 It is a design by Laura Denison called "Napkin Fold Mini." You can see her make one on her Ustream channel on July 29, 2011. Watch the video to see how she puts it together. See the following for the measurements that I used in my book.

I started with an 8" square of double-sided decorative paper. Using my large score pal, I scored lines on one diagonal--1/8" from both sides of the center. (Just line up the points your square in the middle of an 1/4" marking and make two scores). Turn the paper 90 degrees and make two more score lines; this time about 2" from the center.



My covers measure 4x7 (to give me room for using #8 tags).

 For the hinges, I used 4 x 5 1/8" pieces of paper (but cardstock would be more sturdy). Score down center of the 4" (each section will be 2 x 5 1/8"). Turn your piece 90 degrees and score 1/2" from each side. Use your favorite border punch along the edge (not the 1/2" scored sides).  Trim and use 1/2" tape or glue on the tabs to connect the pages together. (Tape goes on the right side because the tabs bend back. Be sure to use a thin line of glue at the bottom fold of each piece so the tags stay in. (Don't use tape, the tags will stick to the adhesive.)


I made 6 pages and used about 14" of ribbon and fiber for decoration. Now I just need to do something about decorating the cover; it looks a bit naked.





August 9, 2011. Tag Technique #1.

Anita chose first; she taught us how to make Tag #12 from Tim Holtz - 12 Days of Christmas 2010.

We used distress ink (Fired Brick) on die cut grungeboard and then covered it with a generous layer of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. (Remember to use a different brush or the jar will be contaminated pink!) Put aside to dry overnight.

The metal corners were sanded and secured with a hammer

The ribbon was colored with distress stain; this stuff is slick. Check this link to see some printed techniques for using this product.
Tim just released this video discussing his stains and showing how to use them.


I also made a tag using the blended backgrounds technique shown on my "Stamping" page.

August 29, 2011. Tag Technique #2.

Jan shared techniques with us this week. She used some Tim Holtz techniques that you can watch on this video. My favorite part was that she didn't just dye the ribbon, but also added glitz by using the Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists. I really like this product and it comes in lovely colors that work well on light and dark cardstock. Spray from far away and it gives a fine mist; close up and you get fatter droplets; I swiped a tag through the extra on the craft mat and found a different blended look. I want to play with this product some more using this tutorial that I found on the Ranger site.

Anita made birthday thank you tags using some of the same techniques, but finishing off with a new product: Goosebumps by Tsukineko. It gives an orange peel type finish that's hard to see in the picture.



September 13, 2011. Tag Technique #3:Acrylic Resist
Use a dauber (I used pearl) on a clear stamp (because they are easier to clean) of your choice. Stamp onto the card surface; do not rock or press extra hard. Let it throughly dry.

 Use a blending tool to sponge in background colors (tea dye, broken china and shabby shutters). Slightly dampen a paper towel with a mister and wipe over the stamped area. It will remove the ink from the acrylic. You can sprinkle the background with water drops for more texture. I spritzed with Perfect Pearls Mists (Heirloom Gold).
 

I covered cardstock with printed tape. First, I penciled the area of the image onto the cardstock so I knew where to apply the tape. Punch out. Color with alcohol ink (red and lettuce). I used a dimensional dot on the wing.

For the small flower in the corner I started with a piece of the white Tim Holtz flower ribbon and dyed it with distress stain (honey). If the color is too dark, blot with a paper towel. I darkened the color by rubbing an ink pad (red) onto the craft mat, spritzing the ink with water, and then slightly touching the flower to the ink. If the flower is wet the color will blend; if the flower is dry, the color will be more distinct. Spritz for more glitz.

I distressed the word ticket (crumbled it and ran the ink pad across it (tea dye) and attached it with a paper clip. Add fibers and ribbon to the top and you are done. Remember that you can dye and spritz the ribbon.

October 25, 2011. Tag Techniques #4: using Distress to color
We finally went back to our tag book this week and made two tags. I showed how to create the first tag that uses several techniques. First color the tag - direct to paper - using a distress pad (I used denim but give other colors a try: Anita used twig and it was awesome). It will be a bit blotchy at first but does even out. Ink up a background stamp with another color of distress. (I used shabby shutters and Anita used marmalade). Before stamping, generously spritz with pearl misters (I used green patina and Anita used sunflower). Stamp and let dry. For the flower, I embossed with white powder on watercolor paper. To color the flower I used two colors of discress stains. First I used velvet and just a touch of mahogany in the center. To move the color around, just touch excess color with your finger and then touch another area. Spritz with pearl mister to blend the colors and let dry. Once dry, I colored the stamens with markers and used just a touch of glossy accents. I also colored the lacy die cut with stains and used a green distress ink to color white cardstock for the leaves which I punched using a circle punch.

 October 25, 2011. Tag Techniques #5 , Stamping on canvas

Kitty shared this tag with us. You can use sticky back canvas or adhere canvas to cardstock. The canvas was colored using direct to paper (broken china) taking care not to press too hard and loose the woven look. The edges were inked with broken china and the background was stamped in sapphire.  You can spritz with pearl mists, but don't try to adhere the embossed vellum until it is totally dry. I used biscotti and it didn't show up. The vellum is adhered with tiny drops of glossy accents behind the embossed lettering. The butterfly was punched and embossed in silver. The flower was white embossing on watercolor paper then direct to paper with a distress ink (lavender) followed by a touch of a darker color (new purple) and a spray of pearl mist. When the flower is totally done, use marker to highlight the stamens and dot with glossy accents.

November 8, 2011. Tag Techniques #6, Embellishments
Directions for this tag's background:  use Sapphire DTP on a tag and let dry. Spritz a snowflake stamp twice with Pearl mister and stamp onto tag. Blot off stamp, respray and restamp. Sprinkle with water if you like the blotchy distressed look.

For the snowflake under the bird: Punch from cream paper, ink with distress stain (weathered wood) and spritz with Pearl mister. Dry. A snowflake brad is used on the top right.

For the ticket: Stamp the Holtz ticket stamp and the words "peace" with sapphire ink on cream paper. Cut out and ticket punch corners. Crumple and smooth out. Blend ink over top. I used weathered wood. Staple onto tag.

For the bird: Die cut shape from grunge board. Apply a medium coat of rock candy crackle paint and let dry throughly. Clean up excess paint from the edges after drying. I suggest that you cut and prepare several; not because you will have mistakes, but because they are so much fun to make. Color with distress stains. I used a light touch and dabbed on several layers of color. For this bird I think I used sapphire, wood, picket fence and pine. Don't overthink it, just enjoy the results. Even when using the same colors a second time you will get different results. Keeping a cloth handy is helpful for blotting off excess color. Attach using pop dots. More embellishments made with this technique can be seen on the Stamping Page under Nov 6.

See my posting for January 31 for some perfect pearl technique tags.