MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES CHALLENGES (JAN 16/2014) - "ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS"

Yippee, it is time for the 2nd  "My Artistic Adventures Challenges"!  Heather has made it so easy for us with her "On the First Day of Christmas" theme.  If you are just getting your head wrapped around crafting in 2014 check out this new crafting challenge rules here!  She has put together an incredible design team, you will certainly be inspired!  I feel so fortunate to be working with this talented bunch.

"On the First Day of Christmas" I dreamt of snow falling and pretty little bluebirds eating the holly berries just outside my window.

Heather's Bluebirds Music Tags collage sheet is what I built this tag on.  I adore the serenity I feel just looking at this image, the perfect vintage holiday of my dreams.  I have carried over this inspiration from my own Christmas In the Bank post.

To start I covered a larger #8 manila tag with a Graphic 45 paper, then popped up the music background from the collage sheet and popped the bluebird image on top of that.  Tip:  create a lot of basic dimension when you want to go over the top with your embellishments.

Trims from my stash included the cream pom poms, silver metallic rick rack, silver "feather" rope, seam binding (bow made with my Mini BowDabra), feathers, a paper rosebud and vintage blue glass beads which I "liberated" from a strung garland.  Soft blue chalk ink on the rose and then blue, red and silver Stickles to finish.

In keeping with another of my goals for 2014, I used the pieces left from this and my Christmas In the Bank project to create two more holiday tags.  I will add ribbons when I use these, love building up my stash!

Note:   I have entered my tag in the ABC Christmas Challenge, Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

VALENTINE'S DAY TAGS

It felt like I was overdue to get my hands into something that wasn't Christmas.  Feeling a bit like that yourself LOL

The "stars" here are the images from paperwhimsy, "Salmagundi Suite Ola".   I covered #8 manilla tags with patterned papers from the Making Memories line "Je T'adore"  and 4" paper doilies (I like the grease proof ones from Wilton as they resist ink smudged fingerprints) to create the backgrounds.  All edges are inked with Tattered Rose Distress Ink and Pink, Gold or Platinum Stickles.  Pearls are from my stash.

Do check out the images at paperwhimsy, I love the versatility of this particular set.  There are enough images with one printing of the set for me to do 8 to 10 large tags, all different!  This first tag I used today for my daughter's birthday.

TIM TAG #9!

Although I have the "I'm Participating" button on my sidebar, it really has been more like "I'm Watching"! LOL

As I had both the dies for this one that made a great start.  Don't you find that when you don't have the basics a lot of time is spent in creating the alternative?  I am typically at my most creative when I have only the barest idea of what I might do and go digging through my stash.

My background stamp is from Heartfelt Creations, the bow and pine cones are MS, I used Soot crackle paint on the candlestick, black Zing on the swirls and Picket Fence crackle paint on the candle itself.  The red berries are a drops of Glossy Accents and MS red micro beads.  I used C'Ordinations stock with a kraft core for the die cuts.  I was surprized to feel a Victorian elegance coming from my tag once I had finished the candle and stopped there.  I may repeat this one!  Thanks as always Tim for the incredible inspiration!

I really want to know!  Do you use your tags?  And what do you do on the back of them?  LOL

RETRO SANTA IMAGE (Three Views)

FRANKEN TAG! - MY TAKE ON A TIM HALLOWEEN TAG

One of the challenges in a group I moderate at Bella Creations (Celebrer La Fete) is to do a Halloween tag inspired by anything Tim Holtz!  I used a challenge Tim offered from 2008 at this link to create mine;
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/october-techniq.html 

A plastic spider done up with several colours of Stickles adds the final perfect touch!  Do come and have some fun with us..

12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS BY TIM HOLTZ - #4

If by chance you don't know about the "12 Tags of Christmas" do go and check it out!  We have a group at "Pages In Time" who are following these together and sharing our tags as we do them.  It is great fun to see everyone's take on each one and to encourage each other!  I confess!  I have only done this one out of the current 5...