Scraps and Ink

WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!

    I am happy to announce that Bobbi Beech and Pam Thornburn are the winners of the "12 Tags of Fall" give-a-way!!! YAY!!!

Pam has won the bag of godies containing the Distress Inks, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and other assorted ephemera!

And Bobbi has won the hanging metal wall tag holder to display her own tags!

So ladies...plz email me with your shipping addy so I can get your prizes out to you ASAP!!!

Thanks to everyone who played along and left comments- your kind words truly do warm my heart!

Thanks sooooooo much for stopping by!

much love,

nancy

Fall Tag #12

I am soooo sorry for the missing post for yesterday! My laptop was being flaky, and when I clicked "publish post", I walked away for the day without double checking to make sure the post actually happened. And of course, it never published my post! So here is yesterday's post: 

Well, we are at the end of our "12 Tags of Fall", and I must say that it has been sooooo much fun! I hope you all have enjoyed playing along. :) Have you have learned some new techniques to try? What were your faves? Did you give them all a try? I hope you got to get your hands inky and create something fabulous! To me that is the fun of it all- getting inky and creating things that make me happy. And this last tag truly makes me happy! I think I have saved the best for last. To me this tag is the best of the 12, and I LOVE everything about it.

Fall Tag #12

Isn't it pretty?! So let's get started!

Step 1:

Stamp text repeatedly onto tag, covering entire surface. Set with a heat tool.

Step 2:

Using embossing ink (or watermark ink), stamp surface repeatedly with a flourish stamp. Try to stamp image onto as much of the tag as possible without overlapping image.

Step 3:

Cover entire surface of tag with clear embossing powder.

Step 4:

Using heat tool, heat embossing powder til powder turns clear. Allow to cool.

Step 5:

Using an ink blending tool, shade entire tag surface with brown ink.

Step 6:

Notice how the text on the tag background looks lighter, while the text under the embossed flourish looks darker? LOVE that reverse effect!

Step 7:

Ink an area of your craft mat with orange ink. It is important to use a craft mat, or any other slick, non-stick surface for this step.

Step 8:

Spray inked craft mat with water. I keep a small spray bottle filled with water near my desk for this and other techniques.

Step 9:

Place a small chipboard frame face down in ink. Rub frame into ink with a circular motion. Continue until all ink has been absorbed into frame.

Step 10:

Allow inked frame to dry completely. You can also use a heat tool to speed up this step.

Step 11:

Lightly inks surface of frame with brown ink.

Step 12:

Remove backing from frame and adhere to vintage paper or other ephemera sheet.

Trim paper from around frame.

Step 13:

Attach lace and ribbon to tag. I prefer to use hot glue for this step, but be careful- hot glue is really HOT!!! (Still sportin' the band-aid from a previous incident.)

Step 14:

Add sentiment to chipboard frame and add frame to tag. Add additional embellishments such as buttons, felt leaves, faux berries and ephemera fruit label. 

Tie a pretty ribbon to the top and you're done! 

So there you have it! 12 of 12. :) I am a little sad to be finished with the 12 Tags of Fall, but excited to give away some fabulous prizes to my readers!!! You want to see what you will win?

Give-a-way #1:

Set of Distress Inks in three fall colors- "Gathered Twigs, Ripe Persimmon, and Seedless Preserves", Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in "Coffee Shop", and an assortment of vintage goodies and ephemera- some of which I used on the 12 Tags of Fall.

Give-a-way #2:

A metal wall display hanger to hang your very own "12 Tags of Fall"- just like the one below (tags not included).

*****Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win! You have until tomorrow (MONDAY) 12:00 noon (MST) to leave a comment on each day's tag. The more tags you comment on, the more chances you have of winning one of the two prizes! I will randomly choose two winners and will announce those winners Monday evening 8:00 pm (MST). 

Thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy

Fall Tag #11

Wow! Only two more tags to go! Have you learned some fun new techniques to try? I really hope I have shown you some cool things you can do with products you already have, or inspired you to take a second look at products you may have overlooked in the craft store because you were not sure how to use them. I am in NO WAY trying to get you to buy the products I am using on these tags, but some products just work better than others at achieving the results I am showing you. I use certain products based on my own past experiences- successes AND failures. Use what you already have, and experiment with them. You may just surprise yourself and come up with a new technique that you just love! I truly do hope you have a chance to try some of these techniques on your own tags, scrapbook pages and cards.

So without further adieu:

Fall Tag #11

Let's get started!

Step 1:

Using an ink blending tool, color tag with light tan ink.

Step 2:

Add more color to tag with a dark green color of ink.  

Step 3:

Make a cup with your hand, and fill hand with a small amount of water. Flick water onto tag surface. Allow water to sit on tag for a moment and then dry tag with a heat tool. Repeat as many times as you like to achieve varied looks.   

Step 4:

Dampen and crumple and old recipe. Flatten back out with your hand and allow to dry. I don't know about you, but reading this recipe sure is making me hungry. :) I have always wondered what to do with those extra slabs of thickly sliced warthog meat, not to mention those pesky dead possum we always see on the side of the road. I especially like how it says to only use 1/2 possum. You can save the the other half for breakfast possum omelets the next day. YUMMM!!!!! As my grandma used to say: "waste not, want not."    

In my hurried excitement to use this recipe on my tag, I seem to have forgotten to take a photo of "Step 5". So here goes:

Step 5:

Glue recipe to tag and cut off excess.

Step 6:

Add coppery letter stickers to tag.

Step 7:

Add ribbons to bottom of tag. I find that using hot glue to adhere the ends of the ribbon to the back of the tag works well. For a bit of contrast, use ribbons with varied textures- like this satin paisley with the brown striped twill.  

Step 8:

Add a leaf and dried fruit slice using hot glue. (Because everyone knows you simply must have some sort of acidic element when cooking that fabulous road kill dish) Dried fruit slices can be found at just about any craft store or even in bags or potpourri (that's where mine is from). I think apple slices would look great on this tag also, don't you? (Not sure how apple tastes with possum though...or the occasional slab of warthog.)  

Step 9:

Attach additional twill, a tied button and mini pine cones. Tie a ribbon to the top of the tag and you're done!

So there you go!

Before you run off to scrape that critter off the road to make your own batch of piping hot Possum Stew, don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win the big give-a-way: a goodie bag with a set of Distress Inks in three fabulous fall colors, a bottle of glimmer mist, and a cool assortment of vintage ephemera, and the second give-a-way: your own "12 Tags of Fall" wire tag holder to display all 12 tags!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy    

Fall Tag #10

Hard to believe we are on Tag #10 already! We have learned quite a few new techniques along the way, and although I have oodles more in my little bag-o-tricks, I only have two more tags to share after this one. (((sigh))) No worries, though, I am cramming a few new techniques into each tag so you don’t run out of things to try.

You didn’t think I could do the “12 Tags of Fall” without adding at least one pumpkin did you? Of course not! And this little beauty is oh-so-cute!

Fall Tag #10

Step 1:

For this background, I wanted a wood-grain look, but alas, I do not have a wood-grain stamp (I think I need to get one of those A.S.A.P.). So I did a little improvising and decided to use the next best thing- a Sizzix texture folder! So here we go:

Cover one side of texture folder with brown ink.

Step 2:

Press tag down onto inked surface. Using a brayer, roll firmly over back of tag to evenly distribute ink. You could run tag and folder thru your Sizzix machine at this point to create the actual wood-grain texture (because, after-all, that is what the folders are for). I just wanted the pattern on my tag, rather than the texture.

Remove tag and admire your cool, new “stamping” technique.

Step 3:

Add more color to your tag using brown ink and ink blending tool.

Step 4:

Spray entire surface of tag with brown spray mist, and dry with a heat tool.

Step 5:

Add torn strip of ephemera paper to top of tag. Trim off excess and re-punch hole at top of tag.

Step 6:

Draw and cut out pumpkin shape from heavy chipboard or “grungeboard”.

Step 7:

Using a brush, paint entire surface of pumpkin with a layer of brown craft paint. Allow to dry completely.

Step 8:

Brush surface of pumpkin with a coat of crackle medium. Allow crackly medium to dry just til tacky to the touch. Do NOT allow to dry completely.

Step 9:

Brush on an even coat of orange craft paint. Orange paint will crack slightly as it dries, revealing a bit of the brown paint. Allow orange paint to dry completely.

Step 10:

Lightly sand surface of tag to reveal a bit more brown paint.

Step 11:

Adhere pumpkin to tag.

Step 12:

Add small twig to top of pumpkin (stem), and add leaves, dried florists’ moss, and curly paper covered wire (vines).

Step 13:

Add button, flower, and sentiment to tag. Tie a pretty copper ribbon to the top and you’re done!

So there you have it. :) 10 down and only 2 more to go!

*****Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win some fabulous prizes! You could win a brand new set of  Distress Inks in three gorgeous fall colors, a bottle of glimmer mist and a totally cool collection of ephemera goodies to make your tags truly special and unique!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy

Fall Tag #9

So here we are on the back half of the "12 Tags of Fall", and I am feeling a bit sad to be this close to the end. :( Hmmmmm.....I may need to do some Christmas tags for December, no? Actually, I AM planning on playing along with the Tim Holtz tags just as I have done in previous years, and I hope you can play along as well! Besides the Christmas tags, I am also planning some fun Christmas projects using all sorts of goodies from the Nordic Holiday collection from Basic Grey! I am thinking a fun advent calendar, or how about some quick gift tags? Should be fun!

Okay, back to Fall. :)

This next tag is my absolute FAVE! It is very vintage, with just a touch of grunge and a bit of lace. And anyone who knows me also knows that my world simply could not exist without a bit of dark red, old photos, and gingham fabric. Those three things simply make me happy, so to combine them in one craft project is a "tri-fecta" of goodness! And just look at that vintage photo of the two little girls! I have two girls of my own, so this photo is just too darling NOT to use!

Fall Tag #9

Step 1:

So let's get started with the absolute MUST-HAVE of any crafter- Mod Podge decoupage medium! I just don't know how anyone could live without this stuff! I keep several bottles on hand at all times- gloss, matte, semi-gloss, satin...and yes, I can find a use for all four finishes on a single project! For this project, we are using the standard matte finish.

Cover entire surface of tag with decoupage medium.

Step 2:

While decoupage medium is still very wet, press tag, wet side down onto a dictionary page.

Don't be too picky about the words on the dictionary page. Most of the text will be removed in Steps 4 & 5, and then covered up with embellishments.

Step 3:

When tag is completely dry, trim off any excess dictionary page, and re-punch hole in top of tag.

Step 4:

Cover a small area of tag with masking tape.

Step 5:

Remove masking tape. Notice how text is also removed along with the tape? Cool huh? Repeat this step until you have removed as much or as little of text as you like.

Step 6:

Using ink blending tool, shade surface of tag using cream and light tan colors of ink.

Step 7:

Drag distressing tool along all edges of tag. Shade edges of tag with brown ink using ink blending tool.

Step 8:

Add a rub-on/stamped sentiment or word to top of tag (this step not pictured). Add vintage photo and bookplate containing additional word or sentiment.

Step 9:

Add lace, ribbon, strips of gingham fabric, buttons, leaves, berries....or any other embellishments you would like. Tie top of tag with pretty lace and you're done!

Ahhhhh.....such vintage loveliness! This really is my favorite tag of the lot.....so far (wink-wink). I just love anything vintage- especially if it has touches of red. Okay, confession time:

See that lovely red lace at the top of the tag? You will NEVER guess where it came from! I cut it right off of one of my favorite nightshirts. Seriously. I had bought the red nightshirt last year because it was long and cozy and had a the prettiest silver snowflake pattern on a red background, AND lovely red lace all around the neckline. So I got it home and tried it on, and the lace itched my neck like crazy!!! I washed it to see if that would soften the lace, but nope. So I promptly got out my fabric scissors and proceeded to cut the lace right off. But what to do with such pretty lace? KEEP IT for future craft projects, of course!!!

So folks, when you have the chance, or the "need" to remove certian things from an article of clothing...lace, buttons, trim, ribbons, embroidered patches, etc... SAVE THEM!!! You never know when they may be that perfect little touch to finish off a fabulous craft project.

Thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy  

Fall Tag #8

So here we are again my friends! Ready for #8 of the "12 Tags of Fall"? I really hope that as you play al0ng, and make s0me of your very own tags, that you share your creations with me! I love to see everyone's interpretations, and I am always inspired by what other people come up with!

Fall Tag #8

Step 1:

Using a warm red color, ink directly onto your work surface. (You may want to use a craft mat or glass mat for this step so you do not get your table/desk all inky!) Ink an area that is slightly larger than the size of your tag.

NOTE: we are using a red ink, but since we are coloring a manilla tag that is slightly yellow to begin with, the end result is a warm orange color- LOVE that!

Step 2:

Spray inked area with a couple squirts of water. I keep a small spray bottle on my desk for this purpose.

Step 3:

Press tag down onto wet surface. Allow ink and water to soak into tag for a moment.

Step 4:

Lift tag from surface and dry with a heat tool.



Step 5:

Add additional dimension and color by spraying with brown glimmer mist (not pictured). Dry with a heat tool.  



Step 6:

Using a craft stick, add a rub-on, design, or sentiment to bottom of tag.

Step 7:

Using black ink, stamp text/script along side of tag.

Step 8:

Using spray mist and ink, "age" a small copy of a document. These types of document images can be found online, or in ephemera books. You could even use a photo copier to scan, reduce, and print your own document for a truly personal touch.   

Step 9:

Add tiny clip, document, flowers, leaves and other small embellishments to tag.

Tie with a pretty velvet ribbon and you're done!



Did you notice that we used embellishments in two different languages? Yup! The text and rub-on are in French, and the document is in German....I think?! I do not know German, but it looked a bit German to me, so if I am wrong, please let me know- I wouldn't want to offend any of my international friends. :)

Anywho, there you have it! I am having sooooo much fun with these tags and I just can't wait til we are done and I get to give away some goodies! Don't forget...I would LOVE to see the tags you are creating, so send me links to your work!

Take care!

later,

nancy

Fall Tag #7

Seven already? WOW! Time flies when you're having fun, huh?

So for the previous two tags (#5 & #6), I decided to take a little detour from the fall theme and did a bit more of a non-seasonal look. But never fear, my love of all things fall has not wained and I am back with some truly Autumn inspired goodness! You didn't think I could do a fall tag without a little touch of nature, did you? I have been dying to share this one with you all, so let's get started!

Fall Tag #7

 

Step 1:

Using your fave color of orange ink and an ink blending tool, color entire surface of tag. 

Step 2:

Using the ink blending tool, add some red ink to a few random spots on your tag.

Step 3:

Place a small amount of water in the cup of your hand and then flick water onto tag. Dry with a heat tool. This technique will remove color from the tag in random spots and create a very unique background. The more water you flick and allow to dry, the lighter the ink will get. Doesn't that look totally cool?  

Step 4:

Tear a 1.5" strip from vintage paper and lightly spray with a light brown spray mist. I also shaded the torn edges by using the ink left over in my ink blending tool from step #2. 

Step #5:

Adhere torn strip of paper to tag and stamp a swirl image onto tag using medium brown ink.

Step 6:

Cut a 4.75" circle from fabric. I LOVE the pattern in this fabric because I have been able to use it for both Fall and Christmas projects. I bought a yard of it two years ago and I still have about 1/4 yard left, so I am hoarding it like crazy!!!  

Step 7:

Using a needle and thread, straight-stitch all the way around the circumference of fabric circle. 

Step 8:

Pull thread taught, creating a pouch. Flatten pouch to create what is referred to in the sewing world as a "yo-yo". I had no idea what these were called or even how to make them til I was nearly 30 yrs old and my friend Crystal L. showed me how to make them! She is the sewing and quilting queen and I love her to death! 

Step 9:

Adhere fabric "yo-yo" to tag. I used a hot glue gun for mine, but remember....be careful!!! Those buggers get H.O.T.!!!

Step 10:

Take a hike.

Seriously. Take a hike! I went for a stroll outside and picked a ton of this stuff. Pretty sure it is just some nasty weed my husband has beed trying to kill, but it "sure does look purty, don't it?"

Gather a few sprigs and tie into a little bundle.

Step 11:

Add weeds...er...dried "foliage" to tag. Adhere buttons, twine, ticket stub, metal token, or whatever else suits your fancy!  Tie a pretty ribbon to the top of the tag and you're done!!!   

So there you have it!!! Stop back by tomorrow for more tag goodness of the "12 Tags of Fall"!!!

*****Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win my fabulous give-a-way!!! You could win a brand new set of  Distress Inks in three gorgeous fall colors, a bottle of glimmer mist and a totally cool collection of ephemera goodies to make your tags truly special and unique!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy

Fall Tag #6

Sorry for the crazy late post!!! My laptop was having some MAJOR issues today and didn't want to work. :( I think the issues have resolved themselves and we should be good to go!

So can you believe we are on Tag #6 already? I hope you are having fun with these cuz I sure am!

This next tag is much like tag #5 in that is is not very "fall-ish". It looks great on it's own and can be displayed all year long. LOVE that! So let's get started!

Fall Tag #6

Step 1:

For the background of this tag, we are going to tear and cut up a sewing pattern, so be sure to use a pattern that you don't plan on using ever again!

Tear and crumple several pieces of sewing pattern.

Step 2:

This next step uses one of my all-time fave techniques- DECOPAUGE!!!

Using a foam brush, cover entire tag with decopauge medium. While medium is still very wet, add torn pieces of sewing pattern and press onto tag. Add a second coat of decopauge medium and allow to dry thoroughly. Trim excess pattern from edges of tag.  

Step 3:

Spray tag with a dark orange spray mist. Due to the non-pourous finish of decopauge medium, spray mist will not readily soak into tag, so "set" ink with a heat tool.

Step 4:

Using a black solvent ink, stamp sentiment onto tag. I like to use StazOn ink for this step because it is permament and works on most non-pourous surfaces.   

Step 5:

Add crocheted trim and fabric measuring tape to tag.

Step 6:

Using pinking scissors, cut a 1.2" x 12" strip from sewing instructions. 

Step 7:

Using a large needle and embroidery floss, hand-stitch along entire edge of paper strip.

Step 8:

Pull embroidery floss taught until paper gathers in the center to make a "rosette". Tie floss to secure.  

Step 9:

Crumple rosette and spray with a brown spray mist. Allow to dry. You can speed up this process with a heat tool.   

Step 10:

Add buttons, leaves, and any other ephemera of your choice to center of rosette.

Step 11:

Add additional decorative elements to tag. Since this tag has a fun "sewing" theme, you could add fabric swatches, more buttons,  mini clothespins, safety pin, and a pretty straight pin to tag. Tie a pretty ribbon to top of tag and you're done!

So there you have it! We're half way thru the 12 Tags of Fall!!!

Only six more to go. And I have new techniques and fun things to share with you, so we'll see you tomorrow! (or later today since it is well after midnight).

later,

Nancy  

Fall Tag #5

o is everyone ready to change their clocks tonight? Thank goodness I had a friend text and remind me! I am terrible at rememering to do that! It is a huge pain going thru the house and changing all the clocks, but to be honest, I am REALLY looking forward to the extra hour of sleep. :)

So are we ready for #5? This tag is a little less "fall" and a whole lot more vintage, but I love how it turned out just the same! In fact, I have a spot in my guest bath where this tag could easily find a home all year long!

Fall Tag #5  

Step 1:

Use a low-tack adhesive to hold a small doily in place on tag. This will work as a "mask" when inking tag in next step.

Step 2:

Using your ink blending tool and brown ink, shade area next to doily. Do this in two areas. I chose the top left, and bottom right side of my tag. (See both doily placements in step #3).
Step 3:

Remove doilies from tag and go back over tag with ink, lightly shading in areas where lace part of doily was covering tag. Try yo keep center areas of doilies free from ink.

Step 4:

Spray a couple areas of tag with orange glimmer mist and dry with a heat tool.

Step 5:

Go back over entire tag with a very light tan ink. Shade in areas that were not previously inked or colored with spray mist. This multi-step process adds alot of depth, age, and "character" to the tag, giving it that truly "vintage" look.  

Step 6:

Scrape edges of tag with edge distresser, and shade edges of tag with brown ink using ink blending tool. 

Step 7:

Ink another doily with a light tan color of ink. This is a new doily, and not the same one we used for our masking technique.  

Step 8:

Adhere doily to center of tag.

Step 9:

Add a strip of burlap or fabric to bottom of tag.

Step 10:

Cut a heart shape out of brown cardstock and glue to center of tag.

Step 11:

Cover entire heart with an assortment of buttons. I used a high-temp glue gun for this part, but BE VERY CAREFUL! I have a giant blister on my pinky finger covered with a band-aid at the moment because I was not being careful. :(

Step 12:

Using black ink, stamp a small image to the top left part of the tag.  

Step 13:

Add beaded trim and a small bookplate with sentiment. Tie a pretty piece of trim to the top of the tag for hanging and you're done!

Well, there you have it!

As mentioned before, even though this tag is not very "fall-ish", the colors work and it looks fabulous with the rest of the tags in the collection!

*****DON'T FORGET to leave a comment for your chane to win some goodies! I am giving away a brand new set of Tim Holtz Distress Inks by Ranger in three gorgeous fall colors, as well as a lovely brown color of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist AND.....I have been rounding up a few vintage goodies to throw in as well!!!  

Thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy 

Fall Tag #4

Are we having fun yet? I know I am!

If you are a crafter like me, then you have a hard time going for days on end without making something crafty. It is a sickness, I tell you! And these little tags are a good way to "get your craft on" without having to go out and spend a dime on new supplies. Everything I am using for these tags is stuff I had on hand. So I cannot stress enough how important it is to USE STUFF IN YOUR OWN STASH! Afterall, that is why you bought the supplies in the first place, right? The tags I am using for my base were sent to my by my dear friend, Lara. She bought a box of like a thousand of those suckers and split them with friends and crafty co-workers to use for just about everything. Now THAT is genius. Thanks Lara!!!

So back to "using what you have". If you do not have the same stamp I am using, use a different stamp. If you do not have the same colors of ink I am using, or the same brand, use what you have. Don't have that embellishment? Use something else. :)

Tag #4

 Isn't it just loverly???

Step 1:

Using black ink and a leaf stamp, do a 
basic "all-over" stamping technique. Use a heat tool to "set" the ink.

CLEAN YOUR STAMP WELL BEFORE THIS NEXT STEP!

Step 2:

Using embossing ink (I like to use Versamark watermark ink, which is similar to clear embossing ink and can be used as such) and do the "all-over" stamping technique again. Try to avoid stamping directly over the previously stamped leaves, but rather more "in between" them. You will overlap a bit, and that's okay. You cannot see the versamark in in the photo below, but trust me, it's there.    

 Step 3:

Cover entire tag with clear embossing powder. You can use UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel), detailed (really fine powder), or regular.

Step 4:

HEAT SET the entire tag with a heat gun until powder is melted and shiny, then allow to cool.

Step 5:

Now the fun part! Using your ink blending tool and two different colors if ink (start with the lightest color first), ink that baby up!!!! Yes, you will get "inky fingers". I press down with a a swirling motion to really work those colors into the tag. You may want to practice this on a piece of cardstock first until you are comfortable with your technique. See how the embossed leaves really stand out now? Love that!      

 

Step 6:

Add more color! I used a dark red glimmer mist to give my background a bit more depth and shimmer. The tag is so pretty "as-is", but I still want to grunge it up and add more "stuff".   

 

Step 7:

Scrape the edges of your tag using an edge distresser, and shade the edges with a dark brown ink. 

Step 8:

Start gluin' stuff on!

Step 9:

Add more goodies! LOVE this mini pumpkin berry stuff. I actually bought this in an 8ft garland and use it draped on my mantel during the fall. I keep stealing snippets of it for smaller projects like this, so my garland is slowly getting shorter and shorter! I need to find more. :)

Step 10:

Sand and ink  edges of chipboard letter tiles and mini chipboard butterfly. These are by The Girl's Paperie (tiles) and Studio Calico (butterfly) OR USE SOMETHING SIMILAR FROM YOUR STASH!

Step 11:

Glue tiles and butterfly onto your tag, loop a pretty ribbon thru the top, and you're done!

How pretty is that? Wow...4 tags down and only 8 more to go!!!

Can't wait to share tomorrow's tag! 'Til then, thanks for stopping by!

later,

nancy