Hello Monday my friends! Welcome to our final challenge of the month for April this year - TAG IT. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge encourages you to join us this week as we work with tags!
It has been a joy having Sabrina Perna with us this month! I've really enjoyed her creative take on our April challenges as I am sure you have. Wishing you the best Sabrina, and looking forward to more inspiration!
I was inspired by recent events in France to pull out photos from my trip there with my sister a few years ago, and create a mini tag book. I really enjoyed my trip down memory lane as I looked through my photos, deciding which ones to use.
I started by folding four #10 tags up to the circle.
Then, I decided to use watercolor on my tags and play with some blending and dripping to cover both sides. To speed up the drying process, I use my heat tool on both sides of the tag.
Note - on the left you can see my palette (Tim Holtz alcohol ink palette) that I squirt a bit of the tube watercolor into, let it dry and write initials with a Sharpie to remind me what each one is. I also made myself a sample sheet with each color, which helps me to select exactly what color I want to use.
Next step - I gathered several stencils and laid them down on top of the dry tags. I rubbed through them with a baby wipe to remove some paint and let the design show through.
Then I made the tags into a book. I trimmed an inch off the end of each tag and adhered two tags together at the short end. Next, I punched squares into the larger end that would be joined, and added the squares to the design.
Now to stamp on some fun designs, with stamps from Andrea Ockey Parr and Seth Apter, words, bits of bright stamped papers, and I am ready to add in my photos.
Here's a quick tour of the tag book - yes, that is a very happy me to be at the Eiffel Tower, and one of the gorgeous lamps on the Seine.
I can see in looking at our photos, purple clothes were a favorite, as well as French wine!
No trip to France is complete without getting your daily loaf of crusty French bread and croissants. Then there was a custom new to me - fresh radishes with a bit of butter and salt. Weird, but good!
I loved seeing the beautiful bridge designs and riverboats. We took a river cruise from the south of France up towards Paris, then stayed in an apartment in Paris - oh what an adventure!!
Yes, I think Paris needs some angels, especially to watch over the rebuilding of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
I hope I've inspired you to pull out your tags and create something to share with us this week! I am looking forward to seeing what you make. One lucky participant will be drawn at random to win a $50 voucher from our generous friends at Simon Says Stamp!
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Be sure to head on over to see how the design team is using tags this week, it's sure to be spectacular!
Oh WOW Maura! what a fabulous keepsake!! I love the idea of a little tag album, very very cute and I am definitely going to be having a go at making one of these, very lovely :-)
ReplyDeletehope you have a great week!
luv
Lols x x x
what an adorable little book full of special memories to treasure, hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeleteEeeeeee! That is me squealing happily over this project! Not only were we tag book sisters this week, but I am always so thrilled when I see the brilliant ways you use my stamps! I am totally going to steal some of your methods with the border images. And how cool to have such an artistic memento of a trip that looks amazing! You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteGreat way to keep your memories! Your mini album is totally brilliant! fantastic colors and design and your pictures are fabulous! Barbara
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun tag book, Maura! So fun that you made it travel themed. Hugs, Sandra
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