Saturday, December 11, 2010

The 12 Tags of Christmas -- Day 11

I conked out early last night, and consequently was wide awake before 5am this morning.  Grabbed a cup of coffee, headed to Tim's blog, and once again, was rewarded with a great technique ..... cutting custom stamps with dies, using ..... are you ready for this ..... fun foam!

One minor problem.  After a thorough search, not a bit of the foam in my possession.  I found some foam-like substance that was part of some packing material, but it was way too thick for the dies to cut.  Now, I'm not close enough to a store to buy some, and I certainly lack the patience to order it and wait.  I've made 10 tags on the days Tim published his, and today would be no exception.

I went to the one place that often provides me with very satisfactory crafting solutions ..... my kitchen.

This is what I found in the under-the-sink cabinet:


I love this product for cleaning, but would it work for stamp making?  It's not quite as wide as Tim's on the edge dies, and on the thick side, but I thought it might work.  First I sliced it into two pieces as though cutting bread (thinking it was too thick as is).  The serrated knife glided through it like butta!  I followed Tim's directions from this point, and created these two stamps, one for my Tim tag, the other for my Wendy version:



So far, so good.  But would they take the embossing ink?  Would they stamp a clear image?  A great big resounding YES on both counts!  I'm not one to brag, but c'mon....is this a solution or what?  I'm not claiming that these stamps will last as long as the ones made from fun foam (which I sure intend to get), but they allowed me to complete my day 11 tags on day 11.  Which is all I wanted.

Here is my first tag:


I used my new snowflake on-the-edge stamp on the side, just as Tim did. (As I mentioned before, my stamp isn't long enough to cover the entire length of the tag, but I was able to reink part of it and continue the line of snowflakes seamlessly.) 

Instead of cutting the pine tree die that Tim used (from grungeboard), I used the branch tree instead.  Inked it with stained walnut and vintage photo and embossed with stained walnut distress embossing powder.  I don't have sparkly fluff, so I used white flock for the snow covered branches.   Pretty much everything else is according to Tim's directions, just in my own color choices.

This is the Wendified tag I made next:




I discovered that the crucial part of one of Wendy's stamps fit perfectly on the paper that goes behind the ornate plate.  All you have to do to use only part of a stamp is mask off the unwanted parts with tape, ink, remove the tape and stamp.  I even had a little room on the side for Wendy's small dandelion.

No need for a snow covered tree on this tag.  I used Tim's fanciful flight die and arranged it so you just see a profile of the butterfly.  The bottom layer was inked with wild honey and rusty hinge, then over stamped with one of Wendy's backgrounds.  The top layer (with the cutouts) was inked with faded jeans and broken china and then embossed with broken faded jeans distress embossing powder.  And keeping with all of Tim's techniques, I covered the head (is that what it is???) of the butterfly with brown flock.

I added one of Wendy's butterflies to finish it off, and created the antennae with some wire and two small beads.

Eleven days of wonderful tags, lots of inspiration and a whole bunch of fun.  Thanks, Tim!


35 comments:

Neil said...

Hi, I like your take on Tim's tag. Your sure sound like someone who makes a plan! I definately would not of thought of the kitchen! Very impressed!
I think you Wendy inspired tag is absolutely gorgeous! (If I had any book plates left I would give it a go but alas I used my last one this morning on Tag 11) Thanks for sharing!

Helen said...

Great tags again, very impressive sourcing of your materials! I am just going to cheat and stamp mine!!

SusanK said...

Love them both! Good job on using your head to come up with an alternative when necessary! You rock!

Alicia B said...

Wow Eileen, How Ingenious of you!!! LOVE both tags done today and I can't wait to see tomorrow's! *hugs*

sue Young said...

Your under-the-sink solutions is hilarious...and genius!Way to go Eileen!

Paulien van den Bosch said...

Your tags came out BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
Don't you just love him??? The guy is a genious.

Jamie Cox said...

Now that's using your noodle! I would have never thought of using magic erase. I've been trying to come up with something to use for my custom stamp all morning, will be checking under my sink..lol...Thanks for sharing!

Jamie (ATTer)

Karen said...

Go Eileen, go!
22 fabulous tags already: You're nearly there!
Really admire your ability to find crafty substitutes too :)

Anonymous said...

What a great tip... You are soooo very talented... Wonderful tags

Vic said...

You've rocked the tags again! Both are fantastic!

Unknown said...

I've got magic eraser, WAHOO!! Thanks for sharing and your tags are gorgeous.

cariena basson said...

wow.....seriously, i think your Tim Tag is FANTASTIC!! Wendy's too, but i just love the tree!!!

Angie Hall Haviland said...

OMG Eileen!!! That is FABULOUS!!! What an idea...that rocks. As a mother of three I didn't think anything could make me love the Magic Eraser more...but you've done it!! another amazing use for an amazing product!! HEE HEE and it gave me a good chuckle!!

Kathy Eddy said...

You are so resourceful girl! How ingenious of you. I have to finish up day 10's tag yet and then try today's. Gotta get back to work and then hope to spend the evening in my studio.

Mary-Beth said...

Freakin' brilliant Eileen!! Love both tags!

Elaine A said...

Eileen -

I'm sitting here laughing. I have a vision of you running around at 5am looking for a sponge like material to cut with dies! You are impressive woman! When you want something, you want it!! LOL! Awesome job on the tags and worth the sponge hunt!

Elaine Allen

france papillon said...

LOL, magic eraser? what a more than great idea! your rock ... and you save my day as i don't have any foam either (but i do have magic eraser ;) and those two tags are just so gorgeous!!! i can give you my adress if you don't know what to do with them :) France

Bearcrazyman said...

If necessity is the mother of invention....
You my dear are the Queen Mother!

Way to go!

Lori said...

Look at you, using Mr. Clean in ways he never thought possible..lol! These tags are awesome as usual, love the use of the branch tree in place of the pine, and that butterfly on the Wendy tag is gorgeous! Another wonderful interpretation by the "Mother of Invention"....lol....

Diann said...

Fantastic use of the Magic Eraser!
You have done another awesome job on your Tim inspired tag! Again, I love both of your tags! Diann

Kerry said...

Eileen - Day 11 - another winner! And I have one of those Mr. Clean-very impressed with your substitution! I'm going to be sad to see this end!

Inge said...

good morning Eileen !

GET OUT OF YOUR BED RIGHT NOW !!! You WON on Tim's blog !!!

I was reading the comments and was laughing reading yours. Strange but I thought of you in the way it was written....and then I read your name !! LOL

I'm also in love with the idea to make stamps with the edgedies ! I don't know if I have fun foam and I don't think I will find something similar as you in my kitchen !! Great, great solution !! THAT'S creativity !!

I like your tags, mostly the tim inspired one ! Nice colors, also love the tree. That's one to add on my list...

Enjoy todays tag and videos: I will be creating too today :)

greetings from belgium
Inge

Cheryl said...

Eileen congratulations on your win from Tim. Your tags have been great fun to look at.

Nancy said...

Clever! VERY clever!! Like you, I am pretty sure I have one of those erasers & I know I don't have any foam. Cool! Thank you for the tip!

Great tags, as always!

Darla said...

Eileen,
I really enjoy your blog and your creations! Very inspirational as always! You deserve the "winner" status that you have received! Congratulations Eileen!
Darla

Elaine Akers said...

See, nothing is safe in our homes when it comes to creating. Great thinking on your part with using the eraser sponges. Great tags, Eileen. I am still days behind in making my tags.

Bearcrazyman said...

Congrats on winning. You deserve it.

Michelle N said...

Congratulations on your Tim win! I visit your blog regularly and have enjoyed the sharing YOU'VE done including your Altered Book and the Technique Tuesday tips. Happy Holidays!

Shelly Hickox said...

I just HAD to come over here and see what you did w/Mr. Clean, lol! I love that idea!! Your tags are wonderful and the colors in the first one have inspired me to go in a totally new direction w/my tag.

Oh, and a big congrats on winning today - WTG!!

Unknown said...

Both your tags are simply gorgeous today! And, with your newly made stamps, they can make a mess, and clean it up too! hahahahaha!

Dorothy said...

Eileen!!! you are one amazing cookie!!!
Love the tags!!!
Love the magic eraser!

Kathy2eggs said...

Leave it up to you to find the Magic Eraser...I have plenty of them, since I rarely clean...lol...very nice tags..

Heidi Bound said...

SO SO SO SO SMART! I love it!

MarleneMAZ said...

Great tags! you have been really great at thinking outside the box for these. I also love how you and Lori are doing 2 versions of the tags.

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