Thursday, December 2, 2010

The 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 2

Before I get into today's tag, can I just say that this has been one remarkable week?  Well, this is MY blog, so why am I asking your permission?  IT'S BEEN ONE REMARKABLE WEEK!!!!

First, I won something on Wendy's blog just for leaving a comment.
Then, last night I managed to win something by being the first to respond to one of Mario's tweets.  Me.....winning with a tweet?  Insane!  Totally dumb luck, as I'm not exactly the techno queen around here.  Something else pretty cool happened yesterday.....my Vagabond arrived!  And wouldn't you know it....today's tag does not require any cutting or embossing.  LOL!  (Oh, and I guess I'll mention that tomorrow is my birthday.  What a way to start the celebrating!)

OK, enough about me and my good fortune.  On to the tag.....Tim's main technique today is to create your own custom stamp pad with cut-n-dry felt. (Click HERE to see Tim's tag on his blog.) Scratch that.  I have none.  I do have a sponge product that I scored at last year's Ranger warehouse sale, but I think it must be meant to be used with something other than distress reinkers, because I tried it and.....well, let's just say it wasn't a pretty sight.  Back to the drawing board.

After several false starts and discarded tags, here is what I managed to come up with:



I stamped the Santa image with brown archival ink, then did some coloring with gel pens.  When that was dry I covered the whole image with embossing ink, using a perfect medium brush pen.  Then I covered it with clear embossing powder and heat set it.  Tim is right.....it would have been easier with the custom pad.  But, we make do with what we have and then create a wish list.

The background colors are weathered wood, stormy sky, and pumice stone.  The script was stamped with pumice stone and the snowflakes with stormy sky.  Barn door and aged mahogony were used on the sentiment.

Tim added a bauble to his tag, and his bird accoutrement.  I tried a few options and they all looked busy to me on my tag.  I finally decided to scratch the bauble and use a small snowflake charm.

If you look at Tim's tag, he used black enamel accents to add dots to the letters of his greeting.  I didn't think black would work on mine, so I used some white enamel accents and hated the dots so much I swiped them off immediately.  If you look closely, you can see remnants, but that just adds to the vintage look. (At least that's what I'm telling myself.)

Now on to my Wendy-inspired version of today's tag....which I actually like quite a bit better than the one I just showed you.


Background colors started out with the same blues I used on the first tag, but eventually peeled paint and forest moss changed all that to green.    The word believe is from the Just Word Art set.

The script in the background (done with frayed burlap) is from Wendy's Botanical Art set. There is a flower in that set which I think looks like a poinsettia when you stamp it twice, side by side, bottoms facing each other, slightly overlapping.  That's what you see in the background, in worn lipstick. 




As for the focal point.....the ornament.  It is actually the cool round pumpkin-like flower from Wendy's Lower Case Art set.  I stamped it with embossing ink on grungepaper, covered it with black embossing powder and heat set it.  I did this twice, and cut them out.  Then I used barn door ink and a blending tool on part of each one, and did the clear embossing powder/heat set thing.  When cool, I finished coloring with peeled paint and repeated the embossing, heating. 

You can't tell from the photo, but the ornament is dimensional.  I cut away the outside sections of one of the flowers, and stapled it to the full flower, folded it in half so it pops up a bit.  I covered the staples with black ribbon.

On this tag, one of Tim's baubles looked just right, at least where I put it.  I didn't bother trying any enamel accent dots....learned my lesson on tag 1!

Now I'm off to play with the Vagabond!!




24 comments:

Helen said...

Love both your tags, but especially the second one. Happy Birthday for tomorrow.

Angie Hall Haviland said...

Fabulous Tags!! (I'll be uploading mine in a bit) :) Didn't know you ordered a vagabond....ENJOY!!!

and CONGRATS on your prizes!!!

grannypoppy said...

I really like the Wendy- interpretation tag. Isn't it funny how so many different variations can be achieved with just a tweak here and there! I just am so amused that mine look SO different, when I am TRYING to COPY them EXACTLY!! lol

Enjoy your Vagabond play ... mine is in transit! Can't wait :)

Alicia B said...

Beautiful Tags Eileen!! Congrats on the Vagabond and have a blast playing with it, can't wait to see what you create next! *Hugs*

Debby said...

Oh my gosh your tags are stunning! Love what you did with the Wendy version. You should send her a picture of that tag. Have fun with your new toy!

Art By Wanda said...

a great way to make it work without the cut 'n dry. I LOVE your Wendy tag!!! Gorgeous!!!

Elaine A said...

Congratulations Eileen! Lucky, lucky girl! I love both your cards, they are awesome. I especially love your ornament on the Wendy card. Its beautiful!
Have a wonderful birthday tomorrow. Wishing you loads of good things tomorrow and always.

Elaine Allen

Tammy D said...

Love the tags. Don't know which is my favorite. You are on a roll. Happy Birthday tomorrow. Hope you have more fun than me! PS you picked a great day to be born!!

Vic said...

They are both great! I love your innovations! LOL

Congrats on the wins!

slbt17 said...

Congratulations and Happy Birthday - may the rest of the week be just as much fun. Love the tags!
Sandra

Jason said...

your tags look great and lucky you for winning twice and then of course getting your vagabond. I am soooooo jealous.

~JaSON

Diann said...

You so are a winner so enjoy all your surprises and especially the Vagabond - makes an awesome Birthday present! I love both tags and the way you did your own Tim one, but the Wendy ornament is just fantastic! Happy Birthday a day early! Diann

inge said...

"lang zal ze leven, lang zal ze leven in de gloria"

( Dutch birthdaysong : " may she live long..."
Happy birthday tomorrow !!

Present are always nice, but unexpected surprises are the best !
Winning something when you didn't expect it, makes you make a happy dance :)

And a vagabond on the way... let us now how you feel working with it ! I'm still in doubt for a cinch ( have nothing for binding with rings) or a vagabond ( I do have a cuttlebug that works...)

I like your first tag the most especially for the background and the colors !
I wonder why you don't like this as much as the second one. Only thing I could think of is that the Santa is quite small considering the big tag and maybe loses the fact of being the focal point on your tag.

On your second tag I like the background again, but my favorite is the dimensional christmasball !

greetings from belgium
Inge

Renee said...

Congrats on all the good fortune...and just in time for your bday. Have fun with all your new goodies.

Gerrie Johnnic said...

OMGosh, all that in 1 post...first congrats & congrats on your 2 wins, thaen a big Congrats on your scoring a Vagabond! and then 2 great tags today....luv esp. how you used W's flower, great imagination GF! xxoo

Bearcrazyman said...

Well Now, call me crafty? LOL
Hope your Birthday is Fantastic. Spend all day playing and creating if you can. Im so envying that Vagabond. :)

Kathy Eddy said...

Gorgeous tags Eileen and I have to agree about the Wendy one. It is fantastic. I love how you 3-d'd the flower.

Shelly Hickox said...

Love the idea of doing two different tags - each inspired by a different artist. They are fantastic! I have to say tho, the colors and design of the second tag are truly stunning.

Anonymous said...

Oh my absolutely beautiful tags.
Congratulations on your wins....

2amscrapper said...

great idea to use that flower stamp to make an ornament!

Cheryl said...

I love both tags but the 2nd one is tops. I love that you used a pumpkin to make the ornament. I would have never thought of that but may end up casing you.

Unknown said...

Your tags are fabulous! My fav is the 2nd one ... love those flowers in the background. And the dimensional pumpkin-thingy with the baubles ... perfect! Oh, and Congrats on your double-win this week! I thought I saw a crazy lady dancing in the streets when I looked over the river yesterday! lmao And ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Kerry said...

I love both your tags today - each for something totally different. Every day you give me inspiration and a reason to keep trying. Thank you for sharing.

Lori said...

Both are awesome. I love how you used Wendy's pumpkin like stamp for that ornament, really brilliant, and looks great! And I must say, it really has been your week, woohoo for you!