Sunday 20 January 2013

Tie It Up - Challenge #11 At Anything But A Card

Hi everyone. Time for another challenge at Anything But A Card and I do hope you'll play along with us.

Your challenge this fortnight is called 'Tie It Up' and you can use ribbon, braid, lace, twine, string - anything that you can tie something up with really! The wonderful thing about the challenges at Anything But A Card is  you can literally design and make anything as long as it's not a card. I love these kind of challenges and judging by the number of entries we're receiving, I think lots of you do too!

As soon as I read the theme, I knew that I would be using natural jute string/twine and braid as I love these materials. They go with so many different colour palettes. I do  love ribbon, but find I rarely use it in my craft work - need to have a play with some I think.

Please do pop over to the blog and see the wonderful work the design team have come up with. Don't forget we have a week 1 design team and another for week 2 so look out for their wonderful makes halfway through the fortnight. (next sunday)

I've made a little gift bag and matching tag using layers of stamping, masking and die cuts.

Here's my make with quite a few photos (so be warned!):

The completed bag with matching tag.The bag was cut using a TH die which I found half price last year and this is the first outing for it. The light is not good for photography at present  so please forgive the shadows. 

The completed tag which is attached to the bag with knotted jute twine.
The flower on the tag was die cut and inked with shimmer spray and dylusion ink spray. Once shaped and layered, some untwisted twine was added as the flower centre.

The background was created on white card using layers of distress ink, stamping and a little stencil work. The card was first lightly sponged with distress ink then randomly stamped with a mesh image and dragon fly image from The Artistic Stamper, using the same colour ink mixed with chalky ink. I wanted these to have a subtle effect but to be seen if you look hard enough. The final stamped layer was done with archival ink. One more layer involved using a dylusion mask with a harlequin image in the gaps between the diamonds.

Two layers of punched scalloped lace edging were used at the top of the bag. One layer was coloured with distress and stamped with script in the same colour. The second layer was cut from kraft card and the edges were inked. The kraft card was used to match with the natural jute braid and twine.
Once the edgings were in place, I covered the cut edge with jute braid and used some more to make the bag handles. A little bow was added to complete the look.



The tag shape was die cut in white card which had more of the same stamped and stencil layers but only using distress ink. A further tag was cut in kraft card and the bottom edge was removed and used as a second scallped edging to match the idea used on the bag. 

A contrast ring from kraft card was used to strengthen the hole. Jute twine was used to attach the tag to one of the handles.

Some additional die cuts were used to complete the tag in matching colours. The blue die cuts were stamped and coloured.

Yet again I need to apologise for my continued absence around blogland. I've commented where I have to and then after that it depends how well I feel. Winter is proving difficult for my chest and sinuses this year so please bear with me. If I don't feel well enough to sit at my desk then you know there's a problem! Positive thinking will hopefully conquer all!!

I hope you like my project this time. Do let me know what you think.



31 comments:

  1. Wow!! I love this!! Sooo much detail! I am so very inspired by what you've created!

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  2. What a magnificent bag/tag Julia. There has been so much to see I've been scrolling up and down your post for five minutes trying to take it all in! Sublime stamping/masking, superb die cut elements and wow what a flower!! There doesn't appear to be much let up in the weather so I hope you are staying in and keeping warm. Take great care of yourself, hugs Jenny x

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  3. A wonderful tag in great color combination

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  4. Like it, I love it! Beautiful colours and that tag is stunning. I love your use of the twine and of course your attention to detail is second to none! Don't worry about the commenting, we know you'll come back to use when you're feeling better. It's this time of year that makes me want to emigrate to warmer climes! Take good care. Suze xx

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  5. Hi Julia, so sorry to hear that you are still having a difficult time with chest and sinus problems, hope this cold snap helps rather than hinders progress.

    Your bag and tag are just stunning! The colours, the stencilling and the flower - oh my goodness, they are all so gorgeous. What a lovely, lovely sight for a cold and dismal winter's day, I just want to stay here looking at them. Do take care......Hugs, Anne x

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  6. Beautiful bag with the tag Julia
    love the colors and every detail.
    Greetings Janny

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  7. Well THAT'S just all kinds of gorgeous!!!!!! I love the flower. Beautiful!

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  8. wonderful Julia--makes my heart sing!

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  9. Oh my word, this is just lovely. I adore the matching bag and card, but my "oh" moment came when I saw that you used untwisted jute for the center of your flower, now that's brilliant! ♥ waving hi from the hills of North Carolina ☺

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  10. Sending huge hugs and hope you are feeling better very soon. This project is wonderful - I adore the colours...everything about it is very inspiring. The flowers are just amazing - I wish I could make something like this! Get well soon Love from Laura xxxxxxxx

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  11. What a stunning combination... love your rich tag and the layers of lace on the bag, not to mention the color combo. Hope you are feeling much better, pronto!

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  12. Unbelievable project... what a joyous celebration of blue and brown (favourite combination), and utterly delectable punching and die-cutting. I've been hovering over the doily lace punch for ages, and you're not helping - and that tag is to die for - is that whole thing a die?! LOVE it... The best thing for me, though, is your amazing layered stamping and stencilling of the harlequin design - completely wonderful. Overall - a triumph, Julia, an absolute triumph...

    Also sending hugs and wishes for a speedy alleviation of your horrid winter symptoms... just happy to see you here!
    Alison xx

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  13. What a cute bag and tag, Julia...the middle of the flower is amazing, as well as the sparkling colour of the flower. The layers on the little bag are so cute!
    Gorgeous creation!

    Hugs, Alie :-)

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  14. A very classy colour combination Julia :) lovely bag and tag
    Von ♥
    Sending positive vibes

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  15. Sorry to hear you're still suffering Julia! Hope you're getting lots of TLC!
    What a lovely tag & gift bag you've created, a gift in itself!
    Take care,
    Alison xx

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  16. Wow... your work is so inspirational. Hope the health improves soon. Take care

    Cassidy

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  17. Gorgeous!!! I love the color scheme, and so fun! It is the present...lol!

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  18. so sorry to hear that you are still feeling so poorly..there are definitely nasty things around..james has just had another week off school...
    I do hope you start to feel better soon..sending hugs!

    your make is gorgeous the colours are so beautiful and I love all your clvere touches..the lace trim edge to your tag..the beautiful layers of stamping..this is a beautiful make ...really beautiful! hugs trace x

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  19. Such a beautiful bag with wonderful colour choices and a wonderful flower on the tag.

    Love Chrissie xx

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  20. This is fabulous Julia, I love the colours and the flower is beautiful.
    xxx Hazel.

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  21. It's lovely, Julia. Gorgeous combo!

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  22. Julia this is lovely. The colourcombination and the textural details means lots of scrummy to look at and absorb. Get better soon!

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  23. Julia, this is a delightful bag and tag. Beautiful colours and textures. Wow factor indeed! Hope you're feeling better. Have a good week. Cheers, Di

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  24. Julia this is fantastic - having looked at the "bag" die I didn't think it would make anything so wonderful! I love your combination of colours and the textures too. And the flower is just gorgeous.

    I hope you have a better week and start feeling better.

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  25. Great bag, tag and colours, love the flower and all the other detsil. Hope you start to feel better soon.

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  26. Your bag & tag are gorgeous, love the blue & brown together. Cheers, Shirleyx

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  27. Great colours together and love that tag ! Every time I see your creations it makes me want to take part in this challenge,really must take part soon ! x

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  28. Hi Julia, popping in to wish you a very Happy Birthday! I hope you are feeling better, despite the awful weather we are enduring, it's freezing, and certainly well enough to enjoy your day. Your bag and tag set is gorgeous - I like the use of jute and string and the stamping - well, everything about it really. That flowery swirl is special, as is your flower. Wishing you a wonderful day, Elizabeth xx

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  29. Very beautiful set, Julia! I like how perfectly you ink the edges of your projects. And that handmade flower is to die for! The glimmer on it is so very lovely.

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  30. I love the twine fibers! The layering of images on the bag has such an awesome effect and I love how subtle the dragonflies are! Your flower on the tag is amazing! I would swear it was made of metal!! Gorgeous projects!!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax