Birds

I found a lovely blog called Tag Tuesday. Although I'm not a member I loved the theme and the work shown is gorgeously creative - such inspiration for me! Tags are one of my favourite projects to make as you can do so much in a small space and it doesn't take forever.  I'm going to ask if I can play along just as a visitor.

The theme for the tag is BIRDS. I love watching the birds in my garden, particularly the little robins. I have a lilac tree where tiny little wrens hide, flitting in and out. These were the inspiration for my tag. My bird stamp looks more like a magpie but I've used coffee archival to at least get the colour right - with lots of imagination I hear you say! I'm surprised I get any birds in my garden due to the magnificent Frankie who patrols all borders with great diligence - he's not as quick as he used to be and fingers crossed, hasn't caught a little feathered friend for quite some time!

The main elements made ready for assembly - blank die cut shows the decorative 'frame' I used at the top and bottom of the tag. I coloured the tag background - after scrunching it up - using Distress Inks, my only Distress Ink stain (Picket Fence), mesh design stamped in platinum Brilliance and greenery stamped using Versafine. I then ironed it as flat as I could but perhaps I should have used more pressure!

The finished piece - really need to improve my photograpy skills I think!

Detail of the lower frame made by stamping with Versafine, inking with Distress Inks and then two layers of Utee to make a smooth, glossy contrast to the texture on the main body of the tag. The frame at the top of the tag has been made in the same way.

The tree was made using an embossing folder piece which I cut out , inked and embossed using true white and gold to give light and sparkle. I've tried to place the little birds hiding in amongst the branches. They too were stamped, cut out and given two coats of Utee. (my apologies for a somewhat 'fuzzy' picture - reflects how I've felt in the last week!).

The top of the tag has a matching frame to the lower end, a kitchen towel leaf and for good measure, I inked the punched hole reinforcer, gave it a coat of Glossy Accents and finally tied some green ribbon through as a finishing touch.