Tags. . . . .

I do love making tags (as I've said before I'm sure) but this one seems to have taken forever and I'm not a quick crafter at the best of times!

I initially saw the challenges on The Stamp Man Challenge Blog and Simon Says Stamp and Show but then on my 'blog' hopping travels,  I saw another lovely challenge blog where I could also show my work. The is a new challenge blog called Artful Times and is run by three ladies called Sam, Von and Neet. I don't know any of these ladies but I will be having a nose at their blogs because the work they've shown on the challenge blog is right up my street!

For the Stamp Man Challenge, we are asked to select three elements from a 'bingo' card to use on a piece of work. This was where I had the most problems because I kept changing my mind. I felt that my tag fitted two different sets of criteria but couldn't decide which to choose.  Eventually, I plumped for: 'Green, Circles and Ribbons'. I hope you will see these three elements clearly displayed in my work.

Both Simon Says Stamp and Show  and  Artful Times ask us to make a tag so that was a lovely, wide set of criteria to work to!

These are most of the elements I used to make my tag.  I also used two gold 'brads' to secure the red frame on the tag but they're not shown here.

The finished tag shows all the 'bingo' elements of green, circles and ribbon.

This image clearly shows the large insect (I think it's a moth but I've coloured it to resemble a butterfly!).  The insect was painted in the same manner as the smaller one (see above) and attached by the body to create a 3 D effect. The leaves were die cut, coated with three layers of embossing powder and quickly stamped  to create a deep texture. This was the first time I'd attempted the technique and I'm sure I'll be using it again as I love the effect it gives - bit scary though with all that molten embossing 'powder'! I added the ribbon to give the impression of flight and movement. It also links in with the other ribbons used.

I used a die cut book plate secured with brads to contain the stamped sentiment. Both are coated with glossy accents. The butterfly was stamped, cut out and coloured with distress inks and a water brush then coated with GA's. I only attached the body of the insect to the frame because I hoped to created a 3D effect.

This image clearly shows the background I created using an embossing folder (TH faded texture in a circle design), distress inks and gold embossing powder.

The top of the tag is part of a die cut - the other half  is used at the bottom of the tag. This was embossed using the same folder as the main tag section. However, I inked the folder first to colour the de-bossed side to create a different texture. The raised section was inked with Peeled Paint DI then some random gold embossing was done. I inked the reinforcer for the ribbon hole and added GA as I like to make these stand out and become a feature of the design. I've added two ribbons as a final touch. They match the other ribbons used on the tag.