A Trip To Europe On A Tag. . . . . . .

The challenge at Artful Times is to make a tag and the theme is to show a trip to Europe - really like this idea.

 I chose to go to Paris and Rome on my tag. I have been to Paris a number of times and it never fails to engage me. The whole city is vibrant, colourful and so wonderful - I'm happy just to walk round and soak it all up - I don't perhaps walk quite as far as I used to but I have a good try before demanding a sit down at a lovely pavement cafe. . . . . (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it)!

This year I was able to realise a long held dream of mine which was to visit Rome. My husband had been away for a very long time and one of our treats when he returned was  to spend some time in this most beautiful city. I know it  will always be my most favourite European city. There is so much to see and just walking up an ordinary back street you will be greeted with the most amazing architecture - love it!! Luckily I found lots of 'watering' stops here too!

The biggest problem with doing my tag was that the only stamp I have which was of use for this theme is very small and includes images from other cities too. I tried to get round this by including some relevant background stamping from a variety of stamps I have. I've included two very tiny stamped images of iconic landmarks from each of these two cities - both of which I have visited so they do hold personal meaning to me.

Here's the tag I've made:

The completed tag with stamped background.

The first city on the journey is Paris. Both the chosen cities have been featured on die cut hearts which  have been inked according the flag colours for that country. The stripes were achieved using masking tape and distress ink. Both hearts were then coated with crackle glaze and lightly inked when dry. Each heart was manipulated into a domed shape - not easy to see here - and attached with foam pads so they sit proud from the background giving a 3D effect.
The letters were embossed and then cut out, inked and some gold embossing powder randomly and sparingly applied. The landmarks were both stamped, inked and cut out.

The Rome heart was created in the same way as described above.

The ribbon at the bottom was coloured using distress inks in the same flag colours used on the hearts. I then put a gathering thread along one edge of the ribbon and pulled it up into reasonably even little folds or pleats before attaching it to the base of the tag. The same ribbon has been used at the top of the tag but has been left flat.

The tag was inked and stamped using various colours of distress inks and appropriate images.  There are postmarks, landmark images and even a French lady with her address. . . . . !!

One of the Tim folders has this little 'Paris' section, so after embossing, I cut it out, applied distress ink and some randomly placed embossing powder.

I really enjoyed making this piece - not sure what it is about making tags but I like them! Trouble is, what do you do with them afterwards, if you're not sending them to someone?? No idea at all!