Super-sized Tag Tutorial

Hi there!  I have a super-sized tag on the blog today. 

 It's been sitting in my neglected craft room for weeks now, so hopefully I can remember what I did or used!  I've been painting on a larger scale this month... no, nothing creative unfortunately.  I decided that while my husband was away on a Phoenix golf trip, I would paint our hallway which I have been meaning to do for a very long time.  That of course, led to also painting the front entrance, two walls in the kitchen, and then our upstairs bathroom.  I was contemplating our spare bedroom after that (I was in a painting mood wasn't I?), but my mom received a call that her name came up for an apartment she has been waiting for at a senior's complex (2 years waiting) and now everything here is on hold.  She really doesn't want to move, we have heard every excuse... the apartment is too small for all her things, everyone is old there (my mom is 92!) and will she still be able to have her glass of wine every night, lol.  It has been a worry for us, her living alone in the house, but she still is determined to do everything for herself.  We had got her one of those emergency necklaces, which is great, but unfortunately she hit it by accident in the middle of the night, twice.  The first time, she didn't hear the fireman and ambulance arrive, so was rudely awakened by a large group of nice young men with flashlights peering into her windows.  It's a wonder she didn't have a heart attack!  The second time, I received a call from the service, saying the alarm went off and they couldn't get a response from her on the speaker.  I arrived the same time as the ambulance, so I went in after ringing the doorbell with everyone behind me, calling her name, the dog was barking, turning the lights on....she was fast asleep, didn't hear a thing.  So now she sleeps with at least one hearing aid in.  So the next month, I will be, along with my sisters, packing up, and getting rid of 57 years worth of stuff (that's how long she's been in the same home).  The house was put up for sale this week, and incredibly it was sold yesterday! Whew, now if we could just convince my father-in-law to also move into an apartment.(that's a whole other story!) This retirement of mine isn't off to a great start, is it?  Hopefully I will be able to spend some de-stressing time in the craft room!  I've chattered enough, you're hear to see how I created my tag!

I used the medium size of Tim's Etcetera Tag boards (6 1/2 x 12").  These are nice thick boards in the shape of a tag, perfect for altering.  I covered mine with this paper from BoBunny, using Matte Medium.  Love the dragon fly!

Sorry, I got carried away and didn't take any other photos of my process.  I covered my entire board with 2 coats of transparent gesso.  I still wanted my paper to show through, but I knew I was using different mediums and didn't want them to soak through the paper.   I lightly inked the tag with Dot Fade (THS006) and Distress ink.  I applied texture paste with the Tim Holtz Ringer (THS056) Splatters (THS009) and Dot Fade (THS006).  For the colouring, I used Distress Oxide Inks and Distress Crayons, and a bit of Picket Fence White Distress Paint.  Alternate the mediums, adding a Distress Sprayer filled with water and a heat gun.

I die-cut a piece of cardstock with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Mixed Media 2 Thinlits die(661185). I tore along the inside edge of the piece of paper.  The paper was inked after, but all your colouring could be done before die-cutting.

The top of the paper was trimmed to fit the top of my tag.  I added in my Distress Oxide inks, alternating the colours and spraying with my Distress Sprayer.  The torn edges were manipulated while wet.

I layered a few pieces of patterned paper underneath, one of them I die-cut the edge using Tim Holtz Mixed Media (660220) thinlits die.  I tore away parts, leaving enough to show underneath the green piece.  The edge of this piece was sprayed with Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Mica Spray (Ranger47971) in Vibrant Turquoise.  These come in a package of three different colours (Crushed Grape, Vibrant Turquoise and Bubblegum Pink) and add a pearlescent finish to your paper.  When the sprays dry, the mica really stands out, love these sprays!  There are also sets from Tim Holtz, Dina Wakley, and Wendi Vecchi for Ranger Ink.  I haven't applied it in this photo, but you can see in the tag photo.

I love how the Distress Oxides look on printed vellum.  I die-cut my flowers with Tim's Tattered Floral Bigz Die (656640) and Small Tattered Florals Thinlits (661806) and a piece of his Wallflower Printed Vellum paper. Inking and spritzing with water to give this distressed look.  A Tim Holtz hitch and brad for the centers and a charm added to the big one.  The other embellishments that were added are his metal stars (painted) and ephemera in this corner.

Keeping with my dragonfly theme, I made this one from cardstock and Tim's Dragonfly Bigz die (659579) that also comes with it's own texture fade.  The paper was inked before die-cutting, but I went over the raised areas for more dimension.  I also applied embossing powder (Ranger's Ice Resin Copper Iced Enamel) with a Ranger Embossing Pen.  Using the pen, you can apply the embossing fluid in very specific areas or small areas(like the dots).  When heating this enamel, I quickly applied by dipping the dragonfly while hot, into metallic micro beads, so just a few stuck randomly.

I finished off my tag using words from Tim Holtz Quote Chips (TH93563) and Metallic Quotation Stickers (TH93559), plus dyed ribbon.

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Until next time,

Jan