Tag Happy

I have developed a love of tags and artist trading cards.  They are beautiful works of art to me.  I have long admired these little beauties that I've seen created on various blogs that I follow.  I also love distressed items but have had trouble with the blending tool.  I always seemed to get the shape of the tool whenever I used it.  Recently, I was admiring projects on two blogs where the distressing was beautifully done and asked how these girls perfected it.  These sweet girls, ReNae Allen and Gabrielle Pollaco, each referred me to tutorials by Tim Holtz.  Just the instruction I needed!  It was so simple once I saw it done.  Using my new found knowledge (lol), I created these two tags.

This first tag was inspired by one on Gabi's blog that she graciously allowed me to lift.  Using a Recollections tag, I distressed it with Tea Dye ink.  A script and swirl image was stamped on the tag.  I layered two small images from K&Co paper onto the tag.  Then began the rest of the layering.  The vine is Prima as well as the tiny rose.  Everything else is from Recollections.  The lace at the bottom was accented with Liquid Pearls.  A Tim Holtz reinforcer was used at the top with a little twill and a string of pearls.

Next up is a tag I made for a sweet young girl who has faced some challenges in her life.  I used Victorian Velvet ink to distress the tag and to stamp a music sheet on it that you really can't see here.  The flowers and pearl/rhinestone swirl are Prima, the metal sign is Making Memories, the butterfly is from Colorbok, the double pearls are Recollections, lace is from Joann's, and the heart is Jenni Bowlin chipboard painted white and glittered.

I really had a lot of fun making these tags.  Thanks to Gabi and ReNae for your help and inspiration.  If you haven't visited these sweet girls' blogs, please take some time to stop by them.  They are so talented!

I hope your weekend was good.  My parents, son and I went to a holiday festival featuring Eastern European food and crafts.  Delicious!  The dessert table was unbelieveable!  I did pickup a few gifts for Christmas.   Believe it or not, after a cold week and a bit of snow on Wednesday, we are hitting near 70 degrees here today and tomorrow!  Back in the 50s the rest of the week.  Thanks so much for stoppping by.  I appreciate all your sweet comments!  Have a wonderful week!