It is hard to believe that it is already December 10th!!! How time flies! When I saw Tim's tag today I started to giggle - you should see the mass of plastic packaging I have been saving for techniques such as this. I REALLY need an assistant to come in and break down my packaging, cut it up into file folder size pieces and contain it. :-D I just haven't had the time, but it is on the "to do" list.
Today's tag is designed especially for all those of you who have responded in the comments that you like clean and simple. My hope is to guide you into learning some fun new techniques and apply them to your own unique style. So here we go with the tag where simplicity and vintage collide.
When designing interiors one of my personal favorite styles was to create a very simple, clean-lined room and then accent it with vintage touches. Dynamic, powerful and just a ton of WOW in this combination.
As soon as I saw the packaging being die-cut I knew that I wanted to try using the film strip on today's tag.
I have to admit that I have not used the Sizzlit strip style of die that much (other than the rosette) and I had never tried using it on plastic. I was disappointed when I discovered that no matter how I tweaked it I could not cut through the plastic packaging. So I tried a different avenue - transparencies. SUCCESS!!! I was so thrilled because I REALLY wanted to create a vintage film strip for this tag using plastic and the film strip die.
The first method I would like to share to alter and make this film strip more realistic is to utilize alcohol ink and the felt applicator to create your base strip. I dripped about 6-10 drops of black on to my non-stick craft sheet and then added 4-5 drops of E09. By blending these two colors together on the non-stick craft sheet I was able to create a new color that felt more appropriate than the harsh black.
Using one of my favorite Christmas pictures that was taken of my girls with Santa several years ago I cropped it to fit within the specifications of Tim's film strip die. I then reduced the color saturation on all of the small pictures except for the focal image. This was then printed on an inkjet transparency.
To affix my filmstrip above I sprayed adhesive on the back side and gently set it in place over the girls pictures creating a very realistic looking film strip which includes the actual picture of my girls.
Can you imagine the cool Christmas cards this technique would make!?!
For those who do not have alcohol inks there is another method that is also VERY cool. Dab the film strip with the pitch black paint dabber. Now use this wet paint as your adhesive. Yes, you heard me right. Take your film strip and place it atop the strip of pictures that you printed on an inkjet compatible transparency as shown below.
I apologize for the picture above. I was so excited about the reverse print that appeared when I picked up the filmstrip and was thinking how cool this would be to use on a project that I barely caught the corner of my completed project. OOPS! Simply position your strip atop your little pictures, set in place gently, apply pressure and allow to dry. Voila, the transparency is completely secured.
I did find that my transparency wanted to stay in the tiny holes. It is best to remove these before cutting your next project or these holes will not cut through completely. Simply pick them out with the Crafter's Pick.
The last little tip for today's project is creating your own reinforcements. I have shared how easy it is to use the little die cut reinforcements and turn them metallic by inking with embossing ink and then applying silver or tarnished gold embossing powder. You can also create gorgeous colorful reinforcements.
Place the reinforcement on your non-stick craft sheet and ink directly with the Barn Door Distress ink pad. Then swirl the reinforcement around in the remaining ink to really make it red!
While still wet dip it in UTEE. I used my Crafter's Pick to lift it out and set it down on my non-stick craft sheet.
Melt the UTEE using your Heat It tool. If you find that it is not "rounded" or perhaps better said "mounded" enough you can wait for it to cool, press it on your embossing ink pad and dip again. I absolutely LOVE the finished, rounded look of this colorful reinforcement. Attach to your tag using the mini Glossy Accents.
The final touches included adhering 7 Gypsies holiday tissue tape to the tag. Stagger the endings as shown. Then cut a small white rectangle to back the key image in your film strip. Affix it to the tissue tape directly behind the focal image in your film strip. Staple the film strip in place.
Ink the holly leaves with Forest Moss around the edges and then ink the entire stamp with Lettuce. This will soften the crisp edges of the darker ink and give your image depth. Attach pearls for your holly berries.
A Hero Arts Christmas sentiment, a couple of jingle bells and some gorgeous silk ribbon and this simple, vintage tag was completed. I hope that these different styles of tags helps each of you utilize the techniques that we are sharing in new and different ways.
stamps: Hero Arts Sending Holiday Cheer, Stampers Anonymous Mini Holidays 2
ink: Barn Door Distress Ink, Distress Embossing Ink, Copic Various Ink Refills - 100 and E09
paper: Neenah Solar White, Inkjet Transparency
accessories: Tim Holtz Film Strip Die, Felt Applicator, Pitch Black Dabber, Mini Glossy Accents, Tiny Attacher, Jingle Bells, Moss Silk Ribbon, Red Pearls, 7 Gypsies Printed Paper Tape, UTEE
3 more days of blog candy! AND you will need to stay tuned for more information regarding our fun scavenger hunt tomorrow in honor of the new Hero Arts 2011 Catalog Debut.
Today we have UTEE, Distress Embossing Ink Pad and a Filmstrip Die!
Leave your answer in the comments section below (one comment per person please) to be included in this random drawing, you have until Sunday morning. Have a fabulous weekend!
