Finish It Off !

Hello everybody! Toni here to share a jumbo sized tag with you. I guess I'm not the only crafter that has quite a few unfinished pieces lying around. I'd started making this tag ages ago and I kept finding it lying around in it's unfinished state, and  each time I've thought 'I must get this finished... one day! So now, that day has finally arrived!
I started off by cutting a large sized tag from a piece of manila card. It actually measures 4"x 8 1/2".  I collaged some torn book pages and sheet music onto the surface, before applying Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Paint. Once this was dry I stamped the little bird with black Archival Ink and coloured it with Distress Markers. This is how it looked....

 ....and that's how it stayed for about 6 months. There's also a bit of background stamping on there as well. Having toyed with a few other ideas, I decided to add a floral element and turned to my Jumbo Tattered Floral Die. I love making flowers with this die but haven't used it nearly enough ! I coloured a few pieces of manila card with a mixture of Victorian Velvet, Tattered Rose, and Crushed Olive Distress Ink. I used Tim Holtz's 'wrinkle free distress' technique.

I softened the colours, by blending the surfaces with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I coloured both sides of each piece of card as both sides are visible when the flower is constructed.. I then cut out the flowers ....

 I also cut a couple of smaller flowers using the regular sized Tattered Florals Die and a few mini Tattered Leaves. To sculpt the flowers, I used a large ball tool and a piece of dense foam, you could use a mouse mat or something similar. I worked the tool up and down each petal and used a circular motion in the centre of each flower until the petals started to curl in. If you haven't tried this before, you MUST give it a go. It's like magic watching the petals close up.

I then layered 4 of the large flowers, adhering each with a spot of Helmar 450. I then added a one smaller one and worked the last small flower until the petals were nearly closed. I then added a little glue to the ends of the petals and closed them in to create a bud-like centre. This was then glued into place.

I assembled the tag, adding the leaves, flower and a stamped ticket. I attached a die cut of an On the Edge Distressed Doily, to the bottom of the tag and a strip of leaves cut from the Alterations Spring Greenery Die. An extravagant bow made from Distress Stain, dyed seam binding and an Ideaology token, complete the tag

I'm quite pleased with the finished results. I could make flowers all day long with these dies. I'm not entirely sure whether this one is too big for the tag, but I love it anyway! I hope this might inspire you to take out one of your unfinished masterpieces, and FINISH IT OFF ! It's really very satisfying x

Here's a list of some of the products I've used which Kim stocks in the lovely eclectic Paperie shop. Click on any of the thumbnails to be transported straight there.

Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen	Distress Ink Pad - Gathered Twigs	Distress Stain - Victorian Velvet	Distress Stain - Peeled Paint	Distress Stain - Crushed Olive
Distress Stain - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Alterations - Bigz XL Die - Jumbo Tattered Florals	Tim Holtz Alterations - Decorative Strip - Spring Greenery
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Crinkle Ribbon 10 Yards	Ranger - Mini Ink Blending Tool	HELMAR-450 Quick Dry Adhesive.	Ranger Heat It Craft Tool	Inksessentials - Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Archival Ink - Jet Black Ink Pad	Tim Holtz� Distress� Markers - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz� Distress� Markers - Victorian Velvet	Tim Holtz� Distress� Markers - Tattered Rose	Tim Holtz� Distress� Markers - Frayed Burlap