SSS Smitten, Cards and Tags with Shared Design

 *This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp.

Hi all!  For today's projects, I wanted to create some tags featuring the Puppy Love stencil from Simon Says Stamp's new Smitten release.

What started out as tags ended up becoming a couple sets of coordinating tags and cards where I was able to translate my tag design into card format.

I started by inking up  my stencil using Paprika ink over red cardstock.

From my inked cardstock, I was able to cut two arched shapes from one of the dies in the Nested Domed Arches set.  I added a bit of white paint splatter to these pieces for a bit of contrast.

Next, I die cut two additional dome shapes from soft gray cardstock using the next largest die from the set, and adhered my stenciled piece to it.

When I looked at my stencil, I noticed there was a lot of residual ink on it, and decided I should put that ink to good use.  I placed the stencil over a piece of white cardstock, and spread white embossing paste through the stencil.  When you do this, the white paste picks up the color of the ink from the stencil.  It's not a super even blend, but I like the variation for this technique.

Once the paste had fully dried, just as with the red tags, I die cut two domed arches, adhering them to larger arches cut from soft gray cardstock.

I thought the Lil' Critters Dachsund die was perfect to go with my stenciled tags.  These were die cut from white cardstock and then colored with Copics.  I used E23, E25, and E27 for the dog itself and colored the nose and eye with black.  The nose and eyes are separate pieces, so I used bits of washi tape on the back of the die to adhere them to my dog.

I also die cut a white 'ground' piece by die cutting the bottom of the smaller arched dome from white cardstock and then using one of the dies from the Layered Hills set to create the curved ground line.

Both the white ground piece and the dogs were popped up over the tags with foam tape.

For the actual tags, I used a sentiment from the All About You set, stamping it with Black Versa Claire on white cardstock and then die cutting it with the coordinating die.  These were also popped up with foam tape.

I then punched a hole in the center of the tag and added some twine.

For the cards, I created a patterned paper mat by using the stencil to create a tone on tone background.  

For the red version, I used white pigment ink on black cardstock.

For the pink version, I used Cherry ink on pink cardstock.

I also went with larger/bolder sentiments on the cards using the Thinking of You sentiment from the Big and Bold set, and the You Make Me Smile sentiment from the All About You set.  As with the tags, these were die cut with the coordinating dies and popped up with foam tape.

These definitely took a bit of time to make as there were numerous steps involved, but by using like design, I was able to make a number of projects with not a lot more effort.

Hope that this gives you some ideas for creating similar pieces!

SSS Handmade Holiday Release Tags

*This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp

It's release day at Simon Says Stamp!  There are all sorts of fantastic new things in the store, as part of the Handmade Holiday release, including the new dies that I'm showing off today.

I really love making tags, and as soon as I saw these dies I thought they would make perfect, elegant tags.

First I die cut the tags from both white cardstock and a dark green paper.  If you like these tags there are two options for purchase.  The solid tags shown in the picture above are part of the Suzy's Holiday Tags and Dies set which includes the dies as well as 12 sheets of Suzy Plantamura's illustrations printed on TH watercolor paper.  The other option is to purchase the tags separately - the Large Rounded and Large Standard dies which are an open rather than solid tag.  

Anyway, the next step was to cut the Etched Delicate Frond and Etched Berry Branch dies twice from white cardstock.  The two die cuts were layered on top of each other for some extra dimension, and then adhered to the tag die cut.  Once dry, the excess portions of the die were trimmed off.

I thought about adding sentiments to the tags, but I really love the CAS look, and leaving them 'blank' allows me to use them for any occasion.  

These were really very easy to put together.  I'll be back tomorrow with more inspiration, but in the meantime be sure to head over to Simon to check out the entire release.

SSS Peace on Earth Holiday Messages Ornament

 *This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp

I've got one more project to share with the Peace on Earth release.  Ironically this was the first idea I had when I got the release, and somehow it didn't end up getting created until now.

I love having little tags on hand for the holidays, and these ornaments from the Holiday Messages Ornament set are the perfect size.  

I started by cutting a piece of cardstock 4" x 8 1/2", scoring it lengthwise at 2" and folding it in half.  Then I die cut the tags by using the round ornament die, but placing one end off the edge of the cardstock at the fold so it is still connected at the top.

After creating several of these little circle tags, I inked them on both sides with Distress ink using Salty Ocean, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed, and Evergreen Bough.  When inking, I left the center a little less inked/brighter to give a bit of dimension.

The sentiments were then stamped on each with Versafine.

To finish things off, I die cut the ornament tops from Matte Silver cardstock, using two for each ornament.  One was adhered to the front and one to the back for a more finished look.  This also makes the tag stronger.

A bit of twine was the final touch.

These are super easy and I love the size, perfect for your smaller gift bags.

Printmaking Florals Background - Blank Tags

*This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp

A quick and easy project today.  One of the fun things about the Printmaking Florals Background is that the strips peel apart so you can use them separately.  

I thought it would be fun to create some 'blank tags.'  I confess to often being in a bit of a rush when we need to attend an event, and often I don't have a card that's quite right, so it's nice to have tags on hand that I can write a quick note on.  So, similar to blank cards, it's nice to have something that is genereic enough to use for any occasion.

For these tags I stamped a row of the florals at the top and bottom of my tag with white pigment ink.

The tags dies are from my old Classic Tag 2 set for Neat & Tangled.  

I had originally cut the top tag piece from white cardstock, but I felt like it was too much of a contrast, so I swiped my pigment ink pad over some kraft cardstock until I got the coverage I wanted and then die cut those top pieces out.  

The sentiment is from the All About You set and was embossed with Hero Arts white embossing powder.  Before I stamped it, I first set the pigment ink with my heat gun and used a powder tool.  

I love how the sentiment really pops because the other whites are just that white pigment ink on kraft so more subtle.

Super quick and easy!

SSS DIEcember release

Hi all!  Popping in today with a couple of super easy clean and simple projects using the new Bold Thankful Die from Simon Says Stamp's Diecember release.

I love long skinny tags, and when I saw this die, I thought it would be perfect for tags.  I cut some tag bases from white and Kraft cardstock that were 1 1/4" x 5".  

Then, I selected a bunch of pattered paper scrap pieces and die cut those.  This is a perfect way to use up those 2" scraps you get when you cut down patterned paper from a 6" x 6" paper pad for card fronts.

After adhering the die cut pieces to my tag bases, I added a hole at the top using my Crop-O-Dile and some twine and that was it.  These would be perfect for dressing up party favors/gifts.

I also wanted to create a card using the die, and ended up with this super graphic CAS design.  

To create the card, I use washi to tape together to pieces of cardstock.  Then I die cut that piece lining up the die over the seam.  I also die cut a piece of white cardstock.  The colored pieces were inlaid into my white cardstock frame.

Using the same colors of cardstock, I cut two panels, one 1 3/4" and the other 2 1/4" by 5 1/4".  These were adhered directly to my card base.  I used the color for the top of my inlaid letters on the bottom of the card base, and the other on top.

The die cut piece (which I popped up with foam tape) was then centered over top so that the seam between the cardstock panels lined up with the seam between the top and bottom the letters.

Really simple, but I love the effect.

Thanks for visiting, be sure to head over to Simon Says Stamp to see the rest of the Diecember release.  Lots of great new dies!

Spellbinders November Large Die of the Month

Hi all!  I'm a little late posting this.  I was hoping to get this up sooner, but this weekend was crazy busy.  Isn't this month's Large Die of the Month Kit from Spellbinders so much fun?

You can use this die to create multiple characters - Santa, a girl and boy elf, I've also seen someone create Mrs. Claus.  There's also an add on that allows you to create a reindeer.

What I really love about these dies is that they are interactive.  The body can serve as a stand if you wanted to use these for place settings, or, as I've done, as a tag where the message is hidden.

For the Santa, I kept things simple, cutting each of the pieces from cardstock.  This is a great way to use up some of your smaller scrap pieces of paper.  I added some color to his cheeks with a my Copics and some gel pen accents.

For the elf, I use some blending brushes to add some subtle inking to the pieces for a little depth.  I used the brushes to add color to his cheeks too, and finished things off with some more gel pen accents.

This really is the cutest kit!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist - Day 11

Hi friends!  I'm so happy to be taking part again this year in Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist event.  Each day from December 1st - 12th, two designers are sharing tags created with a common theme in mind.  You have a chance to play along and link up a tag as well as comment to win prizes.

It's the penultimate day of the event, and I'm paired with my good buddy Elena Roussakis today.  We're both featuring tags using Neat & Tangled products and our theme is neutrals.  Here's a look at my tag:

It's a double-layered tag created using the Classic Tag 2 die.  I just wanted a little bit of texture and dimension for the back layer, so I cut a tag using white cardstock, and spread white texture paste through the Fa La La stencil.

The top layer was cut from a very light gray cardstock and I used the circle from the Card Front Designs die set to cut a window/opening in it.

Then I stamped, colored, and die cut that adorable fox couple from the Merry Kisses set along with the sprig of mistletoe.  I used Warm Gray Copics for the foxes. 

The sentiment is from the Scandinavian Prints Christmas set, and was stamped on one of the banners from the Scalloped Die set.

I thought the tag looked a little stark when I was arranging the pieces, so I used the stamp with all the tiny dots from Ellen Hutson's Abstract Paint Strokes set to stamp 'snow' at the top of the tag.

I finished things off with a green hole reinforcer (also from the Classic Tag 2 set) and a bit of twine.

Those foxes always make me smile!  I hope you like the tag, and that you'll play along!  As I mentioned there are prizes to be won.  For all the details, check out the introduction post at EH:  https://blog.ellenhutson.com/?p=1352.

Thanks for visiting!

*Affiliate Links Below

Neat & Tangled Dies, Classic Tag 2

Card Front Designs, Neat & Tangled Dies

Neat & Tangled Clear Stamps, Merry Kisses

Neat & Tangled Dies, Scalloped

Fa La La, Neat & Tangled Stencils

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Abstract Paint Strokes by Julie Ebersole

Studio 490 Embossing Paste by Wendy Vecchi, White

COPIC Sketch Marker W1, Warm Gray No. 1

COPIC Sketch Marker W3, Warm Gray No. 3

COPIC Sketch Marker W5, Warm Gray No. 5

COPIC Sketch Marker G43, Pistachio

COPIC Various Ink Refill G46, Mistletoe

COPIC Various Ink Refill G28, Ocean Green

COPIC Sketch Marker R29, Lipstick Red

COPIC Sketch Marker R89, Dark Red

Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Pad, Limestone

25 Days of Christmas Tags

Hey all!  I'm participating in Tracey's McNeeley's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event today.  Not coincidentally, today's featured sponsor is Neat & Tangled.

I wanted to try something a little different this year - creating a tag from felt.

I used the Build A Tag dies as well as the Gift Card Box Additions dies, and felt from Benzie Design.  The tree is from the Scandinavian Prints Christmas dies, and the leaf shape is actually one of the smallest leaves from one of Benzie's Felt-Fetti Magnolia Leaf sets.

I started by die cutting all the pieces.  I wasn't sure how the rectangle with the diagonal cuts would look in the felt, but I really like the texture it adds.  

The tree was first hand stitched to the leaf and diamond.  Then I machine stitched the diamond to the smaller light green rectangle.  

  

The sequin/sparkle was added to the corners of the diamond, and also tacked to the larger red rectangle at the same time.  I used a regular sized red sequin, a small gold sequin, and a gold seed bead.

The entire red piece was then stitched to the tag base, as was the tag topper.

I didn't stitch the top of the red rectangle shut so that I could slip a gift card in.

This was really pretty easy to make.  The nice thing about felt is that it kind of naturally sticks to itself, so there's really no pinning required.

Be sure to head over to Tracey's blog to check out the rest of today's tags and find out how you can play along and win a prize from one of the event's many sponsors:

*Affiliate Links below to Ellen Hutson and in text to Neat & Tangled

Neat & Tangled Dies, Build A Tag

Neat & Tangled Dies, Gift Card Box Additions