12 tags of 2013 – january…

are you ready to start another creative year together?  are you ready to explore new products?  share new techniques?  i definitely am…  in fact, i couldn’t “officially” wait for 2013 to begin to start the 12 tags of 2013.  so consider this a creative jump start of inspiration for the new year!  i truly thank you all for the support you continue to show, and i’m so blessed that i get to do what i love to do for a living.  not a day goes by that i don’t realize and appreciate that all of you make it possible for me to continue to live my dream – thank you once again.  as we all get ready to ring in the new year, set new goals and challenges, i want to make sure and do my part by continuing to share inspiration right here on my blog.  i have a feeling 2013 is going to be another creative year, and i look forward to continue to enjoy the journey with each of you…

supplies: distress stains/metallics, distress ink/iced spruce/stormy sky/rusty hinge/walnut stain, ink blending tool, craft sheet, mister, heat tool, glossy accents, jet black archival ink, 1/8″ wonder tape, #8 manila tag; grungepaper, vial label, crinkle ribbon, film strip ribbon, hinge clip, sprocket gears, mini gears, game spinner, mini fasteners, sanding grip; clock & steampunk texture fade, gadget gears bigz; CMS034, CMS038, CMS120; scissors, paper distresser

step 1: this is something i’ve shared before, and if you’ve yet to try it, i encourage you to.  simply place your embossing folder on a cutting mat, and using a craft knife, cut a slit on the fold leaving about 1/2″ on each end sealed.

step 2: this will allow you to place a #8 tag through the slot to emboss the bottom of the tag.  this is also cool for doing continuous embossing like on a 12″ strip of paper for a scrapbook border and even on ribbon.

step 3: emboss the manila tag using your vagabond or other embossing machine.

step 4: ink the tag with various colors of distress ink using an ink blending tool.

step 5: i prefer to layer colors so as i am inking, i just ink various areas of the tag.

step 6: add depth by using different tones of colors (for this tag i started with iced spruce, and now layered with stormy sky).

step 7: for the final layer, ink around the edges of the tag with a dark color (i used walnut stain) also lightly swipe the blending tool over the embossed design to make it seem more dimensional.

step 8: splatter water droplets on to inked tag using a mister or your fingers, but we want droplets and not mist.

step 9: dry tag with heat tool to create a splatter effect on your tag.

step 10: die cut gadget gears from grungepaper.

step 11: ink gear with metallic distress stains – this is fast.

step 12: use various colors of metallic stains on gears and let dry.

step 13: scuff gears with sanding grip around edges.

step 14: ink scuffed grunge with distress ink using ink blending tool to antique.

step 15: adhere gears over the edge of the tag using glossy accents.  hold in place to dry over embossed surface.

step 16: flip tag over and trim excess grunge up to the edge of the tag.

step 17: repeat previous steps for other gears.

step 18: cut a piece of film strip ribbon and apply 1/8″ wonder tape to each edge. (*this skinny 1/8″ double stick tape is the best way to adhere film strip ribbon if you don’t want to staple through it with the tiny attacher.  using liquid adhesive takes a long time for it to dry and stick.)

step 19: remove red lining from tape.

step 20: slide one end under gear and adhere to tag.  trim excess film strip if needed.

step 21: stamp text on to a piece of manila (i just used a spare tag).

step 22: cut to size, distress edges with paper distresser, and ink edges with distress ink using ink blending tool.

step 23: apply pop-it foam tape to back of stamped text and add a hinge clip to the top.

step 24: secure to the side edge of the tag as shown.

step 25: cut a piece of crinkle ribbon and stamp text with archival ink.

step 26: heat dry image immediately as you stamp to avoid the ink bleeding into the ribbon as it dries.

step 27: continue stamping ribbon, drying each time, until desired look is achieved.

step 28: stain ribbon with distress stain.

step 29: dry ribbon flat – no crinkling this time can you believe it?  well we want to see the image don’t we?

step 30: tie custom ribbon through tag…cool huh.

step 31: stamp finger on to vial label with archival ink and heat dry it.

step 32: adhere to tag over film strip ribbon.

step 33: sometimes i like to combine the sprocket gears with the mini gears.  if you can’t layer them with a fastener, then just adhere them together first with a little glossy accents.

step 34: secure various gears and a game spinner to tag to embellish and that’s it.

the details: that stamped and custom colored crinkle ribbon just adds the perfect touch to this tag.  i can see myself doing this more and more on my projects.

the details: combining an embossing folder, dies cuts, and metal embellishments creates a variety of layers and textures.

i thought the quote on this month’s tag was such a great reminder to ourselves to not only take the time, but think of the impact time has on our lives.  even though sometimes life may seem a little chaotic, just take it all in, cherish it, and most importantly live it to the fullest.  here’s to a new year filled with creativity, love, understanding, and most importantly peace – happy new year everyone…t!m

*winners for the december 2012 tag will be announced in tomorrow’s post since the deadline for submitting isn’t until midnight tonight.

*be sure to check your local stores for these supplies or you can
click the links below to purchase online…
(SSS=simon says stamp / IE=inspiration emporium)

GREAT NEWS! both of these online stores are offering a discount of 10% off your purchase – use the following codes with your order:
(SSS code: JANSAVE10 / IE code: timtime)