Tutorial: Life Moments

Happy Tuesday!  I am back again today with a tutorial sharing this fall themed tag.

You may recall that back in September I shared this tag as part of Simon Says Stamp’s Stamptember celebration.  (You can find the original post on their blog at: http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/life-moments/ where I talk about the inspiration for the tag).  I wanted to revisit that tag today and break it down and share with you the steps to create it.

Begin by randomly misting a #8 manila tag with Antique Linen Distress Stain placed in a mister bottle.  Allow the stain to soak into the tag.

Randomly mist the tag with Walnut Stain Distress Stain placed into a mister bottle.  Allow the stain to soak into the tag.

Mist the tag with water to help soften and blend the stains.

Blot the excess moisture with a dry cloth.  Dry with a heat tool.

Use an ink blending tool to apply Scattered Straw Distress Ink along the right side of the tag.

Wipe any remaining ink on the blending tool randomly along a piece of Crinkle Ribbon.

Use an ink blending tool to apply Rusty Hinge Distress Ink along the left side of the tag.

Wipe any remaining ink on the blending tool randomly along the piece of Crinkle Ribbon.

Place the tag in the Tim Holtz Woodgrain embossing folder.  Place the bottom of the tag so that it lines up with the edge of the design by the fold in the folder.  Run the tag and folder through a die cut machine to emboss.

Place the tag in the embossing folder again, this time place only the non-embossed part of the tag in the folder.  The design won’t line up, but you can place it so that the new embossed area follows the same lines as below.

Run the tag and folder through a die cut machine to emboss.  After embossing, there may be a line from the bottom edge of the folder.  This will be covered later.

Use an ink blending tool to apply Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges of the tag.

Wipe any remaining ink on the blending tool randomly along the piece of Crinkle Ribbon.

Ink a script stamp with Jet Black Archival ink.  Lightly stamp the tag with the stamp.  For the most part, the stamp will print on the raised areas.  Some recesses areas may also get stamped.  It is ok, it is just about randomness to stamp after embossing.

Stamp the Blueprint Leaf from the Tim Holtz Die & Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival Ink two times on vellum.  Allow the ink to dry.

Note: This stamp comes with the matching die.  If you already have the Blueprint Leaf stamp from the larger CMS133 Autumn Blueprints set, it will not work with the die.  The images are different sizes.

Scribble a Mowed Lawn Distress Marker onto a craft sheet.  Use a water brush to pick up the ink.  Brush the color onto the backside of the stamped image.  (I do this to keep the stamped image on the front crisp, and I love the way the color is muted through the vellum.)

Use a heat tool to dry the ink.  The vellum may wrinkle a bit from the moisture and the heat.  It is ok, it adds to the final look.

Use the fine nib on the Pine Needles Distress Marker to outline and trace along the leaf and the veins of the leaf on the back side of the vellum.

Apply some dark contrasts in the center of the leaf using the brush tip of the Pine Needles Distress Marker on the back side of the vellum.

Use a water brush to blend the colors and create a watercolor look.  Use a heat tool to dry the vellum.

Color the stem and added a some brown accents along the leaf edge with the fine tip of a Gathered Twigs Distress Marker on the back side of the vellum.

Scribble a Spiced Marmalade Distress Marker onto a craft sheet.  Use a water brush to pick up the ink.  Brush the color onto the backside of the stamped image.

Use the fine nib on the Brushed Corduroy Distress Marker to outline and trace along the leaf and the veins of the leaf on the back side of the vellum.

Apply some dark contrasts in the center of the leaf using the brush tip of the Ripe Persimmon Distress Marker on the back side of the vellum.

Use a water brush to blend the colors and create a watercolor look.  Use a heat tool to dry the vellum.

Color the stem and added a some brown accents along the leaf edge with the fine tip of a Gathered Twigs Distress Marker on the back side of the vellum.

If you would like a less blended look, you can skip the water brush blending and use the tip of your finger instead.  The ink stays wet on the vellum a little longer allowing you to use your finger to blend and smudge the color.  The blending ends up being more precise where applied compared to the water blending which lets the color move.

Use the included die to die cut the leaf.  Sizzix’s new Magnetic Platform makes keeping the die cut frame in place super easy.  If you do not have a Magnetic Platform, a post-it note over the die and paper will keep it in place as you cut.

I love how quick and easy this die makes it to cut out the stamped image!

On the front side of the vellum, you can add a few touches yellow to brighten the tips of the leaves using a Mustard Seed Distress Ink Marker.

Apply a generous layer of Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint over the leaves.

For texture, lightly sprinkle Clear Rock Candy Distress Dry Stickles Glitter over the leaves into the wet paint.

As the leaves dry, the will curl a bit.  After they are dry, you can smooth them back out.  Allow the paint to air dry.

Once cracks begin to appear in the paint, you can help the drying along with a heat tool.  Avoid over heating.  I recommend air drying.

Place two small thin twigs on the front left side of the tag.  Use a strong glue (I use Helmar 450QD) to hold them in place.  A staple or two can help to hold them while the glue sets.

When dry, adhere the leaves to the front of the tag over the top of the twigs.

Wrap the top of the ribbon with the dyed Crinkle Ribbon.  Place the ribbon around the tag so that it hides the seam from the embossing.

Stamp the label stamp from the Die & Stamp set on a piece of manila cardstock using Fired Brick Distress Ink.

I used an art fail tag out of my scrap bin.  The back side of the tag had really cool color that had seeped through.  You can read more about my re-use of my art fails in this post on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/special-guest-tammy-tutterow/.

Use the included die to cut the label out.  Use an ink blending tool to apply Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges of the label.

Stamp a sentiment on the label, flush with the left inside edge of the label.

Adhere the label to the front of the tag.  Off set the placement so that the right edge of the label wraps around the right edge of the tag.

All done!  Now let’s take a look at some details…

I love how subtle the text is on the woodgrain.  I like that it adds some interest to what otherwise would be a large brown background.  It is a detail that you might not see at first until you look closer.  I love touches like that!

I love the simplicity of this bow.  It is really just simply a knot with the ends trimmed in banner points.  Simple and understated, it doesn’t compete for attention.

I love the look of the crackle paint on the vellum.  It intensifies the colors and adds so much texture.  It reminds me of leaves that still have color when the first ice of winter comes.

The little hints of glitter add a nice bit of texture and sparkle.

And the curl of the vellum, so perfect for the leaves of fall.

I really love this tag!  When I started I had no idea what the clear crackle paint would do on vellum but I wanted to try.  The final result is so stunning!  There are lots of different ideas in this tag that could be used in so many ways!  I hope you will give one of them a try!

Many thanks again to Simon Says Stamp for including me and this tag in their Stamptember celebration!

Feel free to pin this project on Pinterest!  While you are there, I would love for you to check out my boards!