Right now my to do list is looking more like a novel and I’m determined to make a real dent in it today. So I decided today’s project would be a very quick gift tag using the Ornate Layers Dies as my starting off point.

SIMPLE SPONGED BACKGROUND

Before I could get to the Ornate Layers Dies I first needed to create the background for my tag. SoI took a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Thick Very Vanilla Card and then chose my ink colours. In the end I selected Granny Apple Green, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo.

Using pieces of Stampin’ Sponge in a circular motion I added areas of colour over the Very Vanilla Card. Some areas were lighter, some darker, some colours overlapped. Once I was happy with the effect I flicked some clean water onto the card. Once dried, this created some interesting lighter spots in the background.

ORNATE LAYERS DIES

With the background complete my next job was to cut out the piece using the second largest die from the Ornate Layers. It’s a really fancy die so to help remove some of the tiny bits I used my Take Your Pick tool with the Die Brush Tip.

Now it was time to turn the layer into a tag with the help of the scoring blade on my Paper Trimmer. I simply centred the card on the trimmer with the long side at the top and gently scored the solid area. I decided not to try to score the fancy edges in case I tore them. Instead once I folded the card along the scored line I used my fingers to press down on the edges. Then I sharpened the crease with my Bone Folder.

COLLAGE STYLE

Now I was ready to add some collage-style stamping using images from the Painted Poppies Stamp Set.

First using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped the poppy and bud image. Then I added some of the large splatter image in the bottom left and top right corners. Finally with Granny Apple Green ink I stamped the top of the poppy field image down the right hand edge.

To add more definition I then decided to go back and sponge some more Granny Apple Green ink on the green areas at the edge of the tag. This darkened them just a little so they seemed more finished.

For my sentiment I turned to the new Lovely You Stamp Set and chose “let’s cheer you up”. I stamped this onto a scrap of Thick Very Vanilla Card using Tuxedo Black ink then cut it out with Paper Snips. To take away some of the brightness of the card I then lightly sponged over it with Granny Apple Green ink.

On the back of the sentiment I placed some Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and planned to include a few loops of Linen Thread. Unfortunately on this very small project the thread seemed too thick, which actually surprised me. So I separated the strands of the Linen Thread before making my loops, and that was much better. With that done I fixed the sentiment to the tag.

To finish off I added a few Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels and my quick tag was complete.

I’m very much still learning about collage-stamping but I feel I’m getting better. Maybe I should look again at my Stampin’ Up! stamp sets and see if any others would work well in this style. Any suggestions?

PRODUCT LIST

UPDATED 2021: Stampin’ Sponges have been retired and are no longer available from Stampin’ Up!. As an alternative you could use Blending Brushes to add background colour to the tag.