In my Facebook memories today was a photo I took 7 years ago of snow piling up on the shrubs in front of the house. Today there’s a very different scene outside with not a snowflake on the ground and a spring-like blue sky. I was even tempted to throw open all the windows until I checked the thermometer and quickly changed my mind. So instead I’ll create my early spring indoors, starting with this pretty birthday gift tag created using the Petal Park and Go To Greetings Stamp Sets.

TINY PETAL PARK FLOWERS

When I first saw the Petal Park Stamp Set I was immediately drawn to the large flowers and leaf images. But having got the stamp set and coordinating punch I realised that the smaller flowers and leaves are cute too. So today that’s where I turned my attention. For my design I wanted the triple flower outline and solid stamps, along with the small multi-leaf outline image and matching solid stamp.

First I cut a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Basic White Card and began to stamp across the bottom left corner. To build up the design I stamped a flower ouline and then added the leaf outline, then another flower outine and more leaves. Once I was happy with the arrangement I was ready to fill in the colour using the solid stamps.

Instead of changing to different ink pads I used the “stamping-off” technique to create a lighter shade from my ink pads. This simply means inking up the stamp as normal but then gently ‘stamping off’ onto scrap paper to remove a little of the ink. Then I looked through the photopolymer stamp to line it up with the outline image before stamping the remaining ink in place. Once I’d filled in all the flowers and leaves I was ready for a sentiment.

GO TO GREETINGS

Petal Park is an image-only stamp set so I needed to find a sentiment in another set. Today I reached for one of my favourite sentiment-only stamp sets, Go To Greetings. From the three sizes of “happy birthday” sentiments in the set I chose the smallest one. Then using Old Olive ink I stamped it in the remaining space above my floral design. From there the gift tag came together really quickly.

I began by using my Paper Trimmer to cut a 3″ x 6″ piece of Basic White Card. Then with the long side at the top I scored it at 3″, folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next I opened up the tag base and slid it under the slot option on the Very Best Trio Punch. After moving the crease just to the right of the centre line I punched down to create the slot on the back of the tag. With that done I tied some white twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack onto the tag.

That just left the stamped piece to add so I cut a 2-5/8″ x 2-5/8″ piece of Orchid Oasis Card. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I mounted the stamped layer on top. I could have simply glued the layers onto the tag but instead I wanted to show you how you can add dimension to a layer when you don’t have Stampin’ Dimensionals…

So I cut two more pieces of Orchid Oasis Card, each one 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ and glued them on top of each other. Then I glued my main layered piece on top of them. Now I could use liquid glue to add the assembled layers onto the tag front. And just like that my spring birthday tag was complete.

I must say that I love how the hidden extra layers of card lift the main layer off the tag base. It’s such a simple idea but definitely worth the effort. What do you think?

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Petal Park Stamp Set with the coordinating Petal Park Builder Punch (not used today) using a single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included links for both options so you can explore these if you wish.