Calendar Tags and yet more ATCs

Yes, indeed.  Jumped right into those SCS swaps with both feet a couple of months ago.  Now all of the due dates are on my doorstep and I've realized that with fall right around the corner the Steed household will be a beehive of activity which equals less craftalicious time for me so I've avoided signing up for (many) more.

This weekend found me and my inky fingers finishing up a Calendar Tag swap and Alphabet ATC swap (my letter is H). 

That's a lotta tags!

The tags need to be in "Tim Holtz style" and my months are August and May.  I previously shared my August tag HERE  but here is my tag for May:

I especially like how the peacock background turned out.  I was thinking Mothers' Day for May but it could also simply represent spring, weddings or graduations I suppose.

My alphabet ATCs are an ode to recycling and my penchant for saving EVERYthing.

 

 I had no clue really what I wanted to do when I started so I took out my blanks and began gluing torn bits of paper towels that I'd used for mopping up excess ink (mostly Dylusions).  Happy with that I added some stenciling over the top (the stencil is from sequin waste).  Following the stenciling I dumped out scraps of paper that had bits of ink, paint, stamping, etc. and cut them into heart shapes.  A little washi tape and a phrase finished them off. 

Off to package these up and send them on their merry way.  Have a great day!

12 Tags of 2013 - May

Greetings!

Today I've got my tag for May.  I borrowed Tim's use of bright color and rub-ons from his tag.  It's funny to me how my original ideas morph into something completely different. I knew I wanted to use my new Movers & Shapers dies (mini clock and camera) so was thinking something vacation-ish.  After I added the cityscape to the bottom 9-11 immediately popped into my head.  I remember watching the events unfolding that morning very pregnant with my youngest (he was born 2 weeks later) and wondering what kind of world I was bringing him into.  All that to say, strange how things morph in the process.  Onto the tag...

I started with the same process Tim did - rubbing on a few rub-ons.  Next I swiped some Distress Stain (Broken China, Barn Door, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn and Walnut Stain) on my mat and ran my tag through.  It was a little lighter than I liked so I followed that up with some blending of the same colors in the inks.  Misted a bit of water over that.

The cityscape stencil started with a base of Picket Fence DS sponged on with Walnut Stain over that.  The stamped images were stamped with Versafine ink and, thinking it neeed a little something more, I stamped a little more on the background using bubble wrap and Pumice Stone DI.

The clock is layered with a grungeboard base, cardstock that I attempted to patina-ize with Distress Paints (Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn, Antiqued Bronze and Tarnished Brass).  (I ended up wiping a little Inca Gold graphite over some parts).  Barn Door DP and Tarnished Brass finished off the outside.  The clock face is cardstock that I crinkled and distress with Walnut Stain.  A layer of Crackle Accents with more Walnut Stain DI rubbed over it finished that off.  The agony of waiting for that stuff to dry!  Yowza...

The ribbon is dyed with Pumice Stone DI and Walnut Ink DI.  I was thinking a smoky color for this.

And that's my tag.  Thanks for stopping by!

Teacher Appreciation Week is Almost Here!

Yay for teachers! 

Next month is Teacher Appreciation Week.  It's always nice to know that you're appreciated but teachers don't expect you to go overboard in expressing your thanks.  Many times a hand-written note from your child is all they need.  If you want to do a little more consider gifts that don't have anything to do with apples (most teachers are "appled-out") or involve items that they will need to store.  Gift cards to office supply stores, craft stores or book stores are usually a good bet (they spend more than we realize for the classroom out of their own pockets) or if you know what hobby he or she is interested in a gift card to that type of store is perfect too.

This is what I'm doing for my son's teachers (if you know Lynn and Mr. Barnes don't tell them!).  It's small, inexpensive and doesn't need to be stored. 

The tag fits over a standard 16.9-oz. water bottle.  The little pocket holds the drink mix (plenty of room for a gift card too) and all they have to do is dump the contents into the bottle and shake for a tasty alternative to plain ol' water.  The mix is Iced Tea with Lemon - and it's really tasty.

Little added details include the green & white bakers twine and the hand-stamped and embossed lemon wedge that's lifted off the base with dimensional foam dots.

If you'd like to do this for your child's teachers too I've put them in my Etsy shop here.

Have a great day!