Tags & More – Time for Stamping

December 2, 2014

Judi Kauffman’s back with some more amazing tags. This time she’s been stamping up a storm! As always, she’s selected quirky color combinations. Who else would have considered rust and purple for Christmas?

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Tags & More – Time for Stamping
By Judi Kauffman for Elizabeth Craft Designs

Thanks for inviting me back to the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog, Joset. I’ve been totally into the Tags & More die sets lately. This time I thought it would be fun to use exclusively vintage rubber stamps from my collection for the projects.

One tag is all about stars. It’s sized to hold a small gift and measures 3.25” x 5” x 1”
(11” long before folding). The other tag is a mix of words and symbols, along with a particularly wonderful canceled stamp (modern art by Marcel Duchamp). It measures 3.25” x 6”.

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A few design strategies to get things rolling:

Build your rubber stamp collection by choosing a few categories and buying within those categories. I have a lot of stars, words, and small symbols in my collection and used exclusively “retired” stamps. This will challenge you to get creative and make substitutions.
Choose different words. Instead of words stamps use alphabets and stamp them one letter at a time. Alternatively, hand-letter or computer-generate words or cut them from magazines or damaged books, ransom note-style.

The key to both tags is mixing large and small elements for contrast, whether it’s stars,
or words and symbols.

As an unexpected twist for the holiday tag, stick with traditional motifs (like stars) but go for an unexpected color combination like the one shown – black, gold, purple and rust. Alter a Greetings peel-off (Gold) with alcohol ink (Purple) just for fun!

Let a large and interesting canceled postage stamp star on a tag and pick a palette based on the colors in the postage stamp. Alternatively, start the collage with a ticket stub, small photo, or other memorabilia.

Remember, you can change the length of the tag if you want! This is a unique feature of Elizabeth Craft Designs Tags & More die sets.

GREETINGS: HOLIDAY GIFT TAG
By Judi Kauffman

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1. Use the basic tag shape from Tags & More 1 – Lace to die cut a 2-ended tag measuring
11” long. Score twice, five inches from each end, leaving 1” to form the base of the tag when it is folded and standing upright. (Do not fold the tag till step 6.)

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2. Using an art sponge to apply the color, smudge Ginger ink on the sides and edges of the tag. Allow ink to dry.

3. Using Pitch Black ink, stamp 5-point stars in a variety of sizes. Be sure to turn the stars so they are upright on each side of the tag (point at the top, two legs at the bottom). Start with the largest stars; use the smaller ones to fill the space and create movement so the stars seem to flow or “dance”. Refer to the photo above for a possible layout.

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4. Use colored pencils to fill in the stamped stars.

5. Alter a peel-off greeting with alcohol ink in a color that coordinates with the tag. Add the greeting, oriented vertically at the left side of the front of the tag. (Shown: Greetings from a Season’s Greetings Peel-offs sheet)

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6. Fold on score lines. Use temporary tape to secure a small gift to the base of the tag.
Close and tie the top of the tag with fine gold cord, doubled so there are four loops and four tails on the bow. Option: Make a pocket for the inside of the tag and insert a gift card, theater tickets, or any flat item that fits.

COURAGE: COLLAGE TAG
By Judi Kauffman

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1. Use the basic tag shape and the decorative overlay from Tags & More 2 – Deco to die cut a 6” long tag from medium brown handmade paper.

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2. Back a piece of chocolate brown cardstock measuring 1.25” x 1.5” with ECD Transparent Double Sided Adhesive. Alter a piece of Gold Metallic Shimmer Sheetz measuring 1.25” x 2” with Espresso alcohol ink; back with ECD Transparent Double Sided Adhesive. Use the 4-point reinforcement to die cut two brown reinforcements; use the open triangle decorative corner die to cut two corners from Gold Shimmer Sheetz. Place one reinforcement on the front of the tag so the points are oriented like the clock face (points at 12, 3, 6, and 9).
Place the other reinforcement on the back, carefully aligning the two so they match and no adhesive is exposed. Place the corners on the bottom front of the tag.

3. Use a glue stick to secure the canceled stamp (torn envelope corner) to the center of the tag.

4. Smudge the tag with Ginger ink. Smudge on a bit of Teal Metallic Gelatos. Immediately wipe the surface of the postage stamp so only minimal color is added to it.

5. Use Pitch Black ink to stamp words, arrows, stars, and other small motifs; color with pencils.

6. Tie jute twine at the top of the tag.

SUPPLIES

Elizabeth Craft Designs –
951 Tags & More 1 – Lace
952 Tags & More 2 – Deco
2581 Season’s Greetings Large Peel-Offs in Gold
Small piece of Gold Metallic Shimmer Sheetz – SS 0212
803 Metal Adaptor Plate

Rubber Stamps* – Evidence (Stampers Anonymous); Courage (Innovative Stamp Creations); Tiny star (Hero Arts); Arrow, small words and motifs (Red Castle, Inc.) *Note: These stamps are retired but may be available via an online auction site. Substitute as directed in project tips.

Other – Tim Holtz alcohol ink in Espresso (Ranger); Colored pencils (Prismacolor); Jet Black and Ginger inks (Ranger); Jute twine, fine gold cord (any manufacturer); Art sponge; Gelatos in Teal ((Faber-Castell); Canceled stamp or other printed ephemera measuring approximately 1.75” x 2.5”

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  • Mary Prasad December 18, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    I love the look of both of these projects! Great colors!

  • Frances December 2, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    such fun tag gift holders you have created

    • Judi Kauffman December 2, 2014 at 9:35 pm

      Thanks, Frances. It’s surprising how many items will fit inside that size tag gift holder with the 1″ base…little soaps, jewelry in one of those little organza drawstring bags, a candy bar, a mini book or note pad, and of course, a cookie!

  • Karen Burniston December 2, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Oh I am in LOVE with these project, Judi. Really cool effects.

    • judi kauffman December 2, 2014 at 12:08 pm

      Thanks, Karen! Mutual admiration – I am in LOVE with your dies and videos.

  • Melanie Kuzik December 2, 2014 at 10:52 am

    Lovely

    • judi kauffman December 2, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      Thank you, Melanie. I hope you’ll make your own versions. I got a canceled stamp in today’s mail that is going onto my next tag – Flowers!

  • Raquel Mason December 2, 2014 at 9:31 am

    Beautiful colors Judi!

    • judi kauffman December 2, 2014 at 12:05 pm

      Thank you, Raquel. I love rich bright colors and I do love sneaking purple into my projects…

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