vintage cards

Blended Distress Christmas Tags

Christmas Tags is how my stamping journey began…many, many years ago. I would spend hours stamping cute large Santas and Snowmen by DJ Inkers and coloring them in with pencils and markers. I spent so much time on these tags, I would save them all and reuse them for years to come – I still even have most of them! The kids new the wrapping paper was toast – but not the tags – I know…sad, but true!

So today I have a different version of a tag for you. More of my style today – not as much coloring anymore, I’m more into backgrounds, and clean & simple designs now – well, you may just see some mixed media or watercoloring the next few months from me too! So to kick off this month, I thought I’d film a tutorial on how to create an antique or vintage background for you.

This month at Happy Little Stampers, the theme is Tags, so for today’s project, I designed a clean and simple tag that has some simple paper piecings, and a great bold font greeting – courtesy of the new Everyday Sentiments stamp set. Have fun with this tutorial! See you in a few days with another. 🙂

And be sure to check out our guest designer – Bonnie Klass’s blog for her cool project as well. I’ve been a huge fan of Bonnie’s work for a few years now – she’s a very talented stamper. 🙂

Creating a Vintage look for your Christmas Tags

Start with a piece of white card stock. I used a scrap piece that was 3 3/4 x 4″. Sponge Distress Inks to create your background as in the video – Old Paper, Antique Linen, Scattered Straw. Be sure to go over the colors to get a smooth antique look
Don’t worry about funky marks left initially by the sponge tools – they’ll work themselves out the more layers of distress ink you layer over them.

The key to achieving the antique finish or vintage look is adding a light edging around the antique finish you’ve created. I used Vintage Photo.
Cut your tag corners as in the video if you haven’t already.
As in the video, the majority of your sponge tool will be off your project, not on. Light is key here.
You can even add some of the lighter colors such as Scattered Straw or Antique Linen inside to smooth the Vintage Photo edging out.
Assemble your snowflakes and add them to your project. I used the Snowflake BigZ die by Sizzix designed for Stampin Up. Use any Snowflake dies you have. Layer to create a 3D look with different colors and sparkly embellishments.

Make sure your vintage background is fully dry – I used a heat tool, as I”m quite impatient. But if you’re making several at a time, you can dry them naturally.
Test the tag out as in the video to see if it’s ready to be embossed.
Ink up the Merry & Christmas with Versamark, stamp and emboss in Espresso Powder. I used the Everyday Sentiments set by HLS – they are bold and large stamps which works well with this project. You’ll want something that can stand out from the Snowflakes.
Attach your snowflakes with a strong adhesive as in the video.
Punch a 1/4″ hole and add some ribbon.

I hope you liked this tutorial! I love the end result of this tag. I’ve made several for various packages this Christmas. It’s quite easy to mass produce actually. Sponge a larger sheet, cut it down, edge and mass assemble. Work smarter – not harder! 🙂

Stay tuned in a few days for another great tag tutorial, and if you want to see more, be sure you’re on the Creative Tips E-letter! Sign up below, it’s free and has exclusive content.

I’m also entering this tag is a fun Christmas Tag event over at my good friend Loll’s blog. I encourage you to enter yours as well!

Until next time – now go get those fingers inky, make some Christmas Tags and join us for the challenge over at Happy Little Stampers!

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Filed Under: Challenges, Christmas, Clean and Simple, Distress Ink, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: Christmas Tags, distress blending, stamping tutorials, stamping videos, technique videos, vintage cards

Vintage Best of Butterflies

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 4 Comments

Welcome to the RemARKable Blog Hop! I’m stop #3 today, which means you just hopped on over from my friend Linda’s blog Ink Stamp and Scrap. Linda and I have been friends over 10 years now through Stampin’ Up! and I’ve always thought that her stamping has always been beautiful, don’t you agree? Well today I have a vintage look for you using a few of my favorite colors from over the past 11 years – More Mustard, Garden Green and Perfect Plum.

Creative Tips –

I stamped the romantic looking butterfly in Elegant Eggplant on Very Vanilla so that the design would pop.
I then popped it up using dimensionals onto a flower that I stamped and cut with Daydream Medallions and the matching Framelits.
I used the Paper Piercing Essentials Pack to add some piercing in the colors of the More Mustard Square – I’m down to my last few sheets – used my last package tonight for a stamp a stack (sniff…sniff…so tough to see the colors retire!)
I distressed the edges of the Garden Green strip with the distressing tool and added a little filler to my Very Vanilla with an Elegant Eggplant Marker and the Color Spritzer Tool.
I tied a knot in a piece of the Crochet Trim to go along with my vintage look.
I made a little tag out of some more of the mustard and added a beautiful saying using the Lacy & Lovely set. Of course I pinned it to my trim using the Vintage Trinkets – love those!
For a finishing touch, I added three of the smallest Pearls to my tag in a triangle – law of three! I love the finished look. If you want to see a few more projects that I made this past week with this set, just click on the photos below.

Up next is Melissa’s blog at www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191 I’m sure she’s got something great for you today! Enjoy the hop and thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Sets – Best of Butterflies (133345c), Lacy & Lovely (122887c, 132025w) Ink – Elegant Eggplant (126969), Elegant Eggplant Marker Paper – Very Vanilla (101650), Elegant Eggplant (105126), More Mustard (retired), Garden Green (102584) Cool Tools – Color Spritzer (107066), Stampin’ Distress Tool (127562), Paper Piercing Essentials Pack, Paper Piercer, Stampin’ Mat Finishing Touch – Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Crochet Trim (118481), Vintage Trinkets (118764)

Filed Under: Cards, Uncategorized Tagged: 25th Anniversary Stampin Up Stamp Sets, diy cards, online stamping classes, stampin up demonstrator, vintage cards

Vintage Mojo Monday

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 2 Comments

Vintage looking cards don’t have to be difficult to make. I find that sometimes I struggle with this look, but a few elements really help make this card come together quickly. It’s Mojo Monday again and I have to admit, I’m never round – always square! Maybe someday I’ll step outside of my comfort zone and attempt the round, but not today.

I immediately went to my Fan Fair Designer Series Paper when I saw this sketch. I tried it with three banners, but just had to put five on instead. It’s ironic that today’s card is about banners, as I just filmed a video on just how to make banners yesterday. I’ll be editing it today, so look for it tomorrow! Click Here to see the Video

Creative Tips:

My dimensions on this card are 5.5”x5.5” for the base. I cut the Chocolate Chip 5”x5” and the Very Vanilla 4 7/8”x4 7/8”.
After choosing the Fan Fair Designer Series Papers that I wanted as the banners, I altered the height and width of each one for a little variety. To make my banners, I used a 1 3/8” Square Punch. I wanted the peak to be the same in each one, so I used it on all five banners.
For the greeting, I have to admit that I first did two ovals with our new Oval Framelits. But I don’t like having too much of a matte and since they are round, trimming them just isn’t an option. So instead I used the small Apothecary Accents Framelits for the Matte. It evokes a Spanish Inquisition feel for me – not sure why, but it does.
I wanted to do a little stamping and add some texture to the backdrop of my greeting. I went to the gorgeous flower in Blooming with Kindness. I stamped it off once in Crumb Cake to lighten it a bit and then added my greeting from Lacy and Lovely in Early Espresso for contrast. Of course I popped it up too.
For my ribbon accent I used our 5/8” Victoria Crochet Trim. It’s my first time using this delicate but gorgeous ribbon, you have got to try it, the photos do not do it any justice and it’s perfect for any vintage looking card!
I needed to fill the white space up a little on the project, so I went to my good ‘ol stand by – paper piercing with the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack. Since there was so much space at the bottom, I added 5 holes in each direction rather than my usual three. And at the top I only did two. It really turned out nice – grab your paper piercer any time you feel like it needs something. The best part – it’s a one time inexpensive purchase. Overall, I just love the way this project turned out. It’s not my normal style or color combination, but there’s just something about it that is striking and it’s definitely a vintage look. Have fun making your own Mojo Monday creation!