JUNE TAG- The 12 Tags of 2015

      

   

      It should come as no surprise for me to say how much I LOVED Tim's June Tag!!! Not just the new die that makes us all wanna rush for the coffee pot, but Ooooh! That background; simply STUNNING! Each month, I get awed all over again with the stuff that guy churns out in his studio. So while I am gah-gah over the overall look, I gave my take on this June creation it's own summer glow (that's been sorely missing with all this rain here in Indiana), and decided to go with the Americana theme colors. I took it a bit further when I was busy doing some stars on the ChiefHubby's man-project (his redone pontoon boat is up next on my posts) when the idea struck "why not make a star for my tag,"? And there ya go! So here's how I went about it....

This Sizzix die was on sale for a measly $6 at a Michael's in Florida during after- CHRISTmas shopping. A STEAL for a die I've been waiting to find! The star it makes can be adjusted for different sizes as well as making a 3D one-sided star or double the sides for a hanging 3D ornament. I used a heavy cardstock here so that the star would be firm after being put together. I think it would make a FANTASTIC CHRISTmas tree ornament! You'll see in the next posting how I used it to make a stencil for spraying paint onto the ChiefHubby's man-project Pontoon Boat !!! 



I used Glossy Accents to put the stars together. GA dries extremely fast and stays firm - helping the stars keep their shape very nicely ! Like I keep saying....one'na these days I am gonna own stock in that stuff... : )
I then added some Tarnished Brass Distress Paint all over the stars and just under the edges, so the backsides would be colored as they overlapped the tag just a tiny bit.




I then chose to 'distress' my stars further by 'rusting' them - sanding lightly first, then using my heater and some emboss power with Vintage Photo Distress Ink for color.



I followed Tim's instructions for the basic start of the background. But I didn't have one of the new DoItYourself  Inkpads for the next step. Which grates on me to no end, of course. BUT, in thinking up my red, white, and blue theme; an idea hit on me....

Since the TH Stencils are so flexible, I wondered if I could add each color on the bend of my table (it has a rounded edge...not squared) and hold the pad right up against the edge by gliding it over as close to the next color as I could. Hey; it worked pretty good! Let's just say it took ALOT of inking, wiping, reinking, and rewiping in order to make 6 backgrounds on 6 tag sides. So the DoItYourself Inkpads REALLY ARE worth it to get for this technique- definitely would save a lot of time and effort!



So here are my finished Americana Tag backgrounds finished- 3 of them with frontside and backside. My color choices for the theme were from the Americana Set of three that was sold a cpl yrs ago: Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap, and Faded Jeans. I just LOVE those colors together !!! And the Frayed Burlap looked PERFECT with the binder twine and the bit of burlap under the worded piece! The backsides would stay plain- I figured any photo tucked onto it would look cute if done so.




Here's distressed sides and adding some Vintage photo to make it look a bit 'older'.



Using popdots to keep the stars in place. I used my guntape (LOVE THAT THING!!) to add the worded burlap bit.



This photo shows the 'rusting' of the star a bit closer for you to see better. I have at least 3 of these on the outside of our home, and at least 3....or 4??...on the inside. So it was easy to duplicate the look of real rain-rusting going on.



And this photo shows the IdeaOlogy HeartCharm with the American Flag photo inside. I have a TH new for 2015 Heart Shape-Cutter on the way (pre-odered from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and I can't wait for it to get here! I love putting my own photos and sayings into those sweet heart charms!!

 

 

         I chose two special families to recieve the tags this month: one is Mrs. Diane Good, whose husband, Stan Good has been dealing with a brain tumor. Stan and Diane have been living a new life in Indianapolis, Indiana in 'retirement' from Winamac, where he was Principle at the High School. Far from relaxing, they have entered a new phase of their lives in service (as they have most of their life already) to The LORD by creating and planting Crossing Schools that help previously fallen-through-the-cracks students to be able to graduate in a CHRIST-centered, supported environment. Indiana's Governor has met with Stan and Diane and heartily approved the program and its awesome accomplishments. Our own Church of Christ at Logansport (where we first met Stan and Diane and became friends with them) recently graduated a student from the program who would otherwise never have graduated! Stan was diagnosed with the tumor and able to recieve treatment at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio (where I also was treated for my hearing problem back in the 80's) in early June and we are waiting to see how the results will pan out. I believe EVERYTHING has a reason, and this does also. So far, I have played 'tag' (pun intended here) just missing them at church in passing, but don't really want to mail the Tag in case of damage. So I am hoping she will read this and know it is waiting for her on the usual "back table" at church. And know that MANY OTHERS will keep them in thought and prayer during this time! (WE LOVE YOU BOTH!!)

            The second Tag was given in a Welcome basket to our new Associate Minister and Wife, Scott and Terri, and their lovely -and FUN- daughters, Hannah and Elizabeth. We've been seeing alot of them and they are definitely 'our type' as they love to laugh and do things together....even with all this MUD. Ugh! LOL!

THANKS SO MUCH for kind comments and ESPECIALLY just for checking in to see what new thing I've got going on! Next post is a goodie for guys- and big gurls who like boats, water, and fishing!! So c'mon back in and check it out!

Meanwhile, as always; Safe Journeys and Happy Blogging!