Thursday, February 7, 2013

I Love You Sew

Are you feeling the love? This month, Inspiration Emporium is challenging you to share your love-themed artwork. I decided to put my own spin on Tim Holtz' February challenge tag and created this Valentine's tag with a sewing theme. It's not just a tag though...

It's a Pop 'n Cuts tag!! I am so excited to share that Inspiration Emporium is carrying Karen Burniston's Pop 'n Cuts Base die - even better, they have tons of the inserts in stock and Karen's new CHA releases available for pre-order. Woo hoo! I just love how the Circle Insert allowed me to give the sewing machine dimension, and to truly bring it to life.

The inspiration for the little heart garland in the machine came from my friend, Debi. I was at her house last week (she has the most awesome stuff!) and she had a little toy sewing machine on display with one of her felted hearts in it. I thought it was so adorable! When I was trying to think of a way to make this stamp set 'Valentine-y' I was like - ah ha! Tiny heart garland!

I shot a quick tutorial with my phone - the pictures aren't the greatest, but you can get an idea of how I put it together. Last year I made a similar tag for the Sizzix blog. You can check out the tutorial here if you need more info.

1. Begin by cutting a tag from a file folder (it's the perfect length!). Drop the folded edge of the folder down about 1/8" from the top of the tag die cut opening. This will keep the fold intact.
2. Insert a piece of scratch paper into the tag. Apply Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, and Brushed Corduroy Distress Stains directly onto tag. Spritz lightly with gold Perfect Pearls mist. Let dry (I use my heat tool).

3. Open tag and apply Brushed Corduroy Distress Stain to inside. Mist with gold PPM. Let dry.
4. Emboss front with zig zig border from Sizzix' Pattern and Stitches Texture Fades set. Highlight stitches with brown ink.

5. Stamp dress form on tag using Jet Black Archival ink. Stamp again onto watercolor paper. Color top part of image with Distress Markers. Cut out and mount onto tag with foam tape. I also added a strip of Tissue Tape to the top of my tag - my zig was zagging and I had to hide it! ;-)
6. From another piece of stained cardstock, cut five hearts using Karen Burniston's Heart Movers and Shapers die. Dab lightly with adhesive and line up four of the hearts on a piece of scratch paper. Stitch down the middle. Tear paper away from stitching.

7. Stamp sewing machine onto manila cardstock with embossing ink. Cover with black embossing powder, tap off excess and heat until melted.
8. Color image using Distress Markers.

9. Cut out image. To get it to fit inside the tag, you'll have to cut a bit off the sides and the handle. Tape a straight pin behind the arm to act as a needle. Add a glue dot to the back of the top heart, insert the needle and adhere garland to sewing machine as shown. How cute is that garland? Thanks, Debi!
10. Stamp the inside of the tag with various images from Tim Holtz' Mini Blueprints 3 stamp set. Cut the pop-up mechanism from acetate using Karen Burniston's Pop 'n Cuts Circle insert. Trim to fit the tag and adhere with Scor-Tape. Add foam squares to back of sewing machine and adhere to acetate as shown. Glue a torn strip of stained cardstock to the bottom of the tag and add die cut letters to spell out 'sew'.

11. Finish the front by gluing one of the die cut hearts to the dress form. I also tied a little Crinkle Ribbon around the waist. To finish the top, I added an idea-ology Wire Pin and one of the new Tag Labels. How cool is it that the Valentine Chit Chat sticker fit so perfectly?!
12. Since I didn't have any of the new Seasonal Core'dinations, I embossed a piece of Kraft Core'dinations with the heart strip from the Valentine Background and Borders set. After it was sanded, I added paper string and more Seasonal Chit Chat stickers.

I hope you enjoyed my take on Tim's tag, and I hope you join us over at the Inspiration Journal with your ode to love! Everything I used on my tag can be found at IE via the links below. Remember to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save a lovely 10% off your order! Sew fantastic! :)


45 comments:

  1. SEWING-CREDIBLE! (If I post this quickly I'll be the first one and it will show up in the permalinks.)

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  2. Absolutely marvelous! Oustandig just love love love it!

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  3. (Karen B - wonderful words!)

    This tag is amazing! That really is the cutest garland! It could be quite a versitle creative idea. I loved seeing your how to process.

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  4. Thank you for posting your creative process for this. I completely fell in love with your tag... I've never seen those sewing templates before... what a great tool!

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  5. Shelly

    Just great as usual - I enjoy the theme "sew" much.

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  6. Wow.....truly beautiful and so gorgeous

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  7. Wow.....truly beautiful and so gorgeous

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  8. Wow, gorgeous tag !! Love it ! Great job !
    Best regards Berdien

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  9. Amazing!!! I just love every detail. What genius to make it a pop up tag. Just wonderful.

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  10. wow your tag is fab and especially love the pop up sewing machine, brill. x

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  11. You've revived my love for the sewing theme. I really look forward to your blog posts. Thanks for sharing your creations and process. :)

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  12. Shelly this is wonderful!

    Love it!
    Sandra ltb

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  13. Great take on tim's tag!! I really like it! I just picked up my popncuts base yesterday at my local paper arts store, they ordered it special for me, it was my Christmas present. Now I can play with pop up tags, cool! Thankyou for sharing this inspirational technique and all the details. The sewn string of hearts coming off the sewing machine, and the straight pin needle are the perfect embellishments.

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  14. Gorgeous! Love the colors and the sewing theme!
    Have a wonderful day :o)

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  15. Fantastic Shelly, love the design and the stitched hearts are a fantastic touch. I love the sewing machine and dress form on the front . The embossed hearts are gorgeous. Tracy x

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  16. Such a gorgeous tag, love the way you put the hearts into the sewing machine, it looks so realistic.

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  17. Brilliant! LOVE your hearts garland Shelly. The colours are fabulous and gosh your pop up sewing machine looks wonderful. As for "my zig was zagging" - love it - I get that a lot!!! Nicola x

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  18. What an absolute delight... completely perfect!
    Alison x

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  19. Sew beautiful! Love your version. Your stamping detail is amazing.

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  20. This is SEW cute, Shelly! Love your creations. You are SUCH an inspiration....Happy Heart Day:)

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  21. This is gorgeous. Many techniques used to bring this altogether. Love the warm colours chosen too.
    Sew nice.

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  22. I love love love this....super awesome...

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  23. Amazing card - really original. The hearts are what took it over the top!

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  24. I love this. The pop up sewing machine is just wonderful!!

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  25. Cool idea Shelly, I love it! That sewing machine is just da bomb! lol..Oooo, need to check out the new PNC..

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  26. This is brilliant - LOVE the way you did that string of hearts coming from the sewing machine. Your work continues to leave my jaw on the floor in amazement. This piece is totally fantastic - sensational use of the new blueprint stamps!

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  27. Shelly the tag set is awesome! I love the colors and the heart strings coming from the sewing machine, how darn cute. I love the embossed hearts on the bottom of the tag....So fabulous I love your creativity!
    Hugs Kelly

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  28. Shelly, this pop-up tag is NOT just sew-sew....it is sew incredible!

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  29. OMGosh....This is just amazing..And soooooooo inspiring! Beacause I am a sewer this one touches my creative soul even more! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us.

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  30. Oh my, this is SEW cute (har-har)...seriously, though I LOVE this!!!

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  31. Hi my name is Rafaela and im from Brazil
    your blog is very pretty. can you come to visit my blog ?! may be you cant understend but comment i will apreciate.
    Thanks

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  32. The string of hearts is the most gorgeous and ingenious paper crafting touch ever...I'M IN LOVE!!! Your brilliant! This tags ROCKS!!!!

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  33. totally awesome as usual!!!!!!!!

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  34. This is really delicious! Love your colours and the embossed sewing very much! (Always wanted to see the results from the use of these embossing folders. Thanks!) The pop-up effect is so gorgeous and your take on the february tag is absolutely fantastic! LOVE!

    die amelie x

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  35. Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww this is amazing
    Very very beautiful Shelly.
    Greetings Janny

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  36. Hello Shelly!

    great pop-upcard again! I'm so happy i'm not the only one addicted to pop-up cards... I don't have the karen burniston dies, but i'm inspired to make this one in my version with my mechanisms...:)

    I've pre-ordered several stampsets, but not yet all that i wanted. Now seeing the miniset... Damn, need it also...

    Seeing your card and reading the story on your friend, immediately gave me inspiration for my Valentineand love display i still want to make for february in my house... so keep an eye on my announcement on ATT for my blogpost about this... You'll see why :)

    And thanks for your comment on my blog!!! I appreciate every comment, but one of you gives an extra boost!

    Greetings from Belgium
    Inge

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  37. I love it all, but the pop-up machine and string of hearts just takes it over the top!

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  38. Wow! This is great. Love everything you've done there.

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  39. Amazing design Shelly, this is "sew" cool:) x

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Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!