Saturday, May 12, 2012

12 Tags of 2012 - May

One of my favorite things about following along with Tim Holtz' 12 Tags challenges is the motivation to try something new. This month's biggest challenge for me was having to pull out the melting pot! I will tell you a little secret: I have had one for years and used it once. Yes, once. I don't know if it's that I feel like it's a hassle, or that I'm afraid to burn myself or what. I just stuck it in a cupboard and forgot about it. Tim's tag was just the incentive I needed to get it out and dust it off.

As you can see above, I'm not done with my wood block phase! I thought with all the 3D elements on this month's tag, it would be perfect to make it into a piece of chunky art.

Of course, I also had to try a few tricks! I decided to try and make my own roses using the Sizzix Tattered Flower Garland die. I would say I had mixed results. Much like the time I tried to make my own Tissue Tape, I'm not sure it's really worth the effort! It was fun though, and I think they ended up looking like little poppies. Please ignore the random glops and goobers - I'm new at this!

I totally adore this part! After seeing Tim's tag last night, I started thinking of how I could interpret it - using his elements and techniques, but making it my own. I decided to replace the stamped dress form with one cut using the Sizzix Sewing Room die. To give it a little interest, I cut off the stand and made one with wire.  I also replaced the measuring tape ribbon with a vintage one. My flowers came out so orange-ish that the other one clashed too much! Another thing I added was a little postal stamp - it's from a clear set I found at Hobby Lobby, but you can find the red rubber version on Tim's Shabby French set. I am really wondering why I don't have that one yet...it's going on my list!

I am still having a love affair with Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Back Canvas! For my dress form, I adhered it to Grungeboard and cut it out, then inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink. It seemed too bare....hmmm...what to do? I spotted my new Wallpaper stamp from Stampers Anonymous on my table and was like, ah ha! I stamped it onto the canvas with Jet Black Archival ink. It still needed a little something, so I added a button that was stamped with a text stamp from the Papillon set, inked and then embossed with UTEE. I added a couple chunks of the amber UTEE that was left over from the flowers. I might be addicted to UTEE buttons now!

One of the other fun things about Tim's tags is that there is always an unexpected element. In this case, it was the little spool vase. I have a ton of vintage spools I've collected over the years and found the perfect one. The problem was, my husband was at work and I would have to figure out how to shave it down somehow. I was going to use the scroll saw, but the little guide thing was too low and I couldn't adjust it. Then I spotted his big grinder...hmmm...Tim did say that he sanded his flat, right? So, I fired that thing up and went to town. Done! I added a little paper lace and an Idea-ology Wire Pin and I was finished. I did find out later that you're not supposed to use the grinder for wood. Oops! Too late now! :)

If you'd like to purchase anything I used, it's all available from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Remember, you can use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!


Thanks so much for stopping by - enjoy the rest of your weekend! I'm off to a Greek Festival to eat some spanakopita! 

40 comments:

  1. Perfect....absolutely PERFECT! (try the band saw next time, but hold onto the wood tight..it likes to fly! BTDT)

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  2. Just gorgeous! I love every detail! The flowers are perfect.
    Can I come over and play?

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  3. OMG! This is a piece of art. Your photographs are excellent as well. Great job.

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  4. Hey Shelly ... I think I might like yours better than Tim's ... good work ... Linda F

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  5. Oh Shelly this is awesome, love your colors, those flowers pop !!

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  6. Wauw Shelly. Love it! All the little details! Your houstraps are fab!
    hugs Chantal

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  7. This is fab, just love what you have done!!!hugs trace x

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  8. What a fabby chunky piece of art! Love all the little ways you've made it your own! Especially the legs on the dressform, and those flowers definitely look like poppies! Brilliant tag!

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  9. Talk about necessity being the Mother of invention...I applaud you for just grinding the spool into submission. Lol. I love everything about this...the lace on the spool is inspired, as is that gorgeous wall paper stamp on the dress. Great piece!

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  10. Only when I read your description, did I look back and see it was on a piece of wood! I have heard of chunky ATCs now Chuunky tags...LOVE this idea, it can stand as its own piece of art.

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  11. I just love your work, you have such a good eye for different textures and colours!

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  12. This chunky tag is amazing!! Love all the details! It's gorgeous as always!

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  13. Shelly, your piece is an excellent take on Tim's tag and loving those poppies. Gorgeous. Anne Rx

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  14. Wonderful dress form, especially the wire base - BJ

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  15. Wowwwww this is a beautiful tag .wich a lot of details
    love it very much.

    Greetings Janny

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  16. Your tag is amazing. Wonderful job. Love it!!

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  17. This is Awesome Shelley ! You have used my favourite die set and my favourite stamps. When you are bored with this if you could possibly send it my way I will find a new home for it!! Fabulous Darling!!

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  18. Spitze und genial!

    Liebe Grüße

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  19. *LOVE*
    So pretty...I love the way your flowers turned out, especially the orangey-ness of them!

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  20. You tag is gorgeous - I have so much to learn! How do y'all get this stuff so quickly after he posts - It's a mystery to me. I just saw his May tag today. Aren't those flowers wonderful land you did an amazing job with them. Wow!
    sandy

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  21. As always, Shelly, your projects are wonderful! I love that you describe how you make them so we all can take a crack at it without guessing what you did.

    Thanks for sharing!!!!!

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  22. Gorgeous. I love your flowers! I think they could be either poppies or roses, and that makes them versatile! Love how you did the legs of the fomr and the fun spool. I bought a melting pot awhile ago...I am weird..I didn't want to "dirty" it up..I will dig it out this week and make a tag....

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  23. Love how you made this tag your own. I have to see what I have that he used (I'm sure I don't have it all) and then figure out what I can use to substitute. Hope I can come up with something as clever as you did.

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  24. Wonderful project you did! I had forgotten my oldie hot pots and now will get one out and try the flowers! Just fantastic!

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  25. Fabulous version of the May tag Shelly. The beautiful poppy colour is gorgeous. I will have to see if there are any off cuts in the shed to try this kind of tag!

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  26. Amazing piece of art! I love many of the details - the red flowers, the wire base and the gorgeous stamped canvas on dress form!!! I will have to check out the rest of your artwork!

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  27. Wow, this is fabulous! I love how you used that stamp on the dress form! And your flowers are gorgeous!

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  28. Oh wow this is more than a tag. Beautiful. Love it.

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  29. Wow! this is art, love it!
    is wonderful!

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  30. Just love it! My husband has no tools so I'll have to figure a few things out. Will have to check out your blog now! TY

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  31. Love your dress form! The chunky tag is brilliant!

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  32. This is really beautiful. I love the burst of coral from your flowers, they really grab me!

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  33. What a clever idea to turn your tag into a relief sculpture. Blessings!

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  34. Oh..my.. this is GORGEOUS!!!
    Love it!!!
    ♥♥♥

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  35. Finally got a chance to make my tag today and check out everyone else's ... of course, I just LOVE yours ... probably better than the Master's! shhhhh.

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