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! :)

Stampers Anonymous Sewing Blueprints Stampers Anonymous Mini Blueprints 3 Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts XL Die Set Sizzix Wanted Alpha Die Sizzix Tag & Bookplates Die Sizzix Flower and Heart Sizzix Valentine Background and Borders Sizzix Pattern and Stitches idea-ology Tag Labels idea-ology Elements Tissue Tape Idea-ology Wire Pins idea-ology Seasonal Chit Chat Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon idea-ology Paper String - Stripes Sizzix Little Sizzles Kraft Core Inkssentials Manila Cardstock Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist Festive Berries Distress Stain Worn Lipstick Distress Stain Brushed Corduroy Distress Stain Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink Water Brush - Detailer Tip Distress Markers Idea-ology Sanding Grip Inkssentials Blending Tool Scor-Tape 1/4" Plus Corp Glue Tape Vagabond Foam Sticky Squares

InLinkz.com