Today was a very productive, but lonely, craft day. I'm gearing up for the tag book swap and worked on a few more tags, then almost got all the covers finished.
But I was working all alone, everyone forgot craft day! Holiday weekends can take a lot out of you. All three friends simply forgot. And the repairman coming to finish replacing our new tub surround forgot to show up too. Then, at the end of the day, my son cancelled our dinner out.
I was feeling very forgotten by then.
Not for long, though. I scooped up this little fairy and she kept me pretty entertained for the evening. We ran errands, had a picnic in the park, then walked downtown for ice cream. She noticed these flowers painted on a store front and said that the "ABCs" looked like mine. What she meant was that the name signed at the bottom had a K and an N in it. Well, it should, its my painting and I signed it!
It was pretty touching to me that she noticed it.
So, my day ended up pretty nice after all. And I got a LOT accomplished on the tag book covers during my solo craft day.
Each cover has been cut out, and the cage has been embellished with metallic inks or glitter, and I've added floral wallpaper to the backs,the holes are punched, and I've inked the edges. About half have the ruffle glued to the bottom. I'm using some vintage eyelet lace to trim them out.
Its exciting to see them all come together. So far, I haven't opened a single package full of swap tags that has arrived in the mail, I'm saving that up for "dessert" when I get my end of the deal finished. Something to look forward to.
One of the tags I made today is for Mary's Monthly Collage Challenge. But since my mind is on birds, I killed two of them with one stone and made a bird tag as my entry to the challenge.
This is what we had to work with.
- I cut out the pretty girl, and colored her in with markers, then glued her down onto a tag covered in a page taken from an old book about birds, sliding the ticket under her head.
- After that, I used an exacto blade to cut out the pink flowers and placed them under her.
- Over that, I added a bird cut from that same book, and colored it with markers too.
- Then built a nest from moss and glue, and added a speckled egg.
- Its trimmed out in vintage velvet ribbon, some rhinestone studded lace, and tied up with a pink ribbon dyed in coffee.
But my favorite part is the crackle glaze, I love that stuff. It was only placed over the girl and the background, not the flowers or the bird. When it dried, I used dark brown ink over it here and there, and blended it out with a baby wipe, then inked the edges of the tag.
On my next post, I'll be drawing a name for this giveaway for one of my
Mini Dress Form online workshops.
If you win, and have already purchased the $15 class, I will send you a kit full of vintage goodies to make the dolled up dress form with.
Karla, I love how you used the crackle glaze for Mary’s collage challenge piece. It is gorgeous! I love all the pretties you made this weekend. Glad things turned out better than expected and you were able to get so much done. Take care!
Hi Karla, I’m glad to hear your day was still filled with a little of everything you love. Your tag covers are lovely and will certainly compliment each book beautifully! Mine are on their way to you…finally. Thanks so much for hosting what has been one of the most perfectly timed and inspiring projects for me. I look forward to receiving my tags.
xo,
Abby
Love the story of your sweet grandaughter and your artwork.
I had this headless barbie hanging around forever and finally had to get your instructions for the dress form.
WOW Karla, you are a rare talent. It such fun to watch your videos. I would love to come play with you one day. I haven’t tackled the project yet, but printed the instructions and am waiting for the next rainy day so I can play!!!
ALL your tags look awesome! I love your challenge creation, too. How sweet Sugarwings is!
(Secretly, I’m thinking: forget a craft day with Karla?!!!!!)
You crack me up Karla! You are definitely NOT forgotten and that Sugarwings is so precious. Thank you for sharing how you made your tag for the swap. Speaking of, I need to finish up my tags and get them in the mail to you ASAP.. Better run ~
I would never forget craft day with you!!! Even living 3 hr. away. LOL
Love your tag idea with the crackle paint. You are so creative. I am working on my tags for the swap.
hugs
Love it! Do you crackle medium that you use for acrylic paint or is it something special for papercrafts?
LOVE what you did with the challenge tag! The crackle is wonderful, you’ll have to teach me how to do that…on the next craft day!!!
Oh how wonderful to spend the evening with Sugarwings. Your life if good!
~elaine~
Your crackle-y tag looks great. I love that stuff too. I finished my birdsong tags (wrote about my process: http://www.themagrag.com )and am mailing them to you today. Thanks for hosting such a huge swap…a true labor of love! My daughter is visiting KU next week (all the way from Portland, OR) for a campus visit. I’ll tell her to wave in your general direction 🙂
What you saw as lonely, I saw as a quiet bit of Heaven!
That is SO sweet that Sugarwings recognized your artwork! Your tag covers are beautiful and i can hardly wait to get my little book!
The covers for the tag swap are lovely! Spening the afternoon finishing mine up so I can send them off to you in the morning…
Grands are just the best and our biggest fans.
Looking forward to my tag book.
I’ve used that crackle on a lot of projects, generally backgrounds. never thought of using it over a figure. Will have to try it. Thanks.
Oh Karla … you are one of my paper idols. I would be delighted to win something that came from you. Truly!
Karla, isn’t it always amazing when a little child always gives us what we need on a bad day? And you sure were having a bad day.
I’m glad she brightened your day. The tag with the pretty woman and crackle glaze is delicately beautiful. Does the crackle just brush on right over the bare, colored in paper figure? I was reading another blog yesterday (can’t remember,darn it) and she mentioned your “wax paper” method that you have used on your projects. It’s been featured in this month’s Stampington Gallery magazine. Did you ever do a tutorial on it? If not, I’m gonna have to get the magazine to see what it’s all about. I like using things from the house, like freezer paper for appliques when I sew, etc.
Warmest Regards,
Susan B., Western MA
Hi Karla, What a wonderful post, what fun to spend with your beautiful granddaughter. I love your beautiful tag book covers and I am so exited to be receiving one. You are so talented. I love to visit your beautiful blog, you have so much energy. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week. Hugs, Terri
Hi Karla, I just wanted to let you know that I mailed off my tags to you today. Thanks again for hosting this wonderful swap. I made an extra for you for hosting. I would have never missed a day to craft with you. Hugs, Terri
What a treat the little recognized your work!
Glad your day turned out well. Love the tag book covers, and the tag you made for the challenge is beautiful! Hope to mail my tags this week.
O-M-Gosh! Your tag for Mary’s challenge is amazing!
I just want to say that I think everything u have ever created is magnificent! Love the tag covers and the crackle tag. I am missing you and I am shocked that anyone would ever miss a craft day with my sis!!!! The Nerve???? Hee Hee! My craft studio has been very lonely since you left. Sounds like u had a terrific 4th and always remember: I think U Rock the crafting world!
Love ya
your baby bro…..aka Guncle Randy
I love that birdcage tag, Karla! All the elements looks so great together. Yes, I can understand about holiday weekends. It totally messes me up for the rest of the week {I think Tuesday is Monday and so on}, except then it’s a treat come Friday and I realize I’m off the next day!
Lovely tags! You always do such wonderful things.
Ohhhhhh thats just precious that your sweet grandaughter noticed the “abc’s” looked like yours. Touches your heart doesn’t it? Scoop her up and give her a squeeze for me 🙂
just found your blog and I love it! Love the tags you are making.
I bought the online tutorial and then went garage sale shopping the next Saturday. I have two Barbie dolls to use as my forms. Can’t wait to get started.
The thumbnail image with the crackle glaze was so intriguing, I just had to see your whole piece – such a wonderful tag! Love the effect with the crackle glaze!!