Once again, I got very little done today. Sugarwings and I snuck out for lunch and a trip to the nature center to look at snakes and fishies.
Before I left, I did make a few tags, I wanted to try something new, I kind of made a big collage sheet, glued tags to the back of it and cut them out, so that they were parts of a crazy quilt type pattern.
The first step was to print my Vintage Workshop images for the swap Beth and I are co-hosting, after editing them in sepia tones.
Since I use an ink jet printer, I always spray my copies with matt finish clear coat before I work with them, so the ink doesn’t run.
I made multiple copies of the same images in various sizes and cut off the white edges so they wouldn’t show in the collage.
Here is my collage sheet, everything is glued to one of the wallpaper patterns printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. 
And if you think my odd collection of tags that I glued to the back is kind of unusual, you are right.
I save all tags that come on stuff I buy, and cover them in paper. Yep, there is a tag from a garden trowel, a file box, and a pair of jeans, among typical shipping tags.
After they are glued into place, I cut around them with an exacto knife.
This was a pretty quick process, I did a whole passel of tags in one swoop!
After cutting them out, I darkened the edges with a walnut ink pad, and started to embellish the tags with millinery flowers, crystals, velvet ribbons, jewels, and some complimentary wallpaper.
Beth had shown me some brown and blue things she was working on and I loved it so much, I wanted to try to keep my palette simple, with just these colors too.
This one is done with the same collections of images, but printed in color instead of sepia. I’ve really had a good time with the printer and changing settings to try new tricks.
If you want to play with Vintage Workshop images too, you can join our swap. Everyone gets the pictures from the 3 collections we are working with for the Birds and Bonnets screes, plus one free download of your choice for signing up!
Did I mention there were also lots of prizes? I’ll be giving out some of these tags, there are purses, and gift certificates, and who knows what all we’ll be giving away. We like presents!
Join up fast, the clock is ticking!!
Here is what the backs of the tags look like. Some were done with the left over patch work pieces cut to fit, others are of a single pattern. Mostly, I was using what ever scraps were on the table.
The blue velvet is from the bow on an old hat.
I stopped to visit a friend’s shop today after taking the fairy grand baby home, and look at the goodies I found! For $24 I bought these photos, 4 rolls of old ribbon, and a bagful of blooms!
And these are perfect blossoms, I love working with the tiny ones.
Since I had way too much ribbon (well, honestly I have to admit that it does happen, I keep buying more than I will ever use!)- I made up some packets of it to sell on Etsy.
I listed 5 of them, if you are interested.
I made one more stop at an antique shop where I had a fascinating discussion about flocked wallpaper with the store owner. He thinks he knows where he can score some for me.
I feel like an addict with a new dealer.
He sold me this grab bag of jewels for $12, as a "taste". I’ll be going back, I can’t stop myself.
Yesterday’s post was my 300th and I didn’t even realize it! Blogging has become such an everyday part of my life, I don’t even notice the landmarks anymore.
Another landmark coming up for me is my 50th birthday. I am throwing myself a party, but have no details yet. I should have planned it sooner.
It will be a hectic week, I have to pick my husband up at the airport, go to the best flea market in the area, participate in an art show, have a family birthday celebration and throw a big party for myself too.
I’ve been making calls to various places to figure out where I want to have the party, because I just don’t think I want to try to fit in cleaning my house to the rest of that schedule.
I’d like to do something special and unique, but the fact that I forgot to plan anything till 2 weeks before, kind of puts a dent into that idea.
Here are some suggestions from Beth for the event. Do you have any ideas?
Ps- most of these are private jokes, that probably won’t even make any sense to you, but hey, it is my birthday and they entertained me, so I am showing them!!!
- Chuck E Cheese
- Skateland
- Cruise the Kaw
- Rent Saturday Night Fever
- Build a Bear party at the mall
- Dairy Queen
- Rent a red convertible
- BBQ party catered by Vermont St BBQ
- kegger & a bonfire
- grown up sophisticated cocktail party
- party with ballon animal man
- rent a stretch hummer and party while cruising the Flint Hills
- antiquing in Texas
- OK, antiquing in Sparks
- all you can eat desserts at Andres
- call yourself queen for a day and make everyone curtsy before you
- glamour shots
- paint ball party
- Outward Bound experience (don’t invite me!)
- ask Padma and Tom if the Top Chef crew can cater your party
- fly to Paris on the Concorde
- change your name to Karkie
- ok, just change your blog name to Karkie
- rent an inflatable bounce house for a party
- do whatever Oprah did- I think she devoted a whole magazine to it
- have a party and make everyone wear bunny ears
- put you business card in 500 helium balloons with a message that tells the finders that if they comment on your blog, you’ll enter there name in a drawing
- start training for a triathlon
- rent a chocolate fountain
- paint your house pink
- OK, just help your friend paint her booth
- square dancing party in your barn—oops, too late
- snipe all the good wallpaper auctions ending about 10 days before your birthday, so you get a butt load of wallpaper on your birthday
- Weiner roast with marshmallows
Wow, you’ve got some great ideas there! Chuck E. Cheese? I’d skip it. That is a punishment, not a party.
The rest of them are good. Except, no Outward Bound experiences or Saturday Night Fever. The rest, PRICELESS.
Happy almost 50th!
Melissa
love and have to agree with the chuckee cheese part, not fave place. your post was quite inspiring!
Thanks for visiting my blog! While you did not win the first of my many Rak’s, I still want to send you something! No pressure. Just need your snail mail addy and birthdate!
Thanks~
Michelle Cummings
Altered-art@hotmail.com
Karla…it’s may something right???(your happy birthday)
Will have to sit down with hubby and figure out the editing thingy -good idea on the sepia and collage.
You could safety pin jingle bells on something and wear it all day so that every step you made would be full of wonderful noise. Have all four panels papered and ready to start the embellies. have a happy weekend
I say get the moon bounce and have a party in the yard! Those things are SO much fun for big people too!
Love the way you did the tags…and VERY “thrifty” of you to save every tag! Sometimes things are staring us right in the face and we still don’t see them!
Thank you for your visit to my blog. I have spent a good hour here reading, looking at you photos and posts from your DC apartment.
I looooooove the painting and photos of your beautiful Granddaughter Leandra.
The Little Viking Traveler is my Grandson who lives in Denmark.
I like it here…there will be many more visits…don’t be alarmed the person who spends so much time on your blog is me getting caught up.
Karla, I loved your works in sephia. For your birthday, you could fly to Paris ( this offer my husband made to me ¿?).
KARLA! 300th POST!!! WOW! WOW! WOW! A huge CONGRATS!!!! Im still working on trying to get to 100. hee! hee! Your tags are BEAUTIFUL! Oh the little birdie with the bonnet and the hand painted tree branches is the SWEETEST! My fav!!!
Girl, you have some FUN FUN party ideas! SO hard to choose from. I love the renting a convertable idea and maybe throw a fun bash at dairyqueen and you can strut your stuff wearing a tiara and birthday sash! hee! hee!
We need to have a BIG 50th virtual online celebration for you!!!! :)))
CONGRATS on 300!!! XOXO
Any one of those ideas would be fun for a party! And who doesnt love a bon fire?! Happy 30th post!! I had never read a blog, before I got turned on to yours! Thank you for introducing me to the world of blogging, which I am now addicted to! But, it’s a good addiction! I’ve been inspired by you and everyone else! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I did that fifty birthday thing a few years ago. Fun, Fun!!
I vote for the Queen for the Day and the weiner roast. Weird combination, I know, but who says you have to be a predictable queen?
First, congratulations on many posts and many years! I think Beth missed her calling as a party planner — all great ideas! (Oh, you could have a Peter Pan theme — do you really ever want to grow up?)
I especially love the sepia-toned tags. I don’t know how to do that on my machine, but boy, are they gorgeous.
Spill the beans… I see a Bravo series is in the works – the Real Housewives of the Midwest. You’ll host a bling’d bbq and while roasting weinies, explain the importance of not wearing your paper tiara for this event. Next season’s Project Runway wannabes will make your gown from whatever they can find on your craft table. Top Chef wannabes will make a menu of sparkly finger foods. The camera crew will show you perched on the edge of a dumpster and emerging victorious with a chippy paint dresser strapped to your back. We viewers will sit on the edge of our seats as we wonder weekly – did she use the right adhesive? Will she get the mother load of flocked wallpaper? Will she be able to squeeze in a trip to the antique/thrift store today…
Come on… pitch the idea to Bravo.
🙂
Great tags.
I was 50 a few days ago, the 10th of April 🙂
LOL Karla, Love the choice of things to do for your 50th. I say rent a stretch hummer and go antiquing with your bestest friends while having champagne and don’t forget to wear your tiara. ~ Lynn
You are so amazing! I truly don’t know where you get your energy. I am one past you in the birthday department and no where near you in posts! I love all you do! Hears to another 300 posts!!
🙂 Rosie
Oh,oh, I forgot one- be a contestant on Bret Michael’s Rock of Love!
i think for your 50th you should go all out; spa treatments; champagne & chocolates!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Kala,
Join the swap off swap dex and didn’t know it was you.Congrats on your 300 post and your big birthday bast.I would go shopping antiquing everthing around here so high I think I go to you etsy and look at the ribbon.Have fun
love Debb
Well Karla, I think you should do everything on that wonderful party list.
Two weeks??? a date please
Karen
Wow! 300th post, and a birthday! How fantastic.
Loved your sephia tags all beautiful. One question I have for you is what type of glue do you use to attach the paper to your tags?
As for all of your birthday ideas, you should try all. Have a fabulous birthday!
Hugs:)
Irma
Congrats on 300 posts!!! WOW! And Happy Early Birthday! That means you’re a Taurus (so am I, my bday is tomorrow). So does being a Taurus make you as stubborn as I? heehee (Boy did I get that “stubborn-gene” in big way!) =)
PS – I have a GREAT idea for your birthday (this is what I was going to do for mine until we had to cancel the reservations due to an unexpected turn of events)… go to NYC for cheesecake and shop like a princess at Tinsel Trading!!!!