Vintage Valentine Tag – Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2015, February – A tutorial

There is yet another great project on the Tim Holtz Blog for the 12 Tags of 2015 Challenge. I felt inspired to make a Vintage Valentine Tag.

As in January, I wanted to make my tag utilize many of the techniques that Tim mentions, utilizing the supplies I have, and adding my own little twists here and there. I have also used a lot of Tim Holtz products, but this is mainly because I have quite a few of them, and love using them!

Again I cut a sturdy mount board tag with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Tag & Bookplates die and the Big Shot die cutter. The tags are a fraction over 6″ by 3″.

I gathered some scraps of paper and ephemera to make my collage background. I included one of the Tin Teddy Victorian Flower tags and a 2″ circle from Tin Teddy Parrot Collage Sheet (a cute cockatoo). The other papers and ephemera are from Debbie Moore, Joanna Sheen and Tim Holtz tissue paper. I added a little Tea Dye Distress Ink to the edges of some of the items.

After a lot of deciding and adjusting I finally glued the pieces on with Ranger Multi Medium Matte then, after trimming any overhangs, I added another coat over the top to seal it all in place.

I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch holes in the tag for some of the additions.

I used a Fired Brick Distress Marker to add a little shadowing around some of the ephemera. I just drew a line along the edge then quickly rubbed it with my finger tip. This is a technique I have often used with a Faber Castell Pitt Marker before, but thought I would try it with the Distress Marker – the result was really good 🙂

Next I used some slightly thinned gesso (the Studio brand) to “knock back” some of the background that was a bit dark. In particular I wanted to lighten the top right hand corner as I am going to place a pale pink tag there, and it will not show up well on the pink paper.

I die cut a cheerful red heart from felt using the Sizzix Basic Shapes die that came with my Big Shot. I was going to embroider it, when I had a bit of an idea. Instead I grabbed some cream crochet cotton and made a little tatted flowery motif. I fastened this on top of the felt, then added a silver heart-shaped button to finish.

I found a cute little “Mon Ami” resin sticker. This is by Impex Creative Crafts and must be about 15 years old.

A glittery die-cut flower was added to the top right corner, then I layered the little pink, plastic “Love” embellishment over the top. These are both things that have been in my crafting stash for many years and I no longer know who made them.

The embellished felt heart was fixed on with tacky glue.

I added a little Worn Lipstick Distress Ink around the edge of the tag, because it is a Valentine’s Day tag so it seemed appropriate.

I found some little pink plastic tags with numbers on in my embellishment box, and fixed a 1 and a 4 onto the tag with pink embroidery floss.

Next I added a little metal corner, like Tim had done on his tag. The tag came with my Crop-a-dile III, which is sadly useless for fixing things on. I was able to crimp it in place with my Crop-a-dile II Big Bite though.

Next I took a tiny pink split-pin paper fastener and added that in one of the punched holes. I popped a bit of Fired Brick Distress Marker on it to dull down its exciting pink colour.

Finally I sprayed a pink ribbon with Cosmic Shimmer glitter sprays, just to grunge it up a little. And my Vintage Valentine Tag is finished.