Tuesday, December 18, 2012

TE Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge - December


Hello! Happy Tuesday! Welcome to the December Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge. This is an opportunity for us to share what makes our stamping studios hum. Each month we will have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for December is:

Inspiration is all around us.  Many of us learned to stamp by CASEing other stampers we admired.  (CASE = Copy and Share Everything).  We want everyone to know that, not only is CASEing perfectly OK, it's actually pretty flattering and a lot of fun!  And it can be especially helpful in the midst of the busy holiday season when it's hard to think straight!  So take some inspiration from your fellow Baker's Dozen Teammates, and show us how you can turn any great inspiration into a fabulous holiday card!

I had the privilege of attempting to CASE Shelly Mercado. Shelly's style is so clean, crisp and fresh! Be sure to check out her fabulous blog, HERE, and her Taylored Expressions gallery, HERE.

For my project today, I took inspiration from by Shelly's October Key Ingredients release project, HERE. She made a set of 3" x 5" gift cards and packaged them in a hinged tin that she also decorated. Instead of making cards, mine holds a set of tags.


These tags fit perfectly inside the tin. Because of the added layers and foam tape, I could only fit about 4 of the tags inside, but I made 3 different tags (2 of each design). When I package them up, I will include 3, then put the other 3 in a glassine bag so that the tin can be refilled.

You'll notice some similarities (hopefully) between my project and Shelly's. I love her use of neutral cardstock (white or cream) and how she leaves open white space. This tends to make her images and/or sentiments really pop. I made the tags first, then I decorated the tin below. I resisted adding my usual stitching to any of the tags, but I did add some to the tin (zig zag around the circle). I actually scoured Shelly's blog and found some projects where she used a sewing machine, so I felt it was OK to add a little stitching. :) I used Totally Tags - Handmade on my project. I also used the coordinating Totally Tags Dies on all of the tags and Handmade Charms on two of them.


I used seam binding on the top of each tag. I already had the colors I wanted to use (light pink, dark pink and light blue), but I wanted the crinkled look, so I used Studio Calico Shine to add some sparkle to them and in the process, crumpled each color up in a ziploc bag while it was wet which made the seam binding crinkled once dry. 

My tags were created using Labels Stacklets 3 and the Frame it Up 1 Die. I also used the Layering Doily Die - Medium. Here's a look at the individual tags:


For my first tag, I stamped the the "From Our House to Yours" tag. The house was cut from chevron patterned paper with the Handmade Charms Die and raised with foam tape.


The next tag is a simple holiday tag. I added some ivory pearls to simply decorate the tree. And, yes, I know trees aren't normally pink, but wouldn't it be fun to have a pink tree?


My final tag uses the the "Handknit by" tag. I added the coordinating charm of needles and yarn. I wound some Divine twine around for the yarn.

I hope you found some inspiration from my project today! Remember, any time you need ideas or inspiration, you can visit the Taylored Expressions Gallery, HERE. You can view projects by Designer or by Stamp Set.

Please visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see their CASE projects:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies from the TE store:


Stamps: Totally Tags - Handmade (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Fourteen (Crate Paper), Choice Buttercream (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), Vintage Photo Distress (Ranger)
Accessories: Taylored Dies: Labels Stacklets 3, Frame it Up 1, Layering Doily Die - Medium, Totally Tags, Handmade Charms (Taylored Expressions); Standard Circle Nestabilities - SM, LG (Spellbinders); Markers (Copic), Seam binding, Calico Shine (Studio Calico), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Divine Twine, Button, Ivory burlap twine (May Arts), Brads (WRMK), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.