12 Tags of 2015 - February

I want to do mixed media...but for whatever reason I'm afraid of it.  I've watched videos and looked at blogs.  I've purchased lots of products that I've seen recommended.  I've talked to friends who are creating mixed media successfully BUT I'm still afraid of it!  I've been looking at Tim Holtz's 12 Tags blog posts since 2013 and I decided copying the master might be the way to go.  I've done 2 months now and I don't hate what I've made.  I don't really love my tags either, but I'm thrilled that I'm producing something!  I've learned some things about backgrounds and embellishments.  As I feared, it isn't easy, but I can honestly say it isn't quite as scary as I expected it to be either.  I'm trying to make my version of the tags with things I already have on hand so they aren't exactly what Tim has on his blog.  I started with February.  Here's my first tag...

Like I said, I don't love it but I don't hate it either!  For the arrow I used an MFT die from the Blueprints Tag Builder 3 set.  I cut 4 black arrows and 1 silver mirror arrow and glued them together to give it more substance.   The Love stencil up in the corner and the red heart were cut using the Tag Builder 3 die also. The charm is cut with a die from Taylored Expressions set called Handmade Charms.  For the frame around the velvet heart I used a Spellbinder scalloped oval and used a solid oval to cut out the middle.  The string of hearts was made with a Penny Black die.  The lace was stitched onto the tag using a zig zag stitch.   Here are some close up pictures...

I used silver mirror card stock to cut all of the metallic pieces and it was a little bit overwhelming when I finished my tag.  It was everywhere and it was SHINY!  I like shine but it was really bothering me.  I used Precious Metals Platinum paint to dull the arrow and the frame down.  It was perfect and made my tag look much better.  This product is available at Hobby Lobby!

I have a huge bag of felt, do you think I could find it?  NO!  I die cut a heart out of red velvet and it worked great.  I really like the richness of the red color and stitching on it made it much more interesting!  i glued it onto a card stock heart so I could used foam dots to raise it up off the frame.

After I used my sewing machine to stitch on the lace...love that...I decided that the top of my tag was too plain so I cut the heart string and Love stencil to finish it off.  If you are interested in trying mixed media and you freeze up like I do...I recommend that you give this a try.  On this tag I learned that gluing down different papers and ephemera with Ranger Multi Medium Matte is an easy way to make an interesting background.  I learned that white washing the background dulls it enough so that it recedes and lets the embellishments on top shine.  I learned that sewing is a good way to add texture and interest.  And I learned that you have to keep adding embellishments until everything looks balanced and pleasing.   Thanks to Tim Holtz for helping me start my mixed media journey!  When I finished my tag I found myself wondering what new lessons the March tag would bring!

I'll post my March tag later tonight!

Thanks for visiting :)
Janet