52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - Taster Tag for December 2023

Here we are on the 1st December already, this year has passed at such a scary rate.  This is the fifth and final taster tag of 2023.  From January 2024, I will be providing you with a weekly prompt at 7:30am on a Sunday morning.  

The challenge is very relaxed, you can do as much or as little as you would like.  I know how life can get in the way, but I really hope you will join in.  There is a Facebook group for this challenge where you can share your tags with the other members taking part of lurking.  Here is the link to the Facebook group.

The prompt/theme of the December 2023 challenge is "Festive".  I'm aware not everybody celebrates Christmas, so if you are one of those people, just put your own spin on it.

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This is the tag that I have made for the December challenge with a prompt theme of "Festive".

I used a manila coloured tag for the base, colouring it with "Confetti" Elements inks.  I then used the same ink through the Visible Image Stamps stencil called "Distressed Bricks".

Next, I used "Emperor Red" Elements Inks through the Visible Image "Ye Olde Christmas" stencil, which is like an old fashioned font of writing.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the Visible Image "Christmas Carol" number area on the bottom left hand side of the tag.  I used "Nocturne" again to stamp the Visible Image "Holly" too.

On a piece of white card, I stamped the Visible Image "Holly" again, but this time using Versafine Clair "Green Oasis" ink.  I then coloured the holly with three shades of Derwent Inktense pencils, using Beech Green, Vivid Green and Fern colours.  I used a red Sharpie pen to colour the berries,before fussy cutting the holly and sticking it into position over the exisiting stamped holly.

I added highlights to the holly and berries using a white gel pen, then coated the holly leaves in "A wink of Stella" which provided a lovely golden shimmer to the leaves.

I inked the edges of the tag using Versafine Clair "Green Oasis" ink and then mounted the tag on to green card,

Finally, I added Ranger "Glossy Accents" to the berries and also to the area on the bottom left where the number 25 is.

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - Taster Tag for November 2023

 

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge

To start getting us in the mood for the 2024 weekly tag challenge, I thought I would get us in the mood by providing a monthly prompt/theme for the remaining months of 2023.  

You can use any size tag for this challenge, the ones that I use are manila in colour and measure 8x16cm, however you can make a card, an ATC (Artist Trading Card) or maybe an index card.  The choice is yours.

The prompt for November 2023 is "Stripes"

I hope you enjoy this taster and the challenge.  I'd love to see what you make.  You can share your tag/make on the Facebook group for the challenge which you can find here.

Sam x

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So this is how I made my tag:  I drew diagonal lines lightly across the tag.  I then masked off three sections of the tag and used a Ranger Archival Ink through the Clarity Stamps "Stripes" stencil.  The four shades of Archival Inks I used were Tiger Lily, Monarch Orange, Carnation Red and Red Geranium.  After applying the ink through the stencil, I lifted the stencil and tapes, masking off other areas and repeated the process till all four triangles had a different colour on them.

I then stamped the large butterfly, which is part of the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous, red rubber cling stamp set called "Perspective -CMS213" in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink in the middle of the tag, over the point where the four striped triangles meet.  I then stamped the butterfly again on a spare tag and fussy cut it.

Returning to the tag itself, I stamped the red large dots, using the Stampers Anonymous "Fashion Style & Art - SCS032" in Versafine Clair "Tulip Red", stamping at the top right and bottom left of the tag.

I used the Stampin' Up "Gorgeous Grunge" red rubber "multi lines" stamp and the "speckles" stamp with Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink

Next using wet glue, I stuck the fussy cut butterfly on to the tag, over the top of the one already in position. I deliberately didn't colour the butterfly as I fel the eye needed somewhere to rest as the background was so busy.

As a final touch, I added some black Ranger Enamel Accents to the existing speckles below the butterfly to give a little dimension.  I also added a Tim Holtz, Idea-ology word sticker to the top right hand corner, before inking the edges of the tag in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" and mounting the tag on to a piece of black card.

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - Taster Tag for October 2023

Well here we are on the 1st October.  I have no idea where these months are disappearing to.  As it's the first of the month, it means it is time for another prompt for the 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge.

The Prompt for October is:  Vintage/shabby

Just a reminder, if you would like to take part in the challenge, check out the Facebook Group, where lots of lovely people are already sharing their tags and cards.  Here's the link to the group.

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Here's how I made my tag:

I started by using a Stamping Up Scalloped Edge punch to create the decorative bottom of the tag.  I then coated the decorative edge with Versafine Clair "Glamorous" ink.

I found a scrap of patterned paper that I thought had a vintage vibe.  I used double sided sticky tape to stick it to the tag and cut it to size.  I then inked the edges of the tag with Versafine Clair "Glamorous" ink. Once dry, I went over the edges with a metallic gold pen, colouring the ring re-inforcer with the same colour too.

I used Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink to stamp the Lavinia Stamps "Sacred Spells' text across the surface of the tag.

I then decided to distress the patterned paper a little more, by using Versafine Clair "Glamorous" ink through the Clarity Stamps "Stripes Stencil".  This look reminded me of 80's style wallpaper!

I used metallic gold paint and a fan paint brush to splatter the paint from the bottom left corner to the top right hand corner.

Once the paint was dry, using double sided sticky tape, I added a small piece of cream coloured braid along the join of the patterned paper and the tag. I then added gold dots to the middle of the scallops at the bottom.

At this stage, I mounted the tag on to a background of cream coloured card, as I knew it would be more tricky once the flowers were in place.

I die cut some leaves using two die sets (Sizzix "661206 Golden Greens" and Stamping Up "Botanical Blooms") using two shades of green cardstock.  I used a wet glue to stick them to the tag, as it allowed me a little movement into the correct position.

In my stash, I found some paper roses.  They were a bit too pink, so I toned them down by painting "Crimson" Derwent Inktense on to areas of the flowers.  I curled the metal stems around a pencil then stuck the flowers to the tag, using Ranger "Glossy Accents" to keep them in place.

Finally, I found a couple of Tim Holtz Idea-ology Clipping Stickers with words I felt that suited the tag:  "to keep" and "in my heart" and stuck them on to the tag.  I added a few small gold metal discs to the surface too.

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - Taster Tag for September 2023

This is the second monthly "Taster Tag" of 2023.  From January 2024 the challenge will become weekly.  The challenge is very relaxed and is aimed to get you to craft for no specific reason other than a minless bit of crafting, so there are no restrictions on the products mediums or in fact id doesn't even need to be a tag, it could be a card, ATC a frame, really anything you want.  All you need to do is fit it to the monthly prompt/theme.  There is a Facebook Group for this challenge which you can find by clicking on this link.

The prompt/theme for September 2023 is "In the meadow/fields"

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This is my tag for September 2023 "In the meadow" prompt/theme.

To make this tag, I used a base of Dylusion spray inks, I made four backgrounds while I was getting inky, so I have some for future use.  The shades of inks I used are Lemon Zest, Fresh Lime and Bubblegum Pink.

I used three shades of Versafine Clair Inks to stamp with, using Twilight, Nocturne and Summertime, stamping in first and second generation stamping.

The stamp set that I used to stamp with was by Hobby Art Ltd and is part of the "Janie Collection" called "Lino Cut Hares - CS208D".

I added touches of a white gel pen for highlights and metallic gold pen for little dots in the background.

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - Taster tag for August 2023

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge

To start getting us in the mood for making tags in 2024, I thought I would initially provide you with a prompt on the 1st of the month, between now and the start of the challenge in 2024, so just one tag a month for the time being.

You can use any size of tag for this challenge.  The tags that I use meaure 8cm across and have a length of 16cm.  They can be purchased from Craft Obsessions for £5.75 for a pack of 50 tags.  Alternatively use any tags you may already have or perhaps cut and make your own tag bases.  The choice is yours.

The prompt for the August 2023 Tag Taster is "Circles".

I hope you enjoy this taster.  I hope you enjoy the challenge.  I'd love to see what you make.  You can share your tag within the "Crafting Niche - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge" group over on Facebook, here is the link.

Sam x

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This is how I made my tag using the August 2023 prompt of circles.

In an attempt to stash bust - using up things floating around the craft room, I found a piece of patterned paper with a circular design on it.  I cut it down to size and stuck the patterned paper on to my tag base using double sided sticky tape.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the Visible Image flower from their "Creative Chaos" stamp set.  I then stamped the flower head only on an off cut of cerise coloured card.  I fussy cut the flower head and set aside till later.

Next, using the Versafine Clair "Blue Belle" ink, I stamped the collection of mixed circles twice across the tag, going over the upper part of the flower head too. The circles are part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Butterfly Effect". I used a Derwent Inktense Pencil (called Denim), to paint the colour within the circles, chosing to cover some in a lighter and some in a darker shade of blue. At this stage and while the ink was out, I inked up the outer edges of the tag too.

Once the surface of the tag was dry, I then stuck the cerise flower head over the top of the one on the tag, I used a wet glue for this so that I could slide it into position with ease.

Finally, I added some extra black dots using Ranger "Enamel Accents".  I then added a trail of pink dots using some Liquid Pearls called "Dazzle.

Once everthing was fully dry, I then mounted the tag on to a piece of blue card.  This is because I like the finished look the tag has.  It also provides a bit more strength to the tag.

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - 2024

For those of you who have followed me for a few years, you may remember that in 2017,2018 and 2019 I ran a weekly tag/art card challenge called "A Crafting Niche - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge", where I gave the group a weekly prompt and shared a tag I had made on that theme, then the members would create a tag on that theme too.  

At the end of 2019, I decided to stop the challenge as my circumstances at home had changed and also I was having more and more Design Team commitments too, so something had to give.

I found it interesting to see the different tags and the individual interpretation of the prompt.  The challenge is suitable for all abilities. For those who had struggled with their "crafting mojo" doing a disappearing act, it seemed to trigger people to get crafting again, which is no bad thing.

I have always loved making tags and after speaking to a friend, decided I would ask on the challenge  Facebook group (this is the link to the private group) if people would be interested in taking part.  A few have shown interest so I have decided I will go ahead with the challenge, starting in January 2024.

However, the start date is quite a distance away, so I plan to set a monthly prompt and share a tag of that theme at the start of each month to set the challenge in motion and allow people to prepare their base tags.

If you scroll to the top of this blog page, you will see a banner to the right of the "Home" button, titled "52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge" this is where you can see the prompts I have used in previous years and where the prompts for 2024 will be detailed too.

I'll be providing more details about the challenge soon, but for the mean time, please do check out the Facebook group and join if you are interested in taking part, also please let your crafting friends know, they might want to join in too. Here's the link to the Facebook group.

Sam x