I Just Love this Lion!

I just can't get enough of this Lion from High Hopes . He is so cute I use him quite a lot. I made a birthday card for by BIL who loves receiving my cards. He tells me he looks forward to his birthday and the holidays because he knows he will get a handmade one from me. How nice is that? A guy telling me how much he loves my cards! Ok, my husband tells me their great too...but he has too, right?

Supplies used:
Lion from High Hopes Stamps, Party hat from Stampendous, Prisma Pencils, Ranger Stickles, EK Success corner punch by Rebecca Sower the Attic collection and brads. I wish I could remember where that patterned paper is from...the turquoise polkadot is K&Company...but the brown plaid...have to see if I have any left and find out!

This card I made for a very close friends son's birthday. I just found out that I could use the Cuttlebug embossing folders in my Sizzix so I have been trying them out. I love this swirly one because it is reminiscent of waves and goes great with the image. I was also really excited to find out that I can use all of my Lasting Impressions brass stencils in my Sizzix too! I have a lot! I found a great tutorial for it..check it out! I don't know how to insert the .pdf but you can get it from this thread listed above.

Supplies used:

Stampin Up! Silly Sealife (retired), Cuttlebug Embossing folder Swirls, Ribbon from Michaels, Sentiment from Savvy Stamps, Stickles, Corner punch from Marvy, Oval punch from SU!, and Dew Drops, Distress Ink in Faded Jeans (used to watercolor the whale and ink around image and sentiment) and water brush.

A good friend of mine and fellow stamping/crafter/enabler showed me this great messy technique for distressing which I will describe below. The flower is a stamp from Hampton Art Stamps which I don't know if they carry anymore as I bought it years ago from my LSS (who has since closed). I stamped it on the distress tag and again on cream colored cardstock. I cut the petals from the cream cs and distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and curled each before adhering to the tag. (the tags I bought in a large package at Staples) The center of the flower I filled with Judikins Diamond Glaze and poured seed beads all over. The tube of beads I bought on clearance from Michaels. I always pick up embellishments when I see them on clearance whether I need them or not. But who says you have to "need" it? Wait, that's what gets me in trouble in the first place...oh well. Oh, and there are some fibers and ribbon tied through the end. I am not picky about where I get these things...any store, on clearance, from old clothes or other decor that's no longer being used...whatever.

Here's how I did the tag: WARNING-IT IS VERY MESSY

Crumple up the tag and run under water at the sink. You want it to soften, and you will have to squeeze out some water, but try not to break down the fibers so much that it just distintegrates! Smooth out the dampened tag.

I used a small disposable aluminum roasting pan, placed the tag in it and dropped random drops of Distress Re-Inkers ink on it. Maybe about 2-3 drops each of 3 different colors. The wetter the tag the more running/blending of the ink. Because the tag is thick some of the ink and water will run right off into the pan. This is ok! I used this to rub my tag into if there were any spots left blank. I also continue to use tags and other pieces of paper to soak up any remaining ink in the pan. Makes great backgrounds!

Set aside and let dry. You can speed up the drying time with a heat tool too. Once completely dry you can stamp directly onto the tag. I have done this with a solid image and Distress embossing powder as well with good results. I used a sponge and added more detail by inking the edges of the tag and flower petals as well as some of the creases in the tag with Distress Ink.

Your fingers will be stained but you will have several great backgrounds just ready for stamping and embellishing!