Sunday 1 July 2012

4th JULY

...beauty is not in the face; beauty is the light in the heart...
- Kahlil Gibran -


...hello everyone hope your having the best of days...as you all know this coming Wednesday will be the 4th July, a very special day in the American calandar so I thought I would make a Tag for my loVely American friends and followers...this is for you...



...I randomly tore 4 strips of red coredination paper inked the edges with vintage photo and glued them to a plain white tag, which I then put in a texture fades embossing folder...


...this embossing folder is Tim Holtz music sheet, I dusted over the raised edges with black soot and went around the red outline with a silver gelly roll pen to add a bit of sparkle, you can't have a celebration without a bit of sparkle...


...I hand painted these little stars with Leandra's new PaperArtsy chalk acrylic paints in honey dew onto a piece of cotton which I'd coated in Tim Holtz peacock feathers, I loVe the shabby feel this whole Tag has taken on...the heart is a Sizzix cut which was painted with sherbert chalk acrylic and edged in charcoal, again for that shabby feel, the contrast of the shiney crackled wings against the flat chalkiness of the heart sits so well together...


...as the flags of the world go and not just because I am English I adore the Union Jack but the American flag with it's stars & stripes is very aesthetically pleasing...



...there she is in her shabby chic glory I do hope you like her...

...also...

...yesterday I had the pleasure of my first visit to the Craft Barn, they were holding an Extravaganser Weekend and it didn't disappoint...lots of very interesting demo's to see, I'd forgotten my camera which was annoying  but managed to see Neil Walker in action along with Andy Skinner & Leandra of PaperArtsy...I also got to meet two fellow bloggers in Mark (speshink) & Alison (craftytrog) it was nice to put a face to the people behind the blog...there was also an amazing shop which was a treasure trove of crafting jewels...



...my loVely Mum who had come along with me couldn't let me come away empty handed so she got me this little lot! some of which I've used above...

...thank you for dropping by today, untill next time...xxx




32 comments:

  1. Hi Mel, how thoughtful of you to do this for your lovely American followers! And how lovely is your Mum for the treat too but you are so lovely and kind that I am not surprised at all. Your tag is gorgeous, love how you did the ripping and tearing before embossing, it looks great - love the pink heart too. It was good that you could meet up with fellow bloggers too, that must have been special.

    Crafty hugs, Anne x

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  2. This is such a gorgeous shabby creation, I love the softness you have created! You are lvely and kind deserve all the kindness that happens! Trace x thanks for the lovely comments they are always appreciated and I love your work!! It reflects such care and skill. Trace x

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  3. Wow your Tag is stunning Mel.
    Fantastic design..
    Have a lovely new week Sweetie. xoxo

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    1. Mel,
      Happy 4th of July,
      You honor the day with your stunning tag work.
      Thanks so much for popping in with your always kind
      thoughtful comments. PS great shopping trip trinkets too:)
      Keep smiling and creating
      Pam

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  4. What a really fab tag Mel, I love the colour of the heart. And how nice to get to a crafting extravaganza and come away with some gifted goodies too.
    Hope you son is all better now
    Mo x

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  5. YOU ROCK!!!! This is absolutely a brilliant design! Love the texture and color, but the winged heart has my heart!!!!!

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  6. What a shabby and stunning patriotic tag Mel.... love the ripped elements...the painted starry fabric...and the winged heart...wonderful!!
    How nice to meet up with fellow bloggers..and new gorgeous goodies to play with too...lucky you :)
    Have a lovely and creative week!!
    Jan x

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  7. Gorgeous tag!! It was a shame we didn't get to meet yesterday - Alison told me you were going to be there.... maybe we can co-ordinate next time!! Your pile of stash is much more restrained than mine.... and yes, Neil's Dylusion demo was great - didn't spend as long as I'd have liked watching but I needed to sit down by the time I left Lin Brown!!!

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  8. Hi Mel,

    Thank you for the great looking tag! Fireworks have been cancelled where I live due to a lot of wildfires and super dry conditions. I will be going to a Pancake Breakfast on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico that day. It will be a fun day with friends, for sure.

    I love your tag!

    hugs,
    Kay

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  9. Great piece today Mel and fab techniques you use. glad you had a great time at the shop and lovely goodies!!
    x catherine

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  10. I can't tell you how excited I was to finally meet my blog friend Mel! It was really lovely to sit & chat with you & your mum over lunch! And what a wonderful mum she is... buying you those goodies! I love how you have used them on your beautiful tag!
    Hugs,
    Alison xxxx

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  11. A beautiful tag and your Mum sounds amazing...lucky you!! Do you think when I next visit Ally Pally, she would like to buy me some goodies??? lol!!!
    Hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend!
    Love Emma xx

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  12. Love your gorgeous Tag Mel lots of lovely texture.xxx

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  13. Smashing textured tag and loving your new goodies. Annette x

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  14. WOW Mel, love your tag, love the way the embossing turned out with the red over the tag, great effect with the embossing folder.

    Also lucky you 1) for going to the Craft Barn to see all the fab demos we've been hearing about, 2) for your mum who bought you a stash of goodies and 3) for putting them to good use already!!!

    Sam xxx

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  15. You catched the extravaganser spirit in your creation. It seems, you had a great weekend and you make me jealous, too. Meeting on of my favorite masters in person....and one of his students, too. Lucky you!! (:o)
    xo Elly

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  16. Corrrr! LOVE this! When I first saw it I thought you had applied white card to a rubber stamp! You have truly excelled here. Keep 'em coming. Hugs, Buttons x

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  17. hi, great use of the new products, those paints are so good. I love the yankee flag and the embossing works a treat. have stuck something in the post for you. mark.

    sorry I got distracted by Andy, I felt really bad as didn't get a proper chance to chat. Mark

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  18. Mel, your artwork is stunning!!
    I would like to email you but can't find your address on your blog.
    Can you email me at
    Glomom23@comcast.net
    Thanks!
    (ps: I am the founder and previous owner of All Things Tim)

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  19. This is realy GORGEOUS Mel.
    I am not coming from America but i love this sooooooo much!
    The details are AMAZING!!!!
    Greetz Patricia

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  20. gorgeous take on the stars and stripes mel...and lucky you having a day at the Craft Barn and coming home with some yummy goodies. Yes Tim's tag is awesome but might require lots of blowing like billy-o if you don't have a can of compressed air...hugs kath xxx

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  21. Morning Mel,
    Great tag. Love all the texture and the shabby look. Great stash too - lucky girl! Have a lovely week. xxx

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  22. Why didn't you introduce yourself!!!!!!! I wanted to finally meet you! Glad you had a good time though.

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  23. O my word Mel... A fabulous tag love the shabby look, & design.. just perfect for the 4th July!! whoo-hoo and goodies they look amazing so glad you had a great time.. Hugs May x x x

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  24. Lovely tag, course I love Americana anything, but your tag is fantastic...kinda like you! Glad your mom picked up a few things for you and now you get to have fun playing!! Thanks for the Happy 4th of July wishes! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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  25. Nice tag, Mel, great the way you added layers, then embossed! Looks like you have some fun stuff now,enjoy! Love, Barb

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  26. Fabulous creation sweetie ♥Pops♥

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  27. As one of your US followers and friend, I thank you for such a sweet and awesome gesture! What a lovely 4th of July tag! Sounds like you had one great time at the Craft Barn and how wonderful to meet fellow bloggers! Enjoy!

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  28. oo lovely! That is so clever! Love it, the texture is fab! Glad you had fun at the Craft Barn. Kim

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  29. That's a cool tag, great texture on it.

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  30. This one is absolutely amazing, that background. I must try it one time.

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  31. FABULOUS TAG , great texture and its super well done Hugs Elaine

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...thank you so much for taking the time to drop by my blog...Mel :)