Gecko Tag for Good Luck and Paisley Tag

Here are my 4th creations for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

Today it's Technique Thursday, and rather than sharing a specific technique I preferred to share several useful tips.
Therefore I created two tags on which it's easier to demonstrate my tips.

I decided to use the Cloisonné Gecko Stamp and the Cloisonné Paisley large stamp.

The colors I chose are earth tones, trying to match the stamped images and the embellishments to the backgrounds.

Supplies used:
Cream CS for the tags
Beige and cream CS
Vintage book's pages
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Distressed Stripes

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Dies - Fancy Tags
Crop-A-Dile
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Gecko Stamp
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Paisley Set (large)
Ranger's Distress ink - Rusty Hinge, Pine Needle
Embossing ink
Ranger's Green EP
Versacolor metallic Ink - 3 colors - bronze, gold and silver
Promarkers - Vanilla, Mint Green
Green pen
Big spotted brads
Flower eyelets
Ribbons and fibers from my stash

Double sided foam tape
Double sided tape

First I stamped the Gecko and cut it around.
Then I stamped the Paisley, heat embossed it, colored it with ProMarkers and cut it around.
I embossed the tags using the Cuttlebug and colored them with Ranger's Distress inks.
The Ribbons and the stamped images were all glued 3D for extra dimension.
Then I added the eyelets and the brads.

Now here are my tips for a better looking creation, no matter if it's a tag, a card or any other project.
The back side of the work looks messy - holes for the eyelets, ribbon strands hanging loose, brads' legs showing.
All these make each project look unfinished and non-professional.
To avoid this, simply cover the back side of your work, and none of the above will be seen.
I used a vintage book's page to cover each tag's back side.
Then I added a satin ribbon and some colorful fibers at the top of the tags.
You must admit they look better now.

You can also cover the back side of brads and eyelets or the ribbon's attaching place with small punched out or die cut papers, and use them as decorative elements.
Do you have any tips you'd like to share?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Paisley & Flowers Card

This is my 3rd card this week as Card Captain of the Michael Strong's Yahoo group.
Ingredients:
Black leather textured CS for the card's basis
Basic Grey patterned paper - Pheobe
Michael's Strong's Cloisonné Paisley stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Black EP
ProMarkers - Cocoa, Pastel Pink, Coral
Making Memories Blossom flowers
Jewel brads
White half pearls
EK Success Corner Adorner
EK Success Morocco border punch

The Paisley was heat embossed with black EP and colored using ProMarkers.
The Paisley and the flowers werte glued 3D for extra dimension.
I added several white half pearls for extra glam.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

I Love Chocolate !

I made this card for the Michael Strong's Yahoo group Chocolate challenge.
It reminds me the story of Hansel and Gretel and their candy house.
Well, my house is entirely made of chocolate!
First I used Michael Strong's Cloisonné Paisley Set.
The roof tiles were made of small Paisleys stamped with Brilliance brown ink on light brown textured CS and hand-cut with nail scissors. Yes, I cut each and every one of them separately. They were adhered to a dark brown CS panel in rows, overlapping each other.
I used the background stamp from the Cloisonné Paisley Set on both sides of the door, which was attached to the main house panel with a piece of paper to enable the door to open.
The handle is made of a big brad, covered with brown corduroy.
The windows are small octagons, stamped with the small octagon stamp from the Cloisonné Octagons Set, and glued 3D for extra dimension.
Each M&M'S Chocolate Candy is a colorful brad.
Finally, I used a white gel pen for the faux stitches around the main house panel.
The matting is made of red textured CS.
People who know me already take me for a chocoholic.
This card seems like it's made of pure chocolate, it makes me want to take a bite…

It's a piece of cake... for my birthday!

Tomorrow, April 1st, is my birthday. Seriously!
Please spare me the jokes, I've heard them all.

And here's my birthday cake - on a card I made for the Sweet 16 challenge at the Michael Strong Yahoo group.
It's a chocolate cake with whipped cream on top, chocolate decorations and pink candies. Yummy.

I used a textured light brown CS, a pearly textured pink CS, a dark brown CS,
white embossing powder, brown ink, my new Cloisonné Fan and Cloisonné Paisley MSRS,
pink pearls and a central decoration made of brown beads and sequins.

The Cloisonné Fan was stamped and heat embossed 4 times, then halved and glued, slice by slice, with 3D glue to add dimension.
The Cloisonné Paisley was stamped with brown ink and was also glued with 3D glue to add extra dimension.

Now I'm going to bake a delicious chocolate cake for my birthday - a real one :-)