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Tag, You're It!
By Debi WindStamping Deck Crewmember
When this month's topic about tags came up, my first thought was "ugh..." I thought, "What is so exciting about tags?" I discovered, looking through stamping and paper arts magazines that tags have taken on a whole new meaning and use. I began to feel excited writing about tags and set out to see what sizzling ideas I could come up with for this article.
We are in the dog days of summer and it is “sizzling” outside. How it can be so hot when summer is winding down? It occurred to me that I didn’t know what the “dog days of summer” really meant and wondered where it came from. The “dog days of summer” occurs during the hottest and muggiest time of the summer season. The sun shines, the sidewalk sizzles, and we melt. How the term “dog days of summer” came to be goes way back to the ancient times. The ancients believed that Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. They believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this time period, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the Dog Star. Since the heat of the “dog days of summer” is keeping me indoors, it is the perfect time to write about tags.
By now you are asking yourself where can I find tags and what can I do with them. Finding tags is the easy part. I have found that the most economical way to purchase tags is at an office supply store or in the office supply section of places as Target or Wal-Mart. It may take a bit of detective work to find them, but I bet you will be amazed at what is on the market. There are so many ways to use tags and to gather ideas for them; pick up a stamping or scrapping magazine or explore stamping and scrapping websites. Not only are tags presented by themselves, but the other uses of tags include incorporating them into the design of a card, using them as embellishments or making a book out of tags. There are so many possibilities to explore, and if you are like me, you will be thrilled at what the possibilities are.
Tags have come a long way. Long gone are the days of applying ink to the tags and stamping on them. Gone are the days of using them as a gift tag or stamping letters on them to use on cards. Tags in themselves have become works of art. Nowadays, not only is ink used but also pattern papers, collage images, and all types of embellishments. With the change in doing and using tags, tags can become as important to your portfolio as cards.
While I was looking for tag ideas, I came across a version of the tag I am using in this sample. The vintage photo adds a reminiscent touch to this muted tag. Try creating photo tags that can be used as a unique embellishment for a card, home décor items, gift wrap, and memory books. To transform this vintage photo, I used sepia glaze and a vintage frame.
Part of the reason I don’t do tags much is that they create a dilemma when mailing them. I have had this tag idea in mind for quite some time and thought it would be perfect for this article. This sample uses a pocket card with the tag. Just think, the recipient is getting two pieces of art at one time. Not only will they have a beautiful tag to show but also a fantastic card to go with it.
Card sketches have become the rave this year. I soon discovered websites offering tag sketches. What a fantastic find!! The websites are full of ideas for creating unusual tags and options for embellishments to add to the creation of the tags. Here is one tag sketch from Page Maps that I thought is a great idea!
This month we visit the beautiful country of Italy. Italy has it all: popes, painters, lovers, and poets. Its landscapes are made for romance and its 3000 years of history, culture, and cuisine attract everyone. You can visit Roman ruins and beautiful churches, see Renaissance art, ski in the Alps, and ride gondolas through the canals of Venice. It truly is a place of beauty, history, and awe. In honor of our visit, I created this tag using the well known colors of Italy.
Back before Easter there was a conversation about tags in a group I belong to. We were discussing ways to color tags. One of the members had been to the grocery store, saw Easter egg dye and decided to give it a try with the tags. After seeing her beautiful results, I bought Easter egg coloring to give dying my tags a try. Well here it is August and I still hadn’t given a try. I decided what better time to try it than now. With this article on tags I thought why not include dyed tags. Not only am I showcasing the effect of using dye to create the background but also incorporating inks and embellishments to complete the tag. Once again, this design comes from Page Maps.
In writing this article, I rediscovered my love for tags. They are a great alternative to cards and they can be just as much fun to design and make. I hope that you will bring your tags out of hiding and give them a try. Join us again next month as we sail into our next port of creativity. Keep stamping and creating! Do share your stamping creations with us. As always, I would love to hear from you, so drop me a line anytime.
Happy "Dog Days" of summer!!!
Debi Wind
debiwind@ssreflections.com
Stamping Deck Crewmember
Reflections Publishing Group, LLC
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