G is for Gingham

Hello and welcome all, with an especially big welcome to the new followers; it's lovely to have you with us on the journey.



I'm sending up a big whoop as well as a big welcome, as I'm finally up to date with the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  Okay, I know Linda Coughlin (the FJ herself) will be giving us another new inspirational tag tomorrow, but I've caught up - hence the whoop.



If you've no idea what I'm talking about, you can check out all the details here, and since the inspirational tags Linda's creating every week are simply amazing, it's worth going along for a look anyway.  And the prize if you complete all 12 is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.



So, regular readers will know I've been having a bit of battle with tag number 4 - I somehow couldn't find my way round to it, despite loving Linda's original.  But I've finally got there, although I will admit I don't think it's my best work!  Still resisting Christmas too, you'll note...








It was the gingham that was tripping me up, I think, until I finally twigged where I'd seen some in my stash... the glorious Graphic 45 ABC Primer papers.  I knew there was gingham somewhere to be found!  Allow me to digress for a moment...










I got these papers in order to make a gift for my best friend when she had her baby.  Contrary to convention, she planned to keep the nursery in the cream and rust colours already there, so these papers were perfect for altering an Ikea Moppe drawer set to provide some storage.





I painted one side in blackboard paint, and attached a covered box of chalk, so that they can make notes of things required - nappies, ointments - what do I know of the needs of babies?!

There were of course leftovers... and so today I sought them out and pressed them into service.






So let's get back to the tag...

Somehow once I'd started on the papers, I couldn't stop, so having lined the tag with the gingham, I found myself cutting out book labels, and miniature school reports, and ABCs, and wooden rulers. 

But there are quite a lot of elements which have made it across from Linda's tag: she has got paper elements collaged onto hers too. 

And I've incorporated an embossed panel, as she has done, using one of the Tim Holtz embossing folders, and then inking it with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo DIs.  And I've "stitched" it on!  Sewing machines and I are not friends, so my stitches are just hand drawn for now.

I have bought a very cheap handheld sewing machine from The Works, but I'm guessing that won't last long, since  even very expensive sewing machines just break when I sit down at them.  It's very frustrating, as I love the look of stitching in paper-crafted cards and tags.

We'll see how we go with the stitching machine, but I'm not holding my breath!

The trimmings at the top are very strongly inspired by Linda's, as you'll see if you pop over to hers for a look.

I love this burlap ribbon (it's actually from Linda's shop, The Funkie Junkie Boutique, as it happens), and use it a lot.  Here, it's cut in half lengthwise, to get a narrower ribbon, and then the threads that frayed away have been used to knot the ribbons together in a bunch.









And when I saw that the tag still needed a little something, I took inspiration from her button to add a couple of my own, with added pennants, thereby using up almost the last of some East of India ribbon I bought about 10 years ago, and have had sitting around doing occasional service ever since.

Of course, everything's had a little touch of distressing - DIs, paper distresser, and sometimes both - because, frankly, I can't live without it these days!  

So, with this (and this and this in the last few days), I'm up to date - until Linda posts the next one tomorrow... but it feels good, anyway.  Don't panic, mind, you've got until December 17th, so ignore my gloating and go get on with it!  Have a great week, crafting or otherwise... and I'll see you again soon.

I love deadlines.  I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.
Douglas Adams

I'm entering this as Tag 4 in (come on, all together now) the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas