Sleigh Ride Together Tag Tutorial

Well, you guys let me know that you like tutorials! Thanks a bunch for all the comments here and on Facebook....you're the BEST!

As I type this, I just read that it's snowing at the Lizton, IN rest stop where the Morton Band is on the last stop before Indy and the Grand Nationals Competition!!! So proud of you guys!

Knock their socks off!!!

So, here's your tutorial, since you've all been so good!!!

Keep in mind, that some of these shots are at night. so the color difference is there at times.

This is a #8 Manila Tag. I used the Mustard Seed beginning in the middle with at circular motion and a Blending Tool. This gives you your "sunny" area for a good contrast.

Then work your way upward in arcing sweeps (practice on plain paper, it helps) adding the colors Victorian Velvet and Festive Berries. Then Iced Spruce and a touch of Stormy Sky.

I layer colors like a watercolor glaze. This gives a deeper, richer color to your piece.

The lower portion is some more Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough from the Limited Edition Winter  2011 Collection,  and Pine Needles all blended together.

Try to keep the blue out of the Mustard -  it turns it green...as you can see....

All the Texture Fades used here are from the Christmas Background and Borders set. A MUST HAVE!!!

Next I added 2 layers of Icicles Texture Fades, one first and the the 2nd offset. It puts one in the background and one more predominant in the front when you run it through the 2nd time.

Then the Boughs down the side. Only run up to the edge of the Icicles or you'll remove your Icicles!

The Snowflakes are added along the bottom.

 I juggle the last one on the right and only run up to the edge of the folder. If you keep going all the way through the Vagabond or other machine, you will loose all your other embossing. Vagabond...on your Christmas list??????????

Both the Snowflakes and the Icicles are painted with Silver Metallic Paint Dabber paint and a tiny brush.

So now the painting fun begins. I used Forever Green, Forever Red and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls out of the jar mixed with water to form a paint.

Yes, these darker shots are the ones at night...I am a Night Owl.

Then I used Gathered Twigs and The Crafter's Workshop Branches Reversed Template to add the tree.

Be careful NOT to get any brown over the EDGES of your template....that's going to go onto your tag where you don't want it!!! Trust me here.....wonder why?

I used the Artistic Outpost - Sleigh Ride stamp here stamped on Manila cardstock and cut out. Aren't they gorgeous??? Here's their link!

I start with a wet brush and pick up color from the ink pads...here Spun Sugar for the flesh color on the faces. I used the Iced Spruce and Evergreen Bough on the Sleigh and children's coats.

 I've also added TomBow markers for shading and deeper color in areas. The leggings had to add bright color to the tag, so I used a TomBow there and the Light Grey pen to shade.

Here is the Rock Candy Distress Stickles before it dries. I used a brush to add it into the smaller areas, but my finger over larger sections.

If I get the Stickles to show up in the photo, the metallic colors glare your eyes out! So you'll just have to take my word for the fact that the Stickles are there.

It's hard to see here, but I sprayed red Seam Binding ribbon with Kiwi Perfect Pearl Mists, crumpled it up and dried with the Heat It Tool.

I also added Perfect Pearl powder and water mixed to some areas along the side to denote snow.

The Crystal is from my stash I think I got when I was is St. Louis at RED LEAD! Oh the treasures you can find there.....love it!

This is the really cute phrase in the AO set. I stamped it on Manila cardstock with Jet Black Archival Ink, then cut it out in a curvy pattern. I added some Iced Spruce to the edges with the Blending Tool.

The kids are layered onto the tag with black pop dots. I added 3 layers to the phrase to make it stand up even higher than the kids.

I trim the manila tag about 1/8" on both sides and 1/4" on the bottom.

This way when I cut out a tag with Tim's Tag die and black chipboard, it fits almost perfectly giving a nice edge of black around the tag.

Well, that's it for today. Hope you enjoy the tutorial and make something of your own.

As I said before, hearing from all of you makes my Heart Sing!!!!

Thanking all our Veterans for their service, my Sailor especially!!!

Linda