Courage Bookmark

I was surfing the net looking at other people's tags – really talented people – and some of their tags were truly spectacular!  There was soooo much "stuff" on them but they didn't look cluttered at all!  I was so inspired that I had to run and make one!  Of course, mine doesn't look like theirs – but maybe someday!!  So, I used my second-to-last pre-made flower.  I have been saving these forever because they're too beautiful to use!  I think I'm a little bit of a hoarder!  Some days, my challenge is to use "stuff" I have in my Craft Room.  Again, I forgot to take a photo of the background before I started!   (I made a few backgrounds yesterday and photographed them for next time!) I started with a basic manila tag (again!) and embossed it with "my boyfriend," T!m's Eiffel Tower Embossing Folder.  I applied several different color Distress Inks – Weathered Wood, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo and Old Paper.  I spritz and reapplied and then spritzed again.  Put a few water droplets on and heat set.  Then, I stamped the greeting on Very Vanilla Cardstock.  I really like this greeting.  I had a friend who was asked if she could be anyone in the world, who would she choose.  Her answer was: "A better version of myself."  I thought that was such a great response!  I look at young women today and they just have no idea how fabulous they are until they're 40!  As I get older, I realize we need to be kinder to ourselves.  I recently started doing Yoga.  (Like REMEDIAL Yoga!) They're all about you being positive in your own mind.  My "Yogi" says I should talk to myself as if I were speaking to one of my children.  I am so crazy about those kids that that suggestion seems funny to me because I am WAY nicer to everyone than I am to myself!  So – I'm trying to stop "negative self talk" and I hope you will too!  So – I chose this sentiment because it's a positive one and I wanted to share it!

Okay – enough of the therapy session and on to the tag!  I stamped the greeting in Vintage Paper Ink and then sponged some of the same colors onto the piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock. I applied a couple of rub ons and the little mini photo which a bubble over it. (Love that!)  The tulle peeking out from behind it is a scrap from forever ago!  It's difficult to make something look as if it is randomly placed! LOL!

I think the flower is a Prima but I'm not sure becaue the package is long gone!  I just LOVE it!  I cut some leaves from Old Olive Cardstock and sponged them with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink.

The "medallion" was aged using Distress Paints – Broken China – Shabby Shutters – Rusty Hinge. It was backed with a little scallop of Gold Glimmer Paper.
Enough just didn't seem to be enough and the bottom corner was looking a little lonely so I tied a double bow using Very Vanilla Seam Binding and an Antique Brad.  I still don't know if I should have dyed this ribbon. Believe it or not,  I didn't want to go WAY over the top.  What do you think????  The metal corners are favorites so I add them to most of my bookmarks!

Look at the crazy dimension on this baby!  I love it but I'm not sure where the heck I'm gonna put it! LOL! I'm not sure what categories this fits in – Shabby Chic, Vintage, Steam Punk – Lots of neat Paper Crafting Labels.  ;-)

By the way….you still have time to sign up for my Mailing List and receive the 12 Weeks of Christmas/Hanukkah!  It begins at 1:00 today!  Enjoy and thanks for stopping by! 😀