By Judi Kauffman for Elizabeth Craft Designs
Our frequent guest designer Judi Kauffman is back with a batch of easy, fun tags featuring some of our brand new dies: Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s CountryScapes Country Critters 1 and Elizabeth Craft Designs’ Jewelry Dies 3 Dog Tags, Alphabet 1 Caps and Numbers & More 1!
Thanks for inviting me back, Joset. I love all of Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s dies, but the CountryScapes series, especially the Country Critters 1 set, is a special favorite. The ten little birds and animals are realistic and absolutely irresistible. Measuring in at a mere 1/2” – 2”, they were designed to be combined with other CountryScapes series dies to create scenes (split rail fence, wagon wheel, and all the rest…), but I thought they were just the right size for making gift tags.
Seven of the tags have a single monogram for the recipient’s first name; the others include more lettering. The largest size Dog Tag die has plenty of space for a word or two.
I chose pencils and a fine nib pen to color the Critters, but feel free to pick a different medium – PanPastels, watercolors, markers – or use a combination.
Instructions:
1. Cut Country Critters 1 from smooth white cardstock or watercolor paper.
2. Color the Critters with a realistic palette. Thanks to Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s attention to detail, the dies have de-bossed lines to help you see where wings, faces, and legs are positioned. Tip: View photo images online to give you ideas for color combinations. (Example: You’ll find photos of bunnies in white, black and white, gray, tan, brown and white, dark brown, caramel brown, black – lots of options!) Because the Critters are so small it only takes a few seconds to color each one!
3. Cut Dog Tags from gray cardstock in the medium and largest sizes of the three in the die set; distress the edges with sepia ink.
4. Cut letters, numbers and/or symbols from Velvet Adhesive Sheet in Black.
5. Complete the tags with a monogram, word or words, and a Critter or two as shown. Use foam tape for dimension beneath the Critters.
6. Add cord, twine, or narrow ribbon. Write names, date, and a message on the back of the tag.
More Options:
*Add extra details, like whiskers, eyes, or feathers, using a fine nib Pigma Micron 005 Pen in Black.
*Instead of using foam tape to add dimension to the Critters, back the cardstock with double sided adhesive sheet before die cutting and make flat tags.
*Instead of Dog Tags, use Tags & More 4, 5, or 6 (ECD #957, #958 and #959) for the tag base. These tags are larger so there is more space for spelling out words, dates, greetings.
*Hand-letter the tags instead of die cutting letters, numbers and symbols.
*Use a series of tags as a “banner” across a card front or as party table décor, one letter per tag to spell out a name or date.
Supplies:
Elizabeth Craft Designs –
989 CountryScapes Country Critters 1
406 Velvet Adhesive Sheets in Black
Other –
Pigma Micron 005 in Black (Sakura of America)
PrismaColor pencils or coloring medium of choice
Cardstock in White and Gray
Sepia ink
Craft sponge
Foam tape
You made the characters really come to life! So cute!
Love these little critters- so fun to be able to customize them! Thanks for the inspiration, Judi!
fun project Judi.
Thanks, Frances. I should have shown the tags next to a penny or a dime to show scale. The Critters are really tiny, the dies have such amazing detail!
I’m going to visit our goddaughter’s little girl and can’t wait to see what she does with them. I’ve already cut dozens and have put them in a small organza bag so they look special… (Taking my markers and PanPastels. I think at 5 she’s old enough to experiment with both…)
I love these little creatures! I cannot wait to order mine!
I lovelovelove the Country Critters!!! So cute! TFS!
Sweet tags Judi!
Super fun tags, just a wonderful collection and endless possibilities.