CountryScapes Country Critters 1 Gift Tags

January 20, 2015

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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*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

956 Jewelry Dies 3 Dog Tags

967 Alphabet 1 Caps

968 Numbers & More 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

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  • Mary Prasad January 22, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    You made the characters really come to life! So cute!

  • Debra Hensley January 21, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Love these little critters- so fun to be able to customize them! Thanks for the inspiration, Judi!

  • Frances Byrne January 20, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    fun project Judi.

    • Judi Kauffman January 20, 2015 at 8:18 pm

      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!

  • Judi Kauffman January 20, 2015 at 11:47 am

    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…)

  • Candy Spiegel January 20, 2015 at 10:56 am

    I love these little creatures! I cannot wait to order mine!

  • barb macaskill January 20, 2015 at 9:33 am

    I lovelovelove the Country Critters!!! So cute! TFS!

  • Raquel Mason January 20, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Sweet tags Judi!

  • Rita Edwards January 20, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Super fun tags, just a wonderful collection and endless possibilities.

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