The Younger Generation

This is the last in the series of vintage tags. This one was inspired by the photo of all these kids dressed in white. It was probably a family Easter dinner. Remember when you were a kid and had dinner with all your cousins, aunts, and uncles. It was noisy and chaotic, but it was fun! It seems that not as many people have the huge family gatherings like we used to.

For this tag, I printed the image on vellum, then mounted it to a shipping tag that I soaked in coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon. I distressed and inked the tag's edges, then layered on a pretty paper scrap, vintage lace, and a piece from an old measuring tape. "The Younger Generation" is a piece of text out of an old poetry book. I finished it off with some pretty Prima flowers, Stickles, and a button, and tied on some lace, fibers, and fabric ribbons.

Read Me A Story

I created this tag using a beautiful vintage image of a dressy lady and little girl. I printed it on vellum, then mounted it onto pink paper to give it a warmer look. I added Stickles to the flowers in the image, then layered it on top of a piece of old embroidery and paper from an old Italian book.

I made a second version of this tag, using the embroidery remnant as a pocket to hold the image. The image slides out and you can hide some journaling on the back.

More Vintage Tags

Did you have a good holiday weekend? Now that I'm all ready for summer, here are some other vintage-inspired tags that I created.

I call this one "I Want to Help". Doesn't it remind you of being a kid a wanting to try and do everything? I used a vintage recipe for the background, then added the vintage image mounted on paper torn from an old book. I added buttons, lace, ribbons, rick rack, and tulle to complete the look.

This next tag is "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow." The sad little girl's face with her umbrella and the vintage sheet music inspired this one. I used Making Memories paper that looks like an old ledger page, stamped the left side using Tim Holtz ink and stamp, and then layered some vintage sheet music on top. The sheet music phrase is "When storms have passed and clouds have gone forever." I added some clean rain drops and glossy accents, then tied on some lace and fibers.

Final Beach Tag

Here's the last of the beach tags (don't worry, I'll have more vintage-inspired tags to share). I call this one "Fun at the Jersey Shore." The family reminds me of the old photos of my grandmother and her sisters playing on the beach in Cape May and Atlantic City.

After distressing and inking the papers, I added PearlEx pigments to the photo - shimmery silver for the sky and light gold and bronze for the sand (you can see them better in the photo below). I then layered on some tea-stained cheese cloth with tiny seashells. Instead of ribbon or fibers, I created a hanger from a string of shells.

I can't wait to hit the beach! If you create some summer-themed projects, please share them with me!

La Plage

This beach tag was the most fun. She looks like she's played a few rounds of "beach blanket bingo," so I went Pink Parisian as my theme. I used K&Co's Madelaine paper, then layered on vintage sheet music, lace, a French stamp, and tied on lace and bright pink fibers.

I wish I looked as fabulous sitting on the beach!

I love etsy!

Do you shop on etsy.com? I could spend hours browsing through everyone's stores. There are some really great artists that sell beautiful handiwork. I recently purchased this necklace from Tami at Cupcake Studio. The colors were so summery and retro, and I love that it's made from vintage buttons. I'll be taking it with me on my summer vacation.

When you have some spare time, check out etsy - you'll be amazed at what you've been missing!

So Sophisticated

This is my most subdued beach tag. She just screams sophistication! So, I called her "Say Cheese!" I thought it was a nice contrast to the starkness of the image. I added some black tulle, made her a sarong out of tea-dyed cheesecloth, then added some velvet, satin, and herringbone ribbons to match this chic lady.

Big Straw Hat

I have another beach tag for you! This one is the most colorful - I got carried away, but really like the results. I used Making Memories Chloe's Closet paper, buttons, and flowers. I don't usually buy or use orange and yellow, but they look so great for summer that I went for it. I inked all the edges with a turquoise chalk ink, added some vintage lace at the bottom, then tied on some matching ribbons and fibers.

She brings back memories of my days on the Jersey Shore, walking the mile through the sand dunes and beach to get to the ocean.

Colorful Beach Babe

I titled this tag "Puerto Vallarta." She's so colorful and has that relaxing, playful, "jet from Hollywood down to Mexico" look. I made two different versions of this tag.


I used the same vintage image, but alternated the yellow and blue backgrounds, added some fun yellow striped ribbon (it reminded me of a vintage bathing suit print), and some tiny seashells at her feet.

The Countdown Begins

Not soon enough, we are taking a much-needed vacation to Hawaii. I've been working on some beach-inspired tags to get ready. I'll share them with you as we countdown to V-day!


This one is me frolicking in the ocean. (Yeah, right!) I loved the dark blues of this image and waves as she gracefully holds that bright pink beach ball. You know how graceful you look when you're playing in the waves, right?

I put her on some beautiful Bazzill cardstock and pink handmade paper. I added stickles around the top, then layered on some vintage buttons at the bottom. Tied on some blue and pink fibers and she was ready to play!

Altered Button Display

Here is a little hanging display piece I made using a vintage button card as inspiration.

I started with a piece of mattboard, then layered it with a vintage embroidered handkerchief, old sheet music, lace, paper, and the button card with it's mother of pearl buttons in neat little rows.

I added a piece of seam binding to hang it, with strands of lace, rick rack, and fibers dangling to one side.

It was a quick little project that makes me smile! The creamy colors are so relaxing.

Happy Friday!

My weekend is getting off to a good start. I got up early to go to Dorothy's "Shabby Y" garage sale. She sells antiques and unique creations from found objects that I just love. I bought lots of good junk that you'll see in some upcoming projects. I bought some little pink vintage containers, cigar boxes, 2 bags full of old postage stamps (Germany and France), old cookbooks, linens and lace, horseshoes, ephemera, lots of junk! Here's a couple photos:

I'm planning to use the little velvet purse for an altered project - hopefully soon.

This stuff was in a $2 goodie bag that I knew was too good to pass up.

Then, when I came home from my junking excursion, I had an email from Ready, Set, Create that they are going to publish two of my altered projects in their June/July issue! I'm so excited! Dinner out tonight to celebrate (my husband just looks for any excuse to go to his favorite Tex-Mex restaurant).

Have a great weekend!

Evangeline ATC

I made this ATC yesterday to try out the new Pearl Ex pigment powders that I purchased. First, I cut the black cardstock to the correct size (2.5" x 3.5" for an ATC), then I used a Tim Holtz stamp and clear embossing ink for the background. I brushed on several colors of Pearl Ex in the different areas of the stamped image.

Next, I started layering on the ephemera and lace - a piece of vintage black lace along the bottom edge, tea-stained lace along the top, a heart cut from a Victorian calendar, a remnant of old sheet music, and our star - "Evangeline" - cut from an old postcard image. I added a bow made from a piece of sewing pattern paper, lace remnant, and corsage pin with beads. I added mini pearl bling for a necklace and Stickles to the flowers she holds. The text, "love, peace and contentment," is where she gets her name - I cut them from Longfellow's poem "Evangeline" in an old school reader.

I think she came together quite nicely. I decorated the back with Pearl Ex and another Tim Holtz stamp, but that's just for the recipient of this little gem.

Mother's Day Cards

I made my Mother's Day cards this week so I could get them mailed in time.

I used glittery, flowery patterned paper and some blank pages from a vintage book. I cut out an image from an old art history book, layered on vintage lace, a Prima flower, pearls, and my poem:

A mother treats her child like a rose -

Soft and tender as the little bud is forming

Coaxing the petals to take shape,

Adoring the beauty and accomplishment of the fully awakened flower...

(inside) Then tossing them out when they're old and stinky!

I did the same on this card, just used a different image from the art history book.