Yes...I STILL have Italy on the brain! I just can't help it, as it was a FANTASTIC place, and it had a big impact on me. So much so, that when I first tasted
Limoncello, I knew I had to try and make some, and the first time I saw a wall with crumbled and deteriorated stucco revealing blackened old bricks, I knew I wanted to try and make the same look on a tag. So, here are my attempts at both, which happen to be my Christmas presents this year to close friends and family.
Cin cin!!!
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| Lots of lemon peel and vodka, mixed with vanilla beans to lighten the taste a bit, were combined and put away in my dark pantry for about 25 days. Then, I added a simple syrup after it cooled along with a little more lemon juice, and put the mixture back in it's dark place to sit for 10 more days. This normally takes a lot longer, but I was running out of time. |
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| I strained away all the solids from the mixture several times, but I still never got a completely clear liquid...oh well. I funneled the pungent liquor into Italian glass bottles, and added a label I made on the computer. |
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| I purchased a wax seal emblem and all the goods to go with it while in Italy, but I've never done it before. After a few internet inquiries, I gave it a go. I was hooked! I want to put a wax seal on everything now! Sadly, I discovered that I sort of like playing with fire, and I never even pee'd the bed afterward!;0) |
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| I had not used my Rome images that Tim sketched out and had produced for us through Stamper's Anonymous, so I thought they would be great for this project. I love the images so much! He really did an uber fantastic job with both sets of the limited edition Italy stamps. |
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| Broken China and Antique Linen Distress Stain were used for the sky and images, followed by a good splattering of misted water. I also inked the edges of the tag with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. |
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| I love the new Christmas stamps Tim put out this year, and there are many different scripts for holiday sayings, and this mini one is my favorite. I embossed it with Ranger's Gold Embossing Powder. Then, the tag received a light coat of Perfect Pearls Mist! |
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| I embossed manila tags with Tim's Sizzix Bricked Texture Fade, and then lightly spray them with Espresso Color Wash. I removed the excess color to vary up the shades, dried them, and rubbed Vermillion Archival Ink over the top to highlight the raised portions. I loved the look. I wanted the tag to be tough and a little shiny, so I gave it a coating of Glue N Seal, and to my surprise, a little of the color wash blended in and made even better shadowing! |
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| I mixed up some Vintage Photo ReInker with Wendy's White Embossing Paste, and smeared it on portions of the tags to try to look like Stucco. It sort of looks like snow, but it's not supposed to. |
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| I gave the raised areas a rubbing of Snow Cap Pigment Ink and Walnut Stain too. I am telling you, I felt like I was there again! I was even singing all the Italian songs I knew! This tag made me happy! |
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| I heat embossed Santa, and colored him up with Distress Markers and Stickles. |
Supplies:
I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!
