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Maker's Monday: Always Check Your Candy

I've been a bad blogger and missed Free Fiction Friday. Let's just say, life got in the way a lot last week.

For today's Maker's Monday, I had a nice how to for a bunch of neat tags I made, but my photos won't upload so I just put together this sweet little tag that pays homage to one of my all-time favorite Halloween movies...Trick 'r Treat! When I first saw the Sizzix Thinlit "Trick or Treat" die by Tim Holtz, I imagined the victims of the Halloween School Bus Massacre and knew I'd be making something like this tag. I can almost hear Mr. Wilkins tell Charlie to "Always check your candy."

As with life, there were many hiccups along the way of making this tag. I had gotten only a few die cuts made when my machine broke. I'm still in a bit of shock and possibly denial. RIP Vagabond! There were also several elements that I thought would look awesome that ended up not wowing me.

Supplies:
1 craft tag (I used Ranger Inkssentials, size #8, manila tags)
1 sheet of Halloween-themed scrapbook paper the size of your tag or larger (I ended up not using this)
1 Tim Holtz Typed Token Halloween (I ended up not using this)
Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge, and Walnut
Tim Holtz Distress Crayon in Spiced Marmalade
1 Tim Holtz Trick or Treat die cut on black cardstock
Decorative Twine
Glossy Accents


Some of these elements didn't make the cut


Tools:
Scissors
Water brush 
Small hole punch (1/8 -- ended up not using)


Additional Items:
Letter stamps
Archival Ink in Orange Blossom

Instructions:


1.  My first step was to color the Distress Crayon over the typed toke so the color filled the stamped letters. I used a piece of paper towel to gently rub the excess off the token. 
I like how this looks, but not for this tag


2.  I covered the tag with water from my water brush. You could use a spray bottle/mister or a wet sponge. 

I was skeptical about using a water brush at first but it is really handy


3.  Next I dabbed the Fossilized Amber stain onto the tag. I added Rusted Hinge on the lower quarter of the tag. I let the colors bleed and blend and used a heat tool to try the tag completely. You could let it air dry. 

Good thing the craft mat is there to protect my desk from drips!
Adding the Distress Stains to water makes a neat effect


4.  The die cut was too big for the tag so I snipped off the cat. It will be used for something else, I'm sure. I added squiggles of Glossy Accents to the backside of the die cut and arranged it in place, pressing down firmly. 

Bye bye kitty

Glossy Accents is one of my staples
Sinister and creepy


5.  I edged the tag in Rusty Hinge to give it a more finished look. 

I was going to use the Walnut stain, but thought Rusty Hinge was more subtle
  6. After dry-fitting the typed token on the tag I decided it didn't look right. After a few minutes of staring at the incomplete tag, I smiled. Always check your candy...

7. I inked the letters and added them to the card, not caring if they weren't perfectly lined up or if the rubber block stamped as well. 

I've had these little letter stamps for years and love their grungy vibe
  8.  I didn't like how the striped twine looked with this tag so I ended up using a hemp twine I had on hand. 
A completed tag - Always check your candy!

I really love how this simple tag turned out, even if it wasn't 100% to plan. What is your favorite Halloween movie?












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