The Artisan Design Team’s February box of products is fantastic and I’m so happy to finally get to show you what I have been making with it.  We are continuing to use some of the latest and greatest from the Occasions Catalog.  If you have come over from amazing Jeanna, welcome to the next stop.  If you are starting here, just continue around using the next buttons until you get back to me.

I will tell you now that I am completely in love with the new Hexagon Hive Thinlit (expect to see more this month using it!).  There is so much to do with it but for today’s project I chose to use it as a stencil.  Using stencils is really popular right now and many of SU’s dies are great for creating those stencils.  I also pulled out the Gesso again…just like on my project for the SU blog last week.  This time I used it a bit more.  To create the tag, I started with a larger piece of Watercolor Paper and painted on a layer of Gesso.  Once dry, I used my Aquapainter to add in some ink, Smoky Slate.  Again after drying, I stamped on the flower from Petal Parade (SAB) in Rose Red ink and then pulled out a piece of card stock that had been cut using the Hexagon Hive Thinlit.  I placed it over the paper and stippled on more Gesso.  When everything was dry, I chose a section I liked, cut a 2″ strip then cut one end with the Angled Tag Topper Punch.  The sentiment from Quite the Pair was stamped in Smoky Slate.  Using the same stencil, I stippled more Gesso onto a Smoky Slate card base (4-1/2″ sq.).  I distressed a long piece (30″ or so) of Rose Red Seam Binding by spritzing it with water and then crumpling.  Once dry, I looped the ribbon and tied on a Vintage Faceted Button using thread and added a Basic Pearl to the top of the button.  I trimmed the extra ribbon and used the rest for the top of the tag, tying on an additional button.

I had a lot of fun making a bit of a mess with this one.  Gesso is something you just kind of have to play with and there are lots of tutorials on the web to show you different uses.  Just allow that everything you make will be unique and that imperfection is part of the look.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the latest from Freshly Made Sketches and then later in the week with more Leadership Display projects.

Okay, off to go visit the awesome Mercedes Weber.  I can’t wait for you to see what she has created!  Make sure you hop around the whole loop to take a look at beautiful creations by the whole team…you’ll be happy you did!

Click HERE to purchase any of these wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Stamps:  Petal Parade (SAB), Quite the Pair; Paper:  Watercolor, Smoky Slate; Accessories:  Angled Tag Topper Punch, Big Shot, Hexagon Hive Thinlit, Vintage Faceted Button, Rose Red Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals