12 Tags of 2012: February

Hi there! Are you excited about Tim's new take on the 12 Tags? I love the fact that we get a whole month to do each tag. That, and the tags can have a monthly theme based on whatever holiday or other happening is going on. I know it's a month or two away, but I can't wait to start using my cute little Tim Holtz Mini Bunny & Bow die that I got from Paper Mermaids. It is sooo adorable and reminded Carol and I of a chocolate bunny! Mmm ...

Anyway, I finally got a chance to sit down and do Tim's February 2012 tag. Since I don't have Tim's new Valentine's Day supplies (all I have is his Mini Hearts die), I thought I would focus my tag on the other somewhat holiday for February: Mardi Gras! 

For my background, I used Gold Paint Dabber and one of Tim's Stampers Anonymous stamps. (Snow Cap is on my wishlist!) For the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold, and green, I used Dusty Concord, Scattered Straw, and Pine Needles Distress Ink. I used Salvage Stickers for the sentiment:

No Mardi Gras symbol is more well-known than the fleur de lis! Tim's grungeboard hardware finding was the perfect fleur de lis accent.

Since I didn't want to depart completely from Valentine's Day, I ended up cutting out some mini hearts using grungepaper. The larger heart I inked with Pine Needles and Black Soot Distress Ink. The crown came from Tim's Grungeboard Elements pack, which I applied yellow Stickles to. I thought the crown was another fitting Mardi Gras element because it made me think of a king cake. Finally, I love the ruffle technique that Tim introduced. I wanted to try it out, but only apply it to half of the heart.

When I looked closer at the Vintage Lace die cuts I made for this tag, I thought that one of the strips resembled a bunch of mini masks. So I thought I'd ink up a couple pieces for a little Mardi Gras mystery.

Since I was on a mask kick, I thought I'd turn the smaller mini heart into a mask! I cut my heart in half, punched a couple holes through each piece, then applied Dusty Concord and Black Soot Distress Ink. I grabbed a few feathers, inked one of them with Pine Needles, then attached behind my mask. I felt the trinket pin "Secrets" and bauble beads were the perfect finishing touches to this Mardi Gras tag. 

Well, there you have it! A Tim Holtz-inspired Mardi Gras tag. Since it's Fat Tuesday, I may have to visit the nearest Krispy Kreme for a nice, warm glazed donut or two ... or three ... 

I can't wait for Tim to reveal the January and March tags! Thanks so much for looking, have a great day!

[I later added Glossy Accents to the black masks and Crackle Accents to the purple mask - tried to take a photo or two but they did not turn out well. Ugh!]

Supplies:

Vintage Lace die

Movers & Shapers Mini Hearts die

Grungepaper

Grungeboard Elements

Salvage Stickers

Stickles

Distress Ink

Baubles

Trimmings

Stampers Anonymous

Gold Paint Dabber

Trinket Pin