Lasting Memories Layout Challenges: #59 -- TAG!! You're It!! :)

Hello, hello, my fabulous friends and followers!! :)  I'd like to take a moment to say WELCOME to my NEW friends -- It means so much to me that you're here!!  And I'd like to say THANK YOU to all of you ---  It makes my heart soooooo happy to see comments from familiar "faces" so often...

This post was actually supposed to go "live" earlier this week, but for those of you who haven't heard yet...  Well, my laptop had an unfortunate end. :(  This means that I'm more limited with when I can visit other blogs...  I'm very sad to not have a laptop anymore, but at least I can still post and blog hop from this computer.

Anyway, there's still a few days left to join this week's challenge over at Lasting Memories!! :)  As you know, I simply LOVE doing layouts, and Lasting Memories is ALL about layouts (and layouts only -- no cards -- woot woot!!)...  This week over at Lasting Memories Layout Challenges, we've been challenged to show off those tags on our layouts!  :)

There is no doubt about it...  I LOVE fireworks!!  The-Boy-Child and I showed up for the 4th of July fireworks show about TWO HOURS EARLY this year because I wanted to make sure we would have VERY good seats (I left my book and my phone at home accidentally -- and I didn't go back for them, so that ought to tell ya how much more I love fireworks than texting, surfing, or reading...).  I have recorded fireworks displays so I can replay them in the dead of winter (and pretend it's a warm summer night!), and I have taken THOUSANDS of pictures at each event (literally...  thousands.).  Last summer, after one of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games, they had a Skyblast concert (George Thorogood) featuring TONS of fantastic fireworks...  I.was.in.heaven.  :)  Obviously, I realized that I couldn't possibly scrapbook all of the fireworks pictures, but there were many that I really, really liked...  So when I saw that we were using tags for a layout, I thought maybe this was the perfect opportunity to get a bunch of those pictures into one layout...  Lemme know what ya think!! :)

One of the photo shops I use has a 7-cent special on 3.5"x5" prints each week -- This is an economical way to print many photos of one event...  I trimmed a half-inch off of each photo and created tags that would fit each print perfectly (using my Gypsy and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More), I sized the tags to 3.75" wide and 5.25" high).

I created this AWESOME zippered pocket to add to my page, perfect for "storing" all the picture tags...  To make the pocket, I crumpled a 10"x12" piece of ivory cardstock, then flattened it and scored it at 3.75" and 9"...  I folded the two ends towards each other on the score lines and adhered the (real) zipper to the opening.  I then glued the sides closed (and wrapped the excess of the zipper behind the pocket).  I distressed all the edges and front of the pocket with Stampin Up!'s Chocolate Chip ink...

I do not own a sewing maching, so I faux-stitched the sides of the pockets (and around all the tags) with my red fine-tip marker accented with my navy fine-tip marker (to look like stitch holes)...  I added the strip across the front of the pocket to give it a little pizazz (and adhered some of my very-most-favorite crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl JAM - I even added a bit to the zipper pull and to all of the tags!!). 

The brad on the front of the pocket is from Stampin' Up!...  And since the zipper really works, these tags can all be contained within the pocket (zipper closed) or can be stood upright to peek out of the pocket (zipper opened)... 

The tags are all distressed with chocolate chip ink faux-stitched around the edges as well -- I could easily add additional pictures to the backs of the tags or use that space for journaling!! :)

To create the flag background, I cut wavy strips using my (retired) Creative Memories Wavy Trimmer from ivory cardstock and adhered them to the cranberry cardstock (I cut the ends of the cranberry cardstock with the wavy trimmer as well)...  I used the "God bless the USA" stamp from the "Freedom isn't Free" Stamp Art Set by K Andrew Designs and repeat stamped it across the wavy strips (these stamps are super easy to adjust on your acrylic block to achieve the perfect wave)...

The "title" tag was punched with my Creative Memories tag punch (also distressed and faux-stitched)...  I hand lettered the title and then went over it with a Gelly Roll clear stardust pen to give is a little sparkle. :)

And there ya have it!!  I'd love to hear your feedback or answer any questions, so be sure to leave me a comment if you have a moment to do so...

Ready for a little more inspiration???  Wait til you see all the fantastic layouts that my Design Team Sisters over at Lasting Memories made!!  Please be sure to click on the logo below to check out the creativity!! :)

TAG!!  You're it!!  It's your turn!!  Create your layout using tags (there is an optional sketch if you prefer as well!!), and link it up at Lasting Memories Layout Challenges...


I can't to see what you create!! :)

Until next time,