Many years ago, my sister (-in-law), Judy, Retired2stamp, invited me to a Stampin' Up Party. I was drawn to the 6X6 recipe card swap our local group was doing and had wanted to scrapbook too. I wasn't really interested in card making because I had witnessed my brother (in-law) Ed fold up a handmade card and put it in his pocket. I almost fainted and I didn't even make the card. But after a few parties, I was hooked and now make more cards than I had ever thought I would. My most recent passions are ATCs, tags & altered art. As you look through my blog I hope you can see how I've grown in my crafting ability!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

I've Go An Idea!

It's time for another Giggler's birthday project & it's for Susan!  I've made birthday tags for Susan before but I promised everyone a light up card this year so I decided to make her a light up tag!  I usually use white card stock so I know the light shines through but the tag is a little heavier & it was harder to see so I made a few modifications.  I also used a technique I learned in a class taught by Tim using Mica spray instead of water to activate the Oxide inks!!

First I figured out where I wanted the image for the crazy bird & light bulb plus the balloons which will be pressed for the light to come on.  Then I placed the stamps on the Tim Holt Stamp Platform & stamped 2 #10 tags in black archival ink.   I find it helpful to have the same images on both layers so I know where to place the Chibitronics Led Light & it's easier to line up when the layers are put together.  I inked the tag by smooshing Tim's Oxide Inks (Salty Ocean, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet & Spiced Marmalade on my craft sheet & spritzing the ink with brushed pewter mica spray.  I pressed the tag into the ink, dried it & repeated several times.  The mica spray gives it a very cool shimmery effect.  I don't normally ink the bottom layer (tag on the right) but it was an "oopsie" & I didn't want to waste a good tag.

To make the the circuit, first I adhered a folded piece of copy paper over the balloon where the battery will be.  The copper tape needs to connect to the positive side (+) side of the battery (top) & the negative (-) side of the battery (bottom) with a small gap between where the LED light will be.

The LED light has a sticky back so I pressed it down with the point (-) over the negative cooper tape & the (+) over the positive cooper tape.  Make sure you press down hard enough so it makes the connection.  Using a glue dot, I placed the battery over the cooper tape with the (-) down & the (+) up.  The top of the copy paper was then folded over the top of the battery.  Layers of foam tape were placed around & built up slightly above the battery so the cooper tape on the copy paper only touches the battery when the balloons are pressed.  Leave the covering on the top of the last layer of foam tape so it won't stick to the top layers when it's added.

Once I had tested the circuit so I knew it would light & made sure it would line up when the layers were put together, I layered double sided foam tape around the edges & in the middle (right photo) so you can't see the mess inside & it wouldn't flex.  My original plan was not to put 2 layers of foam around the out side edges so I cut a hole in the top layer (at left) for the battery to be above the top layer.  I was going to add the second layer of foam to the balloons but changed after I cut the hole.  The light was dim through the tag, so I cut a small hole in the light bulb & adhered a light bulb over it that I stamped on plain white card stock, colored with Copics & fussy cut.

When I put the two layers together, I don't remove all the tops off the foam tape at once.  Instead I pull a small piece to the side, using the exposed sticky part of the foam tape to tack the layers together.  Once I was sure it's lined up I removed the remaining top of the tape by pulling off.  Tweezers were helpful when I needed to grab the edge of the foam tape covering.  Next I stamped, colored & die cut several balloons which are layered over the battery.  I stamp "Press Here" on the top balloon.  I also stamped, colored & die cut out the crazy bird to layer on the tag so it would really stand out!  Of course I had to add a fluffy bow!

Hope you enjoyed hearing how I made my first light up tag light!  TFL!!

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