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Kimono Tag

By Nancy Leimer
Rubber Roadsters
Advanced Stamping Team Designer  

This dramatic Kimono Tag was created to resemble the intricate patterns and feel of real silk material. Fabric has some of the most interesting designs, fibers, highlights and shadows.  These qualities can be simulated into paper art.    Enjoy creating your own patterns, textures, and artistic expressions. 

Supplies:

•  Dragonflies Stamp-Japanese Art – (CTMH)
•  Large Dragonfly Stamp- Home Décor Garden- (CTMH)
•  Small Leaf -All Nestled In (CTMH)
•  Large Leaf- Love and Wildflowers (CTMH)
•  Take time to enjoy simple joys Stamp (CTMH)
•  Cranberry Stamp Pad (CTMH)
•  Plum Mist Stamp Pad (CTMH)
•  Pansy Purple Stamp Pad (CTMH)
•  New England Ivy Stamp Pad CTMH)
•  Jet Black Stamp Pad (StazOn)
•  Tags-Manila (6) size 4 ¾” x 2 3/8”
•  Assorted Fibers:
        - 4 Pieces 18” long
        - 2 Pieces 8” long
        - 4 Pieces 12” long
•  Make Up Sponges from the Dollar Store
•  Glue Pen (Zig)
•  1 Pull-tab from a can of Soda
•  Gold Embossing Powder (Stamp-n Stuff)
•  Embossing Gun (Marvy)
•  Clear Adhesive Dots (Zots)
•  Gold Roller Ball Pen (Zebra)
•  Misc. Gold & Silver Charms
•  Household Bleach
•  Paper Towels
•  Long Tweezers

Instructions:

1.    Three of the tags will be uncut.  Two of these three tags will be folded in half measuring approx. 2 3/8” x 2 3/8”. One of these will remain unaltered. One tag will be scored 5/8” from the bottom and folded up. One tag will be cut to 3 ¾” long removing the eyelet. The last tag will be cut lengthwise so that it makes two pieces, measuring 3 ¾” on one side and 3 ½” x 1¼” on the other side. You will need to cut the pieces so that it forms a slant on the top of each piece. 

2.    Glue the scored portion of the tag to the bottom of one uncut tag so that when folded up the two eyelets of the tags will be on the same side. 

3.    Take the two tags that are folded in half and place end-to-end folding eyelets in so they are side by side. This creates the sleeves of the Kimono. Use the piece of tag that is cut to 3 ¾ “ x 2 3/8” and glue to the back of the two tags placed end to end.  You will glue it on the outside of the two folded tags, outside being the opposite side of the eyelets, centering it.  

4.    Mark the tag with the scored tag attached to 1 ½” from the top including the eyelet.  Glue this tag to the center of the sleeve tags using the eyelet as your measure and glue it exactly centered to the line where the sleeve tags meet.  See photo. 

5.    Open the Kimono and lightly sponge the Plum Mist inside completely covering the inside using a make-up sponge.  Use the heat gun to dry the ink. Stamp the saying in the center of the Kimono using the Black StazOn ink. Also, speed dry with the heat gun.  See photo for placement.   

6.    Next turn Kimono over and sponge Purple Pansy in the middle section of the tags, which actually is the back. See photo. Now sponge the rest with the Cranberry ink. Use the embossing gun to speed dry the ink completely.  Use the large leaf stamp and stamp with the cranberry ink all over the cranberry inked tag.  Use the heat gun to dry the ink again. 

7.    Sponge only the front of the two strips cut from a tag.  To find the front of the strips, lay the two strips side by side with the longest sides together forming a peak. Dry with the heat gun.  Make a stamp pad out of a paper towel in a bowl and add a small amount of bleach.  Using the dragonflies stamp pounce on the bleach soaked towel and stamp the outside of the 2 purple strips. The bleach will remove the purple ink.   When the bleach is dried on the strips, use the small leaf stamp along with the green and black ink to randomly stamp the strips. See photo for reference. Set aside for now. 

8.    Next, on the inside of the Kimono use the Purple Pansy ink to sponge the inside of the Kimono lightly.  Do not sponge over the saying, leave a somewhat circle shape around it. Use the heat gun to speed dry the purple ink. 

9.    Now use the bleach again to stamp the small leaves over the purple ink on the inside of the Kimono.  Use the heat gun to dry the bleach. Use the black ink and the dragonflies stamp, the green ink and the small leaf, the large leaf and the purple pansy ink to randomly stamp the inside of the Kimono.   Refer to photo for placement. 

10. Glue the two strips to the back of the Kimono, which is on the purple pansy ink. See photo for exact placement. You will see that part of the strips is glued to the purple portion and to the cranberry portion. Once glued you may sponge with the purple pansy ink.   Do not cover all of the strips with the purple ink.  The part glued on the cranberry will be sponged in cranberry ink.  Refer to photo for exact sponging appearance. 

11. Take the large leaf and randomly stamp in Purple Pansy on the purple pansy portion only.  Allow to dry or use the heat gun to speed dry. 

12. Using the bleach pad, again, stamp the dragonflies over the cranberry and purple inks. Use the heat tool to dry the bleached area.  Randomly stamp the small leaves in black on the cranberry and purple inked area.  Use the small leaf again and stamp in purple over the cranberry color.  

13. The multiple stamping over all the different areas creates a depth to the material also, lights and shadows. 

14. Using the large dragon and the purple pansy ink stamp as shown in photo. 

15. Take the four pieces of 18” fiber and thread two fibers each through the eyelets on the sleeves.  These will be used to make a bow to close the Kimono. Use the four 12” pieces of fiber and loop through the eyelet in the scored folded up tag.  This is used to encourage the viewer to pull down to view what is inside. 

16. The tab from the soda is coated with gold embossing powder.  This is very simple and can be coated even in multiple colors if you choose.  Using the long tweezers to hold the tab, heat it with the heat tool until very hot.  Drop the tab into your gold embossing powder.  Remove the tab and heat again to melt the powder.  Continue to repeat the above steps until the tab is completely covered.  Once the tab is dried, use the adhesive dot to secure it to the back of the Kimono.  Loop the remaining fibers through the tab.  See photo for placement. 

17.  Attach your charms to the front using the fibers.  Do not put the charms on the sleeves but on the dress portion. 

18.  With the gold pen, highlight portions of the large dragonfly.

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