Most of my projects grow naturally, and this tag was no exception. It began with torn pieces of collage paper to create a base full of variation before adding texture through a stencil. At that stage, it still looked fairly plain, but I knew those first layers would eventually peek through and add interest once the color went on.

For the background, I used Distress Ink, blending a couple of deep brown tones to create a rich base. I also added the stitching around the tag right away. I knew the textured flowers would become the focal point of the project, and I didn’t want to stitch over them later. If you’re not careful, the sewing machine needle can crack or break the textured surface, so it’s much safer to do the stitching before adding any dimensional elements.

For the main design, I used a Tim Holtz Layering Stencil to create the floral stems with Grunge Paste. I let the paste dry completely before adding color. I wanted the flowers to feel connected to the background rather than sitting on top of it, so I kept the palette muted and added just enough shading to give the petals some shape. You can still catch glimpses of the collage underneath, which helps everything feel like part of the same surface.

The sentiment is one of my favorite details on this tag. Instead of simply stamping it onto cardstock, I used the sentiment stamp together with its exclusive coordinating dies, cutting each line individually before stitching them onto a piece of frayed fabric. That extra step gives the words much more presence and makes them feel integrated into the composition rather than added at the very end.

To finish the tag, I added white pen highlights, distressed the edges, and included a few small details that tie everything together without competing for attention. None of these elements are particularly dramatic on their own, but together they give the project the worn, layered look I was after.