Mixed Media Butterfly Vintage Tag Project "Be the Light"

Hey there, crafty friends! 💛

As part of my little mission to revisit and document all our past post-make-and-take projects, I’m so excited to share a special one from our July 2022 Creative Day. I’ve been going back through these beautiful moments we’ve created together—dusting off those forgotten tags and bits, and turning them into tutorials you can recreate anytime the creative itch hits!

This sweet mixed media tag was such a joy to make, and it's still one of my faves. With vintage paper layers, florals, texture paste, and a gorgeous butterfly front and center, it’s got that perfect mix of messy play and meaningful sentiment. Be the Light—how perfect is that for a project that shines in every layer?

Whether you joined us live back in 2022 or you’re brand new to the party, this tutorial will walk you through all the steps to make your own.

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need:

Standard manila tag (blank)
Vintage book or music paper (We used American Crafts Music 12x12 Paper)
Patterned paper (small pieces)
Vintage-style washi tape
Die-cut leaves or leafy ephemera
Mini paper flowers (pink or any color you love)
Green flower stems or mossy fiber
Fussy-cut butterfly (We used Prima Painted Floral Butterflies Galore 12x12 Paper) or you can use a coloured stamped butterfly or fussy cut from a printable.
Sentiment (we used “Be the Light”)
Small piece of ivory or white cardstock
Seam binding ribbon (for the top)
Adhesive (liquid glue, 3D glue dots, or hot glue)
Gel medium or matte glue
Clear gesso
Pallet Knife
Paintbrush or silicone brush
Texture paste (white)
Stencil (script, florals, dots)
Distress Ink pad (for stamping your sentiment and inking edges)
Distress ink (optional, for edges)

✂️ Instructions:

1. Prep Your Tag:

Start with a clean, blank kraft manila tag. Brush a thin coat of clear gesso over the surface and let it dry. This gives you a nice base to build on and helps your papers and paste adhere better.

2. Layer the Background:

Tear or trim pieces of vintage music paper and patterned paper. Arrange them collage-style over your tag. Once happy with the placement, adhere them down with matte gel medium or glue.

3. Add Texture:

Once your background is dry, place your stencil over the tag and gently spread texture paste through it using a palette knife or old credit card. Let it dry completely.

4. Build the Focal Layers:

Start layering with some die-cut leaves or leafy embellishments.Tuck in a paper flower or two, a bit of green floral stem, or fibers for added texture and a touch of whimsy.Add your fussy-cut butterfly right in the center—it’s the star of the show!

5. Stamp Your Sentiment:

Stamp your sentiment ("Be the Light") and a smaller sentiment "Focus on the Good" on a small piece of cardstock. Optional: Ink the edges with distress ink for that extra vintage touch. Adhere the larger sentiment near the bottom of your tag with foam tape or glue and add the smaller sentiment towards the top.

6. Finishing Touches:

Add a bit of vintage washi tape in small strips for charm and balance. Finally, loop a length of seam binding ribbon through the hole at the top of your tag. Tie it in a knot or bow—whatever makes your heart happy.

💡 Tips & Ideas:

Use colors that match your mood or season. This one has a soft Autumn feel with a hint of spring!
Don’t be afraid to let your elements hang off the edges. It adds great movement and interest.
These tags make amazing gift toppers, journal inserts, or sweet little bits of happy mail.

💬 Final Thoughts:

hope this project brought a little sparkle to your creative day and maybe even reminded you to shine your light a little brighter.

Keep an eye out as I continue to revisit more of our make-and-take favorites—there’s so much goodness to rediscover, and I can’t wait to share it all with you. Until next time, happy crafting.

If you give it a go, don’t forget to tag me or pop your creation into our group—I seriously love seeing your crafty masterpieces in action. 🧡

Keep it crafty and stay sparkly,

’Til next time,
Julie ✂️✨

P.S. Go ahead and give that QR code a little tap (or scan it with your phone—either way works like a charm!) and come join our Facebook crafty community. It’s a cozy little corner of the internet where inspiration flows, ideas are shared, and creative hearts connect. We’d absolutely love to welcome you in! 💬🎨

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