Wednesday 25 November 2015

Double Acetate Christmas Tag , Pink Flowers on Tree, Female

Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event is still running right now, and I have to confess...  I have been having so much fun playing along! 

I remember gift tags were always something I loved as a child.  They're the real focal point of a gift when you can't (or aren't allowed) to open it up there and then.   
I used to keep hold of the tags I really loved, and although I honestly don't know what happened to them after a few days...  (I suspect my mother threw them away)...  it's a memory that has always stayed with me.
Maybe that's why I'm so fond of making them?

Anyhow...

The tag I've made to show you all today ties in to Day 8 of the event.  
It's a real 'girly, girly' tag, isn't it?  Probably best suited to a young girl...  or a young girl at heart :) 




Punches used:
EK Success 'Christmas Tree'
Carl/CarlaCraft 'Flower Pot'

Dies:
Memory Box 'Cosmic Star Set'

Embossing Folder:
Sheena Douglas / Festive 'Snowfall'

Other:
DoCrafts 'Mini Daisy Shaped Buttons' (Parkstone Pink)
Gesso (White)
Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Walnut Stain'
Twine
Raffia
Embroidery Thread
Mini Wooden Peg 


I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the smaller stars were attached to the embossed under layer of this double tag.  It just adds to the dimension a little and breaks up the focus so it's not so 'crowded'...   
And as for this embossing folder...  I just adore it.  It's been specifically made for use with acetate and gesso.

Just before you take a peek at the tag I used for inspiration this time around, I will state as I did for my last acetate tag (just in case you haven't read that post) that I have punched out an additional tree shape and glued it behind so that you have somewhere to write on.


Here's a picture of the tag I used for inspiration...




It has a lovely 'homespun' feeling to it, don't you think?


Challenges I'm entering...

(As the Acetate and Green, Kraft and Silver Card are all from snippets)













There are a few days left if you are hoping to play along...

'Bye for now...

Donna

Friday 20 November 2015

Acetate Tag, Christmas 'Drop' Ornament, Female

It's time for another challenge at Tag You're It, and this time it's Tracey's turn to inspire us all...
But before you read on and see her tag for this challenge, I have something I'm going to tell you.

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE red, green and white/near white colour combinations (throw in brown as well and I'm in colour heaven), so it would have been so easy for me to just go with those colours and have a lovely time...  but every once in a while a girl needs to 'dip her toe' in other directions. 

So I've come up with a design that's very...   'rustic' looking, shall we say?

I would say 'not my usual style', but as pretty much everything I make is still an experiment of some kind I'm not really sure I have a style as yet!!!

Anyhow...  Here's my tag...




Before you say anything, I am aware that the stamping on the word 'Blessings' is not even throughout...  the 'E' is a little bit squiffy at the bottom and the 'GS' has obviously had more pressure applied to it than the rest...  
Normally I would have discarded this straight away, stamping and restamping if needs be...  
But do you know what?  
I decided that it didn't matter as it was all still perfectly readable and somehow suited the 'feel' of this tag.  Do you think I'm crazy?     


Now, just take a look at Tracey's design (below).  
Those beautiful, vibrant colours, the classic ornament shape with the word 'joy', the holly, bells tied on with thread... 
My tag looks nothing like that, I know...   
But it should be obvious (I hope) which parts I chose to keep true to Tracey's design...  and if it isn't I shall go find a quiet corner to sit in and have a good cry!




Dies used:
Memory Box 'Drop Ornament'
Papertrey Ink 'Wet Paint Holiday Die'
Impression Obsession 'Twig Wreath Die Set'
Lifestyle Crafts 'Basket'  (cut down portion of the handle has the word 'Blessings' stamped onto it)

Other:
Stampin' Up 'Ornament' Punch
Papertrey Ink 'Wet Paint Holiday Stamp Set'
Corrugated Card (Recycled Packaging)
Texture Paste
Twine
Bell


For those of you wondering where you are supposed to write anything on this tag, I have punched out a second 'ornament' shape from Kraft card and stuck it on the back...  although truth be told I'm not sure as yet if I'm going to use this as a tag or put it to one side and use it as the main focus on a Christmas card.


You may be aware that Tracey has been running her 


This tag was also made to tie into that challenge (Day 19 of the event)...

... and as I've used snippets of green, black and silver...  and corrugated Kraft and acetate offcuts... I'm also linking this to my friends over at 


(remaining open until 22/11/2015)
As ink has only been used for stamping I'm not sure this one counts as Mixed Media?














If you can, come and join us...

...  we would love to see you stop by :)  

Donna



Monday 16 November 2015

Large Christmas Tag, Pine Branch, Male/Female

I hope you've had a chance to play along with Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event...  but if you haven't as yet the good news is there is still time to join in.  If you want to, of course :)

My entry for today ties in with a tag that featured on Day 5 of the event.  I took one look at that tag and I knew exactly what I wanted to do...  I just didn't know how huge it would end up being!!!

Here's my tag...




It didn't have the bird on it initially...  or the paint splatters.  They were the parts of the design that I had to think on once my initial idea was mapped out.

Oh yes...  and one quick note to my readers.  This is NOT a green Robin!!!
My husband had mean things to say about this bird that I shall not repeat.  All I will say is that there are plenty of other birds who struggle through Winter...    not just pretty Robins.  Enough said!!!

This tag (below) is the one that inspired me to play along...




Other than the pine cones hanging off the branch (I echoed the dimension using Collall 3D Glue Gel), the only other details I've mirrored are the splatter background and the three Christmas embellishments in place of the three jewel embellishments.
(PS...  I purposefully invested in the Tim Holtz 'Splatter Brush' for the splatter effect and was not disappointed). 


Dies used:
Memory Box/Open Studio 'Finnegan Fronds'
Memory Box 'Distressed Tag'
Papertrey Ink 'Library Card Tag'

Stamp:
Penny Black 'Nature's Gift'

Other:
Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Walnut Stain'
Tim Hoktz Distress Ink 'Peeled Paint'
Tim Holtz Distress Paint 'Picket Fence'
Metal Embellishments and Elasticated Cord from stash
Black Jewel embellishment

I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I've also used a sheet of Tim Holtz 'Kraft Core' from his 'Shattered' collection for my largest tag die cut.  It just adds a little 'extra' something visually that doesn't involve any work on my part.
Ssshhh....  Don't tell!!!

Other challenges I'm entering...







(Bird and White Tag cut from snippets)




(Favourite Hobby and Why)...
Mine's making tags, or cards...  or gift bags or boxes.
Why?
It keeps my mind occupied and is helping me to 'mend'.  
Long story, but if you want to know more read my 'About Me' tab section on my blog.  


(Challenge #388 'Birds/Animals'


Week #337 'Anything But A Card'


(FM 234 'Baby It's Cold Outside'/Winter Theme)


(November Challenge 'Anything Christmas'





(CCC 05 'Precious Metals')


(Anything Goes)



I hope you have a good week...
AND
Thanks for stopping by...  I really do appreciate it.

Donna...

Thursday 12 November 2015

Christmas 'Drop' Ornament Tag, Holly & Berry, Female

I'm jumping out of order with this post as it ties in to Day 6 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event.

Here's my design for today...




...  and once again, it's Tracey's tag (below) that has inspired me to play along.





I've stuck fairly closely to Tracey's design idea's this time around. 

The ornament shape is similar, but rather than add a sentiment on top I've cut into my tag to create an aperture.
 Then it was simply a case of stamping a sentiment onto a scrap of acetate and mounting that behind the front tag piece, adding a scrap of scripted pattern paper (for visual interest) and then adding a white tag behind before sandwiching it all together to neaten it up.

 I also added in the mismatched holly leaves.  
(Thanks for sharing, Tracey.  I never would have thought of that)!

As you can see, I went for a stitched button die with Glossy Accents instead of bells, but all in all...  still quite similar, I think.


Dies used:
Memory Box 'Drop Ornament'
Spellbinders (Nestabilities) 'Small Circle'
Quickutz 'Holly'
Poppystamps 'Stitched Holly Leaves and Berries'
Poppystamps 'Stitched Buttons'


Other:
Cuttlebug 'Snow' Embossing Folder
Crafter's Companion 'Christmas in Mulberry Wood' Stamp
Centura Pearl Cardstock
Acetate
Glossy Accents
Backing Paper
Silver Thread

I'm also adding this to Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge as once again, it's a whole tag made from snippets...




...  and as Happy Little Stampers still have their Christmas Tag challenge running I'll add it to that, too ...



...  and 





I'll post more tags for Christmas next week.

Thanks for stopping by...

Donna.

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Christmas Tag, 'Bauble', Female

I had a rare 'I like that' comment from my husband when he saw this tag that I made to link in to Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event.  And I really do mean rare!
I have to admit though...  I do quite like it, myself.  
It reminds me of a Christmas bauble :)

Here's my tag.  
I'm linking this one to Day 2 of Tracey's event...




...  and here's Tracey's tag (below).
 Gorgeous, isn't it?    
Can you see how I kept the birch background and snowdrift in place before adding in my own design features?




Dies used:
Die-Versions (Sweet Petites) 'House and Trees'
 Memory Box 'Large Snow Globe' 


Stencil:
Creative Expressions 'Birch Tree'

Other:
Crafter's Companion 'Christmas in Mulberry Wood' Stamp
Memento (Tsukineko) 'Olive Grove'
White Glitter Paper
Brown Card Stock
Sequins

This was my first time using my one and only Die-Versions die.  Do you know of any others that I should have in my stash?  
If you do, let me know...  if you have the time, of course :)

I've got one more tag to post later on this week...   and then hopefully some more next week.  
Yay for tags!  They are such fun to make...  Seriously they are.

Oh yes...  (and I haven't nearly forgotten this time)!!!

As the whole of this tag was made from my snippets stash, I'm off to go and play at 




...  and a new challenge to me...
(I'm not 100% sure this qualifies as I'm not clear if I should only be using HLS products.  Hopefully somebody will let me know)!!!



...  and 





Won't you come and play, too?

Donna.

Monday 9 November 2015

Christmas Tag (Folding), Poinsettia, Female

I wonder what this week has in store for you?
For me, it's plenty of errands early on in the week, household chores...  but none of that is what I want to be doing.  
I want to make more Christmas tags!!!

Did you know that Tracey (inmycreativeopinion.blogspot.co.uk) has her 25 Days of Christmas Tags event running right now?  If you didn't, where have you been?
There are prizes up for grabs, so there's no excuse not to find some motivation to play along...  Wouldn't you agree?

Here's my first tag that I'm linking to Tracey's event...




...  and here's the tag  (below) that I chose from Day 1 to play along with...




Dies used:
Waltzingmouse 'Folding Tag'
Quickutz 'Poinsettia'
Memory Box 'Twigs and Berries'

Other:
Memento 'Tuxedo Black' Ink
Burlap
White Brad
Black Button

I'll be posting more Christmas tags over the coming days and weeks!
Hopefully you may see something here that inspires you to play along, too :)

'Bye for now...

Donna


PS.  Almost forgot to say...  As the poinsettia and leaves were cut from my snippets stash I'm entering this little make into Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge.




Why don't you come and play, too?