Christmas Tags, the Aftermath... and a Card!

While there are still a few more days to comment or make tags, for me Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags is essentially done. But I thought it would be fun to show just what almost a month of tag-making looks like... 

I think I have more than enough tags for the upcoming season. 😂 
Without tags, I had time to get back to Christmas card making! Jingle Belles' current challenge, "Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding", wants to see festive food on our projects. In stamp form, not sloppy eating. Here's mine: 

That may even be a figgy pudding in my grouping of traditional holiday treats! It's some kind of traditional Christmas pudding, at any rate. There's also Christmas cake (I'm a fan, although I don't need the marzipan icing) and a yule log. I made mine chocolate. All treats are coloured with Copic markers for Kathy Racoosin's The Daily Marker 30 Day colouring challenge. I'm also going to add this to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge. 

         

Supplies: Neenah white & Recollections dark red cardstock, Pink and Main Sweet Christmas stamps & dies, Versafine onyx black & Colorbox Kismet inks, Ranger clear & Hero Arts sparkle embossing powder, Copic markers, MFT stitched rounded rectangle die, Gelly Roll white gel pen, foam tape

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25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 26!

Hooray, I'm back! With a tag, that is. I know Tracey McNeely calls it the 25 Days of Christmas Tags event, but we've got a bonus 26th day today! Our final guest and sponsor is A Jillian Vance Design. 

Jillian and her mom sent the tag team a couple of sweet stamp sets to work with. I managed to incorporate a few different stamps on this final tag for the event: 

Why yes, I did manage to use three different embossing powders on the bell image. :D This Christmas embossing powder does not come out too often, but I thought it would be fun for the main body of the jingle bell. Then I inked the outline over top in black with clear embossing powder, and lastly added the red glitter bow. (Next time, I would be more likely to just use silver ink with the black stamped over top and emboss them together, but this was fun to try.) Even though I was pretty sure the embossing would resist, it was easy to cut a circle mask to cover the bell while I added the music notes to the tag base. To finish, I added the red topper. 

But wait, there's more! I decided to make this a tag that opens, this time with the fold on the back tag: 

I used a stitching die where I wanted the fold to be, matching the stitching on the tags themselves. 

I even added a bit of stamping to the back of the tag: 

And there you have it... the very last day of Tracey's tag event. If you're still making tags and/or commenting on designers' blogs, don't worry, you still have a few days before things wind down and Tracey announces the winners. Thanks for joining us on this tag-making journey, and thanks to Tracey for organizing this amazing month of creativity! 

Thanks, too, to these amazing sponsors!

Supplies: Neenah white & Stampin' Up real red cardstock, A Jillian Vance Design Jingle All the Way & To & From stamps, Versamark, Versafine onyx black & Stampin' Up real red inks, Ranger clear, Zing red glitter & Christmas silver embossing powders, CUTplorations manila tag & Paper Smooches stitched dies, twill ribbon, glitter cord, $ store jingle bells

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25 Days of... Oh No!

I am tagless today. 😭 Sadly, Canadian postal disruptions have left me empty-handed for supplies to make tags for today's guest and sponsor at Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags, Hello Bluebird. So instead, I've made a couple more Christmas cards! 
Somehow, for all of my Christmas card making, ABC Christmas Challenge has flown under my radar until now. But a friend let me know that they are currently looking for new design team members (thanks, Carol!) and so I'm joining in now! 

The current challenges are W is for Wishes and X is for Xmas. I've made one for each. First, my Xmas card: 

I made a galaxy sky background using a number of distress inks. It's also spritzed and spattered with shimmer mists and white acrylic paint. My reindeer is watercolored with distress ink for Kathy Racoosin's The Daily Marker 30 Day colouring challenge. I couldn't resist giving him a red nose with Nuvo glitter drops - it also gave me an excuse to add a red sentiment and card base. 

Next up is my wishes card:

I used a Hero Arts layering wreath with three different green inks. The scoring, I hope, subtly suggests a door frame. The wreath is decorated with red, gold and silver confetti sequins and a die cut bow. The red foil cardstock? A dollar store find! 

I am back tomorrow with the last day of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags! (Yes, there are actually 26 days. 😉) Hope to see you back here then! 

Supplies: (merry xmas) Neenah white, CTMH navy & Stampin' Up real red cardstock, Canson watercolour paper, STAMPlorations Christmas Reindeer stamps & dies, PinkFresh Studio Christmas Wishes stamp, Versamark, Stampin' Up real red & many distress inks, Ranger clear, Hero Arts sparkle & Wow superfine white embossing powder, Tsukineko clear sparkle shimmer mist, Claudine Hellmusth blank canvas acrylic paint, white confetti Perfect Pearls, CUTplorations stitched snow hills & MFT blueprints 24 stitched rectangle dies, foam tape; (warmest wishes) Neenah white, Stampin' Up real red & $ store red foil cardstock, Hero Arts Colour Layering Wreath stamps, Versamark, Memento bamboo leaves, Simon Says Stamp green leaf, Stampin' Up garden green & real red inks, Hero Arts sparkle embossing powder, Paper Smooches baby bow die, Studio Katia classic Christmas confetti, Martha Stewart scoring board

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25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 24

November is winding down, and so is Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags! Today we are showcasing Sunny Studio Stamps.

I have been looking for the perfect Santa and his sleigh silhouette for a long time, and now, thanks to Sunny Studio, I've got one! 

My black glitter embossing powder is so sparkly and shiny, this was hard to photograph! I hadn't made a galaxy sky background in a long time, so out came the distress inks before embossing the trees and Santa. I couldn't decide quite what I wanted for a sentiment, but then I found this bit of flair. Also shiny and hard to photograph, but it says, "'twas the night before Christmas". 

And yes, I have a second tag... (I may need an intervention!) 

I don't know why I couldn't get my ink-smooshed background to photograph properly (other than general lack of ability, of course), so you'll have to trust me that the background is blue, not grey. Another happy acquisition to my supplies is this little bird die — I always like the pop of a red bird on a winter card or tag. The beautiful birch trees are an added bonus, as are the deer dies that didn't make it onto this tag. I couldn't find a stamped sentiment that worked to my liking, so a bit of patterned paper did the job for me. 

As Tracey says... do you want to win a prize? All the info is to be had on her blog, along with lots of inspiration from the Sunny Studio team and our tag team! 

Our amazing sponsors! 

Supplies: ('twas the night) Neenah white cardstock, Sunny Studio Here Comes Santa stamps, Versamark & a whole bunch of distress inks, Ranger black sparkle embossing powder, Tsukineko sparkle shimmer spray, Claudine Hellmuth blank canvas acrylic paint, CUTplorations manila tag die, Basic Grey Aspen Frost flair, Mara Mi & May Arts ribbon; (noel) Neenah white, Papertrey Ink smokey shadow & Stampin' Uo real red cardstock, Teresa Collins Noel patterned paper, tumbled glass, milled lavender & salty ocean distress inks, Sunny Studio rustic winter & CUTplorations manila tag dies, Studio Katia iridescent ice flakes, May Arts ribbon, Hemptique baker's twine

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25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 23

Happy Friday! Are you Black Friday shopping? Before you do, I hope you will check out Day 23 of Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags. Today we welcome Lil' Inker Designs as our guest and sponsor. 

I lasted 23 days before I made my one annual shaker tag! 

Shaker tags (or cards)... admire those made by others, not a fan of making them. Yet as I looked over my Lil' Inker collection, this idea wouldn't go away. I cut the photo frame both from cardstock and fun foam, as well as a solid cardstock and a patterned paper rectangle of the same dimensions. On the patterned paper I stamped and embossed the trees before adding s white cardstock slope. (Pro tip: paper layers tend to catch sequins...) From red cardstock, I cut the sentiment. I used a combination of silver sequins and iridescent stars for the shaker element. 

Be sure to visit Tracey's blog for lots of tag inspiration, as well as everything you need to know about how to participate... and perhaps win a prize! 

Check out our great sponsors!

Supplies: Neenah white & Stampin' Up real red cardstock, Close to My Heart Rough and Tumble patterned paper, Lil' Inkers Jolly & Joyful stamps, Versamark ink, Wow ultrafine white embossing powder, Lil' Inkers Instant Camera, Jingle Joy, Gift Bow Topper & Paper Smooches Borders 1 dies, Little Things from Lucy's Cards iridescent stars, Darice silver sequins, Hemptique cord, fun foam

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Seize the Birthday... and TAGS?

Welcome to another Seize the Birthday challenge! Imagine my reaction when I realized what the optional *topping* was for this challenge...

TAGS!!! If you've been around this blog at all lately, you will know that I have been making at least one tag every day for the entire month! (I'm pretty sure I know who came up with this challenge theme, and I plan to speak with her about it. :P) If you decide to enter this challenge, you can choose to skip the option. I felt I should comply, however, and here's what I came up with:

About as far away from a Christmas tag as I could get. ;) I found four colours of scrap cardstock that went with this fun patterned paper, cut my tags, and embossed the letters and number in holographic embossing powder, which is much more effective in real life than I can capture in a photograph. I was even able to find the four colours of twine to match the tags, then added a few sparkly flower sequins for a little more interest. 

It's always a good idea to add another birthday card or two to your stash, so why not come and play along with us? Be sure to check out the fun tag-related inspirations of the rest of the team, as well as current surprise party guest, Marianne. Of course, you could also check out my early morning Christmas tag post... :P 

Supplies: Neenah white, Stampin' Up basic black & scrap coloured cardstock, American Crafts Hip Hip Hooray patterned paper, Maya Road Retro 80s Alphabet & (?) number stamps, Versafine onyx black ink, holographic embossing powder, MFT wonky stitched rectangle & Sizzix tag dies, Studio Katia dazzling celery petals, icicle Stickles, scrap baker's twine, foam tape

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25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 22

Here we are at Day 22 of Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags! Waffle Flower is our guest and sponsor today.

I was starting to notice that my tags have been lacking in a couple of areas... cats and music. Waffle Flower gave me the chance to fix that! 

Dancing cats! These two cuties are from a set called Hello, while the sentiment is from A Homemade Christmas. My little kitties are coloured with Copic markers for Kathy Racoosin's The Daily Marker 30 Day colouring challenge. 

While the stamps were out, I made another quick tag:

I can't be sure that the very small line and the hook were meant to be used to turn this joy stamp into an ornament, but it certainly worked for me. I may have been a little less careful than usual when I embossed the ornament in sparkly embossing powder, so I simply dabbed some Stickles on the panel to make it glittery all over. 

Lots more festive inspiration on Tracey's blog today, and of course everything you need to know about joining us to put yourself in the running to win a prize from one of the generous sponsors below. 

Supplies: (merriest wishes) Neenah white & Stampin' Up real red & garden green cardstock, Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas patterned paper, Waffle Flower Hello & A Handmade Christmas stamps & dies, Versamark, Versafine onyx black & Catherine Pooler grass skirt ink, Wow/Catherine Pooler Wanderlust embossing powder, Copic markers, CUTplorations stitched tag, Memory Box mini holly leaves & Paper Smooches stitched dies, May Arts ribbon, Hemptique red & silver baker's twine, foam tape; (joy) Neenah white & scrap red cardstock, Waffle Flower A Homemade Christmas stamps, Versamark, Versafine onyx black, Catherine Pooler rockin' red & grass skirt inks, Wow gold & Wow/Catherine Pooler wanderlust embossing powder, MFT Blueprints 24 stitched circle & Spellbinders scalloped circle dies, small one hole punch, icicle Stickles, Offray ribbon, May Arts twine

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25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 21

Wednesday! Day 21 of Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event, and what better way to face hump day than with the cuteness of today's sponsor and guest, Lawn Fawn! 

For me, Lawn Fawn stamps are the epitome of cute, without going overboard into cutesy... if you know what I mean. They also offer some really innovative dies! My first tag uses the festive set, Holiday Helpers: 

I thought the Cheers sentiment would be perfect for these two little elves to be toasting each other with their hot beverages. I stamped everything on a watercolour tag base, using Twinkling H2Os for the sky not only for some subtle shimmer, but also because it tends to *move* less once it has dried. That made it easier to watercolour the elves without worry that the colours would bleed. I added white glaze pen to the marshmallows, whipped cream, and their hats. Stickles make the snow sparkle. 

I couldn't stop there, not when Lawn Fawn had also sent their fun new bookmark sets! 

Could these be any cuter? (Truth be told, I say that about pretty much every new Lawn Fawn set.) The dies take all the work out of these fun bookmarks, although I'll happily take the credit when I give them with books this Christmas. :D Check out the reverse sides! 

While I was at it, I made a non-holiday one for an upcoming family birthday...

Sloth! 

Lots of colouring today for Kathy Racoosin's The Daily Marker 30 Day colouring challenge. 

I would have happily continued making things with these fun sets all day... but sometimes one has to return to real life. ;) For lots more cute inspiration, be sure to visit Tracey's blog, where you will also find everything you need to know about the different ways to participate, and perhaps win a prize! 

Our incredible sponsors!

Supplies: (cheers) Strathmore watercolour paper, Lawn Fawn Holiday Helpers stamps, Versamark & Versafine onyx black ink, Ranger clear & Wow ultrafine white embossing powder, Twinkling H2Os, Zig markers, CUTplorations manila tag die, Gelly Roll white glaze pen, icicle Stickles, May Arts ribbon; (bookmarks) Neenah white & scrap coloured cardstock, For You, Deer & Slow Dow & Enjoy stamps & dies, For You, Deer & Slow Down & Enjoy add-on dies, Versamark & Versafine onyx black inks, Ranger clear & Wow ultrafine white embossing powder, Copic markers, Lawn Fawn mistletoe lawn trimmings, Divine twine & Hemptique cord

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25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 20

It's Day 20 of Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags! For me, that means another month before I really panic about Christmas. :P At least I'll have lots of tags made. Today our guest and sponsor is CAS-ual Fridays Stamps! 

CAS-ual Fridays sent the design team a fun sentiment stamp from their Short and Sweet collection. I decided to go for a change of pace and pulled out my Perfect Pearls and some black cardstock: 

I also realized my tag buddy Joyce was getting way ahead of me in making wine tags! ;) This is biscotti Perfect Pearls, which on black gives a lovely pale gold sheen. Of course, once I had one successful tag made this way, I had to try another...

This time, confetti white Perfect Pearls, which in real life has a lovely silvery sparkle, so I matched my panel up with silver glitter paper as well as silver ribbon and elastic cord. 

Now I want to pull out every large Christmas sentiment I have and give them all the same treatment. :D

Lots more inspiration on Tracey's blog, where of course you'll also find everything you need to know about how to participate - and perhaps win a prize! Today you'll also find an extra little good news from CAS-ual Fridays, so don't miss out! 

Supplies: Stampin' Up basic black cardstock, American Crafts silver glitter paper, CAS-ual Fridays Most Wonderful stamp, Versamark ink, biscotti & confetti white Perfect Pearls, Avery Elle Cheers die, Mary-Uchida corner-rounding punch, May Arts silver ribbon, silver elastic cord

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