Loll's Mixed Media Twelve Tags of Christmas

It is on again! The Christmas Tag Event you have been waiting for. Loll Thompson has an annual event to encourage you to make Christmas Tags. I am honoured to be a Guest Designer again. Last year was a huge success and I know this one will be as well.

Your tags must be Mixed Media which is defined as 

stamps + ink, plus two other elements which add texture and/or dimension.

The inspiration tags by the designers will be showcased from the 4th-15th of November and the linky will remain open until the 22nd November so it gives you plenty of time to enter.

There are plenty of prizes up for grabs to - check out this line up!

Winner - $40 gift certificate from STAMPlorations

Top Three - $20 gift certificate each from STAMPlorations

Random Draw - $20 gift certificate from Happy Little Stampers

Random Draw - One Christmas stamp set from Dee's Artsy Impressions

Ok! On to my tag -

I had a LOT of fun making this tag. I really don't make tags but I loved how this turned out.

Here are the steps to make this tag -

1. Using the backing cardboard from a Stampin' Up DSP pack, die cut your tag (this made the tag nice and sturdy to start with).

2. Cover with gesso and let dry.

3. In the meantime, die cut poinsettia. Paint with white acrylic paint and sprinkle Stampendous Frantage Embossing Enamel (Shabby White) and heat set.

4. Sponge leaves with distress ink. Emboss with clear powder.

5. Assemble the poinsettia with glossy accents. Add pearls (from HLS) to the center.

6. Cover the tag with pink ink using an acrylic dabber (Ranger Pink Sherbet) and let dry.

7. Emboss background stamp in white powder.

8. Dab white acrylic paint around two corners and emboss with Shabby White enamel.

9. Add some lace on an angle and then adhere the poinsettia.

10. The finishing touch is the bakers twine (Gold flecked) from Happy Little Stampers Shop.

I do have an embossing dabber but I found that using acrylic paint really allows the Frantage to stick nicely to my project and then I get less 'flyaways' when trying to heat the enamel.

Here is a close up of my poinsettia -

I love the pink, gold and touches of green together. Non-traditional Christmas colours are the best!

I hope I have encouraged you to play along with Loll's Twelve Tags of Christmas. There is going to be amazing inspiration for you so make sure you check back each day to see the Designers.

Today also marks a new challenge over at Happy Little Stampers!

I am going to link up over there :)

Also at Time Out the theme is Christmas with option pink and/or purple.

Thanks so much for looking xx

HLS November Christmas Card Challenge

Hello! Ready for a new Christmas Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers?

Here is our word you need to use for this months challenge -

You can make a Christmas tag or incorporate a tag onto your card :)

We have a wonderful guest designer with us for this challenge - Bonnie from Stamping with Klass. Welcome!

I decided to create a tag -

I die cut my tag from a piece of DSP cardboard backing. This makes the tag nice and strong. I then die cut a piece of kraft paper and glued it to the tag. 

I masked off the lower portion with a piece of painters tape and used true snow and a stencil to create my background in the upper portion.

I embossed the script stamp from the HLS Thinking of You set onto some gold paper and die cut out some trees. I found some christmas paper in my stash, glued it to the bottom portion then popped up my trees with foam squares. Lastly, I embossed Peace from the HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments set.

My last part was tying up some Gold Flecked Bakers Twine - finished!

Our lucky winner for this challenge will win the Butterfly Birthday set from Happy Little Stampers -

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges -

Thanks so much for looking.

STAMPlorations Monthly Challenge

Hi dear followers!

We have a brand new challenge over at STAMPlorations and we want you to create something using

Layers aren't my 'thang'. But this is why we call a challenge a challenge!

Instead of trying to layer lots of papers, I decided to layer inks and stamps to create a vintage looking Christmas Tag.

I used a Tim Holtz tag die and sponged Antique Linen, Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed around the edges. Then I used another piece of the plasterboard tape as a little stencil. I stamped the Christmas Block with Gathered Twigs and added some die cut snowflakes popped up on foam squares.

I have to say that the colours in this photo aren't exactly flattering. The yellows are much deeper.

I have been totally inspired to make Tags thanks to Loll. The only thing I hate about them taking a photo. Blah!

For this challenge we are welcoming Lee-Anne as our Guest Designer - here is a little bit about her:

“I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Bryan, for 39 years. He is so supportive of my stamping and a major enabler (thank heavens!). We have one awesome son, Geoff, who’s a computer guru. I rely on him a lot for keeping my computer system in tip top shape! And, we have a beautiful Border Collie, named Kizzy, who is my constant companion. We make Regina, Saskatchewan our home. The stamping bug bit me about 30 years ago (yes I know...that’s a long time ago...gasp!). A family friend owned a commercial stamp business and started carrying some basic stamping supplies. He provided a demo on heat embossing and I was hooked! I continually experiment with different types of designs and products and love to design CAS designs. However, there are lots of other styles I dabble in. Thanks so much, Shery and the rest of the DT, for this awesome opportunity! I am so honored.”

The STAMPlorations team are very excited about the upcoming release where we will be showcasing all the new stamps via a blog hop. Pencil it in, ladies, you don't want to miss it!

I would like to enter my tag into

Time Out photo inspiration - I made this tag very last minute and this photo was very inspiring with the warm colours that I tried to duplicate on my tag.

Loll's Christmas Tag event (sponsored by STAMPlorations!)

Craft Ribbons Challenge - Christmas Creation with Ribbon

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATCAS {TAG} & 500th Post Celebrations

Hi everyone, I hope I have found you well today!

I have a couple of things to share with you today. First, the challenge over at ATCAS has been going for nearly a week now but I have only just been able to post my DT project.

Second, this is my 500th Post! That has to be a reason to celebrate and give away a prize!

Let me show you what I have come up with for ATCAS and then we will come back to how you can win something ;)

Here is the code word that was chosen by the super talented Vicki

I created a card and tag combination -

I inked up a Hero Arts set that I have never used before. Hmm, I think it is called Reindeers. It has these cute trees which I have embossed with blue powder. The sentiment is from STAMPlorations and is called Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year. 

I was completely inspired by Loll's tag using Drywall tape (we call it plasterboard here) that I popped into the hardware store and bought some! Thanks Loll!

Here is my matching tag.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Less Is More - Non Traditional Colour Christmas Card

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional Holiday Thanks

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges -

Loll's Mixed Media Christmas Tag Challenge (my entry is just for fun)

Aud Sentiments - put your sentiment on a tag

Red rubber Inspirationals - Tag You're it

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Now, onto the prize for joining in the celebrations for my 500th post.

Some of you may be aware that I am now creating personal watermarks and signatures. To win both a personal watermark for your projects and signature for your blog, just display my business card on your blog and comment below to let me know you have done it! Easy!

This prize is worth $40 US.

Thanks so much for looking today xx

Twelve Tags of Christmas

Hello! Well, the big day is getting closer - have you got all your Christmas cards/tags ready to go?

If you need more tags then you definitely need to check out what is going on over at Loll's blog. 

Loll contacted me quite some time ago and asked if I would participate in her 

and of course I said YES!!!

The challenge run until the 17th of November and there are daily Guest Designers joining Loll with creating tags to inspire you.

I had only made one tag before in my life prior to making this one so it was really fun to do this and especially for Christmas.

Here is my tag

I used a Tim Holtz tag die and started by embossing a script stamp with white powder. Then I went to town using different Distress Inks to blend over the top.

I used a spellbinder label die and SU sentiment embossed in white and continued with sponging ink over this.

The little holly and berries are from Impression Obsession.

A little bakers twine finished this off.

I hope I have inspired you to join along in Loll's tag event. It will be great to see you there. A huge thank you to Loll for organising this fun event and for asking me to be one of her designers!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Mixed Media Tag

Hi everyone! I would like to share a tag with you. It's the first ever tag I have made. I don't have any tag dies or ready made tags, so I cut my own. Loll was very lovely in letting me know the dimensions that she uses (she is always so generous and sharing). I decided to make my first one a little bigger than usual just so I could get the 'feel' of what I was doing.

Here it is -

Let me tell you how this was done. 

The base was cut to 16cm x 8cm. I dropped some different alcohol inks onto a transparency and added a bit of alcohol blending fluid. I moved the sheet around to get a blobby mess and then pressed my cardstock on top.. (I have used this technique before but usually use glossy cardstock). I then inked up a background stamp (En Francais) with Sahara Sand (SU!) and pressed it straight over the top. 

Out came the texture paste again! This time I used a stencil that the amazing Loll sent me for my birthday (one of three!). I love the effect it has given this tag.

Here you can see the script stamp a little better.

I created another blobby mess with my alcohol inks so I could stamp my butterflies onto it. These butterflies are from the SU! Papillon Potpourri set. The have co-ordinating punches too.

I used a brush to flick some ink all over the tag. 

I then used the sentiments from the Artful Flutters (STAMPlorations) set to finish it off.

I used a hole punch for the top and added the black ribbon.

I didn't 'edge' the corners. I liked the rectangle look for this one. 

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges -

Melonheadz - Tag or Bookmark

Thanks so much for looking xx