Christmas Crackers, Bird on Branch, Female

I don't know about you, but sometimes I know exactly what it is I want to make.  

Other times, it's a design or a picture/colour palette that inspires me...  

...  and then there are those times when it's the blog challenge itself that 'sparks' my creativity.

  This was one of those times.  

You'll notice that I've made two of these.  

Both exactly the same, except that...

 ...  the acetate one is purely decorative.

 (A Christmas decoration or cutlery/napkin holder to 'dress' the table on Christmas day)...

...  whereas the silver one could actually be used as a fully functioning Christmas cracker or as packaging for a small Christmas gift. 

Dies used:

Tonic Studios 'Christmas Cracker and Sentiment' 

Memory Box 'Twigs and Berries'

Memory Box 'Holly Vine'

Memory Box 'Woodland Branch'

Memory Box/Open Studio 'Finnegan Fronds'

Other:

Sheena Douglas/Festive 'Snowfall'

Gesso (White)

Black Jewel Embellishments

These Christmas crackers were specifically made to join in with the latest Memory Box challenge...

Other challenges I'm entering...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(Both crackers are made entirely from my snippets stash)

Simon Says/Wednesday Challenge

That's Crafty Challenge Blog

As You Like It

(Favourite Traditional Christmas Colours and Why)

I adore the harmony of putting red, green, white and dark brown together.

Bunny Zoe's Crafts

(Sparkle)

Sparkles Christmas Challenges

(Challenge #59 'Die Cuts for Christmas')

Many thanks to those of you who have been kind enough to 'follow' me or who regularly stop by to read my blog and leave a comment.  It's been lovely getting to know you all over this past 10 months or so.

I apologise for not being quite so active lately.  

I've been recently diagnosed with something called Histamine Intolerance and it's been making me miserable.  I spend most of my time feeling 'rough' with the various side effects of trying new foods only to realise my body simply can't tolerate them and I lost quite a lot of weight in the 'clean' diet phase...  but hopefully things will improve.

Happy Christmas. 

Donna... 

Acetate Tag, Flower on Branch, Female

Hi... 

Not long to go now until Christmas.  

I wonder how you are doing with it all...  the preparations, the gift buying, the card writing, etc...  Do you enjoy it all?  I know that there are those of you who plan ahead, those who endure but enjoy and those of you who would just rather not...   

Whichever category you best fit into, I hope it goes ok :)

Anyhow...  It's my turn to share my DT tag with you all today for the latest challenge at 

Tag You're It. 

I chose something with maximum impact but minimal effort - or at least that was my intention!

No inks, no embossing.  Just some simple die cuts (I layered up the branch 3 or 4 times for added durability and used a molding tool for the flower), embellishments (Dew Drops), ribbon and paper string...  all arranged on an acetate tag.

Yes, I know...  more acetate!  I do love working with this stuff, but it's such a beast to cut!

In my defence...  this was actually the first acetate tag I ever made. 

That was way back in early July of this year...  but I wasn't scheduled to post it until today 

so I opted for a 'non festive' design, knowing full well that by this stage Christmas tags would be in abundance and you may just possibly be planning ahead to a birthday or even a wedding for early next year. 

It does have an early Spring 'feel' to it, don't you think?

Dies used...

Memory Box 'Woodland Branch'

Memory Box 'Fabulous Phlox'

Impression Obsession 'Cattails and Dragonflies'

Spellbinders 'Deckled Rectangles'

In a future post I'll show you the other design ideas I had in mind and how I 'tweaked' them into very different looking tags...  despite using the same dies and layout.  

I don't think I'll ever get tired of how such small, simple changes can make such a huge difference to a design.

Challenges I'm entering...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(Other than the ribbon, string and Dew Drops it's all made from my snippets stash)

Simon Says/Wednesday Challenge

That's Crafty

Others on the Tag You're It Design Team have created their own versions of this tag.

Please visit their blogs and see for yourself...  and then if you can, come and play!

I know that we are all busy right now...

so my heartfelt thanks goes out to anyone who can make or find the time to play along with this challenge.   

I love seeing the 'regular' faces who play along each time (Thank You)...  but I would also love to meet anyone new out there who wants to join in with us.  

After all, there would be no Tag You're It challenge if it wasn't for people like you :)

Wherever you are at this week, I wish you a peaceful time.

Take care...

Donna.