Tag You're It, Christmas In July

I like trying to find ways of getting Mixed Media and CAS to coexist together on a project, which meant a 'sentiment free' design from me today for the new challenge that started on Friday over on Tag You're It.






It's a simple enough design.

Choose three Christmas foliage branches, cover in Green Distress ink colours and once dry, coat using Holtz Collage Medium 'Crazing'.

Then lightly dab on some White acrylic paint (which will react with the green) to leave a speckled lighter colour once dry.

Layer up the three branches, coat them lightly with a glue of your choice and then sprinkle on some Flower Soft (Polar White).

Then add the three berries.  (Mine have been coloured using a mix of Red Memento Markers).
 Once dry, I've added highlights using a Uniball Signo White pen and then covered with Glossy Accents.



Assemble on to an oval die cut as shown.
(I've used an embossing folder for mine, then added a few spots of Black 'snow' (for contrast) followed by the three White snowflakes.



Add a twine bow and a hole for the hanging loop...  and you are finished!

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I hope you have time to join us...





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Donna. x
https://www.instagram.com/roominacupboard/?hl=en

Fabric Covered Christmas Tag, Noel, Poinsettia + Holly

I've made my very first fabric covered tag for Day 9 of Tracey's Christmas tag event...

...  I'd kind of forgotten that I even had this wide fabric ribbon (and I only bought it a few short months ago)!

Today's inspiration?

I think it's fairly evident that I was heavily inspired to use similar colours, patterns and textures - don't you?

Keep that craft mojo going!

Donna. x

Mini Gift Bag & Tag Set, Christmas, (Poppystamps) Holly Twig

Do you ever look through the gallery when you add your submission to a craft challenge?

I do...  and it never fails to amaze me how so many people can all come up with different ideas for the same theme.

So with that in mind, I wonder if you can correctly guess the challenge theme just by looking at my photo's...

'Christmas' or 'Use Holly' would be my guesses I think...  or perhaps 'Make A Christmas Project That Isn't A Card'...  or 'Use Ribbon' even...



But did anyone get it right, I wonder?


Poppystamps
PSC#36


It's not obvious at first glance is it?
But actually I think I've got quite a few dots on my project...  it's just that a fair few of them are 'oh so subtle' that they are easy to ignore.

Unlike my 'Enamel Dots' for the berries or that Polka Dot Ribbon!


As this was fairly straightforward to make I haven't included many photo's today, but here's a quick 'how to' guide showing some of the steps...


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Using Iced Spruce and Hickory Smoke Distress Inks, decorate the front, back and side panels of a MFT Die-namics bag using the Memory Box 'Tiny Dots' stencil.

 Then add some lines front and back (using a scoreboard) before adding punch holes and a circle cut out.

(MFT Die-namics Stitched Circle STAX).

Cut out a piece of scrap acetate to size (big enough to cover over the circle yet small enough to comfortably fit inside the box.  Add Red Liner Tape 'round all the edges and attach to a piece of scrap plastic food netting.  (Mine's from Babybel Mini Cheese).

Glue this into place on the inside of the front panel and leave to dry thoroughly before assembling the bag.

To cover over the glue tabs showing on the inside back panel of the bag, cut out an additional front section only of the bag die from Matt Silver card stock and trim it down left, right, and bottom very slightly.   Don't forget to add the punch holes - not pictured!

And glue into place.

Using Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress Inks, add colour to the Poppystamps Holly Twig.  I layered mine up three times for durability before adding
my Glitter Red Enamel Dots.

Once dry, glue into place on the front of the bag...
and add the Polka Dot Ribbon.


(As you can see, I went on to make a tiny complimentary gift tag using the same basic idea - minus the netting but still including the acetate.  This gift tag is also made by Poppystamps - 1845 'Heart Taglet').


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Other Challenges I'm Entering...

NBUS Challenge #12
(First time using the Bag and the Holly Twig die).

Simon Says/Monday
Shimmer and Shine

So there you have it.

One tiny Christmas gift bag set.

Hope you like it.

Donna. x

Christmas Box, Wrapped Star, Kraft

Just a quick post today as, splints or not, I need to start catching up with you all on your Social Media platforms.

It's a 'Tattered Lace' box - decorated with one of the newest dies from the latest Poppystamps collection.  

I've used the 'Wrapped Star' here...  along with some 'Holiday Holly' from last year's release...  and I've also snuck in the Memory Box 'Snowdrift Breeze' on the silver panel.

This was an experiment to see if 'bling' could be achieved in a more 'au naturel' design.

Not my taste as I prefer things simpler...  but I've learned along the way that just because I don't like it doesn't mean that somebody, somewhere else won't.  

So I'll put it on my craft stall and see what happens.

We are all uniquely different, after all!!!

Here's a quick 'how to' recipe for how this was made - starting with the bottom layer...

Corrugated base with texture paste in corners.

Two rows of glitter ribbon added with red liner tape.

Some offset brown scraps of card that just peer off the edges a little.

An embossed, (Sheena Douglas 'Festive') matt silver square, with added detail from the Memory Box 'Snowdrift Breeze'.

Green, spotty Hemp ribbon - attached with Hot Glue.

Jute string in a random swirl.

Three of the 'Wrapped Stars' (cut from the same brown card as before) - not glued together identically so no matching inside lines!  These were sprayed with Silver Glitter spray, then had silver cord wrapped around the middle once dry...  

Add the bell to the star with string before gluing into place, then add water coloured (and varnished) leaves and a little jute bow.



This was made to play along with the latest Poppystamps Challenge...

Poppystamps
PSC #34

...  and as it also 'fits the bill' I'm entering it into this challenge, too!

Simon Says/Monday
You've Got The Edge

It's a wet and soggy day here today.  On the plus side...  at least the plants won't need watering!

Bye for now...

Donna. x

Circular Christmas Tag, Joy, Woodgrain

Once all of the layering up was done, this was a pretty simple tag to put together for Day 18 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags...

A quick spot of water colouring (markers scribbled on to an acrylic block, then painted on using water and a brush).  Set them to one side to dry.   Smoosh on some gilding wax to some woodgrain circles...  It really was that easy.

It's the fact that the die cuts have been layered up three times each that gives it dimension and some added visual interest.

Here's the tag I used for inspiration this time 'round...

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Circle Tags'

MFT/Die-namics 'Stitched Circle STAX'

Poppystamps 'Holly Leaf Branch'

Memory Box 'Sketchbook Joy'

Holtz/Distress Ink:

Forest Moss

Peeled Paint

Other:

Altenew 'Woodgrain Bark' Paper

Pebeo Gilding Wax - Silver

Bell

 Natural Twine

Sequins

That's it from me for now.

Off to go cook, then edit some more photo's whilst watching TV - ready to post tomorrow!

Thank you for enduring my marathon of tag creations...

Donna. x

Christmas Tag, Holly and Berry, A Gift From Me To You

This tag was made to play along with Day 1 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags...

It's very green, isn't it?

But then so is the tag it was inspired by...

As you can see, I've kept quite faithfully to the colour scheme on this one.  I've also included the holly and berries...  and the rick rack element and black text.

I've managed to make a tag (or two or three) for every day of this event so far...  I'm just woefully behind on posting them, so my posts will be short for the foreseeable future.

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Mama Elephant 'Tags A  Lot'

Crafter's Companion/Die'sire Essentials 'Oval Tags' 

Punch:

Woodware 'Holly Leaf' - large

Embossing Folder:

Sizzix Textured Impressions 'Rick Rack'

Inks:

Holtz/Distress 'Peeled Paint'

Memento/Tsukineko 'Tuxedo Black'

Ranger 'Perfect Medium'

Other:

Stamp from stash

Spectrum Noir AquaTints - Perfectly Primary 

Twine - Black and White

Button from stash

Raffia - Natural

Acetate 

That's it for today...  

Donna. x

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... 

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 

That's Crafty Challenge Blog

I'll post more tags for Christmas next week.

Thanks for stopping by...

Donna.

Folded Tag, Candy Cane, Male/Female

It's time for a new Tag You're It challenge, everyone...  and I have a little confession to make!

But before I do that, here's my tag...

... and here's Kara's tag that was used for inspiration this time around.

As for my confession?

I have never heard of, yet alone seen Candy Corn before.  I even double checked with my husband and he didn't have a clue either!  I guess it's just one of those things that hasn't made it over to the UK...  like the MISTI :(

Needless to say my daughter knew exactly what it was (she spends a lot of time online) and proceeded to tell me how it used to be available just for Halloween but now you can have it year 'round...  Is that right my American friends/passers by?

I wonder if you can make your own?

This doesn't tell you how I came up with my design, though, does it?  After all, I'm very aware it looks nothing like the original!

Well firstly, I made the jump from 'Candy Corn' to 'Candy Cane' as they are both edible, sweet and instantly recognisable - allegedly!  

Then I chose to do something I wouldn't normally do - I took a free illustration off the web as I couldn't find a candy cane stamp that I liked...  

Just printing an illustration off the web and sticking it down doesn't sit right with me though, so I printed off two copies, cut the red pieces out of the one, stuck them to the other and then mounted the whole thing onto card and cut it out again!

Then I used a deeper shade of red to colour over the red pieces on the candy cane and added on some extra lines here and there...  just to give it a bit more realism.

Kara's design has a lot of white space, one central image and four colours - if you include the black and white.  

I stuck to this design brief but brought Kara's outside edge pattern to the middle of my design.  The only way to do that without it looking cluttered was to use my Martha Stewart/All Over The Page 'Aspen Flurry' Punch, and then place a piece of black textured card behind.

The Stitched Holly Leaves (Memory Box) were used to bring the colour count back up to four.  Rather than use the berry that came with this set I cut a button from the Poppystamps 'Stitched buttons' die, put some Ranger 'Glossy Accents' on top and used that instead.

If you look really closely, can you see what else I did before gluing down the pieces?

I put my folded tag through my Cuttlebug with my Memory Box 'Shimmer' Stencil to add some subtle extra dimension to my mini make :) 

I'm beginning to realise that I love adding texture to my cards and tags!

Before I use this tag, I may 'bling it up' a little with some Christmas bells or charms.  I couldn't do that today though as Tag You're It is a Clean and Simple challenge!

I wonder what you will do with Kara's design if you chose to play along?

Donna...

PS...  I'm also adding this little tag to Pixie's Crafty Snippets Challenge as the holly, (berry) button and the piece of black backing card were all cut from my snippets collection :)

Hope you have a good weekend...

'Removable' Christmas Bauble Card, Holly, Female

Hello...

It's a rare sunny day here in the UK.  

We don't get very many of those here in the West Midlands and it's been feeling distinctively cold lately...  so this card fits in beautifully with the Christmassy, Wintery theme that in reality will soon be upon us.  

I could lie at this point and say something poetic about Autumn leaves or blankets of Winter snow...  but in truth, I DO NOT LIKE this time of year that's encroaching upon us.  It's not just the 'being cold' that's the issue...  it actually makes me feel ill.  Is there anybody else out there who's the same in that respect...  just not 'made' for being cold???

Anyhow...  this card's been sitting finished on my desk for a few days now whilst I finished up a 'thank you' card my husband asked me to make for a friend of his.

Can you see how this bauble hangs from the screw brad?

It's an idea I had a while ago...  the bauble's easily removed so the whole card can be reused as a separate tag at a later stage...  or possibly a hanging ornament somewhere?  I've glued five layers of the bauble base together and also layered up the holly, so it's durable enough for an upcycle/recycle.

Here's another picture.
This one's not so pretty, but it does show the embossed bauble that you really cannot see in the first photo...

Dies used...

Memory Box Drop Ornament

Memory Box Twigs and Berries (NBUS)

Penny Black Red and Greens (NBUS)

Embossing Folders...

Darice 'Tattered Page' (NBUS)

Leane Creatief 'Christmas Branch'

Punch...

Martha Stewart/All Over The Page 'Aspen Flurry'

Other...

Flower Soft 'Polar White'  (NBUS)

Acetate remnant (recycled) for bauble

I'm entering this card into the following challenges today...

Merry Monday #170 'Use Holly'

...  NBUS 'Anything Goes'...

...  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Use Greenery'

...  ABC Christmas Challenge 'Things beginning with 'R'

(Red Round berries and Ribbon)

...  and Winter Wonderland 'Anything but Square'

I am so thrilled to be a part of the latest NBUS challenge.  Darnell (NBUS creator) is one of those people who is simply like a breath of fresh air...  and her posts always leave me smiling.  That's a rare and wonderful gift...  and although I don't know her very well, I do treasure her for that.

Have a good week, everyone.

'Bye for now :)

Acetate Tag Card, Holly & Berry, Female

I'd never heard of the Merry Monday Christmas Card challenge until yesterday, but loved the look of it so much that I've squeezed in a last minute entry.

As there was no time for ink I focused instead on adding texture and dimension!

I think I'm happy with it, but alas...  I know myself well enough to realise than any project I make in just the space of four or five hours (yes, I'm a painfully slow crafter) will inevitably be looked at tomorrow with a 'if only I had...'  At this point I normally pull it apart and salvage the usable parts or sometimes just add to what's already there.  It's not tomorrow yet, so who knows...  maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised for a change!

Supplies used:

Dies:  Paper Smooches 'Stitched Tag', Impression Obsession 'Pine Branch'

Punch:  Woodware 'Single Holly Leaf'

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes'

Other:  Red Button,  Raffia (Natural),  Morning Dew Drops (Clear)

Other challenges entered:

ABC Christmas Challenge 'Q is for Quantum Leap'

(B is for bows, D is for Die Cuts, K is for Keep it Simple)

Simon Says (Wednesday challenge) 'Anything Goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #244 (Use some Silver)

Have a good week...

Donna