Penny Black, Bookmark/Christmas Tag, Guest DT 2018

I'm using the very pretty Bookmark die from Penny Black as the basis of my Christmas tag today...  and my theme is based around 'decorating a Christmas Tree'.

So with that in mind, here's what I came up...

All of the dies and stamps used on here are part of the Penny Black Christmas release for 2018.

Have you had a chance to see their new catalogue yet?

If not, click on the link above and it will take you straight to it. 

*

So how have I put this tag together?

After cutting out the Bookmark die, I've stamped Birches on using Holtz/Distress Oxide (Black Soot).

I've then glued on the hole reinforcer - and I've added the twine at this stage too as I don't want it looped around the candy cane.

(But if you do just add it at the end).

 Next, I've cut the longer piece of string from Ornaments Kit using a piece of warm grey card stock and glued this die cut on so that it runs roughly down the centre of the tag.

Then, leaving the tag to one side for the moment, cut out the foliage and candy cane pieces from Christmassy and Mitten Stocking, and the bow from Wreath Noel.

(I've used red and white card stock for my candy canes).

Colour these cut out pieces using the following Tim Holtz/ Distress inks:

Gingerbread Man

Spiced Marmalade

Walnut Stain

Pumice Stone

Gathered Twigs

Bow

Festive Berries

Aged Mahogany

Foliage/Sprig - Small

Mowed Lawn

Forest Moss

Foliage/Sprig - Large

Frayed Burlap

Iced Spruce

Once all of the tiny cut outs are dry, add a layer of Ranger/Distress Collage Medium - Matte to them all.

Then cut out the Gingerbread Man from the Mitten Stocking set once again, but this time using Black card stock - and glue this piece into place behind the 'inked up' Gingerbread Man. 

Using Versacraft (Real Black), stamp 'Oh What Fun' from the Christmas Sentiments set and

then Heat Set it using Ranger/Clear Embossing Powder.

 Once dry, cut the stamped sentiment into pieces so that you have 3 separate words.

Then glue everything into place on the tag
(as shown above).

And the final finishing touch..?

Dip your finger in to a pot of Ranger/Texture Paste and add just a little to the Red Bow and the Gingerbread Man.

*

Supplies used:

Penny Black/Stamps

40-636     Birches

30-504     Christmas Sentiments

Penny Black/Dies

51-465     Mitten Stocking

51-453     Christmassy

51-467     Wreath Noel

51-195     Bookmark

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Only three more tags to go...

*

Donna. x

Penny Black, CAS Robin Tag, Guest DT 2018

I have a single, solitary robin to share with you today as I continue with my Guest DT for 

Penny Black...

This is a Clean And Simple (CAS) design, but I have still managed to sneak in a little texture!

See those berries with a touch of red acrylic paint and the texture on that gingerbread man?

Just run your die cut through the machine again using a well loved cutting plate and you'll get similar results!

To begin with, I've used the Penny Black die Tagged and cut out two die cuts that I've then glued together - simply because I like my tags to have a little durability to them.

I've then stamped Birches very lightly using Holtz/Distress ink (Hickory Smoke).

The robin was water coloured using the following Tim Holtz/Distress colours:

Ground Expresso

Hickory Smoke

Festive Berries

Aged Mahogany

Once dry, simply add a layer of Ranger/Distress Collage Medium - Matt 

(and a small black gem for the eye).

Next, die cut the Holly Sprig and colour using Holtz/Distress (Forest Moss).

Then die cut the Gingerbread Man and layer up the following Holtz/Distress colours to achieve a golden brown colour:

Spiced Marmalade

Walnut Stain

Gathered Twigs

Pumice Stone

...  and just like the robin, add a layer of Ranger/Distress Collage Medium - Matt.

  

Before you assemble the tag using the robin that you've cut and coloured you'll need to stamp it again using Tsukineko/Versafine (Smokey Gray).

(Stamp straight onto the tag so that the robin will have some legs once you've glued it into position)!

Then gauge where you would like your Holly and Gingerbread Man to hang and draw on the string using the thin end of a Holtz/Distress Marker Pen (Gathered Twigs).

Do not glue anything into position yet!

Not until the tag has had a coat of Ranger/Distress Collage Medium - Crazing added to it.

Then...

Assemble the tag as shown.

*

Supplies used:

Penny Black/Stamps

40-636     Birches

40-642     Cheerful Christmas

Penny Black/Dies

51-465     Mitten Stocking

51-007     Tagged

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This tag somehow manages to convey a real sense of stillness and peace that I personally just adore - 

so much so that I won't be sharing this tag with anyone but me!

Click here, and perhaps you'll find a die (or a stamp or two) that cause you to make something you 

don't want to part with either!

I won't tell if you don't!

*

Donna. x

Textured Christmas Tag, Deer + Trees, Peace

 I've used Derwent XL Graphite to create the background of my tag for Day 8 of Tracey's Christmas tag event...  along with some Texture Paste, Silver Gilding Wax and Picket Fence Distress Paint.

This is a 'moody' little number, isn't it?  

Except it's not little at all.  This is a HUGE tag that has lots of texture...  

...  which is nothing like the inspiration tag for today!

But I have stuck to the tree/deer theme with snow and a sentiment...

(I checked - Deer and Reindeer are related)!

I hope your craft mojo is treating you well!

Donna. x

Christmas Tag, Fir Trees, Pink + Green

I'm a woman on a mission.

I did the same last year...

...  only this year I'm determined that as far as is possible I will be using up my die cut Christmas scraps.

What am I talking about?

(Here's the link)...

My tag for Day 1...

Inspired by this very pretty beauty...

I couldn't help but love this pretty colour combination.

Thanks for stopping by...

Donna. x

Christmas Tag, Fir Trees, Woodgrain

My unofficial title for this tag is 'left over surprise'!

Why?

Because I had a surprise when I found out an extra day had snuck its way into 

Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags!

So...  feeling very tired but not wanting to be defeated, I took a look at the tags for inspiration and chose one that meant I could use bits left over from other projects.

I'm not sure I had it in me that day to start a tag from scratch!

Here's my last tag for this challenge...

As you can see when you look at the tag below, I took the Tree with the Wood Panel background quite literally for my design project.

Supplies Used:

Dies:
Sizzix/Holtz Framelits 'Tag Collection'
Impression Obsession 'Fir Trees'
Poppystamps 'Oval Frame background'

Punch:
Martha Stewart/All Over The Page 'Aspen Flurry'

Other:
Altenew Woodgrain Bark Paper
Acrylic Paint - White
Bells - Silver and Gold
Ribbon - Red

It has been a huge accomplishment for me to do this - one tag for each day of the challenge.

To some of you I know this may come easily, but I'm still learning...

I'm hoping it gets easier and easier with time!

...  And if you've stuck by me through this marathon of tags I have nothing but a huge, heartfelt 'Thank You' to give to you.

Your kindness, support and feedback is always appreciated...

and it generally brings a smile to my day  :)

Donna. x

Winter Tag, Painted Trees, Acetate Layer

You know those stamps you fall in love with straight away?

You know the one's I mean, don't you?

They're the one's where you buy them immediately because you just know that they are perfect for you.  

And then you put them away, untouched.  Never to see the light of day again...

Until that perfect opportunity arises.

Well, that's what happened to me with my tag for Day 13 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags.

Here's my tag...

And this is the tag that reminded me I had the perfect stamp to use...

After stamping and heat embossing my tree image, I simply added some white acrylic 'snow'.

Then it was simply a case of adding the green and the blue ink colours with my favourite 'go to' quick watercolour method (scribbling distress markers onto an acrylic block, watering down and painting on with a brush).

An embossed acetate layer was added simply to give this tag a little extra 'something'.

Supplies Used:

Die:

Paper Smooches 'Gift Tag'

Stamp:

All Night Media 'Winter Forest Of Trees'

Holtz/Distress Markers:

Forest Moss

Peeled Paint

Tumbled Glass

Stormy Sky

Embossing Folder:

Sheena Douglass 'Snowfall'

Other:

Acetate - recycled

Ranger Perfect Medium Ink

WOW Embossing Powder - Earthtones/Pepper

Acrylic Paint - White

That's my last 'catch up' tag for now.  Expect more tomorrow!!!

Donna. x

Christmas Tree Tag, Embossed, Acetate

I have a 'meh' style tag to show to you today.

It was made to play along with Day 10 of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags...

Now you all know what I mean by 'meh', don't you?

 I know it's not completely awful to look at (well, I think I know it's not completely awful, but I could be wrong)...

 but it's just not 'me'...

And I so struggle with anything that's not 'me' when I've made it.

Am I alone in that?

Anyhow...

I chose Tracey's pretty tag as my influence for today's post.

(Sorry Tracey.  I don't think I did a very good job).

Supplies Used:

Dies:
Sizzix/Holtz Framelits 'Tag Collection'
Impression Obsession 'Fir Trees'
Memory Box 'Cosmic Star'

Embossing Folder:
Sheena Douglass 'Snowfall'

Brusho:
Grey
Yellow

Ink:
Holtz/Distress 'Black Soot'

Other:
Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue 'Frosted Lace'
Acrylic Paint - White
Pom Pom Fabric Trim





That's me finished for today...

Donna. x

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...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

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

Happy Little Stampers

Craft Rocket Challenge

Simon Says/Work It Wednesday

Simon Says/Wednesday Challenge

Unicorn Challenge

25 Days of Christmas Tags

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

'Bye for now...

Donna

Grand Madison French Doors, Garden Theme, Rabbits, Nature

I haven't made a card like this before.  I needed a card with the spine 'face up', but didn't want it to fall over from the weight of the design or to do the 'splits'.  So...  I've scored twice along the bottom and folded in, then out to create an inward 'v' shape, gluing the two end flaps together and then securing them into place.  Seems to have worked so that's me happy :)

Here's the finished design...

I've used the Impression Obsession Distress Brick/ Cover a Card Background, stamped it with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink and then used a Tim Holtz Paper Distresser to roughen the edges before 'ageing' with a mix of Distress ink (Peeled Paint) and Memento (New Sprout).

The tree is a McGill Dimensional Lever Punch called 'Tree Branch'.  I had great fun punching out and gluing all the different pieces needed for this cute little tree.

I cut and glued together 3 of the Poppystamps Grand Madison French Doors to give some strength to my open window, then aged it with a mix of Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo Distress Ink before mounting on foam pads.

One of the bunnies is a punch by Martha Stewart (Sitting Bunny).  The other (Impression Obsession, Rabbit Set) is sitting in the inverted cut out from the Poppystamps Grassland Border.

I've used the Poppystamps Meadow Leaf and the leaf from Memory Box Fabulous Phlox as the foliage, adding some shading to the Poppystamps Garden Pots and Buckets to give the card some added dimension.

Some plain white butterflies from Martha Stewart (Pop Up Butterfly Punch) and Memory Box (Peaceful Butterfly Wings), plus one very big white flower (McGill Star Flower/Paper Blossoms Punch) and I was done.  I did try adding various embellishments to the centre of the flower and tried all manner of colours, but even plain white just seemed to clutter it up.

Here's the same card from a different angle...

...  and the back...

I just LOVE making 'window' cards.  Can you tell?

This is my final entry for the latest Poppystamps Challenge...

Update...  21/10/2015

Added some clear Morning Dew Drops that I didn't have (or even know about) at the time.

Here's the new picture...