Tag 7 - Better Late Than Never

Here's the tag I missed on Wednesday!

I've improvised quite a lot but it's made me realise how much my crafting materials can be adapted! I didn't have the holly die so I die cut the glassine using my Tattered Leaves die and then cut the leaves to be more holly like! The branch is cut using the more halloween style Branch Tree die, cut in half and glamour dusted! I love the background techniques - proper distressed and aged - I used the Pumice and Antique Linen Distress Stains from a craft mat onto a wet tag then ghost stamped text and crackle in Vintage Photo distress ink - I love the effect. Not sure what the stamp is  - I think it's from QVC but it doesn't have a name or brand on it. Well I'm up to date now with the 12 Tags of Christmas - hope to find time to do Tag 10 tomorrow! JulieD

Tag 9 - Greenery & Baubles!

Here's today's creation inspired by Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas:

I've followed the instructions today except for the baubles as I didn't have the candlestick die which Tim used so I used some ready die cut grungeboard baubles which I inked with the winter distress colours, embossed with clear powder and rubbed a bit of silver acrylic over the top. The background was created using the Harlequin stamp from the fab Indigo Blu range. My Festive Greenery die arrived yesterday and I'm very impressed with it - the variety of foliage and the detail they contain is amazing! Going to try and catch up with the missing tag from Wednesday! JulieD

Tag 8 - Steampunk Christmas

After a very busy day yesterday and going out last night (to a craft workshop at the Stamp Pad!), I missed my first tag this year :( - however I've done today's and am planning on doing 7 & 9 tomorrow so all's not lost!! I didn't have the clock die or the stamps so I've improvised some similar products, but I've generally followed the techniques and overall look of Tim's:

See Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas for instructions - the stamps are Darkroom Door (the handsome chap!) and 7 Gypsies (the cogs, pointing finger and clock). Sorry for the rushed post - I'm off to have a very late tea!! JulieD

Tag 6 - Rebelling Today!!

I've created a tag inspired by Tim's design today but - shock, horror - I really didn't like the effect of using those garish colours over the metal - I'm not sure if I'll be shunned by the Distress Community but it really wasn't my thing (sorry Tim!) Here's my alternative:

I've started out the same with the ornament embossing folder and foil stuck to card but then I've alcohol inked with four separate colours, crimped the edges, added a bit of bling and some tissue tape and it's much more 'me' than copying the original would have been! A little tip for getting the different areas different colours is to use individual bits of felt - one for each colour as you can keep distinct areas of colour rather than the blended look you get when you add the colours to the same felt. Hope you don't disaprove too much of my rebellious nature today!! JulieD

Tag 5 - Inspired By ...

Today I didn't have the colours of alcohol inks, the die or the stamp that Tim used on his fab tag but I've used the technique on my background and have been inspired so here goes:

I coloured my acetate tag with three colours of alcohol inks then stamped with a snowflake background stamp in Archival Black then removed by dabbing then rubbing gently until I'd removed the black - I consider myself to have learnt this technique from the expert as I saw Tim demonstrating it at Stitches earlier in the year and came home with a Facet which he'd demoed it on and backed with patterned paper - I actually wear it round my neck on a piece of ribbon as a pendant!! The grungeboard deer and snowflakes are from the Seasonal die cut grunge pack (which I forgot I had on the day we did a deer ...) which I've painted and distressed then added ribbons, fibres and a bell. I know it doesn't look like Tim's but I really enjoyed creating it! JulieD

Tag 4 - Winter Wonderland!

It's taken me most of the day on and off but here's my version of today's tag:

It's almost true to Tim's original - I cut my snowlady (I'm calling her a she, she's got a pretty lace scarf on!) out upside down so she's facing the other way and I didn't have Tumbled Glass Distress Stain so I used Broken China. I used Scrollwork for the die cut acetate (which doesn't show on the photo anyway) and an old I KanDee charm which has been in my stash for several years as I didn't have the Idea-ology tokens. I loved doing the background and the 25 are die cut grungeboard pieces which I've covered with music paper and glossy accented - I've got the die on order actually but wanted to get it done today - I might have a go the way TH has done it when it arrives. I'm working tomorrow so who knows what time I might get Tag 5 done but I'm determined to keep up this commitment!! Enjoy. JulieD

Tag 3 - A New Technique for Me!

Well, I'm keeping up with the 12 Tags of Christmas so far - this morning I had panicked because I didn't have any cut and dry felt (I didn't even know it existed!) - I use the foam a lot but the only felt I use are the little pads that I use with the applicator. I thought about sticking bits of that together and my friend Carol suggested a tissue pad but I really wanted to have a go with the real thing. While I was thinking about it I found a sheet of white felt in my children's craft box and a sheet of funky foam so I cut them to the size of the stamp I wanted to use, stapled them together and voila! A homemade felt pad!! The best stamp I could find was an Egg and Nog Paperartsy one which was a bit small really but I got the effect with the reinkers. Here is the finished tag:

The Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearl obscures some of the stamping on the photo but it's much clearer in the flesh! I embossed the top two thirds with the ornament folder and smooshed ink pads over the raised images in the same colours as the reinkers I used on the stamped part (Wild Honey, Crushed Olive, Barn Door, Pumice Stone and a touch of Walnut Stain). I'll definitely be trying the custom inkpad technique again! Enjoy your weekend, happy crafting. JulieD