One Last Post on the 12 Tags of Christmas 2011

After all the fun I had making the 12 Tags of Christmas this year how could I not post a picture of them all together.

Well here they are all 24 tags 2011

Close up of Set 1. the set my sister will be receiving.

Of course set 2 that will me staying with me.

Set 1 is all wrapped up in tissue paper along with this card and envelope I made for her. I am going out of town for the week end on Friday and she will be coming over to feed my cat. I am going to leave her set on the table with the card as an open me now gift that she can enjoy over the holidays.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Day 12 Final Tag!

Well this Journey ended all too quick for today is Day 12 in the 12 Tags of Christmas being hosted by Tim Holtz

Tim's design was all about Shabby Chic. I had almost nothing that Tim used so this is my interpretation.

I first covered my tag in Seasonal Tissue tape. Next I covered the tape with Picket Fence Distress stain, then white paint dabber. Once that dried I then covered the whole tag with embossing ink and embossed the whole tag with iridescent embossing powder then inked over that. The Artful Dwelling piece I covered in Broken China distress paint and inked the edges with Black Soot.

I love the layered letters that Tim showed. I have been doing this for a while and love the way it makes letters pop.

I was trying to show the colors that are reflecting in the background which doesn't come across too well in the photo.

What a great year of tags. Now I need to get busy with some cards.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Week End Catch Up

Can you believe that we are on the eve of the last day of Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas 2011?

The days have gone quickly and the tags have been amazing.

Day 11 was all about Glossy card stock and Shrink plastic. I didn't have any shrink plastic so I had to be all about the glossy card stock.

The retro colors used help accent the vintage look of the stamp set used on this tag.

No shrink plastic for me so I had to make my holly and branches from more glossy card stock and berries from distress stickles.

Day 10's technique was making transparencies from packing tape and foil backing.

The technique really makes the facet and fragments sparkle like crazy.

With all the light bouncing from the facets and fragments I couldn't help but to add more bling on the corners of the tag. Love this technique.

Day 8 and 9 Catch Up

OK so real life occasionally gets in the way of our play time but I used this afternoon to catch up on the 12 Tags of Christmas being hosted by Tim Holtz.

First up Day 8 Steam punk Christmas.

Tim said this was a Tim tag just for fun, combining Steam punk and Christmas.

This is my take on his inspiration.

Not having all the same materials he used I had to improvise and just do without some of the elements but over all I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Close ups of the details showing my home made holly clusters and my Christmas embellishment.

Next up Day 9

Double Distressed Rusted Enamel

This is my most improvised tag yet this year. I have been trying to match Tim's tags as close as possible this year for the sheer lack of time to design and wanting my sisters tags to show his incredible art style.

However not having the stamp and die he used I had to come up with my own design for this one.

I really like the way it turned out. This technique is definitely one of my favorites.

I covered the JOY in iridescent embossing power to compliment the bling forest floor.

Tag Day 7

I absolutely love the technique that Tim Holtz used today on his 12 Tags of Christmas.

Glassine paper was the item to be utilized and I couldnt be happier with my results.

Not having all the items he used I had to improvise from the holly leaf die and pearls to the lace and bling. I have been dying to use this stamp set and todays tag gave me that chance.

Close up of my interpretation of the holly cluster.

Day 6... Yippee Halfway Done

As most of you know we are halfway through the 12 Tags of Christmas being hosted by

Tim Holtz.

Since I am making 2 each day this was actually tag 11 and 12 for me. I can honestly say that today's challenge of Distressed/ Enameled Metal was more kind to me than yesterdays challenge.

As Tim states it don't look like much when you are creating it but the results well they speak for themselves.

I didn't have any of the self adhesive metal pages that Tim used so I substituted metal heating and a/c duct tape. Works great and looks really good. Cost next to nothing at your local hardware store.

I have to admit the pictures don't do the art justice. They look and feel like antique metal tags. This technique is a keeper for sure!

Not having any of the Holiday charms I substituted a mover and shaper cut out that I finished with the same technique. It doesn't show so well for it was painted silver/gray. But it mimics the deer already in the background.

Silver rick rack finishes the tag off for a complete metal overload look.

Tag 7.... Bring it on! :)

Day 5 Grrr....!

Ok its day 5 on the 12 Tags Christmas being hosted by Tim Holtz.

I would be lying to say I didn't cringe a little bit when I saw this technique posted this morning.

I absolutely cant stand this technique or should I say that this technique doenst like me.

After 3 attempts using the Holiday Reflections Stamp I said forget this. I have to use a stamp that doesnt have some many small areas. Below is what I finally got accomplished using the reverse alcohol ink technique.

Again, after 3 attemps I just couldnt get a smooth uniform look on the plastic. UGH!

Close up of the ornament.

Heres to hoping tomorrows tag works out better for me, LOL

Catch up Week End Tags 3 and 4

I used this week end to Catch up on my Tags that Im making inspired by the 12 Tags of Christmas by Tim Holtz.

Day 3 the technique was to make your own stamp pad and by alternating the position of the tags stamp 2 at a time. If I'm honest this isnt my favorite technique but wanting to play along the 2 tags above are my results.

I dont have the festive greenery die so I used an older poinsettia die from Sizzix embossed and inked it of course.

You were to emboss the top half of the tag with the matching embossing folder. It took me more than once to get it close. LOL....

I did however love the vintage look of the inks on the kraft tag and had some embellishments that worked perfectly :)

Day 4 however brought some techniques that I love to use and are some of my favorites.

Grungeboard, Rock Candy crackle, Distress stains, On the Edge dies all rolled into one winter tag that just pops with layers.

I went for the mono chromatic look that just says cold winter day.

Anxiously awaiting day 5 :)

12 Tags of Christmas 2011 Day 2

Day 2 of the 12 Tags of Christmas according to

Tim Holtz

Day 2 brought more wonderful techniques using Kraft resist paper, sticky back canvas, trinket pins and more just to name a few. As most playing along its hard to have everything Tim uses but it inspires your so much to come up with your own alternate ideas.

No Sticky back canvas for me but I did have some sticky back fabric from Making Memories that I inked up really good.

Nor did I have any of the stars for the reindeer's necks or the Holiday muse tokens but I like my choices for replacements.

As for the on the edge die Tim used at the bottom of his tag, as fate would have it I have almost everyone of them but the one he used, LOL.

However I did have a border by K&Company that after I inked it up some matched just perfectly.

Something that I am doing to all of my tags this year is using the Tag die to cut tags from corrugated cardboard and using them on the backs.

Since so many of the designs are heavily embellished it really does help stabilize the tag and make it so much more substantial.

He's Back!!!

Not just me.... But Tim Holtz is back with his 12 Tags of Christmas!!

Yeah!

I have been absent for so long I cant believe it. I even missed my 2nd Blogversary :(

However I cant think of a better way to get my creative muse back in high gear than to get going with Tim's Tags.

There was much anticipation that Tim would use his new pine cone die and to the delight of many of us he did!!

No your not seeing double but every year I make 2 sets of tags and give one to my sister for an open me now Christmas gift. I always give them to her the day after the designs end.

The past 2 years she has framed each set of hers in shadowbox frames and displays them during the Holidays.

I didnt have any of the baubles that Tim uses but hey its all about inspiration isn't it. Just use what you do have. In my case I blinged up some filigree shower curtain rings. I think they look great.

I also do not have the strip die with all the holiday greenery but I had some leaves and used more bling instead. I love the way they turned out and cant wait to see tomorrows tag challenge.

WOW it feels so good to be back!