Christmas Tree Tag

Just a very, very simple Christmas tree tag today, measuring approx. 1.5ins x 3ins ……..

….. using scraps of card and paper, a glittered wooden Christmas tree embellishment tree that I have had for years, some tiny silver sequin stars and a little bit of doodling with a white gel pen and black fine liner, completed with a green eyelet set with my Cropodile and red and white bakers twine.  This tag probably took me no more than ten minutes in all to put it all together.

Gingerbread Men Tags/Tree Decorations.

My work desk is currently covered in these little beauties …….

They are the wooden gingerbread men I bought from HobbyCraft last year but never got round to using, except for one.  They came in packs of 4 for £1, which I thought was brilliant enough, but they were also on a 3 for 2 offer  – so in the end I ended up buying six packs, 24 gingerbread men – working out at about 17p each, bargaintastic!

As I said, last year I only “played” with one (above) but I wasn’t that happy with him, the proportions of the ribbon, eyes and buttons I used were just not quite right http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/wooden-gingerbread-man-tag.html, so this year I was determined to get them right …. using a narrower ribbon and sourcing better flat backed gems for the eyes and mini buttons for the body.

….. and I think I much prefer this years version, which can either be used as a gift tag or tree decoration.

They are now all packaged up and waiting for a new home ….. and another few bits of my humungous Christmas stash are finally used up!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390795352021?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649   - gems

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390902993711?var=660273409284&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649  - buttons

Do Not Open Before Christmas Gift Tags

The tags measure 10.5cms x 4cms and are made using a brownish red leather affect card.

My quest to use up as much as my existing humungous collection of festive “stuff” continues for Christmas 2014 …….

I found these East of India paper chains reduced from £4 to £2 last year, but as I have said before a bargain isn’t a bargain ‘till you’ve used them!  The card I have had forever and the twine came from some other tags that I have used for something else. The only thing I did have to buy from new were the wooden beads, found in a charity shop for 99p the other day.

All I have done is make a template for the tag, then using it cut out a pile of tags, adding a “proper” gold or silver eyelet with my Cropodile to make them look “professional”, through which I threaded the twine and added the bead. This was followed by cutting the paper chain links in half and sticking them on front of the tag.  Et voila!

I have managed to get 80 tags from one pack of paperchains,  so no bad going!!

Merry And Bright Christmas Tags

OK…. so I lied, I had a few HobbyCraft foil stickers still left over from the cards I made the other day ……

…… because I also wanted to make tags, using the Christmassy scraps  I have  left over from years past.  The foil stickers are very bright and I wanted the rest of the tags to reflect that.

Each tag is 2.5 ins square and I have used a scalloped and plain circle punch to cut the mat and layering for the sticker and then lots and lots of faux stitching that eventually gave my fingers cramp!

I decided to make the tags look really “proper” by using my Cropodile to set an eyelet in the corner of each tag …….. but now ……. I bought some Woodware (I think)  3/16 eyelets but they just do not “set” half as well as the original ones that I got with said Cropodile, (the barrel of the eyelet seems longer and a tint bit thicker???)……. can anyone recommend any eyelets that might set any better without costing an arm and a leg????????

Paisley and Pearl Christmas Tree Decorations/Tags

Another idea today for using the tin hearts I bought in Primark (£1.50 for a cluster of three), and again using black as a main colour.

I remembered, from the dim and distant past some Papermania Signature, paisley patterned, vinyl stickers I’ve had for years and wondered if they would work on the hearts, and after a long winded search through several boxes of bits found that they did! Result!

After arranging and sticking the stickers on the heart and trimming away any excess from around the edges I then remembered a packet of flat backed, pearl patterned strips that Dianne in Florida sent me from Michaels and wondered if they would work too ……. and again, I think they did!

I then added a few tiny clear gems here and there, but that was just over egging the pudding, and they were swiftly removed!

I think they could just be hung straight on a Christmas tree or perhaps used as very fancy Christmas tag as seems to be the trend for “designer” gift wrapping.

It’s Christmas (In September) …… Gemmed Snowflake Heart Decoration/Tag

Following on from yesterday and my Primark heart “bargain” this is what I have come up with, for my first idea ……. which could be used either as a tree decoration or a fancy gift tag……..

….. and believe me, there wasn’t a lot to it!

I used two strips from a pack of self adhesive, black flat backed gems from Poundland. I’ve never used them before and was a bit apprehensive, but because they were on a strip, they were so easy to manipulate round each side of the heart, so no blobs of glue and individual stuck on gems, and the most magical thing was each strip consisted of 14 gems which were a perfect fit, no trimming, no nothing!

The plastic snowflakes came from Butlers last year from one of my stays with Marc. I just snipped the small eyelet off and then glue gunned the snowflake onto the heart, adding a black flat back gem in the centre. Like I said, so simple!  The finishing touch was a length of black and white gingham to hang or tie it.

I plan to make up the other two hearts from the cluster in exactly the same way.  However, what I didn’t confess the other day was that I actually bought four sets of the hearts …. so I now need to think of three more ideas!!!!

Christmas 2014 - Retro Snowman Tags

These tags measure approximately 10cm x 5cms and are made using a base tag of plain red card and scraps from retro style Christmas papers.
The canvas snowman toppers cost me 50p for a pack of 4 from a reduced section in The Range.
There’s not a lot to them, the eyelet has been set using my Crop-a-dile, I am still very heavy handed with it, but a proper eyelet does make a tag look so professional! There’s a bit of mat and layering and faux stitching going on…..
….. all finished off with a a length of red and white bakers twine.  These would look good on a parcel wrapped in plain or bottle green Kraft paper.

Christmas 2014 – A Marriage Of Two Tags

I liked the idea of both these tags found on Google, but wondered if I could marry the two ideas, I love holly and I love using Dymo tape on projects ….. but couldn’t decide which I liked best!!!

And this is what I came up with …. I cut the Kraft card tags so that they  measured approximately 10cm x 5cm, setting a green eyelet round the punched hole to make them look just that little bit more “professional”.

I then added the Dymo Tape sentiments, two Kaisercraft die cut embellishments, a few red, flat backed gems and some white gel pen lines and dots to finish the whole effect.

Christmas 2014 - Red Snowflake Tags

These tags measure approximately 10cm x 5cm and are made using a heavy plain red cardstock. I’ve hand cut the tags, using a template I took from an old Ikea tag, which, to me, is the perfect size for any parcel tag. I have then used scraps left over from the 6” x 6” Christmas paper pack I got from the Wilkinson 2013 Christmas range for the background, adding red punch circles that have been embellished with plastic snow flakes from a garland found in a charity shop a while back, with a flat back gem in the centre.  The whole design is then pulled together with faux stitching and a few dots round the edges, using a white gel pen from Paperchase.

I have set a silver eyelet for the thread, always a good look when making a “professionally” finished tag!!!!! The red and white butchers twine just finishes off the whole design.

Now, planning well ahead …. I need a roll of plain silver or white gift wrap to set off and compliment these little babies!!! 

Christmas 2014 - Blue Gingham Christmas Tags

These tags measure approximately 10cm x 5cm and are made using a navy blue gingham card from Payper Box.

I love gingham, so shabby chic …… and the way I think I am going, Christmas 2014 is going to be a shabby chic affair, if I dare plan that far ahead?!!!

I’ve hand cut the tags, using pinking shears to trim the bottom, then used scraps of similar style paper to punch out the scalloped edged hearts and background.  The plastic snow flakes are from a garland found in a charity shop a while back, with a blue flat backed gem in the centre. The whole design is then tied together with a ample sufficiency of faux stitching in black fine liner pen.

I have set a silver eyelet for the thread, which always makes a tag look that extra bit professional. I am thrilled with the result, however if I were to change anything, and I probably will, I think the tags would look better with either a plain red or red and white butchers twine, and that’s easy to fix.

Christmas Bauble

Sorry, the glue was still wet when I took this photo!

I found these (Snofint) bauble coasters in the Ikea sale, they were reduced from 85p for a pack of 10, down to 49p, well I just had to have them! 

They have a design on each side so I can think of lots of ways in which to use them, in a garland, as tree decorations or as a gift tags.

All I have done is punch a hole for a thread or a ribbon and outlined the edges and stripes this small dashes using a fine liner pen.

Next I drew patterns on them using my fine tip glue applicator which contains PVA and then sprinkled the patterns with different ultra fine glitters a section at a time.

I expect you’ll be seeing more of these baubles throughout the year as I get more adventurous and think of new ways to use and decorate them.

I’m not the only one to see the potential in these little beauties as the links below show

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/12/snofint-coasters-as-christmas-ornaments.html

http://gucki.it/2013/11/20/super-easy-christmas-garland/

Wooden Gingerbread Man Tag

I made this really. really, really quickly, so please, please excuse the blobs of glue ……!!!!

There’s really nothing special about it, I just needed a tag in a hurry ……  so I grabbed a wooden Hobbycraft gingerbread man from their Christmas range (packs of 4 – 99p), added some black flat backed gems from Paperchase, a red gingham bow and a bit of fiddlefart doodling!  I know I can/should/will fine tune the idea, perhaps for next year (!?!?!?!?),  when I am in not such a hurry!!!!!

A Wonderful Gift From Barbara–Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013

With writing two blogs I don’t often have time to blog hop, but occasionally I do like to mooch around the blogs of people who stop by and leave me a much appreciated comment, and that’s how I stumbled on Barbara and her blog and saw her Tim Holtz inspired Christmas tag from his 12 Tags of 2013…..

http://barbarascraftroom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/tims-tag-for-november.html

OMD ……. well,  I had to comment, it would have been rude not to, and said just how much I loved it  …… and then guess what? Barbara only sent me a set of her tags.  They are gorgeous.  I adore a “chalked effect”, in fact when I used to do mahooosive school displays it was very much my trade mark ….. except I used a compressed charcoal, but I digress …..

Barbara’s tags are exquisite and I am so envious of what she has created, which has made me think that next year I really should learn some new techniques …… I have just got too complacent and boring with my plonking of stickers, and I really need to start doing some online classes etc.

Anyway, the tags now have pride of place on my festive shelves, originally I was going to put them each in a single black frame (I will do this after Christmas now), but then I remembered some miniature easles I had stashed away …. which turned out perfect for displaying them.

 

I think my favoutite is the snowman one

It’s a stamp that Marc and I have muted over a couple of times, as well as Tim’s snowman die ….. perhaps after Christmas I will give it some considered consideration, when I come to brush up my techniques!

http://timholtz.com/category/12-tags-of-2013/

In the meantime a HUGE thank you to Barbara ….. I love each and every one of them and will always treasure them, and I promise they will always be a part of my Christmas decorations for years to come.

Bubble Sticker Christmas Tags

I think these tags will end up being used on my Christmas sweetie bags which I will take to work as Christmas approaches. I’ve used 3D bubble stickers that I found in The 99p Store last year and I am determined that they will all be used up this year, I don’t want them hanging round for another year! (although I have seen them in some shops this year too).

Each little bubble scene contains either two snowmen or two Santas, but I decided to open up a few bubbles and use the snowmen/santas to further embellish the tags.

I have also used small scraps of holly paper which I mat and layered on silver mirror card, quite a bit of faux stitching and a handwritten “Let It Snow”, also mat and layered on silver.  The red and white butchers/bakers twine just adds the final touch that brings the whole tag together.  Done and fairy dusted!!!

Snowflake Tags

These are a few tags that I made using some of the plastic snowflakes I found in a charity shop last week for £1.50 for a huge bag full.

The tags measure approximately 4ins x 2ins and are hand cut from a sheet of navy card.  In the centre I added a mat and layered panel using a Craft Creations paper – Snowflakes on Dark Blue (SR065P) that I have had for years, on silver mirror card, the original price said 40p!

I made up two snowflakes,  taking a smaller one and gluing it onto a larger one and then adding a flat backed gem in the middle to add dimension and then  glued  them both onto the panel, adding a silver corner peel off and two sets of three peel off dots, for extra bling.

This year I am loving Bakers/Butchers twine ….. and can’t believe how it just brings the whole tag together and makes it look doubly, doubly, Christmassy.