AWH Blog Hop - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hi there

Today, ladies from the 'Art with Heart' team are sharing some amazing Christmas projects to inspire you, with the theme, It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We have tags,  gift bags, teacher gift ideas, decorations and many more fun projects to create this holiday season.

 

You may have hopped to me from Catherine's blog, but if you are visiting me, you can start hopping here and then at the end of each post is a link to the next blog. There is also a list of participants at the end in case there are any broken links.

 

I love creating for Christmas and this year I have really enjoyed using the 'Candy Cane Lane' suite of products. The colour combo of Real Red, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso is definitely one of my favourites and the cute  images from the coordinating 'Cookie-Cutter Christmas' stamp set are fun to use. Gift tags are a 'must have' at this time of year and you can never have too many - you can always use them next year. They also make a great pre-Christmas gift for friends who appreciate handmade with love. I was inspired by the fabulous Stampin' Up! project kit 'Tin of Tags' to make this 'Box of Tags' with the Candy Cane Lane suite of products.

 

I've decorated the top with the Candy Cane Lane DSP matted onto Real Red card stock. The centre piece is one of my new favourite Stitched Shapes framelits matted onto Real Red and topped with 'TAGS' cut from Red Glimmer paper. It is very sparkly in real life and matches the bow and buttons on the gingerbread girl. The finishing touch is the gorgeous Stitched Edge ribbon that is wrapped around the lid. 

 

Originally I was going to buy a box and decorate it, but then couldn't find the 'Goldilocks' size - not too big and not too small. I wanted the box to fit tags of different shapes, so I ended up making my own. It is sized at at 6" x 4" x 2" using Crumb Cake card stock for the base and lid. To make it really sturdy plus add colour and interest, I lined the box and lid with Real Red card stock.  You can see the lining and a sneak peak of the tags inside.

I've created the tags in a number of different styles, to give you a few different ideas, but all use the same products for a coordinated set. I had a heap of fun making them and you really are only limited by your imagination. I did want to keep them quick and easy though. First up is a quick make set created with the Scalloped Tag Topper punch. You could just make a heap of these with different greetings, but I love the 'Go ahead, tear it open' from the 'Tin of Tags' stamp set.

I then gave my Stitched Shapes framelits a work out with the next few sets.  I love the finishing detail it adds to your project. They should be back in stock on 5 December 2016, if you haven't purchased your set yet. This set uses the oh-so-cute bear stamp from 'Cookie-Cutter Christmas' stamp set and I gave them a Christmas touch with the Santa hat using the Jolly Hat Builder punch.

The next set is a banner style and I've used the Banner Triple punch to flag the end of the card stock and candy designer paper. I kept the top of the tag straight for a sharper look. You can't really see in the photos, but all of the Santas have been trimmed with Dazzling Diamonds glitter for extra sparkle.

I've used the Layering Squares and Stitched Shapes framelits for the next set, using the pair of greetings from the 'Greetings from Santa' stamp set with the Santa image. Santa is very quick to colour, using markers of your choice and then a glue pen on the white trim of his suit and a sprinkle of Dazzling Diamonds to add Christmas sparkle.

This last set uses the Layering Ovals framelits with the Stitched Shapes framelits. I love how well they work together, both the plain and scalloped shapes.

Now, if you think this is all too much effort for tags, then you can use the designs as toppers for quick-make cards. I've made a basic card using the small red design from the Candy Cane Lane designer paper at the top and bottom with the Cable Knit embossed Crumb Cake between.  I've attached one of the oval tags to it and voila! 

For the inside, I added a strip of another design from the Candy Cane Lane designer paper and a coordinating strip of Gold Glimmer. 

Finally, this is the pile of tags I made, but there is still plenty of room in the box for more!  I hope this gives you some ideas for your Christmas tags this year.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Cookie-Cutter Christmas, Tin of Tags, Greetings from Santa, Candy Cane Christmas, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Real Red, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Candy Cane Lane DSP, Gold Glimmer, Red Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories	Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine, Baker's Twine Trio pack, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Real Red Stitched Satin ribbon, Crumb Cake Stitched Satin ribbon (retired), Real Red Stitched Edge ribbon, Burlap ribbon, Metallics Enamel Shapes, Dazzling Diamonds glitter
Tools	Cookie Cutter Builder punch, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Framlits (Circles, Squares, Ovals), Little Letters Framelits (retired), Cheerful Tags Framelits, Cable Knit Dynamic TIEF, Big Shot, Jolly Hat Builder punch, Cookie Cutter Builder punch, Scalloped Tag Topper punch, Banner Triple punch, Classic Label punch, 1/8" Circle punch (not SU), 1/4" Circle punch (not SU), Dimensionals, Glue Pen, Copic Markers (R29, R20, E51,N5, C1)

 Now it's time to hop over to see what Rebecca has to inspire you. Click on the arrow below.

 

Here is the full list of participants in today's blog hop, so make sure you hop around to everyone and leave them some blog love.

1. Rebecca Jacovou
2. Ros Davidson
3. Kathryn Ruddick
4. Kate Morgan
5. Rachel Palmieri
6. Claire Daly
7. Mary Kelly
8. Monika O'Neill
9. Tina Gillespie
10. Kathryn Mangelsdorf
11. Catherine Proctor
12. Judy May   <-------------- You are here

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

[rebeka]

Have you got instructions for the BOX please??

[Donna]

Your tags are ALL, so beautiful! I am grateful for the vast inspiration; thank you for sharing! :)

[Barbara Lindsey]

these are just beautiful Judy. What a lovely little gift these would make.

[Gigi]

These are adorable. Do you have a tutorial for the box?

[Sandra Ross]

I absolutely love this set...do you have a tutorial for the box..would love to have it...thank you for sharing this wonderful project..Sandra Ross

[Lisa w]

Love everything!

[Christyne]

Oh my word!! These are all just so adorable! Thanks for sharing and inspiring. :)

[Nanette]

These tags and the box are gorgeous!

[monika o'neill]

All such beautiful projects Judy, love all the different tags and matching box so hard to pick a favourite xx

[Sue Madex]

What a great gift idea. The tags are just gorgeous.

[Ros Davidson]

Lovely tags Judy and I love how you made a tag work well on a card also. Great job.

[Gerri K]

Judy,

These are fabulous!!! Thanks for all the inspiration. I recently ordered this set and it should be coming in the mail tomorrow. Can't wait to make some of these tags. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Claire Daly]

WOW! You have been very busy Judy! What an amazing project! Just love the tag. Thanks for sharing your fabulous creations on the blog hop.

[cathy]

Judy, it is all so beautifully presented--WOW!

[Christine Blain]

Wow, Judy, you have really outdone yourself with these amazing gorgeous creations! Love all the (many) fun tags, and the card made with a tag on the front is fantastic.

[Tina Gillespie]

Oh, my! You've been busy, Judy! Your tags are fantastic, and I love the idea of lining the gorgeous box you made. An idea to file away for later on :)

[Mary Kelly]

Love your very own box of tags Judy. They are such fun and certainly very cheery for the festive season.

[Kate Morgan]

I love each and every one of your tags Judy, great work!

[Rachel Palmieri]

what a fabulous array of tags Judy. I love the different styles you've shared but most of all I love Rudolph's red nose!