Variation

Made a birthday card for a friend the other day and used the techniques Tim Holtz had used on one of his Christmas Tags (number 5 I think).  This was one of my favourite tags so I just had to try it out again but in a non-Christmas way.

I used plain circle Fragments over clock images.  First of all I coloured my tag with Broken China, Faded
Jeans and Weathered Wood Distress Inks.  Then I stamped the flourish with a Gold Dabber and swiped Black Archival Ink over a script stamp.  (I echoed the flourish on the actual card, again just swiping rather than tapping ink on the stamp).

Next I inked some cream cardstock with Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and stamped three clock faces with Archival Black.  The clock faces were then put behind Fragments with Glossy Accents and stuck on the tag.  The words were produced with my Dymo and I stuck some Gold German Scrap on the top and bottom.  A piece of black ribbon was attached to the tag and the card was assembled.

Hope she likes it.

The Stampman Awards Event

Having taken part in the Blog Candy Hop with The Stampman I then decided to look at my favourite project of the year.  Not easy!

I think I have enjoyed my Journalling most of all even though I have not done any of late (but then my trip to America, flu and Christmas took care of that) but on looking back at what I have done I found it difficult to choose which page was my favourite.

I love the San Francisco one on the 25th August and the one with the opening door the day before.  Then there was the Paris one on the 22nd July and the first one I did with Sarah on the 19th.  Each one brought different feelings but I decided to re-post my Alice one.  This was an entry for a Blade Rubber competition.  A last minute thing because Susie mentioned at the time that she only had two entries.  The theme was "Where I spent my Summer Holidays" so Llandudno sprang to mind with Happy Valley and all the Alice carvings.  I did a page of "Alice" images - I so love Alice in Wonderland images - finding the writing in a circular motion took ages - probably several attempts if I remember rightly.

Anyway, it came in second place, beaten by one vote at the end.  Sadly I could not contact my friends to drum up support as I was away in America at the time but then that would have been cheating afterall.

Here it is:

A lot of work but a favourite page of mine.  Haven't got a clue how to add the award to my sidebar so here it is

Banner Uploaded

Forgot to upload my Banner which I made over the past few weeks on the RSS Challenge.  Made another pennant to make it five in total.  I was a bit stuck as to what to put on it without the guidance of Isa for a list of ingredients and then decided I would use this "Peace" image as that would be my most wished for thing of all.

It looked a bit bland so I searched through my stamps for something to give it more colour and found the dove - perfect - the bird used to symbolise Peace.

Circle and Scallop Circle cut out with my Nestabilities, both images embossed in gold, tiny stars on the bottom and it was ready.  I had managed to get some cord in the Ginger colour so that was just right for my banner and I began attaching them to it.  Then I made some gold bows to go between (think it took me as long to make those fiddly little bows as it did to do the last pennant).

Anyway, here it is, over one of the doorways.

Not perfect spacing between each but I did not have time to try to get it just right - next year it will be - and who knows - maybe more pennants.

Happy Christmas Everyone

It is Christmas morning and I have been up four hours - I can't believe this - I have not opened a single present yet.

Been outside sorting food out for the birds and then decided to begin the mammoth task of clearing the drive in front of our house so that the people in the bungalow next to ours have some access for their family who are coming to visit them today.  I think Paul (neighbour) was quite touched and so he got a spade and started helping - I've now left the men to it.

Anyway, thank you to all who take the time to read my blog, special thanks to those who leave a comment - it is very much appreciated.  May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and I hope you are all surrounded by family or friends.

Here is our snowman - note there is another large snowball beside him (and there is one behind) so I am hoping to build another one (or two) before the snow melts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Displayed my Tags

This is what I have done with my tags.

I put them on a long piece of gold ribbon and have now got them as door hangers on my craft room.  Seems the most appropriate place to have them.  As we have a bungalow they are quite easily seen when you walk from the dining room to the hallway.  Perhaps I should find last year's tags and put them on the bedroom door which is next to this one.

Still had more snow overnight, looks like a good inch has fallen.  Yesterday morning I took this photograph from the door, it is the same scene as before but just look at that sun.  Sorry about the red dot - I don't know how to use Photoshop to get rid of it.  Got an idea of how to but no time for it as I must build a snowman today.

If You Can

Just a quickie.  Was going through my bloglist and went to A Place to Bark - the video reduced me to tears and I just had to make another donation.  If you are an animal lover please visit Bernie Berlin's "A Place to Bark" (see my sidebar) and look at what she is achieving.

The Other Six

Got up early this morning as my hip was aching and besides which I must do a dust and polish around the house - spent far too much time crafting (LOL) and we need to go out and get the turkey!  On the bus I might add, not able to get the car out yet.

Tag 7

This was my seventh tag.  A different Father Christmas but still Tim's masking technique.  The white flourishes don't show up much but they are there.  Was stuck for what wording to put on until I remembered this "Joy" stamp - it just fits.

Tag 8

This was my favourite of all Tim's tags when I saw them.  I don't know why but I love this lamp post stamp.  Might need to get Tim's though as I do like it.  Loved doing his technique with the vellum.  The key was one I found in the drawer, not sure what it is for but I felt it was the right choice as I didn't have the one he used.  Again I think I need those keys.

Tag 9

Now at the risk of upsetting the creator I must say I was not that thrilled with this tag.  That is until I did it.  I love it and it is one of my faves.  Because of lack of supplies it got left until the last.  I really must get some of that film strip Tim used.

For my film strip I used black cardstock and punched down the side, measured the photographs and punched down the other side.  I think it worked out pretty well.  The main photograph I cut out a deckle edge because I remember old photographs having edges like that, shows my age!  Put on tiny photo corners (took me ages to make them so small) and made my own words up to fit on the tag.  The flower is a German Scrap again but I coloured it in with my Alcohol Inks this time.  Finally the letters "S" and "C" were stamped and embossed and then I put Page Pebbles over the top.

Tag 10

I thoroughly enjoyed making this one as I love using my paper stump on metal sheeting.  As you can see I did go over mine with a Black Dabber because I liked the antique look and felt it fit in better with the other tags.

Tag 11

This has now become one of my favourite tags.  I just love the fresh green colours.  Had to improvise with the reindeer and used the one that my friend Mary gave me when I was in America in November.  I don't have one of those brad making tools so I found some letter brads and I think they work quite well.  I like the contrast of black against this green so I stamped the words and embossed them on a strip of cardstock and put that on at the top.

Tag 12

Here is my final tag.  What a mess I made of my fingers when I was doing the roses.  I still have green down the sides of my thumb nail.  Was so glad I was not doing any baking that day (or the next one).  They were not supposed to be greenish but I quite liked them when they were done.

Well, that is it!  My 12 tags for Christmas.  What an enjoyable journey I had making them.  The one "plus" of all this snow.  All that is left is for me to display them.  Perhaps I will take a photograph and upload it tomorrow as I am sure I won't have much time to do anything else for my blog.  On the other hand I could write up my list of WANTS (or are they NEEDS) ready for my next trip to America!

Is it really Christmas Eve tomorrow?