12 Tags of Christmas - starting with #7

This time of year is my favorite for many reasons, one being the Twelve Tags of Christmas by none other than Tim Holtz. If you have no idea what I'm talking about... First off: where have you been the last couple of years? And secondly, you need to go check it out on his blog for yourself right now. And be sure to scroll through the past 7 days because he started on December 1st.

So why am I just now showing my tags on Day 7? Because like you, I'm busy! I just finished my final big workshop this past Sunday and the rest of the month is dedicated to family, fun and the holidays, with lots of creative time in between!

Here's my plan: I didn't want to start at the beginning, thereby being constantly behind. So I am picking up on Day 7 and moving through to 12, then going back and posting tags 1 through 6 when I get those done.

Let's start by looking at Tim's Day 7 Tag...

Gorgeous, of course. I'm telling you, you've just GOT to go to his blog and check it out. He takes you step-by-step and throws in videos and extra techniques along the way. Total awesomeness times 10! Since Tim takes the time to list all the products included in his tag, I won't bother to duplicate the efforts unless I do or use something different.

Here is MY "tag" for today...

I realize that the elegant flourish is missing, but don't fret! It's on its way as we speak, and I will post again when I add that final element.

You might have noticed that I have decided this year to create a banner rather than individual tags. I made all 12 tags last year and they just sit in a box on the shelf. This year I wanted something functional that I can display in our home year after year as a holiday decoration. The individual pennants will join and create one long beautiful banner. I can't wait for Day 12 when I connect them! (The pennants are from Maya Road.)

Here are a few things I did differently...

While I WISH I had all the great Tim Holtz products to create my pennants, I simply don't. So I promised myself that I would try very hard not to go out and buy a bunch of stuff this year and work with what I had and beg, borrow and steal from friends.

You'll notice on Tim's blog that he used his wonderful Woodgrain Texture Fade embossing folder to create his lovely, dimensional wood finish. I opted to borrow this huge woodgrain stamp from my friend today (thanks JoAnn!) and stamped it onto off-white cardstock using Walnut Stain distress ink.

Then I swirled some of the same Walnut Stain ink over the top, plus some Antique Linen, and some other colors in my Close To My Heart stash. Now I have this more distressed looking bark.



For the poinsettia flower, Tim used an adhesive backed canvas which I couldn't find, but I did find this...

This is a pad of canvas. I found it on the art aisle in Hobby Lobby. Ten sheets of 9 x 12 for $8. Not cheap, but I had nothing else to substitute and I really liked Tim's fabric flower and leaves. So I had to buy it!

It's not adhesive backed, but I simply sprayed some Super 77 spray adhesive on the back and I was good to go.

To color this great canvas sheet Tim used his (nowhere-to-be-found-in-Brevard-County) "Color Wash" which is this wonderful spray ink made especially for textiles. It's so vibrant and rich. Bummer. I didn't have any, so instead I sprayed the canvas with a light mist of water, then I used a foam tool and Tim's alcohol inks squeezed into them and rubbed them quickly this way and that. I only had Watermelon and Meadow inks, but they worked out okay once I did some edge distressing later.

I won't take you through all the other steps. You'll have to visit Tim's blog to see all that. But here's another look at my almost complete "tag" (minus the flourish until it comes).

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's tag, aren't you? I'll be posting mine later in the day rather than morning, so be sure to check it out after dinner.

Have a great day!