Finishing up 2011

I wanted to share the other three tags that I completed as part of the Tim Holtz inspiration from his 12 Tags of Christmas. I have learned so much from him and love his generous sharing of his time and talent.

This first one was done using the three new winter colors on craft resist with a whitewash of picket fence. You wouldn't believe how ugly it was before the picket fence. The greenery is one of my new purchases this season - I love how it adds to the image. Stains were used to dye the lace. I drilled a hole in the metal star using the drill press from Tim. It works like magic.

.This tag was made from a self-inked pad specifc for this stamp. It didn't look as I wanted - but that's what picket fence stain is for. I just love how it makes the backgrounds more interesting and how it softens the colors. The ribbon was dyed with stains. More greenery - this time with "snow" added. The berries were white pearls and rhinestones dyed with alcohol inks (red pepper)

This tag is another one done with a self=inked pad for the background stamp - that also didn't work the way I envisioned so picket fence came to the rescue again. I have used the crackle on grunge before - but this time I painted the grunge board with white acrylic daubers first. Mirror paper is used behing the word cut out. Hard to see, but at the bottom is die cut snowflake border cut from packaging plastic and attached with diamond stickles.  

I also updated pictures of my December Daily Journal / Smash book. I really enjoyed working on this project and can't wait to continue journaling in the new year. Jan and I hit the after Christmas sales at all the craft stores to buy Christmas scrapbook paper on sale - I plan to make several of these journals as gifts for next year. I love the excuse to work on Christmas all year.  A slideshow of this journal can be found on the Smash book page. Also,  check out a journal that I made for my friend Jeanne found on the Scrapbook/Journal page.  Be sure to check out the Quilt page too; I am posting a slideshow of my new winter class at the quilt shop. I has such a good time making these notebook covers for friends that I decided to write up the directions for a class.