Christmas and WOYWW

There's nothing like the pressure of Christmas to get some craft action going in my studio!  I have not done a great deal but I've made a few cards and I've now just completed the last batch of gift tags. 

I decided to dig out some old stash that I haven't used for years and came across the Tim Holtz Snowflake Rosettes die.  I've had a rather obsessive few days making these gift tags and although not all in snowflake colours they do look quite good against the plain red or plain gold wrapping paper I'm using.

 

I sent a batch of these white ones to my nephew who is decorating his own tree in his own place this year and has been on the look out for tree decoration donations from family, and I also made a handful to go on my dining room tree which is mainly white this year.

I made some others for specific people, hopefully tailored to their tastes - the black and gold one having a slightly Gothic feel, which was difficult to obtain without it looking Halloweenish - I think I've just got away with it but it's my third attempt!

I am joining in with Sarah over at WOYWW this week, and I wish every one a Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and creative 2026.

Paper Hydrangeas and WOYWW

These little Hydrangeas are sitting on my desk at the moment - I've had this die for quite a long time and never got round to using it so I decided it was about time to use it or lose it!   I die cut all the petals out, found a polystyrene ball in the depths of my studio and had a go.

The first attempt is the blue one and I think I was a bit mean with the petals, so it's a little 'gappy'.  However, being a perfectionist I had to make another one that I was happier with - hence the pink one!

 They were rather labour intensive but I enjoyed the experiencem although it may be a long while before I get the die out again!
 I shall attach each one to a small circle of card and make them into gift tags.

 I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Black Tags and Flowers

I have been using this Heartfelt Creations flower stamp and die set throughout January - my idea being to try out an item of 'forgotten stash' each month with a view to keeping it or moving it on. I think this is definitely a keeper as I haven't stopped using it yet!  My other projects using this set can be seen here and here. 
  

I used Distress Stickles, stamens, Perfect Pearls for the flower centres, silver metallic leaf for the background, silver gilding wax for the black leaves and flowers and I used text stamps on some of the petals.

I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW to see what others have on their desks this week.

Autumn Gift Tags

After a horrible couple of weeks that has had bad news coming in from all directions, I finally felt able to settle down in the studio to catch my breath and 'escape'.  We have a lot of birthdays in October so I got on with making gift tags and birthday cards - it was very relaxing and I enjoyed 'playing' with dies, stamps and glazes that I hadn't used for a long time - it almost felt like having new stash!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW and then I'm off to print some co-ordinating wrapping paper and gift bags - a perfect activity for a rainy day!

Halloween Tags

This week I was delighted to do a demonstration for Paper Artsy - I made a Halloween necklace and bracelets using the Tim Holtz Poinsettia die - you can see it here!  I do love this die and since then I've been playing around with it and making Halloween tags for gift bags for the adults - it doesn't seem fair that the children get all the treats!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Pine Cone Gift Tags

After last weeks Poinsettia-fest I've still been churning out gift tags like there's no tomorrow but this week I've been making some with a more masculine feel - after several failed attempts I finally got the hang of Tim Holtz's pine cone die - a bit fiddly and time consuming, but I enjoyed myself!  I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW.  Apologies for the appalling quality of the photos - will try and do better next week!