Twelve Tags of Christmas Wrap-Up

Hi everyone.  Today I'm announcing the winners of the Twelve Tags of Christmas event as picked by our independent judge.  I am thrilled to say that there were 100 entries this year --- AWESOME!

I was so impressed by all the beautiful and unique designs.  I enjoyed visiting each and every entry to find out how you made your tags.  Thanks for sharing your creativity with all of us!

Meet the Judge

Jeremy with Violeta

If you've been involved in either of the other two year's of my tag events, you'll know that I ask my youngest son, Jeremy to judge the tags and come up with the top picks.  Jeremy has a degree in Visual Arts and a Master of Arts Education.  Here's a few words from Jeremy about this year's tag event.

"The third annual "Twelve Tags of Christmas" event, hosted by my Mom, was a resounding success!  Viewing the tags one by one, I was delighted and inspired by the skill and artistry of all the entries.  As well, I enjoyed seeing contribution from the younger generation, as Emily and Ryan showcased their budding creativity in two unique designs.

It is my privilege to announce the top five designs for 2016 "Twelve Tags of Christmas" event." --Jeremy

Winning Tag

#46 Nancy S

CONGRATULATIONS to Nancy S. for the winning design.  Nancy's tag is, in a word, stunning.  The elegant gold accents blend seamlessly with the rich, warm tones of the sophisticated background.  Furthermore, the opalescent ornament is the ultimate jewel of glamour.  This design embraces the magic of light of the holiday season -- even without a holiday sentiment.   -- Jeremy

Congrats Nancy!
Please make sure to grab your badge.

Top Four Tags

(in order of entry)

#18 Bobby

#41 Sarah

#62 Linda

#97 Nancy L.

"Congratulations to Bobby, Sarah, Linda and Nancy who receive top tag mentions for their exceptional designs.  Each tag has a notable point of view and a unique aesthetic."  -- Jeremy

Congrats Bobby, Sarah, Linda and Nancy.
Please make sure to grab your badge.

Honourable Mentions

An InLinkz Link-up

There's so much inspiration in this year's gallery (and past years as well).  Check out the Pinterest Boards by clicking the links below.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas

2015 Twelve Tags of Christmas

2014 Twelve Tags of Christmas

Thanks to everyone that played along or left comments of support.  I hope you've enjoyed the third edition of the Twelve Tags of Christmas.

Guest Designer at Tag You're It!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm excited to be the Featured Artist for Tag You're It!  Thanks to Tracey and team for asking me!

Since Christmas is only a month away, I thought I'd make a Christmas tag.  I love to put handmade tags on my gifts.

The challenge is to CASE my tag (copy and share everything).  You can copy it all, or just pick parts of it that inspire you.

There's lots to work with ... the bright lime green, turquoise and white colour combo; the sponged (Northern Lights style) background with splattering; a snow scene with snow banks and snow covered trees.  The choice is yours.  I hope you'll come play along at Tag You're It! and CASE my tag.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps:  Season's gifts (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Stitched tag die (Lil' Inkers), sponges, white acrylic paint, paint brush for splattering, Fir Trees die (Impression Obsession), Snow writer, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (SU!), Crinkle Ribbon (Tim Holtz), water mister

Challenges:
Tag You're It! #61

Live Creatively

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder the challenge at CAS Watercolour for November is TEXT (other than a sentiment).

(other than a sentiment)

Having more fun playing with Brushos.  This is a technique I tried when I had a play day in my studio with my friends, Susan and Christine.  The technique combines Brushos with spray starch and cling wrap.

First I sprayed a piece of mixed media paper with spray starch.  Then I sprinkled with Brushos Colour Crystals.  The starch seems to hold them in suspension.  I took a piece of cling wrap and placed it over top, scrunching up the wrap as I put it over the Brushos.  Then I left it for about 1/2 hour to dry.  The colours tend to pool in the creases of the cling wrap.  When I removed the wrap, this is the design I got.  Love it!!  So artsy!  The panel was still a little wet, so left it to dry completely before heat embossing this awesome text stamp that I've had for ages.  My sentiment is on the inside of the card.

There are lots of fantastic cards in the gallery of the challenge already.  Why not check them out and come join in the fun.  Make a CAS (Clean and Simple) Watercoloured card with TEXT (other than sentiment) and play along.  The challenge is open until end of day Nov. 24th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Live Creatively (Stampendous)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Ultra Marine, Turquoise, Leaf Green; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Spray Starch, Cling Wrap, White embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour November Challenge - Text

Stencil Masking

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another way to mask, which is CAS Mix Up's November challenge.

This time I'm masking a stencil.  This can stretch the use of your stencils and you will get a lot more mileage from them.  To see what the full stencil looks like, click HERE to see a card I made a few months back.

I used a yellow watercolour spray to add a bit of texture for the background.  I wanted to use this flower stencil, but it is large and has five flowers on it.  So I masked off three of the flowers and just used two.  I sponged the flowers with three shades of distress inks and the stems with one.  Then I used my scissors to distress the edges of my main panel.  My CAS Mix Up card has stamping, masking, stenciling, sponging, and distressing. :)

There are lots of ways to mask, and I hope you'll make a CAS Masked mixed media card and join our challenge!

Stamps:  Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks: Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Yellow watercolour spray made from Liquid Watercolor Concentrate (Dick Blick), Bloom Group Stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), sponges

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Masking

Day Twelve - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Twelve!
It's been a great event again this year.  Thanks to everyone who played along or left messages of support!!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques:  Shaving Cream Marbling, Heat Embossing

Products:  Shaving cream, Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz).  Die:  Pine Trees (Tim Holtz) and Snow Hills (My Favorite Things), silver paper.  Season's Gifts stamp set (Penny Black), silver embossing powder, heat tool.  Crinkle ribbon dyed with Peacock Feathers ink.


Linda Walmsley
Guest Designer

Please check out Linda's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag below.  The linky will remain open for another week, closing at end of day Nov.25th, so there's still lots of time to play along.

Thanks to my amazingly creative Guest Designers for providing so much wonderful inspiration, and to all the challenge participants for playing along.

The top tags will be announced on Nov. 30th.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Eleven - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Eleven!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques:  Stenciling with Embossing Paste and Heat embossing

Products:  White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), Festive Stencil (Tim Holz), Gold Tinsel embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool.  Wreath made from mini, red glitter styrofoam balls glued to a ring of cardstock.  Warmth & Wonder stamp set (SU!), gold embossing powder, heat tool.  Gold sheer ribbon.



Tanja Kabel (Little Art Cottage)
Guest Designer

Please check out Tanja's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Ten - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Ten!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques:  Emboss Resist background with Brushos.  Stenciling with
Glass Bead Gel.  Torn edge.

Products:  Christmas Story background stamp (Penny Black), white embossing powder, heat tool.  Brushos: turquoise, ultra marine.  Glass bead gel (Golden), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says).  Dies: Leap of Joy (Penny Black) and Frosty Border (Memory Box).  Crinkle ribbon dyed with Brushos.



Christine Alexander
Guest Designer

Please check out Christine's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Nine - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Nine!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques: Paper towel background (left over brushos - green, lime green, yellow, turquoise), Dry embossing, Stenciling with embossing paste, Heated Copper, Torn edge, Heat embossing.

Products:  Brushos Mop-up paper towel, mister, On Point embossing folder (SU!), Embossing paste (Dreamweaver), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says).  Fir Trees die (Impression Obsession), copper sheets, butane torch.  Mixed Christimas Sentiments stamp set (Happy Little Stampers), copper embossing powder, heat tool.  Crinkle ribbon dyed with Brushos.



Vicki Dutcher
Guest Designer

Please check out Vicki's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Eight - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Eight!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques:  Smooshed Inka Gold background (click to see video tutorial)

Products: Inka Gold: Steel, Jade, Platinum (Viva Decor).  Silver Foil die-cut ornaments (gift from a friend), silver glimmer paper, silver cording.  Believe stamp set (Penny Black).  Crinkle ribbon dyed with inka gold colours.



Karen Dunbrook
Guest Designer

Please check out Karen's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Seven - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Seven!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques: Dropped alcohol inks background (click to see video tutorial),
Heat embossing

Products:  Alcohol Inks: Mermaid, Botanical, Indigo (Ranger), Blending Solution (Tim Holz), Yupo Paper.  Snowflake background stamp (Hero Arts). White embossing powder, heat tool (set on low). Ink:  Bermuda Bay (SU!). Mixed Christmas Sentiments stamp set (Happy Little Stampers).  White sheer ribbon.

Darnell Knauss
Guest Designer

Please check out Darnell's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Six - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Six!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques:  Splash Watercolour background (click to see video tutorial),
Dry Emboss Stenciling, Sponging

Products:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Pine Needles, Festive Berries (Tim Holz).  Holly stencil (Penny Black).  Mini red rhinestones.  Handy Christmas Greetings stamp set (Amy R).  Dyed Crinkle Ribbon.

Julia Aston
Guest Designer

Please check out Julia's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day Five - Twelve Tags of Christmas

Welcome to Day Five!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the right sidebar.

Loll

Techniques:  Rubber Band Embossing background, Heat embossing,
Shaped die-cuts with Gilding Flakes

Products:  rubber bands, brayer, clear embossing powder, heat tool.  Dies:  Blooming Poinsettia (Poppy Stamps), Little Leaves (Sizzix for SU!).  Gilding Flakes:  Warm Sunrise, Mulled Wine (Cosmic Shimmer).  Believe stamp set (Penny Black).  Gold Sheer ribbon.

Susan Bridgman
Guest Designer

Please check out Susan's blog to see a full description of how the above tag was made.

2016 Twelve Tags of Christmas Event Pinterest Board

(Click on link above)

Come join the fun!  Enter your mixed media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up