Monday 12 September 2011

It's September Giveaway Time...

Goodly Morning Stampers! Here I am again with my monthly giveaway, which this month is... a Christmas tag! I have been getting sparkley and festive with some of those brand new Tim Holtz Collection Christmas stamps that have just arrived at Artistic Headquarters. To be in with a chance of winning the tag, all you need to do is leave me a comment here... and answer this very simple question... do you... make your own Christmas cards... and if you do... when do you start making them? Me? I am the worlds laziest crafter and for the past three years I have been doing the "panic-it's-December-1st-and-I-haven't-made-a-single-card-yet" thing... so this year I am ahead of the game... I have my inky mitts on the new Tim Holtz stamps...and... even better.. if it could get better... the new Christmas IDEA-OLOGY!!!


So... here's how I made the tag... and below will be a list of ingredients with links to the places on the website that they are... so you can hop over and grab some goodies :O))

First of all the tag was made using the Tag Alterations die... cutting plain white cardstock and some of the gorgeous Seasonal Paper Stash... sticking them together and then using a very washy coat of Traditional Tan to dull the pattern down a bit. Next I smooshed Distress Stains onto my craft sheet, spritzed with water, dipped the tag into the inks and then dried with a heat tool.




I made sure the tag was totally dry... then used embossing ink to stamp the greeting... gold embossing powder to emboss and then used the same for stamping and embossing the heavenly crackle background... The Rosettes were cut from more of the Seasonal Stash... and then dabbed with embossing ink... lightly embossed with more gold powder and then the crowning glory... the brand new Christmas Muse Token. I made a little postcard from more of the papers and then coated this with Rock Candy Stickles... a line of bling finished the tag as well as some Seam Binding that I dyed with more Distress Stains. As promised... here are the ingredients:

Tim Holtz Collection: Christmas Memories CMS118 (sentiment), Joyful Song CMS 119 (Crackle background)
Seasonal Paper Stash
Idea-ology - Christmas Muse Tokens, Memo Pin, Mini Safety Pin, Jump Ring
Tim Holtz Alterations: Rosette, Mini Rosettes, Tag DiesLinkDistress Stains: Stormy Sky, Fired Brick
Embossing Ink
Rock Candy Stickles
Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
Seam Binding



So... there you have it :O)) The winner of the tag will be chosen at random and announced on October 3rd 2011.... please leave me a comment and tell me about your Xmas card making habits... I would love to hear all about it! Thanks for looking...TTFN

Hels x

25 comments:

CraftyJo said...

That tag is fab! I not only make my xmas cards - this year I'm making my mother-in-laws as well. I started back in April - don't like to be last minute. I tend to make lots of different ones 'cos I get bored doing lots the same, the only ones that are *basically* the same are the ones I send to members of our GoldWing Club ('cos they get them all at the same time and can compare!).

~Tonya said...

Beautiful tag!! Love all the new things coming out from CHA! I just wish they would come a little faster :)

I make some of my cards for my close friends and family, otherwise, I send purchased ones. I normally make my cards in the beginning of Dec. not because I am a procrastinator, but because I normally have not time.

sharon said...

I make all of my cards and often sell a few as well. Now that we live in Australia I find the idea of Summer Christmas all rather wrong, so I start making my cards, all different, in the depths of our winter - usually in July/August with the aim of being finished by October. Then I make my Christmas cakes - for us, our sons who are not living 'at home' now, and two other couples. By November I am ready for the indolent days of the long hot summer to come.

jude said...

This is absolutely stunning!
Well you mentioned Crimbo yeah not too far away so my daughters keep reminding me .Due to health issues im so behind this yesr last year i was finished by this time.
Now not even started not, to even one ,zero,nothing...sooooo way behind but havent had that bit of get up and go to create my crimbo cards .With so much going on in life i can see going to be very late or even do the cardinal sin of buying them....Did i just say that ...OMG......!

Glennis F said...

This is so gorgeous!
I have made one or two already but will start the bulk of them next month

Larisa said...

very beautiful tag! Love these things a lot)))

Gabrielle said...

This tag is just gorgeous, as always! I make my cards. Well - I start making my Christmas cards in my head in July but only actually do anything about it when cards from other people start dropping through my door! I do it in a production line so that when they finally get assembled it looks really satisfying! This year it's tags (see, I've made them in my head already!)

Sid said...

Great tag and no, I don't do Christmas cards !

craftimamma said...

Brilliant tag and I can see why you love those muse tokens. Spent too much already this month though (some of it with Jennie) so by pay day I bet they'll all be gone :((

Love the blingy rosette, it looks fab with the embossing.

I made a start on my Christmas cards 2 months ago ............. but only because they were DT ones, lol! Thought I was going to have to buy last year but managed to make most of them by the skin of my teeth 2nd week of December, Phew!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Joanne said...

Some wonderful techniques on your tag which has turned out fantastically. I make my own Xmas cards and generally start around November, but this year, I started last month!!!! Only made 4 so far though. I want to make some today now after seeing yours but have to ir...., *ro... ***n... sorry can't seem to say that word.
Hugs Joanne xxx

Helen said...

What a gorgeous tag and I love the idea-ology. I haven't started yet - meant to these few days I've been off - got today and tomorrow.... yikes. It will be a mad dash as usual....

Maria said...

Stunning tag! In answer to your question, yes I do make my own Xmas cards but like you, I'm usually late and start in December - panicking, lol! This year I will be more organised and try to pick out certain stamps to use, rather than a bit of everything. Maria x

Marianne said...

What a stunning tag!!! I love it!
Our christmasses are full of just being together and familydiner.
Greetings from Holland,
Marianne

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely tag Hels, love the papers and embellishments. I always make my own cards but have to do a few at a time as they always take me ages but then again anything I make takes me ages. Tracy x

Alison Horne said...

HMMM, maybe if I bought the stash I could add these rosettes to my shoes? Maybe a bit sloany for me.x
I love the combination of red and blue for christmas. I do make my own cards, but as i am a 'freddy few mates'. not that many, I love going really ott with colour and embellishment at xmas.x

Shazza said...

absolutely gorgeous work hels. I make SOME of my cards, only to those who I know will apprecaite handmade now. Usually start making them towards end of ocotber- refuse to think of Christmas until after my birthday :0)

Emma E said...

Gorgeous tag - I love the colours and the gold embossing! Last christmas was the first time I made cards, and only made them for family and close friends. Its what started me off into stamping! This year I hope to make all my christmas cards, but knowing me I'll plan for ages then have a last minute panic!

Kathy Eddy said...

Gorgeous as always! I do make my own cards, and like you usually don't get them started until the first of December or later. Every year I swear I will make 10-15 a month and have them all done by summer's end, but I just don't do it!!!

Kirsten Alicia said...

Gorgeous tag!!! I've only given one thought to this year's C cards so far & that is.....blue & purple. That's it. :)

Margie said...

Love the tag and yes, I make my cards but only for the special people in my life who usually get a handmade gift from me as well. Then for the others, I cheat and buy a nice pack of charity cards and add a little touch to make them look different - like a little stamped robin!

windycindy said...

You tag is gorgeous! It is the look that I adore...I make cards for my family and best friends! Sometimes, I purchase Christmas cards for people that I don't know so well.
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Dragon said...

Well arn't you the previous one!!! and isn't it fabulous as always... I usually do mine through the end of October and into November... I don't have millions to do, but I can NOT do them earlier in the year, it is ALL WRONG!!!
Frankie
xx

Gerda Weiland said...

Wow, what a great tag! I always WANT to start my christmasprojects in the summer. Hope for nice weather so I can sit in the garden and embroider my christmascards. Alas this year NO summer at all in The Netherlands, so I still have to start.... But I do always make my own, since 25 years now...

gayle said...

I am much worse than that I'm afraid! I have been known to still be working on Christmas cards on Christmas Eve! I often have all good intentions of making cards for everybody but often end up having to limit to my nearest and dearest and buying some extra cards to compensate *gasp* :-D

Mandy Makes and Mends said...

Hey Hels
I lurve this tag its great. Loving the colours and they way the rosette has come out.
I wonder if i will get away with making small tags this year instead of crimbo cards.... i try to make mine, at least i tell him indoors i do!! how else could i explain my need for all this crafting stuff. lol !!