More Christmas Tags to Cards Conversions

I got out the Christmas tags that I made last year at Dar and Luci's 2015 Christmas Tags class, which I fully intended to turn into card, but didn't get that far last year.  As I made these tags, I kept in mind that they would become part of a card, so that I modified lengths if needed, etc.  Take a peek below at more of my finished card made from these tags.

My first two tags were designed by Dar Peterson.  The only change I made to the first tag was to make my layers with narrower edges with the goal in mind to shorten the tag, making it more usable on a card front.  I began with a white card base and added a Real Red mat layer on top.  I found some pretty green holly berry paper to use for my center panel directly under the tag, adding a punched border in gold foil to its edges.  I really love the richness of all the red, greens, and gold together. . .it makes for a lovely card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Cardstocks: Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Gold Foil.  Stamps: Your Presents (package stripe/ sentiment - 2015 Holiday).  Dies: Banners framelits; Mini Treat Bag (bow); Top Note BigZ (inside-retired).  Gold Embossing Powders: Gold; Real Red.  Other - Punch: EK Arrow Border;/ Victorian Corners.  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

With the second of Dar's tags, I made the tag exactly as she designed it because it was the perfect size just the way it was.  I decided on a red cardbase with a gray mat layer, but decided to dress it up the gray with my own stamped silver metallic snowflakes.  I found a mini red Christmas print that would coordinate nicely with the tags delicate diagonal stripe.  It would be the card's center panel, and  I added a petite decorative punched edge to its edges.  With the tag sentiment being "do not open before Christmas," I had to be a little innovative with my inside verse.  Take a peek below at the finished card with the inside designed and verse to compliment its front.

       

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Cardstock:  Real Red, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Silver Foil.  Kit: Oh, What Fun Tag Kit (silver snowflake/ tag background-2015 Holiday).  Stamps: Oh, What Fun!; Endless Wishes (snowflakes).  Ink: Real Red. Encore Metallic Silver (retired).  Home for Christmas Enamel Dots (2015 Holiday).  Real Red Thick Baker's Twine.  Other - Echo Park paper: 'Tis the Season.  Recollections punch: Mini Snowflake.  Pink Posh silver sequins.

My second two tag cards were designed by Luci Kirschbaum.  I made several changes to the tag.  I shortened the tags length, scalloped the bottom edge, added a Real Red mat under layer, and changed to a Christmas star ribbon rather than Baker's Twine.  Once all these changes were completed, I was ready to start on my card design.  I chose a Cucumber Crush green cardbase and added a real read mat layer and then topped these layers with a diagonal striped paper with rounded corners.  I banded the card face toward the bottom third tying it in a ribbon knot with the same ribbon used in the tag.  I was really happy with my perky ribbon tagged card.

         

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Cardstocks:  Cucumber Crush, Real Red, Whisper White (inside).  This Christmas Specialty dsp/ stripe.  Stamps: Peaceful Pines (+ Peaceful Pines framelits); To You & Yours Too (stars-2015 Holiday).  Ink:  Cucumber Crush, Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black.  Punch:  Scalloped Tag Topper; Itty Bitty Accents-Star (inside-retired).  Stash: 5/8" Christmas Grograin ribbon.  Sequins.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

 My last tag card was also designed by Luci Kirschbaum, and my alterations to it was, once again, to shorten it a bit to better fit the card front and to add a silver glitter paper mat backing to the entire tag, not just behind the star punch-outs.  I decided my card design would have a Shimmery White cardbase with a Night of Navy mat layer under the silver-striped vellum.  I banded the card horizontally with a one-inch navy bank trimmed with a silver glitter punched border at the top and the bottom.  I finished it with navy blue rhinestones (colored with Copic markers) on all corners.   I finished off the card with an inside design to compliment the card front and added a Christmas verse using my computer.

           

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Carstocks: Shimmery White, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer.  Fancy Foil Vellum/ Silver Stripe (retired).  Punch: Scalloped Tag Topper; Confetti Stars Border.  Dies: Wonderful Wreath framelits; Top Note BigZ (retired).  Other:  Punches: EK-Arrow Border.  Recollections-Mini Snowflake.  Rhinestones colored with Copics.  Computer-made Verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Liking That Christmas "Believe" Tag

I so liked my first card design made to accommodate the "Believe" tag I made at the Christmas tag-making event last year, that I decided to try other vellum patterns with my black and gold card. (Credit for the :"Believe" tag design belongs to Luci Kirschbaum...thanks Luci).   Check out my two additional black and gold creations with different vellums, which is your favorite?  (To see my first "Believe" card, see my post of December 6).

 But, why stop there...next I tried two more vellum patterns with a navy and silver version.  Now, which do you like...the black version or the navy version.  I have to admit, though the navy and silver are very nice, I still like the black version best.

Ingredients:
Black & Gold:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold Foil.  Winter Wonderland Vellum dsp stack (2015 Holiday).  Stamps--Lighthearted Leaves (sentiment-2015 Holiday).  Dies--Stars framelits.   Metallic Sequin Asst.  Black & Gold Thick Baker's Twine.  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black.  Other:  EK punches--Victorian Corners, Arrow Border.  Stash--assorted brands of washi tape.  Dies--Savvy/ Ribbon Group (inside).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Navy & Silver:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Whisper White, Gold Foil.  Winter Wonderland Vellum dsp stack (2015 Holiday).  Stamps-- Lighthearted Leaves (sentiment-2015 Holiday).  Dies--Stars framelits.  Metallic Sequin Asst. (Navy = Copic colored).  Navy & White Baker's Twine.  Ink--Night of Navy.  Other:  EK punches--Victorian Corners, Arrow Border.  Dies--Savvy/ Ribbon Group.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

"Believe" Tag Becomes a Lovely Christmas Card

Once again, from the Christmas tag-making event that I attended last year, hosted by Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, I modified and turned a beautiful black and gold tag, whose original design must be credited to Luci.  This was my favorite of all tags, and I'm not sure why.  Maybe, it had to do with its black and gold colors, or the sentiment "Believe," or the stars..., OR, maybe it was a combination of all three!

First, I had to shorten the tag by over an inch, resulting in finished length of  4-3/4 inches.  Its original length was just too long to fit onto a card unless I wanted to make a very tall and narrow card, which I did not.  I actually like the tag shorter, as it caused all of the elements into a a more compact display with less white space.  To be able to shorten the tag, I moved the "Believe" sentiment closer to the toward the top, rearranged the metallic stars, and I made the washi tape angle just a bit more shallow.  My final touch was to make my tag string a bow instead of straight strands.  I liked the result just as well as the original...so I was ready to begin with making it into a card.

My card base would be black, and I found a gold metallic, small dot vellum that looked just right for the design I had in mind.  I added a black band across the lower half edged in a gold foil petite border punch and finished off the vellum corners with gold foil.  I am very happy with my card design and stoked with how well it displays this lovely tag.  (Thanks Luci for tag design that inspired my card).

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products - Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold Foil.  Winter Wonderland Vellum dsp stack (2015 Holiday).  Stamps: Lighthearted Leaves (sentiment-2015 Holiday).  Dies: Stars framelits.  Winter Wonderland Washi (2015 Holiday).  Metallic Sequin Asst. Black & White Baker's Twine.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Other - EK punches: Victorian Corners, Arrow Border.  Dies: Savvy Ribbon Group (inside).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Photo Fuse Christmas Shaker w/Foil Transfer. . .

I want to show you my third shaker Christmas card that I made using the WRMK Photo Fuse Tool, which makes your acrylic shaker envelope by heat sealing the edge.  Inside my shaker envelope I chose to use the 'tis the Season... tag after using the Minc Heat Transfer technique that adhere red foil to my tag.  As I noted in several previous posts, I recently saw these tools demonstrated at a card class held at our new Running Scissors scrapbook store in Kent, Washington. 

To my shaker tag, I decided to adhere a red foil cardstock layer to my tag a cut their corners using the WRMK Deco corner punch.  I added several layers to my white cardbase using red foil cardstock and a Christmas tree patterned paper featured just under neath my tag shaker envelope.  Next, I dressed it up with a little sheer organdy ribbon that a colored with my Copic markers to move its color shade a bit closer to my patterned paper.  I am really pleased with the results, and I hope you like it as well!

Recipe:  SU Whisper White cardstock; red foil cardstock (2015 Holiday catalog).  DCWV Christmas Mat Stack.  Heidi Swapp Minc Tags ('tis the season...), Minc Reactive Foil: Red (used with Minc Heat Machine).  Pink Posh: red mini sequins.  Craft Medley: green sequins.  WRMK Photo Fuse sleeve (made with WRMK Photo Fuse Tool).  Cake Sprinkles (snow).  Offray 5/8" Sheer ribbon (colored with Copic marker).  (Size: 4-5/8" x 5-3/4").

Birthday Brother Celebration!

My brother celebrates one of those milestone birthdays this month.  I made a card a few months ago designed by my Stampin" Up friend, Liz Thayer, at one of her Friday Night Card Buffets.  I absolutely love the stamp set we used: Timeless Talk, and I was glad that I had already added it to my stamp collection.  I had to use it again for my brother's card to remind him that with this birthday, he is timeless, so I borrowed the telephone-stamped tag design by Liz to add to my brother's card.  Thanks Liz!

I decided to use my new Hardwood stamp, but wanted it bigger so fiddled with stamping and found I could line up the already stamped image again with the stamp edge and re-stamp beside it.  You couldn't even tell where the two met....I was stoked!  The paper I used is a retired paper from Stampin' Up called Mocha Morning, which has a slight gold shimmer in some of the stripes, though it doesn't show up much in the picture of the card.  I decided to try the Gold Metallic Encore ink pad (sold in this year's Stampin' Up Holiday catalog) to stamp my woodgrain onto Early Espresso cardstock.  It was very pretty and shimmery when I finished.  I hated to cover it up, but oh well, it was planned as a layer, so covered up it got, except for framing around the striped layers.  Following is my finished card, and I think my brother will like it really well, especially the verse inside, so I will share it as well!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers: Baked Brown Sugar cs (base), Early Espresso cs, Always Artichoke cs, Very Vanilla cs; Mocha Morning Speciality dsp.  Stampin' Up Stamp: Timeless Talk. Inks: Tsukineko Encore--Gold Metallic; Stampin' Up Always Arthichoke.  Stampin' Up Other: Scallop Tag Topper punch, Gold Metallic Baker's Twine, Button.  Recollection: Gold Metallic Star Brad. EK Fancy Corner Punch (inside).

Merry Christmas Glitter - Tag Card #6

My last a final tag card conversion.  This was just such fun to prove to myself that I was right...a tag could be made into a lovely card.  Again, I change and tweaked the layout on this tag and added some elements to fill in areas to fit my ribbon and bow that I wanted to add to this card.  I also added tiny rhinestones for Christmas tree lights, and, yes, I am much happier with the smaller rhinestones than the size I used in Tag Card #4,  I deviated from all Stampin' Up papers on this bone and used BoBunny's Double Dot Frost Blue for my main background mat.  I really like the use of the oval Silver Glimmer paper on the Crumb Cake Decorative Label to fill in, and the addition of the small Silver Glimmer snowflake and the rhinestone center on scalloped circle element is a plus as well.  Now, I am inspired to try a tag on other occasion cards as well.

Inspiration from Christmas Tags by Heidi Gonzales - mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com.Recipe:  SU stamps: Scentsational Season (tree), Mixed Medley (scallop design/ sentiment). SU dies: Two Tags Bigz, Holiday Collections framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits (trim). SU Punch: 2-3/8” Scallop, 1-1/4” Scallop, 3/4” circle, 1-3/4” large oval, Decorative Label. Martha Stewart Punch: Aspen corner (mini snowflake). SU papers: Cardstocks-Early Espresso base, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla-tag; Silver Glitter paper; Festival of Prints dsp stack. SU Ink: Early Espresso, Gumball Green. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). SU Rhinestones (Copic color). Queen&Co. Twinkle Goosebumps-crystal. Hug Snug seam binding-Tropic Wine. Stash: Silver ribbon. SU Early Espresso Baker’s Twine.

Christmas Tree Sparkle - Tag Card #4!

Tag Card #4 really brings on the Christmas season with its sparkly little Christmas tree.  I made a few paper and layout changes to this tag, plus added lots of little rhinestones for tree lights instead of leaving them white.  There is a story behind that, of course.  

I tried using Perfect Pearls liquid first.  I just couldn't get all the round dots to be uniform so that I was happy with it.  After the liquid pearls dried, it confirmed that I just wouldn't be satisfied with the way it turned out.  I took my trusty Cricuit spatula and scraped off the dried liquid pearls.   This little Cricuit spatula (looks like a mini pancake turner) is so good for lifting off glued down items...don't know what I would do without it...even though, obviously, I am not using it for the purpose for which it was created.  I was able to get the pearls off and have a flat surface again, but the pearls "stained" the tree's circles red, green, blue, etc.  Therefore, I had to put on rhinestones at least large enough to cover the staining.  I would have been happier with rhinestones the next size smaller.  By the way, I colored my rhinestones with Copic markers to match the color shades in the paper used.

Inspiration from Christmas Tags by Heidi Gonzales - mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com.Recipe:  SU stamps: Scentsational Season (tree), Mixed Medley (snowflake). SU dies: Two Tags Bigz, Holiday Collections framelits. SU Punch: 2-3/8” Scallop, 3/4” circle, 1-1/4” Scallop. Zutter Corner Rounder. SU papers: Cardstocks- Cherry Cobbler base, Marine Mist, Very Vanilla; Festival of Prints dsp stack, First Edition Specialty dsp, Silver Glitter paper. SU Ink: Early Espresso, Gumball Green. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). SU Rhinestones (Copic colored). Queen&Co. Twinkle Goosebumps-green. Hug Snug seam binding ribbon: Gabardine Green, Spring Green. SU Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine.

Candy Canes Christmas Tag Card #3

I'm having such great fun turning these tags into Christmas cards!  It is really putting me in a festive mood.  I just love the candy canes on my Tag card #3.

I added an an Old Olive Open Scallop punched border to the design running down the center of my tag to give it a bit more color.  I also changed the scalloped circle to a green paper with a bit of red as I thought this would also add more color.  I stamped my Crumb Cake (tan) Decorative Label with SU's Crumb Cake ink and the Flowering Flouishes stamp to give the plain cardstock some additional interest.  I added to and changed the tag ribbons, added some candy dots and a Cherry Cobbler fishtail mat behind the sentiment.  Following is a picture of Tag card #3 with a picture of Heidi's original tag.  By comparing the two you can see how card #3 evolved.  

Inspiration from Christmas Tags by Heidi Gonzales - mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com.
Recipe:  SU stamps: Scentsational Season (canes), Flowering Flourishes, More Merry Messages (sentiment). SU dies: Two Tags Bigz, Holiday Collections framelits. SU Punch: 2-3/8” Scallop, 3/4” circle, Decorative Label, Scallop Trim border. EK Punch: Medium Scallop Photo Corner. SU papers: Cardstocks- Very Vanilla base/tag, Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade; Festival of Prints dsp stack, Silver Glitter paper. SU Ink: Soft Suede, Real Red. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). Old Olive Candy Dots. Hug Snug seam binding ribbon: Moss Green. SU Crochet Trim. SU Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine.

Christmas is Coming - Snowflake-Gingerbread Man - Tag Card #1!

Guess what...the rest of the month of November leaves me free and clear of any birthdays, anniversaries, or other non-holiday cards needed or that I want to make.  Yahoo!  This means I can devote all of my cardmaking creativity to getting ready for Christmas!  

I bought a kit of six Christmas tags in 2012 that were designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com).  They are all using Stampin' Up's Scentsational Scents stamp and die set.  I decided to bring out the kit and get started.  Now, I knew when I bought this set of tags that I would not be using them as package tags, but rather converting them to Christmas cards; therefore, I have taken the liberty of making some paper layout changes to help with the card layering that I wanted to use.  Following, is the first tag I converted to a card.  

 

With this tag, I added the Cherry Cobbler mat behind the tag to give it more color against the green patterned layer next to the tag.  I also shortened my center fishtail banner and added rhinestone buttons to Mr. Gingerbread.  I used Cherry Cobbler as my cardbase as well.  Next, I added a layer of silver glimmer paper and the matching green pattern, with Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon with a double bow.  I was very pleased with my "tag" card, and am excited to make the other five "tag" cards.  Watch for them as they appear in my blog throughout the month of November!

Recipe:  Recipe:  SU stamps: Scentsational Season (gingerbread), Snowflake Soiree. SU dies: Two Tags Bigz, Holiday Collections framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits (pinking). SU Punch: 2-3/8” Scallop, 1-3/4” circle. Zutter Corner Rounder. SU papers: Cardstocks- Cherry Cobbler-base, Very Vanilla-tag; Silver Glitter paper; Be of Good Cheer dsp, Festival of Prints dsp stack. SU Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). SU Rhinestones. Hug Snug seam binding cream. SU Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine.

My Last Easter "Must Do" Card!

I think this will be my final card this year with an Easter theme.  I have made all the necessary ones and gotten those off in the mailed or sealed and ready for delivery on Easter Sunday.  I actually got a few extras done and sent to old friends just to touch base and say "Hi!"  And, I still have more ideas roaming around in my mind as I look over my stash.  But, I must move on to birthday cards needed that will be coming up in April.  Cardmaking is a great hobby, there's always another occasion and a need for one more card! 

I've really enjoyed making my Easter cards this year and still being able to stick to my goal to use everything I already had on-hand.  A good feeling indeed

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Gumball Green, Real Red Core'dinations.  Patterns:  Creative Imaginations Samantha Walker Eggs and Stripe. Stamps: Wacky Wishes. Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy. Papertrey die: Picket Fence. EK punch: 1" Scallop Circle and Standard hole punch.  Creatology Felt bunny and foam leaves (Michael's). Bazzill .75 Bachelor Flower. Jolee Yellow Verbena.  Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss. Ribbon from stash. Signature multi-hue thread/ teals to green (Joann's).