Today, is Day 3 of Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags. If you would like to see her tutorial, click on this link.
For my tag, I have used a selection of patterned papers with die cuts and punched trims to make the smaller tags within the pockett.
Today, is Day 2 of Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2025". The tag for today has a theme of "bright and cheerful", so that it is suitable for the warm sunny parts of the world in December. You can find Karen's tutorial for todays tag here.
I used the large daisy from the Visible Image stamp set called "Daisy Grunge", stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink off the edge of the tag. I then used two shades of Distress Oxide Inks (Squeezed Lemonade and Dried Marigold), through the Visible Image stencil called "Supernova".
I stamped the "Merry and Bright" sentiment, which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Stripped Back Christmas Sentiment" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink. I coloured the daisy using Derwent Inktense pencils. I used these colours for the petals: Mango, Wild Flame and Scarlet Pink. For the middle of the flower I used Sun Yellow and Golden Yellow.
Finally, I added touches of black Posca Pen dots, added "A Wink of Stella" to the middle of the flower for a lovely subtle gold tint and a gold coloured gel pen to the petals.
For the base of this card, I used "Forget Me Not" Ranger Archival Ink through the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Snippet Stencil Distressed Background - SS31" fading the ink out towards the right hand side and the top of the card.
Next I used the Tracy Evans "Garden Elements - TE30" stamp set for the background design over the diamonds, stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink. I then used the wellington boots stamp, from the Tracy Evans "Create Your Own Story - TE51" stamp set. stamping in Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink.
Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the black birds, which are part of the Tracy Evans "Garden Elements" stamp set. On a piece of white card, I used the same ink to stamp the sentiment, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Create Your Own Story" stamp set. I also used "Nocturne" for stamping the little hearts above the birds, which are part of the Tracy Evans "Quirky Birds - TE10" stamp set. Finally adding some dots of black Posca Pen around the main image.
For me, it is that lovely time of year, when I can embrace Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2025" series. Due to various commitments, Karen is not able to make new video content this year, instead using twelve of her favourite tags from the previous years. If you want to follow along, you can find her video for today on this link.
Here is my Day 1 tag. As I have made this tag, following Karen's colours previously, I decided to do something a bit different this time using cool whites, mauves, pinks and grey colours.
I painted a piece of corrugated cardboard using PaperArtsy "Snowflake" Fresco Finish chalk acrylic paint. Once dry, I stuck on various colours of card, showing the torn edges. On the pink card, I used a Lavinia Stamps "Winter Magic" stamp with Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the verse. I also used a couple of Lavinia Stamps "Snowflake Stickers" on the background too.
For the central stamped image, I used a Lavinia Stamps "Small Fairy Fir Tree" with "Dusty Concord" Distress Oxide Ink which was spritzed with a spray of water to make the stamping more water colour like. I edged the central white card uisng Versafine Clair "Hawthorne Rose" ink.
Finally, I added some co-ordinating die cuts using the Sizzix/Tim Holtz "Holiday Greens - 658759" die cut set. Adding a word sticker to the central area of the die cuts saying "Winter Vibes".
The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:
This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year. The challenge is very relaxed. You can do as much or as little as you like. You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time. You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.
There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges. You can find the group by clicking this link. I'd love you to join in.
The prompt for Week 46 is "Abstract"
I started by using two shades of Ranger Archival Ink to cover a white tag. The colours I used were: Sap Green and Periwinkle. I then used Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" turquoise coloured ink to stamp the circles in the background, using a Carabelle Studio "Inky Circles" stamp. In some of the circles, I added some Cosmic Shimmer Iridescent Shimmering water colour paint.
Next using a black fine liner pen and a roll of low tack tape, I drew round the inner and outer edges of the roll to achieve concentric circles. I then splattered white Posca Pen across the surface of the tag.
Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the owl, which is part of the Visible Image "Night Owl" stamp set. I stamped it again on a piece of white card, painted it with "Tea Dye" Distress Oxide Ink, then fussy cut the owl and stuck it into position on the tag.
Next, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink. I stamped the birds in the top right and bottom left of the tag, these are part of the Visible Image "Free Your Imagination" stamp set. Using the same ink, I stamped the words Love and Art. These are part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Beauty is art". Finally, I used a black Posca Pen to add some black splatters.
For this card, I used a piece of white card measuring approximately 4" x 5". I started by laying the Tracy Evane "Snippet Stencil Leaf -SS32" on to the card and applying two shades of Ranger Archival Inks through the stencil. The colours I used are: Monarch Orange and Leaf Green.
Using Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" light brown ink, I stamped the distressed harlequin stamp from the Tracy Evans "Create Your Own Story - TE51" stamp set around the leaf.
Next, using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink, I stamped the berries and the berry sentiment, both are part of the Tracy Evans "Berries - TE55" stamp set. I then used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to stamp the mouse which is also part of TE55 stamp set.
I used a red and white Posca Pens to colour the berries, adding touches of Ranger Glossy Accents to achieve a 3D look to the berries. Finally, I added some extra detail to the leaf using a 2B pencil and a gold coloured gel pen.
My second play with the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create Your Own Story - TE51" stamp set, making this Christmas card.
I started with a white 4" square piece of card. I used a circle mask and a blending brush with "Manganese Blue" Ranger Archival Ink for the sky and landscape, adding touches of "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival Ink to the top edges of the circle.
Keeping the circle mask in position, I stamped the hares and the berries using Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" light brown ink. I then added more colour to the hares using Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink in second generation stamping, this achieved a lighter colour. Both the hares and the berries are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs stamp set called "Create Your Oen Story - TE51". I then stamped the sentiment, which is part of a Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny Words - Christmas" using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.
Next, I moved on to colouring the images. I used a red and brown fine liner pen to go round the berries and the branches. I then used two Derwent Inktense pencils a green and a red, to add more colour to those areas. I added touches of white gel and Posca Pens for highlights to the berries and the hares. Finally adding some Ranger Glossy Accents to some of the berries to achieve a 3D look to them.
