Karen Telfer Craft - 12 Days of Christmas 2024 - Day 1

On the run up to each Christmas, I usually take part in Karen Telfer's Christmas Tag challenge.  Because we were living in the caravan and I didn't have my craft supplies, I wasn't able to take part in 2024.  Now my craft room is set up, I thought I had better get cracking on the tags.  For 2024, Karen was doing 12 tags rather than 24 as she had a busy work schedule.

So this is my Day 1 tag (here's the link to Karen's tutorial)

My tag is pretty similar, but also a little different from the one Karen has made.  I used the Lavinia Stamps "Holly" stamp with "Rustic Wilderness" Distress Oxide Ink and a red Posca Pen.  I used the Sizzix "Holiday Greens -65859" for the die cuts.  In my stash I found some co-ordinating frosted looking baubles that I'd rescued from used Christmas crackers.

Day 24 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge - The Final Day

It is Day 24, the final day of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge and I am already missing it!  I have absolutely loved taking part this year.  Karen always has the ability to inspire me.  So I would like to say a big thank you to Karen for planning, sharing her ideas, taking the time to video her tag making and commenting on all the posts on Social Media.  Karen is a total star in my eyes.

The Day 24 tag is all about using your favourites.  I've used my favourite colours and techniques on this tag.  

Starting with a white piece of tag shaped card, I used three shades of Distress Oxide Inks, using Salvaged Patina, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch.

I splattered water droplets over the surface to achieve a bleached speckled look to the background.  I then splattered some silver metalic paint over the surface in the same way.  I used a heat gun to dry the surface.

Next I used the Funky Fossil Designs "Vintage Script" stamp, in second generation stamping using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

The next layer to go on the tag was using "Chipped Sapphire" Distress Oxide Ink through the Visible Image "Ye Olde Christmas Stencil". I then gave it a blast of the heat gun to totally dry the surface.

The next step was using Wow! Embossing Ink and Wow! "Bright White Super Fine" embossing powder with the Visible Image "Peace, Love & Hope" stamp set for the word "peace" and the "snowflakes.

I inked the edge of the tag with Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" ink.  I used glue tape to stick the tag to the dark blue card.  Finally, I added sticky backed gems to the snowflakes and the background for a bit of sparkle.

Front Cover for Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

Now that the end of Karen Telfer's tag challenge is in sight, the last tag is tomorrow. I decided I needed to create a front and back cover for my book ring of 2023 tags.  This is what I made.

I've used a design very similar to one I made recently, but this time there isn't a stag but instead I created a line of text in matching ink and printed it out, cut it to size and then use a gold gel pen to decorate around the Stampin' Up "Merry Patterns" sentiment, stamped in Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink.

Day 23 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge.

 

Well it has been a bit of a marathon, but I am now up to date with my tags, ready for the final one tomorrow.

The main image is part of a Woodware stamp called "Poinsettia Corner - JGS360", which I have heat embossed using Wow! Rich gold embossing powder on the tag, but also on two small pieces of card.

I used the same Wow! embossing powder to stamp and heat set the sentiment, which is part of the Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny Words - Christmas".

I coloured the stamped poinsettia images using Distress Oxide Inks, the colours I used are:  Peeled Paint and Rustic Wilderness for the leaves and Festive Berries and Candied Apple for the petals.

I fussy cut the two flowers on the small pieces of card.  I used foam pads on the underside of the petals and wet glue in the middle.  Once in postion I added some Ranger "Glossy Accents" to the very middle of the flower and dropped some tiny bronze coloured beads into it.

I mounted the card on to a piece of green card then coloured the berries using a red Posca Pen and a white gel pen for highlights.

Day 22 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

 

This is my Day 22 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

For the tag, I have used the candles, fir branch and the sentiment from the Stampin' Up stamp set called "Merry Patterns".

I stamped the candles and sentiment in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, stamping the fir branch in Versafine Clair "Rain Forest" green ink.

I coloured the background with two shades of Distress Oxide Inks, using "Antique Linen" for the inner area, edging with "Festive Berries" Distress Oxide Ink.

Masking off the candles, I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink with the Funky Fossil Designs "Vintage Script" stamp, stamped in second generation stamping.

I coloured the candles with a paint brush using "Festive Berries" Distress Oxide Ink and yellow and orange Posca Pens for the flame.

I grounded the candles by painting a shadow using "Weathered Wood" Distress Oxide Ink and added berries to the fir branch using a red Posca Pen.  Finally, mounting the tag on to a piece of grey card.

Day 21 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

I'm still playing catch up with my tags after a few days away, but I am getting there! This is my Day 21 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

I've used a plain white tag, covering the surface in "Antique Linen" Distress Oxide Ink and then edging the tag with "Festive Berries" Distress Oxide Ink.

I lay a Funky Fossil Designs stencil over the top of the tag, securing it in position with a piece of low tack tape.  I then used four shades of Ranger Archival Inks through the stencil.  The colours that I used are:  Watering Can, Plum, Library Green and Red Geranium.

At the base of the tag, I stamped the "Yuletide Greetings" sentiment, which is part of the Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny Words - Christmas".  Finally, I mounted the tag on to a piece of pinkish coloured card.

Day 20 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

 

This is my Day 20 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

On a plain white tag, I used Versafine Clair "Glamorous" pink ink to stamp the Funky Fossil Designs "Fa La La" stamp.  I used the same ink to edge the tag too.

I used a selection of colours of Paper Artsy Fresco Finish "Chalk Arcylic" paints to paint the squares and rectangles to create the impression of gifts.  I used gel and Poscal Pens to decorated the gift shapes and then mounted the tag on to a piece of purple card.

Day 19 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

I'm playing catch up on my tags again as I was away at the weekend attending a course.  I'll share with you what I was up to in my next post.

This is my Day 19 tag of "Karen Telfer's 24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

For my tag, I used two Lavinia Stamps the "Mystic Swirl" and "Christmas Charms", stamped in Wow! clear embossing ink, coated in Wow! Rich Gold Embossing Powder and then heat set.

I then created the background colour using two shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  "Twisted Citron" and "Lucky Clover".  I deliberately kept the darker ink away from the hanging star, to give the impression that the star is shining light. I rubbed over the heat embossing with a cloth to remove any ink that was over it.

Next, I used a fan shaped paint brush, dipped in water and tapping the brush over the surface of the tag, creating tiny droplets, I then blotted the water, which left a lovely bleached splattered look.

I used the same technique with metalic gold paint to add tiny gold flecks across the surface of the tag.

Finally, I mounted the tag on to a piece of red card and outlined the inner tag with a metalic gold pen.

Day 18 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

This is my Day 18 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

For this tag, I blended two Distress Oxide colours, using "Mustard Seed" and "Festive Berries" to cover the tag base.

I used white Gesso through the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Tiny Poinsettia Stencil THS165", applied with a finger dabber.

I then splattered white paint from a fan shaped paint brush to create the white dots.

Next, I used Ranger black "Archival Ink", applied with a finger dabber through the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Poinsettia Duo stencil THS153".

I mounted the tag on to a piece of black card, finally adding some white dots of Ranger "Enamel Accents" to the middle of the flowers.

Day 17 of Karen Tefer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge.

This is my Day 17 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

I've used similar, but different stamps than those used by Karen, but overall if you don't look to closely it looks the same!

I swooshed a white tag through "Peacock Feathers" Distress ink, drying with a heat gun and then swooshing again to get a build up of colour. 

Once dry, I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" to stamp the music notes which is part of the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Butterfly Menage" stamp set.

Using the same stamp set, I stamped the butterfly/moths down the middle of the tag, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I used the same ink to stamp the "25th December" but I don't recall who made that stamp!

Next, I used "Blueprint Sketch" Distress Oxide Ink to go around the edges of the tag.

Finally, adding a drift of white dots, using a Signo Pen, before mounting on to dark blue card.

Day 16 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

 

It's Day 16 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.  Today the tag has a theme of "Splashes of Colour".  For my tag I've used a stamp set and stencil from Funky Fossil Designs.

I started by stamping the paint brush and tube of paint, both are part of the Funky Fossil Designs stamp set called "Artsy" which I think may now be retired.  I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist".

I coated the stamped image in "Pebeo" Drawing Gum / Masking Fluid and set aside for a few minutes to dry.

Once dry, I lay the Funky Fossil Designs "Splatters" over the tag and made various coloured splatters over the tag using Distress Oxide Inks.  The colours that I used are:

• Salvaged Patina
• Cracked Pistachio
• Mermaid Lagoon 
• Wilted Violet

I then went around the edge of the tag with "Blueprint Sketch" Distress Oxide Ink.

Once dry, I used the Frisk "Maskaway" eraser to rub off the masking fluid from the paint brush and tube image.

I used Derwent Inktense pencils to colour the paint brush and paint tube, also using a metalic silver gel pen in places too.

Next, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the sentiment on the paint tube.  The sentiment is also part of the Funky Fossil "Artsy" stamp set.  Finally, I mounted the tag on a piece of dark blue card.

Day 15 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

It's Day 15 of Karen Telfer's '24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.  Today it's about heat embossing on black card.

For my tag, I have used a Christmas tree stamp from the Pink Ink Designs "Beary Christmas" stamp set.  The sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny words -  Christmas".  For  both stamps I used a Wow! clear ink pad to stamp the images and then coated with Wow! Rich Gold super fine embossing powder and heat set.

I coloured the baubles on the Christmas tree using red and orange glitter gel pens.

I used a metalic gold gel pen to add a wavy edge to the black tag and added gold snowflakes using the gel pen too.  I then mounted the tag on to a piece of red card.

Day 14 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

 

I'm an early bird getting my tag done and out of the way today.  This is my Day 14 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tage 2023" challenge, with a theme of "vintage".

For the background, I used a page from an old second hand Welsh hymn book.

I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to stamp the Stampscapes "Pines & Rocks 195G" image.  I used a pale blue Derwent Inktense pencil to add touches of colour, then I inked areas using "Coffee" Ranger Archival Ink.

I edged the tag with Versafine Clair "Pinecone" dark brown ink and then used a "Destress Tool" to roughen up the edges, before I glued the tag on to a piece of blue card.

Day 13 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

This is my Day 13 tag make of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.  It was a really quick make using strips of washi tape that had been lingering in my stash for years.

To add a little more interest, I used a Wow! Embossing Pad and Wow!  Bright White Embossing Powder to stamp and heat set the Simon Says Stamp sentiment, which is part of their "Tiny Words - Christmas" stamp set.

Day 12 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

This is my Day 12 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge - the half way point.  As you may have notices, I am loving making these tags.

Water colour card was used for the base of this tag.  I used three shades of Distress Oxide Inks (Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch and Uncharted Mariner) on the Sweet Poppy "Large and Small Spruce" Stamp, then spritzed the stamp then stamped it on to the card.  I repeated the process three times for each tree, drying it with a heat gun each time.

Once dry, I went around the edge with "Shaded Lilac" Distress Oxide Ink, edging the tag in "Wilted Violet" Distress Oxide Ink.  I created the landscape/grounded the trees using the same ink.

I used "Prize Ribbon" Distress Oxide ink to add splatters to the surface of the tag.

Next I stamped the Simon Says Stamp sentiment, part of their "Tiny Words - Christmas" stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally I coloured some card with "Wilted Violet" Distress Oxide Ink and used a punch to make a hole reinforcer and stuck it into position before mounting the tag on co-ordinating card.

Day 11 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

This is my take on Day 11 of "Karen Telfer's 24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge, making an alternative Christmas tag, for those in warmer climates across the world.

For my tag, I have used "Chrome Yellow" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image Stamps "Strobes" stencil, fading the colour out towards teh right hand side of the tag.

Using Versafine Clair inks, I stamped the bunch of daisies, which is part of the Visible Image "Daisy Grunge Stamp Set".  I've used the following colours of Distress Oxide Inks, applied with a paint brush to colour the flowers:  Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Gathered Twig and Mowed Lawn.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the sentiment and the star, both are part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Peace, Love and Hope".  Finally, I mounted the tag on to a piece of black card.

Day 10 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

Here's the tag I made for Day 10 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.  It had a theme of "Bold & Bright" and I think I hit the brief!

Starting with a white tag, I used several colours of Distress Oxide Ink to cover the surface of the tag.  The shades I used were:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Cracked Pistachio, Blueprint Sketch and Wilted Violet.

I then used the same colours through a selection of Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stencils.  The stencils I used are:  Chevron Shifter Layering Stencil, String Layering Stencil, THMM104 stencil, Dot Fade Layering Stencil and the Sparkle Layering Stencil.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped flowers and leaves from Hobby Art Ltd "Abstract Flowers CS175D" stamp set on to white card.  

I coloured the middle of the flowers with two shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade, giving the colour a coat of "A Wink of Stella" to add a lovely golden shimmer.  I then fussy cut the flowers and leaves and glued them into position on the tag.

Day 9 of "Karen Telfer's 24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

 

This is my take on the Day 9 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

For the background colour, I have used two shades of Distress Oxide inks on a spritzed piece of card.  I used "Salvaged Patina" and "Peacock Feathers".

Once dry, I used the "Peacock Feathers" Distress Oxide Ink to stamp the Lavinia "Snowflakes (small) across the surface of the background.  I then gave the surface a very fine splattering of white paint, to break up the surface colour a little.

Using a 300 gsm white card and the Sizzix / Tim Holtz "Flurry #1 - 663105" die, I cut two large snowflakes.  I then cut them up into sections and glued into position so that the background design was still visible.

I mounted the tag on to a white piece of backtorund card, then cut a ring re-inforcer in white using a We R Memory Keepers punch and stuck into position.

I went around the edge of the coloured area with a silver gel pen to add a little subtle sparkle and then added clear and pearl gem stones to compliment the colours I had already used on the tag.

Day 8 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

 

Yey, I'm up to date with my tags.  This is my Day 8 tag with a theme of "patterned papers and pockets".

I dug into my stash and found some Christmas patterned papers which I was able to die cut into smaller tags.  I decorated them with die cuts and gel pens.

For the main tag, I covered the whole tag in a plaid patterned paper and patterned matched the pocket on the front, adding a strip of patterned paper horizontally and adding a line of liquid pearls.  On the front of the pocket I added more die cuts and some holly leaves, finishing with red Liquid Pearls for the berries.

Day 7 of "Karen Telfer's 24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

 

I'm still playing catch up with my tags, but I am nearly back on track.  This is my Day 7 tag of "Karen Telfer's 24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

Using Kraft card for the base, I splattered Dr PH Martins white bleed proof paint from a fan shaped paint brush to replicate the snow.

Once dry, I stamped the bird which is part of the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stamp set called "Crazy Birds, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink. I then stamped the bird again on a piece of white card. I coloured the stamped image on the white card using Derwent Inktense pencils, applied with a paint brush. then fussy cut the body and stuck it over the image on the tag.

I used a Woodware stamp with Versafine Clair "Rain Forest" dark green ink to stamp the holly leaves.  Again, I used Derwent Inktense pencils to colour the leaves then fussy cut them, sticking them into position below the bird.

I used more Dr Ph Martin's white paint to add snow to the edges of the holly leaves, applied with a very fine paint brush.  I then added a little dusting of Pin Flair "Ice Diamond", (it's looks a bit like ice/snow).  I then added some sticky backed red gems for the berries.

I used a Simon Says Stamp for the sentiment, it's part of their "Tiny Words - Christmas" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally, to add a little sparkle, I added tiny areas of Lavinia "Moon Dust" silver glitter.