Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - book ring covers

As I finished my Day 12 tag yesterday, today I felt I needed to make a cover for the book ring of Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024".

I covered a plain tag in "Wild Honey" Distress Oxide Ink. I then lay the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Gingham Layering Stencil - THS134" over the top and applied "Brushed Corduroy" Distress Oxide Ink through the stencil.

I then moved the stencil, (I realised after, I should really have flipped it so the lines went in a different direction, but it is what it is) applying "Lumberjack Plaid" Distress Oxide Ink through the stencil.

I used a metallic gold coloured paint splattered across the surface using a fan brush and set aside to dry.  This is when I die cut the 2024 numbers in a dark red coloured card.  I also typed and printed "Karen Telfer's 12 Days of Tags" giving it a coat of "Wild Honey" Distress Oxide ink to dull it down.

I then stuck the numbers and the typed title to the tag. Finally, I used a gold coloured gel pen to add polka dots to the numbers and to edge them too.

I've taken part in Karen's tag challenge for five years.  These are all the covers, all quite different!

The tag books are all packed away in a box ready to be joined by the 2025 tags later in the year.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 12

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.

This is the last tag of the 2024 challenge.  I'm feeling bereft already, but Karen has assured me there will be another set of Christmas tags for 2025.  So not too long to wait.  This is my Day 12 tag (you can view Karen's tutorial here).  Today the tag is all about "favourites".

For my tag, as stencil play is one of my favourite techniques, I used greens and yellow Distress Oxide Inks, spritzed with water, lay a stencil on to the ink then put the wet inky side of the stencil down on to a blank tag, which achieved the light coloured background pattern.

I used Versafine Clair "Rain Forest" dark green ink to stamp the wreath and sentiment, which are both part of the Papertrey Ink stamp set called "Wreath For All Season".  I have had this stamp set for many years and it is definitely one of my favourites.  I used Versafine Clair "Strawberry" red ink to stamp the berries.

I used a metallic gold gel pen to add dots across the surface of the tag and to draw lines on the edge of the tag too.

Here's a photo of all 12 tags I've made from this series.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 11

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.

This is the penultimate tag of the 2024 challenge.  I'm feeling bereft already, but Karen has assured me there will be another set of Christmas tags for 2025.  So not too long to wait.  This is my Day 11 tag (you can view Karen's tutorial here).

I've used a selection of Distress Oxide Inks for the scored background, stamping the Sweet Poppy Stencils "Small Fir Tree" in Versafine Clair "Spruce" adding glittered baubles to the tree using gel pens.

I used a section of the Marianne Design Creatables, ref LR0737 for the die cut window frame, prefering to leave it white rather than colouring it.  I splattered white Posca Pen on to a piece of plain vellum and backed the window frame with it, then stuck the frame to the tag over the Christmas tree.

I have a tin of assorted foliage die cuts, left over from previous projects, so I had a rummage through that and found some suitable pieces, topping it with a Stampin' up die cut in bright red.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 10

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.

This is my Day 10 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I've opted for a different colour way to Karen's tag. The Distress Oxide Inks I have used for the background are Weathered Wood, Tumbled Glass and Broken China, edging the tag in "Mermaid Lagoon".

The stamp set I have used is by Visible Image Stamps and is called "Let it snow".  I stamped the large snowflake in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink and the smaller ones in "Bali Blue" ink.

I have added some silver sequins, some pearls and some clear beads to the surface of the tag.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 9

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.

This is my Day 9 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I used a Penny Black cling stamp for the robin and holly.  The stamp is called "Cheerful Christmas 40-642), stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink on to the tag and also on to a piece of white card.

On the tag I used two circle masks to add three rings of colour in the background, using Bundled Sage, Festive Berries and Shabby Shutters Distress Oxide Ink.  I also made splatters in these colours along with some gold paint splatters too.

I coloured both robin & holly images with Derwent Inktense Pencils applied with a paint brush.  The one on the white card, I partially fussy cut the image, used foam pads on the reverse of the image and stuck it on to the tag.

I added Ranger Glossy Accents to the berries to give them more of a 3D appearance.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 8

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.

This is my Day 8 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I have loosely followed Karen's tutorial for this tag, leaving out the small tags hanging from the top.

I have used "Saltwater Taffy" and "Weathered Wood" Distress Oxide Inks with the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous THS084 "Mosaic" stencil.

In my stash, I had a couple of flower dies, which I'm not sure where they came from, but used them with white card and stuck on to the tag.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the Simon Says Stamp "Tiny Words - Christmas" sentiment, then placed an arc of white dots using Ranger Enamel Accents.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 7

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.

This is my Day 7 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

Formy tag, I have used several Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous stencils. These are the ones I have used: THMM178 - Christms Dots , THS164 - Pinecones, THS138 - Bubbles and THMM102 - Brickwork.

Through the stencils, I have used four shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Twisted Citron, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint and Forest Moss.  

I used Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Ink to colour the edges of the tag. I hand cut various green banners from off cuts of cardstock in my stash.  Using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink to stamp the seniments on the banners, which are part of the Simon Says Stamp "Tiny Words - Christmas" stamp set.

Karen Telfer's 12 Days of Chrismas Tags 2024 - Day 6

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.

This is my Day 6 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I used three shades of Distress Oxide Inks for this tag, using: Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn and Abandoned Coral shades of inks.

I used a Wow! clear embossing stamp pad and Wow! Bright White super fine embossing powder and heat set to stamp the star and the sentiment, which are both part of the Stampin' up stamp set called "Bright and Beautiful".

I added some splatters of white paint and black Posca pen to the background too.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 5

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.

This is my Day 5 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I more or less followed Karen's tutorial for my tag.  I used "Lost Shadow" and "Weathered Wood" Distress Oxide Inks for the moon along with a Stamper's Anonymous "Layering Moon Mask".

For the colours around the moon I used:  Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concorde, Blue Print Sketch and Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide Inks.

For the stamping, I used Versafine Clair inks to stamp the Lavinia "Small Fairy Fir Tree "stamp.  The colours I used for the trees were:  Morning Mist, Very Peri, Fantasia and Twilight.  

I used water splatters from a fan shaped paint brush and Dr Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White paint for the brighter white splatters.

I used Versafine Clair 'Nocturne" black ink to stamp the sentiment, which is part of a Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny Words".

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 4

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.

This is my Day 4 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I used the Funky Fossil Designs "Nordic Star Background Stencil" with Ranger Matte Texture Paste to create the patterned background.

I used Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink to stamp the mistletoe, which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Festive Greenery" stamp set.

I painted the berries using "Antique Linen" Distress Oxide Ink.  Then painted the leaves using three shades of Distress Oxide Inks.  The shades of ink I used are: Peeled Paint, Rustic Wilderness and Forest Moss. I then carefully fussy cut the outer area of the image and glued on to the tag.

I used sayings from the Funky Fossil Designs "Sentimental Sticker Stack", which says "Mistletoe Kisses and Christmas Wishes".

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 3

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.

This is my Day 3 Tag (You can watch Karen's tutorial here).

I didn't have the stamps or stencils Karen used for her tag, so I have improvised with what I have to make this tag.

I stamped the large flower stamp from the Funky Fossil Designs "Funky Florals" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

I then used "Mowed Lawn" Distress Oxide Ink through two Funky Fossil stencils (Nordic Star Background Stencil and Micro Dots Stencil).

I painted the flowers using Distress Oxide Inks:  Lumberjack Plaid, Mustard Seed and Lucky Clover) shades of ink.  I also used a yellow and an orange Posca Pen.

Next, I added some colour around the edge of the tag, I used "Peeled Paint" Distress Oxide Ink.

Finally, I added a stamped sentiment.  I chose the word "Noel" which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Stripped Back Christmas Sentiment" stamp set.

Karen Telfer's "12 Days of Christmas Tags 2024" - Day 2

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.

Here's my Day 2 tag (this is the link to Karen's Day 2 tutorial).

I used an embossing folder that came free with Creative Stamping, Special Ediion 1 magazine for the texture on this tag.  I do know that it was quite agressive on the water colour paper and in a couple of places, totally cut through the paper, which I think I have been able to disguise.

I used Cosmic Shimmer Iridescent Shimmering Watarcolour paints for this tag, opting for a turquoise and dark/blue almost purple shades.

Once dry, I then applied Cosmic Shimmer "Old Gold" Gilding Wax over the raised areas of the surface.  I added a Creative Expressions word sticker then added "Copper Pearl" Liquid Pearl dots where the berries would be.

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.