7 December 2013

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Tag 1

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments over the past few weeks and months. I try desperately to return the compliment wherever possible, but as my commitments increase so the time available seems to slip away. As I mentioned yesterday, Christmas seems to have snuck up on me this year as well and, three weeks from the big day I'm furiously getting cards done.
One massive source of inspiration for me is always Linda Coughlin, otherwise known as The Funkie Junkie. This year she has done it again with her 12 Tags of Christmas challenge sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique. I know! This was launched back in September! but it's not too late to join in (as I'm about to prove). You have until December 22nd to get them all done and then there's a draw for the chance to win some fab prizes. Check out the details on Linda's blog HERE. So let's get down to business...


Oh yeh Jen, that looks like a fabulous Christmas tag! Way to go girl!! OK, so it's a step by step leading you through to the finished article as there are one or two ideas I wanted to share. Start with a large tag. Yours may be black, mine was a complete nightmare from a failed attempt a couple of months ago. Cover it with Black Soot Distress Paint and no one's the wiser (except you've just broadcast that publicly now you dosy moo).


Linda's first tag was created in a chalkboard style with snow/snowflakes. I went to town on this one by flicking White Linen Dylusions spray over it with the end of the spray mechanism.


This is one of Linda's jumbo tags and the embossing folder only covers part of it. One tip if, once you've run a project through twice, you've got those bits where the first layer of embossing has been flattened. Put the piece back in the embossing folder and use an embossing tool to manually re-emboss the flattened sections. When you turn it over no one will ever know.


Now, cover the raised areas in embossing ink and then cover liberally with Frosted Crystal embossing powder. Anyone who completed Tim's November tag will know where I'm going next with this.


Heat the powder until it just turns transparent and is matte. It's easy to overheat this and make it shiny, but if you do the surface loses it's 'tooth'. Now rub chalk over the tag and let the embossed areas grab it. I find rubbing my fingers over it helps to fix the chalk in place.


Next, I used a freebie snowflake stencil (given out in a papercrafting magazine years ago now) and pushed white embossing paste through it, making sure the surface was left in peaks to add texture.


Rather than go with the usual clear glitter I sprinkled Pumice Stone Distress Glitter over the wet surface. It has a silvery effect without being too glitzy.


To finish the flake I painted one of Linda's filigree metal snowflakes with Picket Fence and layered it over the glittery base. So, taking that snowflake, the chalky background and some other embellishments it all came together to create...


Totally inspired by Linda's chalkboard effect, snowflakes and Let It Snow sentiment, I love how this card came together.


And now some close ups. Washi tape, Venise Lace and the die cut snowflake border added real structure to the design.


The die cut lettering was covered in Brushed Pewter paint.


What did I do before Tim's Simple Sayings?!


A better view of that Pumice Stone glitter. See what I mean about the silvery finish?


So there we have it. My first entry for The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas.
Number 2 is done, but you can't see it yet, so Number 3 will be along tomorrow.
For now, thank you for dropping by. I'm incredibly grateful to each and every one of you.
Take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx


24 comments:

  1. Ooooh fabulous card and I love those white splats with the Dylusions

    Sam xx

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  2. Hi Jenny your blackboard effect card looks great I love this look (I wonder why!) Ilove that super big snowflake and the glimmer of red on theborders and sentiment pop out beautifully. Hugs Mo x

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  3. Jenny I have to say that your use of black on a Christmas card is absolutely amazing in the impact it creates and you achieved a gorgeous wintry feel. I love the contemporary vibe to this card and wouldn't it be perfect to send to anyone of any age which isn't always the case with Christmas designs.
    Bravo!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  4. As usual a brilliant tutorial Jenny :) I'm scrolling up and down taking in all the wonderful details :)
    Von ♥

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  5. Dramatic and beautiful. Thank you for the how to and tips.

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  6. This is absolutely beautiful! I love love it. Can't wait to see now what you do with the rest of the tags! Atta way to go gal! X

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  7. Jenny I am sure you just crept in my craft room and nicked one of my failed tags. lol

    Thought I was the only one who kept her failed projects (to tight to put them in the bin). lol

    Your tutorial is fabulous ... one of those hit the head moments ... why have I never thought of doing the re-embossing manually!!! duhhh.

    One of my failed projects resurfaced to be a #8 FJ tag HERE. Glad to see you in with such a beautiful make can't wait to see the rest.

    Thanks again for the tip sweets.

    Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x

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  8. Good morning Jenny,
    Stunning, absolutely stunning, I love what you have done.
    I don't have all your lovely paints and inks but I love to see all your wonderful work and the effects you achieve.
    My you certainly push yourself to the limits. When do you find to "sleep and eat"???
    Off to get my ironing done so I have time to "play" later
    Have a wonderful day

    Patricia xxx

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  9. Jenny this is a stunning card, beautifully made and embellished and to top it all amongst all the other things you have to do you gave us a fabulous post with all those pictures to show us how you made it. What a great idea to use the embossing tool to bring the joined parts together again, I will remember that brilliant idea.
    Happy Sunday.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  10. Terrific tag and thank you for sharing how you made it--very inspiring

    Love Chrissie x

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  11. Oh wow, this is just so wonderfully creative. Love the awesome funky textures and it was great seeing how you did it.
    Hugs
    Desíre
    {Doing Life – my personal blog}

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  12. Hi Jenny, that is such a great tip with the embossing tool, simple but SO effective. Your chalkboard background is utterly gorgeous and the glitter has the perfect amount of sparkle on that fabulous snowflake. Love the pop of red too, giving it a wonderful Christmassy feel. Beautiful work. Hugs, Anne x

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  13. Absolutely fabulous Jenny, love how you have combined Tim's techniques with Linda's wonderful inspiration!!
    Those touches of red are brilliant too and a fantastic tutorial with great ideas!! Good luck with getting them all done. Sadly I have realized I am going to have to drop out, just too much else going on.....

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  14. A fab tutorial, Jenny,

    and an even more fabulous result! Wow!

    Claudia x

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  15. Absolutely love it! I'm a bit messy if I get involved with black but this could encourage me to try again! Chrisx

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  16. Brilliant tag and I love that dimensional snowflake. I think Christmas has caught a lot of people out!!

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  17. wow there is so much lovely texture here. thank you for the inspiration, jenny!

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  18. What an inspired colour and texture choice Jenny! It works brilliantly!

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  19. Absolutely stunning Jenny
    Rosie x

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  20. Delicious take on tag 1 - those embossed chalky snowflakes look just great, and thanks for the tip about the manual re-embossing! The red matting frames it just perfectly. Glad to see there's somebody else who's further behind than me!! (Sorry!)
    Alison xx

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  21. Woohoo, welcome back to the 12 Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style, Jenny! So great to have you playing along again this year!!! Your card is fabulous. I love the chalkboard look you have achieved and that embossing paste/glittered snowflake is absolutely sensational! Love the red pop you brought in with the red matting. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  22. I am trying to do some catching up as you will be able to tell. How in the world did you ever come up with the say to do all of this. Amazing and beautiful work. I have yet to try the blackboard technique but after seeing your make I better!!!
    Happy Holidays!!
    sandy

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  23. I'm missing words, that's a wonderful card. Thanks for sharing to making-of.

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  24. How beautiful! I've just had a look at your Christmas creations.... wow, they are each stunning and so full of rich detail. I went backwards and ended up at this, #1. I'll be AWOL a bit but wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy and healthy New Year.

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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