The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Tag 10

Hi everyone. Well, I wasn't going to do this just yet. There are a million and one other priorities right now, but with two ideas firmly ensconced in my head it seemed advisable to bring them into reality so I could concentrate on everything else fully. You'll get to see No. 12 when it's dry, so for now here's my card inspired in part by Linda's Tag 10.

The Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas challenge, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique, has been my annual saviour again in the rush to get cards made for friends and family. For me it's the ideas that are crucial to keep my mojo on the straight and narrow.

I don't have the new Tim Holtz Holly stencil (it's on the list!) but loved the idea of using the diffuser to create a central oval on the card. So I grabbed another manilla tag, gave it a buff with Gathered Twigs, and then used a oval aperture mask to allow for the stamping in the centre. With the ink still wet Perfect Pearls powder was buffed into the lettering, and then it was misted with water to allow the ink/Pearls to wick and smudge a little.

Then I used the diffuser to emboss the outer edges with snowflakes, and blended them with more Gathered Twigs and some Peeled Paint Distress Inks. I don't have that lovely ornate frame either, but added a silvery 'border' to the edges of the oval with some Brushed Pewter Stain.

Linda's tag may have provided the initial inspiration, but with a need to add more red/silver I turned to this awesome card created by my friend Anne. Changing the colour of the Sizzix skating boots was a touch of genius, and it put me in mind of Shelly Hickox' Faux Leather technique. And so, with some thin brown packaging paper, Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and Fired Brick Distress Stain I set to work making some aged red leather. This was then cut to fit and layered over the boots (replete with swirls) using Claudine Helmuth Multi Medium Matte. And with some Venise Lace trim the boots were just perfect for Mrs Claus to don at the most fashionable rinks near the North Pole.

Now, as well as The Funkie Junkie challenge,
I'll be linking this up to Country View Challenges - Bah, humbug! where there is a chance to win a place on
Brenda Brown's upcoming January workshop. If you can get there I HIGHLY recommend this.
Time to get off and cook some tea. Take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

25 Jumbo Manila Shipping Tags 8x4" #12	Ranger Tim Holtz Seasonal Distress Ink Pad - Gathered Twigs	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Papillon	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Aged Mahogany	Ranger Perfect Pearls Pigment Powder - Forever Red	Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Embossing Diffuser	Tim Holtz Sixxiz Texture Fades - Snowflurries and Snowman	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Peeled Paint	Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Stain - Brushed Pewter	Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Ice Skates Bigz Die
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Fired Brick	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Festive Greenery Die	Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium Matte	Venise Lace Trim - 1/2 inch wide	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Walnut Stain	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Simple Sayings	Ranger Archival Ink - Vermillion	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Watering Can