12 Tags of Christmas - Tag #12

Well here is is - my final tag for Tim Holtz '12 tags of Christmas' 2011.

Whew.

Wow.

I learned so many different techniques over the 12 days, and have to extend my kudo's to the thousands of people who managed to keep up and get a tag made and posted every day. I am going to take a blog break for a day or two as I'm way to behind now with my Christmas preparations. These tags took such a long time to make but I am so glad I participated.

Tim's final tag was very much an 'altered' tag, and I decided to go in a completely direction. I have a entire container of embellishments etc to do an altered look ... but it just wasn't speaking to me.  Also, I really wanted to use his rosette die on at least one tag.

What I'm taking away from this experience? In a random order:

1. A glue gun can be my friend. It doesn't take THAT long to heat up, and it's worth it to adhere some weighty embellishments etc.

2. Distress ink IS embossable. I know Tim has said it, and I heard it -- I just never bothered to try it. Way cool.

3. I am going to do more heat embossing. I haven't bothered with it in a long time. A really long time, and it can add so much to a project. I forgot how much I like that raised, shiny look.

4. Archival ink is a great way to 'condition' your clear stamps. Bought myself a pad in black.

5. Self adhesive foil paper & glossy card stock makes a great 'paper' for die cutting. And it can be coloured with alcohol inks!

5.  Alcohol inks are fun. Again, I haven't used them in a very long time and it was great pulling them out again.

6.  It was amazing to be a part of something so big. I was checking Tim's blog even before my feet hit the floor in the morning, so I could see what he came up with and I was always surprised to see how many people (overseas, mostly) had already completed a tag and posted their thumbnail pictures. It was really interesting to poke around in the thumbnail gallery and check out other artist's blogs. So many people and so many different interpretations on Tim's original tags. Amazing.

7. OMGosh, Master Tim Holtz is even more creative/fabulous that I could even dream of. I do check his blog every so often, but these 12 tags are something else. What a gift he gives us every year. And if I thought MY tags took a long time, I can't even imagine how much time he puts in every single day of the 12 days. Thanks, Tim!

8. I will be watching and waiting for December 1st 2012, to see what he will come up with next year, but I know I won't participate unless I am waaaaay more organized for the holidays than I was this year.

Now, onto my final tag:

 

I used the Tim Holtz tag die to cut my tag base out of red print paper, and a vintage looking paper with the poinsettia. They were attached together, and all edges inked.

 

A dollop of Crystal Effects in the center of the bloom, covered with clear glass (no hole) beads gives the image some texture and dimension, as well as the red glitter glue smeared over the petals with my finger.

 

I really REALLY wanted to use my rosette die for some of his tags this year, and was a little disappointed that Tim refrained from using them on his. So - I used it on this final tag. I love how sturdy the rosette's are. The sparkly embellishment is from my stash.

 

I decided I wanted to display the tags, so picked up an 18" x 24" canvas at Michaels, added straight pins then hung the tags. I was thinking it would work like a corkboard but of course there is no thickness to the canvas and the tags promptly fell off as the pins leaned.  I taped the pins at the back - meanwhile some have slid - so I am going to carefully adhere some cork in behind the canvas so I can display them LINED UP. I like my 'ducks all in a row', thank you very much.  But who knows when I will have a chance to photograph it and upload the picture so ... this is all I have for right now.

Thanks for stopping by - I'll be back in a day or two!