CHRISTMAS CRAFT CONCEPTS: TAGS, BAGS & BOWS

PART 1: TAGS

When I started buying craft supplies, my husband looked at my pile, and said, "Don't ask for money to buy any cards or tags or wrapping paper now that you can make your own."
And you know what? I haven't bought any since, not because of the tyrannical (and teasing) "command" my husband made, but the fact that  I could make it all!
I started out small and easy, saving all my small strips of excess cardstock I had cut off of my card and scrapbooking projects. I admit, I was a hoarder even with these tidbits of paper. Lucky for me they turned out to be treasures, especially around the holidays!
I pulled out a handful of excess paper pieces, some holiday stickers, ribbon, and even scored a few 3x3 calendar cards that I saved from who knows what year! And here I am, ready to show you why you should a) save your strips of paper, and b) never buy those cheap little Christmas tags, even when they go on clearance, because you can create better ones in minutes!

I cut my cardstock papers into the tag sizes I wanted, and using a white gel pen on the colored tags, drew dashes or dots (or both) around the edges, forming a vivid border. I added a small sticker (see tag #1) or doodled a bit of holly on the corners of each. that took me less than a minute!
I also had patterned cardstock pieces, which I treated the same way, using a colored gel pen for doodling the borders, but these have a pretty pattern on their backs (see tag #2)
If you want, you can make the same tag, but adhere it onto cardstock, punch a hole in the top and string ribbon, string or whatever you have on hand for a different look (see #3).
Remember the 3x3 calendar cards I mentioned? I cut up the Christmas ones and wrote my message on the back of the picture (see tag #4). Easy peasy!
Finally, I had found some leftover Christmas stickers, which I don't necessarily like to use on my cards. So I placed the sticker on cardstock, folded it and cut it to a size that could be folded (see tag 5). My message is on the inside. I often use these to accompany gifts for neighbors or friends.

All the tags in the photo took me at most five minutes, and if I hadn't had to take my dog Wilson (left) for a (very chilly) walk, I could have made enough tags to cover next Christmas in minutes. I ask you, could you say no to that look??
Once I have my tag stash, I'll have to put them away until the holidays,  but finding where I put them will be the real test. Maybe I should make a Tag Stash Box to go along with the Card Stash Box?? Hmm...

There are so many ideas and such a lot of inspiration on the web. You can take that same pile of paper pieces and use your punches to create Christmas trees and snowmen. You can even punch your paper and after punching, cut a tag shape around the punched shape.
Paper isn't the only craft supply I've been hoarding over the years. I have an overflow of buttons and rarely use them, so I like this idea for tags, compliments of The Xerxes, care of Pinterest.

Just a couple more ideas for you and I'll log off (I do have a tendency to go on and on). Whenever I'm at the hardware store, I always check out the paint department. I love to pull out a few (several) paint chips and create with them once I get home. They make great Christmas tree tags like the one on the left that I just created. The ombre look of the colors makes it especially perfect for a tree. I also found a "deck" of Tim Holtz Christmas cards and used my first one on my tag today.

Last one, I promise. I love making this next type of tag for host/hostess gifts (photo on right). They're perfectly fitted for them- literally! These tags were up for sale on Etsy from foryoumarilyn, but they are currently unavailable. But just think, you could easily make them yourself. They are really just extra long tags with a circle punched at the top to fit over the top of a wine bottle. You could even personalize your tags for each host or hostess, along with their favorite wine!

So that's all for part one of Tags, Bags and Bows. Next month I'll show you some interesting takes on homemade gift bags (and a few gift boxes). Until then, happy crafting!

Challenge #38 Midway: Optional Theme...Card for a LOVED ONE

Hello and happy Thursday folks! I hope that you all got to spend some quality time with the special person or people in your life yesterday, for Valentine's Day. I cuddled up next to my hubby on the couch while we watched a movie. It is nice having a day dedicated to love, though it also important to spend quality time with most important people in your lives, EVERY day of the year. And, why not send them a card letting you know how much you care. In fact, that is what this month's theme is all about--creating a Christmas card for a loved one. You can read more about the theme description below.

First though, since we are halfway through the month of February, it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their cute images from Mari Digis, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out the cute images that the team worked with this month for the mid-point of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image names will take you to their spot in the Mari Digis store. These three images will also be the prize for one lucky winner in this challenge.

B62-Canção de Natal

A69-Feliz Natal 4

A68-Feliz Natal 3

Thank you so much to this month's generous sponsor for providing such sweet images for the team to work with! Please pop over and pay Mari Digis a visit when you have the chance! You are sure to find something to add to your wish list while you are there!

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Winter World of Love. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of February will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll below.


DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of February. Poll will be open until February 28th, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

Now check out what the Merry Maidens came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards.

So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for February. Whether you choose to link up ANY type of Christmas or holiday card you've made for a chance to win this month's Paper Kit, or link up two of them simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you! 

Here is a refresher of the details for this challenge...

Please remember that this is a CARDS ONLY link up. While we've had some lovely tag entries in the past, we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Challenge #38

 Optional Theme:

Card for a LOVED ONE

When it comes down to it, Christmas is all about spending time with the people you love! Even if family members live far apart, most try to get together to spend a portion of the holidays together if they are able to. Family is precious. So are close friends for that matter. It is the people who are nearest and dearest to us in our lives that are always there for us, no matter what reason we may need them! Being able to enjoy their company at Christmas time makes those connections all the more special!

That is why this month, in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, we want you to create a card specifically for someone you love. It could be for your partner or spouse; for your son or daughter; or even your parents. Maybe you have an aunt or uncle that you are really close to; or perhaps, there is a special best friend in your life that means the world to you. It doesn't matter who specifically you make the card for, just that it be for someone that you love very much. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize AND you'll also need to let us know which particular loved one in your life you made the card for. If it isn't obvious, you'll need to let us know by mentioning it in your post. Just a note next to the link up for this challenge would be fine. Keep in mind though, that if you don't tell us who the loved one is, you will be exempt from qualifying for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win the featured paper set. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of the same three digis used by the majority of the team members, provided by Mari Digis.

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab.  As this is a different kind of link up where we have both an Anything Goes Christmas or other December Holiday option AND an optional theme to follow, be sure to read all the details and rules you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

You can find the Challenge Details Summary along with the link up for
Challenge #38 by clicking HERE.

 Don't Forget, if everything goes according to plan...

• If I can pull it off, I'll try and get another winner announcement done before the month is out. 
• Pat will be here on February 23rd with a new Christmas Craft suggestion.
• Our new challenge will start on March 1st.
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Challenge #34 Winner Announcement

Hello to all our Christmas crafting friends! I'm popping in to announce the winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #34.

We had an amazing 101 entries in our October challenge which was definitely way up from the previous month. Anyway, it is time to get on with the finding out who our winners are.

Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

VALERIJA

Valerija, you are the winner of  three (3) images from the Pattie's Creations store, our guest sponsor for October (chosen by miniwebtool.com based on all eligible entries).

Valerija, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click HERE to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #34 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize. Please note that it may take me several days to get back to you. Thank you for your patience. In the interim, please grab a copy of the winner badge below for your blog.

Next, it is time to get on with showcasing the top three. With so many wonderful entries to choose from, it is always such a difficult task for the design team. We did however settle on three awesome creations. So, without further ado, here are our Stocking Stuffers for Challenge #34:

MEG

VICKIE

ANS

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Meg, Vickie and Ans, please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

Everyone who links up two cards each month is eligible to receive a free digital paper. Sadly, I still haven't had the opportunity to mail out the paper to all those who linked up two cards during the month of September. I'll do it at the same time I send October's which will hopefully be by the 15th!

The individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of OCTOBER, qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the Lights paper which received a significant majority of the votes! I have included the watermark of it, below...

To all of you who linked up during October, thanks ever so much! We are so happy to have all of you with us and hope that you'll continue to link up your holiday cards as you start your stash for 2018!!! It is never too early to get working on your holiday cards!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up as soon as I can manage.

As always, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out a set of six digital papers to one lucky individual. The papers are all made so why not have an extra prize! Here is the watermark for the full set...

The winner of An Eclectic Christmas 3 Mini Kit is

TRACY M.

(chosen by random.org)

 
Tracy, as you were originally entitled to receiving the freebie as you entered a minimum of two cards in October, I will instead send you the full set when I do the mail-out for the individual paper.

Well folks, that is it for today. While you are here, please be sure to check out the details for our current challenge going on now (if you haven't already), with the Optional Theme this month of "Card for a LOVED ONE". You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Other special posts may be published throughout the month; so, be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

Until next time,

Challenge #38:Optional Theme...Card for a LOVED ONE

Hello crafters!  It is the first day of February and that means it is time for our next challenge to get under way! There might be several months before we need them but it is never too early to get started on our Christmas and other December Holiday cards stash for the year!

With that in mind, it is time to get down to the business of our latest challenge. Here is what you need to know...

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards) throughout the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.
• Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.
• Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow. Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme, will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.
• ALL entries adhering to our basic rules also have the opportunity to win a mini pack of digi papers each month as well.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #38.

Challenge #38

Optional Theme:
Card for a LOVED ONE

When it comes down to it, Christmas is all about spending time with the people you love! Even if family members live far apart, most try to get together to spend a portion of the holidays together if they are able to. Family is precious. So are close friends for that matter. It is the people who are nearest and dearest to us in our lives that are always there for us, no matter what reason we may need them! Being able to enjoy their company at Christmas time makes those connections all the more special!

That is why this month, in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, we want you to create a card specifically for someone you love. It could be for your partner or spouse; for your son or daughter; or even your parents. Maybe you have an aunt or uncle that you are really close to; or perhaps, there is a special best friend in your life that means the world to you. It doesn't matter who specifically you make the card for, just that it be for someone that you love very much. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize AND you'll also need to let us know which particular loved one in your life you made the card for. If it isn't obvious, you'll need to let us know by mentioning it in your post. Just a note next to the link up for this challenge would be fine. Keep in mind though, that if you don't tell us who the loved one is, you will be exempt from qualifying for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win the featured paper set. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of the same three digis used by the majority of the team members, provided by Mari Digis.

Talking about Mari Digis, it is time to refresh ourselves with the details of this returning sponsor…

My name is Maria Emilia and I love to draw. I live in Goiânia, a busy City in Brazil. Now I provide some artwork for you, who are looking for beautiful pictures and even a little " fashions", suitable to their projects scrap and artistic creations! On digital stamps.

Store:  http://maridigisstore2.blogspot.co.uk/
Main Blog:  http://maridigischallenge.blogspot.com.br/

Check out the really cute images that the team worked with this month for the start of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image names will take you to their spot in the Mari Digis store. The first three images are the same images as the prize. The fourth image was one already owned by one of the team members.

B62-Canção de Natal

A69-Feliz Natal 4

A68-Feliz Natal 3

B63-A estrelinha

You'll get to see more awesome projects using these images during our midway so be sure to come back again at that time!

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Winter World of Love. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of February will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll below.


DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of February. Poll will be open until February 28th, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

Donna's card is for: Her granddaughter, Valerie.

Julie's card is for: One of her best friends who is a dog lover.

Susan's card is for: a little boy to give to his beloved grandpa.

Pat's card is for: a good friend who volunteers at the Salvation Army food pantry every week.

Helen's card is for: One of her very good friends who loves dogs and humour.

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for February!

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

We have a packed month as usual; so, Pat and I and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

• We hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #34 ASAP. 
• Then, be sure to join us again on February 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens! 
• Pat will hopefully be back towards the end of the month with a special Christmas Craft for you to try!
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY
Each month we'll include a summary of details for the particular challenge taking place. If you are new, please be sure to familiarize yourself with all the details and rules in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page. Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), February 1st until 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), February 28th, 2018.  All times listed are in EST (Eastern Standard Time).
  
• If you wish to receive the free digi paper being offered up for this month, you need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards. 
• This is NOT a progressive challenge. You can jump in at any time.
• Only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of the same three digis used by the majority of the team members, provided by Mari Digis.
• No backlinking.
• Make sure when entering your project that you mention The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up in your post with a link back to this blog.
• Please remember to link directly to your blog post where we can see your creation, and not just the generic link to your blog.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:
If you have any problems linking up, please be sure to leave a comment.

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge #38
Please link up your Anything Goes Christmas and/or December holiday themed CARDS with the optional theme of Card for a LOVED ONE, below. Please see above for all the rules and details.