Batch Making Simple Christmas Tags

My last video showed how to make some simple tag topper tags to match some tissue paper which I have in my craft room. Todays video shows how I batch make tags, either to sell at craft fairs or to use on presents .

At Christmas I use so many tags and my family and friends need tags too. This often means that I need multiples to match my wrapping paper (or I buy wrapping paper to match my pre-made tags.) I find the easiest way to create lots of tags is to batch make them. If I make them one at a time it takes about 5 minutes. I created 12 in about 40 minutes by completing the tasks together.

Actions

1. Decide on a design

2. Collect all the supplies needed to create the tags - stamps, blocks, ink, Versamark, embossing powder, heat tool and ribbons/ embellishments.

3. Find or work out the dimensions needed for the tags

   Metric

   Shaded Spruce/ Night of Navy and Basic White - 5cm x 10.5cm

   Imperial

   Shaded Spruce/ Night of Navy and Basic White - Just under 2 inches x 4 inches

4. Cut all the tags (including the white for reverse)

5. Punch out all the strips using the tag topper punches

6. Using the Embossing Buddy or any anti-static tool (this prevents Embossing powder from sticking to places you dont want it.

7. Use Versamark to stamp the greeting

8. Add embossing powder ( tap or blow off the excess, you can also use a brush to remove the excess.)

9. Use heat tool to set/melt embossing powder

10. Leave tags to cool

11. Identify a white tag or backing for each tag (may need to trim off excess)

12. Stamp the to and from in chosen ink colour

13. Add glue to stick the tags together (trim off excess)

14. Cut twine down to length required for all tags

15. Add twine to tags

The video below gives a quick how to video.

Grouping tasks together saves time and enables a bit of choice as they do not need to be exactly the same. I have a few more tags to make and I need to find some suitable paper. I also use brown paper, I am pondering crumb cake tags, what colour tags will you be making?

Simple Tag Topper Tags

When wrapping Christmas and Birthday presents, I tend to use tissue paper to wrap them. A few years ago, I bought some gorgeous tissue paper in Paperchase one was purple (like Gorgeous Grape) and ones was green (it is very close Shaded Spruce.) My last birthday tags were inspired by the Gorgeous Grape tissue papers. This project was made to use with the Shaded Spruce tissue paper. Heat embossing is a perfect way to create easy tags which look super easy and wow people who think that they are gorgeous and complicated to make.

Measurements-

Metric

Shaded Spruce and Basic White - 5cm x 10.5cm

Imperial

Shaded Spruce and Basic White - Just under 2 inches x 4 inches

The measurement of just under 2 inches will ensure that the card fits in to the tag topper. Please do not add more than one piece of card in the tag topper punch as it will damage the punch.

The video below shows how I made the tags.

The tags can work in any colour, the picture below shows Highland Heather and Silver or Night of Navy and silver. It depends on whether you want a traditional or non traditional colour scheme for wrapping. I used the co-ordinating ink to the card stock, if you don’t have the same colour in ink, you could use any complimentary colour. Also you could use any ribbon that you have in your stash.

I love the Shaded Spruce tag but I think that the Highland Heather will look gorgeous on some white tissue paper with silver spots that I found in Home Bargains. What will your colour scheme be?

North Pole Delivery Mallow Poles

A few posts ago I shared one of my favourite Christmas makes, which was a Snowman topped mallow pole. I showed a few alternatives using Ice Creams, Rabbits and the super cute reindeer (I am still in love with the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamps and punch, I think it will be in my craft room forever!) Todays project is another mallow pole idea, but using a sentiment rather than an image.

I have created lots of different versions using sentiments and punches. I love that you can choose your own colours and utilise previous stamp sets and punches.

I have used Gorgeous Grape and Mint Macron in these examples with Perfectly Plaid and also the Rectangular postage punch. I have also used the Holiday Rhinestones, these are one of my go to embellishments along with the metallic pearls. I love that they go with lots of different colours on lots of different items.

The video below shows how easy it is to make a mallow pole topper!

I love that they work in lots of different colours, not just the traditional Christmas colours and can be tailored to the recipient. My favourite colour at the moment is Misty Moonlight. What is your favourite colour?

CASED blended Pinecones

I have been watching You tube again, whilst trying to conserve my spoons (I feel like someone stole them all again… ) one of my favourite videos is by Justine Hovey about not copying cards but using them as inspiration. You can find the video here

I have used this inspiration before for one of last years Christmas Cards using the gorgeous Peace and Joy stamps and dies (they are still in my craft room, I loved those dies, so perfect for Christmas.) I actually used Gorgeous Grape on my last card, this time I thought I would be more traditional.

I was struggling to create a card with the pine cones, when I use a stamp set, I try to use every stamp in the set on at least one card. Some stamps are easier than others, I usually use Pinterest, but there are limited ideas most examples use designer series paper and the punch. I therefore thought of this card, as the ink blending added interest to the pine cones. My original test cards were in Poppy Parade (one of my favourite Christmassy reds, for a bright Santa-esque look) and Night of Navy which is one of my favourite Stampin’ Up! colours.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Outside gold Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Outside layer – 9cm x 13cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Outside gold Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Outside layer – 9cm x 13cm

Imperial

4." x 5.75" (4” by full length scored at 5.75”)

Inside White Panel - 4” x 5.5”

Outside gold  - 3.75” x 5.25

Outside layer – 3.5 x 5”

My original cards were a bit round as I was being a bit specific with the placing, I am not sure that it works, my Shaded Spruce card was more random. I was trying to avoid the circular placement of the pine cones.

You could use this idea for snowflakes from Snowman Seasons or most other Christmas stamp set. I think I like the Night of Navy and Silver the best. Which is your favourite?

Clean and simple trees - choose your own decoration

I recently watched a YouTube video by Inkhill revival about ‘the Secret to buying supplies you will actually use,’ it was an inspiring video, which made me think about my style and what I love to create. Looking at my favourite cards I realised that I am a clean and simple card marker. I love cards with lots of white space (not sure that these are the cards my mother likes though.) I love making multiple cards in my limited time in the craft room. I also find it hard to return to part started projects so I prefer to finish what I am doing. I have a huge box of unfinished projects and I am trying not to add to the collection of pieces in the box. I have also realised that I need to use up my stash, so while making cards I have been thinking what I have on hand which will work and make each card individual.

For this card I wanted to use a tree I haven’t used from Perfectly Plaid, I also wanted to play with the Evening Evergreen. I love the colour but I found that it was too dark. I was also playing with the red to match, I tried Merry Merlot, but found it to be too dark. I used Cherry Cobbler, ink which I think compliments the second generation stamping I used for the tree.

Measurements:

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5cm by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5cm by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)

Inside White Panel - 3.75” x 5.25”

Each card uses different embellishments, I have used Metallic Pearls, Gilded Leafing, Gold Glitter, Gold embossing powders (from Stampin’ Up for the gold and Stamps By Chloe WOW embossing powder in Kir Royal.) and a star embellishment. I have also used different stamp sets to add different sentiments. As well as changing the green/red colour combinations. I am still in love with the Just Jade, Cherry Cobbler combination which is in the Joy to the World Kit.

Soft Suculent and Poppy Parade with WOW Kir Royale embossing powder

The video below shows how I made the cards:

Top Tips-

• I stamped off on scrap paper before using the Evening Evergreen ink on the card, this tones down the colour (it is very very very dark.)

• When using the sticky notes, they do not have to be expensive ones, you could use any you can find.

• The sticky notes will soak up the ink, so can not be used more than twice, if you continue using them the ink transfers to the stamp and you will end up with random words on your card.

• You could use the Stampin’ Write Markers, but these work better on Cling stamps.

I love the slight differences between the cards and that they still work. The choice of decoration works as you could customise each card for the reciepient, use up your stash. Alternatively you could choose a favourite and make multiples quickly. My favourite is the the card with the Metallic pearls, which is yours?