Christmas in July!

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to kick-start our holiday projects with Christmas in July.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers.

I won't lie - every year I have great intentions to handmake all my Christmas cards - and invariably I run out of time. I can't seem to get them made throughout the year, and the Christmas season is just too busy. I am pretty good at making some pretty tags for gift giving though - I love to keep the wrapping on my gifts plain and fancy it up with an elaborate tag.

Today I've made a set of four vintage inspired tags using some of my fave die-namics and Christmas stamps. I've used Inspired by Christmas, Clearly Sentimental about Christmas, and the bird stamp is from Inspired by Caged Bird.

To create the tag base I've cut the largest Traditional Tags Die-namics. I stamped the images in Distress Ink, and oversprayed with a little Gold Glimmermist. This makes the images run a little - I like that look, if you don't, spray with Glimmermist before stamping.

I used similar elements and supplies on all my tags, varying the layout and how I've layered the elements to make them all different but still a cohesive set.

For the main embellishment on each tag, I've layered a Fancy Flourish with Let it Snowflake and a vintage button from Buttons Galore. The snowflake is cut from Fossil cardstock, as is the tag base.

Each tag was sponged and pierced roughly around the edge. The sentiments are stamped on a First Place Award Ribbon Die-namic.

I varied the ribbon treatment on each tag, using it as a layer, bow or an element at the top of the tag.

Don't forget to stop by Kim's blog for more Christ-massy goodness!

Here are the Die-namics I've used today:

 Thanks for stopping by!  

Stamps: Inspired by Christmas, Clearly Sentimental about Christmas, I know why the caged bird sings (MFT Stamps) Paper: St Nick (Echo Park) Ink: Assorted Distress Inks (Ranger) Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke (SU) Dies: Fancy Flourish, Traditional Tags, First Place Award Ribbon, Let It Snowflake, Simply Scallops Medium, Double Scallop Border Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Buttons (Buttons Galore) Twine, Ribbon, Twill