Mixed Media Christmas Tags

Christmas is quickly approaching, and I find myself looking for alternatives to the store-bought tags that I can attach to special gifts.  I've made smaller versions of these tags; however, this year, I've decided to go a little bigger and bolder.  I hope these tags will serve as a jumping-off point for you to make your own tags, and remember that these designs can be easily adapted for other winter holidays too.

Blue Snowflake Tag

Supplies: 

• large manila tag (Ranger Ink)
• Distress Inks:  Iced Spruce, Broken China, Tumbled Glass
• VersaMark ink pad
• clear embossing powder
• heat tool
• assorted stamps:  snowflakes, Christmas greetings
• shimmer spray
• spray bottle filled with water
• sponge daubers
• permanent grey ink
• paper towels
• small snowflake stickers
• ribbon

1.      Using VersaMark ink, stamp snowflakes randomly on the tag, and emboss with clear embossing powder.

2.      Using sponge daubers, apply Iced Spruce, Broken China, and Tumbled Glass inks to the tag.

3.      With a paper towel, wipe off excess ink from the embossed images.

4.      Spray water into your hand and flick droplets onto the tag.

5.      Let the tag dry, or speed up the drying with the heat tool.

6.      Spray with shimmer spray, and dry with the heat tool.

7.      Stamp a greeting using grey ink.

8.      Apply stickers and ribbon.

9.      Ink edges with Iced Spruce ink.

Collaged Background Tag

Supplies:

• large manila tag (Ranger Ink)
• Distress Inks:  Fired Brick, Pine Needles
• Christmas collage stamp
• sponge daubers
• decorative tape
• permanent black ink
• border punch (plenty to choose from at Scrapbook.com)

1.      Apply Fired Brick and Pine Needles inks to the tag with daubers, creating diagonal lines.

2.      Cut ¼" off the bottom edge of the tag.

3.      Punch a border on the bottom edge.

4.      Adhere the ¼" strip which you cut off in Step 2 behind the punched section.

5.      Using black ink, stamp an image onto the tag.

6.      Add the decorative tape.

7.      Ink edges with Pine Needles ink.

Red Snowflake Tag

Supplies

• large manila tag (Ranger Ink)
• Perfect Pearls Spray:  Forever Red
• Dylusions Ink Sprays:  Postbox Red, Bubblegum Pink
• Picket Fence Distress Stain
• spray bottle filled with water
• paper towels
• snowflake background stamp
• red dye-based inkpad  (If you want your colors to run, use non-permanent.  If you don't want your colors to run, use permanent, water-proof.)
• assorted small Christmas stickers
• large white brad
• Christmas greetings stamp
• assorted snowflake stamps
• Dylusions template:  Dotted Flowers
• permanent black ink

1.      Spray the tag with Dylusions Ink sprays, and pat dry with a paper towel.

2.      Spray water into your hand, and flick droplets onto the tag.

3.      Dry with heat tool, or let air dry.

4.      Spray Postbox Red ink through the template in two or three spots on the tag.

5.      Dry with heat tool, or let air dry.

6.      Apply Picket Fence Distress Stain to a background stamp, and stamp onto the tag.

7.      Dry with the heat tool.

8.      Stamp snowflake images randomly with red dye-based ink.

9.      Using permanent black ink, stamp a large snowflake in the upper left section of the tag.

10.   Using permanent black ink, stamp a greeting in the lower right section of the tag.

11.   Add a brad to the center of a large snowflake and a sticker near the greeting.

12.   Spray with Perfect Pearls spray, and dry with the heat tool.

After you make a few of these tags, you'll see how fast they go.  Keep in mind that there are no rules, and "mistakes" are merely opportunities for creativity.  Because of the nature of distressed and mixed media designs, no one will know if something doesn't turn out exactly the way you planned it.  Even you will be surprised every time, because your results will always be just a little different each time you try these techniques.  Have fun, and be sure to post your tags in the Scrapjazz Gallery.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!