SATURDAY INSPIRATION - Gift Tags everywhere!

When I've been visiting crafting blogs lately everyone seems to be making Christmas gift tags and to be honest, I don't usually use gift tags, don't know why but this year I am defiantly going to make some as they are so cute.
I think I was put off gift tags as the one's my mum used when I was little always looked a bit like an after thought.  Now, no disrespect to my parents, but they just wrapped things so they were wrapped, they didn't get how special and exciting a gift looks when it's wrapped beautifully, for them it was more of if it was wrapped and looked vaguely Christmas-like it was good enough.

but I have defiantly discovered the joy of a beautifully wrapped gift and what could be a more perfect start to a beautiful gift than a hand-made, personal tag.

My first tag is a big one, perfect for a larger gift.

It's a 'tucked' gift card, sorry I can't think of a better description but hopefully the picture explains it.  I used a piece of 8" x 8" "Whisper White" card stock that I scored at 2" on each side and cut off the corners to create the basic shape and just folded in one side after another and tucked the last side under the first.

For the sentiment on the outside is from the "Tags til Christmas stamp set and it opens to reveal a sentiment form the "Delightful Dozen" stamp set - wish I love, so many useful sentiments in that set.

On the outside I used images from the "Scentsational Season" stamp set

I also added a bit of 'shiny' to each image.  I used "Dazzling Details on the candy cane, "Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details" on the gingerbread man's shiny buttons.  I also cut out the gingerbread man using the "Holiday Collection" framelit dies just to give it a bit of additional dimension.

and for the mug I added a rhinestone jewel.

I'll be sharing more gift tags in the run up to Christmas, enjoy!  xx

Free card for November 2012

Hello there,

Now in the interests of full-disclosure, I'm writing this post on Sunday afternoon.  I figure that the best way for me to try and make sure I keep up to date with posting is whenever I got a bit of time to schedule a few post, as I love sharing what I do with you all and I've missed blogging.

My share today is actually my FREE card for November.  Anyone who places a Stampin' Up order through me in the month of November will receive one of these cards for free.  There are two versions, one in "Midnight Muse" and one in "Raspberry Ripple"   

I wanted to share this card today as who wouldn't want to be holding a lovely mug of hot chocolate tonight whilst watching the fireworks, with maybe a little dram of something grown-up in the mug for good measure!

If you place an order for less than £50, (before P&P), then you get one card, if you place an order for more than £50, then you get both!

I used the "Scentsational Season" stamp set, which is sooo cute and comes with coordinating dies for the Big Shot machine.  I just stamped the mug image directly onto the "Whisper White" card stock that I got form the "Note Cards & Envelopes" set.  You get 20 5 x 3-1/2" note cards and envelopes in the pack and they are the perfect size for whipping up a batch of cards really quickly.

The sentiment is from the "Polar Party" stamp set, which is one of my favourites. 

I used "Basic Grey" classic ink pad for the steam, which I stamped off once to give a light grey colour.  I then used "Dazzling Details" which is glitter glue and at only £2.25, is fabulous and will last you for ages.

You can't really see it on these cards, but I also added a "Rhinestone Jewel" to the centre of the snowflake on the mug.

Hope you like them, have a great day, and BE CAREFUL if you have fireworks tonight!! ... xx