Thursday, November 13, 2014

25 Days of Christmas Tags

Hi!  I'm finally back...and for a special occasion.  The incredible Tracey McNeeley is hosting her annual 25 Days of Christmas Tags and has invited the 12 Kits of Occasions designers to participate today.  Yay!  You've got to head to Tracey's blog to check it out.  Trust me: It will be worth your time. ;) 
Speaking of time, though I've known for nearly a month what I wanted to do for my tags, only yesterday was I able to sneak a few seconds to make them.  (It turns out that adding one feels more like adding 10.  Good thing she also brings 10 times the joy, too!)  So yesterday when my husband got home I asked him, "Want to hold a cute baby?"  Then, I literally ran upstairs to make my tags.  I knew exactly what I was going to do, so I pulled everything out and whipped these up as quick as I could before the baby woke up.  
These were completely inspired by the etched wood ornaments, signs, etc. I've seen on Pinterest.  I love them, and one sleepless night while wishing I had an etcher and some wood slices, I realized I could recreate the look with what I already had at home.
After die-cutting some balsa wood tags (I still can't believe I actually cut into the sheet I've been saving for months), I purposely masked an uneven circle, so it would look more like a real wood slice.  Then I rubbed on Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I stamped the sentiments (from PTI's Wet Paint Holiday Stamp Set) with the same ink.  The little pine bough was created with an image from TAWS's Trees Company Stamp Set.
I didn't have a snowflake in the scale I needed, so I die cut a Lil' Inkers' snowflake out of foam and used it as a stamp. I love that you can still see the stitched lines in it.  I tied on some twine and voila!  These really take no time at all to make, and I can't wait to tie them on to our neighbor gifts...as soon as I figure out what they are going to be this year.  Ha! All I know at this point is that they need to be quick and easy...like these tags.  
And because I was in a crazy mad rush, this is the aftermath.  Yikes!  Thankfully I can happily report that everything is again tucked away neatly in our Ikea cart and wardrobe (two of my best presents/purchases ever!), and that I actually was able to create an entirely different quick set of tags.  I'll share these in a day or so, but here's a peek...  
Okay, now you must go check out all the fun, inspiration, and PRIZES Tracey is offering on her blog.  And guess what?!  You can get an extra chance to win by commenting on my blog today. :) Just make sure to leave a comment before November 27th.
PS I'm linking up these tags to CASology's "Festive" Challenge because they certainly put me in a festive mood. :)

29 comments:

  1. Love these faux etched wood tags. Very nice!!!

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  2. Haha! I love the aftermath photo - I used to craft on the floor, almost like having a huge desk to spread out on, lovely! And having a baby has turned me into a speed crafter too, hee hee! ;-)
    Thanks for visiting my blog, you asked about the gold ink; it's Delicata Golden Glitz, I love it!
    Gorgeous wooden style tags you've made, and the sneak peek tags look fab too!

    Beth xx

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  3. How clever to recreate the wood slice ornaments. Love.

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  4. Woah! That's some aftermath! Lol. Great tags!

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  5. You crack me up! I love the peek into your world and my room looks the same way just about every single day. If it's clean the kids ask whats wrong!!! I have some balsa wood sheets too that remain untouched on my shelf. I just had to have them.. oh but what to make? You've inspired me to get it in gear - the wood is so cozy and perfect for this time of year!! Tell Mr. L he's a good man!!

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  6. You crack me up too! I can just see you trying to get some simple tags ( CAS is never simple) completed before your 10 babies wake up( ha ha) . I was happy to see your mess because that is pretty much how I craft as well. I feel better when its all put away thought. So I can make a new mess.
    Your balsa wood tags are amazing and you sure put a lot of work and love into them. Darling tags!
    I see your ikea kart in the room looks like we all had to have one of those.

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  7. AWESOME! They totally look "real"...well of course, they are real...but you know what I mean ;)! Authentic! That's the word I was searching for! To think you came up with this creative idea with a new baby is mind boggling to me...double extra credit tag points!!

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  8. How clever to make your own stamp out of the diecut. The ornament tags are very cute.

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  9. Lindsey...you are so so funny and I have to say I just love your big mess! I have to agree with you are the Ikea purchase, that cart is amazing and I would love to see how you organize yours if you ever happen to snap a photo and want to share (pretty please). Your tags are amazing, they look like beautiful wooden ornaments, what a great idea. And you are so clever to make you own snowflake stamp too. And all this with a new baby! You totally rock.

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  10. Fabulous idea for your tags. They look so realistic. You've got me wondering if I have any of that balsa wood left over. So glad you got a chance to come out and play today. And, thanks so much for linking up at CASology this week.

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  11. Adorable post, Lindsey! You're so amazing, being able to finish such creative tags while caring for your new little one. Love the wood designs! And seeing your messy space makes me feel like I'm not alone. That's pretty much how mine looked after doing only one tag!

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  12. What fun tags! Came out
    great looking.
    Carla from Utah

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  13. I LOVE your mess and have one taking up my entire coffee table right now....it gets cleaned up every other day just to get looking just about the same again!! These wood chunky tags look just that, WOW, I had to read it again and again, just AMAZING job - you go girl - I think you have some awesome Christmas gifts started!!! Thanks for joining us at CASology!!

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  14. I love your "after" photo--I can so relate to the beautiful mess! Love your balsa tags and the uneven edges are genius! Looking forward to seeing your next batch of tags, too!

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  15. pretty set of tags! love the woodsy look!

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  16. Did you stand up on a chair to take that photo, young lady?? Your cabiny tags are so warm and toasty and delightful!! I'm so glad Baby and Hubby are understanding - and they get some "them" time, too! Hugs, Darnell (Please don't put me in the draw!)

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  17. LOL...love darnell's comment about standing on a chair :)
    I adore your tags and totally know how you feel about cutting into wood paper :) It was totally worth it, they're awesome.

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  18. Love the rustic wood look of your tags!! GREAT aftermath of crafting photo too LOL...a bird's eye view!

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  19. Lindsey, what a fun post to read! Brought me right back to when my kids were little ("Want to hold a cute baby?" Priceless!). I adore the wood-etched look of your tag set, and I agree, they are absolutely festive and fun! Thanks for joining us at CASology!

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  20. Great idea for your tags! I must get some woodgrain papers!

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  21. How cool, Lindsey ... such a wonderful rustic look to your tags! Such a great aftermath photo ... is there one of the aftermath of the aftermath (when it's all been tucked away)?! Anita :)

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  22. Lindsey you are so funny, I LOVE these tags and making your own stamp is brilliant! Thank you so much for joining me in the 25 Days of Christmas Tags event! xoxo

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  23. Your rustic tags are simply lovely; woodsy and warm! Your aftermath photo resembles my 'always math' state in my 'crafting zone' (aka: a corner of the kitchen counter). I'm putting that IKEA cart on my wish list...or maybe my husband's putting it on HIS wishlist, as a big hint! Great that you had some crafting time while your husband and baby had bonding time!
    ~c

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  24. These are brilliant, Lindsey! You totally captured that etched look. Awesome! Thanks for playing along with CASology this week!

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  25. Super cute ornament tags.
    isoscia at aol dot com

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  26. LOVE how you described the "baby handover" Lindsey :)
    LOVE your wood tags - WOW - I've never tried to die cut balsa before - SO COOL, great job with your CLEVER snowflake stamp and AWESOME job making a CREATIVE mess, I feel right at home!!!
    THANK YOU for sharing your lovely tags and the joys of being a Mother with us today :)
    PS - looking forward to seeing more of your PRETTY sneak peeks too!!!

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