Stained Tags...

The numerous photos will be your guide...

The top tag is how they come in the package.
The bottom ones I crinkle up in a ball
over and over...

The same tags with the stain color I made
to match a favorite wrap I found...

The tags have a leather-look...

Paint the mixture on...

Wipe off the excess...

Don't wipe the excess off on these...

Allow to dry & dress up!

I share them in a little bit~

Clear Button Tag...

Clear Buttons make great 3-D embellishments!
The background paper is glued to the
tag with Mod Podge...
It's tissue paper!
I LOVE tissue paper because it is thin,
can be transparent and decoupages well.

I like to use small details in the print for the buttons.

Out of all these buttons I was only able
to find a small hand full of completely clear ones.
Craft stores carry them...

You can see by the background
which buttons will work...
The far right button is completely clear.

Mod Podge the surface of the design...
Put your button on and press out air bubbles~

Trim the tag from the back...
Use a second piece to cover the back,
flip over and trim from the front.

Glue for some glitter...

I like using dust or fine ground glitters...

Glitter brightens & cheers it up a bit!

This is a extra hanging piece...

I rubber stamped some pine trees
and added the special "letter" to make sure
I know who to give the gift to!

Hand sew the buttons into place...

On to the next!

Photocopy Tag...

Sharing a few of the Christmas tags
I love to make this time of year...

After the package is open...
the favorite tags become book marks.
Others make neat extras
to add to Christmas scrap books.

Colorless Blender Marker

To get a rubber stamp look...
Photocopy your favorite line drawing.
If you are using a photo switch the copy format
to halftone/photograph image.
I make the copy dark.
Remember...image will be in reverse.
Also...these will not work with ink jet copies.

Hold image tight...completely saturate the
image with the blender until the paper
is see through.
Lift the copy off the tag...
You can only get one use from each copy...
I save the copy itself to glue or decoupage.

All types of stains available.

Using a colored pencil...I darken the lines.

Tattered fabric...
Snip the edge 1/2 inch in.

Tear the fabric...

Pull a few of the edge strings away...

Instant tattered!

The final detail...
How do I know who the gift is for?

A first letter will do in our home~

I like to stamp them in metallic colors...
You have to move it at an angle to see...
Makes it a bit more challenging
for curious little package watchers!

Check This Out...

Paper Ornament Projects!
These are beautiful...
You have to go peek!
With so many fantastic scrap booking papers
available today...Wendy has a great
collection of ideas to get us started...
Visit her here~
The Possibilities Are Endless

A Giving Time...

"The fragrance always stays
in the hand
that gives the rose."
Heda Bejar

Have you seen the commercial where the
Salvation Army bell ringer
stands on the roof next to a flood victim
in the middle of crisis?

Where she stands in the ashes
of a house taken by fire?

She stands and rings beside
a homeless man?

One of the most well-made commercials.
No words throughout it...
It illustrates a FEW of the many
needs people right beside us have.

During these tight economic times they need
our help...they need our prayers.
Both the hearts in need & those who help.

Getting There...

A little decorating today...
A little tomorrow...

At this pace~
I might be all set for Christmas
by mid-January!

Sometimes less is more...

Winter Friends...

Winter birds seem to be stopping by in Holiday groups!

Each of them cheery & feeding fast & furious
before the next arctic blast!
Sweet, sweet friends~ sitting still long enough
for a few Christmas portraits...
All puffed up on branches~
Waiting for the squirrels to leave the feeder!
I help the gray friends along with a shout...
The birds hop down to the ground & clean their mess!

A small bit from one of my watercolors...
Blue Jay's are so bright against the snow!

Wishing each of you wonderful~

Out Walkin' the Dog...

Had some sleet, freezing rain & snow last night~
The calm after the (teenie) storm!

Be of Good Cheer...

It's the most wonderful time...
Of the year~
Enjoyed a GLORIOUS Christmas program last night!

The proceeds benefit The Pines of Peace...
A home that loves & assists terminally ill people.
Our son volunteered with MANY talented
musicians, singers, dancers, drama etc.!
It was touching & came to the Heart of Christmas
Jesus.

We've been trying to get some Christmas
decorations put up...such a fun time...but very busy!
School concerts, new music to learn for
Christmas Eve services...seeing people working together~

Shopping is done...family celebrations beginning soon~

I still have some gifts to make...
Work deadlines will hopefully be completed this week~

It's so nice, once the tree is lit...
warm glow filling the room...
(Not talkin' ornaments yet! Can't rush a good thing!)
**sigh**
To sit.
Christmas music on softly...warm tea...
(hey!...cats are chewing on the tree...)
(woops!...cats are chewing on the LIGHTS!)
We are doing a much better job raising our kids
than we are with these kittens that are TWO now!
(Don't make me get those bells hung!!!)
:)
tee hee

Sure hope your weekend has been filled with
wonderful holiday-time memories!