Kathy's Waffle: Tags and Labels

Helloooo, Happy Friday!

It's sunny here, but nippy - at least we don't have the snow that some parts of the UK are threatened with today. If only snow only settled on the grass, gardens and roofs it would be ok. You'd think by now they'd have invented something to add when they make tarmac etc to keep the roads and paths clear...... I guess that is something to add to the same wish-list as my teleporter 😀😀

I've been a rubbish blogger again this week. So much to do just now, and its not all Christmas stuff either!

Anyway, at least the Daring Cardmakers gave me the nudge I needed to get going on gift tags.

"This week, it's time to take another "Step Away from the Cards" and share

some of your other creations with us.

The time the "Step Away From the Cards" challenge is:
Tags, Labels and Toppers
We'd just love to see the tags etc that you'll be adding to your gifts to show who they are for and from! it doesn't have to be Christmas-themed, we give gifts for lots of reasons and they all netter with a vit of extra decoration!!

Tags are not my favourite things to make, but I feel a weird sense of guilt if I don't make an effort. The last couple of years I've come up with a sort of solution and I make a name label and decorative topper all in one. It's a bit like making a 3D card embellishment (which I love doing) but instead of sticking it on a card which would cost a fortune to send, I just add a name tag to it. I even print the name tags on the pc so I can just cut them up!

This year I'm making loads of different sized poinsettias in my colour theme of red, white and gold for the labels which will go on the gifts for the females, and little faux gifts as embellishments for the male parcels.

It's a great way to use up those lovely 3D bits and bobs we accumulate - the berries, pine-cones and even little jingly bells, and its easy to make a few larger embellishments, as little ones look really silly on a big box!

Info;

Gold , red, white and green card

Scraps of wrapping paper, or paper from 6x6 paper pads as the scalled down designs are good for the mini gifts.

Christmassy bits and pieces; ribbons, pine-cones, bells, braid, beads, etc

Die cuts - for example Snowflake, Holly and Stars

The Poinsettia Die is the fabulous Spellbinders one (Layered Poinsettia Shapeabilities Etched Dies) that I've used soooo much this year. I just use the different petal sizes to make small, medium or large flowers.

I enjoy putting these together so much more than making regular tags! They don't really take long to make as most of this stuff is already on the desk from other projects. There's always a box of die cut snowflakes and stars etc that I've cut but not used yet.

I bought the bells in a sale last year - although they are small, they are bigger than I expected and would be way too bulky for cards.

Cut in batches, the poinsettias are dead easy to make. I just put a load of different sized ones together then add some gems to the centres. I make the name label part separately, leaving enough space at the left end so that I can add the flowers singly or in groups depending on the gift they are to go on.

Apart from adding a ribbon around the parcel, these toppers are the only decoration my gifts need now. I used to spend hours with bows and ribbons decorating my gifts!