Merry Christmas!

I couldn't figure out what to put on my blog today but the challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp & Show blog came to the rescue.  It was a real hard one, too.  Create a Tim Holtz tag.  Well, since the 12 Tags of Christmas has just concluded I still had some ideas in my head.  No snow here, as you can see on my tag.  Kinda looks like my shagbark hickory tree outside my stamping room.  We do have blue skies today, as well.

The tree was stamped in Jet Black Archival ink, watercolored with Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  The snowflakes were stamped in Snow Cap Paint Dabber, Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood Distress Inks were rubbed over all but the tree.  I gently dabbed off the snowflakes with a damp towel.  (Sorry, they get kind of lost under the crackle paint!)  The edges were coated with Walnut Stain and Black Soot Distress Inks.  I stamped 'Merry Christmas' in Jet Black Archival Ink then again, slightly offset to create a shadow, with the Gold Paint Dabber.  Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint was smeared over the entire tag.  When dry I smushed Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress Inks into the cracks.  Using a Hero Arts alphabet I stamped '2011' onto the smallest of the Tattered Banners using Jet Black Archival Ink.  The banner was lightly colored with whatever blue ink was on my blending tool, the edges were colored with whatever brown ink was on the blending tool then a bit of Gold Paint Dabber was added on the very edges.  A few ribbons, lace and tulle create a bow with gold jingle bells added for holiday flair.

Hope your day is filled with plenty of merriment, much love, and lots of good food!