I'm Dreaming of a Kraft and White Christmas

Hello all!  Another day, another tag for the Funkie Junkie 12 Tag of Christmas inspiration challenge.

And in terms of the personal challenge I set myself - to get myself back into the swing of crafting - I think it's working.  I certainly feel a bit more at home again in my craft room.

Given I've been trying to do a bit of a sort-out/clear-out of the craft stash in between tags - a space vs stuff battle which is pretty wearing! - not to mention grudgingly dealing with invoicing and paperwork for the real world - it's been a relief to be enjoying myself so much at the craft table.

We're down to the final two and, as promised, I've saved the best until last - well, they're my two favourites anyway. Here's the first of them, and then you'll get the very last one tomorrow on deadline day.











This is my take on Tag 6 and, if you check out Linda's glorious original, you'll see I've stuck pretty closely to her design... though no red on mine, obviously!  I adore the fabulous dimensionality of this one!











Again, I have a slightly darker kraft card than hers, so that changes things, and I felt the need to do some inking on my elements rather than the crisp-as-new-fallen-snow look of the inspiration tag.












I don't have the Holiday Knit stencil so I chose one of my favourite wintry T.H. stencils instead, this Festive one with the lovely holly leaves and berries.

It's also got little pinecones, in case you haven't had have enough of those yet.












I used the Finnabair Snowflake Paste again (as on my tag 1, Bare Branches), though in the end I had to put some more white texture paste over the top as the white wasn't quite bright enough against my die-cut elements otherwise.












I sometimes attempt the clean, sharp look of Linda's tag, but when push comes to shove I can't resist a bit of inking.  That grungier vintage look always sneaks in.

So I've inked the edges of the kraft tag...











I've inked my treelines...
















And I've inked the Holiday Greens around the top of the tag.














I don't have the Idea-ology deer, so this little Movers and Shapers faun puts in his second appearance of the challenge.  (He also featured in my tag 2, Oh Deer! if you remember, all those days ago!!)














He's inked a darker brown for this tag so that he ties in with my real tiny pinecones at the top of the tag.  (I loved Linda's gingerbread heart, but I'm under time pressure here...)














The label in the centre is hand cut from the same kraft cardstock, inked around the edges and fastened with a metal brad.

I stamped the sentiment using DecoArt Chalky Finish in Everlasting - you get a really sharp stamping with it.  (But do wash your stamps quickly after using them with paint.)













Sorry, I got fed up with flicking back and forth trying to decide whether I preferred the shot with a touch of warming sunlight or the one without, so I'm giving you both.  Well, it is Christmas...















My embellishing is very simple.  There's some burlap ribbon around the top of the tag (though it's barely visible now)...











... and, of course, those pine cones, echoing Tag 5 The Holly and the Holly and Tag 9 Pine Cones Galore!, as well as foreshadowing tomorrow's final tag.














The intricate detailing on the trees is really impressive... I'm definitely in love with this die and I can see it getting plenty of use, not just at Christmas.  And Linda's dimensional layering is a great touch.











The Holiday Greens will also definitely be a staple around here.  I confess I did already have the larger size, but you can never have too much Christmas greenery, right?

Even when it's actually Christmas "whitery" - my term invented yesterday for my Tag 12 A Christmas Wish.  I really love how the die-cut whitery and the stencilled whitery work together for a look of really dense foliage on this tag.








Ah, kraft and white - not for the first time during this challenge (remember Tag 10 Snow Flurries, not to mention the Bare Branches of Tag 1), it's come up trumps as a colour combination.

Is it any wonder I'll be dreaming of a kraft and white Christmas?  And since I'm guessing you're already humming (and if you're not, you will be when you glance below at today's words), here's the real thing for you...

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you're all finding time for some crafting - or at least an occasional rest - amidst the Christmas preparations.  Happy Sunday all!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know;
Where the treetops glisten, and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.
Irving Berlin

I'm entering this as Tag 6 in the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique
And at MOO Mania & More, the theme for this fortnight is Trees, so I'd like to play there too