Kicking off the Funkie Junkie's 12 tags of Christmas 2015

When I was sitting on the beach in Rhodes a few weeks back I saw a blog post come up in my reader which made my heart skip a beat......Linda of The Funkie Junkie blog starting off her 12 tags of Christmas. It was so funny sitting there in 32o of sunshine reading about Christmas.

I love this challenge, it's a bit like Strictly Come Dancing....it counts me right down to Christmas week. For those of you who are new to Linda's challenge you can read all the rules of it here. In a nutshell you use her weekly tag for inspiration and you can create anything crafty and as long as all 12 projects are completed by 22 Dec. You also have a chance to win one of her generous prizes. I was lucky enough to win $25 dollars last year  to spend in her wonderful on line boutique which sponsors the challenge. Do have a look here at her shop, her stock is enormous and her prices really keen.

I choose to use the challenge to create 12 of my Christmas cards. You can see her week one tag here. I was inspired by the gold embossed background and by the poinsettia die cut she featured.
 I am still able to work in my beloved studio at the moment, as the weeks go by it will get too cold,but for now I am perfectly comfy out there. I tend to make my Funkie Junkie card after work on a Monday...it's a little routine I really enjoy during the approach to Christmas. She's already onto tag 3 so I am playing a bit of catch up but I will get there.

I made a lovely stencilled focal for my card using Wendy Vecchi's gorgeous gold embossing paste and Tim's poinsettia stencil.

 Look at the sheen once it dries. I then stamped my Visible image poinsettia stamp onto some red Christmas paper and fussy cut it out.

I then coloured up the white card with festive green and red distress inks

As Linda said it's a shame to always cover up these lovely backgrounds so I also kept the backing to my focal quite simple. I just added a green and gold backing paper. I also added a stamped and die cut sentiment, a holly die cut and a button and twine to finish my card.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

The Funkie Junkie's 12 tags of Christmas 2015 #1
Papertake Weekly 2 by 2 I used 2 different types of poinsettia, a stencil and a stamp.
Emerald Faeries buttons and bows
Fashionable stamping changing seasons 2/3
Country View  add some texture
We love 2 create anything creative/mixed media

Pixie's snippets playground #198 I used a snippet of mixed media card to emboss on and snippets for my holly die cut and my sentiment.
Creative Inspirations Clean and simple or fussy and fancy mine is very much the fancy end!
Sparkles Christmas distress it
Winter Wonderland Christmas flowers
Christmas card challenge anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut vintage or shabby chic mine is very much vintage, I love this retro Merry Christmas stamp

I have one of those rare days at home today so I am planning some crafting fun in my studio. I have so many ideas buzzing around! I also recently received such a gorgeous package from my uber talented blogging friend Mia after winning her giveaway

 Such gorgeous colours, I love them!

...so if I have chilly hands my fingerless gloves will be perfect. Thanks my dear so much, they are so beautiful.

Back soon, off down to my beloved Studio..............

Bye for now,

Jane x