The Flower Challenge #15 - Anything But A Card

As it's now December, it's time for our new challenge over at The Flower Challenge and this month we want to see anything but a card.

I decided to make a tag for this challenge, as this year I've purchased some very simple Christmas wrapping paper, but plan to bling it up with handmade tags.

I didn't have a tag die the size I wanted, but rummaging through my stash I found a tag stamp from the Parpermania Jolly Santa range, which had alternative messages to slot into it. The only problem was that the main tag stamp had a gingerbread man on it. Never fear, with a sharp pair of scissors he was carefully removed and can be slotted back in place if needed.

I stamped the tag in black archival ink and cut it out, then ran a black pen round the white cut edge to give a more finished look. I stamped a sentiment from the Papermania Traditional Sentiments set on the tag rather than use one of the original sentiments.

I coloured some white card with blended distress inks and over stamped them to create red and green card to die cut. I used a green distress marker that matched one of the inks I'd used, to colour in the border on the tag. I then used Sue Wilson's Classic Poinsettia to cut the green leaves and her Filigree Poinsettia to cut the red leaves. I shaped them slightly with my fingers and layered them up to form the poinsettia and glued in place. 

I found a couple of small flourish dies in my stash (sorry, no idea who made them) and cut them out of soft matt gold mirri card and snipped them down and tucked them behind the poinsettia. I added a flat back cream pearl cluster to the centre of the flower, but wasn't happy with its colour and so I dabbed some mercury glass stickles onto it with my finger to give it more of a soft golden tone. Note to self, do this and let it dry before you add it to the flower, much easier. It doesn't show in the photo but I also dabbed some Christmas red stickles onto the poinsettia with my finger to add a little sparkle. I will eventually fish out my cropodile to punch the hole in the tag and thread some ribbon through it finish.

I'm looking forward to seeing your floral makes this month. Just remember that the focal point of your project has to be a flower(s) and if you can add our cue card to your post we'll love you forever! My teamies and I will be back with a reminder halfway through the month. Happy Crafting x

Don't forget that I'm running a blog candy Christmas stamp giveaway for my followers. The post is pinned to the top of my blog or you can click here to go directly to the post. Entries close at midnight on 8th December UK time.