christmas tags.

i was asked to teach a class on making christmas gift tags at my church.  i decided to do 12, and figured people could just get as many done in the time we had.  well, for me, designing a gift tag is the same process as designing a card - LONG and tedious!  i know you're thinking it should be easier since it's so much smaller.  but for me, it ended up being the same as designing each card for card night -- times 12!  the process was alot of work.....  see this in-progress mess?

fortunately, the end result was worth it.  i loved the 12 finished tags.

i put each one of the tags on a board for advertising at church.  i got lots of compliments, but not as many sign-ups.  oh well.

the night of the class, i talked two of my friends into coming out to help me.  i put my husband to work wrapping kleenex boxes so i could display the tags at each station.  i set everything out, and then my friend had the great idea to write tips for each tag on the paper -- that turned out to be SUCH a necessity!  otherwise, we would have been repeating ourselves all night.

i'm glad i got the chance to create something i wouldn't normally do.  and, since i planned for so many more than actually showed up (of course), i have extras to put together and maybe use myself this year.

designing.

i am in the middle of designing for the october card night.  i decided to move it up a week - ahhh! - and am now in hyperspeed to get it all done.  i'm crossing my fingers that the online order i just placed through papertrey ink comes in in time.  {i can't even think how crazy i'll feel if it doesn't}  i have all the ideas in my head from looking through countless magazines.  the next step in my design process is to play with the paper and embellishments and see if i can make it look like what i imagine.  or better.  or start over.  {hopefully not}

i really like one of the cards on the cover of this magazine - you'll have to wait to see which one i'm improvising on.

the second card i'm working on has been a favorite that i made at one of the rare card nights i attended not done by me :).  it has stayed lovingly in my little stash of goodies - couldn't bear to mail it to anyone since i made it without my own supplies, which makes it truly a one of kind to me!  i decided to use it as my template; different colors, different embellishments, different stamp, but same great sketch.  i think it will work.

the third card is all about thanksgiving. i bought the cutest themed set last year {by unity} for card night.

we used it on two cards {gave them both away and didn't take pics - crime!}, and i love it so much i'm using it again this year.  i rarely do that.  i always try to use new things for card night.

the idea comes out of this magazine, on page 124:

and it caught my eye because it uses the stampin' up top note die cut, which i have and love to use.

so, i'm off to bed - maybe i'll dream up the perfect combination of paper and bling and wow even myself with one of these cards!  {or maybe they'll just get done in time for card night, which would be equally exciting!}