Loll's Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day Eight

Today I am thrilled to have been asked back again this year to be one of Loll's Guest Designers for her Twelve Tags of Christmas. 

Our tags need to be Mixed Media - Loll has defined mixed media as stamps and ink plus two other elements that add texture and/or dimension.

The inspiration tags by the designers will be showcased from the 4th-15th of November and the linky will remain open until the 22nd November so it gives you plenty of time to enter.

Here is a list of prizes!

Winner - $40 gift certificate from STAMPlorations

Top Three - $20 gift certificate each from STAMPlorations

Random Draw - $20 gift certificate from Happy Little Stampers

Random Draw - One Christmas stamp set from Dee's Artsy Impressions

I used a technique from Tim Holtz to create the background of my tag today.  It's called Layering Stencil Monoprint and you can find it in Tim's Compendium of Curiosities Vol III page 48.  Basically, you rub Distress Ink all over the back of your chosen stencil (I'm using Christmas).  Then you spritz the stencil with water and press it against your surface.  I die cut my tag out of watercolor paper using Tim's Tag and Bookplate die.

When you remove the stencil - you have a negative of the stencil.  Your result will depend on how much ink and how much water you used on the stencil.  It can also vary based on what kind of paper you use - so if you try it -  try it out on different kinds of paper!   I'm happy with my 'partial' stenciling results here.

Then I sponged over the tag with Distress Twisted Citron Ink and sponged the edges with Distress Hickory Smoke Ink.  I also cut out some images from Paperstash/Merriment that I wanted to use on my tag.  I brushed Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint over the images (not the tag) and let them dry.

To add some texture to my tag,  I used the Harlequin Stencil with Wendy Vecchi Transparent Embossing Paste.  I only stenciled on the left side of the tag.  The paste is white when it goes on - but turns translucent when it's dry.

To add even more texture I poured some Copper Micro Beads over the paste before it dried.

I colored a Jingle Brad and Snowflake with drops of Citrus Adirondack Alcohol Ink, drying them with my heat tool.

I added a sentiment Remnant Rubs/Christmastime to the top corner and looped some wrinkled seam tape through the hole in the tag, also placing the Jingle Brad through the hole. 

I adhered the images from the patterned paper with foam tape, adding Special Delivery from Tim's Festive Ephemera pack.

I adhered the Adornments/Snowflake with a Star Fastener and placed a Big Chat Sticker in the right corner.

Here you can see the translucent stenciling  near my thumb.  It's a subtle texture.

I'm also linking my tag to the following challenges:
Happy Little Stampers

Christmas Challenge - Tag

Happy Little Stampers
Mixed Media Challenge - Tags

Virginia's View -  Add Texture

Please check out Loll's Blog for her tag today as well Lee-Anne's and my own!  You'll also find all the details of the challenge so you can join in as well!!

Paper:  Watercolor paper, DP Paperstash/Merriment - Idea-ology
Ink:  Ranger Distress Vintage Photo, Twisted Citron, Hickory Smoke
Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi Translucent Embossing Paste,  Harlequin and Christmas Stencils - Tim Holtz, Tag die - Alterations, Copper Micro Beads - Finnabair Art Ingredients, Idea-ology Big Chat Stickers, Remnant Rubs/Christmastime, Adornments/Snowflakes, Star Fasteners, Jingle Brads, Festive Ephemera,   Citrus Adirondack Alcohol Ink, Ranger Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint.