Monday, November 8, 2010

A Different Kind of Christmas Cheer

I took this kind of Christmas "cheer" (a Sam Adams beer coaster from a restaurant):


And turned it into this kind of Christmas cheer, a gift tag:

My kids thought I was nuts to swipe two coasters from Chili's when we recently went out to dinner.  I knew they were projects just waiting to happen!  (and, hey, don't they throw them out when you leave, anyway?)

It just so happens that the largest die from Spellbinders Labels Eight fit perfectly over this coaster with just a tad bit of room to spare.  What luck!  I used Soft Sky cardstock from Stampin' Up! on both sides of the coaster, then a designer paper from SU that I don't know the name of.  (It's older and retired, like ALL of my SU dp's)

I layered on a Spellbinders Labels Ten in Soft Sky, then an oval nestie in an SU designer paper (Bella Bleu, maybe?), and finally, a "nestie" medallion of my own design.  I learned some tricks from my friend, Andrea Ewen, about using a corner punch to create your own medallion.  I chose the Martha Stewart Gothic Arches Corner Punch to do this.  To see Andrea's tutorial, click here.  Any mistakes can be covered by things such as tree branches, or snowflakes (wink, wink).

I'm playing in several challenges:
I used my favorite glitter liberally, over punched snowflakes, the ornament from All That Glitters by Flourishes, and corners of the darker blue nestie.  More bling shows up in the form of icy blue brads and a recycled piece of tinsel-looking pipe cleaner (came on a gift bag). 

I don't think I've ever made a tag before.  This was fun!  One tool I lack, and discovered I now need, is a Crop-A-Dile.  It's true:  I don't own one of those, or even grommets.  Can you imagine??  For the hole at the top of the tag, I used my paper piercer.  It's not as polished as a grommet would've been, but it'll do.

Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you were able to play in the Inspiration Challenge 257 at Splitcoast over the weekend.  If you haven't, there's no deadline for it, so give it a try!

Happy Stamping,




Stamps:  All That Glitters by Flourishes
Paper:  Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, retired SU dp's
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Martha Stewart snowflake, Doily Lace border and Gothic Arches corner punch
Other:  Big Shot, rhinestone stickers, dimensionals, tinsel wire from a gift bag, Making Memories icy blue rhinestone brads, iridescent glitter, blue satin ribbon from my grandmother, Spellbinders Label Eight, Label Ten, large oval

24 comments:

Karen W said...

Wow this is gorgeous, I love all the blue and sparkle, what a beautiful piece.

Vicki Dutcher said...

Colleen - killer detail!! Awesome photos also! Thanks for playing with Speedy's Friends!

Emily Keaton said...

Love it, Love it, Love it!!! Good for you for recycling those coasters--into this AMAZING tag, no less!! I love how you covered all three Flourishes challenges. This is so detailed and pretty and glittery!! I realized that I now MUST have a snowflake punch. How could I not have one of those??? Anyway, NICELY DONE, Colleen!!

ChristineCreations said...

Just gorgeous Colleen! So elegant and filled with lovely sparkle!

Dawn B. said...

This is amazing Colleen.. SO much great detail. Way to recycle..Love all the Spellbinders..

Marisa said...

Totally gorgeous, Colleen!! Love the sparkle and your wonderful "recycling" LOL! The touch of the silver pipe cleaner is darling and the ornament is gorgeous. Well done :)

Bonnie said...

What a great job of recycling. Or is it repurposing? Whatever, it is beautiful! So classy with all the blue, white & silver. It will have to go on a very special package!

Joanne (jojot) said...

now that is some pretty glamourous recycling...gorgeous....thanks for piercing along with Speedy's Friends

Andrea Ewen said...

Can you say, GORGEOUS? Way to take advantage of those everyday items around you. I guess I don't feel so bad now for looking at EVERYTHING and seeing how I can make it into a card. A special breed, we are... :)
This tag is absolutely amazing! Love that ice glitz, the super snowflakes and, of course, that fabulous medallion! I think you've probably now figured out why I have so many pearls on my medallions...our little secret...

redwasher1 said...

Cheer never looked so good!! It is stunningly beautiful!
Thanks for joining us at Speedy's Friends.

Becky said...

What a stunning card, gorgeous colors.Thanks for playing with Speedy's Friends!

Anonymous said...

Wow! what a stunning tag - fab recycling project! I love the different shapes on this and the borders. It's a mini work of art! x

Carol Hurlock said...

Oh Colleen....a coaster!!! Nope I didn't guess right. But now I know what to do with these two packs of coasters I picked up at Micheal's on a shopping extravaganza I went on around my Birthday for 10 cents each!!! I couldn't pass them up for 10 cents. lol I think this tag is phenomenal. I am a glitter fanatic and just love how this glistens. Wow-absolutely stunning. I love it!

Bear Hugs,
Carol aka Bearzi

Benzi said...

Wow! Colleen, you've made a gorgeous tag. I love the sky blue color and that mixed with all the glitter looks so wintry. What a fabulous creation!!

Stacy Morgan said...

Gorgeous tag, this turned out beautiful. I think the guys would say it looked better the other way. lol However us girls think its gorgeous this way! Fantastic job.

Joanne Travis said...

I love every beautiful little detail on this fabulous card. Pure gorgeousness, Colleen.
Thanks for joining Speedy's Friends this week!

Bonnie Garby said...

Beautiful Holiday tag!! Thanks so much for joining our Really Reasonable Ribbon challenge.

Jen Timko said...

This is stunningly beautiful! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the color on this! Your blue brads and sparkle are perfect!

Leslie Miller said...

Wow! What a beauty! The sparkle is wonderful, and all those shapes... LOVE your handmade medallion!

~Tammy~ said...

Wow, that is a beautiful tag!!! I love all the bling!!!

Theresa's Studio said...

I keep seeing your name pop up as a winner. Congrats on your RRR win. Beautiful tag! Hope you enjoy vacation.

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

OMG Colleen, this is so beautiful! I love it. The colors and the glitter and the yummy layers with the punched medallion. It's perfect. I love the punched hole with the ribbon and think a grommet might have taken away from your focal point, but maybe not, lol, it's just so perfect. congraduations on your win!

stampqueen said...

Wonderfully Beautiful card with a ton of detail.
Love the color too!!!

Kathy Jones said...

WOW - this is absolutely gorgeous!!!

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