I wasn't thrilled with the one-layer tags I posted for the OLW challenge on Wednesday.  Since that post, I've been playing with mists, distress inks, and sprays in an effort to make a more interesting one layer tag.  I have two to show you. 

For the tag above, I misted the background with Silver Sugar Glimmer Mist.  To me, the color looks like a shimmery medium gray.  Very pretty!  The poinsettias are stamped with Papertrey Ink's Raspberry Fizz and the center of each flower has three little dots of Cotton Candy Stickles.  The "to and from" are stamped on the back of the tag.

 
The second tag was stamped with Barn Red Distress Ink on glossy card stock.  It has a nice marble effect to it, although you can't tell it by my photography skills.

The week's OLW post can be found here.  You still have time to play and just think,  you'll have a jump start on you Christmas tags.

One-Layer Wednesday ~ Christmas/Holiday Tags (OLW166)

Welcome to this week's One-Layer Wednesday challenge.  With the holidays right around the corner, let's make one-layer Christmas/Holiday Tags.

I have a few to share with you.

Santa's hat was colored with Prisma pencils and topped with a pom pom. 

For the tag above, I used a PSX stamp from 1999.  Believe it or not, I found this beauty at a garage sale last year.  I colored the image with Prisma pencils and added some bling.

If you look closely, you can see glitter on this tag.

I can't wait to see what your tags!


OLW166 Rulesl.  Create a one layer tag.  This is defined as a single layer of cardstock.  No other    
     layers allowed.

2.  Create a Christmas/Holiday tag.  Remember to keep  embellishments to a minimum and NO      ADDITIONAL layers of cardstock.
     
3.  Post your card online and link it to the InLinkz button at the bottom of this post.  If you link to 
     your blog, please link to the specific post and not your blogs main page.

4.  HAVE FUN!

OLW 164 - Play the Game

A quick post before the One-Layer Wednesday (OLW164) deadline!

This week's host is Ardyth.  Her challenge, Play the Game.  Create a one layer card inspired by a game or some form of play. 

Here's my take on Ardyth's challenge.  Playing music!

The treble clef stamp is a textured or distressed image, just in case you thought it was poor stamping.

The Details:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Frame/Background Stamp, Stampabilities - Image & Sentiment -  A Muse (Retired) 

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black & Palette Vintage Cream

Paper: Kraft

Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig & Twine



Packaging...

I can't believe it's already the first week of November!  Where did October go? 

Okay!  Moving on.  Let me ask you, how many of you give gift cards during the holidays, or throughout the year for that matter?  With my family scattered across the country, and teen/tween  nieces and nephews, I find gift cards are always well received, and much less expensive to send. Even my teenage daughters request gift cards. 

Please, don't think that I just send gift cards for the ease of gift giving! When my nephews were younger, I took great pains in finding the most awesome gifts.  Of course, I wanted to be the "coolest " Auntie ever"!  About six years ,when Lightsabers (a fictional weapon or laser sword, made famous by Star Wars) were so popular, I sent my nephews two for Christmas. Later, I found out my sister wouldn't let my nephews have them as she felt they were violent.  Really?  Needless to say, I never sent another gift again.  Gift cards only! 

With that said, I don't like to give a gift card without dressing it up in some way.  It's all about the packaging.  Gift card packaging!

This month, every Monday, I will feature gift card packaging ideas for you.  This week, I'm starting off with a simple gift card die from Papertrey Ink. 

I thought long and hard before purchasing this die.  It's an investment.  I actually calculated the cost of the die verses other packaging option and how often I thought I would use it.  End result, I love it.  I'm so glad I purchased it.  It's already paid for itself!  You can't ask for anything more, right?

Let me show you some examples.  After die cutting, this is what the Gift Card Greetings die looks like.

Here's an inside view.  As you can see, I did some stamping on the inside ("to and from" on the bottom flap and "sending holiday cheer" on the top flap).   Very simple.

Here's a view of the top flap.

Here, I've added some embellishments to the basic die.

And here, a fun interpretation of the Gift Card Greetings die.

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With this one Gift Card Greetings die there are so many possibilities.  Just let your creativity take over.

I hope you'll stop by next Monday for more Gift Card Packaging ideas.

Supplies:  Stamps: Papertrey Ink  Paper: Stampin' Up-Whisper White, Bazzil Black and Red, Unknow Silver, Memory Box-Red Dot  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Papertrey New Leaf and Pure Poppy  Accessories: Bow Maker, Papertrey Ink Gift Card Greetings die, Unlimited Ovals 1 3/4, Tiny Tags, Twine, Fiskers Square Punch 1 Inch and 1 1/4 Inch Punch, 1/4 Circle Punch.