Keeping Christmas {Merry Christmas Tags}

Well friends, we've arrived at the LAST Keeping Christmas Blog Hop before the big day arrives! As always, the team will be taking next month off, but we'll be resuming again on January 25th with all new Christmas inspiration! I've had people ask me how I do it; how I have so many handmade items ready for Christmas! Well, that's simple; I tell them that I work on it all year long and I LOVE it! For today's project, I've made a series of tags; 5 in total with the remaining two further down in the post. I knew that I wouldn't be able to participate in the 25 Days of Christmas tags this year, with the exception of the day Reverse Confetti was the sponsor, but I still wanted to make a few tags to dress up a few gifts. Honestly, I still have so many left over from previous years that have been waiting their turn to shine, so that is my plan. I'm taking this year off and using everything that I have. These first three tags were made specifically for some wrapping paper that I love. Before I dive into the details of today's project, you'll want to make sure that you stop by the other designers' blogs to see what they have created!

Kelly Lunceford 

Anita Madden 

Broni Holcombe 

Claire Broadwater 

Julee Tilman 

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth 
Vicki Finger 

Nancy Guse

I didn't quite get my fill of the latest release from The Greetery so I decided to use the new Budding Beauties Winter stamp set to adorn these tags. I stamped a few of the holly images and a few of the pine/berry image for these tags.

In the end, these tags ended up being like Russian stacking dolls, so I'm calling these "stacking tags" LOL! Each tag has 3 tags in varying sizes all stacked on top of each other!  The base of each tag was die cut using the beautiful Basic Book Mark 3 Die; two from New Leaf cardstock and 1 from True Black. These are quite large and will make a nice presence on their respective presents! ha ha!

I used the Speed Tagging stamp set to stamp the red tags that are layered on top of the base tags. I used the coordinating Speed Tagging Die to die cut the tags. I only used the largest two tags in the set; I'm especially enamored with the red gingham paired with the holly!  I used the new Fit To Be Tied die collection for the bows which are attached with liquid glue. The finishing touch is another tiny tag from the Sentiment Suite Basics Die stamped with a few of the sentiments from the Budding Beauties stamp set.

My next 2 tags use all of the same products, just in different color ways. The base of each tag is die cut from Stormy Sea cardstock. It complements the pine sprigs in this particular image nicely.

I love how these images spring to life as each step of the multi step stamping is complete! 

Each tag has a length of Pure Poppy Baker's Twine which I leave a little long so that I can tie it to the bows that I use on my gifts. 

I've done zero Christmas shopping which keeps sending shivers down my spine, but I know that I will get it done! Amazon Prime is becoming my new best friend and we don't have as many gifts to buy this year. With the passing of my MIL, the family dynamic has certainly  changed, which has been very difficult for me, but I'm going to bask in the light and love of my children and the joy that Christmas brings! Have a wonderful day and thanks for fluttering by!