It's beginning to look a lot like....

Christmas Cards! I have been wanting to make Christmas cards for quite a while. Every year I buy more stamps and Christmas Paper in hopes to make Christmas Cards and to scrapbook that Christmas. Well... my collection is quite big now! 

So the other night I was thinking about how much joy I had sitting down every night following Tim Holtz as he did the 12 Tags of Christmas. Oh! I was one happy scrapper! Learning the new techniques, connecting with scrappers all over the world, and pushing myself to use what was in my stash. More than not, my tag turned out completely different, but that time I spent in my studio is something I will always remember. 

2009 is the year that I truly discovered Tim Holtz and Ranger Ink. I had Distress Inks, but weren't they just regular stamp pads? I remember buying my very first Distress Ink Pad. Worn Lipstick. What a pretty color. What a cool name. ...little did I know. 

I cannot believe I am sharing this photo, but here I am, 2009, sitting at my desk doing the 12 Tags of Christmas for the very first time. I was married at this time and he snuck in to take a photo, knowing how excited I was to be following along... 

A lot has happened since then. But here I am, still absolutely in love with creating. While sitting in my brand new studio I designed and renovated this past year, I was thinking about that first year and the following years of doing the 12 Tags of Christmas, and I thought, why not start at the beginning and do it all over again. I was so incredibly sad when Tim Holtz announced he would no longer be doing the 12 Tags of Christmas. It wasn't about having to run out and buy new product or make the exact tag. It was a creative and magical time to kick off the Christmas Season. A time to learn new techniques and connect with the crafting community. I still miss it all these years later. 

That is probably what inspired the "12 Tags of Christmas, revisited" idea. So, the other night, I came into my studio, went to Tim Holtz's Blog, back to December 2007, and started with Day 1. (Click Day 1 to be taken to his blog post of the first day of 2007) 

...and here is what Day 1 inspired for me: 

I wish I would of taken a selfie to show how big my smile was. The Christmas music was playing and I just got lost in creating. The inspiration I took from his tag was Distress Crackle Paint. And that is where I started: 

From there, I used various green and red Distress Inks, Distress Mica Stain in Tree Lot & Peppermint Stick. The stamps are from The Poinsettia stamp set. 

I hope you follow along to see what each tag inspires and I so hope you play along as well. If you have any questions leave in the comments and I will make sure to answer them. My hope is to continue to have fun and get lost in Christmas creating as well as inspire you to jump in and see where it takes you! 

Until next time.... HAPPY CREATING!