Christmas is coming (already)!

Once again Christmas is looming on the horizon.  I don’t mean looming in a bad way, just with amazement at how quickly the time has gone since last Christmas.
Back in October I started my Christmas preparations, not because I was being efficient but simply because I had to get Christmas parcels in the post to distant places (& not so distant places!)
I always try to theme my Christmas wrapping: this year I chose quite a simple look based on some lovely gift wrap that I had found.  The gift wrap is similar in look and feel to ordinary brown paper (the parcel type) but is printed with gold flourishes and swirls.  It actually sounds better than I can describe it!
I made gift tags to match the paper -
I die cut the tags with a Sizzix Bigz Scallop tag die (middle sized tag) and then stamped the image using gold ink.  I then coloured just the holly & berries.  Threaded with gold coloured gift ribbon, they matched the paper perfectly. 

Christmas is coming.

I finally decided that it was time to get on with some Christmas bits and pieces – better late that never eh? I always find it difficult to think of Christmas things when its mid-October and raining outside!

I decided to start with something simple – gift tags.

I began with an oval and cut a Christmas tree shape from the middle.

I punched a hole in both the oval and the Christmas tree.

Using my D’Vine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder, I embossed the oval.

I carefully threaded matching ribbon through the hole in the Christmas tree and then through the hole in the oval. I intend to write the name on the front of the Christmas tree and our names on the back.

Well, I was pleased with the result ( but not pleased with the photo that I took!!)

Until the next time - happy crafting!!