A Year of Themed #8 Size Tim Holtz Style Tags #1: January 2013--Encouragement

This first tag swap is a beginning of what may become a monthly swap for those who like it that much. However, you may do some and skip some; YOU ARE NOT COMMITTING TO THE FULL YEAR!

[12-4-12--I will be adding some links to samples of Tim Holtz tags as soon as time allows. Also, if you aren't familiar with Tim's style, I would also suggest checking into You Tube videos for his instructions for all sorts of techniques and interesting ways to use varied media for his tags.]

This swap is a chance to encourage ONE partner with a Tim Holtz style #8 size tag for January, containing words or phrases of encouragement for your partner's creativity and/or the life changes some of us may be working on for the new year. (Please add that info to profile if you are working on a specific change in 2013.) Check your partner's profile for info or just go for creativity encouragement. Then include two or three profile surprises that are flat, inexpensive, and won't be costly in postage. However, don't send something you would not be happy to receive! A couple small pieces of scrap paper will not suffice. Send something you'd enjoy getting and be able to use.

If this first swap works well enough, I'd like to see us sending words of encouragement tags and a couple profile surprises to each other every month in 2013. Let me know what you think about that idea by PM or email. Swap is USA only at this time.

This January tag must have a winter, but not holiday, theme to fit the month. Some ideas might be: snow; ice skating and sledding; hot tea by the fireplace; bird feeding; reading by the fire; a mug of hot tea, coffee, cocoa, Irish coffee; etc. This is sender's choice, but please check your partner's profile for ideas, favorite colors, activities, and to choose profile specific surprises. Some of us may live where January is not a cold, snowy month, so explore your partner's address or use your own climate as the basis of your tag, but be sure to explain a warm weather January tag to your partner.

Remember that we are Crafting QUEENS! We send items on which we are PROUD to put our names! This is basically no stickers unless used in true Tim Holtz/vintage/shabby-chic/steam punk style. Tim's products from embellishments to papers to stamps and dies include numerous encouraging words and phrases to give you some ideas, but you may come up with your own word or phrase as well, especially if it is a great fit for your partner, based on her profile. Some examples are: Enjoy the Journey, Create, Explore, Experiment, Take Risks, Imagine, etc.Nothing on your tag has to be an actual "purchased" Tim Holtz item! I improvise in many ways to imitate his style. Google "Tim Holtz tags" or explore You Tube for videos demonstrations of his techniques and style.

8 size tags MUST BE 3 1/8” wide by 6 1/4” long, with notched top corners and a hole punched in center top of tag. Use the hole in top of your tag for ribbon or cording that allows your tag to be hung on a banner, or any little clever spot your partner might like.

This is my first swap creation, so I'm hoping everything is clear and easy to follow. Please PM me if you have questions.