So here we are under an extreme heat warning for the next 3 days. Right now I have lots of windows open to get some relatively cooler air into the house. My plan is to get all the necessary chores done before 10am. Then I’ll shut the windows and draw the curtains to keep out the heat as it climbs. From there I intend to relax in my craft studio designing new projects for Christmas. But first I couldn’t resist bringing you this gift tag featuring Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.

FREE TREE LOT DIES

This gift tag all started when I noticed this very sad looking specimen in the Tree Lot Dies. These dies are one of the products you can get for free during the Sale-A-Bration promotion. There are 24 dies in the set but I only needed four of them.

I began by finding a small scrap of Soft Suede Card and attaching some Adhesive Sheet to the back. Then from the Tree Lot Dies I chose the bent tree and X dies and cut out the card using my Mini Cut & Emboss Machine. The other two dies I needed were the two solid pieces each with 3 weird ‘leggy’ shapes. I used these dies to cut some scraps of Adhesive Sheet backed Garden Green Card to add to the tree ‘branches’.

But before I could attach the tree to anything I needed to create the sentiment layer so I could see how much space I had to work with. So next I went looking for suitably-sized Christmas sentiment and found exactly what I needed in the Peaceful Deer Stamp Set.

Using Soft Suede ink I stamped “Merry Christmas” onto a 1/2″ x 2-1/4″ strip of Basic White Card. Then I cut a 9/16″ x 2-1/4″ strip of Melon Mambo Card and layered the sentiment on top using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). Finally I glued it near the bottom of a 2-1/4″ x 2-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card.

Now I was ready for the tree and started by removing the Adhesive Sheet backing from the die-cut X piece. I fixed the X just off-centre above the sentiment, and then added the tree piece. Finally I attached five of the six green pieces to the branches.

FOLDED GIFT TAG

The tag base came next and for this I began with a 3″ x 6″ piece of Basic White Card, scored down the middle at 3″. Then I folded the card along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next I opened up the card and slid it under the ribbon slot option on the Very Best Trio Punch. After making sure the fold line was just to the right of the centre mark on the punch I punched the hole. Then I threaded some white twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack through the hole and tied it in a simple knot.

At this point I thought I needed an extra mat layer but didn’t want to add more Melon Mambo Card. So I thought back to the Charlie Brown stories and was reminded of Linus and his pale blue comfort blanket. That was the colour I needed, and I cut a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Balmy Blue Card. Then using liquid glue I mounted the tree and sentiment layers on top, before attaching it to the tag base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finally I added a Melon Mambo embellishment from the Glossy Dots Assortment as the single tree ornament and my tag was complete.

I love how this little tag turned out, especially how the Glossy Dot ‘ornament’ really catches the light. Now to see what else I can make with the other 20 dies in the Tree Lot Dies set.

PRODUCT LIST

SALE-A-BRATION – The Tree Lot Dies are only available to customers until August 31st (while stocks last). However, like all products in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure, these are not be available to buy, but can be earned for free simply by placing a qualifying order. To get these dies simply order $120 of regular Stampin’ Up! products (before shipping and taxes), then select it as your free choice when prompted during the checkout process. The Tree Lot Dies are designed to coordinate with the Trees For Sale Stamp Set, however I think the dies are worth considering with or without the stamps.

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Very Best Trio Punch in a bundle with the Very Best Occasions Stamp Set (not used today). Using the single ‘bundle’ item number to order meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying these two products separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle in case you want to explore this option.