Hi everyone, it’s Audrey, and today I am excited to share with you some Distress-inspired gift tags that are perfect for the upcoming winter months.

These cute snowmen are from one of my favorite Tim Holtz Christmas stamp sets, Tattered Christmas…. But don’t let that think you can’t use these images for other seasons. Today I took this snowman away from the holidays with a completely different color palette of Distress. And I’m happy to show you how with this step-by-step tutorial. So let’s take a closer look. 

Step 1: To begin, die cut tags from Distress Watercolor Cardstock. Stamp the snowman and sentiment image onto the tags using Black Soot Distress Archival Ink. While you still have some ink on your snowman stamp, stamp it again onto masking paper. Trim around the snowman mask with scissors.

Step 2: Place the mask onto the tag, lining up the snowmen images. Starting at the edge of the snowman image, apply Squeezed Lemonade Oxide ink around the snowman using a Mini Ink Blending Tool. Next, apply Tumbled Glass Oxide at the edge of the yellow, and end with Broken China Oxide at the edges of the tags. Remove the mask.

Step 3: Add a dab of Mustard Seed Distress Paint to your work mat, and spray it lightly with water using a Distress Sprayer. Paint around the edge of the snowman with the paint mixture using a Ranger Artist Brush. The paint adds a stronger halo effect around the stamped image. Set the tags aside to dry.

Step 4: Watercolor the snowman image with Carved Pumpkin, Gathered Twigs, Pumice Stone, and Black Soot Distress Inks.

Step 5: Apply Distress Grit Paste to the areas that would collect snow, like the ground, the top of the hat and arms, and crooks of the snowballs. Set aside to dry.

Step 6: Add Distress Crackle Texture Paste randomly onto the ground, snowman, and edges of the tags. Set aside to dry.

Step 7: Add a dab of Picket Fence Distress Paint to your work surface, and spray the paint lightly with water using the Distress Sprayer. Pick up the paint mixture with your paintbrush, and flick it repeatedly over the tag. Set the tag aside to dry.

Step 8: Sand some Distress Kraft Stock Blackout cardstock. Die cut a crochet border using the Crochet #2 die set. Attach the border to the bottom of the tags using Ranger Multi Medium Matte adhesive. Trim the excess from the edges, as needed.

Step 9: Cut a 10” strip of yellow seam binding ribbon. Dab Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink onto your work surface, and spray the ink with water. Drag the ribbon through the ink mixture, and then set it aside to dry. Thread the ribbon through the top hole of the tags.

Step 10: Tie ice skates onto the top of the tags using embroidery floss.

Step 11: To finish off the tags, simply add snowy details with Frosted Lace Stickles glitter glue.

Enjoy!