Christmas tag

Half-time in terms of being GDT at CRAFT-alnica can only mean one thing: time for the second December challenge that's themed "Christmas tag".
As I usually don't do tags, I must admit this one turned out to be a real challenge for me, too. This is what I finally came up with: a rather simple Christmas tag featuring a stitched image of Santa, accompanied with a little Christmas note. 

On the back side of the tag, I placed a festive patterned paper on which I placed a piece of punched red cardstock and a strip of white for the recipient's name. 

To make it a little less boring, I used a couple of tiny white pearls.

As tags are usually to be tied upon something, I punched a hole in its upper part, but then the project came to a rest. Digging through my stash for a piece of yarn or ribbon to make a festive bow, I just could't find the matching one. 
I even thought of starting all over again, but then the solution came in form of a couple of days spent at my sister's place. Or rather, in form of a chocolate shop I visited to get some goodies and a friendly salesgirl who offered to decorate the box with a ribbon. As it happened, the box was meant for a friend, but when she decided to open it right away, I couldn't help but get my fingers on that ribbon. And the part of it that looked like golden raffia turned out to fit perfectly to the white-bearded man :)

But where the heck is he hiding? 
Doing some grocery shopping at the Ljubljana market, I couldn't help passing by the flowergirls, where this wonderful winter bouquet caught my eyes. A bunch of green foliage and yet full of colours, it's a great way to bring a little Christmas home...

Not to mention the beautiful smell of pine it spreads all around :)

And as this is probably my last pre-Christmas entry, I might be just on time this year wishing everyone happy holidays with those who matter most. 
I even managed to dig out my idea of Christmas at the age of 5, which I find particularly funny due to details only a child's fantasy can produce: a four-bumped camel to make sure all of the wise men travel comfortably, Mary's fashionable outfit featuring high heels and flowers in her hair, Joseph wearing green trousers and a purple T-shirt, the scent of incense spreading from the box of king #1 directly to the noses of the Holy Family, a rather crippled Christmas star and above all, a bouquet of flowers that is floating in the air for whatever reason. 
Proportions speak for themselves and I'm not sure how the wise men are going to get through the little door behind Mary to see baby Jesus, but in the end one can only wish for more of this childish, carefree way of seeing things. Especially in a world where the alternative offered is fear, hatred and a heartbreaking collapse of humanity.

Now what is your task? To play along in the CRAFT-alnica challenge, create a Christmas tag and link it up here to win a really cool prize. Exceptionally, the challenge will run until January 10, which gives you an additional week to recover from the holiday madness and a chance to try the goodies Santa will leave under your Christmas tree ;)
And as "Santa is coming to town" happens to be the theme of our December Fadengrafik Challenge, I'd like to invite you to play along there, too. Link up your festive projects here, the only condition being your entry featuring some kind of paper embroidery.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- gem of a challenge: ATG Christmas
- alphabetchallengeblog: U for Use something red (cardboard, yarn)
- basteltanten: ATG
- brownsugar: red, green and white
- C.R.A.F.T.: Christmas
- christmascardsallyearround: ATG Christmas/holiday
- come and get it: Christmas
- crafting from the heart: ATG
- crafty calendar: Christmas
- crafty catz: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- hollyjollychristmaschallenge: anything but a card
- inspiration destination: ATG
- pennyspapertake: ATG
- pile it on: any holiday/celebration
- scrapping4fun: Christmas
- 12monthsofchrstmas: welcome to the North Pole
- throughthecraftroomdoor: ATG
- useyourstuff: Merry Christmas
- winterwonderland: for someone special/happy New Year
- wordartwednesday: ATG
- pinspirational
- crazy challenge: ATG
- sunnydaycrafting: ATG
- lovetocraft: ATG
- friendship challenge: Christmas
- crafting with an attitude: ATG
- cardmania: ATG