Happy Holidays

I love this Funky Fossil stamp as it's perfect for CAS Christmas cards.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white card blank
     Funky Fossil 'Joy' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - E35
     Gold and silver gel pens
     Snippet of gold foiled kraft card

The snippet of kraft card was 1.75" wide and I trimmed it to the width of the card before attaching it across the centre.  I stamped the wreath with brown ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I then used the largest stitched circle die to die cut around the image.  I coloured the pine cones with a light brown pen, the letters and berries with a gold gel pen and the snowflakes with a silver gel pen.  I attached the wreath topper to the centre of the card across the strip of kraft card.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - A for Anything Christmas
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - S is for Square
     As You Like it Challenge - Favourite Occasion (although I enjoy making cards for many occasions, Christmas is my favourite and I make more Christmas cards than I need to send!)
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - Challenge 17 (I have used Line I - Square, Layers & Stamped Image)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

It's the eleventh Rudolph Day of the year and another die cut Christmas card (die cutting is my RD theme this year).  To make this card I used a Creative Dies die that had been a cover gift with a magazine back in 2016 and is still a favourite of mine.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white linen card blank
     Creative Dies 'Festive Scene' and Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large' dies
     Snippets of blue pearlescent card, gold mirri card, Marianne Design 'Snow Paper', thin white card and blue paper

I die cut a circle and the Festive Scene from snippets of blue pearlescent card and attached the scene onto the backing circle.  I attached the blue paper onto thin white card (to make it the same thickness as the rest of the card) and then die cut the sky and inlaid this into the scene.  I die cut the snow from 'Snow Paper'  and the windows from gold mirri card.  These pieces were then inlaid into the Festive Scene.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Gold, Silver or Glitter (gold is my favourite as I love the warmth it adds to a card.  I'm not a fan of glitter although I do like this 'Snow Paper' to create snowy scenes)
     CAS on Friday - Christmas
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - I have used Line 'O' (CAS, No Stamping & Free)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas/Winter
     Moving Along with the Times - Winter Wonderland
     Rudolph Days - November Challenge
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 520

Kath x 

Leafy Christmas Tree

I made this card for the current CAS Colours & Sketches 'Colour' challenge using an old Sizzix die and lots of snippets.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Sizzix 'Leafy Trees' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white matt card, green textured card, red and gold pearlescent card

I used the largest rectangle die and a snippet of white card to cut the panel.  As the die wasn't long enough I cut the first half of the rectangle and then moved the die to cut the second half.  I then cut the tree from the centre before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  I cut the tree from a snippet of green textured card and inlaid it into the panel.  The tree was cut from snippets of red and gold pearlescent card and the leaves inlaid into the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Christmas Cards
     CAS Colours & Sketches - Colour Challenge (Real Red, Shaded Spruce & Gold)
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - Challenge 16 (I have used Line O - CAS, No Stamping & Free)
     Simply Clean & Simple - Holidays/Winter
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 519
     Try It On Tuesday - Get Ready for Christmas

Kath x

Bees & Best Wishes

I made this tag to attach to a friend's birthday present as she is a lover of any type of insect.  The honeycomb card has been in my snippets drawer for years, but was perfect for this tag.  I also used a 'new to me' Stampin' Up tag punch that I first saw on Sarn's blog and have recently found at a very reasonable price on Vinted.  

To make this tag I used:
     Stampin' Up ' Scalloped Tag Topper'  punch
     Crafter's Companion 'Sweet Florals' and Uniko 'Simply Said Blocks II' stamps
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Gold Promarker
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white matt card, honeycomb card and gold ribbon

I trimmed the edge of the honeycomb card so it was 2" wide and then punched the tag topper.  I trimmed a snippet of white matt card to 2" and punched the tag topper before layering the two so the back of the tag would be flat for me to write my message.  I stamped the bees and sentiment onto more snippets of white card using black ink and embossing them with clear detail embossing powder.  I fussy cut the bees and coloured the bodies with a gold Promarker and added a Wink of Stella to the wings.  The bees and sentiment were then attached them to the tag with foam tape.  To finish I tied a snippet of gold ribbon to the top of the tag.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark (I have used ink and a Promarker)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge (I have used Line N - Tag, Free & Stamped Phrase)
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 515
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Tag-along (and ATCs) - Things with Wings

Kath x

New Baby

I was so pleased when my 'Rustic Christmas' card was the winner at the CAS on Friday 'Christmas' challenge and I was invited to be Guest Designer on their 'Baby' challenge.  This is the first time I've used this 'new to me' baby die too!

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Tonic Studios 'New Baby' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white hammer card and pale blue pearlescent card

I used a snippet of white hammer card to die cut a stitched square.  I then die cut 'New Baby' from the centre of the panel, setting the die cut aside.  The panel was layered onto a slightly larger square of pale blue pearlescent card before being attached to the card blank.  I die cut 'New Baby' from pale blue pearlescent card and inlaid it into the panel together with the small pieces from the white die cut.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - Challenge 14 (I have used Line G - Square Card Base, Sentiment as the Focus & Frame)
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 77 (my new die)
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes

Kath x

Robin on a Branch

This lovely robin was one of the small kits I bought before Christmas - although it's a Hobbycraft kit the design is by Mouseloft.

To make this card I used:
     C7 red tri-fold card
     Hobbycraft 'Robin' cross stitch kit

After stitching the design, I trimmed the aida before attaching it behind the aperture in the card.  The bottom panel was then attached inside the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - I have used line 'O' (real stitching, rectangle and aperture for my 'free' square)
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Sparkling Poinsettia

We had a lot of big expenses last year (and not just our new campervan!) so we're having a frugal 2024.  This means that other than essentials (ink, glue, tape, etc) I'm not going to buy any new craft items this year - other than a pre-loved bargain I may find in a charity shop.  There will be plenty of posts using old favourites and some NBUS goodies too.

I won this lovely Heartfelt Creations 'Sparkling Poinsettia' stamp and die set in the ABC Christmas Challenge before Christmas - this is the first card I've made, but expect to see more during the year.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Heartfelt Creations 'Sparkling Poinsettia' stamp and coordinating die
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Season's Greetings' die
     Xcut 'Swirls' embossing folder
     Versafine Crimson Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic gold pen
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of red matt card and white matt card

I embossed a snippet of white card and trimmed around the edge of the swirl pattern.  The panel was layered onto a slightly larger snippet of red matt card and attached to the card blank.  I stamped the poinsettia flowers onto red matt card using crimson red ink, embossing them with clear embossing powder before cutting them with the coordinating die.  The flowers looked a little dull in the plain red matt card, so I added lots of clear Wink of Stella to them before layering three petals and attached them to the upper corner of the card.  The centre was coloured with the gold gel pen.  I die cut the sentiment from another snippet of red card, applied lots of Wink of Stella and attached it to the front of the card.  To finish I added more Wink of Stella to the edge of the red matt layer to make the card sparkle.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Your Choice (I chose to use my prize to make a CAS card)
     Alphabet Challenge - T is for Texture
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - The Midas Touch
     Christmas (or not) Bingo Challenge - I have used line 'G' (red, die-cuts and embossing for my 'free' square)
     NBUS - Challenge 58 (my new Sparkling Poinsettia stamp and die)
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Clean and Simple

Kath x  

November Rudolph Day

It's time for the final Rudolph Day of the year and for another cross stitch card (cross stitch is my RD theme this year).  This lovely Derwentwater kit was amongst the cross stitch items my neighbour gifted me earlier this year so I thought I would make the card to send her for Christmas.

To make this card I used:
     Derwentwater 'Lantern' cross stitch kit
     Snippet of white paper

The kit was complete and contained everything to make this card.  After finishing the stitching I mounted it behind the aperture of the tri fold card and added a piece of white paper behind the stitching so the red card wouldn't show through the aida.  To finish I folded the card to the inside.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Christmas BINGO Challenge - I have used line 'G' (real stitching, rectangle and red for my 'free' square)
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Rudolph Day - November Challenge

Kath x

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

I've recently bought this pre-loved Memory Box die - perfect for making quick Christmas cards and using snippets too.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25 white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Merry Christmas Tree' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white hammer and green glitter card

I die cut the rectangle from white hammer card, layered it onto a snippet of green glitter card and attached it to the card blank.  I then die cut the 'Merry Christmas Tree' from another snippet of green glitter card and attached it to the panel.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas BINGO Challenge - I have used line 'O' (layers, rectangle and green as my 'free' square)
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Christmas Song (We wish you a Merry Christmas)
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 466

Kath x

May Your Christmas be Merry & Bright

I made this Christmas card for my sister using a Hunkydory decoupage floral image.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory Favourites Christmas Toppers 'A Blooming Lovely Christmas'
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' die
     Snippets of gold mirri and light green foiled card

I trimmed the light green foiled card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I popped the decoupage layers out of the backing sheet and used foam tape to assemble the image.  I die cut 'Sister' from a tiny snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the lower corner of the card before attaching the topper above it.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas BINGO Challenge - I have used line 'I' (Square, Green, Gold, plus I've used Red as my Free square)
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas/Winter

Kath x