Christmas cards

It's getting closer - it's closer than you think and no, I will not count out and tell you how many days there are between now and then.

Well I could, but I won't.

What I will do is quickly have a show and tell on how I put together a Christmas card.

It's a whole lot easier than you think and I have to say, pretty darn quick to whip them up.

For this particular card I have used a Christmas paper pad from Kaisercraft.

Before I started I used my Big Shot Plus/Cuttlebug to cut out a variety of pieces of Christmas foliage.  

On this card I have used four separate metal dies.

The base of my card is a piece of white cardstock 5" by 10" and I have scored it in half.

Now I start to cut additional layers, going down in increments of 1/4".

Cut one piece of patterned paper 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" and adhere to the cardstock base.

Cut another piece of white cardstock 4 1/2" x 4 1/2 and adhere.

Cut a piece of patterned paper 4 1/4" x 4 1/4".

I've got this one just sitting on the top of the cardstock.

I have then torn the edge from the right hand side down on an angle and left it raw.

Adhere to your cardstock.

This is the base of your card.

And now, well now I realised that something happened to the camera and I haven't got pics.

Grrrrrhhhhh - no idea what happened to be honest.

But let me talk you through what I have done.

In this photo here ... you can see a small piece of corrugated cardboard [ex pizza box].

I have used this piece and adhered near to the top of the left hand side of my card.

I have pulled apart a small piece of muslin [cheesecloth] and adhered.

Then I have put another dollop of glue on the top and layered some of my pieces of Christmas foliage.

I have also rolled a strand of red cotton and just left it lying on one of the dollops of glue between the foliage layers to add a little colour amongst the white.

On this card I have used a very old Prima flower and popped some stamens and a little more muslin through the top.

I have also cut out a Christmas sentiment and I have to admit something here, that is really, really old from a Websters paper pack from yonks ago.

I have then glued down a couple of red sequins.

And to finish off my card I have randomly applied the most fabulous Christmas snow stuff - well in my opinion it is - it is a product called Aleene's True Snow.

This wee tub is a glitter snow and if you click on the photo itself you will see that it has a glitter shine to it.

So there you have it.

One Christmas card and it really was surprisingly quick to whip up.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy creating.

A Christmas stocking

I'm back and it's time to share a little Christmas creativity - I'm thinking it's time to really get into the Christmas spirit.

Christmas will be here before we know it.

Time to get those cards and tags made and a few Christmas decor pieces.

Today I'm going to whip up a Christmas stocking - you can either use it to pop a gift card inside, some money or just as a card with a tag inside.

Let me show you how I put this together.

I cut out two shapes - for the bottom part of the stocking.

I used an adhesive and joined both together around the edges.

Ink around the edges.

I cut out one piece of patterned a paper - a square and scored it in half.

Ink around the edges.

 I cut out two tags, one in plain white cardstock and a patterned paper tag.

Ink around the edges.

The top piece of my stocking - I used a little double sided tape on the 

inside of the bottom of the flap and adhered it to the back of the stocking.

I punched a hole and popped a rivet through and then threaded a natural twine to hang it up.

I then punched a few pieces of Christmas foliage and layered foliage pieces, muslin, 

pearls and stamens through a big pearl brad.

I glued my embellishment cluster to a small piece of corrugated card 

and then adhered to the top of my stocking flap.

I used a metal die to cut out the heart with the word 'love' inside

 and pegged it to some of the foliage.

And to finish it off - randomly apply some True Snow over your stocking.

How easy was that?

Lift the top flap and pop in a Christmas treat.

I have deliberately not put anyone's initials or name on my stocking 

until closer to gifting time.

I can see them hanging on a hook along the edge of a mantelpiece of from the tree.

Happy creating everyone.
Until next time.
Have fun.
Michelle [aka Mrs Frizz]

From the Flying Unicorn store :

Kaisercraft 6x6 paper pad
Prima - Victorian Christmas
Dark bark ink
Aleene's True Snow [currently out of stock]
Cheesecloth

I need your help ...

I need your help.  Yes I do!

FabScraps is running a competition for their design team members.

We each had to choose one of our projects and you will probably be sitting there nodding away thinking to yourself, I bet Michelle picked one using that gorgeous Shabby Rose collection that she loves and you know what? you would be right, I did!

Creative wings is my chosen project.

What do you need to do and what do I need you to do - I need you to vote for my project on the FabScraps Facebook page [in the design team competition album] - like it, love it, whatever ... you will also see lots of gorgeous creativity from the rest of the team too - so feel free to vote for their stunning projects as well, if that's what you would like to do.

Not only could I be a winner, you could too.

The winner is going to be based purely on votes, okay, so I'm not overly keen on the voting system as it really does come down to a popularity thing - but I don't have any choice over that.

But if somehow I am the winner I would be choosing a FabScraps collection and my favourite collection by far, ever, from the team at FabScraps, ummmmmmmmmmmmm ... no brainer, that would be their C85 Shabby Rose collection.

If you choose to vote for my project, thank you for your support.

Someone who votes for the winner also receives a FabScraps surprise as well - how cool is that?

Happy creating everyone.

The blues ...

The Challenge

Okay, so let's be honest here ... I could have got a whole lot messier ... truly.  And the Words & Paintery challenge definitely let's you do just that.

But I chose not to on this card.  Yes, I made a card for this month's challenge.

I've had a wee thing for making screen cards of late and I was searching for a particular pad and then came across a Kaisercraft 'Off the Wall' pad in the blues ... so it was meant to be.

Denim colours, definitely covered.

So what have I done - first panel of patterned paper, a little inking, a little stamping, a FabScraps stencil and some modelling paste and a little white gesso.

The second and third panels, first up I finger painted clear gesso and let it dry, a little inking around the edges, a little stamping with Black Staz On ink and then I grabbed a paintbrush and painted and dribbled a mixture of two watercolor crayons [white and bright yellow].

The fourth panel, inked around the edge of the patterned paper, a little stamping, a FabScraps stencil and some modelling paste and then I have randomly applied a little white gesso.

A close up.

and again in its entirety

Don't overlook the screen card - they can really turn out quite spectacular.

Happy creating everyone.
CYA
Michelle

Love, love, love ...

Thank you for joining me today.

Let me share a card that I have recently made from woe to go.

For this card I have used the following :

Let's start with a piece of cardstock 6" x 12" wide.

Score at 3" intervals.

You can see that I have used a doily edge punch and punched across the top of the card.

I have also used a Nestabilities labels die set and used the third smallest die and you can see how I position it to cut the footing shape for my card.

Now cut four pieces of patterned paper 4 1/2" in length and  3/4" wide.  I have used Prima Epiphany papers on this card.

Using a chalk pad roughly ink around the edges - I have used Black Soot on this paper.

I have also stamped using Black Staz On ink and a Kaisercraft paper to add a little more texture to the patterned paper.

Adhere to each card panel and embellish.

I have used Petaloo flowers, a frame, Kaisercraft clear butterfly stickers, muslin, cotton and some Prima tag shapes and the word 'love'.  I have also stamped a butterfly image using a Prima stamp and cut around the image.

To finish grab your gesso tub and a paintbrush and randomly apply.

Voila.

Happy creating everyone.

From the Flying Unicorn store :
Prima - Epiphany range
Prima - Archivist tickets and tags
Kaisercraft clear butterflies
Prima stamps
Petaloo flowers
Prima stamp pad
13 Arts gesso

Until next time,
CYA
Michelle

Guest Detective ...

Wow, considering I don't tend to create layouts, I've now got three in a row.

Crikey - some sort of record.

My third layout, to make that three in a row.

The Flying Unicorn are guest detectives this month with the CSI team and I solved Case File No. 215.

Just call me Detective Frizz - lol.

Here you go - all the details ...

Happy Friday! Are you ready for this week's challenge? Grab your forensics kits, CSI members, and get ready for some serious sleuthing as we open Case File No. 215.  

CASE FILE

October is the month of Halloween, so we're celebrating all things monster. With that in mind, we have an adorable and whimsical, non-scary monster Scene to inspire our Major Case File this month by Columbian illustrator Lorena Alvarez Gomez.  

Remember to scroll all the way down to the bottom of this reveal post for RGB codes, color descriptions, and more detailed explanations of the Evidence and Testimony prompts.

 SPONSORS

We're so excited to have nine generous sponsors this month! Our sponsors are among the best in the crafting industry, offering unique and trendy products. This year, we are welcoming eight permanent sponsors! We present our sponsors alphabetically. Click here to read more about these generous sponsors and the prizes they're donating.

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GUEST DESIGNERS

We're thrilled to have the design teams of some of our sponsors inspiring us this month as Guest Detectives! For this Case File, we've got design team members from 2Crafty and Flying Unicorn joining us this month!

Another look at my layout and a close up or two ...

and a close up ...

or two ...

Hope you find time to play along.

Happy creating.