Birthday Butterflies

I was pleased to see my Honesty Heart card was one of the Top Three at the Pearly Sparkles Challenge and I was invited to be Guest Designer on a future challenge.  As I love making cards with butterflies, I chose the 'One or More Butterflies' challenge.  My card has six butterflies - four on the paper and two die cut from grey card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Giant Happy Birthday to You' and Creative Expressions 'Finishing Touches - Dainty Butterflies' dies
     BoBunny 'Isabella' paper
     Grey pearlescent card

I trimmed the pink paper to 5" x 5" and layered it onto a slightly larger square of grey pearlescent card before die cutting the sentiment from the centre.  I set the sentiment and small pieces aside and attached the panel to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment twice from grey pearlescent card, the first sentiment was inlaid into the card together with the small pieces from the pink paper sentiment.  I attached the second grey sentiment on top to give some dimension.  The paper sentiment was attached slightly offset to give a shadow effect.  To finish I die cut two small butterflies from grey card and attached them above and below the sentiment.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Birthday Challenge - Anything Birthday Goes
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - A for Air (my card has butterflies)
     Moving Along With The Times - One or More Butterflies
     Seize the Birthday - Primarily Pink

Kath x

Flower Notecard

I like to keep a few small notecards in my card box and I made this one with a flower stamp that was a cover gift with Craft Stamper magazine many years ago.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Craft Stamper 'Flower' stamp
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - Y08, Y15 & YR04
     Snippets of white matt card 

I embossed a stitched square in the centre of the card blank before setting it aside. I put a snippet of white card into my MISTI and stamped the flower several times with brown ink to ensure a good depth of colour.  I then embossed the image with clear embossing powder before colouring it with Copics.  I fussy cut the flower and attached it to the centre of the card blank with foam pads. 

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Springtime
     Alphabet Challenge - Y is for Yellow Flowers
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     CAS on Friday - Botanical
     Daisy Chain Challenge - No Design Paper
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Inspired by Nature
     We Love Stamping - Spring

Kath x

Mother's Day Card & Tag

I made this card and tag for my mother for Mother's Day.  Although these Hunkydory card and toppers are not my preferred style of crafting, my mother likes them so I chose this pretty spring design for her.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Heartfelt Wishes' backing card and topper
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' die
     Snippets of gold mirri card

To make the tag I used:
     Hunkydory 'Heartfelt Wishes' backing card and topper
     Creative Expressions ''Pierced Tags' die
     Snippet of gold ribbon

To make the card I removed the base layer and decoupage pieces from the backing card and used foam tape to layer the images.  I didn't use all of the layers as I find it makes the cards too bulky, so put some of them aside to make a matching gift tag.  I trimmed the backing card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank before attaching the decoupaged topper to the centre.  To finish I die cut 'Mum' from gold mirri and attached it inside the floral frame.

To make the matching tag I die cut the largest tag using a snippet of the backing card before embossing around the edge.  I attached a small sentiment topper to the left side of the tag and decoupaged layers to the right side.  I finished the tag by adding a snippet of gold twine.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - V for Volume (I have used decoupaged layers to give my card dimension)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Mixed Colour Florals
 
Kath x

Wishing You Strength Today

I dislike making Sympathy cards when I need them and prefer to make a few and keep them in my card box.  This card uses one of my favourite butterfly stamps and a lovely sentiment.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Uniko 'English Country Garden Butterflies' stamp and coordinating die
     Practical Publishing 'Stamps for All Occasions' sentiment stamp
     Verafine Imperial Purple ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - BV02, G00 & E51

I stamped the butterfly with purple ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder before cutting it with the coordinating die.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the butterfly onto it so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the butterfly and stamped the sentiment with purple ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I attached the butterfly body to the card with glue and put small foam pads under the wings to hold them away from the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - U is for Uplifting
     CAS on Friday - Anything Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Favourite Stamp (I love butterflies and this Uniko stamp is one of my favourites as I also have the coordinating die)
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes
     
Kath x

Sail Away

I was so pleased when Steve's Christmas card was a Top 7 at the Allsorts Challenge and I was invited to be Guest Designer on the 'For Men or Boys' challenge.  I made this card for a friend's forthcoming birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Sail Away' and 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps and coordinating dies
     Impression Obsession 'Ocean Border' and Clouds' dies
     Versafine Majestic Blue ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder
     Copics
     Snippets of blue textured card, white matt card and pale blue vellum

I cut two pieces of white card slightly smaller than the front of the card and die cut a stitched circle in the centre of both pieces (I used two layers of card so the inlaid scene would lie flat inside the aperture). I layered the panels before attaching a piece of pale blue vellum to the rear of the aperture and attaching the panel to the card front,  I die cut two waves from snippets of blue textured card and die cut the bottom of each with the stitched circle so I could inlay them into the aperture.  

I used dark blue ink to stamp the sailing boat onto a snippet of white card.  This was coloured with Copics before being cut with the coordinating die.  I attached a tiny snippet of white card to the back of the sails and then slipped the bottom of the boat between the two waves - the tiny piece of card on the back of the sails made the boat stand out from the vellum background.  

I took the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment and masked the 'birthday' before stamping 'happy' onto a snippet of white card and then embossing it with clear embossing powder.  This was die cut with the medium cloud die.  I also die cut a small cloud from another tiny piece of white card.  I stamped 'birthday' onto white card and embossed it before using the coordinating die to cut the sentiment.  I then cut two more sentiments from more snippets of white card - these were trimmed down and attached to the back of the stamped sentiment so it would lie flat across the aperture.   The clouds and 'birthday' were then attached to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes
     Addicted to Stamps and More - Birthdays
     Alphabet Challenge - S is for Square
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Use Dies
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

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

More Big Birthday Wishes

I was so pleased when my 'Whimsical Flower Arrangement was voted a Top Cut at the Cut It Up Challenge and I was invited to be Guest Designer on a future challenge.  I chose the 'Use Your Favourite Die/Set' challenge and have my used favourite 'go to' die for making male cards - this one is for a neighbour's milestone birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes', Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' and Xcut 'Nesting Stars' dies
     Snippets of kraft card, red glitter card and cream textured card.

I cut the large sentiment from kraft card and trimmed down each side so it was slightly narrower than the card blank and then attached the panel to the front of the card blank.  I die cut 'BIG' from a snippet of red glitter card and inlaid the letters into the panel.  The rest of the sentiment was die cut from a snippet of cream textured card and inlaid into the panel.  I trimmed two narrow strips of cream textured card and attached them down the side of the panel before trimming the ends.  I die cut two small stars from cream textured card and attached them towards the top of the card using small foam pads.  I die cut a slightly larger star from red glitter card and and '80' from cream textured card.  The numerals were attached to the star which was then attached to the card with a foam pad.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Alphabet Challenge - S is for Square (I have used a square card blank)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Use Dies
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 523

Kath x

Heartfelt Thanks

I spent some time today making a lot of autumnal leaves, some of which I've used to make this thank you card.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Fall Flowers' stamps and coordinating dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Saying' stamps
     Versafine Crimson Red, Smoky Grey, Toffee & Vintage Sepia
     Distress Ink Ripe Persimmon
     Snippets of white hammer card

I stamped the leaf outlines onto snippets of white hammer card - stamping them several times in various shades of brown, red and orange inks.  The leaves were cut with the coordinating dies and set aside.  I then used the largest die to emboss an oval in the front of the card blank.  I placed the card into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment with dark and light brown ink to give the same shades as the leaves.  I attached the small leaves directly onto the front of the card and then attached the large leaf with a foam pad.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark (I have used inks)
     Allsorts - Trees, Leaves and Plants
     Alphabet Challenge - K for Keep it Simple
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Autumn/Fall
     CAS on Friday - Fall
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean and Simple
     Stamping Sensations - CAS
    
Kath x

Happy Christmas

I enjoyed using the CAS Colours & Sketches sketch for my birthday card so thought I would use the same sketch for a Christmas card.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Memory Box 'Traditional Ornament' and 'Lydia Ornament' dies
     Woodware 'Delightful Dangles - Christmas Tree' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Sizzix 'Dots' embossing folder
     Snippets of white matt card, dark brown pearlescent card and gold mirri

I trimmed a snippet of white card to a width of 1.5cm and cut it slightly narrower than the card blank before embossing it with the dots embossing folder.  I placed the card blank in my MISTI with the embossed strip on top so I could where where to place the sentiment.  I removed the strip of card and stamped the sentiment with dark brown ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I then attached the embossed strip above the sentiment.  I die cut the Traditional Ornament from dark brown pearlescent card and the Lydia Ornament from gold mirri.  The fancy die cut was embossed before being layered onto the brown ornament before being attached to the embossed strip.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - K for Keep it Simple
     CAS Colours & Sketches - Sketch Challenge
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean and Simple
 
Kath x   

Happy Birthday to You

I made this card for a friend's birthday using the current sketch at the CAS Colours & Sketches challenge.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'English Country Garden Butterflies' stamp and coordinating die
     Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamp
     Memory Box 'Wicker Panel' die
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Promarkers    
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white card

I die cut the Wicker Panel from a snippet of white card and attached it across the front of the card.  I used purple ink to stamp the butterfly onto another snippet of white card and embossed it with clear embossing powder before cutting it with the coordinating die.  The butterfly was then coloured with Promarkers - cream and two shades of green. - with the green areas highlighted with a Wink of Stella.  I put the card into my MISTI and placed the butterfly onto it so I could see where the stamp the sentiment.  After removing the butterfly I stamped the sentiment with purple ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  To finish I shaped the butterfly's wings and attached it to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Birthdays
     Alphabet Challenge - K for Keep it Simple
     As You Like It Challenge - Layered or Flat (flat are my preferred type of cards as these fit my CAS style as well as being cheaper to post)
     CAS Colours & Sketches - Sketch 
     Moving Along with the Times - Butterflies and/or Dragonflies
     Simply Clean & Simple - Birthdays
     Stamping Sensations - CAS
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes
     
Kath x

New Home Card

This card is made with more of my holiday stitching using a chart from Cross Stitch Favourites magazine.   I thought it would perfect as a New Home card for a friend who is moving to the coast.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Spellbinders Nestabilitites 'Classic Squares Large' dies
     Poppy Brenner's 'Happy Homes' chart
     White 14 count aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white matt card

I trimmed a snippet of white matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut and embossed a square aperture which was the same size at the stitched area.  I then realised the squares on the aida were not true squares as the stitching was a perfect fit across the width aperture but it was one row short from top to bottom, so I had to stitch another row across the bottom!  The stitching was then attached behind the aperture and the panel attached to the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - H is for Home
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

April Rudolph Day

It's the fourth Rudolph Day of the year and another card using die cuts (die cutting is my RD theme this year).  I used a poinsettia die and lots of snippets to make this CAS Christmas card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics', All Occasion Dies 'Small Poinsettia' & Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves'
     Snippets of red pearlescent card, white hammer card and gold mirri card

I die cut a square from white hammer card, layered it onto a slightly larger square of red pearlescent card and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut and embossed the three different size poinsettias from red pearlescent card, layered them and attached them to the centre of the square.  To finish I die cut holly berries from gold mirri card and attached them to the centre of the poinsettia.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - P for Poinsettia
     As You Like It Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (it's always CAS for me - if I try a fussy card it always seems to look messy)
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Positively Poinsettias
     Rudolph Day - April Challenge
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Christmas Foliage

This is my last post for a few weeks as we're off on our travels on Sunday.  We're starting with a visit to our families, then a couple of days at Portmerion before heading to Angelsey for three weeks.

Kath x

Happy Anniversary

I've used a lovely Uniko 'Ink & Flip' stencil to make this anniversary card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil'
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamp
     Distress Inks - Ripe Persimmon & Worn Lipstick
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Woodware 'Heart' punch
     Snippets of white and black matt card

I used Ripe Persimmon ink to stencil the heart onto a snippet of white card.  I cleaned the stencil and flipped it to stencil it again with Worn Lipstick.  I then fussy cut the heart and set it aside.  I cut a snippet of white card with the largest stitched die and placed it into my MISTI before laying the heart onto the panel so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the heart and stamped the sentiment with black ink.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card blank.  I attached the heart above the sentiment with foam pads.  To finish I punched two tiny hearts from black card and attached then to the stencilled heart

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Die Cuts and/or Stencils (I've used both)
     Allsorts - Stencils/Masks
     Alphabet Challenge - H for Heart
     As You Like It Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (my favourite is always CAS with lots of white space on my cards - if I try to make a fussy card they always seem to look messy)
     CAS on Friday - Use a Stencil
     Krafty Chicks Challenge- CAS
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes

Kath x 

Merry Christmas Tree

I've had this Christmas tree die for a while, but this is the first time I've used it.  I thought it would be perfect for a quick CAS Christmas card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     Impression Obsession 'Merry Tree' die
     Snippets of kraft card and white matt card

I trimmed a snippet of white matt card to 5" x 5" and then a snippet of kraft card to 4.75" x 4.75".  I die cut the Christmas tree from the kraft card before layering it onto the white card and then attaching it to the card blank.  I die cut the tree again from a snippet of white card before inlaying the white tree and the small infill snippets of kraft card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Kraft and White
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Die Cuts and/or Stencils (I've used die cuts)
     Alphabet Challenge - C for Christmas Tree
     As You Like It Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (my favourite is always CAS - if I do make a fussy card I'm never happy with it as they tend to look messy!)
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Rockin' around the Christmas tree
     Cut It Up Challenge - Starts with a 'C' (I've chosen Christmas)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     NBUS - Challenge 73 (my new, to me, Christmas tree die)

Kath x   

November Rudolph Day

It's time for the final Rudolph Day of the year and my final green and gold Christmas card (green and gold has been my RD theme for this year).

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

I die cut the stitched rectangle from a snippet of white matt card and layered it onto a slightly larger piece of gold mirri before attaching it to the card blank.  I die cut the tree from green glitter card and snipped the star from the top.  The tree was attached to the panel on the front of the card.  I then die cut the star from another small snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the top of the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Christmas/Winter
     Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quick and Easy
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Rudolph Day - November Challenge
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 494

Kath x

Quick and Easy Christmas

I made this quick card using the snippet of backing card left over from my Christmas Rose card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Season's Greetings' die
     Snippets of Hunkydory 'Christmas Rose' card and gold mirri 

I trimmed the Christmas Rose card to 4.25" x 4.25", layered it onto a slightly larger snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment from another snippet of gold card and attached it to the upper corner.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - Q for Quick and Easy
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas and/or Winter
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes    

Kath x

Rudolph Says Hello

I made this tiny Christmas card for one of my great nephews.  I made him a card last year using this cute Rudolph stamp - he thought Rudolph was funny so I've made this card to send him this year.  

To make this card I used:
     4.25" x 3" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Let's Prance' stamp and coordinating die
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Crafts-Too 'Twinkle' embossing folder
     Versafine Onyx black ink
     Promarkers
     Snippets of white matt card and red pearlescent card
     Printed sentiment (make unknown - sent to me in a RAK)
     Glossy Accents

I die cut a snippet of white card with the stitched rectangle die and then embossed it with the stars embossing folder.  The panel was layered red pearlescent card and attached to the front of the card blank.  Rudolph was stamped onto a snippet of white card and cut with the coordinating die before being coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment was on a sheet of printed Christmas sentiments - I trimmed it before attaching it to the lower corner of the card with foam tape.  Rudolph was attached above the sentiment with a foam pad.  To finish I added Glossy Accents to Rudolph's nose.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Embossing Wet or Dry (my card uses dry embossing)
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Embossing Folder Fun
     Stamping Sensations - ~Animal Magic

Kath x

Yet More Big Birthday Wishes

As regular followers will know, this is my favourite die for male cards - I made this card for one of my neighbours who will be celebrating his 90th birthday next month.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes', Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' and Xcut 'Nesting Stars' dies
     Snippets of kraft card, blue textured card and red sparkle card

I trimmed the snippet of kraft card so it was slightly wider than the die and cut the large sentiment from the centre before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  I die cut 'BIG' from a snippet of blue textured card and inlaid the letters into the panel.  The rest of the sentiment was die cut from red sparkle card and inlaid into the panel.  I trimmed two narrow strips of red sparkle card and attached them down each side of the sentiment panel using narrow tape and then trimmed the ends.  I die cut two small stars from red sparkle card and attached them towards the top of the card using small foam pads.  I die cut a slightly larger star from blue textured card and '90' from red sparkle card.  The numerals were attached to the blue star which was then attached to the card with a foam pad.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Die (I've posted several cards made with this die - which is my favourite for male and teenager cards which I always fine difficult!)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 489

Kath x

Rustic Wreath

We're back from our travels and everything has been washed and put away ready for our next trip.  It's a horrid wet day today - perfect to spend some time crafting and make some Christmas cards!

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Rustic Wreath' stamps
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Olympia Green & Satin Red ink
     Snippets of white matt card and red pearlescent card

I placed a snippet of white card into my MISTI and stamped the wreath and sentiment with green ink.  I placed the berries stamp onto the outside of the wreath and stamped a couple of times with red ink.  I then continued to stamp the berries around the edge of the wreath, alternating the stamp on the inside and outside of the wreath.  The panel was then cut with a stitched die, layered onto a snippet of red pearlescent card and attached to the card front.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - H is for Holidays (I have chosen Christmas in July)
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Anything Christmas or Winter Holiday Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Add a Sentiment
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas in July
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Moving Along With The Times - CAS
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas in July
     Stamping Sensations - Christmas in July

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