'Tis the Season

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and our theme is 'Garland/Flowers/Leaves'.

To make this card I used:
    7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Vintage Christmas - Winter Berry Bouquet' card and topper
     Gold mirri

I'm entering the following challenges:
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'

This is my final month on the Christmas Crafts All Year Round Design Team - I've so many other projects at the moment that I've stepped down from DT duties.  A big thank you to Deanne and the rest of the team for making me so welcome over the past three years.

Kath x

Elf Ornament

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see 'Ornaments'.

I'm entering the ABC Christmas Challenge 'K for Kids',  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'For a Child', the Alphabet Challenge 'C for Clean and Simple' and the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'.

6" x 6" white matt card blank
Bugaboo 'AKV Elf - Ornament' digi stamp
Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Squares Stackables' dies
Lili of the Valley 'Galaxy Stars' paper
White matt card
Wink of Stella

I attached a piece of Galaxy Stars paper (this is becoming one of my favourite paper pads) to white card to make it slightly thicker before using the two largest dies to die cut and emboss a frame.  This was then attached to the card blank.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white card.  I die cut and embossed the image using the second largest die, coloured it with Promarkers to match the stars in the frame and inlaid it.  To finish I highlighted the elf and ornament with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Snowman Friends

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and our theme this month is 'Family/Friends'.

I'm entering the Christmas Kickstart Challenge 'Delectable Die-cuts', Imagine That Digistamp Challenge 'Anything Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge' Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

6" x 6" white matt card blank
Bugaboo Stamps 'Snowman Friends' digi stamp
My Favourite Things 'Stitched Jumbo Fishtail' and My Favourite Things 'Fishtail Flags' dies
Kars tan embossing mat
Promarkers
Lili of the Valley 'Woodland Wishes' paper
Dark cerise textured card, white matt card
Wink of Stella
Computer generated sentiment 'Copperplate Gothic Light' font

I trimmed a piece of paper to a square, layered it onto cerise card and attached it to the card front.  I resized the digi stamp before printing onto white matt card. The image was die cut and embossed with the largest fishtail die.  As I wanted to extend the length of the fishtail, I also die cut and embossed a piece of white card with the square end of the die.  I coloured the image with Promarkers, matching the colours to the backing paper.  I drew around the outside the the fishtail die to make a matting layer for the image before cutting it out.  The image and white extension card were layered onto the cerise matt and attached to the card.  I printed the sentiment onto white card and placed the fishtail flat die onto the sentiment before die cutting and embossing halfway along the sentiment.  I removed the die, lined it up at the other end of the sentiment before die cutting and embossing the other half.  The strip was then layered onto cerise card before being attached to the card to cover the join in the image fishtail banner.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the snowman's clothing and the snow.

Kath x

Meet me Under the Mistletoe

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and our theme this month is 'Under the Mistletoe (or Kisses/Love)'.

I'm entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and Crafty Creations Challenges 'Anything Goes'.

6" x 6" cream fleck card blank
Studio Light 'Winter Days' image sheets 
Polkadoodles 'Fourini' paper
Black mirri card, cream fleck card

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto cream card and black mirri card before attaching it to the card front.  The topper had got a small cream edging, but as I wanted it to match my matted layer I trimmed around the edge of the black image.  This topper was then layered onto cream card and black mirri before being attached to the left side of the card with foam tape.  To finish I removed a small die cut heart from the sheet, shaped it and attached it to the lower corner with Pinflair glue.

Kath x

Away in a Manger

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round.  This month our theme is 'Carols or Songs' and I have chosen 'Away in a Manger' using a cute LOTV image for my card.

I'm entering the Cutie Pie Challenge 'Cute, Clean and Simple', the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'No Sentiment'.

6" x 6" white matt card blank
Lili of the Valley Cute Squares ' Nativity Play'
Purple pearlescent card 
Wild Rose Studio 'Bluebell' paper
Wink of Stella

I trimmed the spot paper from the Bluebell paper pad, layered it onto purple card and attached it to the card front.  The cute image was precoloured, but I trimmed it slightly before layering it onto purple card and attaching it to the centre.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the image.

Kath x

Let it Snow

Happy New Year!  This is my first post of the year for the January Christmas Crafts All Year Round challenge and our theme this month is 'Let is Snow'.

I'm entering Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Any Christmas or New Year Card' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

6" x 4" white pearlescent tent fold card blank
'Let it Snow' stamp (make unknown - cover gift with magazine)
Versafine Majestic Blue ink
Dark blue and white pearlescent card
Lili of the Valley 'Frosty Christmas' paper
Clear Gems

I trimmed the blue snowflake paper, layered it onto blue pearlescent card and attached it to the centre of the card.  I used my MISTI to stamp 'Let it Snow' onto white card, stamping it several times to deepen the colour of the ink.  Once dry I trimmed the strip, layered it onto blue pearlescent card and attached it across the centre.  To finish I added clear gems to the centre of the snowflakes.

Kath x

Sister

It's time for another challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round - the final one this year - and we have a nice easy challenge 'Anything Goes'.   I made a similar card for the September Rudolph Day Challenge and thought the design would be suitable for my sister so made this card mounting the panel onto a larger card blank and changing the die cut.

This is a scheduled post as we're away this weekend visiting our families (and exchanging Christmas presents and cards) so I'm not linking to any challenges this time.

Card blank: 5" x 5" white matt
Dies: All Occasion Dies 'Small Poinsettia', Creative Expressions From the Heart 'Female Relatives, Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves', Festive Wishes Holly Sprig (magazine freebie)
Embossing: Festive Wishes (magazine freebie)
Card: Gold mirri, red matt, green matt and white matt card

I embossed a square of white card before layering it onto gold mirri and attaching it to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut 'Sister' from gold mirri and attached it to the lower part of the card.  I die cut and embossed two large poinsettias from red card and one from green card.  I shaped the die cuts before gluing them together.  I die cut the holly berries from gold mirri and attached them to the centre of the poinsettia.  I die cut two holly sprigs from dark green card and snipped the ends from both sprigs.  The snipped ends were then glued to the back of the poinsettia flower before being attached to the top corner of the card.

Kath x

Gingerbread Wishes

It's time for another challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see 'Gingerbread'.  I'm entering the Crafty Cardmakers 'Explosion of Colour' challenge, The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: The Hobby House 'Elisabeth Bell Gingerbread Wishes'
Card: Red mirri
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Candles and Cake'

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto red mirri and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the precoloured topper slightly, layered it onto red mirri and attached it to the centre of the card.  Quick and simple!

Kath x

Santa

It's time for another challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see Santa, an Elf or Fairy.  I've chosen Santa and have used a cute Lili of the Valley Art Pad image for my card.

I'm entering Sparkles Christmas Challenge 'Christmas is for Kids', Christmas with the Cuties 'For a Child', the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Something beginning with S' (I have obviously chosen Santa).

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Labels One' and 'Decorative Labels One;
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Card: Red embossed
Paper: Making Cards 'Contemporary Christmas' (magazine freebie)
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto dark red card and attached it to the card front.  The image was precoloured, so I die cut and embossed it before layering it onto a die cut and embossed decorative label.  I then die cut three smaller labels and attached these to the back of the image (to give some dimension) before attaching it to the card front.  To finish I highlighted Santa, the snow and holly with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Quick and Easy Money Wallet

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and this month we want to see 'Anything But a Card'.  I tend to give money to the teenage members of our families so they can have fun choosing their own gift, so I need quick and easy money wallets.

Money wallets are also a great way to use some of my snippets mountain, so I'm heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Dies: Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' (magazine freebie)
Ink: Versafine Crimson Red
Snippets:  Dark red hammer card, gold and brown pearlescent card,, Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' paper

I trimmed a piece of red card to measure 7½ inches x 6½inches.  I scored the card at 2 inches and 5 inches on the short edge and ½ inch on the longer sides.  I cut away the corners before folding the flaps inside the wallet.  I folded the bottom edge and marked the sides of the flaps before cutting them level with the bottom flap. I trimmed snippets of paper to cover the front, back and inside flap of the wallet.  I coloured the edges of the papers with Crimson Red Ink before attaching them.  I attached strong red tape to the flaps and folded the bottom over to make the wallet.  To make the belly band I cut a strip of red card to wrap around the wallet and used red tape to fasten it.  I then cut two small snippets of holly paper into oblongs, coloured the edged with Crimson Red ink and attached these on the front and the back of the band.  I die cut the reindeer from gold pearlescent card and attached it to the lower edge of the belly band.  I die cut the antlers, swirl and bow from brown pearlescent card and used Tacky glue to attach them.

Kath x

Christmas Bubble Tree

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and this month we want to see 'Warm/Hot Colours'.  I'm entering the ABC Christmas Challenge 'P for Plain', the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and a new Christmas challenge - the Merry Little Christmas challenge where 'Anything Christmas Goes'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Stamp: Woodware 'Christmas Bubble Tree'
Embossing: Stampendous Clear Embossing Powder
Ink: Versafine Imperial Purple
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Purple pearlescent, white matt
Other: Glossy Accents
Snippet: Orange paper

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I used my MISTI to stamp the tree and sentiment and then embossed them with clear embossing powder. I stamped the trunk onto a snippet of orange paper and paper pieced it onto the tree.  The baubles were coloured with Promarkers in yellow, gold, orange, red and purple.  The panel was layered onto purple card before being attached to the card front.  To finish I added Glossy Accents to the baubles.

Kath x

Holly Tree

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and our theme is 'Christmas Tree (or any kind of tree)'.  This is a scheduled post as we're on holiday in the Yorkshire Dales so I'm not linking to any other challenges this time.

Card blank: 6" x 4" white pearlescent
Stamp: Woodware 'Holly Tree'
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Kaisercraft 'Christmas Collection' paper and Emma Ball gold paper
Other: Wink of Stella

I stamped the tree onto green swirl paper, trimmed around the outer edge and attached it to the front of the card.  I stamped the holly leaves and pot onto red paper and the bow, baubles and star onto gold paper.  These were all fussy cut and attached to the card.  To fnish I highlighted the bow, baubles, star and swirls with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Delightful Dangles Christmas Tree

I made this card for the Back to Basics and Beyond 'Heat Embossing' challenge.  I'm also entering Crafty Cardmakers 'Wet or Dry Embossing' challenge, the CAS Christmas challenge 'Masculine' and the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes',

Card blank: 6" x 4" white matt

Stamp: Woodwqare 'Delightful Dangles Christmas Tree'

Embossing: Stampendous clear embossing powder

Ink: Versafine Olympia Green

Colouring: Gold gel pen

Card: Gold and white matt

I stamped and heat embossed the Christmas tree and sentiment onto white card.  This panel was trimmed, layered onto gold card and attached to the card front.  I then coloured the dangles with a gold gel pen.

Kath x

Ebony Christmas

It's time for another challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see 'Non-traditional Colours'.  I'm a little late in posting my card as the new month has crept up on me and, as usual when I'm short of time, I've dipped into my box of upcycled cards to find a suitable image.  I'm entering the Alphabet Challenge 'E for Ebony', the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 5" x 4" white matt
Image: Upcycled Christmas card
Card: Gold matt
Other: Wink of Stella

To make this super quick card, I trimmed the image, layered it onto gold card, attached it to the card blank and added a Wink of Stella.  It was so quick to make I feel like I've cheated, but the image was too beautiful not to use!

Kath x

Santa and Reindeer

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and it's 'Anything Goes'.  I've made a super quick card for this month's challenge using a cute Lili of the Valley Art Pad image.  I'm entering the Merry Monday 'No Stamping' challenge and the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'.

Card blank: 5.5" x 4.25" white tent fold
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Wonky Rectangles'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Paper: SugarPea Designs 'Happy Holidays'
Other: Diamond Stickles, Stampendous White Fun Flock, Wink of Stella

To make this quick card I attached the red and white stripe paper to the card blank.  I die cut and embossed the precoloured Art Pad image and attached it to the centre of the card.  I added Diamond Stickles for the snow, Fun Flock on Santa's clothing and a Wink of Stella over the image to give a little sparkle.

Kath x

All White Bauble

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see your 'All White' creations.  I'm entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and the The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 5" x 5" white matt
Dies: Marianne Design Creatables 'Christmas Bauble' (magazine freebie), Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large'
Embossing: Apple Blossom 'Holly' folder (magazine freebie)
Card: White matt and white pearlescent
Other: White ribbon

I embossed a piece of white card, trimmed it around the border, layered it onto a slightly larger piece of white pearlescent card and attached it to the front of the card.  I die cut the Christmas bauble from pearlescent card and also a circle of the same size. I attached the bauble to the circle.  I then die cut the bauble from white matt card and inlaid the pieces into the bauble.  I normally run an inlaid die cut through my Cuttlebug to ensure everything is flat, but as the bauble had some embossing I rolled it with a brayer instead so it wasn't flattened too much. The bauble was attached to the centre with foam tape.  To finish I made a small white ribbon bow and attached it to the top of the bauble with a blob of Pinflair glue.

Kath x

Christmas Flowers

This months's challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round is 'Flowers' and I've used the last snippet of a pretty poinsettia paper for my card.  I'm entering the Merry Monday 'Poinsettia' challenge and the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'.  I'm also heading over to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop with my snippets.

Card blank: 5" x 5" white matt
Die: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas'
Snippets: Red and white matt card, red mirri card, Wild Rose Studio 'Annabelle's Christmas' paper (magazine freebie)

I trimmed my last snippet of poinsettia paper to a square, layered it onto red card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut Happy Christmas from red mirri card and set it aside.  I die cut the sentiment from white card, trimmed it to a strip and layered it onto red card.  I then inlaid the red mirri sentiment and the rest of the white pieces which were still inside my die (for safe keeping!).  I put a piece of paper across the top of the sentiment and ran it through my Cuttlebug to ensure all the pieces were flat and then attached the panel across the card.

Kath x

Happy Christmas

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see Christmas crafts that are 'Mainly Red'.  I'm also entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Always Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Dies: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas', Memory Box 'Lydia Ornament' & 'Crisp Bows'
Card: Dark red embossed
Paper: Joy Crafts 'Earth Bloc'
Other: Spray & Sparkle Pearl Diamond

I die cut a sentiment, ornament and bow from dark red card and set them aside.  I trimmed a piece of beige paper so it was approximately 1.5cm smaller than the card front and die cut the sentiment, ornament and bow before attaching the paper to a slightly larger piece of dark red card.  I then inlaid the die cut pieces, other than the ornament background.  I sprayed Spray & Sparkle onto another piece of dark red card and when it had dried I die cut another ornament and inlaid the background pieces.  When the panel was finished, I placed a piece of paper across the top and ran it through my Cuttlebug to ensure all the pieces were secure.  To finish the panel was attached to the card front.

Kath x

Santa Collage

I've had this Rubber Stampede 'Santa' stamp on my wish list since I saw Kathy's post last year.  As Kathy mentioned the stamp is hard to find, so I was over the moon to see some used Christmas stamps for sale on eBay, and Santa was in one of the boxes!  I'm entering Merry Monday 'Red & Turquoise' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card: 5" x 5" white silk
Stamp: Rubber Stampede 'Santa Collage'
Die: My Favourite Things Die-namics 'Tag You're It'
Ink: Versafine Crimson Red
Snippets: Turquoise matt and white silk card, Lili of the Valley 'Festive Trimmings' paper, turquoise ribbon

I used my last piece of red paper from the 'Festive Trimmings' pad and tidied the edges to make a square.  I layered it onto a piece of turquoise card to highlight the writing on the paper before attaching it to the centre of the card front.  As the die is solid I decided to die cut the tag first and then stamp the image.  The stamp was wooden mounted but I was able to peel it carefully from the wooden block so I could use it in my MISTI.  I placed the die cut tag into MISTI before laying the stamp on top and stamping the Santa image a couple of times using Crimson Red ink.  The tag was attached to the front of the card with double sided tape and I attached a small bow made from a snippet of ribbon using Tacky Glue.

Kath x

Thank you for our gifts

Happy New Year!  It's the start of a New Year, a new month and a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round where we want to see 'Thank You' cards.  I'm also entering my card into the first challenge at Ally's Angels  where 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Bugaboo 'Rudolph Presents' digi (Friday freebie)
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Wonky Rectangles'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: White silk
Paper: Turquoise snowflake (magazine freebie)
Other: Silver card candi, Glossy Accents, computer generated sentiment 'Tempus Sans ITC'

I trimmed the snowflake paper and attached it to the card.  I resized the digi and added the sentiment before printing it onto white card.   I then die cut and embossed the image before colouring it with Promarkers.  As I wanted the image to stand away from the card front, I cut two more wonky rectangles with the smaller die and layered these to the back of the panel before attaching it to the centre of the card.  To finish I added silver Card Candi to the top and bottom corners and highlighted Rudolph's eyes with Glossy Accents.

Kath x