Merry Christmas Steve

This is my final Christmas card for this year and as usual Steve's card is the last one I make!  I'm entering Sparkles Christmas Challenge 'Show me a Snowman', The Male Room 'Christmas/Winter Wishes/December Celebrations' challenge, the Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes and Crafty Friends 'Friends and Family' challenge.

Card blank: 7" x 7" white silk
Stamp: Bugaboo 'Snowman Couple' digi
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Red mirri, white silk
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Krafty Christmas'
Other: Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents, Stampendous Fun Flock, Wink of Stella, Computer generated sentiment 'Tempus Sans ITC' font

I trimmed the snowflake paper, layered it onto red mirri and attached it to the card front.  I resized the digi and added the sentiment below before printing it onto white card and colouring it with Promarkers.  The image was then trimmed, layered onto red mirri and attached to the card front.  I added funflock to the hat, a Wink of Stella to the buttons and Diamond Stickles to the snow.  To finish I added Glossy Accents to the heart.

This is the last post on my blog this year as we're going to Cirencester in Cali on Saturday for the Christmas holiday.  I wish everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kath x

Nativity Andy

The final Winter Wonderland challenge of the year is 'Anything Goes' and we are sponsored by Pink Gem Designs who are offering the lucky winner two single digi images or two card topper kits of the winner's chose - or one of each!  I've used one of their Card Topper Kits to make this quick and simple Christmas card for a baby boy's first Christmas.

I'm entering the Crafty Friends 'Babies/Children' challenge, Paper Creator 'Christmas/New Year' challenge, The Male Room 'Christmas/Winter Wishes/December Celebrations' challenge, Crafty Calendar Challenge 'It's Christmas' and 52 Christmas Card Throwndown 'Pick a Previous Challenge from 2012/2013 (I have chosen the May 2017 Nativity challenge).

Card blank: 5" x 5" white silk
Images: Pink Gem Designs 'Nativity Andy Card Topper Kit'
Paper: White silk
Other: Wink of Stella

I printed the topper kit onto white silk paper and attached the back layer to the card blank.  I cut out the decoupage pieces and layered them onto the card with Pinflair glue.  The sentiment was attached across the top corner of the card with a dab of glue under both ends and the middle raised from the card.  To finish I highlighted the star and snow on the trees with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

It's time for the final Rudolph Day of the year.  As I've used all ten images from the 'Festive Foliage' Art Pad for previous cards this year, I've made the final Rudolph Day card using some oddments from a Hundydory Christmas set to make this quick card.  I'm also entering the Crafty Friends 'Add a Sentiment' challenge, Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.

Card blank: 6" x 6" cream matt
Card: Hunkydory 'Christmas Post', red mirri
Other: Red ribbon, red nailheads

I trimmed the patterned card ensuring I kept as much as possible of the detail on the cream part of the card.  This was layered onto red mirri and attached to the card front.  The die cut sentiment was also from the same set.  I layered it onto red mirri and tied red ribbon through the hole.  To finish I attached the sentiment with foam tape and added red nailheads to the corners.

Kath x

Quick CAS Christmas

I made this quick CAS Christmas card for the Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge 'Christmas'.  I'm also entering the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge, Crafty Friends 'Christmas' challenge and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 4" white silk
Die: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas', Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer'
Embossing: Xcut 'Swirls'
Card: Red mirri, white silk

I embossed a piece of white silk card and trimmed the panel around the edge of the embossing.  This was layered onto red mirri and attached to the card front.  I die cut the sentiment and attached it to the centre of the panel with Stick and Spray.  To finish I die cut three snowflakes from the Elegant Reindeer die and attached them around the sentiment.

Kath x

Rudolph Tag

The new Winter Wonderland challenge is 'Tag You're It' and we want to see either gift tags or tags on cards.  The challenge is sponsored by Crafty Ribbons who are offering the lucky winner a £10.00 voucher to spend in their store.

I've decided to make a tag using snippets of card, paper and ribbon so I'm heading to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  I'm also entering the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge 'Tags', the The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas' and Crafty Friends 'Christmas' challenge.  This is a scheduled post so I'll link to these challenges when I get home from work this evening!

Dies: Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' (magazine freebie), Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags', Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Snippets: Blue snowflake paper, white matt card, dark brown, gold and white pearlescent card, red mirri 
Other: White satin ribbon

I attached the blue snowflake paper onto white card and then die cut and embossed the largest tag.  I die cut the reindeer from dark brown card and attached it to the bottom of the tag.  I die cut it again from gold card, attached the antlers and inlaid the swirl.  I then die cut three snowflakes from white pearlescent card and attached them around the reindeer.  The bow was die cut from red mirri and attached to the reindeer's neck.  As I didn't have any very small red gems for Rudolph's nose, I die cut the Memory Box holly berries from red mirri and used one of them - the perfect size!  To finish, I threaded the white ribbon through the hole in the tag and trimmed the ends.

Kath x

Bargello Merry Christmas

A big thank you to Di for inviting me to be her Guest Designer at the fabulous Snippets Challenge - I love this challenge as it's a way of trying to keep my snippets mountain under control!  Amongst my many snippets I always seem to have a lot of thin strips so I've used some of these for the bargello background on my card.

I'm entering Crafty Friends 'Christmas' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 7" cream matt
Dies: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas', Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Ovals Large' & 'Lacey Ovals'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Other: White printer paper
Snippets: Lili of the Valley 'Woodland Wishes' Paper, cerise mirri and cream matt card

I trimmed eight different paper strips to 2cm width and glued them across a piece of white printer paper, ensuring the edges of the papers touched.  I then cut strips of various widths and laid them onto the table until I was happy with the 'V' patter.  I then glued them onto another piece of white printer paper.  I trimmed the finished design into a square before layering it onto a slightly larger snippet of cerise mirri card and attaching it to the centre of the card.  If you've never tried the bargello technique, there's a good tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.

I die cut and embossed a cream oval and die cut 'Happy Christmas' from the centre.  This was layered onto a die cut and embossed Lacey Oval.  I then die cut 'Happy Christmas' from cerise mirri and inlaid it.  To ensure it was nice and flat I put a piece of white paper on top of the panel and ran it through my Cuttlebug again.  The finished panel was attached to the centre of the card with foam tape.

Kath x

Gingerbread Woman

This month's Christmas Cards All Year Round challenge is 'Candy or Gingerbread'.  I'm entering Crafty Friends 'Cute' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card: 7" x 7" kraft
Image: Craft Creations 'Gingerbread Woman' die cut decoupage sheet
Card: Red mirri, kraft
Paper: Holly glitter (magazine freebie)
Other: Red nailheads

I trimmed the holly paper, layered it onto red mirri and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the image, layered it onto red mirri and kraft card before attaching it to the centre of the card.  I then assembled the die cut decoupaged pieces using Pinflair glue.  As the paper is quite thin I hadn't noticed that there was something stuck underneath the lower corner of the image, so I added some nailheads to cover the crease and more to the top corner to balance the image.

Kath x

Celebrate

I made this anniversary card for The Flower Challenge 'Use your Favourite Flower' 1st birthday challenge.  I love all flowers, but roses are one of my favourites and I have used a roses die and heart paper for my card.  There are some fabulous prizes this month at the Flower Challenge and I would love to win a 'Dies to Die For' voucher if I'm one of the lucky winners.

I'm also entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Die Cuts or Punches', As You Like It Challenge 'Choose Ribbons or Flowers and tell us why' (I've obviously used both on my card - flowers are my all time favourite but I also like to use ribbon to make small bows, especially around the flower stems on this card) and Crafty Friends challenge Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Dies: Wild Rose Studio 'Rose Bunch, Poppy Stamps 'Celebrate'
Card: Dark green mat
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt', Making Cards magazine 'Dino-mite for Boys' (magazine freebie)
Other: White ribbon, Wink of Stella

I trimmed the heart paper ensuring the hearts were along the left side and bottom of the paper, layered it onto green card and attached it to the card front.  I die cute the Rose Bunch and Celebrate from dark green card and attached them with Stick and Stay.  I die cut the rose flowers from the darker sections of the Dino-mite paper and attached them to the green die cut.  I covered the roses with Wink of Stella and also highlighted the hearts on the backing paper.  To finish I made a small bow from white ribbon and attached it around the rose stems.

Kath x

My first LOTV image

The first LOTV images I had were magazine freebies and I made some Easter cards with them.  I loved the bunnies so much I bought the 'Spring Bunny with Daffodils' Mini Masterpiece images and have used one of the larger images to make this card for the Lili of the Valley 'Retro' challenge. I'm also entering the Crafty Friends Challenge 'Anything Goes', Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 7" x 7" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Spring Bunny with Daffodils' Mini Masterpiece
Punch: Woodware 'Inverted Corner'
Card: Purple pearlescent
Paper: The Hobby House Wee Stamps 'Decoupage Card Kit' (magazine freebie)
Other: Gold nailheads

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto purple card and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the pre-coloured image and punched the corners before layering it onto purple card and attaching it to the centre of the card.  To finish I attached gold nailheads in the inverted corners.

Kath x

Happy Birthday Josh

I made this card for my eldest great-nephew for his 15th birthday.  I'm entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Birthday', Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge, Crafty Friends 'Anything Goes' challenge and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Lili of the Valley 'Oliver - Texting' digi
Card: White silk, dark grey matt
Paper: Hot off the Press 'Floral Ultimate Pack'
Other: Computer generated sentiment 'Tempus Sans ITC' font

I trimmed the denim blue paper, layered it onto grey card and attached it to the card front.  I then added a strip of spotty paper across the lower section.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white card before colouring it to match the colours in the paper.  The image was trimmed, layered onto grey card and attached to the left side of the card.  I printed the sentiment, trimmed it, layered it onto grey card and attached it to the right of the image with Pinflair glue.

Kath x

Happy Birthday

I made this card for a teenager's birthday - I always struggle with male cards but thought this LOTV image would be perfect!  I'm entering Crafty Cardmakers 'Tic, Tac, Toe' challenge (I've chosen Summer / Two or More Patterned Papers / Die Cuts), Crafty Friends 'Man/Boy' challenge,  Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Calendar Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Action Time' Art Pad
Die: Memory Box 'Stitched Happy Birthday Circle'
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Father Knows Best' and Country Gent

I covered the front of the card blank with blue paper and then attached a strip of brown stripe paper across the centre.  I trimmed the top and bottom of the precoloured image and attached it across the centre of the striped paper.  I die cut the 'Happy Birthday Circle' from blue paper and snipped the circle from the outside before attaching the sentiment to the card.

Kath x

Beautiful Blooms

I made this card for a friend's birthday and am entering the Allsorts 'Happy Birthday' challenge.  I'm also entering Die-Cut Divas 'May Flowers' challenge, Crafty Friends 'Summer Colours' challenge and  Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Beautiful Blooms' Art Pad
Dies: Memory Box 'Grand Happy Birthday' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly'
Card: Purple and lilac pearlescent, white silk

I trimmed the purple card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I then trimmed the width of the pre-coloured Art Pad image before die-cutting 'happy' from the lower edge.  This was then attached to the card blank.  I die-cut 'happy birthday' from lilac pearlescent card, trimmed it and attached it to the lower edge of the card.  I then die-cut the sentiment from white silk card and inlaid the pieces.  To finish I added a small die-cut butterfly to the top corner.

Kath x

Wishing you a Magical Birthday

I made this card for a young girl's birthday and am entering the Lili of the Valley 'Happy Birthday' challenge, In the Pink 'Birthday' challenge, Crafty Friends 'Cute' challenge,Cuttlebug Mania 'Have Wings, Will Fly' challenge and Crafty Cardmakers 'Use a Sentiment'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Fairies' Art Pad
Sentiment: Lili of the Valley ''General Sentiments' Art Pad
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large' and 'Classic Scalloped Circles Large', Memory Box 'Classic Numbers'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Card: Brown Pearlescent
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Pastel Dreams'
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the pink spotty paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  The precoloured Art Pad image was die cut, layered onto a die cut and embossed scalloped circle and attached to the centre of the card.  The sentiment was die cut, layered onto a scalloped die cut circle and attached to the top corner of the card with Pinflair glue.  I die cut the numbers and attached them to the lower corner.  To finish I highlighted the fairy, teddy and present with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Cute Garden Cottage

I made this quick card for a friend's birthday using a pre-coloured LOTV Art Pad image, which I think is from the 'Cute Garden Cottage'.  If anyone knows different, please let me know!

I'm entering the Seize the Birthday 'Two Patterned Papers' challenge, Crafty Cardmakers 'Things with Wings' challenge, Crafty Friends Challenge 'Animals or Birds', Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Cute Garden Cottage' Art Pad
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Pastel Dreams'
Other: Wink of Stella

I covered the front of the card blank with floral paper and added a piece of striped paper across the card.  I trimmed the top and bottom of the pre-coloured image and attached it across the centre of the striped paper.  To finish I highlighted the birds, flowers and cupcake case with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Oliver Birthday

I'm struggling to find crafting time at the moment, but made this card for a young boy's birthday.  I'm entering Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge, Crafty Friends Challenge 'B is for ...' (I have chosen birthday, boy and blue) and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank:  6" x 6" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Lili's Die Cuts Oliver'
Dies: Memory Box 'Grand Happy Birthday' and Xcut 'Mini Star'
Card: Dark blue matt and white silk
Paper: Joy Crafts 'Earth Bloc'

I layered the paper onto blue card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut Happy Birthday from blue and white card.  The blue die cut was attached to the lower edge of the card and the white letters were inlaid.  The precoloured image was already die cut and was attached with foam tape.  To finish I die cut three small stars from blue card and attached them to the upper corner.

Kath x

Jenny Bear Birthday

I made this card for my great-niece's fourth birthday.  I'm entering the Cardz 4 Galz 'Pretty in Pink' challenge, Crafty Friends 'B is for ...' challenge  (I have chosen Bear, Balloon and Bow) and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'James and Jenny Bear' precoloured image
Dies: Memory Box 'Classic Numbers', Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large' and 'Lacy Squares'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Card: Light brown pearlescent
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Pastel Dreams'

Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the pink check paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card blank.  I then attached a strip of darker pink paper across the card.  I die cut and embossed the image and die cut the number from the centre of the balloon.  The image was attached to a die cut and embossed lacy square before being attached to the centre of the card.  I die cut the number from brown card and inlaid it int the topper.  To finish, I highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

March Rudolph Day

It's hard to believe it's the third Rudolph Day of the year!  I've used another image from the LOTV 'Festive Foliage' Art Pad for my card and am entering Crafty Friends 'B is for ...' challenge (I've used chosen baubles, branch and blue),  Crafty Hazelnuts's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 7"  7" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Festive Foliage' Art Pad
Die: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas'
Card: Red and white matt
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Twas the Night'
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed blue and green check paper, layered them onto red card and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the precoloured image slightly, layered it onto red card and attached it to the left side.  I die cut the sentiment three times from red card and once from white card.  To ensure the sentiment lay flat across the card front I cut two red sentiments in half before layering the them.  The white sentiment was attached to the top creating a shadow effect, before being attached to the card.  To finish I highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes Tribute Challenge for Eileen

As many of you know, Eileen our Winter Wonderland blog owner and coordinator passed away recently.  This challenge is a tribute to Eileen for the hard work she put into running the challenge blog and both teams are joining in.  The theme is 'Anything Christmas Goes' and we are sponsored by Little Claire Designs who are offering the winner three digi stamps of their choice.

I'm entering the Alphabet Challenge 'Y for You Choose' (my choice is a Christmas Card), Season's Greetings 'Anything Goes' challenge, Crafty Friends challenge 'Anything Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Little Claire Designs 'Away in a Manger' digi
Punch: Woodware squared corner
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Gold Stardream, white silk
Paper: Marianne Design 'Wintertime'
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed a piece of blue paper, layered it onto gold card and attached it to the card front.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white card before colouring it with Promarkers.  I punched the corners, layered it onto gold card and attached it to the centre of the card.  To finish I highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Happy Birthday

I made this card for a friend who's a keen cyclist and am entering The Male Room 'Wheels' challenge, Seize the Birthday 'Inlaid die-cutting' challenge, Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes', Crafty Friends 'Anything Goes' challenge and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Die: Joanna Sheen 'Road Bike'
Stamp: Hobby Art 'Happy Birthday'
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Card: Black matt
Paper: Joy Crafts 'Earth Bloc'
Other: Wink of Stella

I die cut the road bike from black card and set it aside. I trimmed the paper to a square and die cut the bike from the lower edge.  The paper was then layered onto black card and I inlaid the bike and paper pieces.  To ensure the inlaid pieces were flat and glued down well, I placed a piece of plain card over the paper and ran it through my Cuttlebug.  The panel was then attached to the card front. To finish I stamped the sentiment in the top corner and highlighted it with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

We Three Kings

I made this card for the Christmas with the Cuties 'Christmas Carols and Songs' challenge (I have chosen 'We Three Kings').  I am also entering Crafty Friends 'Anything Goes', Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Cute' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Nativity Play' Cute Squares
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Labels One' and 'Decorative Labels One'
Paper: Making Cards 'All That Glitters' (magazine freebie)
Card: Gold Stardream
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto gold card and attached it to the card front.  The precoloured image was die cut and embossed before being attached to a die cut and embossed decorative label. This was then attached to the centre of the card.  To finish I highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x