Under the Mistletoe

I don't often buy craft magazines as they're now so expensive, but I made an exception when I saw this Lisa Horton set of dies as a cover gift.  The mistletoe die is perfect for Steve's Christmas card and, as always, this is my final Christmas card to post this year.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and Lisa Horton 'Under the Mistletoe' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Happy Birthday All' stamps
     Versafine Crimson Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Snippets of white matt card, cream gloss card, green textured card and red mirri card 

I die cut the largest square from white matt card and placed it into my MISTI.   I placed the mistletoe die onto the panel so I could see where the position the stamps.  After removing the die I stamped the sentiment in red ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  The panel was layered onto red mirri and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut the mistletoe from green textured card and attached it above the sentiment.  The bow was die cut from red mirri card and attached to the top of the mistletoe branch.  To finish I die cut the berries from tiny snippets of cream gloss card and attached them to the mistletoe.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - X is for XOXO (hugs and kisses)
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Less is More - D is for Deck the Halls
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 468

Kath x

Black, White and Gold Joy

I made this card using the colours of the AAA Cards Challenge - black and gold aren't colours I would normally use for a Christmas card but I was pleased with the finished card.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Joy' & My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white and black matt card and gold mirri card

I trimmed a piece of white matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and then used the largest rectangle die to cut it into a stitched shape. As the die wasn't long enough to cut the panel I cut the first half, then moved the die to cut the lower part of the panel.  I then cut JOY from the centre of the panel before attaching it to the card.  I die cut JOY from black matt card and inlaid the letters into the panel, together with the middle of the O that had been cut from white card.  I die cut the fancy JOY from gold mirri and attach it to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards Challenge - Black, White and Gold
     CAS on Friday - Christmas
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas/Winter
     Less is More - D is for Deck the Halls

Kath x

Red & Gold Bauble

I need a few more Christmas cards and made this one using some of my favourite Memory Box dies and, of course, lots of snippets.  

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, Memory Box 'Traditional Ornament', 'Lydia
     Ornament' & 'Crisp Bows' dies
     Snippets of red pearlescent card, gold mirri and white hammer card

I die cut a stitched rectangle from white matt card then die cut the Traditional Ornament from the lower edge and attached it to the front of the card blank.  I die cut the Traditional Ornament from red pearlescent card and then inlaid this into the front of the card.  I die cut the Lydia Ornament and Crisp Bow from gold mirri card and then used Artist Tac to attach them to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Christmas Time
     Color Hues - Red & Metallic Gold
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - November Challenge
     Less is More - Anything CAS Goes

Kath x

Dragonfly Notecard

I needed a small notecard to pop in with a gift and made this one from lots of snippets.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Dragonfly' stamp and coordinating die
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versamark
     WOW Metallic Gold Sparkle embossing glitter
     Snippets of marbled paper and white matt card

I used the square die to emboss the centre of the card blank.  I attached the snippet of marbled paper to white card and then trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the inner stitched square before attaching it to the card.   I stamped the dragonfly with Versamark onto another snippet of white card and then embossed it with the gold sparkle embossing powder before cutting it with the coordinating die.   To finish I attached the dragonfly by its body and shaped the wings.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - November challenge
     Less is More - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes

Kath x

Just a Note

I've not had much time for crafting this week as we've spent time setting up a new laptop as our old one had 'died' on us - we've also been getting ready to go away in Martha tomorrow.  I did have time today to make this quick notecard using a new (to me) die I've recently purchased.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" cream matt card blank
     Tonic Studios 'Treble Clef' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die'namics' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings' stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippet of dark brown card

I used the die to emboss a rectangle in the front of the card blank and placed the card into my MISTI.  I die cut the Treble Clef from a snippet of dark brown card and laid it inside the embossed rectangle so I could see where to stamp 'Just a Note'.  I removed the die cut and stamped the sentiment several times to get a good depth of colour to match the die cut.  I then used Artist Tac to attach the Treble Clef inside the frame.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Monochrome
     Less is More - Music
     NBUS - Challenge 55 (my new Tonic Studios die)

Kath x   

August Card Chain Challenge

I made this card to send to Michaela for the August Card Chain Challenge.  I used the Colour Option (Sage, Greenbean & Kumquat), the Sketch Option, the Theme Option (CAS & Friendship) and the Product/Technique Option (Stencil)

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Lil'inker 'Modern Mehndi' stamps and coordinating dies
     Crafter's Companion 'Sweet Florals' stamps
     Funky Fossil 'Stacked Lines' stencil
     Versafine Olympia Green & Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Green Promarker
     Snippets of light orange and pale green textured card

I placed the stencil on the card blank and laid the sentiment on top so I could see where I wanted the line across the card.  I added strips of washi tape across the stencil leaving a narrow gap in the centre.  I removed the stamp and used green ink with the stencil to make the row of small lines across the card.  I removed the stencil and washi tape before placing the card into my MISTI.  I stamped the sentiment in brown ink in the lower corner of the card and then embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I stamped the large flower onto a snippet of light orange textured card and the leaves onto snippets of  light green card.  These were stamped with brown ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I highlighted the centre of the flower with a dark green Promarker before cutting the flower and leaves with the coordinating dies and attaching them to the lower edge of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Less is More - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes

This is the lovely card I received from Linda:

Kath x

Rainbow Birthday

I made this rainbow card for a friend's birthday using one of my favourite butterfly dies that had been a magazine cover gift ages ago.

I die cut seven small butterflies from snippets of textured cardstock and set them aside.  I used the curved border to die cut a snippet of white card - extending the border so it fitted across the bottom of the card blank.  I placed the border into my MISTI and laid the butterflies along the top edge so I could see where to stamp the sentiment.  I removed the butterflies and stamped the sentiment a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  The border was then attached to the bottom of the card and the butterflies attached along the curved edge of the border.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Spellbinders Borderabilities 'A2 Curved Borders One' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of white matt card, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Along the Edge + Rainbows
     Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
     Less is More - Colour Wheel (I have chosen the seven rainbow colours)
     Seize the Birthday - Many of Something (I have chosen many butterflies)
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 441

Kath x

Thank You

I made this quick 'Thank You' card to send to a friend and have used a few more snippets and an upcycled dragonfly which had been stamped onto vellum.

I attached a strip of marbled paper to a piece of dark purple card and trimmed the edges so there was a very thin strip of card on either side of the paper.  I placed the card blank into my MISTI and laid the marbled paper strip on top so I could see where to place the 'thank you' stamp.  I stamped the sentiment in purple ink, stamping a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  After removing the card from MISTI I attached the marbled strip above the sentiment and then attached the dragonfly with a spot of glue under its body.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     Upcycled vellum dragonfly (this was on a card I received from a friend a while ago and I don't know the name of the stamp and die)
     Clearly Besotted 'Mini Calligraphy' stamp
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Snippets of marbled paper and purple card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Less is More - Vellum
     
Kath x  

My Favourite Flower

I recently bought this preloved stamp in a charity shop - poppies are my favourite flower so it's perfect for the current Less is More challenge.

I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the poppy stamp on top so I could decide on the sentiment to use (whoever had donated the stamp to the charity shop had cut the sentiments from the stamp set and just left the poppies!).  I decided to use a simple 'Just for You' which I felt was the right size for the card.  I then stamped the poppy and sentiment with dark brown ink.  I coloured the poppy with coloured pencils using two shades of red for the poppy, yellow for the flower centre and dark green for the stem and leaves.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white card blank
     Woodware 'Poppy' and Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings' clear stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Faber Castell Colour Grip pencils

 I am entering the following challenges:
     Less is More - One Layer - Favourite Flower
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - In my Garden

Kath x

Pretty Girl

I made this card following the Less is More sketch and used the image from the cover of an old Lili of the Valley Art Pad.

I die cut the girl from the front of the Art Pad.  The first cut was down the right side of the image to remove the Art Pad number.  I then lined up the die along the stitched outline ensuring the frame from the Art Pad cover was removed down the left side.  The topper was layered onto the reverse side of a snippet of card from my 69th and Market Art Pad (the reverse side of the papers are a more solid colour than the patterned fronts).  The panel was then attached to the upper edge of the card blank.  I stamped the sentiment onto another snippet of the same pink card and die cut it with a circular die.  The sentiment was attached to the lower corner of the topper with a foam pad.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Pretty Girls' Art Pad (the image from the front cover)
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' and 'Inside & Out Circle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Practical Publishing 'Stamps for All Occasions' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Snippets of 49th and Market 'Vintage Artistry in Blush' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Birthday Card Challenge - Happy Birthday
     AAA Cards Challenge - Birthday
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Less is More - Sketch 26

Kath x

Floral Display

I've been asked to make another sympathy card.  I like to keep these cards simple and usually one layer - perfect for the current Less is More challenge.

I used one of my old wooden stamps to make this card which I've now removed from its wooden block so I can use it in my MISTI.  I had left the foam pad behind the floral stamp so I removed the foam mat from my MISTI before stamping and embossing the flowers.  After replacing the foam mat I put the card back into my MISTI to place the sentiment before stamping and embossing it.  I coloured the flowers with pink, lilac and yellow coloured pencils.  The leaves were coloured with green and yellow coloured pencils.  To finish I used a water brush to create the watercolour flowers.

To make this card I used:

     6" x 6" white matt card blank

     Hobby Art 'Floral Display' stamp

     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink

     Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

     FaberCastell coloured pencils

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Feminine
     Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - Anything Goes

     Less is More - One Layer Flowers

Kath x

Thanks

I made this small thank you card for the current Less is More challenge using a tiny bouquet stamp.

I used my MISTI to stamp the bouquet and sentiment so I could stamp twice to get a clear image.  After stamping the image I embossed the stitched circle around the flowers. The bouquet was coloured with different shades of purple and pink flowers, shades of green for the leaves and a gold bow.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Immediate Media Make Special Cards 'Bouquet' and Clearly Besotted 'Fall Flowers' sentiment stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink
     Bruynzeel coloured pencils

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Less is More - One Layer Flowers
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x

Happy Holidays

I made this card for the Less is More 10th Birthday Colour Challenge - Chocolate. 

I used dark brown ink to stamp the wreath onto a snippet of white card before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I trimmed around the edge of the panel and rounded the corners before colouring the pine cones and letters with a mid-brown marker.  After attaching the panel to the front of the card I added dots of Stickles to the berries.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Funky Fossil 'Joy' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder
     Copic E25 
     Diamond Stickles

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Berries
     Less is More - Chocolate (I have used dark and milk chocolate colours)
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes Tribute Challenge

Kath x

More Bright Butterflies

When I was making my butterfly card yesterday I used just the one colour as I didn't think I had any bright orange paper but later found a snippet of marbled paper which I used to make these butterflies.

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and used my Hougie Board to emboss two lines along the length of the card.  I used black ink to stamp 'Happy Birthday to You' below the bottom line before attaching it to the card.  I die cut seven small hearts from the marbled paper trying to get as much of the orange and yellow colours as possible on the butterfly wings.  These butterflies were then attached between the two embossed lines.

To make this card I used:
     DL white matt card blank
     Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' die
     Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Snippet of marbled paper from The Whimsical Marbler

I am entering the following challenges:

     Butterfly Challenge - H is for ... (I have used Heatwave and Hansa Yellow with my butterflies)

     Less is More - In a Row

Kath x   

Hugs and Kisses

I had stamped and die cut a lot of heart when making some cards last year and popped the extras into a box to use 'one day'.  As part of my continuing mission to use up all my 'odds and ends' I thought I would make them into this CAS card.

To make this card I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and used my Hougie Board to emboss two lines along the length of the card.  I used red ink to stamp 'Hugs and Kisses' below the bottom line before embossing it with clear embossing powder and attaching it to the card.  The hearts had also been stamped with the same red ink, embossed with clear embossing powder before being die cut with the coordinating die.  To complete the card I attached seven hearts across the card using small foam pads.

To make this card I used:
     DL white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'With All Your Heart' stamp and coordinating die
     Immediate Media 'Make Special Cards' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Satin Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - January Challenge
     Less is More - In a Row

Kath x

Another Blue and Silver Christmas Tree

Another quick Christmas card using lots more snippets.

I trimmed a piece of white hammer card so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the card.  I die cut the tree from dark blue pearlescent card and attached it to the centre.  I used lots of teeny, tiny snippets of silver card to die cut the leaves and inlaid them into the tree.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Sizzix 'Trees, Leafy' dies
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     Snippets of white hammer card, blue pearlescent card and cream hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS Christmas - Non-traditional Colours
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Decorate the Tree
     Less is More - Blue & Silver
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x  

Delightful Dangles Christmas Tree

I made this card for the Less is More Colour Challenge. I chose the non-traditional Blue and Silver option so it also fit the current CAS Christmas Challenge.

I used blue ink to stamp the tree and sentiment onto white card and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I trimmed the panel so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the front of the card with a foam sheet. I then used a silver gel pen to highlight the ornaments on the tree.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Delightful Dangles - Christmas Tree'
     Versafine Majestic Blue ink
     Silver gel pen
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Woodware Corner Rounder punch
     Snippet of white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS Christmas Challenge - Non-traditional Colours
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes 512
     Less is More - Colour Challenge - Blue & Silver or Red & Gold

Kath x   

July Rudolph Day

I was fortunate to win a prize in the Card Chain Challenge Blog Hop and won a gift voucher from Funky Fossil Designs.  One of the items I chose was a lovely stamp set 'Joy' which I've used to make this month's Rudolph Day card, using both dry and wet embossing. 

I used the largest die to emboss a stitched circle in the centre of the card blank.  I placed the card in my MISTI as I wanted to ensure I could stamp the image a couple of times because my ink pad is getting a little dry.  After stamping the image I embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I coloured the pine cones, berries and letters with coloured pencils and then used a fine paint brush and a little water to blend and deepen the colour.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the small dots around the wreath.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Funky Fossil Designs 'Joy' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Faber-Castell colour grip pencils

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Maximum White Space
     ABC Christmas Challenge - No for No Fuss
     Less is More - One Layer - Christmas in July
     Rudolph Day - July Challenge
     Winter Wonderland - Hip to be Square

Kath x

Happy Anniversary

My final card today is an Anniversary card for a few of my favourite challenges.

I die cut the wicker panel from a snippet of warm white hammer card and attached it across a square of the same card.  I rounded the corners before attaching the panel to the card blank.  I stamped the sentiment below the wicker panel using grey ink and clear embossing powder.  I die cut four hearts from snippets of red textured card and four hearts from snippets of raspberry textured card.  I attached the red outline hearts to the wicker panel and inlaid the pink centres.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" warm white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Wicker Panel' and Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' dies
     Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamp
     Woodware Regular Corner Rounder punch
     Memento Gray Flannel ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Snippets of white hammer card, red and raspberry textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Use your Favourite Technique (for me, that's die-cutting)
     Less is More - Colour Challenge - Red, Raspberry and Grey   
     Perfectly CAS - Die-cuts
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 373

Kath x

Hugs and Kisses

My first card today is one I made for the new Less is More 'Less' challenge using one of the stamps in the magazine my OH bought me for Christmas.

I cut a piece of card slightly smaller than my card blank and placed into my MISTI.  I stamped the hedgehog and sentiment a couple of times to get a clear outline and then embossed them with clear embossing powder.  I coloured the hedgehog with Promarkers before attaching the panel to the card.  To finish I added a generous layer of a Wink of Stella to the heart.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Immediate Media 'Make Special Cards' stamps
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Promarkers
     Wink of Stella
     White matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Up to One Third + Optional Twist 'Hearts'     
     Less is More - Less (Tiny and Few)
     Tales from the Craft Room - Love is in the Air

Kath x