Ruby Rose Cross Stitch

This Reflexions cross stitch kit was amongst the many items my neighbour gifted me earlier this year.  The kit was to make a ruby wedding anniversary framed picture, but I decided to omit the wording and stitch the rose to make a card for her birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Reflexlions 'Ruby Wedding' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     Snippet of white hammer card

I die cut a stitched circle from a piece of white hammer card and trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before rounding the corners.  After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind the aperture and attached the panel to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like it Challenge - Cute or Elegant (I prefer making elegant cards, especially using floral or butterfly images, although I do make some cute cards for younger members of the family)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I have chosen the blooms option)

Kath x

Bluebells Cross Stitch Card

These bluebells are a design from the Carolyn's Garden series by Serendipity Designs.  I stitched the design last year, but have only just made it into a card for a friend's spring birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Carolyn's Garden 'Bluebells' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the centre of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I have used Blooms)

Kath x

Floral Wellies

Steve bought me a Cross Stitcher magazine for Christmas and this lovely cross stitch design was the cover gift.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Susan Penny's 'Token of Love' cross stitch kit from Cross Stitcher magazine
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of dark pink textured card

I stitched the design using the fabric and threads in the kit.  The completed stitching should have been patched onto the front of a patterned card blank that was included in the kit, but I chose to make a frame instead.  I chose a snippet of card to match the pink flowers, trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut an aperture in the front.  I used strong tape to attach the stitching behind the aperture and then attached the panel to the front of the card with Artist-Tac.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies (I have chosen Blooms)

Kath x

Red Clover Card

This design is from Carolyn's Meadow by Serendipity Designs and is another recent charity shop purchase.  I enjoyed stitching this lovely design which I've made into a birthday card for a friend.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Serendipity Designs 'Carolyn's Meadow - Red Clover' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

     

After completing the stitching I mounted it behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the front of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies & Blooms (I have chosen blooms)

Kath x

Peony Posy Birthday

I made this card for my mother-in-law's birthday using a similar design to the card I made for a friend's 70th Birthda, although this card was made with a 7" x 7" card blank so is slightly larger.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory Deco-Large 'Peony Posy' card and topper
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' die
     Snippets of gold mirri

I trimmed the backing card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I layered the peony posy elements with foam tape and attached the topper to the front of the card - I didn't use all of the layers as I find the cards too bulky if all the layers are used.  To finish I die cut 'Mum' and two small butterflies from gold mirri before attaching them to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I've chosen Butterflies & Blooms)

Kath x

Pansies Cross Stitch Card

I recently bought this lovely cross stitch kit to make into a birthday card for a friend who loves brightly coloured pansies.

To make this card I used:
     Orchidea 'Pansies' cross stitch kit
     14 hpi white aida

The kit came with printed aida as well as a chart, but I chose to use my own aida as I'm not keen on stitching on printed fabric.  After finishing the design, I trimmed the fabric and used double sided tape to attach it behind the aperture.  The card was then folded over the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I've chosen blooms)

Kath x

World Cardmaking Day

I made this card for the Uniko 'World Card Making Day' challenge using stamps from two 'new to me' Uniko stamp sets and following the sketch at AAA Cards.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'English Country Garden Butterflies' stamp and coordinating dies
     Uniko 'Birthday Wishes' sentiment stamp
     Creative Expressions 'Clean and Simple - Zig Zag Border' die
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Orange and purple Promarkers
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Snippet of white matt card

I used the Zig Zag border die to emboss a strip across the top of the card.  I stamped the butterfly onto a snippet of white card using purple ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder before cutting it with the coordinating die.  I then coloured the butterfly with orange and purple Promarkers.  I placed the card into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment with purple ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder (the sentiment stamp had been cut by its previous owner which made it fit the bottom of the card better).  To finish I attached the butterfly to the embossed strip.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Sketch Challenge
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Square or Not (6" x 6" square cards are my preferred card size as I feel they suit my CAS style.  I do sometimes make smaller square cards and occasionally a C6 card, but 6" x 6" is my favourite)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Birthdays
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything Goes CAS
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I've chosen the butterflies option)
     Uniko - World Card Making Day 2025 with Uniko

Kath x

Love

When I made my Have a Wonderful Birthday card, I embossed an extra panel and decided to make it into an anniversary card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lisa Horton 'Pansy Corner' 3D embossing folder
     Impression Obsession 'Love' die
     Snippets of white matt card and red pearlescent card

I trimmed the white matt card so it was the same size as the front of the card blank and placed the Pansy Corner embossing folder on top so I could see where to die cut 'Love'.  I removed the folder and cut the sentiment before embossing the Pansy Corner.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card blank.  I die cut 'Love' from a snippet of red pearlescent card as I was originally going to inlay it in red, but decided I didn't like it so I inlaid the white sentiment and the small red heart.  I then die cut another 'Love' from another snippet of white card and attached it to the top.  The two small white hearts from the sentiments were than attached to the card front.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Allsorts - Pretty Flowers
     Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Galz - Wedding or Wedding Anniversary
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies & Blooms (I have chosen Blooms)

Kath x

Cross Stitch and Blackwork Card

I stitched this design when I was on holiday and really enjoyed stitching it as it combines my love of cross stitch and blackwork.  After completing the stitching I made it into a card for my niece's birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Lesley Teare's 'Blackwork Beauties' chart 
     White 14 count aida
     DMC Threads
     Snippet of white matt card

After finishing the stitching I washed it to remove the creases from the fabric and ironed it on the reverse.  I die cut the largest square die from the centre of the card blank front and attached the stitching to the rear of the aperture.  I trimmed a snippet of white card so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card and attached it to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms & Butterflies (I've chosen Birds & Blooms)

Kath x

Thank You So Much

I made this 'Thank You' card for a friend who has gifted me some craft magazine and books.  I thought this Sizzix stamp would be perfect as she likes spring flowers and yellow is her favourite colour.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics'  and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' dies
     Sizzix 'Floral Hello' stamp and coordinating die
     Clearly Besotted 'Fall Flowers' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Promarkers
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white, brown and yellow matt card

I used brown ink to stamp the flowers onto a snippet of white matt card.  I embossed them with clear embossing powder before cutting them with the coordinating die.  I used a yellow Promarker for the flowers, bright green for the flower centres and a darker green for the leaves.  I die cut a stitched circle from a snippet of white matt card and put it into my MISTI before placing the flowers onto the circle so I could see where to position the sentiment.  I then removed the flowers and stamped the sentiment with brown ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  The circle was attached to the centre of the card blank and the flowers attached to the upper edge with foam pads.  I die cut two tiny butterflies, one from yellow and one from brown matt card.  These were layered with the yellow butterfly on top and attached above the sentiment.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
     Allsorts - CAS
     Flower Challenge - Add Circles
     Stamping Sensations - Hello Spring
     Triple B - Birds, Blooms and Butterflies (I have used Blooms and a Butterfly)
     Try It On Tuesday - For a Lady
     We Love Stamping - Hello Spring

Kath x

Birthday Gift Tag

I was so pleased when my 'Floral Anniversary' card was a Top Cut for the Cut It Up 'Something New' challenge.  The team invited me to be Guest Designer on the 'Tie It Up' challenge and I decided to make a gift tag for a friend's birthday present.

To make this tag I used:
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' & 'Mini Expressions - Stacked Happy Birthday' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' dies
     Sizzix 'Floral Hello' stamp and coordinating die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Promarkers
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white and brown matt card, Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper and white ribbon

I attached the Antebellum paper to a snippet of white card and die cut the largest tag before using my embossing mat to emboss the edge of the tag.  I used brown ink to stamp the flowers onto another snippet of white card, these were then embossed with clear embossing powder before being cut with the coordinating dies.  I coloured the flowers pink, the flower centres gold and the leaves green.  I die cut the sentiment and small butterfly twice, once from white card and once from brown card.  I layered the white die cuts onto the brown ones, offsetting them slightly to give a shadow effect.  I attached the sentiment to the bottom of the tag with the butterfly above it.  The flowers were attached to the top of the tag with a foam pad and then highlighted with a Wink of Stella.  To finish I attached a snippet of ribbon to the top of the tag and then tied a small ribbon bow around it.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     As You Like It Challenge - Feminine or Masculine (my favourite is feminine as I love to use flowers and pretty colours - in fact I struggle for inspiration with masculine cards!)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies & Blooms (I have chosen butterfly and blooms)

Kath x

Mother's Day

I made this card to send to my mother on Mother's Day using a pretty Hunkydory kit that I've recently been gifted.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Wildflowers - I'm So Excited' topper and cardstock
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' die
     Gold Mirri

I trimmed the plain section of the cardstock to a 6" x 6" square (saving the patterned section for another card), layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I removed the topper and frame from the backing sheet, snipping the 'pips' and attached it to the centre of the card blank with foam tape.  I used a snippet of gold mirri to die cut 'Mum' and attached it to the lower corner of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Feminine or Masculine (definitely feminine for me as I love to make pretty floral cards - I always struggle with masculine card probably because I don't make many!)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     The Flower Challenge - Feature the Colour Pink
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I've opted for blooms)

Kath x

Have a Wonderful Birthday

I made this card for the Uniko 13th Birthday Celebrations challenge using my new Uniko stencil and stamp set.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Sentiments Outlined' stamp
     Uniko 'Ink & Flip Geometric Butterfly Layering Stencil'
     Distress Inks - Seedless Preserves and Spiced Marmalade
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Bruynzeel orange pencil
     Snippets of white matt card

I used Seedless Preserves ink to stencil the butterfly onto a snippet of white card.  I cleaned the stencil and flipped it to stencil it again with Spiced Marmalade.  I then fussy cut the butterfly.  I trimmed another snippet of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and put it into my MISTI.  I placed the butterfly onto the panel so I could see where to position the sentiment.  I removed the butterfly and stamped the sentiment in purple ink before colouring it with an orange pencil.  I attached the panel to the front of the card blank before attaching the butterfly along the body and slightly shaping the wings.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark (I've used Distress Inks, Versafine ink and a coloured pencil)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Moving Along With The Times - Things With Wings
     NBUS - Challenge 71 (I have used my new stencil and stamp set)
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I've opted for a large butterfly)     
     Uniko - 13th Birthday Celebrations
 
Kath x

Pretty Flowers

I made this card for the As You Like It 'Favourite Paperbrand' challenge.  My favourite is Lili of the Valley as I love the quality of the papers, the beautiful designs and the 8" x 8" size - I just wish they were still available.  For this card I have used a couple of snippets of paper from one of my favourite paper pads and one of my few remaining LOTV Art Sheet images (also sadly not longer available).

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili if the Valley 'Pretty Flowers Art Sheet' precoloured image
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' and Creative Expressions 'Mini Expressions - Stacked Happy Birthday'  dies
     Hole punch
     Snippets of Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper, white matt card, brown matt card and brown ribbon

Before cutting into a full sheet of my precious LOTV papers, I always check my snippets envelope and found two snippets of paper that just needed a little trim to fit the card blank leaving a small border around the edge.  I glued the papers onto a snippet of white card and trimmed around the panel.  I die cut the LOTV Art Pad image with the largest stitched circle die before die cutting the same size circle from the panel.  The panel was attached to the card blank and the circle topper inlaid.  I die cut the sentiment twice from dark brown matt card, layered the two die cuts and attached the sentiment to the lower corner of the card.  To make the tag I took the circle that had been die cut from the panel and cut a smaller circle from the left side before punching a hole in the top and adding a snippet of brown ribbon.  I die cut another sentiment from dark brown card and attached it to the tag.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Matching Pairs
     As You Like It - Favourite Paperbrand (Lili of the Valley as I love the quality, designs and size of the paperpad)
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 497    
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms & Butterflies (I have used blooms - no birds or butterflies, but there is a bee!).

Kath x

Best Wishes to You

I made this card for a friend's birthday using a preloved stamp I've recently bought as it's perfect for paper pieceing.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bold Blooms - Vivian' stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt' paper
     Snippet of white matt card

I put a piece of white matt card into my MISTI and stamped the flower onto it before setting it aside.  So I could ensure the leaves (which are separate stamps) were in the right place, I cut a scrap of paper to the same size as the white card and stamped the flower again and then stamped the leaves.  When I was happy the leaves were in the right position I removed the scrap of paper and replaced the card into my MISTI to stamp the leaves.  The panel was trimmed, layered onto green paper and attached to the card blank.  I stamped the flowers onto a snippet of pink paper and the leaves onto a snippet of green paper.  These were fussy cut and paper pieced onto the card.  I stamped the sentiment onto a small snippet of white card, stamping a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  This was trimmed and attached to the card with foam tape.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Birthday
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - Something New (my new Woodware stamp)
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies (I have chosen Blooms)

Kath x

Mum

Now I have finished all my Christmas cards I've had a tidy up of my craft drawers and set aside lots of oddments and snippets I want to use for some quick cards to get ahead for the start of next year.  This card uses a Hunkydory Deco-Large topper and some snippets.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Hunkydory 'Sunflower Surprise Floral Deco-Large' topper
     Crafts-Too 'Mum' die
     Snippets of white hammer card and gold mirri card

I trimmed the white hammer card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank.  I removed the sunflower layers from the carrier card, then layered them with foam pads to give lots of lovely layers and attached the topper to the left side of the card.  To finish I die cut 'Mum' from another snippet of gold card and attached it to the top corner.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Birthday Card Challenge - Lovely Layers
     Allsorts - Lots of White
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - December Challenge (I have used Blooms)     

Kath x

Sister

I found some lovely Hunkydory 'Florabunda' toppers and card in a charity shop bundle and have made this card for my sister's birthday.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Florabunda' backing card and toppers
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' and 'Finishing Touches - Dainty Butterflies' dies
     Snippet of gold mirri card

I trimmed the kraft card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and attached it to the centre.  To raise the topper from the card I attached it with a foam pad, setting it to the left side of the card.  I die cut 'Sister' from both gold mirri and another Florabunda topper which was the same colouring as the main topper.  I layered the floral topper onto the gold mirri, offsetting it slightly to give a gold shadow and then attached it to the top of the card.  I die cut two small butterflies from another small Florabunda topper and attached them to the lower corner of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Cardz 4 Galz - It's Hip to be Square
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Use One or More Butterflies
     Triple B Challenge - September Challenge (I have used Blooms and Butterflies)

Kath x

Peony Posy

I made this card for a friend's special birthday using a lovely Hunkydory image and card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory Deco-Large 'Peony Posy' card and topper
     Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' die
     Snippets of gold mirri

I trimmed the backing card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I layered the peony posy with foam tape and attached the topper to the front of the card - I didn't use all of the layers as it was getting very bulky but used enough to give some dimension.   To finish I die cut '70' and a small butterfly from gold mirri , I attached the numerals to the lower corner and the butterfly to the topper.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Cardz 4 Galz - Pretty in Pink
     Daisy Chain Challenge - For the Girls
     Pearly Sparkles - Floral
     Triple B Challenge - August challenge (I have used Blossom & Butterfly)
     Try It On Tuesday - Make it Feminine

Kath x

Genetian Cross Stitch

Whilst we've been away in Scotland I've stitched a few designs to make into cards on our return.  This card is made from another lovely Carolyn's Meadow kit from Serendipity Designs.  

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Carolyn's Meadow 'Genetian' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the centre of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - July Challenge (I have used Blooms & Butterfly)
     Try It On Tuesday - Things With Wings (I have used a butterfly)
     
Kath x