To a Deer Friend

I made this tag with my latest charity shop purchase - a cute Rudolph stamp and die set.

To make this card I used:
     Practical Publishing 'Festive Friend' stamp and die set
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - C-3, E31, E33, E37, R20 & R27
     Stampendous Fun Flock - Cotton Ball White
     Snippets of white hammer card and white matt card
     Brown baker's twine

I die cut the largest tag from a snippet of white hammer card and embossed the edges.  I placed the tag into my MISTI and used black ink to stamp the sentiment along the lower edge before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I used black ink to stamp Rudolph and his hat onto a snippet of white matt card.  These were embossed with clear embossing powder before being cut with the coordinating dies.  I coloured Rudolph before attaching him to the tag.  I coloured the hat and attached it to Rudolph's head before applying fun flock on the rim and pompom.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - H is for Hat
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Any Occasion
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - H is for Hat
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Dies/Punches
     Tag-along (and ATCs) - Anything Goes
     Try It On Tuesday - Make it Cute

Kath x

Easter Blessings

I've not had much time for crafting this week but have used a few Hunkydory oddments to make a quick Easter card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Easter Wishes Card Collection - Easter Blessings' card and topper

     Snippet of gold mirri

I attached the yellow frame onto the pink backing card using foam tape ensuring the squares were lined up.  I then trimmed around the edge of the frame, layered the panel onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  The cute topper was attached to the centre of the frame with foam tape.  Quick and easy!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - Signs of Spring
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - It's Springtime
     Try It On Tuesday - Spring

Kath x

Rustic Christmas Tree

I love this Uniko stamp as it's perfect for making quick CAS cards.  There are several small ornaments in the stamp set, but as I'm not a fan of fussy cutting I prefer to add enamel dots to the tree. 

To make this card I used:
     C6 white card blank
     Uniko 'Rustic Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Turquoise enamel dots

I placed the card into my MISTI and laid the tree and sentiment stamps onto it before stamping them with dark green ink, stamping a couple of times to get a good depth of colour, and then embossing them with clear embossing powder.  To finish I added some small enamel dots to the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Embellishment (I don't use many embellishments, but I do like enamel dots as they add interest without being too fussy on CAS cards)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas/Winter
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Simply Clean & Simple - Holidays/Winter
     Try It On Tuesday - Get Ready for Christmas

Kath x

Christmas Candle

It's another horrid wet day - perfect for staying dry indoors and making some Christmas cards.  This card used a lovely Paper Artsy stamp I won last year.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Paper Artsy 'JOFY Christmas Candle' stamp
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear detail embossing powder
     Copics - BG10, E08, E33, E35. RV21, V17, Y08, YG67, YR04 & C-1
     Diamond Stickles
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white matt card and dark brown pearlescent card

I stamped the Christmas candle onto a snippet of white card before cutting it with the stitched square die.  I coloured the candle with Copics, layered the panel onto a snippet of dark brown pearlescent card and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  I highlighted the baubles with a Wink of Stella and added Diamond Stickles to the twiggy branches.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Christmas Cards
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas/Winter
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Stamping Sensations - Christmas
     Try It On Tuesday - Get Ready for Christmas
     We Love Stamping - Anything Christmas

Kath x

Folk Art Cross Stitch Christmas

This is one of the many designs I've stitched over the summer - perfect for a Christmas card for my niece and her partner.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" dark red matt card blank
     Sue Page 'Folk Art' chart from Christmas Cross Stitch Favourites magazine
     My Favorite Things ' Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     14hps Rustico aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of dark red matt card

After completing the stitching I set trimmed around the edge of the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and then used Artist Tac to attach it to the front of the card. I trimmed a snippet of red matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank for the frame.  I didn't have a rectangle die that was large enough, so I used a square die and cut the first half of the aperture then moved the die to the lower edge of the card to cut the rest of the aperture.  This was then attached over the fabric with strong tape.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - X for X-Stitch
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Try It On Tuesday - Get Ready for Christmas

Kath x 

Leafy Christmas Tree

I made this card for the current CAS Colours & Sketches 'Colour' challenge using an old Sizzix die and lots of snippets.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Sizzix 'Leafy Trees' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white matt card, green textured card, red and gold pearlescent card

I used the largest rectangle die and a snippet of white card to cut the panel.  As the die wasn't long enough I cut the first half of the rectangle and then moved the die to cut the second half.  I then cut the tree from the centre before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  I cut the tree from a snippet of green textured card and inlaid it into the panel.  The tree was cut from snippets of red and gold pearlescent card and the leaves inlaid into the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Christmas Cards
     CAS Colours & Sketches - Colour Challenge (Real Red, Shaded Spruce & Gold)
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - Challenge 16 (I have used Line O - CAS, No Stamping & Free)
     Simply Clean & Simple - Holidays/Winter
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 519
     Try It On Tuesday - Get Ready for Christmas

Kath x

Sailing Boat

This sailing cross stitch was another charity shop find and was originally a cover gift with Cross Stitcher magazine.  It was just the right size for this card blank that was among the craft items I've recently been gifted - a perfect birthday card for a friend who loves to sail.

To make this card I used:
     4.75" x 3.5" dark blue tri-fold card with circle aperture
     Cross Stitcher magazine 'Sailing' cross stitch kit

To took a while to stitch this design as it's a long time since I've stitched on evenweave, but I did enjoy the challenge!  After completing the stitching I placed the stitching behind the aperture.  As I didn't want the dark blue to show through the fabric I attached a piece of white paper to the inside of the card before folding it over the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Masculine
     Little Red Wagon - G is for Gentleman
     Try It on Tuesday - Going Round in Circles

Kath x

Happy Christmas

I stitched this card for the Christmas Kickstart 'Let's Wreath It Up' challenge using a kit that had been a magazine cover gift.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white linen card blank
     Debra Page 'Happy Christmas' cross stitch kit (from Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine)
     White DMC thread
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white linen card

I stitched the wreath using the chart in the kit.  The white flowers should have been left unstitched, but I used some oddments of white thread to fill in the flowers .  It took a bit longer to finish the design but I thought it looked better.  I trimmed a snippet of white linen card so it was slightly small than the card blank and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  The fabric was attached to the back of the aperture and the panel was then attached to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Let's Wreath It Up
     Little Red Wagon - Circle of Life
     Try It On Tuesday - Going Round in Circles (I have used a circle aperture and wreath)

Kath x

May Rudolph Day

 It's time for the fifth Rudolph Day of the year and another die cut Christmas card (die cutting in my RD theme this year).  For this card I've used one of my 'old favourites' which is perfect for making quick CAS Christmas cards.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Joy' & My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white hammer card, black matt card and cerise mirri card

I die cut a rectangle from white hammer card and then die cut the plain JOY from the centre.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card blank.  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 then die cut the fancy JOY from cerise mirri card and attached it to the card over the black letters.

I am entering the following challenges:
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Use Die Cuts or Punches (I've chosen the die cuts option)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Black and White Plus One Colour (I have chosen cerise)
     Rudolph Day - May Challenge
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean & Simple
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 507
     Try It On Tuesday - Keep it Simple (I've chosen to make a Clean & Simple card)

Kath x

Happy Birthday Allison

Although I've not done any papercrafting whilst we've been away, I have spent time in the evenings with my cross stitch.  I stitched this card for my brother-in-law's partner for her 60th birthday using a lovely design by Celebrate in Cross Stitch.

To make this card I used:
     Celebrate in Cross Stitch 'Happy Birthday' card kit

The kit contained everything to make this celebration card, including a trifold card and envelope.  There was also an alphabet and numerals so the card could be personalised.   After stitching the basic design I used some graph paper to plot the name and numerals before adding them to the card.  I don't normally wash the small cross stitch pieces that I make into cards, however, this finished cross stitch was too large for the aperture in the card.  The instructions said this may be the case and that washing the design would shrink it slightly so it would fit the aperture and thankfully it worked.  I attached the stitching behind the aperture and folded the side over to cover the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Try It On Tuesday - Keep It Simple (this card was simple to make as everything was included in the kit)

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

Love

Whilst looking through my 'Antebellum' snippets I came across a heart I had die cut but not used.  As it's got music on it, I thought it would be perfect for the Allsorts 'Romance and/or Music' challenge.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Hearts' and  Lawn Fawn 'Scripty Love' dies
     Snippets of white matt card and Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper

I trimmed the white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the heart from the centre.   The Antebellum paper had been attached to a snippet of white card before the heart had been cut.  I inlaid the heart into the panel and attached some washi tape to hold it in place.  I then die cut 'love' from the lower edge of the heart.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card blank.  I die cut 'love' four times from more snippets of white card.  I layered the four white sentiments with the one cut from the panel on the top.  These were then inlaid into the card front.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Die Cuts and/or Stencils
     Allsorts - Romance and/or Music
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Hearts
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Love is in the Air
     Simply Clean & Simple - Love and/or Hearts
     Try It On Tuesday - Romance
    
Kath x  

You are the Love of my Life

I've had this Tattered Lace die for a while and thought it would be perfect for this month's Love, Hearts and Valentine challenges.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Tattered Lace 'Floating in the Air Love' and Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' dies
     Snippets of red pearlescent card and red glitter card

I used the largest stitched square die to emboss the front of the card blank.  I die cut the heart panel from red pearlescent card and attached it to the embossed panel on the front of the card.  I used lots of snippets of red glitter card to cut the hearts which were then inlaid into the panel.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Die Cuts and/or Stencils
     Allsorts - Romance and/or Music
     CAS on Friday - Valentine
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Hearts
     NBUS - Challenge 71 (my new Tattered Lace die)
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Love is in the Air
     Simply Clean & Simple - Love and/or Hearts
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 499
     Try It On Tuesday - Romance

Kath x

It's Always Gin O'Clock

One of my friends reckons 'it's always gin o'clock' so I thought this design would make a perfect birthday card for her.

To make this card I used:
     6.25" x 5.5" white matt card blank
     Durene Jones 'It's Always Gin O'Clock' cross stitch chart
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     White 14 count aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of bright blue textured card

I stitched the design and measured it so I could make the frame for the front of the card.  The rectangle die was the right width but too long for the completed stitching so I die cut the first half in a snippet of bright blue card and then moved the die to stitch the second half so it was the right size.  The cross stitch was then attached behind the frame and then onto the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Try It On Tuesday - Feeling Blue     

Kath x

Winter Woodland

I was delighted when my Sweet Nature Note Card was the winner on the CAS on Friday Sketch Challenge and the team invited me to be Guest Designer on the 'Winter' Challenge.  I made this card using one of my favourite winter dies which had been a cover gift with a magazine many years ago.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Woodland Scene' and My Favorite Things ' Inside & Out Stitched Square Stackables STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of white matt card and blue paper

I used the largest stitched square die to emboss a square on the front of the card blank.  I die cut the Woodland Scene from a snippet of white card and removed the small tress from in front of the deer as it made the scene look a little too fussy.  I then cut the scene again with a stitched square die to match the embossed border.  I trimmed a snippet of blue paper, attached it behind the Woodland Scene and then attached the panel to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
     ABC Christmas Challenge - A for Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Add a Die Cut
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     The Male Room - Clean and Simple
     Try It On Tuesday - Feeling Blue

Kath x

Peace and Joy

A CAS Christmas card from me today, this one uses a lovely Uniko stamp and snippets.

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

I placed a snippet of white card into my MISTI and stamped the wreath and sentiment with green ink.  The panel was then cut with a stitched square die, layered onto a snippet of red mirri card and attached to the card front.  To finish I added small red enamel dots around the wreath.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes, plus Christmas/Winter Option
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If It's Christmassy, Link It Up
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamps
     Make My Monday - A CAS Winter Card
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas
     Stamping Sensations - Winter
     Try It On Tuesday - Traditional Christmas
     Uniko Christmas Linky Party - Christmas Card
     We Love Stamping - Winter

Kath x

Santa Cross Stitch Card

I stitched this card to send with a 'Secret Santa' present and used a free chart from Durene Jones.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Durene Jones 'Santa' chart 
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white matt card

I made the frame by trimming the snippet of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the stitched square from the centre.  After stitching Santa, I trimmed around the edge of the aida so it was slightly smaller than the panel and attached it to the rear with double sided tape.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Moving Along With The Times - Christmas Characters
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas
     Try It On Tuesday - Traditional Christmas

Kath x

Happy Birthday To You

I made this card with my last piece Sarn's lovely autumnal gelli print she sent me with a Playground prize last year.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Giant Happy Birthday to You' die
     Sarn's autumnal gelli print paper
     Snippets of thin white card and dark brown card

I attached the snippet of gelli print paper to white card to make it a little thicker and easier to die cut before trimming it to a square.  I die cut the sentiment from the centre and set the pieces aside.  The panel was layered onto a slightly larger square of dark brown card and attached to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment three times from snippets of dark brown card.  I inlaid the first die cut and the small pieces of the gelli print into the front of the panel.  I then layered the remaining two brown sentiments with the gelli print sentiment on top.   

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Birthday Challenge - Bakcground Focus
     Allsorts - Autumn Colours
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 488
     Try It On Tuesday - Make it Colourful

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

Upcycled Christmas Card

I'm still on a mission to use up oddments and snippets - as well as making more Christmas cards so I don't have a last minute rush later in the year.  This card uses an image from a Christmas card I received last year as well as a snippet of paper from a charity shop bag of oddments.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die`
     Snippets of green and gold paper and white paper

I die cut the image from the front of the Christmas card and set it aside.  I attached the snippet of patterned paper to the white paper to make it the same thickness as the die cut image, before trimming it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut an oval from the centre of the paper before attaching it to the front of the card blank.  To finish I inlaid the the dog image.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Christmas Critters
     Try It On Tuesday - Keep It Simple

Kath x