Mini Poinsettias

I made this card to send to Viv for the December Card Chain Challenge.  This month's challenge is 'Tic Tac Tic Tac Toe' and I have chosen the top horizontal line (Green, Slimline, Scraps, Ribbon, Red).

To make this card I used:
     DL white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' All Occasion Dies 'Small Poinsettia' and Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Crimson Red ink
     Snippets of red textured card, green textured card, white matt card, gold holographic card and gold and white ribbon

I trimmed a piece of white card and stamped the sentiment along the lower edge using Crimson Red ink.  I wrapped a piece of gold ribbon around the centre of the panel before layering it onto a snippet of green textured card and attaching it across the front of the card blank.  I die cut five small stitched squares from tiny snippets of green textured card and set them aside.  I die cut five small poinsettias from red textured card and embossed them with a silicone mat.  These were layered and attached to the green squares.  I used lots of tiny snippets of gold holographic card to die cut the holly berries which were then attached to the centre of the poinsettias.  The squares were attached to the card using foam tape to ensure they were securely attached above and below the ribbon band.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

This is the lovely card I received from Joanne:

Kath x

Mistletoe Kisses

As always, my final Christmas card is the one I've made for Steve.  This year's card uses a lovely Hunkydory card set.

I trimmed the cream card to remove the mistletoe edging, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I attached both the frame and mistletoe topper with foam pads and added a small sentiment topper to the lower edge.   To finish I trimmed the coordinating paper insert and stamped a sentiment on the inside of the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" cream hammer card blank
     Hunkydory 'Mistletoe Kisses' toppers, backing card and insert
     Snippet of gold mirri

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If it's Christmassy, Link it Up
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Upcycled Reindeer Card

This month I'm challenging myself to finish part-made cards, use bits from my snippets box and have a general tidy up of my crafting drawers.  This card uses a strip from the front of a Christmas card I received last year.  

I trimmed a strip from the front of the Christmas card, cutting on either side of the dashed lines.  I placed the card blank in my MISTI and put the strip on top so I could see here to position the sentiment stamp.  I stamped the sentiment in Satin Red ink and then stamped it again in Crimson Red so the colour matched the reindeer strip.  To finish I attached the strip above the sentiment.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Crimson Red & Satin Red ink

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - R for Reindeer
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Reindeer
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Reindeer

I'm also giving away some stamp sets as part of my Birthday Giveaway.

Kath x 

Christmas Tree and Presents

This is another card made with an upcycled image from one of the Christmas cards I received last year and was a super quick card to make.

I found a snippet of brown and gold striped paper and attached it to the front of the card leaving a small border around the edge.  The Christmas tree had been on the front of a pop-up card, so the top section was already fussy cut.  I removed it from the card and fussy cut the lower section around the presents before attaching it to the front of the card with foam tape.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Snippet of brown and gold stripe paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Christmas Presents

Kath x  

Blue Bauble

A quick Christmas card today using a new die I bought to make some last minute cards.

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the bauble from the centre.  I trimmed a snippet of pale gold paper so it was slightly smaller than the panel and sprayed it with Spray & Sparkle.  When the paper had dried I placed it to the rear of the white panel and attached it to the card front.  I die cut and embossed the bauble from a snippet of dark blue pearlescent card and inlaid it into the card front.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6"white matt card blank
     Xcut 'Large Ornate Bauble' die
     Snippets of white matt card, dark blue pearlescent card and pale gold paper
     Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Winter
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - December Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 33 (my new bauble die)
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Golden Bauble

I made this card using an Anchor kit and although it was called a cross stitch kit it was all stitched in backstitch.  

After stitching the golden bauble I set it aside to make the frame.  I attached a snippet of gold glitter paper to a piece of white card and die cut a frame with two square dies.  I trimmed the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the frame and attached it with red super sticky tape.  I then attached the topper to the centre of the card front with more super sticky tape.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Anchor Quickies 'Golden Bauble' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-Namics' dies
     Snippets of gold glitter self adhesive paper and white card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If it's Christmassy, Link It Up
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x   

Pink and Purple Christmas Tree

I made this Christmas card for Steve's niece - I had already made a similar card in bright colours for her brother but thought these colours were a bit more girlie.

I trimmed a piece of white hammer card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the front of the card.  I die cut the tree from a snippet of dark purple pearlescent card and attached it to the centre.  I used smaller snippets of lilac and pink pearlescent to cut the leaves which were then inlaid into the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Sizzix 'Trees - Leafy' die
     Woodware 'Corner Rounder' punch
     Snippets of white hammer card and purple, lilac and pink pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If It's Christmassy, Link it Up
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Quick and Easy
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - December Challenge
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Merry Christmas Mum

I had made a cross stitch Christmas card for my mum, but as she has recently told me she doesn't like cross stitch cards I thought I'd better make another card for her!  

I attached a piece of gold mirri card to the front of the card blank, leaving a small border around the edge.  I then cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the mirri and placed it into my MISTI.  I lay the tree stamp, 'Merry Christmas' and 'Mum' stamps onto the card and stamped them several times with dark green ink to get a good depth of colour.  I then embossed the tree and sentiment with clear embossing powder.  I used a gold gel pen to colour the decorations on the tree before attaching the panel to the gold mirri.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Delightful Dangles - Christmas Tree', Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' and Clearly Besotted 'Happy Birthday All' stamps
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Gold gel pen
     Gold mirri and white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes with CAS option
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x  

Nativity Bauble

Another Christmas card made with more snippets and a magazine cover gift die.

I trimmed the green paper, layered it onto gold mirri card and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the Nativity bauble from dark blue pearlescent card and attached it to the panel. I then die cut the swirl bauble and a large star from gold mirri before attaching them over the top of the Nativity scene.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Memory Box 'Nativity Bauble' die (magazine cover gift)
     Snippets of dark blue pearlescent card, gold mirri and Funky Fossil 'In To The Blue' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Use a Die
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Christmas Eve Night

I've another Christmas card today - made entirely with snippets.

I die cut the Christmas Eve scene from dark blue pearlescent card and attached it to a snippet of pink and blue paper. I trimmed the paper around the edge of the die before attaching it to the card blank.  I then die cut the moon from a snippet of gold pearlescent card and inlaid it into the scene.

To make this card I used:
     5.25" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Cottage Cutz 'Christmas Eve Night' die
     Snippets of dark blue and gold pearlescent card, Funky Fossil 'In To The Blue' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Christmas Snippets
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 417
     Winter Wonderland - For a Child

Kath x

Jack, Patch and Puss

I made this cute Christmas card for my great-niece using an old Lili of the Valley Art Pad image.

I die cut the precoloured image with a stitched rectangle die and set it aside.  I had a snippet of  'Ho, Ho, Ho' paper that was from an old Making Cards paper collection.  I attached the paper to a piece of white card, trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and then die cut a stitched rectangle from the centre.  To finish I inlaid the topper into the frame.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Jack, Patch & Puss' Art Pad image
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white card and  Making Cards 'Christmas 2019' craft paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Cutie Pie Challenge - Anything Cute
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - For a Child

Kath x

February Rudolph Day

It's time for the second Rudolph Day of the year.  My theme for Rudolph Day cards this year is 'Upcyled' and this card uses gold foil chocolate wrappers and the front off a notecard.

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was smaller than the front of the card blank and die cut JOY from the centre.  I rounded the corners of the panel and attached it to the card blank.  I flattened the chocolate wrappers and wiped the back to remove any chocolate crumbs and then crinkled them so they were slightly larger than each letter.  I used my brayer to flatten them before gluing them to a scrap of paper.  Once the glue had dried I die cut the letters and inlaid them into the card.  I removed a small topper from the front of the notecard and placed the fancy JOY die so I could incorporate some of the lovely gold spots on the bright green card.  I die cut the fancy JOY and attached it over the gold letters.

To make this card I used:
     5.75" x 4.25in white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Joy' die
     Upcycled gold foil (Ferrero Rocher chocolate wrappers) and green watercolour card (from the front of a notecard)
     Snippet of white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use Some Gold
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - February Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - February Challenge
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes Tribute Challenge

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

Merry Christmas Nan

This was a commissioned card I made for one of my regular customers using one of my favourite embossing folder and dies.

I embossed a piece of white card with the baubles embossing folder and trimmed around the edge so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before attaching it to the card.  The embossing folder also die cut the bauble shape.  I attached a snippet of the green paper to a piece of white card and die cut the bauble shape before inlaying it into the front of the card.  I used the separate bauble die to cut a purple layer and attached it to the card.  I then used purple ink to stamp the bow onto a snippet of orange textured card and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I fussy cut the bow and attached it to the top of the bauble.  I printed the sentiment onto green paper (the same paper I had used for the bauble), attached it to a snippet of white card before cutting it with a fishtail flag and attaching it to the top of the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Practical Publishing 'Opulent Baubles' embossing folder and stamps
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Snippets of green paper, white matt card, orange and purple textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Got to be Christmas
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use the word 'Merry'
     Let's Squash It - Use any embossing folder and dies/fussy cutting (I've used an emboss and cut folder, as well as a die and fussy cutting)
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Joy, Hope, Peace, Believe, Christmas

I've spent so long making Christmas cards for other people that I'm running short of time to make my own.  I decided to make some quick cards - perfect for a few current challenges.

I die cut the Christmas tree from red self adhesive glitter paper and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  It really doesn't get much quicker or simpler than that (although it did take ages to get all the small bits of glitter paper from out of the die!).

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Christmas Tree Greetings'
     Xcut Adhesive Glitter Sheets

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Made in Minutes + Optional: Christmas
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous 2020 Challenge (I've chosen the April 2020 Colour Challenge - Red & White)
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Christmas
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Quick and Easy
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes - End of Year Challenge

Kath x

Candy Canes

I'm really enjoying cross stitch again, especially small patterns which are easy to take away in our campervan.  I have a small box in which I keep oddments of fabric, a few patterns and some threads which tucks into a cupboard when we're away.  Once home anything I've stitched goes into one of my craft drawers to be make into cards, tags or other small projects.

I had stitched these candy canes a few weeks ago and thought they would be perfect for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown 'Sewing' challenge.  To make this CAS card I die cut a stitched frame from some red glitter card.  I trimmed the edge of the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the frame and used extra sticky tape to attach the fabric to the rear of the frame.  I then attached the panel to the centre of the card with more extra sticky tape.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Leisure Arts 'Christmas Stitchin'' chart (Candy Canes stitched on 14 count aida with DMC threads  - 321, 666, 704, 3371 & B5200)
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stacklables' die
     Red glitter card

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - No for No Fuss
     Christmas Card Throwdown - Sewing
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Hip to be Square

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

Winter Wonderland

I made this quick CAS card using the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Sketch, snippets of card and a precoloured LOTV image.

I die cut the precoloured image and attached a smaller circle of a foam sheet on the reverse.  I die cut two fishtail flags, matching the colours to the snowman image, and making the red flag a little shorter than the blue one.  I followed the sketch to attach the flags and snowman topper.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics'' and 'Fishtail Flags' dies
     Snippets of Papermania blue and red textured cardstock

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - N for No Fuss
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Sketch challenge
     Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - Anything Festive Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Hip to be Square

Kath x

Simple Christmas Tree

I love this Sizzix die as it's perfect to make quick CAS cards.

I die cut the leaf tree from green textured card, layered it onto a green tree cut with the coordinating plain die and attached it to the card.  I die cut the tree again from snippets of red textured card and inlaid the leaves.  Simple!

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Sizzix ' Trees, Leafy' dies
     Snippets of green and red textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Include a Tree or Two or More
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Anything Christmas Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Winter Wonderland - Your Favourite Colour Combination (mine is red and green)
 
Kath x

Christmas Bears

Amongst my box of die cuts was this cute Lili of the Valley image that I'd already cut with a stitched die - perfect for a quick CAS card.

I die cut a stitched square in the front of the card blank and added another piece of the same card to the inside of the card front.  I then inlaid the image into the frame.  To finish I added lots of Wink of Stella to the bear's hat, trees and snow.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" red textured card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Christmas Bear - Sledge' image
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Red textured card
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas with the Cuties - Red and Green
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Clean and Simple
     Winter Wonderland - Favourite Colour Combination (for me that's red and green)

Kath x