Christmas Leftover's

Don't worry! we're not making cards smeared with sprouts and cranberry sauce. The leftovers that I refer too are those bits and pieces that we all keep in nooks and crannies stashed around our craft room. Little bits of decorative paper that are just too good to throw away, odd buttons, trinkets and of course die cuts.

The great thing about the freestyle collage style of card making is that anything goes, there's no right or wrong and a s long as you are happy with the visual balance then who's to tell you it aint perfect?

This is one of my favourite styles of card making although it is a bit hit and miss and you will spend forever moving the various elements around the blank space but it's so rewarding when it all clicks into place.

I used dies by one of my favourite designers of all time, the wonderful Ms Paula Pascual. I chose the wonderful Christmas Tree Framelits and the super-useful Doilies set.

Before I go on, I should tell you that I'm not going to itemize every thing I use simply because I have no idea either what it is called or where I got it from, Its STASH!!!

I die cut the tree from Kraft board and randomly applied some pale green acrylic paint with my fingertip. Next, I went to my online dictionary and typed in the word 'Joy' (the other two are for the coming weeks) I typed up the definition in a typewriter font and printed it onto graph paper before triming it to size and lightly inking with 'Old Paper' Distress ink.

I die cut a doily from Core'dinations card stock and lightly sanded around the edges,Next I mounted it onto a base card with a piece of green patterned card stock, before adding a strip of news type paper and my printed phrase. I then added an ornate button alongside a threaded wooden button.

Finally, added assorted pearls and gems to the tree and news type strip along with a couple of staples and there we have it. 

"Have A Jolly Holiday!" Card by Gerry van Gent

Hello Everyone!

I have a card to share with you that I created

for my blog post today.

657900 Sizzix Big Shot Machine

658628 Sizzix Textured Embossing Folders Winter Snowflakes Set

658730 Sizzix Bigz Die {Brenda Walton} Gift Tags

658506 Sizzix Sizzlits Die Vintage Doily

658623 Sizzix Framelits Die Set w/Stamps Trees, Leafy

658279 Sizzix Framelits Die Set w/Stamps Tags

658948 Sizzix Thinlits Die Frame, Fancy Rectangle

*  *  *

Here are a few close-ups for you....

*The smallest size of the Trees, Leafy was die-cut from white cardstock.

** White pearl drops were added to the centres of the embossed Winter Snowflakes.

I used only part of the Frame, Fancy Rectangle mainly to decorate 

the Gift Tag. Then I used the openings in the end to add twine.

Thank you for your visit today!

Gerry

Christmas Home Decor: Glass jars with trees inside!

Well, we are just under three months till Christmas, so I think I can start thinking of my handmade Christmas home decorations.

I love glass jars so I thought I would try something using one of them that I got a at a Charity shop.

The dies I used are:

658618 Sizzix Embosslits Die - Charm, Emerald

658623 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 5PK w/Stamps - Trees, Leafy

658620 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 9PK w/Stamps - Charms, Winter

I die cut the tress using patterned papers from the Basic Grey 25Th & Pine collection. I die cut three of each size, then I scored them down the middle of each one.

I folded them by the scored line and glue the three of the same size together.

To make the tag, I used the Charm Stamp and Framelit set. First, I stamped the image using black ink, then I placed the Framelit and die cut using my Big Shot. 

Using Silver card, I then die cut the Embosslit Emerald Charm Tag - there are three Embosslit Charm Tags Oval, Circle and Emerald and all match with the Framelit and Stamp set. I place it on a clothes peg and glued the NOEL in the center and added some patterned paper to the peg.

To finish off the jar, I added border stickers to the lid and bottom and as snow I used cheap chunky glitter.

And here you have the finished project! I hope you like it.

Christmas cards using the Leafy tree die and TI with Pan Pastels

Hello!

Today I am sharing a Christmas card. You know Christmas is only a few months away which means that it is time to start thinking of Christmas cards so that it is not a mad dash closer to the time.

Also, I would like to showcase how the dies, textured impression folders and stamps all work together.

I always recommend to STAMP + DIE CUT + EMBOSS. Meaning that that is the natural order although for some techniques you may want to change that a bit! Still as a rule of thumb, if you would like just two techniques would be STAMP + DIE CUT; DIE CUT + EMBOSS; STAMP + EMBOSS.

So, I started by die cutting six pieces of white card. I like Inspire me Snow White (270 gsm thick but not too much, perfect for embossing).

Then I placed the die cut and place it inside of the TI folder and emboss using my Big Shot. As with any embossed piece of card, there is two sides and two different effects.

Using Sofft tools I applied the colours I chose from the Pan Pastels.

Then I attached the panels to a folded card, trimming the ends.

Then I die cut and emboss an Embosslit Charm tag  (658618 Sizzix Embosslits Die - Charm, Emerald). This Charm coordinates perfectly with the Winter Charms set of stamps and Framelits ( 658620 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 9PK w/Stamps - Charms, Winter).

And stamped the tree in the centre of the Charm. And then I assembled all together!

I hope you liked it!