Home

One of my neighbours (the lady who has gifted me a lot of cross stitching items) has decided it's time to move into a care home, so I've made this cross stitch card for her.  The design was for an anniversary card and the letters should have read LOVE, but I used a modern alphabet to change it to HOME.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Catkin & Lillie 'Pots of Love' and FloReen Studio 'Alphabet' charts
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die'namics' die
     Rustic 14 count aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white matt card

I stitched the design and changed the letters using a modern alphabet to fit inside the flower pots.  I didn't have a rectangle die that was large enough, so used a square die cutting it twice to get the right width for the design.  I then trimmed around the edge of the frame so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  The fabric was trimmed to fit behind the frame and attached with strong tape before the panel was attached to the card front.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Yet More Big Birthday Wishes

Another male card using my 'go to' die.  I do love this die as it always looks different when made with different colour card, although I must find another large sentiment die soon!

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes' die
     Snippets of kraft card, cream textured card and red glitter card

I trimmed the snippet of kraft card so it was slightly wider than the die and cut the large sentiment from the centre before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  I die cut 'BIG' from red glitter card and inlaid the letters into the front of the card.  I die cut the rest of the sentiment from cream textured  card and inlaid them.  To finish I trimmed two narrow strips of cream textured card and attached them down each side of the sentiment panel.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Birthdays
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Seize the Birthday - Use Your Favourite Colour (although I don't really have a favourite colour, I do love to use red and cream with kraft card)
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 512 (oops, I forgot to take a photo of my snippets!)

Kath x

New Home Card

This card is made with more of my holiday stitching using a chart from Cross Stitch Favourites magazine.   I thought it would perfect as a New Home card for a friend who is moving to the coast.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Spellbinders Nestabilitites 'Classic Squares Large' dies
     Poppy Brenner's 'Happy Homes' chart
     White 14 count aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white matt card

I trimmed a snippet of white matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut and embossed a square aperture which was the same size at the stitched area.  I then realised the squares on the aida were not true squares as the stitching was a perfect fit across the width aperture but it was one row short from top to bottom, so I had to stitch another row across the bottom!  The stitching was then attached behind the aperture and the panel attached to the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - H is for Home
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

July Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day and another die cut card (die cutting is my RD theme for this year.).  I nearly didn't have a die cut card as my old Cuttlebug made a loud 'crack' when I was making the card and the bottom roller broke away at one side.  I managed to find someone about 20 miles from me who was selling one on Facebook Marketplace so back to my die cutting!

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25 white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Merry Christmas Tree' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of dark blue and gold mirri card

I used the largest rectangle die to emboss the front of the card blank and set it aside.  I die cut the 'Merry Christmas Tree' from a snippet of dark blue mirri and snipped the star from the top before attaching it to the card blank.  I then die cut the star from a snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the top of the tree.  Quick and easy and my new Cuttlebug works like a dream which makes me realise my one one was on its last legs!

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Addicted to CAS - Christmas
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Christmas
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Blue Christmas
     Rudolph Day - July Challenge
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean & Simple
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 511

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

Rustic Wreath

This wreath stamp is one of my Christmas favourites, although this is the first time I've stamped the pine cones as I normally just add holly berries.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Uniko 'Rustic Wreath' stamps
     Versafine Olympia Green, Crimson Red & Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of white matt card and red pearlescent card
     Wink of Stella

I placed a snippet of white card into my MISTI and stamped the wreath and sentiment a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  The panel was then cut with the stitched square die and layered onto a slightly larger snippet of red pearlescent card.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card blank.  I stamped the pine cones onto another snippet of white card and fussy cut them before attaching them to the wreath with tiny foam pads.  To finish I used red ink to stamp the holly berries around the wreath.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to CAS - Christmas
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Christmas
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Merry-go-Round (My circles are the wrreath and holly berries)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     Uniko - 12 Days of Christmas
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

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 a friend'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

Snippets Gift Tag

This cross stitch parcel was another piece of holiday stitching and used snippets of perforated paper and threads - perfect for making into a gift tag with more card and paper snippets.

To make this tag I used:
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' die
     Catkin & Lillie 'Mini Presents' cross stitch chart
     DMC red, green and black threads
     Snippets of white card, Wild Rose Studio 'Painted Poinsettia' paper and perforated paper

I attached the paper to the white card and die cut the middle size tag before embossing around the edge.  After stitching the cross stitch present I used a sharp pair of scissors to trim around the stitching and used strong tape to attach the present to the tag.  To finish, I used more oddments of the same red and green threads to attach to the top of the tag.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Non-card Crafting Project (I always use recycled brown paper to wrap presents so like to make colourful tags for them - this one also has a cross stitch element which is my other favourite craft)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas in July
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 510
     Tag-Along (and ATCs) - Anything Goes

Kath x

Red Boat

I bought this lovely Permin cross stitch kit for just 75p from my local charity shop.  After stitching the design Steve said how much he liked it, so I made it into a card for his birthday (which was whilst we were away last month).

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Permin 'Red Boat' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of grey pearlescent card

After finishing the stitching I washed and pressed it as the fabric had some deep creases from being folded in the packet.  I trimmed a piece of grey pearlescent card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and cut a stitched square from the centre.  I attached the fabric behind the aperture 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

Kath x

Rustic Christmas

We've been back from our latest travels for a couple of days and everything is now clean - ready for us to go away again in a couple of weeks. So, it's now crafting time!  

To make this card I used:
     C6 white card blank
     Uniko 'Rustic Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Red, pink and 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.  I then added some small enamel dots to the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - O for One Layer Card
     Addicted to CAS - Christmas
     CAS on Friday - Christmas in July
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas in July
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Little Red Wagon - Christmas in July
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean and Simple
     Uniko  - 12 Days of Christmas

Kath x   

Enjoy You Day Gift Tag

I made this gift tag for a friend's birthday present.  I love making gift tags so am pleased to see a new challenge - Tag-along and ATCs (although I did miss their first challenge last month!).

To make this tag I used:
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' die
     Sentimentally Yours 'Magazine Box Kit #12' rose stamp and coordinating die
     Clearly Besotted 'Mini Calligraphy' stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Promarkers
     Snippets of white mat card and Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum paper
     Yarn (upcycled from a tag Brenda sent me with a prize)

I attached the snippet of paper onto white card before die cutting the largest label and embossing around the edge.  I stamped the rose onto another snippet of white card and cut it with the coordinating die before colouring it with Promarkers.  I placed the tag into my MISTI and laid the rose onto it so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the rose and stamped the sentiment with black ink before attaching the rose to the tag  To finish I fastened the yarn to the top of the tag.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     Tag-Along (and ATCs) - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Nature

This is my last post for a few weeks as we're heading off on our travels again tomorrow.  

Kath x

Have a Wonderful Birthday

I've not had much crafting time this week as we're getting ready for our next campervan 'adventure' but I did make some time to make a birthday card with a new Lisa Horton embossing folder I won in the Allsorts challenge.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     Lisa Horton 'Pansy Corner' 3D embossing folder
     Uniko 'Sentiments Outlined' stamp
     Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' die
     Versafine Spanish Moss ink
     Green textured card and white matt card

I trimmed the white matt card to a 5.75" x 5.75" square and embossed the Pansy Corner.  I placed the panel into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment in green ink.  The panel was then layered onto green textured card and attached to the card blank.  To finish I die cut two tiny butterflies and attached them to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to CAS - Floral
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Birthdays
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Type of Embossing (I use both wet and dry embossing, but dry embossing is my favourite as I feel it adds texture to a card whilst still keeping it CAS)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     CAS on Friday - Embossing
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Flowers
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms & Butterflies (I have used blooms & butterflies)

Kath x