Red Squirrel Cross Stitch

The current As You Like It Challenge is 'Favourite Wild Animal' and squirrels are one of my favourite animals as they are so funny to watch.  I was overjoyed to see a red squirrel on our visit to Angelsey last year and a friend bought me this lovely cross stitch kit so I could stitch my own red squirrel.  After completing the stitching I decided to make it into a card to give to my friend and share the red squirrel joy!

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Heritage Crafts 'Little Friends - Red Squirrel' kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of brown textured card

After stitching the red squirrel I set it aside to make the frame.  I trimmed a piece of  brown textured card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  I trimmed the fabric and used extra strong tape to attach the stitching behind the frame and then to attach the panel to the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - All Creatures Great and Small
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes

     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Wild Animal (the red squirrel is one of my favourites and I was so happy to see one last year)
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Animals
     Try It On Tuesday - Inspired by a Song (my song is Red Squirrel by Steamer Lane)

Kath x

August Rudolph Day

I've had a little crafting time this morning so have made this stamped card for the August Rudolph Day challenge (stamping is my RD theme this year).  This card uses another of my spare stamped images from my oddments box.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Rare Earth 'Winter Floral Collection' and Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail Embossing Powder
     Copics - C-1, E21, E33 & RV06 & V17
     White Fun Flock
     Snippets of white matt card and cerise mirri card 

I placed the white card into my MISTI and used black ink to stamp the birds and sentiment before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I then used the largest stitched die to cut the panel.  I used Copics to colour the image - E21 and E33 for the birds, RV06 and V17 for the hats and C-1 to ground the image.  I layered the panel onto a snippet of cerise mirri card and then attached the panel to the front of the card.  To finish I added white Fun Flock to the hat band and pompom.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - R for Rectangle
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Any Occasion
     Allsorts - Embossing - dry or heat (my card used heat embossing)
     Little Red Wagon - Anything Times Three (I have three birds)
     Rudolph Day Challenge - August Challenge
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Clean and Simple     
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Kath x

Flower Power Thank You

I made a quick 'Thank You' card this afternoon with lots stamped images from my oddments drawer.  Whenever I made a card I stamp more images and sentiments than I need (in case I make a mess of one) and anything that's unused goes in the drawer - which is now getting full and is in need of emptying!

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Flower Power #5' stamps and coordinating dies
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Habanero, Imperial Purple and Olympia Green
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - Y38 & YG11
     Snippets of white matt card
     Wink of Stella

I used green ink to stamp the leaves and purple ink to stamp the flower onto a snippet of white matt card before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I used Habanero ink to stamp the centre of the flower. but as it wasn't dark enough I used my orange Copic to add more detail.  I then cut the flower and leaves with the coordinating dies.  I used a stitched square die to cut another snippet of white matt card and placed it into my MISTI before laying the flower onto the panel so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the flower, stamped the sentiment with purple ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  The panel was attached to the centre of the card blank.  I coloured the leaves with a pale green Copic before attaching them to the card and used a foam pad to attach the flower.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the leaves and centre of the flower.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Any Occasion
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Simply Clean & Simple - Nature
     We Love Stamping - Summer Blooms
     
Kath x

Sorry You're Feeling Under the Weather

I made this 'Get Well' card for the current CAS on Friday challenge.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Crafter's Companion 'Sweet Florals' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - Y08 & YR16
     Snippets of white matt card and orange textured card
     Wink of Stella

I die cut a stitched square from a snippet of white matt card and placed it into my MISTI.  I stamped the umbrella and sentiment with brown ink before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I coloured the umbrella with yellow and orange Copics before layering the panel onto a slightly larger square of orange textured card and attaching it to the centre of the card blank. To finish I highlighted the umbrella with a Wink of Stella.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Embossing (my card used heat embossing)
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     CAS on Friday - Get Well
     Color Hues Challenge - Yellow & Orange
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes

Kath x

O Christmas Tree

When I made my July Rudolph Day I stamped the tree and a different sentiment onto a few card blanks to make some one layer cards which are perfect for posting.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Rustic Christmas' stamp
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Turquoise Enamel Dots

To make this quick CAS card I placed the card blank into my MISTI and then stamped the tree and sentiment with green ink.  I decorated the tree with small and medium size enamel dots.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - R is for Rectangle
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Clean & Simple
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Kath x

To a Deer Friend

I was so pleased when my 'Another Christmas Pudding' card was the winner of the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown 'Embossing' challenge and the team invited me to be Guest Designer of the current Sketch challenge.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Practical Publishing 'Festive Friend' stamp and die set
     X-cut 'Small Polka Hearts' embossing folder
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - E25, E31, E35, R20 & R29, W-1
     Snippets of white matt and red matt card

I trimmed a snippet of white matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I cut a one inch strip of white card the same width as the panel and embossed it with the hearts embossing folder.  I placed the panel into my MISTI and laid the strip across the centre so I could see where to position the sentiment.  I removed the strip and used black ink to stamp the sentiment before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  The panel was layered onto a slightly larger snippet of red matt card and attached to the card blank.  I used black ink to stamp Rudolph onto a snippet of white matt card before embossing it with clear embossing powder, cutting it with the coordinating die and then colouring it with Copics.   I then cut two more plain Rudolph images and layered them to give strength to the antlers and legs before attaching it to the left side of the card.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Christmas
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Cut It Up - Emboss It (I have a dry embossed strip and wet embossing for Rudolph and sentiment)
     Little Red Wagon - One Thing (I have one image, one sentiment and one embossed strip)
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Clean and Simple

Kath x