To a Very Special Couple

I made this Christmas card using more bits from my snippets box.

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and attached two snippets of red paper, covering the join with a piece of self-adhesive ribbon.  I die cut the stitched oval and then used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment in the lower corner.  I rounded the corners of the panel before attaching it to the card.  I die cut the precoloured image with the stitched oval die and inlaid in into the panel.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley ''Tis the Season' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Happy Birthday All' stamps
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Woodware 'Regular Corner Rounder' punch
     Snippets of Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' paper and white card
     Floral self-adhesive ribbon

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - L is for Love
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - June Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x   

Happy 30th Birthday Asha

Steve asked me to make a card for a colleague's birthday - someone who likes flowers and is going to be 30.

I trimmed the green paisley paper, layered it onto burgundy card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut the precoloured image with the fishtail die, extending it so the image was the correct length.  This was then attached to the card.  I printed the sentiment onto white paper, trimmed it, layered it onto burgundy card and attached it across the top of the image image with foam tape.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Garden Delights' Art Pad 
     My Favourite Things 'Stitched Jumbo Fishtail' dies
     Snippets of burgundy card, green paisley paper and white paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Flowers
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - June Challenge

Kath x

Magical Fairies

A cute birthday card using more 'odds 'n' ends' from my box.

I've had the blue floral card blank for ages - I think it originally came in a card making set - and it was a perfect colour match for the fairy's wings.  I die cut an oval from the front and added a piece of white card to the rear of the front panel.  I die cut the fairy precoloured image and inlaid the oval.  I stamped and embossed 'birthday' before cutting it with the coordinating die.  I also cut an extra 'birthday' from white card and attached it to the back of the stamped sentiment. I didn't have a 'wishes' stamp so used 'best wishes' masking 'best' before stamping it onto my card.  To finish I attached 'birthday' to the card.

To make this card I used:

     5.5" x 5.5" pale blue floral card blank

     Lili of the Valley 'Magical Fairies' Art Pad

     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX' die

     Clearly Besotted 'Modern Calligraphy' stamp and die, and 'Fancy Sayings' stamp

     Versafine Majestic Blue ink

     White matt card

I am entering the following challenges:

     AAA Cards - Birthday

     Allsorts - Magical World

     Moving Along With The Times - Things With Wings

Kath x

We Three Kings

Whilst looking through my box of upcycled images I came upon this card (one of the Christmas cards we received last year) which is perfect for the current ABC Christmas Challenge.

I die cut a stitched square from a snippet of gold mirri card and then die cut a circle from the centre before attaching it to the card front.  I die cut the crowns and sentiment into a circle and inlaid it into the frame.  A quick and simple card using an ucpcled Christmas card and a snippet of mirri.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX' dies
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Snippet of gold mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for King
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x

Upcycled Christmas Ornament

As I'm slowly working my way though my snippets and upcycled boxes, I came across these bits of card - perfect for a CAS Christmas ornament.

I die cut a stitched panel from white hammer card and attached it to the card blank.  I used gold holographic card from an old gift card to die cut the back of the ornament and the bow.  The floral ornament was die cut from a birthday card.  The ornament pieces were layered and attached to the card.  I snipped the lower part of the tail from the bow and attached it above the ornament.

To make this card I used:
     A2 white hammer card blank
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX  Die-namics', Memory Box 'Traditional Ornament' & 'Lydia Ornament' dies
     Upcycled birthday card and gift tag
     Snippet of white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Anything Festive Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Ornaments

Kath x

Have a Wonderful Day

I was struggling to find something for Jo's Tales from the Craft Room 'Sweet Treats' challenge until my upcycling box came to the rescue with a cute glittery cupcake on a birthday card.

To make this card I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment into a fishtail flag and attached it to the lower edge of the card, just above the curved corner.  I fussy cut the cupcake and shaped it before attaching it to the card with Pinflair glue.

I posted the card on Folksy and sold it within a week!

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     My Favourite Things 'Fishtail Flags' die
     Woodware 'Regular Corner Rounder' punch
     Upcycled birthday card (cupcake and sentiment)
     White matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Sketch     
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Tales from the Craft Room - Sweet Treats

Kath x

Garden Delights

I made this card to send to Suze for the March Card Chain Challenge.  I used the Theme Option (Things with Wings, Flowers & Friendship) and the Product/Technique Options (Embossing/Designer Paper).

I trimmed a piece of beige/green paper so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card and attached a strip of pink paper down the left side - ensuring that my sentiment would fit across the bottom.  I stamped and embossed the sentiment along the lower edge and attached the panel to the card.  I die cut the precoloured image with a circular stitched die and attached it to the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Garden Delights' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Dandelion Dreams' stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Bunnies, Birds and/or Bears 
     Try It On Tuesday - Beauty of Nature

This is the lovely card I received from Linda:

Kath x

Enjoy the Peace and Quiet

Just two cards from me today - my first is a note card I made to send to a cat loving friend.

To make this super quick card I covered the front of the card with spotty paper, leaving a small border around the edge.  I die cut the precoloured image with a stitched oval die and attached it to the centre - it doesn't get any easier than that!

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Garden Delights' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Lili of the Valley 'Country Gent' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Lots of Dots
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - For the Ladies/Girls
     Tales from the Craft Room - Furry Friends

Kath x

Decorating the Tree

My final card today uses another LOTV Art Pad image.

I covered the front of the card with burgundy paper, leaving a small border around the edge.  I die cut the precoloured Art Pad image with a stitched oval die and attached it to the centre of the card.  To finish I added metal nailheads to the top and bottom corners.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley ''Tis the Season' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt' paper pad
     Dark red metal nailheads

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas with the Cuties - Anything Christmas Goes, with optional Clean and Simple
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x

Gorgeous Greens

I've recently managed to find some Lili of the Valley Art Pad images and love this cute James Bear image - perfect for a Mother's Day card.

I attached green paper to the card leaving a small border around the edge.  I die cut the precoloured image with a stitched oval die and attached it to the left side of the card. To finish, I used the waste card to die cut 'Mum' before attaching it to the lower edge of the card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'James and Jenny Bear' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' and Crafts-Too 'Mum' dies
     Wild Rose Studio 'Annabelle's Meadow' paper pad

I am entering the following challenges:
     The Cutie Pie Challenge - Gorgeous Greens
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - For the Ladies/Girls

Kath x

Jenny Bear

My final card today uses one of my favourite precoloured Lili of the Valley 'Jenny Bear' images to make this cute Mother's Day card.

I covered the front of the card with pink paper, leaving a small margin around the edge and ensuring the hearts showed on the right side of the card.  I die cut the precoloured LOTV image with a stitched oval die and attached it to the left side of the paper.  I attached a piece of pink paper from the lower edge of another sheet of pink paper onto card and die cut 'MUM'.  I die cut 'MUM' from two pieces of white card and layered them with the pink layer on the top.  I also trimmed the top of the first 'M' so the sentiment would lie flat on the card as it overlapped the stitched panel.  To finish I attached 'MUM' on the lower corner of the card ensuring the writing on the backing paper matched.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'James and Jenny Bear' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' and Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' dies
     Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt' paper
     White card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Make it Girly
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - February challenge
     The Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute and Cuddly Animals

Kath x

LOTV Christmas

I've recently bought a few Lili of the Valley Art Pad sheet and have used one to make this quick Christmas card.

I cut a piece of red textured card slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut a circle from the centre.  I rounded the corners before attaching the red panel to the card.  I die cut the precoloured image and inlaid it into the frame.  I added Diamond Stickles for the snow and lots of Wink of Stella on the little's girl's fur clothing.

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" kraft card blank

     Lili of the Valley ''Tis the Season' Art Pad 
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & t Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die

     Woodware regular corner rounder punch

     Red textured card

     Diamond Stickles

     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:

     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Red

     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Xmas Wings

     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Include Some Red

Kath x

Cross Stitch Heart Card

The first of today's red cards!  This cross stitch kit was actually to make a sachet, but I chose to make the finished cross stitch into a card for my mother's birthay.  I don't often use coloured card bases, but the white aida was a lot brighter than my card blanks so I used a dark red colour that matched the thread I'd used for the backstitch on the flowers.

I trimmed a piece of red card  so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card base, die cut a circle in the centre and rounded the corners.  I attached the cross stitch heart behind the aperture and added thin foam tape around the edges of the panel.  To ensure the panel lay flat on the card front I added a small piece of white card behind the cross stitch - this also ensured that no colour peeped through the aida fabric.  I die cut 'Mum' twice from red card, before layering the die cuts and attaching them to the lower corner.

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" dark red pearlescent card blank

     Immediate Media  The World of Cross Stitching 'Floral Sachet' heart cross stitch kit

     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' and Crafts-Too 'Mum' dies
     Woodware regular corner rounder punch

     Red pearlescent card and white card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Add a Heart
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Use Die Cuts/Punches
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Include Some Red

Kath x

Penguin Parade

Just one card from me today.  I thought I had used all the LOTV Winter Wonderland images, but found this one amongst some Christmas papers - perfect for the new Christmas Kickstart Challenge.

I covered the front of the card with mustard paper, leaving a small border around the edge and attached a strip of striped paper across the lower section.  I die cut the precoloured Lili of the Valley image.  I wanted to make the panel longer than my US sized die so I attached the die to one end of the image and die cut it about half way.  I then moved the die to the other end of the image ensuring the stitched edge matched and die cut the second half.  This panel was then attached to the centre of the card.  A Wink of Stella added the finishing touch.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Making Special Cards Magazine Issue 22 papers
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - B for Bingo (I've chosen Patterned Paper, Lots of Layers & Die Cut)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes     
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Anything Christmas or Holiday Related
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Penguin Parade
     Christmas with the Cuties - Christmas Cuties
     The Cutie Pie Challenge - Christmas Cuties
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

S for Snow and Snowman

I made this card for a few of my favourite challenges using a cute Lili of the Valley precoloured image.

I die cut and embossed a red circle using the two largest dies and then layered them onto another large red circle.  I die cut and embossed the precoloured image and inlaid it into the frame.  I embossed a piece of white card with snowflakes, trimmed it and layered onto red embossed card leaving a 6mm border around the edges (this is the same width as the circle frame).  The panel was attached to the card blank with the image in the centre.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Darice 'Snowflake Background' embossing folder
     Red embossed and white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Snowman and/or Snowflakes
     Alphabet Challenge - S is for Snow
     The Cutie Pie Challenge - Christmas Cuties
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Christmas Gifts

I've been asked to make a cute penguin Christmas card and this precoloured Lili of the Valley image was perfect to make a quick card.

To make this card I attached a piece of purple paper to the front of the card, leaving a small margin around the edge.  As I didn't have the right size die to cut around the image, I used the rectangle die to cut along half of the image.  I then then lined up the stitched edge inside the die to cut the second half - ensuring I didn't go too far and cut it in half!  This panel was then attached to the centre of the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Vally 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     My Favourte Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of purple paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Christmas Gifts
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Merry Christmas Mum & Dad

My final card today is the Christmas card I made for my in-laws - this is the last card I made for us to send this Christmas (although I'm still making cards for orders).

I trimmed a piece of white card, rounded the corners and attached it to the front of the card blank.  I printed the sentiment onto green start paper and then attached it to white card.  I used a Fisthail Flag die to cut the banner, cutting it half way along the banner and then attaching the die to the other end of the strip so I cot the fishtail at both ends.  I also die cut two trees from the green star paper.  One Christmas tree was cut from silver mirro and embossed with stars.  I attached the green trees and the banner directly onto the front of the card and attached the silver tree with foam tape in the centre.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Marianne Designs Creatables 'Christmas Tree' and My Favourite Things 'Fishtail Flags' dies
     Crafts-Too 'Twinkle' embossing folder
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     Computer generated sentiment 'Forte' font

I am entering the following challenges:
     Fab 'n' Funky Challenge - Christmas
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies
     Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - 'Tis the Season
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

Kath x

Santa and Wreaths

My final card today uses one of my favourite Lili of the Valley images - this Santa is so cute and is perfect for making a quick Christmas card.

I attached red holly paper to the card blank, leaving a small border around the edge.  I die cut and embossed the precoloured Santa image and attached it to the centre of the card.  To finish I added Stickles to the snow and a Wink of Stella to the trimmings on Santa's hat.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" tent fold white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad image
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die'namics' die
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Wild Rose Studio ' Annabelle's Christmas' paper pad
     Diamond Stickles
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - W is for Wreath
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Show us Your Santas
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
   
If you would like to share your views on printers and also have a chance to win a Clearly Besotted stamp and die set - please see my Questions about Printers and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Merry and Bright

This card also uses another image from a LOTV Art Sheet - this is the last one from the North Pole sheet to make another quick and simple card.

I die cut the image and placed it into my MISTI so I could ensure the sentiment was in the middle of the card.  I stamped the sentiment in Satin Red ink, stamping a couple of times to get a lovely deep red sentiment.  The panel was then layered onto dark red card and then attached to the centre of the card blank.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'North Pole Christmas Art Sheet'
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of dark red card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Winter Wonderland - Merry and Bright

If you would like to share your views on die cutting  and also have a chance to a Clearly Besotted stamp and die sets - please see my Questions about Die Cutting and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Peace on Earth

This is one of the last images from my LOTV Art Sheets - I wish I had bought more before they stopped selling them.  I know they still sell their coloured images but I can't print them on my ancient printer (I may have to ask Santa for a new printer!).

I lay the precoloured image on my MISTI and placed the die around it so I could see where to position the sentiment.  I removed the die and stamped the sentiment a couple of times to get a deeper colour to match the kraft card blank.  I then die cut the image and attached it to the centre of the card.

To make this card I used:

     5.5" x 4.25" kraft tent fold card blank

     Lili of the Valley 'Girlie Christmas' Christmas Art Sheet

     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die

     Versafine Toffee ink

I am entering the following challenges:

     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Nativity

     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

If you would like to share your views on die cutting  and also have a chance to a Clearly Besotted stamp and die sets - please see my Questions about Die Cutting and Giveaway post.

Kath x