Summer Garland Paperweight

I was struggling to know what to give my mother-in-law for her birthday and decided to stitch a design to fit into a glass paperweight.  It's not her birthday until the end of the month, but as she doesn't read my blog I can post it now.  I'd bought the paperweight several years ago and never got round to using it, but the size was perfect for this design.

To make this paperweight I used:
     Glass paperweight - make unknown
     Framecraft 'Summer Garland' cross stitch chart
     Snippet of 16hpi aida and iron interfacing
     DMC threads

The original chart was for a design on 18hpi aida to fit into a handbag mirror, but I stitched it onto 16hpi to make it a little larger to fit inside the paperweight.  After stitching the design I attached thin iron on interfacing to the back which helped avoid the fabric fraying when I cut it.  I used the paperweight as a guide to trim the fabric which was then placed inside the paperweight with a small piece of white card behind it.  To finish I attached the self-adhesive backing to the paperweight.

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

Kath x

You are Fabulous

I made this card to send to Renata for the October Card Chain Challenge.  I used the Theme Option (Bears and Friendship) and the Product/Technique Option (Plaid).

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'James the Bear' Precoloured Art Sheet
     Clearly Besotted 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps and coordinating die
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Lili of the Valley 'Twas the Night' paper
     Snippet of white card

I attached the plaid paper to a snippet of white card and trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut an oval from the left side and attached the panel to the card blank.  I die cut the precoloured LOTV image with the oval die and inlaid it into the panel.  I used green ink to stamp the sentiment onto a snippet of white card.  'You' was cut with the coordinating die and attached to the card with foam tape.  I trimmed 'are fabulous' and attached it below 'you'.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Critters (I don't often make cards with critters, but when I do - it has to be a bear, especially a teddy bear as they are so cute and cuddly!)
     Cardz 4 Galz - Showcase your Patterned Paper
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

This is the lovely card I received from Ella:

Kath x

Christmas Rose

Whilst sorting through one of my craft drawers, I came across this lovely Hunkydory Deco-Large set and used it to make a quick Christmas card.

To make this card I usaed:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Christmas Rose Deco-Large' backing card and topper
     Gold mirri

I trimmed the backing card, using the section that had the floral band at the top (the remainder of the card is back in my drawer for another card), layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank.  I removed the decoupage pieces from the backing card and snipped a few small 'pips' from around the edges.  These were layered onto the circular base image (I didn't use all the layers as the card was getting too thick) and attached it to the top of the card.  I attached the thin floral strip across the bottom of the card and then layered the sentiment on top using foam tape.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unusual Christmas Colours
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Use the Word Christmas on Project

Kath x

October Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day and another green and gold card (green and gold is my theme for this year's RD cards).

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Traditional Ornament', 'Lydia Ornament' and 'Crispy Bows' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics dies
     Snippets of white hammer card, green mirri card and gold sparkle card

I die cut a stitched rectangle from white matt card then die cut the Traditional Ornament from the lower edge before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  I die cut the Traditional Ornament from green mirri card and inlaid it into the front of the card.  I die cut the Lydia Ornament and Crisp Bow from gold sparkle card and then used Artist Tac to attach them to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - October Challenge

Kath x

Hello

I needed a large notecard to send with some cross stitch patterns I've gifted, so used a snippet of paper from another of my favourite Lili of the Valley paper pads.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Altenew 'Simply Hello' and Memory Box 'Kaleidoscope Butterfly' dies
     Snippets of light brown pearlescent card and Lili of the Valley 'Beach Bliss' paper

I trimmed the edges of the paper, layered it onto light brown pearlescent card and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut 'hello' and the butterfly from the same light brown card and attached them to the card front.  Quick and easy and ready for the post tomorrow!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Patterned Papers
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x

Elegant Reindeer

This 'Elegant Reindeer' die was a cover gift with a magazine many years ago and is still one of my favourite Christmas dies and a great way to use tiny snippets.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer, Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Season's Greetings' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippets of brown pearlescent card, red pearlescent card, blue patterned paper and white paper

I attached the blue patterned paper to a snippet of white paper to make it a bit thicker for die cutting.  I die cut the stitched rectangle, layered the panel onto brown pearlescent card and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the reindeer from a snippet of brown card and attached him to the lower corner.  I die cut the sentiment, bow and swirl from red pearlescent card.  The sentiment was attached to the top of the card, the bow to the reindeer's neck and the swirl inlaid into his body.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unusual Colours
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Colourful Christmas
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 491

Kath x

Hope Your Day is Glorious

I made this card for a friend's birthday and chose to colour the flowers so they look like Michaelmas Daisies, which are one of my favourite autumn flowers.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Stampendous 'Daisy Birthday' and Woodware 'The Hedgerow' stamps
     Memento Tuxedo Black ink
     Promarkers
     Papermania Shimmering Dots
     Snippets of white matt and brown pearlescent card

I trimmed the snippet of white card to a 4.75" x 4.75" square.  The daisy is a cling stamp, so I removed the foam from my MISTI before placing the card into it and stamping the flowers with black ink.  I replaced the foam pad and then stamped the sentiment above the flowers.  I then coloured the flowers with Promarkers.  The panel was layered onto a slightly larger square of brown pearlescent card and attached to the card blank.   To finish I added three small shimmering dots around the flowrs.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Autumn and/or Halloween (I've chosen autumn flowers)
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Autumn Colours
     We Love Stamping - Autumn

Kath x

Celebrate

 I made this anniversary card using lots of snippets.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Hearts' and Poppy Stamps 'Celebrate' dies
     Snippets of white matt card and Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper

I trimmed the white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the heart from the centre before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.   I attached the snippet of Antebellum paper to another snippet of white card and die cut the heart - this was then inlaid into the panel.  I die cut 'Celebrate' four times from more snippets of white card and once from the bottom of the Antebellum paper.  These were layered and then attached to the bottom of the heart.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Cardbase Shape (my favourite is 6" x 6" square as I can use large dies but still keep the card CAS)
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 490

Kath x  

Butterflies and Buddleia

This is another cross stitch kit I found in a charity shop - the kit was to make a needle case but I stitched it for a card instead. 

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     Textile Heritage 'Butterflies and Buddleia' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of kraft card

After stitching the design I trimmed around the edge of the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I trimmed the snippet of kraft card so it was a little larger than the fabric and die cut the stitched square from the centre.  I then used double sided tape to attach the stitching behind the frame and the frame to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Cardbase Shape (6" x 6" square cards are my favourite size and shape as they're perfect for CAS cards as they don't look too cluttered and they're the right size for my cross stitch)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Merry Christmas Sam

I made this card for my youngest great nephew using a cute digi stamp from Kinda Cute.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Kinda Cute 'Snowman Snowy' digi stamp
     Promarkers
     Computer generated sentiment 'AR Christy' font
     Snippet of turquoise card
     White printer paper
     Wink of Stella

I resized the digi stamp and added the sentiment using AR Christy font before printing it onto white paper (I can't print onto card so use the thickest paper my printer will accept).  I trimmed around the image so it was slightly smaller than the card blank, layered it onto turquoise card and attached it to the card blank.  I coloured the snowman with Promarkers and added a Wink of Stella to the scarf.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
     Addicted to CAS - Masculine
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Snowmen
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamps
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Use the Word Christmas on Project

Kath x

Clarissa Bubble Bloom

I made this card to send to Julia for the September Card Chain Challenge.  I have used the Colour Option (Red, Bronze & Blue), the Theme Option (Friendship) and the Product Option (Embossing Powder).

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Clarissa' and Clearly Besotted 'Dandelion Dreams' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Promarkers
     Wink of Stella
     Glossy Accents
     Snippets of white matt card and bronze paper

I trimmed a snippet of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and placed it into my MISTI.  I placed the flower and sentiment stamp onto the card and used brown ink to stamp them a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  I then embossed the image and sentiment with clear embossing powder.  I stamped the leaves onto bronze paper and fussy cut them before attaching them to the panel.  The flower was coloured with red and blue Promarkers.  I added Wink of Stella to the circles and then Glossy Accents.  Once the panel was dry I layered it onto another piece of bronze paper and attached it to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     
This is the lovely card I received from Imke, who also kindly enclosed some die cuts so I can make another card.

Kath x

Autumn Magic

My Genetian cross stitch card was a Top 5 on the Try It On Tuesday 'Things With Wings' challenge and I have been invited to be Guest Designer on the 'Autumn Magic' challenge.  As my Top 5 was a cross stitch card, I've decided to use cross stitch for my GD card.  This card uses a lovely autumnal design by Durene Jones and was a chart in Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Durene Jones 'Autumn Wonder' cross stitch chart
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     14 count white aida
     DMC threads 349, 471, 472, 498, 729, 782, 900, 947 and 3031
     Snippet of brown textured card

I stitched the design using the chart from the magazine and set it aside.  I cut the brown textured card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the stitched square from the middle.  I placed the frame over the completed cross stitch and found the green base was a few stitches short on each side so I added a couple few more green stitches so the grass fitted inside the brown stitched frame.  I trimmed the aida so it was slightly smaller than the frame and used strong double sided tape to attach it to to the back of the frame and then to the centre of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Autumn/Fall

Kath x

Rudolph Says Hello

I made this tiny Christmas card for one of my great nephews.  I made him a card last year using this cute Rudolph stamp - he thought Rudolph was funny so I've made this card to send him this year.  

To make this card I used:
     4.25" x 3" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Let's Prance' stamp and coordinating die
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Crafts-Too 'Twinkle' embossing folder
     Versafine Onyx black ink
     Promarkers
     Snippets of white matt card and red pearlescent card
     Printed sentiment (make unknown - sent to me in a RAK)
     Glossy Accents

I die cut a snippet of white card with the stitched rectangle die and then embossed it with the stars embossing folder.  The panel was layered red pearlescent card and attached to the front of the card blank.  Rudolph was stamped onto a snippet of white card and cut with the coordinating die before being coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment was on a sheet of printed Christmas sentiments - I trimmed it before attaching it to the lower corner of the card with foam tape.  Rudolph was attached above the sentiment with a foam pad.  To finish I added Glossy Accents to Rudolph's nose.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Embossing Wet or Dry (my card uses dry embossing)
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Embossing Folder Fun
     Stamping Sensations - ~Animal Magic

Kath x

Birdsong Anniversary

I made this wedding anniversary card using an old Woodware stamp - one of the first stamp sets I bought when I started cardmaking many years ago.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Birdsong' and Clearly Besotted 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps
     Momento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Satin Red & Crimson Red ink
     Red & brown Promarkers
     Snippet of dark red pearlescent card and white matt card
     Wink of Stella

I trimmed the white matt card to 5" x 5" and placed it into my MISTI.  I stamped the birdcage on the top left corner using black ink and then stamped 'congrats' in the lower corner with Satin Red ink.  As the sentiment looked too bright, I stamped it lightly with Crimson Red ink.  The panel was then layered onto a red pearlescent card and attached to the front of the card blank.   I stamped onto another snippet of white card using black ink and fussy cut them before colouring them with brown and red Promarkers.  The hearts on the birdcage were also coloured with a red Promarkers.  I added Wink of Stella to the hearts and sentiment and then attached the birds to the front of the card with small foam pads.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Kath x

Yet More Big Birthday Wishes

As regular followers will know, this is my favourite die for male cards - I made this card for one of my neighbours who will be celebrating his 90th birthday next month.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes', Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' and Xcut 'Nesting Stars' dies
     Snippets of kraft card, blue textured card and red sparkle 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 a snippet of blue textured card and inlaid the letters into the panel.  The rest of the sentiment was die cut from red sparkle card and inlaid into the panel.  I trimmed two narrow strips of red sparkle card and attached them down each side of the sentiment panel using narrow tape and then trimmed the ends.  I die cut two small stars from red sparkle card and attached them towards the top of the card using small foam pads.  I die cut a slightly larger star from blue textured card and '90' from red sparkle card.  The numerals were attached to the blue star which was then attached to the card with a foam pad.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Die (I've posted several cards made with this die - which is my favourite for male and teenager cards which I always fine difficult!)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 489

Kath x