Ruby Rose Cross Stitch

This Reflexions cross stitch kit was amongst the many items my neighbour gifted me earlier this year.  The kit was to make a ruby wedding anniversary framed picture, but I decided to omit the wording and stitch the rose to make a card for her birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Reflexlions 'Ruby Wedding' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     Snippet of white hammer card

I die cut a stitched circle from a piece of white hammer card and trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before rounding the corners.  After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind the aperture and attached the panel to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like it Challenge - Cute or Elegant (I prefer making elegant cards, especially using floral or butterfly images, although I do make some cute cards for younger members of the family)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I have chosen the blooms option)

Kath x

The Harbourside

I've recently bought some Hunkydory 'oddments' in a charity shop and this part-used Deco-Large kit was in the packet.  I made a similar card for Steve's 60th Birthday a few years ago and have made this one for a friend's birthday next month.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card
     Hunkydory Deco-Large 'The Harbourside' backing card and decoupage
     Gold mirri

I trimmed the backing card layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank.  Some of the decoupage images had been removed from the sheet, which is fine as I don't use all the layers as I find it makes the cards too bulky for posting.  I removed the remaining images and chose which ones I would use before layering them with foam pads.  The topper was then attached to the card.  To finish I attached a small sentiment topper to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Birthday Succulents

I bought this lovely Uniko 'Happy Succulents' stamp set in their January sale and made a birthday card with one of my favourite sentiment stamps which was still on my desk after making my butterfly card yesterday. I used the CAS Colour and Sketches colours for the succulents.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Happy Succulents' and 'Birthday Wishes' stamps
     Versafine Deep Lagoon ink
     Copics BG15 & G21
     Snippet of white matt card

I trimmed the white card so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card before putting it into my MISTI.  I placed the succulent and sentiment stamps onto the panel and stamped them with Deep Lagoon ink before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I coloured the panel with Copics before attaching it to the centre of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Embossing (I have used wet embossing)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     CAS Colours & Sketches - Colour Challenge (Pretty Peacock, Pool Party & Soft Seafoam)
     Moving Along with the Times - Floral
     Simply Clean & Simple - Greenery
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (I was going to choose the Favourite Stamp option as I love all my Uniko stamps!)
     Uniko's 14th Birthday Link Party - Birthday Card with Uniko Products
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Kath x 

Happiest of Birthdays to you!

I always stamp extra images when making cards and this butterfly was stamped last weekend when making my Sympathy card.  The bright butterfly is perfect to celebrate Uniko's 14th Birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'English Country Garden Butterflies' stamp and coordinating die
     Uniko 'Birthday Wishes' sentiment stamp
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Verafine Imperial Purple ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - V17, Y02 & YR07
     Altenew Crystal Clear enamel dots

I stamped the butterfly with purple ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder before cutting it with the coordinating die.  I coloured the butterfly with orange, purple and yellow Copics.  As the colours had bled through to the back of the butterfly I die cut another butterfly from white paper and attached it to the back to cover the ink before setting it aside.  I used the largest die to emboss a stitched circle in the centre of the card blank.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the butterfly onto it so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the butterfly and stamped the sentiment with purple ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I then attached the butterfly to the top of the circle, attaching it by its body and shaping the wings.  To finish I placed three clear enamel dots inside the circle.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Embossing (I have chosen wet embossing for my butterfly and sentiment)
     As You Like It Challenge - Cute or Elegant (my favourite is elegant, especially using flowers and butterflies, although I do sometimes make cute for the younger members of the family)
     Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - Anything CAS Goes
     Seize the Birthday - CAS + Dies
     Uniko's 14th Birthday Linky Party - Birthday Card with Uniko products

Kath x

Wishing You Strength Today

I dislike making Sympathy cards when I need them and prefer to make a few and keep them in my card box.  This card uses one of my favourite butterfly stamps and a lovely sentiment.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Uniko 'English Country Garden Butterflies' stamp and coordinating die
     Practical Publishing 'Stamps for All Occasions' sentiment stamp
     Verafine Imperial Purple ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - BV02, G00 & E51

I stamped the butterfly with purple ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder before cutting it with the coordinating die.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the butterfly onto it so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the butterfly and stamped the sentiment with purple ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I attached the butterfly body to the card with glue and put small foam pads under the wings to hold them away from the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - U is for Uplifting
     CAS on Friday - Anything Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Favourite Stamp (I love butterflies and this Uniko stamp is one of my favourites as I also have the coordinating die)
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes
     
Kath x

Bluebells Cross Stitch Card

These bluebells are a design from the Carolyn's Garden series by Serendipity Designs.  I stitched the design last year, but have only just made it into a card for a friend's spring birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Carolyn's Garden 'Bluebells' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the centre of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I have used Blooms)

Kath x

Retro Reindeer

I was fortunate to win a mystery prize bundle of Christmas goodies in the Snippets Playground and this cute Retro Reindeer was in my package.  The set not only included the stamp but a coordinating die too - perfect for me as I'm not a fan of fussy cutting!  The sentiment was also from another stamp set I won, the main image will appear on my blog soon!

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Crafter's Companion 'Retro Christmas - Reindeer' stamp and coordinating die
     Woodware 'Bubble Bauble and Bow' sentiment stamp
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die.
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics
     Snippet of white matt card

I used a stitched circle die to emboss the front of the card blank and set it aside.  I used brown ink to stamp the reindeer on a snippet of white card.  This was embossed with clear embossing powder before being cut with the coordinating die.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the reindeer onto it so I could see where to stamp the sentiment.  I removed the reindeer and stamped with sentiment with brown ink.  The sentiment didn't stamp too well on the embossed circle, so I filled the gap with a brown Copic before embossing the sentiment with clear embossing powder.  To finish I coloured the reindeer with Copics and attached it to the front of the card with foam pads.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - A for Anything Christmas
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes + Embossing (I have used wet embossing)
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Floral Wellies

Steve bought me a Cross Stitcher magazine for Christmas and this lovely cross stitch design was the cover gift.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Susan Penny's 'Token of Love' cross stitch kit from Cross Stitcher magazine
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of dark pink textured card

I stitched the design using the fabric and threads in the kit.  The completed stitching should have been patched onto the front of a patterned card blank that was included in the kit, but I chose to make a frame instead.  I chose a snippet of card to match the pink flowers, trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut an aperture in the front.  I used strong tape to attach the stitching behind the aperture and then attached the panel to the front of the card with Artist-Tac.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies (I have chosen Blooms)

Kath x

January Rudolph Day Guest Designer

I was so pleased when my 'November Rudolph Day' card was chosen as one of the Top 3 in the Rudolph Day Challenge and Helen invited me to join her as Guest Designer on a future challenge.

In recent years I have had a theme for my Rudolph Day cards.  In 2017 I used images from a Lili of the Valley Art Pad, in 2018 my cards were 4" x 4", in 2019 all cards had a Christmas tree on them, in 2020 I used wet and/or dry embossing on my cards, in 2021 I used something that had been upcycled, in 2022 I used something that had been a cover gift with a magazine, in 2023 all my cards were cross stitch designs, in 2024 they were all white, green and gold and finally last year they all had at least one die cut on them.  My theme this year is stamping and each card will have one main stamped image.

This card uses a lovely Uniko background stamp - it had been out of stock before Christmas but I was able to buy it in Bev's New Year sale, so got myself a bargain!

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25 white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Background Blocks Christmas Scramble' stamp
     My Favorite Things ' Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copic Ciao - B05, B23, BG15, R17, RV21, V17, Y08, YG67 & YR07
     Wink of Stella
     Snippet of white matt card

I used black ink to stamp the image onto a snippet of white card and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I die cut the panel with the largest rectangle die and then used nine different coloured Copics to colour each letter.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card.  To finish I applied a Wink of Stella to the letters.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge B for Bright
     As You Like It Challenge - Favoiurite Occasion (my favourite occasion for crafting is definitely Christmas and I tend to make far more cards than I need for the occasion)
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything New (my new Uniko stamp)
     Little Red Wagon - K is for Keep it Simple
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Something New (I have used my new Uniko stamp)

Kath x

'Tis the Season to be Jolly

I made this Christmas card for the AAA Cards Challenge 'Follow Francesca's Lead'.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Let's Prance' stamps and coordinating dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' sentiment stamp
     Memory Box 'Wicker Panel' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics
     Snippets of white matt card

I embossed a strip across the card with the Wicker Panel die and then placed it into my MISTI.  I used black ink to stamp the sentiment underneath the embossed strip and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  The reindeer were stamped in black ink onto snippets of white card and embossed with clear embossing powder before being cut with the coordinating die.  The reindeer were then colourd with Copics before being attached across the embossed strip with foam pads.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards Challenge - Follow Francesca's Lead
     ABC Christmas Challenge - A for Anything Christmas
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Occasion (my favourite cardmaking occasion is Christmas and I tend to make far more cards than I need)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean and Simple

Francesca's Card

Kath x

Sail Away

I was so pleased when Steve's Christmas card was a Top 7 at the Allsorts Challenge and I was invited to be Guest Designer on the 'For Men or Boys' challenge.  I made this card for a friend's forthcoming birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Sail Away' and 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps and coordinating dies
     Impression Obsession 'Ocean Border' and Clouds' dies
     Versafine Majestic Blue ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder
     Copics
     Snippets of blue textured card, white matt card and pale blue vellum

I cut two pieces of white card slightly smaller than the front of the card and die cut a stitched circle in the centre of both pieces (I used two layers of card so the inlaid scene would lie flat inside the aperture). I layered the panels before attaching a piece of pale blue vellum to the rear of the aperture and attaching the panel to the card front,  I die cut two waves from snippets of blue textured card and die cut the bottom of each with the stitched circle so I could inlay them into the aperture.  

I used dark blue ink to stamp the sailing boat onto a snippet of white card.  This was coloured with Copics before being cut with the coordinating die.  I attached a tiny snippet of white card to the back of the sails and then slipped the bottom of the boat between the two waves - the tiny piece of card on the back of the sails made the boat stand out from the vellum background.  

I took the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment and masked the 'birthday' before stamping 'happy' onto a snippet of white card and then embossing it with clear embossing powder.  This was die cut with the medium cloud die.  I also die cut a small cloud from another tiny piece of white card.  I stamped 'birthday' onto white card and embossed it before using the coordinating die to cut the sentiment.  I then cut two more sentiments from more snippets of white card - these were trimmed down and attached to the back of the stamped sentiment so it would lie flat across the aperture.   The clouds and 'birthday' were then attached to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes
     Addicted to Stamps and More - Birthdays
     Alphabet Challenge - S is for Square
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Use Dies
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Happy Holidays

I love this Funky Fossil stamp as it's perfect for CAS Christmas cards.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white card blank
     Funky Fossil 'Joy' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - E35
     Gold and silver gel pens
     Snippet of gold foiled kraft card

The snippet of kraft card was 1.75" wide and I trimmed it to the width of the card before attaching it across the centre.  I stamped the wreath with brown ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I then used the largest stitched circle die to die cut around the image.  I coloured the pine cones with a light brown pen, the letters and berries with a gold gel pen and the snowflakes with a silver gel pen.  I attached the wreath topper to the centre of the card across the strip of kraft card.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - A for Anything Christmas
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - S is for Square
     As You Like it Challenge - Favourite Occasion (although I enjoy making cards for many occasions, Christmas is my favourite and I make more Christmas cards than I need to send!)
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - Challenge 17 (I have used Line I - Square, Layers & Stamped Image)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x