Happy Christmas

This quick Christmas card was made using the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. The card was from my snippets drawer, so I'm also popping over to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 7" x 5" cream silk
Stamp: Paper Smooches 'Joyful Greetings'
Punch: Woodware Snowflake
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Paper: BoBunny (magazine freebie)
Other: Cream pearls, Wink of Stella
Snippets: Brown and pale blue card

I trimmed the BoBunny paper and stamped the sentiment.  This was layered onto a snippet of brown card and attached to the card front.  I punched three small snowflakes from blue card, attached them to the card front and added a small cream pearl to the centre of each snowflake.  To finish, I highlighted the sentiment with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Baby, It's Cold Outside

I made this card for the current Cuttlebug Mania 'Baby, it's cold outside' challenge where they want to see a snowman.  I made my card with snippets of card so am also popping over the to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white hammer
Image: Snowman topper (make unknown)
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large and Classic Scalloped Circles Large
Embossing: Snowflake (magazine freebie), Kars tan embossing mat
Other: Crystal Stickles, Wink of Stella, Silver gems
Snippets: White hammer and silver mirri card

I embossed a snippet of white hammer card with the snowflake folder, layered it onto silver mirri and attached it to the card front.  The snowman topper was a little too big so I die cut it with the standard circles die and embossed the edge.  This was then layered onto a scalloped, embossed scalloped circle which had been die cut from another snippet of silver mirri.  The topper was then attached to the card front with foam tape.  To finish, I highlighted the swirls on the topper background with a Wink of Stella, added Crystal Stickles to the snowflakes and three silver gems for the snowman's buttons.

Kath x

Fairy Silhouette

I made this card for the Less is More 'Silhouette' challenge using the colours from the current CAS Colours and Sketches challenge.  I'm also entering the Butterfly Challenge which is 'I for Inks' and as the paper and card are from my snippets drawer I'm paying my first visit to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank:  6" x 6" cream silk
Stamps: The Fairy Collection (magazine freebie)
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Other: Wink of Stella
Snippets: Rose Moondust card and cream butterfly paper

I stamped the fairy and sentiment onto a snippet of cream butterfly paper, layered it onto rose card and attached it to the card front.  I then added a Wink of Stella to highlight the image and sentiment.

Kath x

Little Cowboy

I used another pre-coloured Lili of the Valley topper for this card for a young boy's birthday.  I'm entering it into The Male Room 'Babies and Little Boys' and Little Claire Designs 'Just Add Bunting' Challenges.  I've used more snippets so I'm also in the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 7" x 7" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Yee Haa' pre-coloured topper
Die: Joanna Sheen 'Star Bunting'
Punch: Woodware Star
Snippets: Brown card and blue paper

I layered the blue paper onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  The pre-coloured topper was trimmed slightly so it was a little smaller than my second snippet of brown card, the topper was then layered onto the card and attached to the card front.  I die-cut the bunting and attached it to the top corner of the card.  Three of the small stars from the die-cut were added to the topper.  I then punched three small stars and attached them to the lower corner of the card.

Kath x

Girly and Sparkly Christmas

I made this card for the current Allsorts 'Girly and Sparkly' challenge.  I'm also entering the Winter Wonderland 'Glitter and Shine' challenge and popping into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop with my snippets.

Card blank: 6" x 4" white matt
Die: Memory Box 'Sparkling Tree Tile'
Other: Silver Stickles, upcycled gem star (from one of my Christmas cards)
Snippets: Pink mirri card, white sparkle card

I trimmed a snippet of white sparkle card, layered it onto pink mirri and attached it to the card front.  The tree was die cut from pink mirri card and trimmed around the edges, this was then attached to the card front.  I applied Stickles to the baubles and attached a gem star to the top of the tree.

Kath x

Shades of Orange Christmas

I made this card for the current 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown 'Shades of Orange' challenge.   I am also entering it into the ABC Christmas Challenge 'A is for Anything Goes' challenge, Becky's Place January Challenge and the snippets challenge at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white silk
Stamp: Woodware 'Christmas Bubble Tree'
Embossing: Stamps Away clear embossing powder
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Colouring: Bruynzeel coloured pencils
Other: Glossy Accents
Snippets: Orange mirri and white card, orange paper

I stamped and embossed the Christmas tree and sentiment onto white card.  This was trimmed, layered onto orange mirri card and attached to the card front.  I paper pieced the tree trunk using a snippet of orange paper.  The baubles were coloured with various shades of orange coloured pencils and finished with Glossy Accents.

Kath x

Let it Snow

I made this card for the current Merry Monday 'Plaid' challenge following the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I'm also entering the ABC Christmas Challenge 'A for Anything Goes' as well as popping over to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop with my snippets.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Stamp: Let it Snow (magazine freebie)
Ink: Versafine Imperial Purple
Other: Crafter's Companion Spray & Sparkle Pearl Diamond, Wink of Stella
Snippets: Purple and white matt card, plaid paper

I trimmed the snippet of plaid paper and attached it to the left of the tent fold card blank.  The image was stamped onto white card before being trimmed, layered onto purple card and attached to the card front with foam tape.  I then outlined the words and snowflakes with a Wink of Stella.  I die-cut the snowflake from white card and sprayed it with Spray & Sparkle.   I then attached the snowflake to the card and added a gem to the centre.

I also have some New Year Blog Candy to give away.

Kath x

Festive Scene

This die was a cover gift on a magazine before Christmas, but I didn't have time to use it for last year's cards.  I've made this quick card using snippets, so I'm off to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop and I'm also entering the ABC Christmas Challenge 'A is for Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white hammer
Dies: Creative Dies 'Festive Scene' (magazine freebie), Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large
Other: Crafters Companion Spray & Sparkle Pearl Diamond
Snippets: Dark blue and pale blue matt, white hammer

I die cut the Festive Scene from dark blue, pale blue and white hammer card.  The dark blue die cut was attached to a slightly larger circle which had been die cut from dark blue card.  I then attached the pale blue and white pieces to the scene.  Having read tips on other blogs, I die cut the white scene last and left the pieces in the die until I was ready to use them so I could see where all the small pieces fitted.  Once all the pieces were in place, I sprayed the whole image with the Spray & Sparkle.  When this had dried, I layered the image onto white and blue card before attaching it to the card front.

Kath x

Happy Birthday Emma

I've never used digi stamps, but I won some stamps in a challenge last year and chose ‘Cocktail Emma’ as I thought it would be perfect for my niece’s birthday.  I’m entering this card into Becky's Place January Challenge, As You Like It 'Anything Goes' challenge (I love this digi as it reminds me of  my lovely niece!) and Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge.

Card blank: 7” x 7” white silk

Digi Stamp: Pink Gem Designs pre-coloured ‘Cocktail Emma’

Colouring: Sandstone & Cinnamon Promarkers

Card: White smooth, pink Moondust, black matt

Other: Computer generated sentiment ‘ Harrington’ font, Star Dust Stickles, Wink of Stella

I used the pre-coloured image and slightly reduced the size before adding my sentiment, this was then printed onto white card.  I trimmed the image to size, layered it onto pink Moondust and black card before attaching it to my card front.  Although the image was pre-coloured, I used Promarkers to darken Emma’s hair, to match the colour of my niece’s hair.  I then added Star Dust Stickles to the shoes, dress frill, star and ear rings and a Wink of Stella to the cherries.

Kath x

Happy Birthday To You

I made this card for my great-nephew's birthday and am entering it into the The Male Room 'Anything Goes' and Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenges.

Card blank: 7” x 7” white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Walk the Plank' pre-coloured topper

Stamp: Hobby Art ‘General Greetings’

Die: Creative Dies ‘Nesting Stars’, Memory Box ‘Classic Numbers’

Ink: Versafine Majestic Blue

Card: Red and blue matt

Paper: Blue patterned

I layered the pre-coloured topper onto red card, this was then layered onto blue patterned paper and red card before being attached to the card front.  I stamped the sentiment, trimmed it to size, layered it onto red card and attached it to the bottom of the card.   The number '8' was die-cut from blue card, layered onto a die-cut red star before being attached to the card front.

Kath x

Happy Anniversary

I made this card for my in-laws' anniversary and used a new die which was a cover gift on a magazine I bought over the holiday.  As this is the first time I've used the die I'm entering the Allsorts 'What's New' challenge.  The card was from my snippets drawer so I'm popping into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 7" x 7" white silk
Die: Apple Blossom 'Flourish Heart' (magazine freebie)
Punch: Woodware Square Corner
Other: Stampendous 'Friendly Greetings' peel off
Snippets: Red Moondust and white card, two silver heart peel-offs

I punched the corners of a square of white card, layered it onto red Moondust card and attached it to the card front.  I die-cut the Flourish Heart from red Moondust and attached it to the square, placing the silver peel off below it.  To finish, I added two small silver peel off hearts.  Quick and easy, but I like it!

Kath x

Happy Birthday

I made this card for a friend's birthday and am entering the Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge.  The green card and ribbon are from my snippets drawer, so I'm also in the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank:  7” x 7” cream silk

Stamp: Hobby Art ‘Happy Birthday’

Die: Wild Rose Studio ‘Rose Bunch’

Embossing: Xcut Swirls embossing folder

Ink: Versafine Toffee

Colouring: Sandstone & Cinnamon Promarkers

Card: Light brown

Paper: Wild Rose Studio ‘Peach Blossom’

Snippets: Cream organza ribbon, green card

I layered a full sheet of Peach Blossom paper onto light brown card and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed another sheet of paper from the same pack, stamped the sentiment in the lower corner and then layered this onto light brown card before attaching it to the card front.  I die-cut the Rose Bunch from a snippet of green card and attached it across the centre panel.  The rose heads were die-cut from light brown card, embossed and then attached to the rose.  To finish, I coloured a snippet of cream organza ribbon to match the ink, made a small bow and attached it to the Rose Bunch.

Kath x

New Year Resolutions and Blog Candy

Last year one of my resolutions was to make at least ten Christmas cards each month - I managed to do that every month except July (although overall I achieved my target) and it saved a last minute panic to finish my cards the week before Christmas.  I'm going to do the same this year and will keep a record on my sidebar.  I also want to make my card inserts when I make the cards and not when I want to send them as that took a lot of time with my Christmas cards and was a bit of a chore.  2016 is going to be a thrifty crafting year, so expect to see lots of snippets, freebies and preloved items.

I also thought I would start the New Year with some Blog Candy.

If you would like a chance to win, this is what you must do:
1. Be or become a follower of my blog with Google Friend Connect
2. Add the photo to your sidebar and link back to my blog
2. Leave a comment below before 12:00 GMT on 30 January

I will choose a winner at random from all comments that have been left and will publish the name of the lucky winner on 1 February..

Good luck and have a Happy New Year!
Kath x