Merry Christmas!

Just one card from me today and my final post for 2019 - a card for my favourite challenge!

To make this card I trimmed a snippet of white card, layered it onto red card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut the sentiment and the poinsettias from red card and the poinsettia flowers from gold glitter card.  I attached the sentiment across the card, trimming the edges so they were level with the white panel.  The poinsettias were layered and attached to the card front with the gold flowers added to the centres.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card blank
     All Occasion Dies 'Small Poinsettia', Lawn Fawn 'Merry Christmas Line Border' & Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves' dies
     Snippets of red embossed card, white hammer card and gold glitter cardI

I am entering the following challenge:
         Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 368
     
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Kath x

Knitted Cable Head Band

I don't often wear hats, but do like to wear head bands to keep my ears warm when we're out walking.  I knit this head band with two strands of double knitting yarn that is a mix of acrylic and merino wool so it's lovely and soft.

I'll be adding some of these headbands to my Folksy shop soon.

Kath x

Two Hearts

I made this card for this week's Allsorts challenge - although I wish I could now stop humming 'Two Hearts'!

I cut a piece of card slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the centre.  I die cut 'Celebrate' from red mirri card and attached it o the lower edge of the card.  I die cut the hearts from both red mirri and red pearlescent card - inlaying the pearlescent heart inside the mirri heart.  The larger heart was attached to the card front with the smaller heart attached with a foam pad on top.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' hearts and Poppy Stamps 'Celebrate' dies
     Whie hammer card, snippets of red mirri and red pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Along the Edge
     Allsorts - Inspired by a Song (I chose Two Hearts by Phil Collins)
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - December Challenge
     Perfectly CAS - Celebrate

Kath x

Santa

Whilst tidying my Christmas bits 'n' bobs I came across this cute LOTV image that I had already die cut and then not used.  It's perfect for a quick Christmas card to enter a few challenges.

I covered the front of the card blank with a snippet of red paper, leaving a white margin around the edge.  The precoloured image had already been die cut and embossed.  I cut a piece of white fun foam slightly smaller than the image and attached it to the centre of the card. To finish I added Diamond Stickles on the snow and a Wink of Stella to the fur on Santa's clothes.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white tent fold matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Wonky Rectangles' die
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' paper pad
     Diamond Stickles
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Santa, Mrs Claus or Elves    
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Last Minute Madness If it's Christmassy, link it up!
     Christmas with the Cuties - Christmas Cuties
     Winter Wonderland - End of Year Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Butterfly Gift Box

This is another of my charity shop finds - a cross stitch kit that had been a cover gift with a magazine.  The floral box was already die cut and had the holes on one side ready for the pattern to be stitched.  After stitching the butterflies on the top of the lid I added a piece of white card on the rear and then used strong tape to make the box.  It's perfect for wrapping a small gift.

Kath x

Sail Away

My final post today is a note card. I do like to keep a supply of these small note cards in my box - they're also a great way to use up snippets of card and paper.

I stamped the waves onto snippets of blue paper and fussy cut them.  The background wave was attached to the card and the second was was attached along the lower edge only.  Using my MISTI I stamped the sentiment in the upper corner.  I stamped and die cut the sail boat before colouring it with Promarkers and adding a Wink of Stella to the sails.  Finally, I attached the boat to the card tucking it between the waves.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Sail Away' stamp and coordinating die
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings' stamp
     Memento Paris Dusk Ink
     Promarkers
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white card and blue paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - December challenge
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 367

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

Knitted Beanie Hat

This week's non-cardmaking item is a knitted beanie hat using the yarn I had left over from the buttoned neck warmer I posted a couple of weeks ago.  The beanie was knit in stocking stitch on a circular needle so I avoided having to sew it up - I love knitting but dislike sewing up the finished item so circular knitting is perfect for me!

Kath x

Another Christmas Tree

Just two posts from me today as I'm playing catch-up after visiting our families at the weekend and am also working a couple of extra shifts this week.  This card was made for a few of my favourite challenges.

To make this card I cut a piece of card slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the card.  I die cut the tree from green, red and gold pearlescent card.  The green tree was attached to the centre of the card and the red and gold leaves were inlaid.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white embossed card blank
     Sizzix 'Leafy Trees' die
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     White embossed card, green, gold and red pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Made in Minutes     
     CAS Colours & Sketches - Colour Challenge (Cherry Cobbler, Metallic Gold & Shaded Spruce)
     Less is More - Pick a Triangle
     Tales from the Craft Room - Christmas

And, of course, I used the other die cuts to make two more cards so I had a set of three using all the colours.

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

Blackwork Christmas Tree Decoration

My non-cardmaking item this week is a blackwork Christmas decoration.  Whilst looking in a local charity shop I found a small blackwork kit that had been a cover gift with a magazine and was being sold for 75p.   The frame was part of a 'pre-loved' set of frames I bought a while ago and the ribbon I had previously snipped from inside a jumper.  Thrifty crafting at its best!

This was the first time I'd ever done blackwork and really enjoyed making this decoration.  I found blackwork even more addictive than cross stitch so I'm sure I will be making more decorations soon! 

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

Rainbow Birds

This card uses two preloved dies I purchased ages ago and, shamefully, have never used them until today. The tiny birds are perfect to make good use of tiny snippets of card.

I placed the card blank into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the lower corner.  I die cut the branch from dark brown card and attached it so it overhung the edge of the card and then snipped the end.  I die cut the birds from snippets of rainbow coloured card and attached them along the branch.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" tent fold warm white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Woodland Branch' and 'Resting Birds' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Saying' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of dark brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Made in Minutes     
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - November Challenge
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 366

Kath x

Lili of the Valley Christmas Card Swap

I made this card to send to Julie for the Lili of the Valley Christmas Card Swap using a lovely 'Girlie' Christmas image - I can post the card as Julie has told me she's received it.

I layered holly paper onto a square of dark red card and attached it to the card front before die cutting and embossing the precoloured image and attached it to the centre.  The small poinsettia flowers were die cut and embossed from red card and attached to the top and bottom corners.  The gold flowers were die cut from a snippet of gold holographic card and attached to the centre of the poinsettias.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the fur on the girl's clothing and Stickles to the snowflakes.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Girlie Christmas' Art Sheet
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Decorative Labels One', 'All Occasions Dies 'Small Poinsettia' and Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves' dies
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Wild Rose Studio 'Annabelle's Christmas' paper
     Dark red embossed card
     Diamond Stickles
     Wink of Stella
          
I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Stockings and/or Other Winter Clothing     
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas GoesCha
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

This is the lovely card I received from Julie:

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

My first card today is a Christmas tree card for this month's Rudolph Day.  I've had this Woodware stamp for ages and it's one of my favourites for making quick CAS cards.

I placed the card blank into my MISTI and stamped the tree several times to get a lovely deep colour.  I then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I had intended to make this a one layer card, but the card had twisted when it was heat embossed and I couldn't flatten it out.  So Plan B - I trimmed around the edge and rounded the corners before gluing it to the front of another card blank.  To finish I added dark red nailheads to the large dots around the tree.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Woodware 'Snow is Falling' stamp
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Woodware 'Corner Rounder' punch
     Dark red metal nailheads
    
I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - 'Tis the Season
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas
     Rudolph Day - November Challenge

Kath x

Answers about Printers and Giveaway Winner

Thank you everyone who left comments on my Questions about Printers.  There were only eleven comments, but it's interesting to find out what printers other crafters use so thanks for taking the time to comment.  I've started to do my research and hope to buy a new printer soon.

The other important thing to announce is the winners of the Clearly Besotted 'Jingle Bells' and 'Christmas Pudding' stamp and die sets.  I've used Random.Org to choose the winners and they are:

The winner of the 'Jingle Bells' stamp and die set is:

Valerija - Moje veselje

And the winner of the 'Christmas Pudding' stamp and die set is:

Lynne - Lynne's Craft Haven

Congratulations Valerija and Lynne!  Please email me at kmbuckell@btinternet.com with your full name and postal address so I can get the stamps and dies sent out to you.

Thank you to everyone for taking part in my Questions posts over the last few months.  I've found the answers very interesting and hope you have too!

Kath x

Buttoned Neck Warmer

My non-cardmaking post today is a buttoned neck warmer scarf.  I've made a few of these in different colours - they're perfect for tucking into the neck of a jacket so you're warm and cosy without the bulk of a large scarf.  They're also for sale on Folksy.

This neck warmer is knit in pique rib in a lovely soft yarn in beautiful autumnal colours and has three wood effect buttons which keep the neck warmer in place too.

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

Christmas Pudding

I do love Christmas pudding and this Clearly Besotted stamp and die set is perfect for making a quick and simple card.

I used my stitched square die to emboss a square in the centre of the card blank.  I stamped the pudding in brown ink and the leaves in green ink before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  Although there was a separate stamp and die for the holly berries I chose to colour them with Promarkers and add a Wink of Stella.  I also added a a good layer of Wink of Stella to the top of the pudding so it shimmered.  The pudding and holly were then attached to the centre of the card with foam pads.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Christmas Pudding' stamps and dies, Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia and Olympia Green ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Red Promarker
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - One Image + Optional Twist: Shimmer     
     Alphabet Challenge - Q for Quick and Easy     
     Perfectly CAS - Christmas
     Winter Wonderland - Use Holly and/or Ivy 

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

November Card Chain Challenge

I made this card to send to Marga for the November Card Chain Challenge - I can post it as Marga has let me know she's received it.  I have used the Colour Option (for the baubles), Theme Option (Tree, Baubles and Friendship) and the Product Option (Glitter).

I used my MISTI to place the tree and sentiment stamps onto white card before stamping them in brown ink.  These were then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I trimmed the panel, rounded the corners and attached it to the card blank.  I attached green and silver Card Candi to the large baubles, blue metallic nailheads to the medium baubles and silver Stickles to the small baubles.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Festive Tree' and Clearly Besotted 'Dandelion Dreams' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     Green and silver Card Candi
     Blue metallic nailheads
     Silver Stickles

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

This is the lovely card I received from Jeanne:

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

Cross Stitch Paperweight

It's Sunday so time for another of my non-cardmaking posts.  I enjoy cross stitch and over the years have made many pictures, mainly to give as presents.  Nowadays I prefer smaller projects which I can finish quickly.  This cross stitch picture has been placed into the base of a paperweight - there's also a small piece of green felt on the bottom which both finishes the project and also ensures that it doesn't scratch furniture.

I have struggled with the photo as the glass shines which has pulled some of the colour out of the flowers - they're far more vivid than the photo shows.

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

Let It Snow

My final card today is one I made for the Allsorts 'White on White' challenge and I'm also entering a few of my other favourite challenges. 

I embossed a piece of card with snowflakes, trimmed the panel and rounded the corners before attaching it to the front of the card.  I die cut 'Let It Snow' twice and layered them to give some depth  before attaching the sentiment to the centre of the card.  To finish I added some tiny clear gems to the centre of the snowflakes on the sentiment.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" tent fold white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Let It Snow' die
     Darice 'Snowflake Background' embossing folder
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     White hammer card
     Small clear gems

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - One Image     
     Allsorts - White on White
     Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quick and Easy
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Snow
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

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

Happy Birthday

A quick card I made for a friend's birthday this weekend - it's now in the post and in its way.

I embossed the swirl frame, trimmed the edges, layered it onto lilac card and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment and butterfly from lilac card and attached them to the centre of the card - quick and easy!

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Crafts-Too 'Happy Birthday' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' dies
     Xcut 'Swirls' embossing folder
     Lilac pearlescent and white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quick and Easy
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies
     Seize the Birthday - Anything 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

Snippet Gift Tags

I'm in the throes of wrapping Christmas presents - yes, I know it's early but we're visiting our families in a couple of weeks so I need to be organised.  I made these gift tags for my mother's presents using snippets left over from my Christmas cards.

I folded snippets of white pearlescent card to 2.5" squares and added a strip of gold glitter paper down the centre of the front.  The small white squares were die cut and embossed before being attached to the centre of the tags with foam tape.  I die cut and embossed the poinsettia leaves from red embossed card and the small flowers from gold glitter paper and layered these in the centre of the embossed square.  To finish I attached double sided tape to the rear of the tags to attached them to my parcels.

To make these tags I used:
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Lacy Squares', All Occasion Dies 'Small Poinsettia' and Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves' dies
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Snippets of white ice gold pearlescent card, red embossed card and gold adhesive glitter sheet

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - November Challenge     
     Tales from the Craft Room - Tags and Trimmings (I've obviously chosen the tags option)
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 365

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

Folksy Christmas

Spread a little handmade joy this Christmas.  Buy something made with love in studios, sheds and at the kitchen tables across the British Isles from Folksy - the UK's largest online craft fair.

Watch the wonderful animation by Yas Bowley and then find the perfect gift on Folksy!

See the Folksy Christmas Video. 

And then go Christmas shopping at Folksy.

Kath x

Knitted Cable Hat

I made this hat with one of my charity shop finds - 400g of Wendy Chunky wool for £3.50, banded and brand new.  It was definitely a bargain that was too good to miss and up to now I've made two cable hats but also have yarn that is still to be knit.

Although I enjoy cardmaking I find it easier to take knitting or sewing when we go away in our campervan.  I enjoyed knitting this pattern and thank goodness for YouTube so I could remind myself how to sew it up with mattress stitch to get a tidy seam at the back.

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

Rockin' Robin

My final card today uses another Clearly Besotted stamp and die set to make a card for another teenager.  As it's for the sister of the person who will receive my 'Tis the Season to Prance card I've used the same layout.

I stamped the robins onto snippets of white card, coloured them with Promarkers and die cut them with the coordinating dies.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and laid the robins onto the card so I could see where to place the sentiment.  I removed the robins and stamped the sentiment a couple of times to get a dark image as I was stamping onto hammer card.  The robins were attached to the card with double sided tape and I attached the hat with foam tape to give some dimension.  I then added a Wink of Stella to the hat.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card
     Clearly Besotted 'Rockin' Robin' stamps and dies
     Mememto Tuxedo Black ink (for the robins) and Versafine Onyx Black (for the sentiment)
     Promarkers
     Snippets of white card
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

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

Zig Zag Happy Birthday

I made this card using the colours from this week's CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge.

To make this card I die cut the zig zag die in white card and set it aside.  I die cut it in lilac pearlescent card and removed the inlaid zig zags leaving the frame inside the die.  I then inlaid the white zig zags - this is what I was doing in my previous post.  I covered the back of the die with double sided tape and removed the whole piece from the die and laid it across my card blank, trimming the ends flush with the card blank.  I die cut 'Happy Birthday' once from the yellow card and twice from red card.  I layered the two red die cuts on top of each other and then offset this on the yellow die cut to give a shadow.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Clean and Simple - Zig Zag Border' and Crafts Too 'Happy Birthday' dies
     Snippets of lilac, red and yellow pearlescent card, white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Maximimum White Space + Optional: Geometric
     CAS Colours and Sketches - Colour Challenge
     Perfectly CAS - Birthday

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

'Tis the Season to Prance

I love these Clearly Besotted coordinating stamp and die sets as they make lovely cute cards that aren't too twee - perfect to send to a teenager.

To make this card I stamped the reindeer onto snippets of white card, coloured them with Promarkers and die cut them with the coordinating dies.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the reindeer onto the card so I could see where to position my sentiment.  I removed the reindeers and stamped the sentiment.  The reindeer were then attached to the card with double sided tape.

To make this card I used:

     6" x 4" white matt card blank

     Clearly Besotted 'Let's Prance' stamp and die set

     Memento Tuxedo Black ink (for the reindeer) and Versafine Onyx Black (for the sentiment)

     Promarkers

I am entering the following challenges:

     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

     Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - 'Tis the Season

     Jingle Belles - Rudolph and Friends

     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

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

Questions about Printers and Giveaway

This month my questions are about Printers.  I need to buy a new printer as my current one has never been able to cope with printing on card, but it now won't print in colour either.  A couple of crafty friends have told me what they use, but I'm curious to know about other printers being used too.

  - What make and model printer do you have?
  - What thickness card is your printer able to print?
  - Do you print anything else other than card and paper?  If so, what do you print on?
  - Do you use your printer for printing digital stamps and/or papers?  If so, what weight paper/card do you use?
  - Do you have a favourite card/paper for printing?  If so, what is it?
  - What do you like/dislike about your printer?
  - If you were going to buy a new printer - would you buy the one you have now?
  - And, of course, any other advice you can give about buying a new printer.

All comments will be entered for the giveaway, unless you specifically say that you don't want to be included.  As this is going to be my last 'Questions' post I have two Clearly Besotted stamp and die sets to give away to two people - these are 'Jingle Bells' and 'Christmas Pudding'.

Please leave all comments by 08:00 BST on Tuesday 26 November.  I'll announce the winner of the giveaway the following day.

Kath x

Tinsel Christmas Trees

As well as my normal Wednesday cardmaking posts, I've decided to post on Sundays too.  These posts will all be non-cardmaking things I've made - most of which will be for sale on Folksy.

Today's post is three knitted tinsel Christmas trees.  A friend gave me a ball of tinsel yarn she had bought and then found she didn't have the patience to knit it.  I found the yarn easy to knit, but not so easy to sew around the polystyrene cones!  The trees were knit as triangles and then sewn around the cone with shirring elastic around the bottom edge to pull the knitting tight over the cone.

Kath x

P for Poppies

My final post today is a card I made for the Alphabet Challenge 'P for Poppies' and then found it also fit some of my other favourite challenges.

I die cut the poppy from white card and coloured it with red and green Promarkers, colouring on both sides of the card several times to give a good depth of colour.  I had already had a 'trial run' with a scrap of paper in my MISTI to line up the sentiment, so I placed the card blank into MISTI and stamped the sentiment a couple of times to get a lovely deep green.  I then attached the poppy with Stick & Stay glue.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" warm white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Prim Poppy' die
     Woodware 'Wheat' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Promarkers

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Maximum White Space     
     Alphabet Challenge - P for Poppies
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - October Challenge
   

Kath x

Season's Greetings

I love the simplicity of this card and whilst I had the dies and stamps on my desk I've made a few for my Christmas card box.  They're also a great way of using some more small snippets of paper and card.

To make the card I attached dark blue and pale blue snowflake paper to white card and die cut a medium and small triangle tree.  I placed the triangles onto the card front and using my MISTI I added the sentiment to the lower edge.  I removed the triangles and stamped the sentiment a couple of times to get a deep shade of blue to match the largest tree.  The dark blue tree was attached directly onto the card and the smaller one was attached with Pinflair glue to give some dimension.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Sizzix 'Leafy Trees' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Majestic blue ink
     Snippets of dark blue and pale blue paper, white card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Maximum White Space & Optional Twist Geometric
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - October Challenge
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 364

Kath x

Winter Wonderland

I was so pleased to have found an old Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad for sale as this was one of my Christmas favourites!  I've used one of the cute images to make my sister's Christmas card.

I covered the front of the card blank with holly paper, leaving a white border around the edge.  I trimmed the precoloured image into a square and die cut 'Sister' from the top corner before attaching it to the centre of the card.  I die cut 'Sister' from a snippet of brown textured card and inlaid it into the image.  To finish I highlighted the girl and holly with a Wink of Stella.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt tent fold card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     Creative Expressions 'From The Heart - Female Relations' die
     Wild Rose Studio ' Annabelle's Christmas' paper
     Snippet of brown textured card
     Wink of Stella
    
I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas with the Cuties - Personalise It
     Cutie Pie Challenge - Anything Goes As Long As It's Cute
     Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Christmas

Kath x

October Rudolph Day

My first post today is my Christmas tree card for Rudolph Day.  I bought this Woodware tree stamp preloved many years ago and still love using it.

To make this card I covered the front of the card blank with black, orange and yellow paper leaving a border around the edge.  I trimmed a piece of white card and used my MISTI to stamp both the tree and sentiment, before heat embossing the image.  I coloured the baubles with various shades of orange, gold and yellow Promarkers to match the backing paper.  I stamped the tree trunk onto black pearlescent paper, fussy cut it and attached it to the tree.  The panel was attached to the card and I added Glossy Accents to the baubles.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt tent fold card
     Woodware 'Christmas Bubble Tree' and Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Orange, gold and yellow Promarkers
     Snippet of black pearlescent paper
     Glossy Accents

I am entering the following challenges:
     I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes     
     Rudolph Day - October Challenge
     Winter Wonderland - Merry and Bright (I used the word Merry and some bright colours)
   
Kath x

Opulent Baubles

My final post today uses an Opulent Baubles embossing folder and dies that had been a cover gift with a magazine.

To make this card I embossed a piece of white card - the folder also die cut the bauble.  I trimmed the panel around the embossed edge so it was slightly smaller than my card blank and attached it to the front of the card.  I used the die inside the embossing folder to die cut a bright pink bauble and inlaid it.  I attached pink floral paper to a piece of white card and die cut the intricate bauble before attaching it over the bright pink backing.  I didn't like the bauble top that came with the set so I die cut a the top of a tag using gold mirri and attached the circle to the top of the bauble.  To finish I attached a small gold bow (upcycled from one of last year's Christmas cards) to the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Practical Publishing 'Opulent Baubles' embossing folder and dies
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' die
     Snippets of bright pink and gold mirri card, white matt card, pink floral paper
     Upcycled small gold bow

I am entering the following challenges:
     Jingle Belles - Pink Christmas
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - October Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Have a Wonderful Day

I love these large Woodware flower and sentiment stamps and have several different ones.  This card used the flower from one set and the sentiment from another set.

I put a square of white card into my MISTI and placed the flower and sentiment stamps on top.  When I was happy with the layout I stamped them several times with dark brown ink and then embossed them with clear embossing powder.  I layered the panel onto green paper before attaching it to the card.  I stamped the leaves onto a snippet of the same green paper and paper pieced them.  The large dots are pink card candi, the medium ones are silver nailheads and the small ones have been coloured with a pale pink Promarker with Glossy Accents on the top.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Judith' and 'Bubble Bloom - Felicity' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt' paper
     Pink Card Candi
     Silver nailheads
     Promarker
     Glossy Accents

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Use Something Gold and/or Silver (my card has silver nailheads)
     The Flower Challenge - CAS

Kath x

Answers about Die Cutting and Winner of Giveaway

I'm a little late with my 'Answers' post today as we away in our campervan until yesterday afternoon and I forgot to choose the winner last night.  But better late than never, so here is my post!

Thank you everyone who left comments on my Questions about Die Cutting post.  It's interesting to find out what other crafters use so thanks for taking the time to comment.  There are also a lot of very good tips too, so it's well worth having a read through everyone's answers if you haven't already done so.

The other important thing to announce is the winner of the Clearly Besotted 'Rockin' Robin' stamp and die set.  There were 15 comments and I've used Random.Org to choose the winner

The winner is Glennis F of Creating Cards.  Congratulations Glennis!  Please email me at kmbuckell@btinternet.com with your full name and postal address so I can get the stamps and dies sent out to you.

There will be more questions and another giveaway on the first Wednesday in November.

Kath x

Gold Heart of Hearts

I made this card for a Golden Wedding Anniversary using one of my favourite dies to inlay the hearts.

To make the card I die cut a stitched gold mirri frame and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut a stitched square from white hammer card and then die cut the 'Heart of Hearts' from the centre of the square.  I put the small hearts to one side before inlaying the square into the frame.  I die cut the heart from gold mirri and inlaid the gold and white hearts into the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Impression Obsession 'Heart of Hearts' die
     Gold mirri and white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Add Some Gold and/or Silver (I've obviously chosen the gold option!)
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - October Challenge

Kath x

Rainbow Birthday

I love rainbows so when I saw this week's prompt at Less Is More is 'Rainbow' I knew I had to get all of my snippets out to find some bright rainbow colours. 

To make this card I cut my snippets of card to 1/8" width.  I placed the strips across the corner of my card blank and made a pencil mark by the top strip.  I placed the card blank into my MISTI and lined up the 'Happy' stamp so it was just above my pencil line and then stamped it in black ink.  I removed the pencil line and attached the rainbow strips across the card using wet glue to give some 'wriggle room' so I could make sure there were no gaps between the strips.  I then trimmed the ends of the strips level with my card blank.  I stamped 'birthday' onto white card, die cut it with the coordinating die and attached it along the top strip.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps and coordinating die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Snippets of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet textured card, white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - One Corner   
     Allsorts  Spots and/or Stripes (I've obviously gone for the stripes option!)
     Less is More - Rainbow
     Perfectly CAS - Birthday
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 363

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

Love

A friend sent me this lovely glittery sentiment die cut a while ago.  It's such a lovely die cut (I don't know the name of the die) that I've not wanted to use it, however it's perfect for this month's Alphabet Challenge.

To make this card I attached a piece of pink floral paper onto white card before die cutting and embossing a heart. The heart was attached to the centre of the card blank.  I then attached the sentiment with wet glue to give me some 'wriggle room' so I could line it up along the embossed edge of the heart.

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" white hammer card blank

     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Heart' die

     Kars tan embossing mat

     Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt' paper

     'Love' die cut - make unknown

I am entering the following challenges:

     Alphabet Challenge - O for One Word Sentiment

     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - October Challenge

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