Grateful for you

I was pleased to see my Birthday Hare was one of the Top 7 at the Allsorts 'Spring' challenge and the team invited me to join them as Guest Designer on their 'Monochromatic' challenge.  I've made this card with more stamps from the IndigoBlu magazine box kit - the same kit that I used for my 'Birthday Hare' card. There are two great prizes of stamps and stencil for the lucky winners of the challenge.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     IndigoBlu 'Mixed-media Special 11' magazine box kit
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of white matt card, brown matt card and brown patterned paper

I used brown ink to stamp the fox onto a snippet of brown paper before trimming it, layering it onto a slightly larger piece of brown card and attaching it to the front of the card blank. I was going to colour the fox, but as the detail on the fox was so good I decided to leave it as it is.  I stamped the sentiment onto another snippet of white matt card, fussy cut it and attached it to the front of the card with foam tape.

I am entering the following challengesl
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean and Simple
     CAS on Friday - Animals
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - All Creatures Great and Small

Kath x

April Rudolph Day

It's time for the fourth Rudolph Day of the year and another Christmas card with a main stamped image (stamping is my RD theme this year).  This card uses one of my favourite Funky Fossil stamps - perfect for masculine 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

I trimmed the snippet of kraft card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before attaching it to the front of the card.  I stamped the wreath with brown ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I then used the largest stitched circle die to 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.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark (I have used ink, a Copic and gell pens)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean & Simple
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes + Colour an Image
     Rudolph Day Challenge - April Challenge

Kath x

Ed Hedgehog

I won this cute hedgehog cross stitch kit in a giveaway group and thought it would make a great birthday card for a young member of the family.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white linen card blank
     The World of Cross Stitching magazine 'Country Companions - Ed Hedgehog' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Woodware Round Corner punch
     Snippet of white linen card

After stitching the design I set it aside and made a frame from a snippet of white linen card.  I trimmed the card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  I attached the stitched design behind the aperture and then attached the panel to the front of the card.

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

Kath x

Easter Blessings

I've not had much time for crafting this week but have used a few Hunkydory oddments to make a quick Easter card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Easter Wishes Card Collection - Easter Blessings' card and topper

     Snippet of gold mirri

I attached the yellow frame onto the pink backing card using foam tape ensuring the squares were lined up.  I then trimmed around the edge of the frame, layered the panel onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  The cute topper was attached to the centre of the frame with foam tape.  Quick and easy!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - Signs of Spring
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - It's Springtime
     Try It On Tuesday - Spring

Kath x

Mother's Day Card & Tag

I made this card and tag for my mother for Mother's Day.  Although these Hunkydory card and toppers are not my preferred style of crafting, my mother likes them so I chose this pretty spring design for her.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Heartfelt Wishes' backing card and topper
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' die
     Snippets of gold mirri card

To make the tag I used:
     Hunkydory 'Heartfelt Wishes' backing card and topper
     Creative Expressions ''Pierced Tags' die
     Snippet of gold ribbon

To make the card I removed the base layer and decoupage pieces from the backing card and used foam tape to layer the images.  I didn't use all of the layers as I find it makes the cards too bulky, so put some of them aside to make a matching gift tag.  I trimmed the backing card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank before attaching the decoupaged topper to the centre.  To finish I die cut 'Mum' from gold mirri and attached it inside the floral frame.

To make the matching tag I die cut the largest tag using a snippet of the backing card before embossing around the edge.  I attached a small sentiment topper to the left side of the tag and decoupaged layers to the right side.  I finished the tag by adding a snippet of gold twine.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - V for Volume (I have used decoupaged layers to give my card dimension)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Mixed Colour Florals
 
Kath x

February Rudolph Day

It's time for the second Rudolph Day of the year and another Christmas card with a stamped image (a main stamped image is my RD theme this year).  This lovely Woodware stamp was in the Christmas prize bundle I won in the Snippets Playground.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bauble and Bow' stamp set\
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - B32, G02, G05, RV23, V12, V15, Y02, Y15, YG06 & YR00
     Woodware 'Corner Rounder' punch
     Glossy Accents
     Wink of Stella
     White matt card

I used brown ink to stamp the bauble and sentiment onto white matt card.  The panel was then trimmed so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and the corners rounded.  I used Copics to colour the bauble, bow and leaves before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  To finish I applied Glossy Accents to the baubles and a Wink of Stella on the bow.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make your Mark (I have used Copics)
     Allsorts - Embossing (I have used wet embossing for my image and sentiment)
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Something New (I have used my new Woodware stamp)
     Rudolph Day - February Challenge
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Baubles

Kath x

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

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

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

Red Clover Card

This design is from Carolyn's Meadow by Serendipity Designs and is another recent charity shop purchase.  I enjoyed stitching this lovely design which I've made into a birthday card for a friend.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Serendipity Designs 'Carolyn's Meadow - Red Clover' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

     

After completing the stitching I mounted it behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the front of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached 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 chosen blooms)

Kath x

A Tea-riffic Day

I've not done any crafting over the last few weeks, but I have tidied my craft drawers and found these floral tea cups from a Hunkydory Deco-large set.  I usually only use half of the layers in the Deco-large sets as I find them too bulky if I use all of the layers and these were left over from another card I made.  I thought they would be perfect for a quick birthday card for a friend who's always drinking tea!

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Spring is Here Deco-Large - A Tea-riffic Day' topper and backing card
     Creative Expressions 'Mini Expressions - Stacked Happy Birthday' die
     Snippets of gold mirri card

I trimmed the corner of the backing card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the card front.  I used foam pads to build the teacups decoupage and attached them to the corner of the card.  To finish I die cut the sentiment from another snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the corner of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes     
     First Cup Challenges - Anything Beverage/Drink Related

Kath x

Festive Gnome Decoration

This Festive Gnome had been a cover gift with a magazine, although I bought it from a charity shop and stitched it over the summer.

To make this decoration I used:
     World of Cross Stitching 'Festive Gnome Bauble' kit
     Green and red twine

I stitched the gnome on the plastic canvas in the kit and trimmed around the edge when I had finished the stitching.  I used the same colour threads as the cross stitch to stitch the back seam.  Before I finished stitching the back of the gnome I knotted a piece of twine to make a loop and inserted the knot in the rear of the gnome before continuing to stitch the back and make him ready to hang on our Christmas tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like it Challenge - Festive Creations

Kath x

Folk Art Christmas Stocking

This design was from a folk art selection of designs by Sue Page.  The stocking should have been an ornament hanging from holly (similar to my Folk Art Cross Stitch Christmas card) but I just stitched the stocking so it would fit inside the aperture of this tri-fold card.

To make this card I used:
     C6 cream tri-fold card with oval aperture
     Sue Page's 'Folk Art' chart from Christmas Cross Stitch Favourites magazine
     14 hpi rustic aida
     DMC threads

This was another quick card to assemble as once the stitching had been completed I trimmed the fabric before attaching it to the rear of the aperture.  The card was then folded over to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - X is for X-Stitch
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Festive Wear

Kath x

Happy New Home

I stitched this design for one of my neighbours who is moving to another flat within the next couple of months.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white linen card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackable' die
     Maria Diaz 'New Home' chart (from Ultimate Cross Stitch Cards magazine)
     14 count white aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white linen card

I used the largest die to cut an aperture in the front of the card blank.  After stitching the design I trimmed the fabric before attaching to the rear of the aperture.  I trimmed a snippet of white linen card and attached it inside the card to cover the back of the stitching.

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

Kath x

Mini Mittens

These cute mini mittens were some more of my holiday stitching - they were stitched with a free pattern from Catkin and Lillie.

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" cream hammer tri-fold card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Catkin and Lillie 'Mini Mittens' cross stitch chart
     14 hpi rustic aida
     DMC threads

I stitched the mittens onto a small piece of rustic aida and set the finished stitching aside.  The aperture in the tri-fold card was slightly too small, so I used the stitched square die to cut the aperture to the right size.  The fabric was trimmed and attached behind the aperture before folding the panel across the inside of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Festive Wear
     

Kath x

Penguins for Annie and Sam

I made these cards for my great niece and my youngest great nephew using a lovely Christmas alphabet by Rhona Norrie.

To make these cards I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blanks
     Rhona Norrie 'Penguin Playtime' cross stitch charts
     14 count white aida
     DMC threads 
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippet of white hammer card

I stitched the penguins onto white aida - both initials should have been stitched in green but I changed the 'S' to a red initial so they were slightly different.  I used the square die to cut the outside of the frame and then used the circle die to cut the aperture.  I trimmed the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the frame and used double sided tape to attach it to the rear.  The panel was then attached to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Critter (I love penguins and have done so since being taken to the zoo as a child and seeing their funny walk - they always make me smile)
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x