Happy Holidays

I was looking through my drawer of cards to upcycle and came across a card with this cute Santa Claus - perfect for this weeks Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge.

I trimmed a piece of red mirri so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  The blue scene paper was a little too big so I trimmed the left side and bottom so it was slightly smaller than the mirri layer.  I placed the paper into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the lower corner with red ink before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I layered the paper onto the mirri and attached it to the card.  Santa was already fussy cut as he had been attached with a foam pad to the original Christmas card.  The paper also had some trees on the left side, so I positioned Santa so he covered the trees and looked like he was walking down the hill.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Versafine Satin Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail Embossing Powder
     Paper Discovery paper (from a Papercraft Society Box)
     Snippet of red mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Santa Claus
     Happy Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Pink and Purple Christmas Tree

I made this Christmas card for Steve's niece - I had already made a similar card in bright colours for her brother but thought these colours were a bit more girlie.

I trimmed a piece of white hammer card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the front of the card.  I die cut the tree from a snippet of dark purple pearlescent card and attached it to the centre.  I used smaller snippets of lilac and pink pearlescent to cut the leaves which were then inlaid into the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Sizzix 'Trees - Leafy' die
     Woodware 'Corner Rounder' punch
     Snippets of white hammer card and purple, lilac and pink pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If It's Christmassy, Link it Up
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Quick and Easy
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - December Challenge
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

For various reasons I've missed most of the Rudolph Day challenges this year, but thought I must make an effort to join in with the final challenge of the year.  My theme for this year's Rudolph Day cards is 'Upcycling' so I've used the front of a card I received last year to make this super quick card.

I die cut the front of the card, layered it onto a snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank.  This card was so quick to make it felt like I'm cheating!

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of gold mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - November challenge

Kath x

May Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day - I can't believe that another month has flown by.  My Rudolph Day theme this year is 'Upcycling' so this is another card with an upcycled image from a Christmas card I received last year and a gold frame made from an old birthday card.

The Christmas card had got three angels on the front and I used a stitched rectangle die to cut this angel from the left side (I also cut the angel from the right of the card to make another Christmas card). The gold die cut stitched frame was from an old birthday card.  The frame was attached to the card and the angel topper inlaid into it.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Upcycled Christmas card and birthday card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day - May Challenge

Kath x

Christmas Choir

This card is made with another Hunkydory Deco-Large topper which was amongst some preloved cardmaking items I've recently bought.

To make this quick card I layered the main image onto silver mirri and then onto red patterned paper before attaching it to the front of the card blank.  The images in the Deco Large kits are die cut so I removed them from the backing sheet and trimmed any small 'pips' around the edge before using Pinflair glue to add the decoupage layers to the card.  There were some small sentiments with the toppers pack but I chose to leave the card without a sentiment.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt ard blank
     Hunkydory 'Christmas Choir Deco-Large' topper
     Snippets of red patterned card and silver mirri

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use Some Silver
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Winter Wonderland

I made this card using a lovely Hunkydory Deco-large topper which was part of a preloved pack of goodies I've recently purchased.

I trimmed the green floral paper, layered it onto silver mirri and attached it to the card front.  The Deco-large toppers are die cut, so I popped them from the carrier card and used Pinflair glue to layer the image.  Once the glue had set I attached the decoupaged panel to the centre of the card.  The small 'Festive Wishes' sentiment is also from Hunkydory (although as it was from my oddments box I don't know the name of the topper sheet it was from) and this was attached to the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Winter Wonderland Deco-Large' toppers
     Hunkydory 'Festive Wishes' topper 
     Kaisercraft Christmas paper 
     Silver mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - May challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

April Rudolph Day

It's time for the fourth Rudolph Day challenge of the year - I can't believe how quickly time is flying by.  As my RD theme this year is 'Upcycling' I've used a tiny Rudolph image and some red shiny card that have been upcycled from two Christmas cards.

I die cut the Rudolph image with a stitched die and then layered it onto a shiny red square that had been die cut and embossed around the edge.  The tiny topper was then attached to the centre of the card.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large' dies
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Tiny Rudolph image and shiny red card (upcycled from two Christmas cards)

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Oh Deer
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - April challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - April challenge

Kath x  

Monochrome Reindeer

Another Christmas card using lots more snippets - although my snippets box doesn't seem to be getting any smaller!

I trimmed a piece of white 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 wood effect card behind the aperture and attached the panel to the card.  I die cut three reindeers from dark brown pearlescent card and the swirl and bow from a lighter brown card.  I layered the three bodies, cutting the back leg of the bottom layer so it would lie flat across the card, before attaching it.  I layered the antlers and attached them.  The light brown swirl was inlaid into the reindeer body and the bow attached to his neck.  To finish I added three small brown snowflakes around the reindeer.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Kanban 'Cosy Christmas' wood effect card
     Snippets of dark brown and light brown pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Monochromatic
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Wood Background
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x    

March Rudolph Day

It's time for the third Rudolph Day of the year and another upcycled card.  I didn't receive this lovely card - I came across it in our communal recycling bin and thought it would be perfect for upcyling as it's such a good quality card and the sky background is even more beautiful than in the photograph.  I feel like I've cheated with this one as it was a very simple make.

To make this super quick card I trimmed around the front of the card as it was much larger than the front of my card blank, layered it onto gold mirri card and attached it to the card front.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Snippet of gold mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day - March Challenge

Kath x

February Rudolph Day

It's time for the second Rudolph Day of the year.  My theme for Rudolph Day cards this year is 'Upcyled' and this card uses gold foil chocolate wrappers and the front off a notecard.

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was smaller than the front of the card blank and die cut JOY from the centre.  I rounded the corners of the panel and attached it to the card blank.  I flattened the chocolate wrappers and wiped the back to remove any chocolate crumbs and then crinkled them so they were slightly larger than each letter.  I used my brayer to flatten them before gluing them to a scrap of paper.  Once the glue had dried I die cut the letters and inlaid them into the card.  I removed a small topper from the front of the notecard and placed the fancy JOY die so I could incorporate some of the lovely gold spots on the bright green card.  I die cut the fancy JOY and attached it over the gold letters.

To make this card I used:
     5.75" x 4.25in white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Joy' die
     Upcycled gold foil (Ferrero Rocher chocolate wrappers) and green watercolour card (from the front of a notecard)
     Snippet of white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use Some Gold
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - February Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - February Challenge
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes Tribute Challenge

Kath x

C for Christmas Carols

I made this Christmas card with another topper and papers from my oddments box.

I trimmed two small snippets of green paper to fit the front of the card blank and then attached them to a piece of white paper before attaching a strip of red paper to cover the join.  I die cut a stitched oval from the centre of the panel and attached it to the card.  I then die cut the precoloured LOTV image and inlaid it into the aperture.

To make this card I used:

     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley ''Tis the Season' Art Pad
     My Favorite Things - Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-manics' die
     Snippets of Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' papers and white paper

I am entering the following challenges:

     ABC Christmas Challenge - C for Christmas Carols
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Something that begins with C and/or D (I have Carol Singers, Children and Dog)
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use Some Green
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

January Rudolph Day

For the past few years I've had a theme for my Rudolph Day Cards.  In 2017 I used images from a LOTV Art Pad, in 2018 my cards were 4" x 4", in 2019 all cards had a Christmas tree on them and last year I made cards with wet and/or dry embossing.  As we are having a thrifty 2021 I have chosen 'Upcyling' as my Rudolph Day theme this year.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics', Memory Box 'Lydia Ornament', 'Traditional Ornament' & 'Crisp Bows' dies
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Snippet of white hammer card
     Blue glitter paper (from inside a Christmas card) and dark blue card with glitter spots (from the front of a Christmas card)

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Something that Starts with A and/or B (I have used B for Bauble)
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - No Sentiment
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Anything Festive Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - January Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - January challenge

Kath x

Elegant Reindeer

It's time for my first Christmas card of the year - a CAS card made for a few challenges.

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card blank, rounded the corners and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  The panel was attached to the centre of the card.  I die cut a stitched circle from a snippet of paper and inlaid it into the circle.  The 'Elegant Reindeer' was die cut from black card and attached to the lower corner of the card.  The swirl on the reindeer's body was die cut from a tiny snippet of red card and inlaid.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside and Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics'  and Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' dies
     Snippets of white matt card, Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' paper, black matt and red textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS Christmas - Silhouette
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Such a Deer
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Feature a Creature
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Anything Festive Goes
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 394

Kath x

Another Delightful Dangles Christmas Tree

Whilst tidying the remains of my Christmas crafting I found this Delightful Dangles Christmas tree that I had already stamped and embossed.  Time to make it into a quick card to put away for next year.

I used green ink to stamp the tree and sentiment onto white card and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I trimmed the panel so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card blank, rounded the corners and attached it to the front of the card. I then used a gold gel pen to highlight the ornaments on the tree.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Delightful Dangles - Christmas Tree'
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Gold gel pen
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Woodware Corner Rounder punch
     Snippet of white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:     
     AAA Cards - Made in Minutes + Optional Twist - Christmas
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use the Word Christmas
     Fezzwig's Festive Frolics - Last Minute Makes

Kath x

To a Very Special Husband

My final Christmas card this year is, as always, my card for Steve.  I recently made a card as a special order for one of my customers and decided that I would make a similar one for Steve.

I die cut the 'Woodland Scene' from white card and attached it to the blue paper before trimming around the edge.  I die cut and embossed the largest stitched square from dark blue pearlescent card and the largest classic square from silver mirri card.  I layered the scene onto the silver square and the blue square.  I put the card blank into my MISTI and placed the topper in the centre so I could see where to position the sentiment stamp.  I stamped the sentiment in dark blue ink and then highlighted 'husband' with a Wink of Stella.  The Woodland topper was then attached to the centre of the card.  To finish I die cut a star from silver mirri and attached it above the deer.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Woodland Scene', Lawn Fawn ' Outside In Stiched Square Stackables' and Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Happy Birthday All' stamps
     Versafine Majestic Blue ink
     Snippets of dark blue pearlescent and white matt card, silver mirri card and blue paper
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Your Favourite Things (for me this is die cutting)
     Allsorts - Christmas
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown- Pick a Previous 2020 Challenge (I chose the April 2020 Theme - Forest and Deer)
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x

Merry Christmas Nan

This was a commissioned card I made for one of my regular customers using one of my favourite embossing folder and dies.

I embossed a piece of white card with the baubles embossing folder and trimmed around the edge so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before attaching it to the card.  The embossing folder also die cut the bauble shape.  I attached a snippet of the green paper to a piece of white card and die cut the bauble shape before inlaying it into the front of the card.  I used the separate bauble die to cut a purple layer and attached it to the card.  I then used purple ink to stamp the bow onto a snippet of orange textured card and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I fussy cut the bow and attached it to the top of the bauble.  I printed the sentiment onto green paper (the same paper I had used for the bauble), attached it to a snippet of white card before cutting it with a fishtail flag and attaching it to the top of the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Practical Publishing 'Opulent Baubles' embossing folder and stamps
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Snippets of green paper, white matt card, orange and purple textured card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Got to be Christmas
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use the word 'Merry'
     Let's Squash It - Use any embossing folder and dies/fussy cutting (I've used an emboss and cut folder, as well as a die and fussy cutting)
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Joy, Hope, Peace, Believe, Christmas

I've spent so long making Christmas cards for other people that I'm running short of time to make my own.  I decided to make some quick cards - perfect for a few current challenges.

I die cut the Christmas tree from red self adhesive glitter paper and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  It really doesn't get much quicker or simpler than that (although it did take ages to get all the small bits of glitter paper from out of the die!).

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Christmas Tree Greetings'
     Xcut Adhesive Glitter Sheets

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Made in Minutes + Optional: Christmas
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous 2020 Challenge (I've chosen the April 2020 Colour Challenge - Red & White)
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Christmas
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Quick and Easy
     Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes - End of Year Challenge

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

It's hard to believe that it's time for the final Rudolph Day of the year - this month's card uses dry embossing and lots of snippets.

I embossed a piece of white pearlescent card with the holly embossing folder.  I trimmed around the edge of the frame before layering it onto silver mirri card and attaching it to the card front.  I used a sentiment that Di had recently sent me and attached it to a circle of pearlesclent card.  This was layered onto a scalloped and embossed circle that had been die cut from silver mirri before being attached to the centre of the card.  

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white pearlescent card blank
     Apple Blossom 'Holly' embossing folder
     Craftwork Cards sentiment
     Snippets of white pearlescent card and silver mirriI

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 391
     Rudolph Day - November Challenge

Kath x

Angel Praying

I made this card last week using a cute LOTV precoloured image I came across when tidying a box of toppers.  I listed it on Folksy and was pleased to sell it within a couple of days..

I used a stitched square die to cut the precoloured image and then used two dies to cut a square stitched frame from silver mirri.  I then used the largest die to cut an aperture in the front of the card blank.  I attached a piece of white card on the inside of the card and then inlaid the frame and angel image.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valle 'Angel Praying' precoloured image
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' dies
     Silver mirri card and white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Santa, Elves, Angels (I've obviously chosen the angel option)
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Embossed Holly

I made this embossed and stamped Christmas card for both the Christmas Kickstart Challenge and the Let's Squash It challenge.

I embossed a piece of white card with the holly folder, trimmed around the edge and attached it to the front of the card.  I used brown ink to stamp the Christmas pudding and green ink to stamp the holly onto a snippet of white card  These were both embossed with clear embossing powder and cut with the coordinating dies.  I attached the pudding to the centre of the card with a foam pad and applied Crystal Stickles to the top.  I coloured the berries with a red Promarker and added a Wink of Stella.  Once the Stickles had dried I attached the holly to the top of the pudding.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Christmas Pudding' stamps and coordinating dies
     Apple Blossom 'Holly' embossing folder (this had been a cover gift with a magazine)
     Versafine Vintage Sepia and Olympia Green ink
     Berry Promarker
     Crystal Stickles
     Wink of Stella
     Snippet of white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Use a Christmas embossing folder and a stamp
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Use Some Glitter
     Let's Squash It - Use a Christmas themed embossing folder and stamps

Kath x