Peace and Joy at Christmas

I made this card for the Sparkles Christmas Challenge 'Embossing - Heat or Dry or Even Both' (I've gone for the 'Both' option).  I'm also entering the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge 'CAS',  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Glitter', the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Stamp: 'Peace & Joy' (magazine freebie)
Embossing: Crafts-Too 'Snowflake Frame' embossing folder, WOW! Metallic Gold Sparkle Embossing Glitter
Ink: Versamark
Card: Gold pearlescent, white matt

I embossed white card with the snowflake frame before stamping and embossing the sentiment in the centre with glitter embossing powder (although the glitter doesn't show in the photograph).  I trimmed the panel, layered it onto gold pearlescent card and attached it to the centre of the card blank.

Kath x

October Rudolph Day

It's time for the October Rudolph Day and another of my 4" x 4" cards using freebies.  I'm also entering the Fab 'n' Funky 'Christmas' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas'.

Card blank: 4" x 4" gold matt
Image: Apple Blossom 'Ornament' (magazine freebie)
Die: Apple Blossom 'Ornament' (magazine freebie)
Embossing: Apple Blossom 'Holly' (magazine freebie)
Card: White and gold matt
Other: Gold ribbon

I embossed the white card, trimmed around the edge of the frame and attached it to the card blank.  I attached the bauble onto a piece of card to make it more rigid and then die cut it using the matching die.  This was attached to the centre of the card with foam tape. I die cut the bauble top from gold card and attached it to the card.  I made a small bow from gold ribbon and used Pinflair glue to fasten it to the top of the bauble.

Kath x

Jewel Wreath

I made this card for the CAS Christmas 'Wreath' challenge using a peel-off wreath from my 'bits box'.  I'm also entering the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown 'Colouring' challenge, and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and the The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image and Sentiment: Woodware 'Bubble Wreath' and 'Christmas Greetings' silver peel-offs
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Silver mirri, white matt
Other: Red bow (upcycled from a Christmas card)
Other: Wink of Stella

I attached the wreath to the white card adding the sentiment below it.  This panel was trimmed, layered onto silver mirri card and attached to the centre of the card blank.  I coloured the wreath with Promarkers and attached a red bow to the top. To finish I highlighted the baubles with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

July Rudolph Day

It's time for the July Rudolph Day Challenge - a little later than usual as ScrappyMo had a 'technical hitch' when releasing the post.  I've made another quick and easy 4" x 4" card, which is my theme this year.  I'm also entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas' and the Merry Litle Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'.

Card blank: 4" x 4" white matt
Image: SugarPea Designs 'Happy Holidays' cardstock
Card: Dark red matt
Other: Wink of Stella

To make this super quick card, I trimmed the 'Happy Holidays' card, layered it onto dark red card and attached it to the card front.  I then highlighted the gold with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Christmas Angel

I made this card for the Christmas with the Cuties 'Add some Sparkle' challenge.  I'm also entering Die Cuttin' Divas 'Chritmas in July' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'.

Card blank: 5" x 5" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Christmas Angels' Art Pad
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large' and Classic Scalloped Circles Large'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Card: Dark blue pearlescent
Other: Diamond Stickles, Wink of Stella, Silver Adhesive Glitter Sheet

I layered the silver glitter sheet onto blue card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut and embossed the pre-coloured Art Pad image before layering it onto a die cut and embossed blue scalloped circle.  I attached the circle to the centre of the card with Pinflair glue to ensure it stuck onto the glitter sheet.  I highlighted the angel and stars with a Wink of Stella and added Diamond Stickles to the cloud.

Kath x

June Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day challenge and another of my quick 4" x 4" cards.  I'm also entering the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown 'Wood Background' challenge and the Merry Monday 'Rustic Christmas' challenge.

Card blank: 4" x 4" white matt
Image: Kanban 'Cosy Christmas'
Stamp: Hot off the Press 'Christmas Wishes' (magazine freebie)
Embossing: Stampendous clear embossing powder
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Card: Dark brown matt

To make this super quick card I trimmed the image before stamping and embossing the sentiment in the top corner.  The panel was then layered onto dark brown card and attached to the card front.

Kath x

Cabrini Ornament

I made these snippets cards with one of my favourite Christmas ornament dies and as I wanted to use two colours it made sense to make two cards so I could use all the die cut pieces.  The card is all from my snippets drawer so I'm heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  I'm also entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas' and  Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge.

Card blanks: 4" x 4" gold matt
Die: Memory Box 'Cabrini Ornament'
Embossing: Apple Blossom 'Holly' (magazine freebie), Sizzix 'Dots', Kars tan embossing mat
Snippets: Gold matt, white matt and red mirri card

I embossed two snippets of white card, trimmed around the edges of the frames before attaching them to the card blanks.  I die cut and embossed the ornament from both gold matt and red mirri card.  I attached the gold frame and holly leaves to one card and the red to the other.  The centres of the ornaments were embossed with the dots embossing folder before these and the holly berries were inlaid into the cards.

Kath x

Christmas Birds

I'm hosting the new challenge at Winter Wonderland and I've chosen 'Christmas Birds' as our theme.  We don't have a sponsor for this challenge, but I'm offering the randomly chosen winner a Tonic Studio 'Peace Dove' die.  I'm entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
Stamp: Woodware 'Tipsy Tree'
Punch: Woodware Corner Rounder
Ink: Versafine Crimson Red
Paper: Dark green patterned
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the green paper so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card, rounded the corners and attached it to the card.  I trimmed the pre-coloured Art Pad image to ensure an even margin around all the sides and rounded the corners.  I then stamped the sentiment in the top corner.  As I wanted to get a deep colour to match the red on the image I used my MISTI and stamped the sentiment several times.  The image was attached to the centre of the card and highlighted with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Ebony Christmas

It's time for another challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see 'Non-traditional Colours'.  I'm a little late in posting my card as the new month has crept up on me and, as usual when I'm short of time, I've dipped into my box of upcycled cards to find a suitable image.  I'm entering the Alphabet Challenge 'E for Ebony', the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 5" x 4" white matt
Image: Upcycled Christmas card
Card: Gold matt
Other: Wink of Stella

To make this super quick card, I trimmed the image, layered it onto gold card, attached it to the card blank and added a Wink of Stella.  It was so quick to make I feel like I've cheated, but the image was too beautiful not to use!

Kath x

May Rudolph Day

Another Rudolph Day and another of my 4" x 4" card - this month I've made a super quick card using an upcycled Christmas card.  I'm also entering the ABC Christmas Challenge 'K for Keep it Simple', the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 4" x 4" gold matt mirri
Image: Upcycled Christmas card
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Lacy Squares'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Card: Black card

To make this super quick card I die cut and embossed the Lacy Square ensuring the sentiment was in the centre.  This was layered onto a couple of small squares of black card to give some dimension before being attached to the centre of the card.

Kath x

Christmas in the Snow

It's time for another challenge at Winter Wonderland and the theme is 'Christmas in the Snow'.  We are sponsored by LeAnn's World 101 who are offering the winner two digi stamps of their choice.  I'm entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white silk
Stamp: LeeAnn's Wold 201 'Snow Friends' digi
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: White silk
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas'
Other: Diamond Stickles, Wink of Stella

I covered the front of the card with green paper, leaving a white border around the edge.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white card.  The image was trimmed and coloured with Promarkers before being layered onto red paper and attached to the centre of the card.  To finish I highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella and added Diamond Stickles to the snow.

Kath x

All White Bauble

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see your 'All White' creations.  I'm entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and the The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 5" x 5" white matt
Dies: Marianne Design Creatables 'Christmas Bauble' (magazine freebie), Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large'
Embossing: Apple Blossom 'Holly' folder (magazine freebie)
Card: White matt and white pearlescent
Other: White ribbon

I embossed a piece of white card, trimmed it around the border, layered it onto a slightly larger piece of white pearlescent card and attached it to the front of the card.  I die cut the Christmas bauble from pearlescent card and also a circle of the same size. I attached the bauble to the circle.  I then die cut the bauble from white matt card and inlaid the pieces into the bauble.  I normally run an inlaid die cut through my Cuttlebug to ensure everything is flat, but as the bauble had some embossing I rolled it with a brayer instead so it wasn't flattened too much. The bauble was attached to the centre with foam tape.  To finish I made a small white ribbon bow and attached it to the top of the bauble with a blob of Pinflair glue.

Kath x

Christmas Pud

I made this card for Loll and Bonnie's new CAS Christmas challenge where the theme is 'Holly'.  I'm also entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 5" x 5" white matt
Stamp: Funstamps 'Christmas Pud'
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Red mirri and white matt
Other: Wink of Stella

I stamped the Christmas Pud onto a piece of white card before die cutting and embossing it.  The holly and star were coloured with Promarkers before the panel was layered onto red mirri and attached to the centre of the card.  To finish, I highlighted the Pud with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Rescue Squad

It's time for a new challenge at Winter Wonderland and our theme is 'Outdoor Fun.  We're sponsored by Dr Digi's House of Stamps who are offering the winner two digi stamps of their choice.

I'm entering the Cardz 4 Guyz 'Things with Tails' challenge, Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.  I'm also heading over to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white silk
Image: Dr Digi's House of Stamps 'Rescue Squad'
Sentiment: Marianne Design 'Ice Skating Don' (magazine freebie)
Punch: Woodware Snowflake
Ink: Versafine Crimson Red
Colouring: Promarkers
Other: Stampendous White Fun Flock, Pearl Diamond Spray and Sparkle, Wink of Stella
Snippets: Tree background paper, red matt and white silk card

I trimmed the background paper, popped it into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the top corner - stamping it a couple of times to get a deep colour.  I layered the paper onto red card and attached it to the card blank.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white silk card.  This was fussy cut before being coloured with Promarkers.  I added Fun Flock to the edge of the hood and then attached the image to the lower corner of the card with foam tape.  I punched three snowflakes from white card and sprayed them with Spray and Sparkle before attaching them to the card.  To finish I highlighted the sentiment with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

February Rudolph Day

It't time for another Rudolph Day challenge and another of my small upcycled, snippet cards - this one also used a magazine freebie!  I'm entering the ABC Christmas Challenge 'C is for Clean', the Holly and Ivy Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 4" x 4" white matt
Image: Upcycled Christmas card
Punch: Woodware 2" square
Embossing: Festive Wishes (magazine freebie)
Snippets: White matt and red mirri card

To make this quick and simple Christmas card I embossed a snippet of white card, layered it onto red mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I punched the robin image from a Christmas card and layered it onto red mirri before attaching it to the centre of the card with foam tape.

Kath x

Happy Christmas

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see Christmas crafts that are 'Mainly Red'.  I'm also entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Always Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Always Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Dies: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas', Memory Box 'Lydia Ornament' & 'Crisp Bows'
Card: Dark red embossed
Paper: Joy Crafts 'Earth Bloc'
Other: Spray & Sparkle Pearl Diamond

I die cut a sentiment, ornament and bow from dark red card and set them aside.  I trimmed a piece of beige paper so it was approximately 1.5cm smaller than the card front and die cut the sentiment, ornament and bow before attaching the paper to a slightly larger piece of dark red card.  I then inlaid the die cut pieces, other than the ornament background.  I sprayed Spray & Sparkle onto another piece of dark red card and when it had dried I die cut another ornament and inlaid the background pieces.  When the panel was finished, I placed a piece of paper across the top and ran it through my Cuttlebug to ensure all the pieces were secure.  To finish the panel was attached to the card front.

Kath x

Santa Collage

I've had this Rubber Stampede 'Santa' stamp on my wish list since I saw Kathy's post last year.  As Kathy mentioned the stamp is hard to find, so I was over the moon to see some used Christmas stamps for sale on eBay, and Santa was in one of the boxes!  I'm entering Merry Monday 'Red & Turquoise' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card: 5" x 5" white silk
Stamp: Rubber Stampede 'Santa Collage'
Die: My Favourite Things Die-namics 'Tag You're It'
Ink: Versafine Crimson Red
Snippets: Turquoise matt and white silk card, Lili of the Valley 'Festive Trimmings' paper, turquoise ribbon

I used my last piece of red paper from the 'Festive Trimmings' pad and tidied the edges to make a square.  I layered it onto a piece of turquoise card to highlight the writing on the paper before attaching it to the centre of the card front.  As the die is solid I decided to die cut the tag first and then stamp the image.  The stamp was wooden mounted but I was able to peel it carefully from the wooden block so I could use it in my MISTI.  I placed the die cut tag into MISTI before laying the stamp on top and stamping the Santa image a couple of times using Crimson Red ink.  The tag was attached to the front of the card with double sided tape and I attached a small bow made from a snippet of ribbon using Tacky Glue.

Kath x

Away in a Manger

I made this card for the Crafting with Dragonflies 'Christmas Card in Non-traditional Colours' challenge.  I'm also entering The Paper Shelter 'A Christmas Card' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.  The paper and card are from my snippets mountain so I'm also heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Little Claire Designs 'Away in a Manger' digi
Punch: Woodware Squared Corner
Colouring: Promarkers
Other: Wink of Stella
Snippets: Brown card, gold/yellow paper

I trimmed the gold paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  The digi stamp was resized and printed onto white card before being coloured with Promarkers to match the paper and card.  I trimmed the image to a square, punched the corners, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the centre.  To finish I highlighted the stars with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Rudolph Tag

The new Winter Wonderland challenge is 'Tag You're It' and we want to see either gift tags or tags on cards.  The challenge is sponsored by Crafty Ribbons who are offering the lucky winner a £10.00 voucher to spend in their store.

I've decided to make a tag using snippets of card, paper and ribbon so I'm heading to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  I'm also entering the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge 'Tags', the The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas' and Crafty Friends 'Christmas' challenge.  This is a scheduled post so I'll link to these challenges when I get home from work this evening!

Dies: Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' (magazine freebie), Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags', Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Snippets: Blue snowflake paper, white matt card, dark brown, gold and white pearlescent card, red mirri 
Other: White satin ribbon

I attached the blue snowflake paper onto white card and then die cut and embossed the largest tag.  I die cut the reindeer from dark brown card and attached it to the bottom of the tag.  I die cut it again from gold card, attached the antlers and inlaid the swirl.  I then die cut three snowflakes from white pearlescent card and attached them around the reindeer.  The bow was die cut from red mirri and attached to the reindeer's neck.  As I didn't have any very small red gems for Rudolph's nose, I die cut the Memory Box holly berries from red mirri and used one of them - the perfect size!  To finish, I threaded the white ribbon through the hole in the tag and trimmed the ends.

Kath x

Bargello Merry Christmas

A big thank you to Di for inviting me to be her Guest Designer at the fabulous Snippets Challenge - I love this challenge as it's a way of trying to keep my snippets mountain under control!  Amongst my many snippets I always seem to have a lot of thin strips so I've used some of these for the bargello background on my card.

I'm entering Crafty Friends 'Christmas' challenge, the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.

Card blank: 7" x 7" cream matt
Dies: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas', Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Ovals Large' & 'Lacey Ovals'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Other: White printer paper
Snippets: Lili of the Valley 'Woodland Wishes' Paper, cerise mirri and cream matt card

I trimmed eight different paper strips to 2cm width and glued them across a piece of white printer paper, ensuring the edges of the papers touched.  I then cut strips of various widths and laid them onto the table until I was happy with the 'V' patter.  I then glued them onto another piece of white printer paper.  I trimmed the finished design into a square before layering it onto a slightly larger snippet of cerise mirri card and attaching it to the centre of the card.  If you've never tried the bargello technique, there's a good tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.

I die cut and embossed a cream oval and die cut 'Happy Christmas' from the centre.  This was layered onto a die cut and embossed Lacey Oval.  I then die cut 'Happy Christmas' from cerise mirri and inlaid it.  To ensure it was nice and flat I put a piece of white paper on top of the panel and ran it through my Cuttlebug again.  The finished panel was attached to the centre of the card with foam tape.

Kath x