Merry and Bright

This card also uses another image from a LOTV Art Sheet - this is the last one from the North Pole sheet to make another quick and simple card.

I die cut the image and placed it into my MISTI so I could ensure the sentiment was in the middle of the card.  I stamped the sentiment in Satin Red ink, stamping a couple of times to get a lovely deep red sentiment.  The panel was then layered onto dark red card and then attached to the centre of the card blank.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white hammer card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'North Pole Christmas Art Sheet'
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of dark red card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Winter Wonderland - Merry and Bright

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

Peace on Earth

This is one of the last images from my LOTV Art Sheets - I wish I had bought more before they stopped selling them.  I know they still sell their coloured images but I can't print them on my ancient printer (I may have to ask Santa for a new printer!).

I lay the precoloured image on my MISTI and placed the die around it so I could see where to position the sentiment.  I removed the die and stamped the sentiment a couple of times to get a deeper colour to match the kraft card blank.  I then die cut the image and attached it to the centre of the card.

To make this card I used:

     5.5" x 4.25" kraft tent fold card blank

     Lili of the Valley 'Girlie Christmas' Christmas Art Sheet

     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die

     Versafine Toffee ink

I am entering the following challenges:

     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Nativity

     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

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

Santa's On His Way

As part of my craft clearout I've emptied my box of upcycled cards to see which ones I will really use.  I've been a bit ruthless and those that I've decided I won't use have gone into the recycling bin, I've made cards from some and a few have gone back into the box.

To make this card I used a lovely Santa and soldier card.  I've kept the card quite simple as there's so much detail in the picture.  The soldiers and Santa are highlighted with gold so I trimmed a strip of gold glitter paper and attached it across the lower part of a red card blank.  I them trimmed the Santa card and then attached it across the centre of the glitter strip.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" red embossed tent fold card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Gold adhesive glitter sheet

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Upcycle
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Twinkle

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

Lots of snippets

I've spent several enjoyable hours this afternoon making gift tags out of snippets of white card, papers and ribbon - a total of 65 tags!

To make the tags I glued various snippets of paper onto snippets of white card.  I cut and embossed as many tags as I could with the largest die, then moved on to the middle size and finally made some with the small die.  I then added snippets of ribbon to the tags - most of them don't have ribbon yet as I've run out of small snippets and don't want to cut into my longer lengths or ribbon at the moment.

To make these tags I used:
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' dies
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Snippets of white card, various patterned papers and ribbon

I am entering the following challenges:
     Dies R Us - Anything Goes  
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 362

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

Santa, Rudolph and Gifts

I love this cute Lili of the Valley image and it's a perfect card for one of the younger members of our family.  Sadly it's also one of the last images left from this lovely LOTV Christmas Art Pad.

To make this card I die cut the precoloured image and inlaid it into a die cut and embossed red frame - it doesn't get much quicker and easier than that!

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Dark red embossed card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - It's a Gift
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Amything Christmas Goes

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

Questions about Die Cutting and Giveaway

This month my questions are about die cutting and there is also another Giveaway.

Here are a few questions to start you off:

  - Do you use a manual, electronic or computerised die cutting machine?
  - What to you like (or not like) about the machine you use?
  - As well as card and paper - do you cut anything else?
  - Do you have a favourite manufacturer of dies?  If so, what do you like about them?
  - Do you like coordinating stamp and die sets?  (If so, you may like this month's prize!)
  - Do you have any favourite techniques with dies?
  - And, of course, any other information you would like to share about die cutting.

All comments will be entered for the giveaway, unless you specifically say that you don't want to be included.  This month I'm giving away a Clearly Besotted 'Rockin' Robin' stamp set and coordinating dies.

Please leave all comments by 08:00 BST on Tuesday 22 October - I'll announce the winner the following day.

Kath x

I'm Starting to Sell on Folksy

My final post today is a quick message to say that from 1 October I'm going to be selling cards and gifts on Folksy.  I've previously sold items to family and friends but feel that this is the next move for me.  I'm sure it's going to be a steep learning curve and it will take time to get everything right but I have to start somewhere!

If anyone who sells online or at fairs would like to share any tips or advice, please either leave a comment below or email me on kmbuckell@btinternet.com

Kath x

Enjoy the Peace and Quiet

This card was made with my last topper from a LOTV Art Pad - perfect to send to a cat loving friend.

To make this quick notecard I attached a snippet of Antebellum paper to the front of the card.  I die cut the precoloured topper and attached it to the centre - simple!

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white tent fold card blank    
     Lili of the Valley 'Garden Delights' Art Pad
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Die Cut Divas - Free Fun Time (as life is so busy at the moment, we enjoy going away in our campervan and enjoying the peace and quiet)
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - September Challenge

Kath x

Another Year Flies By

I made this card for my nephew's birthday using more card and paper from my snippets box - which doesn't seem to get any emptier no matter how many snippets I use!

To make the card I trimmed a square of white card slightly smaller than my card blank before die cutting and embossing a circle from the middle.  I attached the cloud paper to the rear of the circle and used my MISTI  to stamp the sentiment.  As I didn't have the right colour ink to match my hot air balloon I stamped it with both Vintage Sepia and Deep Lagoon ink - stamping lightly with each colour to blend.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card.  I glued two snippets of paper together before die cutting and embossing the hot air balloon.  The balloon was attached to the card with foam pads.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Memory Box 'Beautiful Balloon' and Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large'
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Versafine Deep Lagoon and Vintage Sepia inks
     Sniippets of Quick Cards magazine 'Let's Fly Away!' and Docrafts Papermania 'Wood' papers, white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine
     Dies R Us - Planes, Trains & Autobobiles (I had wondered if a hot air balloon would be okay for the challenge and then saw that one of the DT
     members had used one)
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - September Challenge

Kath x

September Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day and another of my Christmas tree cards - I can't believe how quickly this year is going!  I've used crystal candy bonbons and a Wink of Stella to add some sparkle to this month's Christmas tree.

I placed the card blank into my MISTI and lined up the tree and sentiment stamps.  As I was using a hammer card blank I had to stamp the stamps several times to get a good depth of colour (thank goodness for my MISTI!).  I then attached the sparkly bonbons to the card and highlighted the tree and sentiment with a Wink of Stella.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Festive Tree' stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Purple and turquoise Crystal Stickers Candy Bonbons 
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - S for Sparkle     
     Allsorts -Trees and Leaves
     Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Rudolph Day Challenge - September 
 
Kath x

Wishing you Happiness

I made this card to send to Robyn for the September Card Chain Challenge using the Colour and Friendship Options.

I stamped the outline of the largest leaf onto a snippet of card using dark brown ink and then overstamped the solid leaf in the light brown before die cutting it with the coordinating die.  I stamped and die cut another brown leaf and also one with a black outline and dark red centre.  I placed the card blank in my MISTI and laid the leaves across the card before positioning my sentiment.  I removed the leaves and stamped the sentiment with black ink before attaching the leaves with foam tape.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" off white hammer tent fold card
     Clearly Besotted 'Fall Flowers' stamp and coordinating die & Clearly Besotted 'Dandelion Dreams' stamps
     Versafine Crimson Red, Onyx Black & Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of off white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Trees and Leaves
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - September Challenge

This is the lovely card I received from Dawn:

Kath x

Answers about Inks and Winner of Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who commented on my Questions about Ink post earlier this month.  There were only seven comments this month, but they did include some very helpful advice.

The other important thing is to announce the winner of the Clearly Besotted 'Bye Bye Butterfly' and 'Elegant Butterfly' stamp sets.  And the winner is:

KT Fit Kitty

Congratulations!  Please email me at kmbuckell@btinternet.com with your full name and postal address and I'll get the stamps to you as soon as possible.

There were be more questions and another giveaway on the first Wednesday in October.

I have several other ideas for 'Questions' as I'm interested to know about products that other crafters use.  If you have any suggestions for a future 'Questions' post, please add a comment below or email me with details.

Kath x