Life is Beautiful

I've made this small note card to send with a RAK gift to a friend who loves 'posh frocks and sparkle'.  I didn't think I had any dress stamps until I found this small stamp in a set that was a cover gift with a magazine a while ago.

To make this card I used:
     C7 white matt card blank
     Immediate Media 'Making Special Cards' stamp set
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Crimson Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear detail embossing powder
     Pink Promarker
     Pentel Hybrid silver gel pen
     Wink of Stella
     Small pink flower confetti (from an old Papercraft Society box)
     Snippets of white matt card and dark red pearlescent card

I placed the white card into my MISTI and used dark red ink to stamp the dress and sentiment before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I cut the panel with a rectangle die before layering it onto dark red pearlescent card and attaching it to the card blank.  I coloured the dress with a pink Promarker, highlighted the bow with a silver gel pen and then added lots of clear Wink of Stella to the dress to make it sparkle (although it doesn't show too well in the photograph).  To finish I added three small pink flower confetti to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Birthstone Challenge - Garnet and/or Amethyst (I have used Garnet - the January birthstone colour)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - No Design Paper
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Clean and Simple
     Stamping Sensations - January Mood Board (I have used the dress and colours from the mood board)

Kath x

Happy 90th Birthday Mum

I made this card for my mum's birthday - although her birthday isn't until next month I can post the card now as none of my family read my blog!

To make this card I used:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     49th and Market 'Vintage Artistry in Blush' paper
     My Favorite Things 'Fishtail Flags' and Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Hearts' dies
     Snippets of dark brown pearlescent card
     White paper
     Computer generated sentiment 'Algerian' font

I layered a whole sheet of paper onto dark brown pearlescent card and attached it to the card blank.  I printed the sentiment onto white paper (my printer refuses to print onto card) and cut it with the fishtail flag die.  I attached the sentiment onto a strip of dark brown card and trimmed around the edge before attaching it to the upper corner of the card.  I cut two hearts from snippets of paper from the same pad, attaching the larger heart onto the lower corner and then used a foam pad to attach the smaller heart.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Mood Board (I have used Pink, Flowers & Bird from the mood board)
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It - Favourite Paper Brand & Why (I have a two brands I really like one of which is 49th and Market - the quality is excellent, more like a thin card than paper, the designs are unusual with beautiful colours and they're double sided too!)
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Cute Cross Stitch Robin

Last year I bought some pre-loved Christmas cross stitch charts and kits and this cute robin was amongst them.  It had originally been a cover gift with a magazine and is from a design by Lucy Heaton.  

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Robin cross stitch kit by Lucy Heaton
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' dies
     Snippet of dark red matt card

The kit gave instructions to patch the finished design onto the card blank that had been in the kit, but I chose to make my own card blank.  After finishing the stitching I attached it to the rear of a frame that had been die cut from dark red card and then attached it to the front of the card blank.   The kit also contained a small bell for the top of the tree and a small bow for the bottom of the tree, but I chose to leave them off to make the card design simpler and also also to make it easier and cheaper to post the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Christmas Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x     

Golden Wedding Anniversary

I made this card for a friend's Golden Wedding Anniversary using lots of snippets.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Impression Obsession 'Heart of Hearts' and Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' dies
     Snippets of white hammer card, gold mirri card and gold sparkle card

I cut the largest stitched square from a piece of white hammer card and die cut the 'Heart of Hearts' from the centre.  The panel was layered onto gold mirri and attached to the front of the card blank.  I die cut the heart from snippets of gold mirri and gold sparkle card and inlaid them into the panel.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Clean and Simple
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 471 (Celebration)

Kath x

Just for You

I made this card for the current CAS on Friday challenge using an old Woodware 'Tapestry Bouquet' stamp - I think it was one of the first stamps I bought when I started making cards.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Tapestry Bouquet' and 'Salutations' stamps
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Brunzeel Sakura coloured pencils
     Snippet of white matt card and lilac textured card

I used the largest stitched square to cut a snippet of white card and placed it into my MISTI.  The 'Tapestry Bouquet' is an old wooden stamp but I was able to peel the stamp from the wood.  I kept the foam on the back of the stamp so removed the foam pad from my MISTI before stamping the image a couple of times with the brown ink to ensure I got a good deep colour.   I replaced the foam pad in my MISTI  and placed the sentiment stamp to the right of the bouquet before stamping it a couple of times with the brown ink.  I coloured the flowers and bow with pencils before layering the panel onto lilac textured card and attaching it to the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS on Friday - Just for You
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Daisy Chain Challenge - No Design Paper
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Clean and Simple

Kath x

Woodland Scene

As part of my frugal crafting year, I'm on a mission to reduce my 'snippets mountain' - this Christmas card is made entirely from snippets.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Woodland Scene' die
     Snippets of white matt card, Funky Fossil 'In To The Blue' paper and silver mirri

I die cut the woodland scene from white matt card, removing the small tree from the bottom of the die cut as I prefer the scene without it.  I didn't have a large enough snippet of blue paper to cover the whole of the back of the die cut, so I used two small snippets - making the join behind one of the trees so it doesn't show.  The panel was then layered onto silver mirri and attached to the centre of the card.  To finish I die cut the star (part of the Woodland Scene die) from silver mirri and attached it above the deer.

I am entering the following challenges:
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Clean and Simple
     ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Your Choice (my choice is die cuts using lots of snippets)
     Allsorts - Cold as Ice
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Clean and Simple

Kath x

Robin on a Branch

This lovely robin was one of the small kits I bought before Christmas - although it's a Hobbycraft kit the design is by Mouseloft.

To make this card I used:
     C7 red tri-fold card
     Hobbycraft 'Robin' cross stitch kit

After stitching the design, I trimmed the aida before attaching it behind the aperture in the card.  The bottom panel was then attached inside the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Christmas (or not) BINGO Challenge - I have used line 'O' (real stitching, rectangle and aperture for my 'free' square)
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Cross Stitch Owl

I bought a few pre-loved cross stitch kits before Christmas and this cute owl was amongst them.  Although it's a Hobbycraft kit, the design is by Mouseloft .

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" cream hammer card blank
     Hobbycraft 'Owl' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics dies
     Snippet of cream hammer card 

After finishing the stitching I attached it to the rear of a frame that had been die cut from cream hammer card and then attached it to the front of the card blank.   

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x  

Sparkling Poinsettia

We had a lot of big expenses last year (and not just our new campervan!) so we're having a frugal 2024.  This means that other than essentials (ink, glue, tape, etc) I'm not going to buy any new craft items this year - other than a pre-loved bargain I may find in a charity shop.  There will be plenty of posts using old favourites and some NBUS goodies too.

I won this lovely Heartfelt Creations 'Sparkling Poinsettia' stamp and die set in the ABC Christmas Challenge before Christmas - this is the first card I've made, but expect to see more during the year.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card blank
     Heartfelt Creations 'Sparkling Poinsettia' stamp and coordinating die
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Season's Greetings' die
     Xcut 'Swirls' embossing folder
     Versafine Crimson Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic gold pen
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of red matt card and white matt card

I embossed a snippet of white card and trimmed around the edge of the swirl pattern.  The panel was layered onto a slightly larger snippet of red matt card and attached to the card blank.  I stamped the poinsettia flowers onto red matt card using crimson red ink, embossing them with clear embossing powder before cutting them with the coordinating die.  The flowers looked a little dull in the plain red matt card, so I added lots of clear Wink of Stella to them before layering three petals and attached them to the upper corner of the card.  The centre was coloured with the gold gel pen.  I die cut the sentiment from another snippet of red card, applied lots of Wink of Stella and attached it to the front of the card.  To finish I added more Wink of Stella to the edge of the red matt layer to make the card sparkle.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Your Choice (I chose to use my prize to make a CAS card)
     Alphabet Challenge - T is for Texture
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - The Midas Touch
     Christmas (or not) Bingo Challenge - I have used line 'G' (red, die-cuts and embossing for my 'free' square)
     NBUS - Challenge 58 (my new Sparkling Poinsettia stamp and die)
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Clean and Simple

Kath x  

Thank You!

As the year ends, I wanted to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who has commented on my blog and to the Design Teams who have chosen my cards as Top Picks throughout the year - this card is for all of you!

 To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" cream hammer card blank
     Stitchrovia 'Sew Grateful' card kit
     DMC threads
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of cream 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 wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Kath x

Happy Birthday to You

I've made this birthday card with lots of snippets and as the card is to be posted overseas I've made a stencilled background rather than a layered one to reduce postage costs.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics', My Favorite Things 'Fishtail Flags' and Lawn Fawn 
     'Happy Birthday Border' dies
     Circles Stencil (this is unbranded but I think it was a cover gift with a magazine)
     Versamark ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Snippets of dark blue, medium blue and pale blue textured card and white matt card 

I placed the stencil onto the front of the card blank, applied Versamark ink through the circles and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I die cut the three circles from the dark, medium and pale blue textured card using the stitched die.  These were layered and then cut in half.  I die cut the fishtail flag from a snippet of white card - cutting the first half and then moving the die to the other end of the flag so I could get a 'V' in both ends.  As the card was quite thin I glued it onto another piece of white card and trimmed around the edge.  I die cut the sentiment from dark blue textured card and attached it across the centre of the flag.  I placed the half circles onto the upper part of the card front - leaving a small gap between the two pieces so the sentiment banner wouldn't cover too much of the inner circle.  To ensure the banner lay flat across the card I trimmed another snippet of white card and inserted it in to the gap between the circles.  To finish I attached the banner across the centre.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Cold and Ice (I've used cold colours and the embossed dots look like ice)
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It - Anything Goes (I love die cutting, especially when I've been able to make a card entirely from my 'snippets mountain'!)
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - December Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Anything But Christmas

Kath x

Happy Birthday

As I've got everything ready for Christmas, it's time to start making cards for next year and having a play with some new dies I've recently won.  This card used a lovely die from The Paper Boutique which I won in the Snippets Playground.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     The Paper Boutique 'It's Time to Celebrate', Crafts-Too 'Happy Birthday' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterflies' dies
     Snippets of silver mirri and pink pearlescent card

I die cut the main die from silver mirri and used the circle die to remove the centre before attaching it to the card blank.  I die cut the main die again from pink pearlescent card and inlaid the centres of the flowers and leaves.  To finish, I die cut Happy Birthday and the two smaller butterflies from silver mirri and attached them to the centre of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Something Beginning with 'B' (I have chosen Birthday, Blooms & Butterflies)
     Color Hues - Pink and Silver
     Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 57 (I used my new Paper Boutique die)
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 469

Kath x