Happy Holidays

I made this card for one of my neighbours who doesn't like traditional Christmas - I thought this Funky Fossil stamp would be perfect for him.

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 - R23 & R29
     Gold gel pen
     Snippet of gold foiled kraft card

I trimmed the craft card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and attached 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 die cut around the image.  I coloured the pine cones with a light brown pen and the letters and berries with a red pen.  I attached the wreath topper to the centre of the card with a circle of a thin foam sheet, cut slightly smaller than the circle of white card, to give the card a little dimension.  To finish I used a gold gel pen on the small dots around the wreath.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
     Alphabet Challenge - R is for Round (I have a round wreath and die cut)
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If it's Christmassy, Link It Up
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamps
     Stamping Sensations - Winter
     The Male Room - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Winter

Kath x

Peace and Joy

A CAS Christmas card from me today, this one uses a lovely Uniko stamp and snippets.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Rustic Wreath' stamps
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Small red enamel dots
     Snippets of white matt card and red mirri card

I placed a snippet of white card into my MISTI and stamped the wreath and sentiment with green ink.  The panel was then cut with a stitched square die, layered onto a snippet of red mirri card and attached to the card front.  To finish I added small red enamel dots around the wreath.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes, plus Christmas/Winter Option
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - If It's Christmassy, Link It Up
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamps
     Make My Monday - A CAS Winter Card
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas
     Stamping Sensations - Winter
     Try It On Tuesday - Traditional Christmas
     Uniko Christmas Linky Party - Christmas Card
     We Love Stamping - Winter

Kath x

Santa Cross Stitch Card

I stitched this card to send with a 'Secret Santa' present and used a free chart from Durene Jones.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Durene Jones 'Santa' chart 
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white matt card

I made the frame by trimming the snippet of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the stitched square from the centre.  After stitching Santa, I trimmed around the edge of the aida so it was slightly smaller than the panel and attached it to the rear with double sided tape.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Moving Along With The Times - Christmas Characters
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas
     Try It On Tuesday - Traditional Christmas

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

It's time for the final Rudolph Day of the year and my final green and gold Christmas card (green and gold has been my RD theme for this year).

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' and Memory Box 'Merry Christmas Tree' dies
     Snippets of white matt card, gold mirri and green glitter card

I die cut the stitched rectangle from a snippet of white matt card and layered it onto a slightly larger piece of gold mirri before attaching it to the card blank.  I die cut the tree from green glitter card and snipped the star from the top.  The tree was attached to the panel on the front of the card.  I then die cut the star from another small snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the top of the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Christmas/Winter
     Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quick and Easy
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Rudolph Day - November Challenge
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 494

Kath x

Quick and Easy Christmas

I made this quick card using the snippet of backing card left over from my Christmas Rose card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Season's Greetings' die
     Snippets of Hunkydory 'Christmas Rose' card and gold mirri 

I trimmed the Christmas Rose card to 4.25" x 4.25", layered it onto a slightly larger snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment from another snippet of gold card and attached it to the upper corner.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - Q for Quick and Easy
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas and/or Winter
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes    

Kath x

Christmas Clarissa Bubble Bloom

When I posted my Clarissa Bubble Bloom birthday card a few days ago, Colleen commented it could be made Christmassy.  I've used the stamp many times over the years, but never for a Christmas card so I've changed the colours and sentiment to make a card for the CAS on Friday 'Christmas with Non-Holiday Items' challenge.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Clarissa' and 'Festive Verse' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Card Candi
     Gold metallic pen
     Glossy Accents
     Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' paper 
     Snippet of white matt card

I used brown ink to stamp the flower and sentiment onto a snippet of white matt card before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  The panel was trimmed, layered onto dark green paper and attached to the centre of the card blank.  I stamped the leaves onto another piece of green paper, fussy cut them and attached them to the card.  I attached red and gold Card Candi to the larger flower circles.  I coloured the smaller circles with a gold metallic pen before adding Glossy Accents.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Christmas/Winter
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     CAS on Friday - Christmas with Non-Holiday Items (I've used my birthday stamp)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas and/or Winter
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Christmas Florals
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Christmas

Kath x

Clarissa Bubble Bloom

I have several 'Bubble Bloom' stamps, but this is my favourite - I've had it for years but still enjoy using it.  This card is for a friend's spring birthday using pastel colours which are her favourite.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Clarissa' and Clearly Besotted 'Fabulous Fuchsias' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Promarkers
     Wink of Stella
     Glossy Accents
     Lili of the Valley 'Pressed in Time' paper 
     Snippet of white matt card

I used brown ink to stamp the flower and sentiment onto a snippet of white matt card before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  The panel was trimmed, layered onto green paper and attached to the centre of the card blank.  I stamped the leaves onto another piece of green paper, fussy cut them and attached them to the card.  I coloured the flower blooms with Promarkers, added a Wink of Stella and then Glossy Accents.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Birthday Challenge - Favourite Image
     CAS on Friday - Birthday
     Seize the Birthday - Focal One
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Kath x

Happy Holidays

I made this card for the AAA Cards 'Sketch' challenge using some small parcels I had stitched onto perforated paper.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Catkin and Lillie 'Mini Presents' cross stitch pattern
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Oddments of DMC threads
     Snippet of white matt card and perforated paper

I stitched the three small parcels onto snippets of perforated paper and fussy cut around the edges before setting them aside.  I die cut a stitched rectangle from a snippet of white card and placed it into my MISTI.  I laid the parcels onto the panel to see where to position the sentiment stamp.  I removed the parcels and stamped the sentiment with black ink.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card blank with the parcels attached above the sentiment.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Sketch Challenge
     Allsorts - Christmas
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas and/or Winter
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Christmas Candle

I made this card with a lovely Paper Artsy stamp I was lucky to win in the Snippets Playground.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Paper Artsy 'JOFY Christmas Candle' stamp
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Memento Tuxedo Black ink
     Promarkers
     Gold Metallic Pen
     Diamond Stickles
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white matt card and gold mirri card

I stamped the Christmas candle onto a snippet of white card before cutting it with the stitched square die.  I coloured the candle with Promarkers, layered the panel onto a snippet of gold mirri and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  I highlighted the baubles with a Wink of Stella, added Diamond Stickles to the twiggy branch and outlined the swirls with a gold metallic gel pen.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Christmas
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas and/or Winter
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamps
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     We Love Stamping - Christmas

Kath x

Three Wise Men

I was gifted this cross stitch kit earlier in the year, but have only just finished stitching the design as my poor old eyes found it hard work stitching on the dark blue fabric, but it's finished at last!

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     The Counted Thread Embroidery Collection by Sarah May Designs 'Season's Greetings' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I set the design aside to make the card blank.  I used a square card blank and trimmed it to 5.75" x 4.75" before die cutting the stitched rectangle from the centre.  I trimmed around the stitching and attached to the rear of the aperture.  To finish I attached a snippet of white card on the inside to cover the back of the stitching.  As the finished card wasn't a standard size, I used a piece of white paper to make an envelope to fit the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Wise Men Three
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Summer Garland Paperweight

I was struggling to know what to give my mother-in-law for her birthday and decided to stitch a design to fit into a glass paperweight.  I'd bought the paperweight several years ago and never got round to using it, but thought it would make a good present.

To make this paperweight I used:
     Glass paperweight - make unknown
     Framecraft 'Summer Garland' cross stitch chart
     Snippet of 16hpi aida and iron interfacing
     DMC threads

The original chart was for a design on 18hpi aida to fit inside a handbag mirror, but when I had finished the stitching it was too small for the paperweight so I stitched it onto 16hpi to make the design a little larger.  After stitching the design I attached thin iron on interfacing to the back which helped avoid the fabric fraying when I cut it.  I used the paperweight as a guide to trim the fabric which was then placed inside the paperweight with a small piece of white card behind it.  To finish I attached the self-adhesive backing to the paperweight.

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

Kath x

You are Fabulous

I made this card to send to Renata for the October Card Chain Challenge.  I used the Theme Option (Bears and Friendship) and the Product/Technique Option (Plaid).

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'James the Bear' Precoloured Art Sheet
     Clearly Besotted 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps and coordinating die
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Lili of the Valley 'Twas the Night' paper
     Snippet of white card

I attached the plaid paper to a snippet of white card and trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut an oval from the left side and attached the panel to the card blank.  I die cut the precoloured LOTV image with the oval die and inlaid it into the panel.  I used green ink to stamp the sentiment onto a snippet of white card.  'You' was cut with the coordinating die and attached to the card with foam tape.  I trimmed 'are fabulous' and attached it below 'you'.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Critters (I don't often make cards with critters, but when I do - it has to be a bear, especially a teddy bear as they are so cute and cuddly!)
     Cardz 4 Galz - Showcase your Patterned Paper
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

This is the lovely card I received from Ella:

Kath x