Batch Christmas cards

 Hello there,

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas. I know the restrictions made it really hard for a lot of us but I hope you made the best you could of it. Here's hoping the new year brings us more joy.

I'm a bit late posting this, should have done it weeks ago but Christmas got in the way and I'm always last minute as you know.

These are, in my opinion, a cop out. All I've really done is stick DP on the card base and die cut the two part greeting. I am quite pleased with how they look though and I did make a dozen of them for friends and neighbours.

I used some very pale green pearlescent card from Crafters Companion for greeting, it matches perfectly with this cool DP.

For this one I picked out the gold on the DP and added some gold sequins

DP is from the Works

Die is Alexandra Renke

Christmas cards

 Hello there,

I hope you are all well, keeping safe from the horrible virus. Hopefully the vaccine will make it a much better year next year.

So, Christmas cards. I always have great intentions of being on top of my Christmas cards well before now but as usual I failed. Even making a card a month for CAS Christmas Challenge should have given me the inspiration to get into gear but alas, I'm still last minute.

I've spent the last week frantically putting things together and I think I'm on top of things. These are my first batch of multiple makes,

I love making cards in non traditional colours and these papers from an Artilicious CD are perfect for this.

The merry Christmas die is a new one that I treat myself to from Alexandra Renke and comes in two parts. I had great fun raiding the snippets box for the right coloured scraps of card. Although the construction is a bit time consuming (for me) I love the end result.

Some snowflakes from various die companies cut from coloured glitter card and some sequins to finish and they're done.

I had to wait for days for a day that wasn't grey and so dull I almost needed the lights on before I could take a photograph and I'm afraid this is the result for the only solo card I photographed. It's a bit blurry but as they are all on their way to their new owners I couldn't take another pic. My apologies.

I'll be back in a couple of days with my other batch. Thanks for popping in and stay safe

December Birthdays

 Hello there,

We've just been put into Tier 3 here in Hull which is the highest level of restrictions in England. To be honest it wont have a noticable effect on me because I don't go out much anyway. As long as it reduces the level of infection in our area that's fine by me, it gives me even more time to make cards. 

December is a busy month for birthdays in our family starting with sister in law Shirley on the 2nd. She doesn't read my blog so I know I'm safe to share.

I used a stencil from Amazon for this. I wasn't sure how it would manage with texture paste but it's quite a thick (compared to some) stencil and worked beautifully.

I coated the texture paste in Glamour Dust whilst still wet and left it to dry.

The butterfly was cut from a Memory Box die and 8 layers of pale blue vellum. I added some pearl makers too.

The sentiment is from the Simple Sentiments set by Avery Elle.

A close up of the Butterfly and the sparkle from the Glaour Dust.

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More #433

 Hello there,

It's Saturday and time for a new challenge at Less is More.

Sadly this is our last challenge for this year, however we will be back in the new year with some fab and fun challenges.

 

So, it's one layer time and I'm sure you're all so used to them by now that they don't fill you with dread anymore. 

A nice one to finish the year off and get those last minute holiday cards done.

 

I've actually stamped and coloured an image for this one. I like to make seperate cards for the grandchildren (& gt grand kids now) at Christmas and these Lily of the Valley stamps are fabulous.

Coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.

I've kept it clean and simple except for a tiny scattering of white glitter on the fur of his hat. I'll add a name below the sentiment but I've left it off for now with it being one layer.

Stamp, Lily of the Valley

sentiment, Docrafts

 I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Stay safe and enjoy yourselves as best you can. Hopefully next year will one of huge celebrations x

 

Thanks for popping in

CAS Christmas November

 Hello there,

I'm popping in with my entry for the last challenge of the year at CAS Christmas.

 

 I know it says 2021 on the pic, I think someone can't wait to see the back of this year lol.

I love using non traditional colours on Christmas cards so this challenge was a no brainer for me. Deciding which colours to use was a different story. The only colour I didn't want to use was yellow because no one likes yellow snow do they?

Unfortunately I couldn't get a decent photo due to the miserable weather but I hope you can see enough detail.

This is a close up of the bottom snowflake which I threaded through the main die cut with some silver thread so it moves freely.

It was quite fiddley to do and had to be stuck down with double sided tape at the back and held tighter with a foam pad but I got the result I wanted.The other snowflakes are glued on and it's finished off with scattering of sequins.

So...the last challenge of 2020 which just leaves me to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy and safe New Year.

Dies, Alexandre Renke, Elizabeth Crafts

pearlised card, Crafters Companion

 Thanks for popping in

Less is More # 432

 Hello there,

It's Saturday once again and time for a new challenge at Less is More 

and this time it's a colour challenge.

 

As it's getting nearer to 'that' time of year these colours are perfect for making some last minute Chritmas cards although they're also useful for any other occasion.

I couldn't decide which of the two to choose so I did one of each,

A nice simple card to start.

I smooshed a scrap of card ( I keep all my offcuts for things like this) in Broken China and Tumbled Glass DI before cutting it out with a deckled edge rectangle die from Caroles Crafts
 I mounted the panel with foam pads and added the trees cut with a die from Amazon in silver mirri card.

The sentiment is from Mamma Elephant stamped onto a long strip of card which fits right across the card front.

For my next card I used a scrap of patterned paper in neutral colours cut with a square die (Spellbinders)

I made the frame from a piece of gold mirri card and two square dies, one slightly smaller than the other to give a thinner frame ( Die-namics & Spellbinders)

The Poinsettia die is from Amazon, cut from dark red card and finished with the stamen from a flower that had seen better days.

Sentiment stamp from Avery Elle

Please check out the DT blogs  and other entrants for some fabulous inspiration, I can't wait to see your creations.

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 431

 Hello there,

This year has seemed to fly by which is odd when you think what a very strange 8 months we've had. I really do hope you're all feeling well and coping with our new normal. Hopefully next year will be a wonderful time with fabulous weather and the chance to make the most of our friends and family again.

So, It's late October already, we're well into Autumn which is quite handy because our new challenge at Less is More 

is a goody

 

In my garden I have a St Johns Wort  shrub which starts off with yellow flowers which turn into orange then red and then black berries. We also have lots of trees and huge bushes on the land outside of the garden so I've taken my inspiration from what I can see from my kitchen window. I love this time of year when the leaves are changing colour.

All the leaves are from die sets from Amazon and they are cut from scraps from my stash that I've smooshed with various colours of DI's.

The red berries are made from Pearl Makers.

Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink

Please check out the other DT inspiration and I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations

Thanks for popping in x

 

 

CaS Christmas Birds

 Hello there,

I'm a bit late with my entry for this months challenge at CaS Christmas 

which is Christmas Birds

 

 My first thought was to use a Robin but I knew I didn't have a decent robin stamp and even if I did I am so rubbish at colouring that it would have been an embarrasment. I was going to leave it for this month and then remembered I have this Christmas Goose stamp from Penny Black

Not a great deal of colouring needed for this beauty.

I ended up being quite pleased with the result and intended it to be a one layer card until I stamped the sentiment skew wiff so I covered it up with a banner.

I thought I was having a dodgy day until I looked at this poor goose. All dressed up and strutting her stuff, I wonder if she knows what's in store for her.

Thanks for popping in x

1st anniversary card

 Hello there,

I decided to treat myself to some Alexandra Renke stencils last week. They're not cheap but they are lovely and they arrived just in time to make a card for my daughter and her wife's 1st wedding anniversary today.

This stencil is called Falling Petals and I love it. It's perfect for cards like this.

I used texture paste on the stencil and smothered it in yellow/orange two tone embossing powder from Moon Glow. I've had these powders for years and don't use them often enough.

The flower is X cut Gerbera Daisy cut from bright yellow card.

The sentiment is computer generated.

I think I might be using this stencil quite a lot in the future

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 430

 Hello and welcome to a brand new challenge at Less is More 

and this time it's,

 

 Here is Sharon's card to CASe

That's the card to CASE, so there are lots of things you can use e.g. stars, flowers, foliage, gold, yellow, orange, red, repeat stamping ( or making a designer paper), heat embossing, die cutting, banner, Happy Birthday, the layout, nuvo drops (might be just visible).

We're looking forward to seeing your creations.

Here is my take on the card,

I've gone with straight lines for my shaped panel with some dotty backing paper behind it.

The flower is made from a die and is made up of 4 layers of each of the 3 sizes and I've brought the petals forwaed a little to give it some depth.

The sentiment is from Avery Elle

 

Thank for popping in x

 

Less is More #429

 Hello there,

I hope you're all well and raring to get into your craft space for the latest challenge from Less is More

 

 
 One layer time again and this time it's 'cheers'

We want to see your creations for celebrations, get togethers with friends or simply enjoying a cocktail or two. Just don't forget to keep it clean and simple.

I struggled a bit with this but I think that was down to me and a lack of mojo and imagination.

I had 3 tries that all ended up in the bin before I finally came up with this one which I'm ok with.

I used a dark blue coated card with a slight shimmer to it.

I used a stamp set from Sugar Pea designs called Cheers to You, stamped in clear ink and embossed in silver EP.

Originally I tried colouring inside the glasses with a very watery Twinkling H2O paint that is made especially for dark card but it looked absolutely rubbish, possibly because it's coated card so I gave up on that idea and left it clean. I think it says every thing I needed it to say.

I'm also entering this card into the latest challenge at  Time Out 

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. Please check the DT entries too for some inspiration.

Thanks for popping in.

CAS Mix up challenge September

 Hello there,

First all I'd like to welcome my new follower Chana. Thank you for following my blog

The challenge at CAS Mix up 

this month is embossing with dies.

 

I've embossed with dies lots of times but there's some really good tutorials on the blog for doing somethings a bit different. One technique that caught my eye was inking up the die before embossing with it and then applying EP so I thought I'd give that a go. There is also some super inspiration from the DT and some of the entries are beautiful.

I had 3 practice runs with different dies and scraps of card and all 3 went straight into the bin. They either had not enough ink or too much ink that touched the whole die or bits of both. So, ofcourse that meant too much embossing powder or not enough. So I've gone with what I know works for me and leave the fancy, clever stuff for the artists.

The die I used is from Amazon

Sentiment from Avery Elle

The butterfly is cut with a Memory Box die and 8 layers of vellum.

I use vellum because it's stiff enough to keep it's height.

I finished it off with a small dab of Pearl Maker mainly to cover where the glue is.

I'm getting to that age when I seem to need more and more of these sort of cards and this design feels just enough to me.

Thanks for popping in.

Less is More #428

Hello there,

We have a super new challenge for you today over at Less is More

I know a few of our regulars will be over the moon at this colour choice.

When ever I think purple I always go for the bluish tones, think Cadbury's chocolate wrappers. I did think that purple also covered the red tones but wasn't sure, so I googled it and it does. That means I could make two cards to share this time.

For my first card I started with some mottled lilac card (I think it's from Papermill Direct but I've had it for years). It's quite subtle but perfect for this card.

I used my Memory box Zippy Dots stencil and some texture paste, before smothering it in lilac embossing powder.

While the paste was drying I made my flower. I used eight layers of purple tissue paper cut out with a super little die set I found in the Range, from Crafters Companion. I'm raving about this die set because

it has the best Stamen die I've ever used.

I added a heart shaped gem stone and a single sequin.

The sentiment is from Avery Elle.

I used the largest of the stamen dies and four layers of orange tissue paper.

Using a tiny amount of glue, just enough to stick the layers down and using my thumb nail to make the edges stand up I manage to create this. Can you tell how pleased I am?

My second card is more of a reddish purple

Same mottled card and another  Memory Box stencil, Texture Disperse. After lots and lots of masking I used texture paste again, this time covering it with  Mauve glitter.

The Gerbera flower die is from X cut and for this one I used Vellum. The stamen die is the same one I used in the first card.

I added some tiny purple gems between the stencilled lines.

Sentiment from Avery Elle.

I'm looking forward to seeing your creations, please check out the main blog for some more inspiration from the design team.

Thanks for poppig in x

Elsie Mae's 1st birthday

 Hello there,

It's going to be our grand daughter Elsie Mae's 1st birthday at the end of the month. She was due on November 23th but surprised us all by arriving on the 24th September. Although she's still small for her age she's doing really well and always has a huge smile for everyone.

Ofcourse I made a card for her and luckily the theme for this months challenge at A place to start 

to make a card for a child. Luckily she's far to young to read my blog so I'm safe to post early.

 

It made a nice change to make a fussy card, I tend to make more CAS cards these days.

I love this stamp from LOTV as it's so versatile, great for boys or girls and really easy to colour.

Backing papers are from The lovely studio

Border punch is from Martha Stewart

Flowers, ribbon and gem from my stash

Sentiment is PC generated 

Thanks for popping in

CaS Christmas Trees

Hello there,

My mojo has been missing in action for a couple of weeks so I've struggled to make anything worth blogging but in the last couple of days it has suddenly reappeared so I'm making the most of it while it lasts.

It's a new challenge at CAS Christmas and this month it's Christmas tree

So, a nice easy one.

I started by smooshing a piece of card with Distress inks in Broken China and Tumbled Glass with a tiny bit of Steel Blue InkaGold before cutting it out with a stitched circle die.
I made a circular frame using the two smaller dies and a piece of embossed silver card.
The tree is from Amazon cut from some pale green glitter card.
I thought this sentiment from Mamma Elephant was perfect for this card.

I enjoyed making this and I actually quite like it, I might make some more in different colourways, December will be on us very soon

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 427

Hello there,

Time for another challenge at Less is More and, because we have an extra Saturday this month, it's a lucky dip.

If you haven't tried this technique before there are some super tutorial links on the  main challenge blog. It's a first for me too but trust me, it's easier than you think.

I used a tent fold white card to resemble a chalkboard and used some brown card for a frame.
I cut some black card to size and sponged and swiped white ink so it looks like it's been quickly wiped.
I inked my stamp from Lili of the Valley with white ink and stamped it lightly onto the card.

A couple of years ago me & hubby became home town tourists for the day, revisiting the historic old town of Hull that we haven't done since the kids were little. It's changed quite a lot since then with lots of the buildings in the old narrow streets becoming bars and cafe's . Luckily I had my camera with me and couldn't resist taking a pic of this.

It make me chuckle. I couldn't find an amusing stamp among my stash but I do love the one I used.


Check out the inspiration on the challenge blog, we look forward to seeing your creations.

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 426 Doodles

Hi there,

It's Less is More day once again this time we have a recipe.

We would love to see your creations using Doodles on your cards.

Unfortunately my artistic talents are so abysmal I can't even make a decent doodle by hand. Honestly, I'm rubbish and I have tried. I did have a stamp set that would have been perfect but I gave it away when I had a purge a couple of years ago ( never again) so I thought I would have to download a digi doodle. Luckily I had a good look through all my stamps and found this one that I bought from the Works ages ago and promptly forgot about .

I started by stamping a single bee, made a mask with a post it and used a hexagon stencil from Studio 75 to sponge some DI for the background.
I stamped my image and coloured it with Promarkers before cutting it out with a Spellbinders Hexagon die and mounting it using foam pads.
The sentiment is PC generated.
I finished with a bit of colour on my single bee and that's it. Quick and easy

Please check out the inspiration from the rest of the team on the blog. We look forward to seeing your creations.

Thanks for popping in x

CAS Christmas card challenge

Hello there,

I've missed the last 2 challenges at Cas Christmas Challenge.
I have no excuses except being busy with other things so I was determined to join in with this months.

Here is my entry,

Nice quick and easy one. The coloured card was already smooshed and cut out in my stash box.
I used a small off cut of card for the branch and the turtle doves and I was done.
The sentiment is computer generated. I think I should have made it saying " On the second day" not the first but, hey ho, it's done now.

Card panel smooshed with  Broken China and Tumbled Glass DI with a little bit of Steel Blue Inka Gold.
Deckle edge rectangle from Crafting for You
Branch die from Memory Box
Birds from a set from Amazon

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More #425 Summer Flowers

Hello there,

It's Saturday and that means it's time for our new challenge at Less is More

A nice warm summery one this time.

I have two cards to share with you,

 I love colour and this Flourishes Gerbera Daisy stamp just cries out for the brightest colours.
It's one of my favourite stamps and it's so versatile, I use it more than any other stamp I think.
I stamped it sideways on and then masked it off and stamped again at an angle to make the flowers fit, ( does that make sense?)
Then I simply coloured it with a mix of Promarkers and Specrum Noir pens.
The sentiment is from a set by Marion Emberson Designs

For my second card I've toned things down a bit with pastel colours.
This is another Flourishes stamp, Orchids and again you get to have free reign over colours.

I stamped and coloured the image before cutting it out with a stitched recangle die. I cut another rectangle slightly bigger and matted them up with foam pads.
I had a little accident when stamping the sentiment onto the card base so had to stamp again onto a mat to cover it. Luckily it was easily solved.

I bought these stamps back in the days when I made fussy cards, long before I discovered CAS but I think both designs show that even though they might be a bit twee, they can still be CAS.

Please check out the other DT posts and give them some love and take some inspiration.

Less is More 424 Christmas in July

Hello there,

Time for our latest challenge at Less is More and this time it's the dreaded One Layer Challenge and the theme is,

As if this year hasn't been strange enough lol.

I've stuck with a basic, quick and easy card to share with you,

I stamped my Judikins Snowman in Memento ink and used a post it note to make a mask and
 sponged some pale blue decorative chalk around him.
I drew a wavy line with a fine tip pen to ground him before colouring his hat, scarfe and nose with Promarkers. I also added some pale blue to the line and around some of his body to show some shading.
Finished off with a sentiment from Winnie and Walter

I think most of us begin our Christmas cards about now or even earlier so I hope we give you some inspiration to get you into the mood. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Thanks for popping in x

Birthday

Hello there,


A really quick post from me today.

It was grand daughter Ami's 8th birthday yesterday, we popped to see her on Sunday for a little tea party and to give her her present and card, all socially distanced ofcourse ( well best you can with little ones)

Not the best photo because of the rotten weather we are enjoying in the UK at the moment but there's a lot of pink, lilac and pale green in the papers and on the image.
Papers are from my stash.
Image is from Lilly of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers.
Lace border on papers is a Xcut punch.
Oval die from Amazon.


Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 423

Hi There,

It's a colour challenge at Less is More 
and we have a fun, vibrant palette for you this time.

I love a colour challenge especially strong, bright colours. This is right up my street and I couldn't wait to start playing.

I started with a stencil for the background.
After a lot of fiddly masking I used some home made texture paste which I coloured grey by adding a very tiny amount of black acrylic paint.
I then took a little bit of bright pink Twinkling H2O's and scribbled it on a craft mat, gave it a squirt of water and smooshed the top 2 or 3 inches of a piece of white card.
Once dry I placed the flower dies so the heads were on the painted part of the card and the stems were left white and cut them out.
When the texture paste was dry I placed the flowers where I wanted them using small foam pads on the heads.
I used an offcut of bright yellow card to stamp the sentiment and trimmed it off to fit and placed it over the flower stems with foam pads.

Stencil   Memory Box Zippy Dots
Flower Dies     Amazon
Sentiment     Avery Elle Simple Sentiments

This is me in my comfort zone, I really enjoyed making this one

Don't forget to check out the other DT for some fab inspiration

Thanks for popping in x