Retiform Christmas

I was so pleased when my Snowman Cross Stitch Card was a winner in the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown 'Sewing' challenge and thank you to the team for inviting me to be a Guest Designer on their Retiform challenge.  This is a new technique for me, but thankfully there are plenty of tutorials available online!  The technique took me right out of my comfort zone, but after several practice attempts I was reasonably happy with the final result.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" white matt card
     Hot off the Press 'Christmas', Making Cards 'Essential Christmas Stamps' and Uniko 'Rustic Wreath' stamps
     Versafine Spanish Moss and Vintage Sepia inks
     Snippets of white matt and brown textured card

I trimmed a snippet of white matt card to 6¼ x 4¼".   I used a scrap of card and post-it notes to mask various parts of the card before using the green ink and a blending tool to create the grid.  Once I had made the grid I wiped the blending tool across the rest of the card to lightly colour the background.  I used various small stamps and brown ink to stamp the images - masking the areas around the grid so I could stamp some of the images over the edge.  Once I had finished the grid I layered the panel onto brown card before attaching it to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Animals, Birds or Creatures (my card has a reindeer)

Kath x

November Rudolph Day

It's time for the final Rudolph Day of the year and this time I've made some gift tags with a magazine cover gift (which has been my theme this year).  These tags use a set of stamps that were a cover gift with Making Cards magazine.

I attached snippets of pink and turquoise paper onto white matt card and die cut the tags.  I placed the pink tag into my MISTI and lined up the poinsettia and sentiment stamps.  These were stamped in Crimson Red ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used a metallic gold gel pen to highlight the poinsettia and attached a snippet of gold ribbon to the tag.  The turquoise tags was stamped with the reindeer's head and sentiment using Vintage Sepia ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I attached a small red enamel dot to the reindeer's nose and a snippet of red ribbon to the tag.  

To make this card I used:
     Making Cards Magazine 'Essential Christmas Stamps'
     Creative Expressions 'Pierced Tags' dies
     Versafine Vintage Sepia and Crimson Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen - metallic gold
     Small red enamel dot
     Snippets of white matt card, pink paper, turquoise paper and ribbon

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas is Coming
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day - November challenge

Kath x

September Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day card using items that have been magazine cover gifts (this is my RD theme this year).  This card uses an Apple Blossom holly embossing folder that I've had for years and have no idea of the magazine.  The sentiment stamp is from a stamp set that was a cover gift with Making Cards magazine.

I embossed a piece of white card with the holly embossing folder and trimmed around the edge.  I placed the embossed square into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the centre before embossing it with clear embossing powder.  The panel was then attached to the card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Apple Blossom 'Holly' embossing folder
     Making Cards Magazine 'Essential Christmas Stamps'
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS on Friday - Christmas
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Clean and Simple
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day - September Challenge

Kath x

Jack, Patch and Puss

I made this cute Christmas card for my great-niece using an old Lili of the Valley Art Pad image.

I die cut the precoloured image with a stitched rectangle die and set it aside.  I had a snippet of  'Ho, Ho, Ho' paper that was from an old Making Cards paper collection.  I attached the paper to a piece of white card, trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and then die cut a stitched rectangle from the centre.  To finish I inlaid the topper into the frame.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley 'Jack, Patch & Puss' Art Pad image
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white card and  Making Cards 'Christmas 2019' craft paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Cutie Pie Challenge - Anything Cute
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Winter Wonderland - For a Child

Kath x

To a Special Mum

This is the Christmas card I made for my mum using a lovely Kanban topper- I can post the card now as she doesn't read my blog!

I didn't have a piece of gold mirri large enough for the card front, so I trimmed two smaller pieces and attached them across the front of the card.  I trimmed a piece of floral paper which matched the colours and flowers of the topper and layered it onto the mirri.  I trimmed a gold patterned strip from the edge of the topper sheet and attached it across the card to hide the join in the mirri.  The precoloured topper was then attached to the centre of the card with a foam sheet.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" ivory matt card blank
     Kanban 'Decadent Christmas' topper
     Snippets of gold mirri and Making Cards 'Christmas 2019 Craft Paper Collection' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - X for Xtra Special (the card for my mum)
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Family and Friends
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x 

October Rudolph Day

October has flown by and it's time for the tenth Rudolph Day of the year.  My Rudolph Day theme this year is 'embossing' and this card uses dry embossing on the frame.

I trimmed a piece of white hammer card to a square and die cut a circle from the centre before embossing the panel.  A snippet of floral paper was attached behind the aperture before it was layered onto a dark red mat and attached to the card front.  I die cut the sentiment twice from dark red card, layered them and added them to the bottom of the card.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' and Creative Expressions 'Festive Mini Expressions - Stacked
     Happy Christmas' dies
     Creative Expressions 'Sparkle Squares' embossing folder
     Making Cards 'Christmas 2019 Craft Paper Collection'
     Dark red and white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Festive Florals
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - October Challenge
     Rudolph Day - October Challenge

Kath x

Snow Friends

This is another image from my 'printed and not coloured' box - perfect to make a quick Christmas card today for a few challenges.

I layered red snowflake paper onto green textured card and attached it to the card front.  The digi was resized and printed onto white card before being cut with a stitched circle die. This was coloured with Promarkers to match the colours in the background paper.  I trimmed the left edge of the snowman image and attached it to to the left side of the card.  I die cut the sentiment from green textured and attached it to the lower edge of the card.  To finish I added white Fun Flock to the hat trim and Diamond Stickles to the snow.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card
     Bugaboo 'Snow Friends' digi stamp
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' and Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Contemporary Happy
     Christmas' die
     Promarkers
     Making Cards 'The Ultimate Craft Paper Collection'
     Green textured card and white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS(E) this Sketch - Sketch 385
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Snow is Falling
     Cutie Pie Challenge - Hip to be Square

Kath x

Snowy Friends

This is my final post for today - another Christmas card!  I attached a piece of blue snowflake paper across the centre of the card blank and stamped the sentiment below.  I then fussy cut the six precoloured snowman images and attached them to the card with wet glue to give some 'wriggle room'.

To make this card I used:
     DL white matt card blank
     Lili of the Valley Christmas Art Sheet 'Snowy Friends'
     Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamp
     Versafine Majestic Blue ink
     Making Cards 'Watercolour' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards 'Made in Minutes'
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes'
     Jingle Belles 'Blue Christmas'
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Kath x

Upcycled Easter Card

I made this card for Tales from the Craft Room 'Easter/Splring' challenge.  I'm also entering the Crafty Gals Corner 'Spring is Here' challenge, Crafty Cardmakers 'Easter' challenge and Crafty Creations Challenges 'Anything Goes'..

5" x 5" white matt card blank
Upcycled Easter card
Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die3s
Making Cards 'Landscapes' paper
White card

I attached the paper to thin white card to make it sturdier for die cutting and also so it was the same thickness as the upcycled card.  I then used the two largest dies to make a frame and attached it to the card blank.  I used the smaller of the two dies to cut a square from the Easter card, ensuring the sentiment was in the middle of my die cut.  I then inserted this panel into the die cut frame.

Kath x

Feature a Creature

It's time for a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge and we want you to 'Feature a Creature'.

I'm entering the Christmas Kickstart Challenge 'Delectable Die-Cuts', the Dies R Us Challenge 'Anything Goes', the Alphabet Challenge 'A is for Animals' and the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes'.

5" x 5" white matt card blank
Creative Dies 'Woodland Scene' die, Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' & Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large'
Making Cards magazine 'Together' paper
Dark blue pearlescent card, silver mirri card and white matt card

I die cut the Woodland Scene from white card and snipped the tree away before attaching to the blue paper and trimming around the edge.  I die cut and embossed the largest stitched square from blue pearlescent card and the largest classic square from silver mirri card.  I layered the scene onto the silver square and the blue square before attaching it to the card front.

Kath x

Elegant Reindeer

I made this card for the CAS Christmas 'Deer' challenge.  I'm also entering the Christmas Kickstart Challenge 'Mooves on Hooves', the Cardz 4 Guyz 'To Die For' challenge and Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge.

5" x 5" white matt card blank
Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large' and Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' dies
Kars tan embossing mat
Making Cards magazine 'Contemporary Christmas' paper
Brown and white matt card, silver holographic card

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before die-cutting and embossing a circle from the centre.  I attached a piece of red paper behind the aperture and attached it to the centre of the card.  I die cut three reindeer bodies and two antlers from dark brown card and one swirl from silver holographic card.  I layered two bodies and two antlers and attached these to the front of the card.  I inlaid the silver swirl into the reindeer body and then attached the third brown body layer to give some depth to the reindeer.

Kath x

Thank You for Being You & Blog Candy too!

On 6 January Di posted Challenge 343 which celebrated her seventh year of running the Snippets Playground after taking over the reins from Jules who set up the challenge and ran it for a year.  To celebrate this occasion Darnell has started a special surprise Blog Hop to thank Di for running this amazing challenge.

My first trip into the playground was on 28 October 2012 with my Patchwork Christmas Tree.  With a growing pile of snippets (I'm sure we all have those!) this soon became one of my favourite challenges. I've never met Di, but feel like I know her through her lovely blog posts - if you've never visited her blog I suggest you pop over now!  This is my 'Thank You' snippets card to Di for being such a great friend to everyone and for running this amazing challenge - thanks Di!

I'm entering this card into the Crafty Calendar Challenge 'Make it Flowery', the Allsorts 'Friends' challenge and Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge.  As this card was made from snippets I am, of course, heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Quick Cards 'From the Heart' sentiment stamp
Memory Box 'Crisp Bows' and Wild Rose Studio 'Rose Bunch' dies
Versafine Olympia Green ink
Wink of Stella
Snippets of dark green texture card, orange matt card, Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper and Making Cards magazine 'Landscapes' paper

I trimmed the beige Antebellum paper and stamped the sentiment in the lower corner.  I layered this paper onto dark green card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut the Rose Bunch from dark green card and the flowers from the orange Landscapes paper.  The green die cut was attached to the card and I trimmed the flowers before laying them on top of the green outline.  I attached another snippet of orange paper to orange card to make it thicker and then die cut the Crisp Bow.  I snipped the top of the bow and attached it to the flower stem.  To finish I highlighted the flowers, bow and sentiment with a Wink of Stella.

As well as thanking Di for running the Snippets challenge I would also like to thank my followers for the lovely comments you leave for me, so I have decided to offer some Blog Candy.  I am offering a Spellbinders Borderabilities 'Kaleidoscope' die set - it's perfect for using with snippets!

If you would like a chance to win this die you must:

• Be or become a follower of my blog on Blogger
• If you have a blog, add the photo to your sidebar and link back to this post
• Leave me a comment below before 08:00 (GMT) on Sunday 10 February

A winner will be chosen at random and announced later in the day.

Kath x

Nick the Gnome

Whilst tidying my Christmas papers I came upon this 'Nick the Gnome' image - perfect for the Butterfly Challenge 'Fairies' Gnomes, Pixies and Elves' (this time I've chosen gnome and Xmas Sparkle).  I'm also entering the Fab 'n' Funky Challenges 'Cute Christmas', the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Any Christmas or New Year Card' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Making Cards 'Nick the Gnome'
Card: Gold mirri
Paper: Making Cards 'Nick the Gnome'
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the red star paper, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the centre of the card.  I trimmed the gnome image, layered it onto gold mirri and again attached it to the centre of the card.  To finish I highlighted the stars, lantern, and gnomes' hats and beards with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Santa

It's time for another challenge at Christmas Crafts All Year Round and we want to see Santa, an Elf or Fairy.  I've chosen Santa and have used a cute Lili of the Valley Art Pad image for my card.

I'm entering Sparkles Christmas Challenge 'Christmas is for Kids', Christmas with the Cuties 'For a Child', the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Something beginning with S' (I have obviously chosen Santa).

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Winter Wonderland' Art Pad
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Labels One' and 'Decorative Labels One;
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Card: Red embossed
Paper: Making Cards 'Contemporary Christmas' (magazine freebie)
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto dark red card and attached it to the card front.  The image was precoloured, so I die cut and embossed it before layering it onto a die cut and embossed decorative label.  I then die cut three smaller labels and attached these to the back of the image (to give some dimension) before attaching it to the card front.  To finish I highlighted Santa, the snow and holly with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

August Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day and another of my quick 4" x 4" cards using freebie papers.  I'm also entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', the Merry Little Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 4" x 4" cream hammer
Card: Green mirri
Paper: Making Cards magazine 'Festive Florals' (magazine freebie)
Other: Wink of Stella

To make this simple card I trimmed a piece of poinsettia paper so the flower was on the left side of my card, layered it onto green mirri and attached it to the card.  I trimmed the poinsettia image to a square, layered it onto green mirri and attached it to the centre of the card.  To finish I highlighted the poinsettia with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Hello

I made this quick notecard to send to a friend with a small gift.  I'm entering Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt tent fold
Stamp: Papermania 'Geometric Mono Hello'
Ink: Versafine Olympia Green and Smokey Grey
Card: Dark green matt
Paper: Making Cards ''Floraltastic' (magazine freebie)
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the paper and stamped 'Hello' in Olympia Green ink using my MISTI.  I stamped it a couple of times but the colour was still a bit too bright to match the dark green matting layer so I stamped it again with Smokey Grey ink.  This paper was then layered onto the dark green card and attached to the card front.  To finish I highlighted 'Hello' with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Dad

I made this card for my father-in-law on Father's Day.  I'm entering Crafty Cardmakers 'For a Man/Boy' challenge and Cardz 4 Guyz 'Father's Day' challenge,  I'm also entering the Die Cuttin' Divas 'Masculine or Father's Day' challenge.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Image: Making Cards 'Landscapes'
Die: Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Male Relations'
Card: Brown matt
Paper: Making Cards 'Landscapes'

I trimmed the orange paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the image slightly and layered it onto brown card before die cutting 'Dad' from the top corner.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card.  I attached a small piece of brown card onto a piece of paper (to ensure the same thickness as the image paper and matting layer) before die cutting 'Dad' and inlaying it into the card.  To finish I rolled my brayer across the die cut to ensure it was secure.

Kath x

Magical Fairy

I made this card for my great-niece's 5th birthday.  I'm entering the Cutie Pie Challenge 'Spring Cuties', Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'. As the paper and card are from my snippets mountain I'm also heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Magical Fairies' Art Pad
Stamp: Ultimate Crafts L'aquarelle Designs 'Sentiment'
Die: Memory Box 'Classic Numbers', Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Wonky Rectangles'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Ink: Versafine Deep Lagoon, Brilliance Pearlescent Purple
Snippets: Making Cards 'Springtime' paper (magazine freebie), white card
Other: Wink of Stella

I trimmed the purple paper to a square.  As it was a snippet there was a chunk missing from one of the corners but I cut the largest square I could and then attached it to the card front.  To hide the missing corner, I cut four triangles from a co-ordinating striped paper and attached them to the corners of the purple paper.  I die cut and embossed the precoloured Art Pad image and die cut the number from the lower edge.  The 'Today' stamp was part of a larger sentiment and I carefully cut the word away from the rest of the stamp (it can easily be pieced back together if I want to use the whole sentiment).  I didn't have the right colour ink, so using my MISTI I stamped 'Today' once in Deep Lagoon and a couple of times in Pearlescent Purple to give the colour I wanted to match the backing paper.  I die cut two smaller wonky rectangles from snippets of white card and attached them to the back of the image before attaching it to the card.  I attached another small snippet of purple paper onto white card, die cut the number '5' and inlaid it into the topper.  To finish I highlighted the fairy with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Celebrate

I made this anniversary card for The Flower Challenge 'Use your Favourite Flower' 1st birthday challenge.  I love all flowers, but roses are one of my favourites and I have used a roses die and heart paper for my card.  There are some fabulous prizes this month at the Flower Challenge and I would love to win a 'Dies to Die For' voucher if I'm one of the lucky winners.

I'm also entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Die Cuts or Punches', As You Like It Challenge 'Choose Ribbons or Flowers and tell us why' (I've obviously used both on my card - flowers are my all time favourite but I also like to use ribbon to make small bows, especially around the flower stems on this card) and Crafty Friends challenge Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Dies: Wild Rose Studio 'Rose Bunch, Poppy Stamps 'Celebrate'
Card: Dark green mat
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt', Making Cards magazine 'Dino-mite for Boys' (magazine freebie)
Other: White ribbon, Wink of Stella

I trimmed the heart paper ensuring the hearts were along the left side and bottom of the paper, layered it onto green card and attached it to the card front.  I die cute the Rose Bunch and Celebrate from dark green card and attached them with Stick and Stay.  I die cut the rose flowers from the darker sections of the Dino-mite paper and attached them to the green die cut.  I covered the roses with Wink of Stella and also highlighted the hearts on the backing paper.  To finish I made a small bow from white ribbon and attached it around the rose stems.

Kath x

Happy Winter

The new Winter Wonderland challenge is 'Wrap it Up' and this can refer to wrapping presents, warm clothes or any other interpretation!  We are sponsored by Sasayaki Glitter who are offering the lucky winner a digi stamp of their choice.

I'm entering the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes',  Christmas Card Challenges 'Anything Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Sasayaki Glitter 'Happy Winter' digi
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large' and 'Classic Scalloped Circles Large'
Embossing: Kars tan embossing mat
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Moss greeen matt, white silk
Paper: Making Cards 'Blusher the Reindeer' (magazine freebie)
Other: Papermania Merry Christmas ribbon, Stampendous Fun Flock, Diamond Stickles, Wink of Stella

I layered spotty paper onto green card, ensuring the circles matched down the join and wrapped ribbon around the top corner.  This panel was then attached it to the card blank.  I resized the digi stamp and printed it onto white card.  This was die cut and embossed before being coloured with Promarkers.  The image was layered onto a green scalloped and embossed circle before being attached to the centre of the card.  I added Fun Flock on the girl's hat, a Wink of Stella on the clothing and Diamond Stickles on the snow.

Kath x