On the First Day of December......A New Christmas Album for 2014

Hello there!

Happy 1st December to you all.  Can you believe we are here already?  Where did the last 11 months go then?

As my lovely Friends and Followers may remember, for the last few years I have made Christmas Albums into which I post either a photograph or journalling for each day of December.  This year is no exception....

Here are the front covers of my 2014 Christmas Album.  I have used a pattern from Paper Phenomonon which I purchased around 3 years ago with the intention of making up into an album and so this year this is what I used.  The metal corners are Tim Holtz.

The main papers are MME which I had at a bargain price from Hobbycraft some time last year.  There was a pack and a few odd sheets with no price on.  I asked the assistant how much they were and surprisingly she asked me how much I would be willing to pay.  I told her £5 off the cuff and the Supervisor agreed to my offer!  There were around 12 sheets of doublesided, glittered card, a sheet of tags etc and previously I had paid around £1.50 a sheet!  Tee Hee!

Next I had to think about a closure.  Whilst racking my brain and looking around I remembered I had some clasps from Zutter.  I sprayed the leather with a mix of Red Pepper and Plum Ranger Colourwash, inked around it with some Vintage Stain DI and run it through my B/S with a Tonic embossing folder.  Job done!

The ribbon I bought some time ago from a store in my local town.  It is straight and even only every time I open and shut the album it moves.  I didn't want it stuck down until the front is finished, when I know it will not move!

Now for the inside....

This is the centre of the front with six flap pockets which hold tags.  You will notice that they are not overly decorated yet.  This is because I want to embellish as I go along depending on the photographs/journalling that occur.

Left front inside cover.  A flap which when opened there is another set of pockets.

Right side inside front cover.

Left flap opened which shows the pockets.  Also you can see some of the other papers I have used such as Stampin Up, Basic Gray and Bazzill.  Some of which are Snippets from previous albums.

And here is the central panel...

Punched around with a Martha Stewart punch.  I do hope we get some snow.  The 2014 is a decoration which I have bought and hope to incorporate, but not sure how yet.

And with the flap lifted, more space on which to journal and add photographs on.  

With the tags...

And here is the reverse of the whole album,..I love how shimmery this paper is.  I have also used some Treasure Gold but will add more as I work on this album.

I have used an absolute plethora of papers both new and Snippets from previous years.  I can see some Bo Bunny paper in there too.  Punches used are EK Success (the smaller brown one is NBUS from US), Martha Stewart, Some of the MME paper is from two years ago and was 6x6 paper.  I do like the mix of sizes of the same papers. Corner chomper by We R Memory Keepers.Tan cardstock from The Art Shop and also the chipboard.  The only new thing I bought for this album are the little owl embellishments and the reindeer ones too, which I have not actually used yet, but no doubt will very soon!

Off to share this with the Playground folk as there are a plethora of Snippets used on this album.  I permanently keep a basket of Christmas Snippets so they are easy to find and ready to use.

I thank you for coming over and look forward to reading your comments.

Hettie

x

Last Rudolph Day of 2014...Tea on Tuesday..

Hello There!

I have a bit of a quandry today...it is Tuesday 25th November.  For those that have visited before you will know that I usually share my Rudolph Day cards with you as well as a Tea on Tuesday, so today is no different and I am going to share both with you.

First of all my drink.  Now I don't drink Coke very often, specially not during the day naked - the drink not me!  Occasionally in the evening with a bit of vodka in maybe but today whilst in a shop I walked past a fridge and fancied a bottle so I reached in and picked one up, as well as paying for it.  It wasn't until I got back to the office that I saw what was on the front of it.  I did smirk as this is pretty appropriate.  So here it is for Tea on Tuesday.

And now for my Rudolph Day cards....

Isn't this Penny Black stamp just the best?  He is beautiful.  This is also his first outing.  I bought him at Absolutely Everything when I was over the pond.  I walked round that shop three times just trying to take everything in and this was the first thing I put in the basket.  Stamped with Ranger Archival ink and stamped onto white card.  I then inked it with Antique Linen DI.  The 25 December was stamped and inked the same with an East of India stamp. The reindeer strips are punched using an EK Success punch.  The Washi tape are from Hobbycraft..  All the words are cut from a Penny Black die twice, adhered together then inked with Festive Berries, as with all the other red embellishments and embossed with WOW embossing powder.

The papers used on all my cards were all to be found on my desk after finishing my C Album.  I say "finished" but it is only the construction that is finished.  

Card 2 - as ordered by Sandra at Stamping for Pleasure...

Here I used some wooden reindeer that I bought from Hobbycraft.  Aren't they deer?  Sorry about the pun!!  I was trying the Coronation Street look with the three flying up the card!!  LOL!!

The star (cut on Sizzix die) was hanging around in my C Basket.   The 25 stamp was cut using my Sizzix die.

I am not sure if you can see the gold shimmer on the cards which is TH Heirloom Gold?  Some of the red backgrounds on the stamp are made with glitter card Snippets by K&Co.  Those papers were expensive but cut beautifully and I tried to get every bit out of them.

Card No. 3...as an extra...

Here I added some TH Tissue tape as well as a die cut from Memory Box which I embossed with WOW Glitter embossing powder.

And Card no 4..just cos I was on a roll...

The background papers include MME, Basic Grey and Bo Bunny.  I thought it would be easier to use the Snippets than put them in the C Basket!

I do love this stamp.

This is Sandra's last Rudolph Day and I would like to say Thank You Sandra for getting this little bit of fun off the ground and ensuring that we have a stash of Christmas cards made before the silly season strikes.  I look forward to continuing next year with Scrappy Mo and I will keep you posted. 

Right...that is enough waffle from me.  Off to join the Rudolph Day, T on Tuesday, Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge and the Snippets Playground with my little makes.  See you around. 

Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

January Rudolph Day

Hello there

Gosh, is it really 25th January 2014 already?  Our first Rudolph Day of 2014?  How did we get here so quick?

Those of you who have been on my blog around this time of the month will know that I usually join in with my friend Sandra's Rudolph Day Challenge.  Why not join in?  It is a great way of building up the Christmas card stash without the mad panic at the end of the year, especially as Sandra now wants us to make two cards each month.

So without further ado here are mine......

And here they are individually.....

Isn't this die adorable?  It is a Memory Box die that I bought after Christmas with some Christmas money.  I cut it from a Snippet of MME paper that happened to be near the front of the basket.  The background I had embossed before Christmas and I just cut it down using a Spellbinders die.  A little bit of sparkly twine, some Stickles, doodling and a TH Chit Chat sticker and a card was born.

Same idea but on a patterned background and a plain cream wreath, all cut from Snippets.  This is actually Mr Hettie's favourite of today's batch.

I fell in love with this Memory Box holly die when I was at my friend's house in November and took the opportunity to cut myself a couple (I always carry a little plain card just in case).  I didn't use them because I forgot where I had put them safe.  (I had put them in the SU box that held these stamps!)  The ribbon was left on my desk from another project that I was experimenting with the other day, which was too wide for that but perfect for this one.  The cream labels were punched from scraps and stamped with Aged Mahogany DI and embossed, as were the Hero Arts greetings.  You can see that I used two different creams here.  The top card has an extra piece of more of the Basic Grey paper.  The bottom panels are from the DCWV pad.  And I added some Stickles to them both too.  Santa must have heard that I really liked this die as he arranged for me to have one too, so expect to see it feature a fair bit this year.

All four cards were corndered with a We R Memory Keepers Chomper.

Thats all from me today folks.  I have my quilting group now and then Robbie Burns Dinner tonight where I will be dancing the Flora MacDonald's Fancy as a solo!  Hope I don't cock mess it up!  Happy Burns Day to all my Scottish friends.

I am also linking this up with the Snippets Playground and CHCC. Don't forget you have until Friday to make some cards and join in with Rudolph Day!

TTFN

Hettie

Christmas Cards - 20 card Marathon Part 1

Hello There

How are we all?  Have we had a good Christmas then and was Santa kind to you all?

I had a real break from computers over Christmas and neither posted or visited so sorry if I missed you.  I am now back in the office and back to reality so I shall visit you all later and over the coming few days.  I promised you all I would share some of the Christmas cards I made whilst on my marathon session at my friend's so here they are.....

Using my new AO stamps.  Love these.  And of course some VOS in the ribbon and paper.  The paper is also a very old snippet and now all gone.

Another similar style using some of the recycled paper from the album I made a while ago and some Snippet snowflakes cut with Spellbinders die.

This card I cased from my mate Bonnie.  I made it in several colours and just love it.  That braid you can see I have used is Very VOS!  Not used it much until now.

And here is the last of today's showing.  Made using the parts from the album.  

I am just going to pop these over to the Snippets Playground and see what mischief has been going on over there now and see if I can help with the missing fence.  I do hope the weather wasn't too horrendous for you over the Christmas.  I know some poor peeps have missed the celebrations due to no electricity or flooding.  

TTFN 

Hettie

Christmas Cards IV - More Recycling!

Hello There

Here we are again, Sunday night and having to pack away the weekend ready to go to work tomorrow!  This weekend has gone whoosh as it flew past me!!

Anyhoo!  Before I exchange my comfie clothes for my office suit I thought I would share some more Snippets Christmas cards with you.....

                                                   

Love this carrollers die from Mr Holtz.  I managed to borrow this from Lesley when she came up recently.  Not a very good short unfortunately? But you get the drift!  The holly was cut with an old XCut punch.  Perfect size don't you think?

Another Snippet card using the pieces from the album which I made a few years ago, with some red card out of the Snippets box.  Punched on the corners, some doodling, ribbon and pearls.  The Sentiment is a stamp which has been embossed with red embossing powder.  The reindeer was made from recycled chipboard, inked and them embossed with embossing powder several times before stamping in to get he snowflake effect.

And yet another recycled envelope with a new sentiment placed and one of my die of the year cuts!

That is it from me today.  Off to bed now but before I go I shall pop over to the Snippets Playground for my horlicks (other night time drinks are available) and hopefully a bedtime story!

TTFN

Hettie

Rudolph Day - Last one of 2013!

Hello there Folks

Gosh today is the last Rudolph Day of 2013!!  It doesn't seem long ago that it was the first RD of 2013!

Before I start, you may want to get yourself a large coffee or something stronger as this is a loooong picture heavy post!  As promised I am sharing with you my little project I have been working on ready for December 2013.  Here goes....

Cover....Not very interesting as I decorate it at the end.  I am hoping to pick up a nice charm to dangle off the rings when I go to Bath with Miss and the Troublemaker on Saturday!

Inside cover..

Page 1....

Front cover of page one lifted....

Bottom flap of page 1 pulled down....

Back of page 1 and page 2....

Page 2 flap lifted.....

Back of page 2 and page 3....

Back of page 2 opened....

Page 3 lifted....

Behind the Silent Night and in other places there are gaps so that extra tags may be popped in later if needed.

Page 3 pulled down...

All the papers used are either a DCWV VOS mat pad, some of which I have struggled with using before as they are landscape and I tend to use portrait for my cards so they are perfick!  I have also used papers from the basket of Christmas Snippets and include papers used in previous Christmas Albums.  Also, like the Christmas trees and the flourish on page 3, they have been sent to me by kind bloggers.

Back of page 3 and Page 4.

Page 4 lifted.....

Page 4 second flap lifted....

Back of page 4 and page 5....

Page 5 lifted....

Back of page 5 and page 6....

Page 6 lifted....

Back of page 6 and back cover....

Can you see I have a new toy?  A We R MK envelope board.   Love it!

So there you have it.  This year's Christmas Album from me, all ready and waiting to go on Sunday 1st December.  Lots of punching, folding, snippets, VOS, stamping, die cutting and generally having fun making this year's Christmas Album.  I got the idea from a video I came across on YouTube but alas cannot now find it.  If you would like me to show you how to make it I will do a tutorial for you.  Let me know in the comments.  It is quite simple to do the basic page and then engineer it to your whim.  

Off to link this up to the last Rudolph Day of 2013 with my Buddy Sandra and also the Snippets Playground as this certainly used up a lot of Snippets in the making.  I am also linking this with Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge - anything goes.

Alison has kindly suggested I also enter this into the Artistic Stamper Challenge - Christmas so that I am doing.  There are still a few days so why not enter a Christmas card in too?

Thanks for bearing with me.

Hugs

Hettie

x