Snowflake The Winter Dragon

 

     When is tree shaped treat box not a tree shaped treat box?......When it's a dragon of course!

   The new Charles Treat Box from John Next Door makes a great gift box, but when I started to make one it fell over on my desk and looked just like a dragon's head with perfect spikey teeth. Not very Christmassy?  it is if you like dragons....a dragon is for all seasons......a table decoration with a difference. Make in another colour scheme for Halloween, a special gift or just for fun.

     

     I made a dragon in plain card as a prototype, no point in wasting the good stuff to start with, it meant I could fold and chop it around until it looked right without a worry.

     The body is made from the main part of last years Hexacracker with two hexagons for end caps.

     For the tail I made the treat box into a triangular shaped tree and glued it to the hexabody, making sure that the spines of one edge were pointing upwards and lined up with the peak of one edge on the body.

     With the remaining tree from making the tail I folded it in half and glued the spinney edge. Cutting the tree in half I discarded the folded part and glued the spine along the ridge of the body in line with the tail spines.

     For the head I made the box as a tree but left one side open, the inside of this flap was lined with some marbled effect wallpaper and the spinney edges were folded inward to form the lower row of teeth. To stop the jaw flapping about I glue the largest tooth at the back of the mouth to the corresponding tooth on the upper jaw, the mouth stays open but doesn't drop too low.

     The head was glued onto the body to be higher than the tail, then a spine was added to the head, made in the same way as the main body spine but shorter and glued in the middle to line up with the rest of the spines.

     Wings were made from one tree shape each, the bottom edge was cut with the box die to get a spikey edge, then scored and pleated to give folds. These were glued onto the body at an angle to give a nice sweeping wing that stands up. Wing tips can be glued together so it can be hung up, but you will need to find the centre of balance for your own dragon as it will vary depending on card and embellishments added.

     All that remained were the legs, what better way to stand firm than using four trees. Three tree tops for each leg were cut, I only cut the top part that I would need rather than wasting card. The little trees were cut with an angle to the base so that Snowflake would stand level, having the slightly shorter edge on the inside as well as a flat side to glue to the body.

     Once the dragon was built it was time to cover it in snowflakes and gems for added sparkle and some large blue pearls for eyes. Using a patterned pearl card made it much easier to incorporate sparkle and shine, embossing would have made it harder to assemble and painting might have made it soggy.

     It may sound complicated but it's not really, pick up some inexpensive card and have a play. Dies should be versatile giving value for money, it's NOT just what it says on the packet, it can be so much more.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - Anything BUT A Card

Try It On Tuesday - Fantasy

Creative Crafting Uncles - #44 Animals

Peace On Earth - #47 Photo (Snowflakes)

Christmas With The Cuties - #73 Something Snowy

Die Cutting Divas - Anything Goes

The Holly & Ivy - #147 Anything Christmas

Fab 'n' Funky - #579 Wings or Scales

Silver Snowflake Mandala

     The new challenge at Christmas Craft Creations starts today, this month's theme is to use Non Traditional Colours in your project. It doesn't have to be a card, just anything Christmas related that follows the theme.

     

     I chose purple and silver as I have several friends who love those colours. I used a purple card blank and die cut the outer mandala shape, plus the corners from the front cover. 

     I then lined the inside cover with white card, ready to drop the shapes back in the holes. It's also a good idea to have an insert on a coloured card as it makes it easier to write in.

     

     Using silver mirri card I cut the four corners, then glued them in the holes on the front cover so the white showed through.

     The mandala outer shape was cut in silver mirri, then I put all the inner dies on to the shape but embossed them rather than cut them. I love the effect you get from embossing mirri card and as long as you have a soft silicone mat to use under the dies it's quite easy to do.

     I used foam tape on the back of the mandala and put it back in the hole but turned it so the shapes were not perfectly in line, I think it makes the shape look bigger that way.

     To bring purple to the mandala I used a large clear gem, coloured with an alcohol marker, in the centre. A relatively simple card with a nice splash of bling.

     Please pop over and join us at Christmas Craft Creations with your non traditional colours project and remember it doesn't have to be a card, just something seasonal that you have created.

Materials List
JND245 - Snowflake Mandala
JND244 - Snowflake Corners

S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

Foam tape

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - #554 Anything Christmas/ option Penguins

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

The 12 Months Of Christmas - Anything Christmas/option Clothing

The Holly and Ivy - #99 Anything Christmas

Dream Valley - #252 Embossing Wet or Dry

Merry and Bright

 

      A new challenge at Christmas Craft Creations begins this week, the theme this month is 'Heat Embossing', so break out those stamps and powders.

      The stamp used on this card is an old Woodware one, it's one of my favourites. Stamped on black card and embossed in silver.

      Black isn't usually the first choice for a Christmas card but with a pop of colour I think it makes an elegant card.

      When I cut the mat layer I cut out the centre to keep for another project, it won't be seen so why not use it for something else.

       The layers were all assembled before the tiny purple gems were added, I have a few friends that love purple so this card will go to one of them.

       As I like making decorations for Christmas it's good to make the cards early in the year and store them, before going on to the 3D projects later on. So why not come and join us at Christmas Craft Creations with whatever seasonal project you have made using heat embossing.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The 12 Months Of Christmas - #78 Anything Christmas/optional ChristMouse

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #545 Anything Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - #35 Anything Christmas

Snow Tag

     This months challenge at Christmas Craft Creations is to make tags or ATCs. 

     I started by die cutting some mountboard with a Bigz die, I like working on this because is thick enough not to distort when using wet glue or paint.

     I was going to use paint, but when I started rummaging through my stash I found a nice offcut of blue scrapbook paper, so I glue3d this to the board, let it dry and then sanded the edges smooth.

     I stamped several different snowflakes across the tag and embossed them in white. To make a pretty edge I used some silver gilding wax, I've found the best way to apply this is using the back of a piece of blending foam, it's firmer than my fingers so it's easier to get a good finish.

     A tiny gem in the middle of each snowflake added some shine but it needed sparkle. Using non shed glitter card I die cut some snowflakes and stacked them on thin foam pads and added it to the corner of my tag.

     A small length of silver organza ribbon finished off the tag. I like the simplicity of this, I could have added lots more to it but I think it's fine as it is.

I would like to enter this tag in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - J~Jewels / K~Kids

Sparkles Christmas - #124 Use A Tag     (Spotlight Win)

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #541 Anything Christmas Goes

The Holly and Ivy - #94 Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas - #34 Anything Christmas Goes

Let It Snow At Christmas Craft Creations

      Welcome to my first project for the newly formed Christmas Craft Creations challenge, we were Christmas At Sweet Stampin' but a few changes had to be made. So we now have a new name and some new DT members which means we can bring you even more Christmas inspiration.

     This months theme is Use A Stamp, so have a rummage in your stash and see what Christmas stamps you can find.
     I have used a stamp from JustRite that's been in my stash for years, it's one of those ones I had plans for but didn't get round to using.
     The stamp was inked up with pigment inks in dark blue and a touch of purple, it didn't quite according to plan but I rather like the mottled look.
     The next thing was to trim around the edges to leave a thin white border, then raid the stash for some dark blue card for a mat layer.

     I hunted through lots of Christmas stamps but couldn't find a 'Let it snow' that looked right, so I changed tack and used a die instead. This one is a Memory Box die cut in a strip of the same blue card as the mat, trimmed to fit across the middle blank band.
     I had to trim a 7x5 card blank down a little as this stamp is short and fat. It lacked sparkle so I have stuck some tiny gems in the middle of most, but not all, of the snowflakes, including the die cut one in the sentiment.
     As Christmas Craft Creations we will be having a monthly theme, but they are quite broad so you will still have plenty of choice to work with. Please pop over and have a look at our lovely new blog, meet the new DT members and pick up some inspiration before you come and join us.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Snow Buddie/Anything Christmas Goes

CraftyHazelNut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

January Sparkle

     Christmas At Sweet Stampin' this month is all about Sparkle, this really does sparkle but it's very hard to get a good photograph.

     It's made using a Sweet Poppy stencil and white paste on dark blue card. The stencil was taped down all the way around to prevent movement and paste in the wrong place.
     The paste was applied at the top and dragged down evenly to produce a near even covering, there are a few spots where it is not perfect but it's hand crafted and unique so that's alright with me.
     Once the stencil had been carefully removed I sprinkled the whole card with iridescent glitter and set it aside to dry overnight.
     Once dry I trimmed the card down and matted it on silver before putting it on a white card blank. The sparkle was good but it needed a little something more so I added a gem in the centre, this then made the corners look big and empty, so I added some tiny gems to balance it up.
     When working with stencils and paste I have found it easier to make a batch of card tops, that way there is only one lot of cleaning up with maximum output.
     I know it's only January but please come and join us at Christmas At Sweet Stampin', it will make the end of the year much easier if you have some cards already made.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round - Anything Christmas Goes

The 12 Month's of Christmas - Anything Christmas/optional Old Fashioned

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas/optional Recycle

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas

Deer Forest

      Wow, I never thought I'd be able to say 'As Seen On TV' but his one was this morning. I'm so happy it made the grade and so grateful for the opportunity to work with John.

      I started by stamping Woodland Deer on a piece of white card using Versafine black. I stamped the image twice, which is easy when using a stamp platform and a clear stamp.
     For this card I needed a 5 1/4 inch square which meant the deer appeared twice, I didn't want that so I covered the second deer with a die cut pine tree before cutting out my square. The only colouring on this was the deer, I tried one fully coloured but it was too busy for a background.

      My box card started as two pieces of white card 5.5 x 10.5 inches long, both scored at 1.5, 2.5, 8 & 9 inches. The front piece has a square window cut in it ready for decoration.
      I stuck the stamped background in the centre of the back panel and creased the panel ready for the die cut trees. Using the Woodland Tree die I cut a panel two cuts wide so it would fit across the centre of the box with spare to glue down. At this point I added a grazing deer from Deer Scenes 2019, coloured dark brown behind the trees.
      The centre tree panel is what holds the card as a square when finished so I had to measure, mark and then glue in place across my creased card.

     The two outer edges of the front card were embossed with a snowflake strip folder, it would look nice if the snowflakes had a little sparkle but I didn't manage it for this one.   
     Before sticking the front panel to the back I glued another tree die cut to the inside of the window and a stag from the Deer Scenes set, again coloured dark brown.
     I then glued front to back making sure to keep the box shape, this card will fold flat for posting but you have to be mindful of any decoration that sticks out beyond the edges, like the snowflake on this one. I used a corner chomper to round off the outer corners.

      There is a small die cut 'Peace' in silver glitter on the bottom left corner and a snowflake on the upper right. This snowflake was made using various die cuts in silver glitter card, white card and white shimmer card, all topped off with a small silver gem.
      There is ample room on the back to add any greeting or message you wish. As there is no mention of Christmas on the front this could be used as a winter decoration year after year.

Materials list 
  JNDC  C021 - Deer Scenes                                
  JND 141 - Woodland Trees      
  CTJJ106 - Woodland Deer

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas, optional Deer

              My Time To Craft - Christmas In July 
 Crafty Animals - Anything Goes With An Animal

Cute 'N' Crafty Christmas - Anything Christmas/Winter

Another Snowflake In May

     Another snowflake for May's challenge at Christmas At Sweet Stampin', the challenge is anything seasonal with the optional twist of snowflakes. 
     I wanted to make some more of these in different colours, the last one was teal, but I've only managed to get this one done.....so far.
     Things have been quiet on here for a week or two, my apologies. We all have many things to juggle and I'm happy to say I have just increased mine in a good way. I'm unable to share just now but things will begin to appear soon as it's all starting to take shape.
      Meanwhile the peas are in, the new redcurrant bush is in, the beans are coming up and the courgettes go in tomorrow, weather permitting. I love growing our own food, I'm sure it tastes better. Let's hope it doesn't snow for real!
     

Snowflakes in May

     Where is this year going?! It's May already. It really is time to get those Christmas cards made and we have lots of inspiration for you over at Christmas At Sweet Stampin'.

      Snowflakes are one of my favourite images to use. They are great for masculine, general seasonal and traditional projects.
      Using Sizzix die Ice Flake I cut a shape from snowy acetate, then used alcohol inks to add a little colour to it. Another Ice Flake was cut from white glitter card.
      Sizzix Layered Snowflake was used to cut a shape from mirri card, then embossed with the  folder that comes in the pack.

      All three layers were then put together using Glossy Accents to glue them. I also put a brad through the middle just incase the glue gave out. I didn't have any snowflake brads so I used a silver flower and put a gem in the centre, coloured with an alcohol marker.
      I wanted a mat layer that matched the mirri card but was a little more subtle, so out came the Distress Inks. I have found I can match my layer colours to my project more easily by cutting a white mat and using the inks or pens used in the image to colour the edge that will show.
     The layer directly under the flake has been embossed with snowflakes to add more texture. The main snowflake has been stuck down with red line tape just to make sure it's stuck fast. Only the centre is stuck down, allowing the snowflake to look like it's just resting on the card.
      Please pop over to Christmas At Sweet Stampin' to see all the wonderful snowflake ideas we have for you, you don't have to use a snowflake to join our challenge but it would be fun if you did.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The 12 Months Of Christmas - #53 Anything Goes, Option-Creature Feature
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #436 Anything Goes, Option-Bells
The Holly and Ivy - #49 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Mondays - Add Something Metallic

I-Zink Snowflake

     This card was made using I-Zink droppers on acetate, with a twist. The droppers come in a variety of colours, some are pearlescent too.

     The acetate is coloured when the inks are dropped on one sheet and another sheet is 'squished' on top of that, it's a bit like making ink blots but with acetate instead of paper. Once pulled apart, when still wet, the result is two pieces of unusually patterned acetate.
     The twist for this one was a die cut snowflake made from masking sheet was added to one piece of acetate before using the inks, the fun came when I tried to peel the masking sheet off without messing up the snowflake, but it worked.
     Having masked off part of the acetate I had some clear area showing so my backing card had to be something simple but special, for a snowflake this had to be white and sparkly.
     Sticking acetate down can be tricky, the adhesive has to be strong and invisible. Double sided sticky sheet is perfect for this, nice and strong and with an all over sticky there are no marks showing.
      The white glitter card was cut just a little larger than the acetate so there would be a sparkly mat layer before going on to a purple mat to bring out the odd bits of matching colour in the inky background.
      Using some white texture paste and a stencil I added some randomly placed snowflakes over the card and sprinkled them with iridescent glitter. The greeting was stamped and embossed in silver, then die cut with a hole in the middle and mounted on foam pads to show the tiny snowflake underneath.
     

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

International Art & Soul - Add Some Sparkle

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas

Creatalicious - Christmas Snowflakes

Snow blind

     Making Christmas decorations is one of my favourite things to do, so when I found a huge roll of vertical blind fabric and some broken chandelier pendants in a charity shop I thought snowflakes.

      This fabric is amazing stuff, it doesn't fray when cut, you can stamp on it, heat emboss on it and alcohol markers don't bleed when you colour on it. A good thing it's so very versatile when you see the size of the roll!
      Using Tim Holt Sizzix die Layered Snowflake I cut four flakes and embossed them with the folder that accompanies the die.
      Once cut and embossed I used some silver gilding polish to run over the raised areas, this looked good but it lacked something, so out came the iridescent glitter.

     Using some fishing line I threaded it through one of the single round gems and made a loop which was sealed with a crimp bead. Most of the gems have small hooks and loops on them so assembly was easy.
      I glued two of the flakes together on one side to form half of the finished flake. Then I glued the longer end of the fishing line to the centre channel, making certain to have enough to form a finishing loop before cutting it off the reel.
      With the loose end of the line I threaded on a small round gem attached to a drop gem, making a loop through the top of the gem and fixing again with a crimp bead. The end of the line was then stuck inside the channel so there would be no end visible.
      With the gems in place I stuck the remaining flakes to the made half and left it to dry before easing into shape as a three dimensional snowflake. The weight of the glass gems make the flake hang straight and the whole thing sparkles beautifully.
     Over at Altered Eclectics we love to see altered art and recycled projects like this so please pop over and join us with your creations.

I would like to enter this decoration in the following challenges:

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Scrapy Land - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Winter/Christmas
Crafty Cardmakers - Anything But A Card

Happy Christmas

     A relatively quick and easy card to make using one of John Nextdoor's media plates.  I never bought a jelly plate but often wondered about trying it, so when John brought out his Mixed Media Plates I decided to get one.
     These plates are amazing in that they hold the ink long enough for you to create a whole scene on them and then you just press it on to your card, plus being clear you can see what you've got straight away. I ended up buying several shapes and a stamp press so I shall be spending some time playing around with these.
     This image is one layer of colour stamped, then another layer of darker edge stamped, followed by snowflakes stamped on to the plate then on to the card. All these layers mean a stamp press is vital, especially for me as I know I couldn't line it all up again and again without making a real mess of it.
 

     Here's wishing you all a good holiday and crafty new year.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Christmas Goes   (M)

The Holly & The Ivy - Anything Christmas   (M)

CASE-ing Christmas Goes Monthly

     CASE-ing Christmas has gone monthly, we will still showcase inspiration throughout the month but now you have all month to join in the fun.

      I chose to change my colours when CASEing Steph's card. I love snowflakes so I had lots to choose from in my stash.
     The snowflake die is one of Sue Wilson's new releases, I chopped it about a bit to get just one side of my card covered, but that's the beauty of die's, you can cut out the bits you want or use the whole thing.
     The backing paper is from Chocolate Baroque back in the day when they were known as Elusive Images, it's from a CD Rom called Season's Greetings. I love this disk, it has so many gorgeous patterned papers on it and it still works in my computer!
     The greeting is a friends die so I'm not sure where it comes from but it's a very useful one. All I have done to decorate the card after sticking on the paper and die cuts is add some tiny clear gems to add a little sparkle, along with a blue mat layer. The card is quite thin so standard postage will apply to this 7x5 creation.
     Come and join us at CASE-ing Christmas, we'll help inspire you to create all the cards you need for Christmas.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Snowflakes

12 Months Of Christmas - Anything / optional Snowpeople

     

CASE-ing Christmas Golden Memories

     This week at CASE-ing Christmas we have a gorgeous card by DT member Pat to inspire us. I loved the simplicity of her card, it really makes the sentiment stand out. To see Pat's card and all the other DT inspiration pop over to our challenge blog.

     I have a set of stamps from Hot Off The Press called Christmas Cheer, they are all chalkboard style stamps which are perfect for a quick make.
     I stamped and embossed in gold on card suitable to use alcohol markers. The word 'season' was the only colour on the sentiment before a tiny gem was added to the little snowflake.
     The mount is a layer of white card coloured around the edge with the same marker so they match.

     The background is embossed with a snowflake folder I borrowed from a friend (thanks Rene), I shall have to get one of these myself.
     A very simple card to make and great in different colour combinations, like this one in silver and purple. There are eight different sentiments in the set so a few more of these will be popping up through the year.
     Come over to CASE-ing Christmas and join us, when you get to November you'll be glad you did!

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - Let It Snow

The Glory Of Christmas - Birds or Anything Goes

Holly Jolly - Clean and Simple

CAS Case-ing Christmas

     This is my take on this weeks card at CASE-ing Christmas. I've gone CAS to produce a one layer card that took less time to make than it did to plan. 

     I masked off a wide strip down the side of my card, then stamped snowflakes in the strip embossed with Cosmic Shimmer clear.
     Using Distress Inks Faded Jeans and Broken China I then coloured the strip to make the snowflakes stand out.
     After removing the masking tape and allowing the ink to dry I used a tiny silver greeting in the bottom corner.
     Another one layer card for the festive season. Come and join us at Case-ing Christmas, we'll help you build up your stock so it's not such a rush in November.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Holly Jolly - White + One Colour

One Layer Christmas Cards - Anything Goes / Optional Angel

Merry Monday - Embossing, Dry or Heat

Peace On Earth

     Today is the beginning of another CASE-ing Christmas Challenge, this week we are case-ing a card by DT member Ellen. I was intending to stay with the beautiful simplicity of Ellen's card but I got carried away a little.
     I cut two pieces of card to act as mat and top layer on my card blank. I coloured the edge of the bigger piece with a blue alcohol marker. Then I stamped a bauble in the centre and embossed in Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine, coloured in with a slightly lighter shade of blue.
   

     The top layer I cut a bauble shape out using Spellbinder Heirloom Ornament 2011 so that the hole would sit above my stamped bauble, then I embossed it with a Creative Expressions A4 folder called Snowflake Lattice. This layer is mounted on Stix2 foam tape so that it sits about 2mm above the blue layer.
     I was going to leave it there but it looked a little blank and not as elegant as Ellen's card, so I decided to add a tiny blue gem to each embossed snowflake.
     Please come and join us at CASE-ing Christmas, we'll help you build up your card stash so that December isn't such a rush.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Tis' The Season - Getting Bluesy

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Christmas ornaments

Christmas Card Challenges - Colour Challenge Blues

The Glory Of Christmas - Blue and Silver

The 12 Months Of Christmas - Optional Colour Challenge