It's Christmas Time at Die Cut Divas

 Ho ho ho... It's Christmas time at Die Cut Divas.    Our sponsor is Polkadoddles...

This month we are only having two main posts.... one was on the first and then today's.    Polkadoodles kindly provided us with an image to use.   I got Snowman and Elvis Wesley to work with.

I printed out the image and used a Gina K Master Layout to cut the panel and then the patterned paper panel.   I coloured up Elvis Wesley and his snowman friend with Copic Markers - added a little stamped sentiment and some Stickles in Star Dust. 

We would love to have you join our challenge - Dec 2022 Challenge.  

A few more Christmas cards

 Over the weekend, I manage on Saturday to get three quick Christmas cards done.  Both very CAS

This one used two different Kaisercraft stamp sets.   I clear embossed the presents and used my new Tri-blend pens.  I die cut the panel with Gina K Master Layouts 2.

Another Kaisercraft stamp set.  Using some Catherine Pooler inks to stamp the banners and the holly.  The holly was coloured with the Tri-blends.  I matted with some gold matt card and onto a dark green card base.  

And finally

This one using a sweet stamp from Montarga (a NZ company)  I used a smaller Master Layout die and some scrap green woodgrain paper.  This was left over from making a origami Christmas tree.  I only used an 8" square for the tree so had a few cutover bits that were perfect for a card layer.  

Sunday was spent playing in my craft room with Princess Grace.   I introduced her to Colour Burst/Nuvo shimmer powders.   Magic as she said... She loved tapping the powders on and then watching the magic happen as she spritzed the card.   She loves inking and stamping - she is so serious when she is making her "cards"  We certainly had fun with her.   She's like the Energizer Bunny... just keeps going and going.  I was very tired when Mummy and Daddy picked her.  

Peace Love and Joy

 HI there.   Been in a bit of a slump lately and haven't been doing much crafting.   But last weekend I did take a stamp set with me up north.   I stamped Altenew's PAF - Iceland Poppies twice -coloured one with Woodless Watercolour pencils.      This evening I decided it would make a great Christmas card. 

I used my Gina K Master Layouts 2 to trim the painted panel and layered onto red card.    I then look Hero Arts Peace stamp and die set and die cut the peace once from red and three times from white. I layered the whites ones and then offset the red one on top,  I added the little sub-sentiment.  

I'm entering this into the December challenge at The Flower Challenge.  The theme is Christmas. 

And into Darnell's NBUS challenge - this was the first outing for this stamp set.  

Two weeks tomorrow and we'll be on our way to Perth for Christmas.  It's coming around so quickly. 

Christmas wreath - using non-Christmas stamps

 Hi there.   I'm sharing a card I made using a Pinkfresh hot foil plate and stencil, that I made into a Christmas card by using red inks.   And of course, a Spellbinders hot foiled sentiment.  

I used Altenew inks to add the rich red colours and lovely green leaves.  And the hot foiled sentiment was the reverse foiling from some red on white foiling.   A few bronze Nuvo drops finished the card.  

I can't believe it's the last day of November.   Only 23 days till our NZ family head over to Perth to spend time with our Aussie family!   Some very excited people on both sides of the Ditch who can't wait.  

Christmas card with Birch Press Designs Hot foil plate.

 Hi there.  Back with another card for Die Cut Divas' November challenge.   Our lovely sponsor is Birch Press Design 

You can make anything as it's an "Anything Goes" challenge - just remember to use a die cut or embossing folder in your design!   

Today I'm sharing a Christmas card I made.... this time using the Birch Press Design String Art Hot foil plate as it was intended - with foil!

I was lucky to be able to pick up the hot foil plate at my local online store -Krafters Cart.  I took some dark green card and used some gold foil to make the background.  In real life it tooks stunning!   I've paired it with an unbranded Poinsettia which I gold embossed before blending Altenew inks on it.  I then fussy cut it and added it with some 3D tape.   I added a Spellbinders Christmas sentiment foil foiled in gold on white.   With all the beautiful foiled gold, I didn't need to add any other embellishments. 

Do come and join us - you have till 9.00pm Pacific US time on the 30th to add your card to our challenge - Nov Challenge 

Jingle Bells

 A quick Christmas card I made for using some pre-stamped images I had sitting on my desk. 

I made a similar card a couple of years ago and at the time stamped the bells a few extra times and had the vintage music printed out.  So it was an easy colouring using Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol.  I added the music print onto some dark blue card, and added the bells in the corner.  I had the hotfoil sentiment in my baggie of pre foiled and die cuts.  They are a Spellbinders sentiment.  To make it stand out a bit more, I layered it onto some blue card.  

I took my Christmas cards up north with me and my friend chose a number so she could send to her family and in-laws who live overseas, so I need to stock up again.    Postage being as it is, I will need to get my own ones posted off by the end of this week.  

Christmas Tree

 The new challenge at Christmas Kickstart is up and running....the theme is Trees, Trees, Trees.

This one came together really quickly.  The background was made ages ago - using Nuvo Shimmer paste through a Tim Holtz stencil.   I had precut a Gina K Master Layout 2 before doing my stenciling.  I used a smaller stitched Gina K die and used my new Christmas Wording Tree stamp from Montarga  Stamps to gold emboss.  A nice and easy but effective looking card. 

I'm also entering this into Darnell's NBUS - first outing for the Tree stamp.

Same, same but different Christmas cards

 Hi there.  Today I'm sharing a set of Christmas cards that are the same design, but with different colours and colouring mediums.

Card 1

For this one I used dark green for the base and layering.  I stamped the Pohutukawa (a Montarga stamp) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and used Copic markers to colour it up. The top of the flowers is gold Kindyglitz glitter glue. The sentiment is "Merry Christmas" in Māori (by Craft Creations)

Card 2

Same design this time in red.   This time stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves and coloured with lighter colours - Altenew's Woodless Watercolour pencils.  The gold on the tips is a gold Sharpie. 

Card 3

This time inked with Memento Grey Flannel.  I chose darker colours of the Woodless Watercolour pencils.  I used a silver Sharpie to make the layer.  And the base in a lovely royal blue colour.  

A great design suitable for multiple stamping.   I'm sure I'll be doing more of this one. 

Christmas with STAMPlorations

 Hi there.  .... Today I'm sharing my card for  Die Cut Divas...  

We have a new sponsor - STAMPlorations 

Today I'm using a Digital stamp from the Holiday Lattes set 

I printed the coffee cup onto white card and used  Gina K Master Layouts die to cut it out and the matching matting layer as well as the patterned paper and it's matting layer. The image was coloured with Prisma pencils and some Gamsol.  Added a touch of Wink of Stella Gold to the berries and the lid.   For the sentiment I used a Scrapbook.com die that was a freebie with a recent order.  I cut it three times and layer for dimension.    

Christmas in September - Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Hi there...   Time for another challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our challenge this time is Christmas in September.    

I did a ghost technique using a stencil - 

I started by using Hero Arts White Unicorn pigment ink through the stencil and then after shifting the stencils a tiny bit, used some Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide ink to stencil again.   I added a few pearls for the berries.  The sentiment from Gina K's Holiday Tapestry was heat embossed with white powder. 

We'd love to see you Christmas projects over at our challenge (Here)

Sparkly Christmas

 Hi there..  Today I'm sharing a card I made for a DT challenge... then realised that it was as STAMPING challenge and my card was embossing and die cut only!    So here it is in it's sparkly glory!

I started by using a Sizzix folder to emboss my white panel.  I don't know who the beautiful die is by, it was a gift from my bloggy friend, Greta.  She sent me three of this die cut a number of years ago.  I used my Zig Watercolor pens to add colour.  I layered the three dies together and then liberally spritzed with Sparkle spray. I added it to the panel and finished with some gold gems.

Many thanks to the lovely Greta for the dies.   I really love it..

Entering this into the CAS Christmas challenge - Sparkle and/or Shine. 

Thanks for stopping by.  

Snow Globe shaped card at Die Cut Divas

 Hi there.  It's the last day of the month so I'm sharing my sample for Die Cut Divas.  Our sponsor this month is Poppy Stamps 

I used a sweet die set from Poppy Stamps called Cabin Snowglobe Pop Up Easel  - such a cute set - lots of little bits to make up this gorgeous card. 

Here is the card closed.  I cut all the pieces out.  The base in red card and then used red and green cards to cut out the cabin and trees.  I cut the base and branches from white card - for the base I then used a distressed stripes embossing folder to add the grain before using Walnut Stain Distress ink to colour.  Did the same with the branches.  I die cut the snow banks and the cabin roof from glitter paper.  I also cut the berries from the glitter paper.  Added Copic markers to add the colour.  The bottom of the globe has a little bit of gold card.  I added the elements - inspired by the packaging.  

And here it opened 

and here is it next to a Copic maker to show the size of the card. 

I enjoyed putting this one together.  It took a while but so love the outcome.  

Do come and join us... last day today.   We'd love to see your shaped cards. 

Peace Love and Joy

 Today was a work from home day - so I managed a card during my tea breaks and lunch break.. I saw this great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches on my bloggy friend Karren's blog 

This week brought another package from Krafter's Cart and some lovely goodies from my friend, Arlene... I had purchased an Altenew stamp and die set from last year - a Christmas one - Holiday Flower Stamp.  So it got a try out today.

I found this gorgeous Christmas paper in my LARGE stash of patterned paper.  I trimmed it down to fit the sketch - made a red layer and added to a green 5" square card base.   I stamped the flower with some Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossed it, onto some Fabriano Bristol paper. Ager die cutting it out,  I did some watercolouring with Altenew's Woodless Watercolour pencils.  They move so beautifully on this paper.  The sentiment is from the stamp set and is silver embossed onto black card and die cut with some Altenew Featured Sentiment dies.

As the stamps and die are having their first outing, I'm entering this into Darnell's NBUS challenge.

I'm hoping to get some more play time this weekend... so much new stuff to play with.

Christmas Pinecones.

 Hi there... Here's one of the cards I did yesterday afternoon.  It's a shaped Christmas card.  I made this with two challenges in mind. 

The challenge at Let's Squash It - is Don't be So Square.   Use your embossing folders and make a shaped card.   I made my card base using a very old Tim Holtz die  - called Vintage Cabinet Die

I cut it three times  -two used as the base and one for the embossed panel.  The embossing folder is an Altenew one - Classic Pinecones Slim 3D folder.  I used some Rocky Shores and Mocha Altenew inks to blend on some colour on the cones, and Moss for the needles.   The pre-printed sentiments are some digital images from a magazine.  

I'm also entering this one in the Never in a Nativity challenge at Christmas Kickstart. 

    

Christmas Floral - how to adapt a non Christmas flower

Hi there - it's the last day of the month so it's time to share my card for Die Cut Divas. 

and our theme for the month is Christmas in July.

I don't have many Elizabeth Craft Designs stamps and dies, so came up with the idea of adapting what I had to make a Christmas card.  I have a lovely floral stamp and die set that I've had for a while.  It's called Flower Power (unfortunately now discontinued)  and I adapted it to make it a Christmas Flower. 

 

 I die cut the flower from watercolour paper before stamped it and used Altenew Woodless Watercolor pencils to make the centre portion red and the outer portion green - to look like a Poinsettia.  

I used Gina K master layouts to cut out a dark green panel which I gold embossed with a freebie sentiment.  I also used the dies to put some patterned paper.  I layered the panels and added some dimension by gluing two layers to the flowers and green panel.  A few gold baubles finished the card.  I really am pleased with how it turned out.  

There is still time to join our challenge.  Pop over here to add you Christmas projects.  Don't forget to use your die cut machine to die cut, emboss etc.  

Christmas Kickstart - Challenge #64 - Show us your Snowfolk!

 

After spending a couple of days doing classes and shopping at the SENZ Craft Expo, I have been inspired.... so decided I better get a move on with making a Snowman card... using a few of my new purchases.  

I found my image on a free image site on the internet.  I love how cute and happy this snowman is.  I printed in out a a size that would fit an A2 US card.  I fussy cut around the image. Next was my background.  I used my new Distress Oxide inks in Tumbled Glass and  Broken China blended together.  Then I die cut with a Gina K die from Master Layout #2. Next step was to use my new snowflake stencil from Montarga  ( a NZ company) I used Nuvo Glimmer paste to add some sparkly snowflakes.   My final step was to add the die cut sentiment (Carta Bella) - another new purchase.   I found a lovely plaid paper to mat behind my panel and added to a white base.  

It's been an awesome weekend and I've still got so much new stuff to play with - can't wait to find time to play.  

Pawfectly Pawsome Christmas and a Christmas Wreath

 I had a bit of play time over the weekend.  I saw that the latest Christmas Kickstart Challenge was under way and it's a fun challenge - Pawfectly Pawsome... anything with PAWS on your Christmas cards. - Dogs, cats, mice, foxes, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, bears and even weasels: are all welcome!

I had fun looking through my library of digital images for Christmas critters with paws!  Bugaboo Stamps (now defunct) had lots and I have a heap of their images I've purchased or obtained over the years.  So two cards were made.

First up - this cute little bear on a candy cane...

I printed then trimmed to a stripe for the centre of my card.  I found some shiny red polka dotted paper for the background. (note this was very hard to photograph!)  I used my Prismacolour pencils and some Gamsol to colour in the image.  The sentiment is from a Kaisercraft stamp set.   

And my second card - is an old favourite from Bugaboo

Doesn't he look sad for not getting the call up to help Santa.  I used my Prismacolor pencil again.  And a little blue ink to surround him.  I cut my panel with a Gina K Master Layouts die.  My red base card has a little dry embossing down the right hand side.  

And while I was in the Christmas mode, I saw that CAS Christmas Card Challenge is back and this month the challenge is Wreath

Not to sure if it's CAS enough.  I used a Sizzix Die set I picked up last weekend for $7.00 on special at the local Spotlight.  I die cut all the pieces a number of times from some mixed media paper and used Altenew watercolour paints to colour them all.  I die cut the Altenew Mixed Frame die - the deckle one... and then used a Spellbinder cover die to emboss the panel.   I finished with a digital sentiment. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope that you had time to play over the weekend.  

Getting into the Christmas spirit...

 I've scheduled this post for when I'm away.  I did two Christmas cards over Friday and Saturday - a bit of a kickstart for my Christmas stash....

And the first one is for Christmas Kickstart Challenge.   Jo and Gail set us a theme of "From My Gnome to Yours"  

I had these three gnomes stamped and cut out with my Scan'n'Cut sitting in my UFO (Un-finished objects) container.  So grabbed them and some Copic markers and this CAS card came together so quickly.  I found the dotted paper and added to the middle of the 4.25" square card.  The sentiment is from a Kaisercraft set. A bit of Kindyglitz added some sparkle.  And some dash lines and it was done.  

And my second one came about due to my buying a craft magazine.   It was from Oct 2021 - taking this long to get into the stores here. It's Simply Cards and Papercraft #222 and has a lovely die set as it's freebie.  I CASE'd one of the cards on the packaging of the die

I die cut the outline in Teal and again in white and then die cut the little other branches, leaves and stars in the magenta, green and white.  The letters were cut with the magenta card.  I layered everything together onto a panel cut with Pink Fresh Essential mini slimline die and added to a 3.25" x 6.25" card base.  I added some red gems and some Autumn Red Nuvo Drops around the card.    There were lots of great ideas in the magazine so I'm sure I'll be doing some more cards with this set. 

Thanks for stopping by.... I'll be settling into to spending time with Archie for the next couple of weeks, so I won't be posting much ... maybe the odd photo of our adventures.  

Embossing and Debossing together...plus another Christmas card

Hi there.  There's a fun new challenge this month at Let's Squash It...  Emboss/Deboss

The idea is to have both the embossed and debossed side of an embossing folder together on your card. 

I decided to use an edging folder to emboss and deboss on my square card - 

This is a little 4.25" square card.   I used a edger embossing folder and debossed at the top and embossed the bottom of the card.   I used a Poinsettia stamp (Kiwi Stamping Co- no longer in business) I stamped it twice and coloured with Copic markers in a dark red and a light green.  I added Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to the red petals.   After fussy cutting, I layered the two.  The sentiment is from Gina K's Holiday Tapestry.

And while I had the Holiday Tapestry set out, I did another Thumping card 

I used a slightly darker grey ink on this one.  Altenew's Grey Denim and then used Azurite (dark blue) for the thumping.  I also used the same dark blue ink to add the sentiment.  A few silver sequins to finish. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  It's been a good day!  Made two Feijoa Loaves - one for us and one to deliver to Grace and her Mum and Dad.   For those of you who don't know what a Feijoa is....

they are a fruit... we have two trees and this was three days worth.  They are a very perfumed sweet fruit.  A bit of an acquired taste - one I love!   As does our Princess.  She loves going out the back to where the trees are and check if there is any fruit.  It drops of the tree when it's ripe.