Christmas Kickstart - Snow Days

Over the weekend, I managed to sneak a few happy hours in my craft room and create a card for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge theme, Snow Days. I started with one card, but once it was finished, it felt more wintry than Christmassy. So, using the same snowflake embossing folder, I had another go and came up with this festive version.

For the Christmas card, I started with a square panel and ran it through with an old freebie snowflake embossing folder. It may be from years ago, but it still creates such lovely, deep impressions and makes a beautiful snowy background.

Penny Black’s Snowy stamp and die felt like the perfect focal point. I stamped and die cut the image, coloured it, and then added Kindyglitz glitter glue to the pompom and hat for a little festive sparkle. To finish, I added a small red die-cut sentiment from a Sizzix die set.

This the first card I made using the same embossing folder, along with the stamp that originally came with it. I stamped the image first in blue ink, clear embossed it, and then added the embossed snowflake background.

To bring in some extra shimmer, I added sparkle pen details and white Nuvo Drops, then finished the design with a blue snowflake die from Scrapbook.com coloured with sparkle pen. I really liked how this one turned out, even if it felt more like a winter card than a Christmas one.

Let it Snow - Christmas Kickstart October challenge

 Just popping in to share my last minute card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge for October - Snow Alert.

I got my order from Scrapbook.com yesterday and included was a TCW (The Crafters Workshop) layering stencil - Toasty Snowman.  It was a freebie with my order. Once the housework was done, I found a few moments to give it a go.

Isn't he cute!  There are three layers and a fourth with 2 large sentiments.   I just did the three layers with a variety of Altenew inks.   I then coloured his hat with a black marker and added some glossy accents to his eyes and nose.   A little Waffle Flower sentiment finished this quick card.   

I also got a free snowflake stamp so can't wait to use that the snowflake dies I purchased.

Happy crafting everyone

More Stress Free Cardmaking Summit projects.

 I had some fun on Friday and Saturday playing with inspiration from the summit.  I really love getting the VIP classes.. so I can take my time to watch the classes and play along.

First card I did was inspired by Erin Reed's mixed media class. 

Erin provided a sheet with butterflies and sentiments to print out.  The butterflies are stunning and I chose this one.  I used some paints for my background - Dina Wakely, Reeves and Tim Holtz Distress Paint and a variety of stencils.    Did some pen scribbling on the background as well and added some splatters of the black paint.  Fussy cut the butterfly and trimmed the sentiment.  Just loved the results and will definitely be trying the background again. 

Next up are some cards I made inspired by Therese Calvid's embossing technique.   It's one I've tried before but it's an awesome one.   

 This was my first try but, I chose a patterned paper that was just a bit pale.   I embossed with a Christmas 3D folder and used Hero Arts Unicorn ink to blend over the top.   Added some sparkle pen on the flowers.   I wasn't sure about it, but made it into a card.   Sentiment was stamped in Catherine Pooler Icing on the Cake ink with a Kaisercraft sentiment.  

Card two turned out much better -

This time my patterned paper that was darker and the white ink really made the embossing pop.  I added a preprinted banner I had in my stash and added some off white homemade enamel dots.

And while I was playing finished off a green card I had embossed with the free folder I got when I was away.  It's a normal embossing folder and I wondered what it would look like if I inked it with the white.  Turns out it looks great. 

I decided to make it into a Christmas card.  I had some printed sentiments from last years summit and I die cut one and matted with some of the dark green card. I used a Sizzix die set to cut the leaves and red flowers.

Today didn't get any time to play but hopefully tomorrow - as it's a public holiday here in New Zealand.   A few more sessions to check out and try. 

Feel better soon and a Christmas card

 Been a very busy week at work and as we had been away last weekend... not much crafting done this week.   Today I'm sharing a scrappy Christmas card and a Feel better soon card I made. 

First up the feel better card....

Another card of encouragement for my SIL who has just had her second round of chemo.

I recently purchased a gorgeous layering stencil from Papertrey Ink- In The Meadow - which I paired with a Waffle Flower Postage collage die and masking stencil.  I used Altenew purples/pinks  and greens inks with some soft blue to make background.  I used a sentiment from my stash - from Altenew Build a Flower  Grand Carnation stamp and die set.  

And my Scrappy Christmas card 

The patterned paper stripe was left over from a previous card.  Matted it onto a white panel and added to my card base.  The bells (Couture Creations) were already stamped and in a baggie with other Christmas bits and pieces.  I just added some colour with my Tri-blends from Spectrum Noir.   The circle die was in the bits pile, already embossed with Altenew's Organic Linen 3D folder. The little banner was already cut from a freebie from Natasha Foote.  I'd printed a few and cut with my Scan'n'Cut.  All I did for this one, was to use my dotty die to cut some dark red glitter card to make the embellishments.   

Looking forward to tomorrow as my crafty friend, Suna, is coming for a play date!   We haven't got together for a long time.... and this year I'm away for the craft fair we usually go to.   We finally found a Saturday we were both free and she is coming over.   I've been saving up ideas to do while she is here!

Hope you all get some crafty time this weekend.  

Christmas Kickstart - Embossing Folder Fun

 

Time for the September challenge at Die Cut Divas.  And it's a favourite for me as I had A LOT of embossing folders... and to make it even easier for me, I had a piece of coloured and die cut card that was already embossed on my desk. 

I had made my panel as couple of weeks ago when Grace and I were playing with Colour Burst powders.   I used mostly greens and blues for mine.  First cut with Pinkfresh Studio's Mini Slimline dies and then embossed with Altenew Classic Pines 3D folder.  I then took Altenew Enchanted Gold ink and swiped it over the folder.  I used a die set that came from a freebie from a magazine (dated 2021) I cut the lower layer in a very dark green card and the NOEL from a creamy-white card, I cut the little embellishments dies in the creamy-white and used a variety of Copic markers to add colour.  I added some yellow and red Liquid Drops 3D Pearls to the little flowers and the berries.  

My Christmas stash is growing with all the cards I've been doing lately. 

Christmas Reindeer

 Hi there.  It's my day for sharing at Die Cut Divas... our sponsor for July is Elizabeth Crafts Design

Our challenge is "Christmas in July"

For my card today, I have used ECD - Reindeer.  

I die cut out all the pieces and then used Copics to colour it in.   It is an adorable die cut.  There is a wreath with it - but I found it quite difficult to work out what went where so decided not to use it.  I found some lovely gold star paper for the background.  I used a Pretty Pink Posh edge die to cut a snow bank and added it over the PP.  I used Gina K Master Layouts 1 to trim the panel down.  I matted it onto black card.  I stamped a sentiment from a magazine freebie.  I love how the little reindeer turned out.  He is just so cute.

Do come and join us at Die Cut Divas with your Christmas projects.  

The Stockings are Hung

I have been very unwell this week.  I picked up Archie's cold and it's turned into a nasty Chest Infection.   I had Tuesday off to have another cortisone injection in my shoulder which I'm happy to say seems to have worked... and then I had rest of the week at home.  Finally made it to the doctors this morning and have been advised not to go back to work till Wednesday next week.    So I've been resting and reading and of course spending a little time in the craft room. 

Today's card is for Christmas Kickstart Challenge.-   All about the Christmas Stocking - optional with a Chimney

I have a freebie set that has this cute stocking so I decided it use it.  Actually I had the three stockings already stamped and cut with my Scan'N'Cut in my pile of prestamped images.  So it made a really quick card.  I used Gina K's Master Layout 4 cut the centre panel and layer.  I ran the panel through an Embossing folder.  The circle sentiment was also in my prestamped and cut pile so a quick flick of some Copic markers and the bits were all coloured.  I layered some white and silver bakers twine along the top of the panel and added the stockings with some red gems. I added some glittery sparkle to the top of the stockings.

I'm hoping to feel well enough to spend a bit more time in the craft room as I've got a big commission to do a photo box.- by the end of next week.   Plus get a head a bit in my design work.  

WWC #311 Kath's Challenge - All Things Feminine.

 Hi there.  Well we've had a bit of a change up at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge blog.  We will now be running a fortnightly challenge.   More time for you to join us with your lovely creations... 

We've updated our challenge titles too.... still the same but a bit less of a mouthful.... so onto Kath's challenge - All Things Feminine,

Believe it or not - this flower is a Christmas one.  Yes, it is a corner floral from a freebie Christmas set by Clear Impressions.  I stamped the L-shaped florals around my card and then added little bits of the stamp in the spaces.  The sentiment is from a Kaisercraft set called Way of Life.  I coloured the flowers with some Altenew Woodless Watercolour pencils and some Jasart pencils.  I didn't add any water to the pencils.  Really happy with the results. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the projects from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday 22nd of March at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time) to link up your project.