Card Chain Challenge - December Reveal

 I took part in the December Card Chain Challenge and got to send a card to my dear friend, Arlene, in California.  

As well as the usual themes we also had a Tic Tac Toe board to use

I chose the right hand side - washi tape, blue and emboss it. 

My washi was some pretty Poinsettia tape, my blue was both the shimmery card stock and the colouring on my Gnome and Emboss it was the folder I used to emboss the blue card.   And I got my Christmas card for Arlene done at the same time.   Saved me postage for sure.    Added bonus, that Arlene loved it!  She had made a number of Gnome cards for her family so this one suited well. 

It's such fun taking part in the Card Chain Challenge... always a bonus to get card from anywhere in the world.   Still time to join the January sign up  (here)

Merry Christmas Day

 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas Day.  Here in NZ it's almost the end of the day when you get to read this... It's my day to share a card for Die Cut Divas.  

My team mate Arlene sent me some Kat Scrappiness slim line dies and I used one to make this Christmas card for you all.  

I added some washi tape to the die cut piece and added to my white card base.  I added a Christmas die cut (Paper Roses) and a sub sentiment from a Mama Elephant set that my friend, Dierdre from Ireland, sent to me.  I added a Penny Black Poinsettia stamped and embossed in gold onto red card and fussy cut.  

Entering this into the If it's  Christmassy - Link it Challenge at Christmas Kickstart 

Hope you all have a great Christmas Day. 

Here is a quick montage of my day

Using wrapping paper on your card

 Hi there.  Since lockdown I have been watching Gina K doing her FB and You Tube lives.  She is very inspiring.  I don't have many Gina K products but managed to get her Master Layouts  1,2 & 3.   Yesterday Gina made cards using Christmas Wrapping paper.  I thought I'd give it a go as I have some scrappy pieces of paper left from wrapping presents. 

I used Spellbinders dies to cut out the Santa from the paper and added it to a scalloped red circle.  I used Master Layouts 3 to make the white and red layers.  Gina used her score board to add texture and I did the same.  The flag die cut is also from the same die set.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz set.   I wish I had thought to do this earlier!  

I am entering this at Christmas Kickstart challenge - If it's Christmmasy - link it up 

Today was my last day at work for the next 2 and bit weeks.  Back to the office on the 11th January.  Totally need a break after the tumultuous year that has been 2020.  Take care all my friends.  

Non-Traditional colours for Christmas

 Hi there.  Today I have two card to share with you that use non-traditional colours and the same Layered Circle Technique, but in two different ways

Card one was for my NZ swap group.  Val set the challenge - and gave us a link to a video showing the layered circle technique - you can see it here 

I decided to do a Christmas card in some non-traditional colours.  I used some pretty shimmery card and cut the three circles in three sizes.  Added the flagged sentiment across the joining of the circles and added a little fussy cut Holly branch.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz stamp set.   I used a holly embossed background for some texture.   I'm adding this to the latest challenge at Let's Squash It 

And my second card uses the same colours but just a different way to put the circles together.

I used a different embossing folder and added a Santa in pink that I had used my Scan'n'Cut machine to cut out.  

Hope all my viewers are keeping safe and healthy.  Christmas is less than 2 weeks away so take care. 

Last minute Christmas Cards

 Hi there.... I have got a few overseas Christmas cards sent off this year.  Postage went up this year, so I had to cut back a little bit.   However I had good sales at work and need a few extra cards to send to my NZ family and friends.   So over the weekend I made a few multiples

Over the years I've collected a lot of Christmas paper packs so together with my new Gina K Master Layouts I've manage to make a few cards quickly. Also used an embossing folder for one of the backgrounds.  My stamps are from two different freebie sets from last year.  I used some Altenew gold ink and stamped it a few times in the MISTI to get a good coverage.  

I also used the embossing folder background to make another Gnome card 

Another CAS card. 

I have had my Dad and his partner stay for a few days.  They drove up from Lower Hutt - did it in one and a half days.  Not too bad for an 83 year old.  But I think from now on, they may just fly up to see us.   I'm sharing a beautiful photo of Dad and his great-grand daughter. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope your Christmas crafting is going well 

A weekend of Christmas cards

 Ho ho ho... nearly Christmas time.  I sold a lot of my Christmas cards at my work so had to make a few more so I could send them off.    So here is the weekends ones.... NB a photo heavy post!  I was inspired by the Lets' Squash it challenge - to use my embossing folders.  

#1

Using a Snowflake folder and Swiss dots folder.  I used one of the trio of Gnomes coloured in purples to co-ordinate with my matting. 

#2

This one used a holly embossing folder which was matted and added to a leather grained card base.  I added a simple circle die cut with a scalloped mat and a little stamped sentiment.

#3

I used the same folder, this time doing a bit of a letterpress technique - inking the folder before running it through my Cuttlebug.  I used the same sentiment with a couple of die cut circles. 

I really had fun playing with my folders and stamping.  

'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

 Over at Christmas Kickstart Challenge the theme is "The Night Before Christmas" 

A couple of years ago, I got a stamp set with a magazine the was called "Christmas Memories" and it had the words from the story "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on it - so here is my card

The little mouse is part of the stamp set as well.  He's coloured up with Copic markers.  I used Gina K Master Layouts 2 to cut the centre panel and Master Layouts 1 for the mat.   

I managed to sell a good number of Christmas cards this week, so am working hard on building up my stock so I can send them off to friends and family.  

  

Our weekend starting with a visit from Grace.  Her and her Dada arrived at 8.15am on Saturday... to find Nanny and Pop still in bed!  We had been enjoying a cuppa tea in bed for arising for the day.  So happy though to see our little Princess. 

The little bike she is riding belonged to her Aunty Emma - who got it for her 1st birthday (so it's 33 years old) It's been well ridden over the years.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you are all well. 

WWC 299 - Heidi's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Hi there.  It's time for a Watercooler Wednesday challenge and Heidi is our hostess with an All About Occasions challenge. 

Last month, I was lucky enough to be able to go to a craft fair.  I did get a few bits and pieces, including a couple of different Gnomes stamps from a New Zealand company - Montarga.   Today I am sharing one of the cards I have made with the trio of Gnomes. 

I CASE'd a card on Montarga's website.  I used some dark Green and and softer green card for my base and panels.  I stamped the Trio of Gnomes and coloured with Copics and Altenew Markers.  The sentiment is from a Catherine Pooler stamp set.   A couple of black gems to finish off. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project 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 at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

Variation on a theme.- Inked Embossing folder

 The other day I made an inked embossed background for a Christmas card - in green ink.  You can see it here.   

So I decided to try out some other ink colours....

For this first one I used Catherine Pooler's Peppermint Spa ink with my embossing folder.  I used some pearlescent paints to colour up my Poinsettia stamp.  I added it to a kraft base.  

My next one uses Catherine Pooler's Royal Treatment ink

For my Poinsettia, I used some creamy gold pearlescent paint.  A few gems finished it off. 

I did another inked embossed background with some pink ink, but it didn't turned out so good as I added too much water to my card base and the ink spread too far.  I will probably use it to do some die cutting.   Waste not, want not! 

Today I had to have an x-ray and ultrascan on my left shoulder as I am having pain in it. I've been having physio but it hasn't been getting any better.   Hopefully I'll get a diagnosis from the tests.   Luckily it's not affecting my ability to craft!!!  Just hurts to reach behind to do up my bra.    

thanks for stopping by today.  I appreciate all your visits.  

Let's Squash It - challenge 2 - take 2

 I'm back today to share a fun card I made for the Let's Squash it Challenge.  The challenge is: Use a Christmas embossing folder and a stamp on your card.    

I haven't had a great deal of success trying the technique of inking up an embossing folder but this afternoon I tried it with a piece of watercolour paper and some Eucalypts ink by Catherine Pooler,  I used my brayer to add the ink to the folder and then gave my card a spritz of water before running it through my Cuttlebug.   Best success so far!  I trimmed the panel and added to some pearlised cream card.  I used some more of the watercolour paper to stamped and gold emboss a Pointsetta stamp from a Penny Black set.  I used Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red and Peppermint Scrub inks to do an artsy watercolour.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you come back shortly, you'll see my Sweet Stampin' Challenge post.

  

Edited:  Thanks Jo for reminding me that I can enter this into the challenge at Christmas Kickstart too... same  challenge theme!

Let's Squash It - #2 challenge - Christmas folder and a stamp

 The second challenge at Let's Squash It is underway and the challenge is to use a Christmas Embossing Folder and a stamp. 

My card using a Snowflake embossing folder to make my background.

My stamping is a cute little gnome.  He's one of three that are all together on one stamp by Montarga Stamps.  I used my Scan'n'Cut to cut each one out separately.  I cut my card to an American sized card so I could use my Gina K master layout dies for my layers.   This one uses a mixture of dies from Layout 1 & 2.  I am in love with my little gnomes so have been making a few cards to build up my supplies to sell at work. 

Thanks Jo and Gail for this cool challenge.  

And over at Christmas Kickstart challenge - it's the same theme.  So I am entering my card into that challenge too

WWC 297- Helen's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Hi there, it's time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday this week.  Helen is our hostess with an All About Occasions challenge.  

I've made a series of Christmas cards using an Altenew "Merry Reindeer" stamp set and the matching die.

This first one used some Kraft card for the base, and then using patterned papers die cut with Gina K's Master Layouts 2 set  I used both Copic markers and Prismscolor pencils to colour in my little Reindeer. I have a LOT of patterned paper packs so decided to use up some them. The greeting panel was was stamped onto some cream card and fussy cut before adding to the die cut.  I did this on all three cards. 

Number 2 - 

I used two patterned papers and added the die cut Reindeer. The sentiment is from a Freebie set from a couple of years ago.

and for Number 3-

For this one I embossed my white panel, matted with some gold paper.  My centre panel was also matted with the gold paper.   I am loving the Gina K Master Layouts.... so much so I have just ordered Layouts 1 & 3.

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project 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 at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

Pink Christmas - Take Two

 Hi.  I'm back again today with another Pink Christmas card - for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 

Here's what I came up with

This card started life as a test run of my Altenew 3D embossing folder.  I inked up the folder and ran it through my Cuttlebug.  I wasn't sure if I liked it so it sat on my desk for a white.   I was mucking around and thought it might do ok for the base for a Pink Christmas card.  I matted it onto some black card and some dark pink card before adding to the white base.  I die cut the sentiment from the dark pink mat and added to the card.  It was only when I took the photo I realised that I had added the sentiment to the base upside down.  The flowers were going the wrong way.  But I'm sure you won't have noticed unless I had said!  A few pink gems finished off the card.

A Pink Christmas

 Hi there.  The current challenge at Christmas Kickstart is "A Pink Christmas"   I did some Pink Christmas cards last year with some pretty patterned paper I purchased, but for my card today I CASED a card I recently received from my NZ swap friend, Carol.  Our challenge was to use a white die cut... I'll show her card after I show mine...

I smooshed some Altenew Fuchsia ink onto my craft mat and completely covered my panel with the ink.  I then took another panel and picked up what was left on the mat.  This gave me the pretty background that looks like clouds.  I used Cottage Cutz Stitched ovals to make my frames.  I die cut the Poinsettia with a Spellbinders die from the centre of the full panel of ink, before using it as the matting.  Waste not, want not!  I layered the flowers together and added some Soft Pink rhinestones to the centre and on the frames.    The sentiment was stamped with Magenta Ink (Altenew) with a stamp that was a free one several Christmas ago.  Love the scripty writing.

And here is the card I got from Carol. 

 Isn't it stunning.  You can see why it inspired me.  

Thanks for stopping by today.   Hope you all are well and coping with how the world is spinning at the moment.   I'm looking forward to a fun full weekend starting with the a family takeaway dinner tonight for hubby's birthday (today) and then up to spend the night at our friends up north and then on Sunday a quick trip back to Auckland so we can go to the Test between the All Blacks and the Australian rugby team.  Lucky to get given some tickets to a corporate box to watch the game. 

Cards for two challenges.

 I'm back from my  5 days away - we did a little road trip south of Auckland.  We had a lovely trip away, did lots of walking - along the beach at Papamoa, through the bush in Rotorua and a short walk to see the Huka Falls in Taupo.  And some soaking in the Thermal Pools in Rotorua and in a warm creek riverside in Taupo.   Had fun riding the Luge in Rotorua and generally had a relaxing time.  

So today I have two cards to share.  One I made on Saturday after getting home from babysitting little Grace.  She had a bit of a hard week - ending up spending 2 days in Starship Hospital (Auckland's Children's Hospital) last weekend with high temperature and not being able to weight bear on her leg.  After lots of tests and scans she went home on Monday but got a call back on Wednesday and spend another two nights in hospital with more scans and blood tests.  She had a bacteria in her blood that caused the joint pain but is now much better.  Back to her smiley self. 

On to my cards... Both are for challenges hosted by my blog friends... Gail and Jo.  First up for Christmas Kickstart Challenge.. the theme is Festive Sweet Treats 

My card uses some Catherine Pooler Designs stamps - Candy Cane Lane and the matching dies.  I used Green Skirts and Rockin' Red CP inks to stamp the Candy Canes and Peppermint sweets and die cut them out.  I used the Grass Skirt to make the Plaid background - also a Catherine Pooler Design stamp.  The sentiment is just perfect for the sweets.   

My next card is for a brand new challenge blog - started by Gail and assisted by Jo.  It's called "Let's Squash It" - and is all about embossing folders.  Gail admits to being a bit obsessed with Embossing Folders... and so am I!  I just counted how many I have - 139 full sized folders and 23 border folders.  

So for the first challenge the theme is "Geometric and Metallic"  Use a Geometric EF and Metallic paper/card.  On the blog, Gail has a tutorial on making your own metallic paper.  For my card I used a faux metallic technique I did years ago from a video by Jennifer McGuire (here) using ink and Perfect Pearls.  

I used some Catherine Pooler Sauna ink and Gold Perfect Pearls to make my panel.  Then used a We Are Memory Keepers 3D Geometric die to emboss.  I trimmed the panel and layered it with some black card and then onto my white base.  I added a black die cut from  Penny Black.  

I have to say this was the second card I made using this technique.  I miss read the the challenge and didn't use a Geometric Folder.... so I have another card up my sleeve.  You'll see it sometime in the future!

Thanks Gail and Jo for starting this fun challenge.  

Textured Christmas for Die Cut Divas

 It's the last day for the All Kinds of Holidays at Die Cut Divas.   Our sponsor this month has been Cheapo Dies. 

I've made a CAS textured Christmas card.  

I used some embossing folders to make my panels and a die to make my sentiment.  Although I did not use any Cheapo dies, you should check them out - so many gorgeous dies from many different companies. 

Thanks for stopping by.  

White on White Christmas card

 Hi there.  It's my turn to share at Die Cut Divas.  Our challenge this month is All Kinds of Holdiays... and our sponsor is Cheapo Dies 

Today I am sharing a White on White Christmas card.  

I took the candles die and cut it from White card.  I used Gina K Master layouts 2 to cut the panel I added the candles too.  I have added a soft amount of green pencil onto the holly leaves (hard to see on the photo)  The sentiment is from Sunny Studios.  A few white gems finished off the card.  

EDITED:  I have now entered this into the Christmas Kickstart challenge - white on white.  

Although my dies are not from Cheapo Dies, but they have a lot of wonderful dies. 

Do come and join us at Die Cut Divas.