Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Merry Christmas

 


Just wanted to wish everyone

Merry

Christmas

and a huge thank you for those who have stuck by me this year even though I have become a bit of a rubbish blogger. At least 2021 is looking promising so

Happy

New Year

My little Gnome is for my Daughter she as purple and silver as her Christmas colours but its out of favour so she finds it difficult to find decorations. Another Etsy Pattern this time from Knufl he was super easy to make and I loved him so much I had to make one in green and red.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Patches


 So my cardmaking as been taking a back seat I have in my rest time still crocheting. Here's Patches a pattern I got off Etsy from Kornflake Stew. I didn't realise I was so rusty with amigurumi or I'm just twisty crocheter. 

He is long tall chap but I've somehow have twisty legs and especially the arms there's obviously something I'm doing wrong but Hubby says he looks OK.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Swirls


 When Simon says Stamp sends you something amazing you have to use it straight away and I absolutely love the Detail Swirl Plate makes a plain background look interesting.

Just for quicknest and simply because Mr Mojo is still absence I grabbed their Cosmos Stem and touch of ink and a pink centre to make it look pretty.

Since I finished my Christmas Cards for this year its time for some Thank you cards so I used the Big Thanks Background in the matching colour of the flower centre.

Yes I think this plate is going to be a useful die, I bet it gonna be used a lot in 2021

Monday, December 14, 2020

Crochet Update


Haven't done a crochet update for a while so here's my Beltane Blessing from Helen Shrimpton (Crystals and Crochet) all finished in perhaps my favourite Christmas Colours. Wool is Stylecraft Special DK.


 The last few rounds were made during the smaller rounds of Helen's Octagonical.
Used the same wool but in my Christmas colours for some reason over the years my Christmas Decorations are tradional colours.

Recently I heard my nephew- in law's girlfriend is expecting so out come the Rainbow Ripple pattern in my favourite colours for when you don't know which colours you can use are buttermilk, silver and cream. I also think this pattern is modern for the young mums of today. Of course there's going to be a matching comforter.








Friday, December 11, 2020

Reindeer Trio

Finally my last three cards for 2020 all made for money or cheque rather than actually Christmas cards. They are exactly like my reindeer card but without the fir leaves just used the sentiment strip to stop the fact my reindeer have no bottoms.

It possibly won't be the last of my Christmas card making but I will be tagging them for 2021. I seen so many cards using images that I have but haven't used this year and since layering takes time I will able to have time now till at least September when the panic sets in again.

 I'm now ready for Christmas, presents brought and wrapped, card written, posted with just a few waiting to be hand delivered. Which is why I've been missing for a bit, I've noticed that as each year past things are harder and take longer to do. Whether thats my joints being a pain of whether I just have to accept I'm getting older.

Monday, December 07, 2020

Vintage


 Just posting some of the last Christmas cards I’ve made for this year. I love Mo’s images but they do take time to cut and layer and my colouring isn’t that good for one layer image. Now that my Christmas cards are done for this year I can take my time.

Some really old Basic Grey papers and it called for ageing my white image mat and the added the bow which was made with the Avery Elle bow die.

Thursday, December 03, 2020

Serene Snowflakes


 I've been missing because I copied some of the cards I've already made and I now can say my Christmas Cards are all done. Their inside greetings have been added and they have been written now waiting to be posted. Since we are avoiding shopping in actual shops I need to special cards to add money too. Was going to ask my daughter to buy gift cards but with shops closing we thought maybe not such a good idea.

We are lucky to be in Tier 2 but for how long and if the goverment are as good as the flu jab with the covid vaccine I wouldn't be suprise if I'm still waiting this time next year!

I made this quick card using Serene Snowflake Stamp and Die set from MFT mainly because I brought it last year and it was never used. I did add strips of puffed tape (sorry can't think what its called but its sticky fixers in a roll) but as you can see its was a bit of miss in layering, once it stuck there was no way it was going to let me lift it up.

Tuesday, December 01, 2020

DieCember


This new die from Simon Says Stamp is part of the new release Dicember and  I immediately wanted to make my Christmas tags. The snowflake die called Dainty comes in two parts one the actual snowflake and the other is an outline of the snowflake so it’s fits inside.

My first tag I just cut the outline made a small hole in one of the tall arms, threaded gold thread then stuck the glittery snowflake on. The plan is to write on the back.

Then I thought why no make it so you make a card type tag. So I cut an outline with a folded white card and made sure the arm of the snowflake was over the fold.  Again I made a small hole for thread then stuck the actual snowflake on top.

If you didn’t want the thread you could stick a bit of double sided tape on the back ready to stick on the parcel.




In fact I ended making a few ready for parcel wrapping.



Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Trees


 I have a couple of draft posts with cards that are possibly not my favourites, I’m taking the week and a bit off making one off cards. I decided on which cards I’ve already made to make a few more off.

I already disliked a tree and exchanged it for another pattern one. Messed up the sentiment so had to make a banner to hide it. Also I made some tails for my flat bow not sure I like that. I just hope the person I’m sending it too likes it.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Red and White


 This time round lockdown has really my my crafting mojo disappear made a few cards lately not that keen on them if I’m honest. This one is probably the best out of the bunch but to be honest you can’t go far wrong with red and white.

Used the Memory Box wreath die and the cut their tree die with a circle die to give a round bottom.
Then layered the Pine Needles and Poinsettia Parade from Simon says Stamp over to one side. Even managed to stamp and emboss on the main mat too although I need brush off some of the loose bits of powder I can see a few that I missed.

I’ve sorted a few designs I made previously and I’m having a week of just making some more of the same.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Believe in Reindeer


Let’s hope I manage not to delete the photo, it’s so easy to do on the iPad. I made a couple of the Picture Book Reindeer and so this is the other card I made. I stamped and white embossed the snowflakes, made a white mat to help the reindeer to stand out. The pine needles to hide the fact he doesn’t have a body or legs. 
Finally I used my favourite sentiment again with Simon says Stamp.


Thursday, November 12, 2020

White Christmas


 This time I made an all white it wasn’t going to, my plan was too add Snowy Snowman I the dip of the slopes in the end I added the sentiment and the gold stars to finish. Maybe make it again for Snowy.

The snowflakes are embossed with a sizzix folder, slopes and hills are from Simon says Stamp. The trees are Marianne and the stars are Memory Box. Finally sentiment is Creative expression but I did have to layer it twice to help stand out.

Just a reminder nothing is crooked just the photographer.

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Magic of Christmas


 I tried tried to fit four snowflakes down the front of the card for CAS(e) the sketch but as you can see I only managed three.

Do love red and white cards for Christmas and very easy to make, hardest part was cutting out the snowflake out of glitter card. I keep forgetting I’ve brought the chrome plate from Sizzix makes the job easier.

I’ve used all Simon says Stamp products, Wonky Rectangles, Maryanne Snowflake and Believe stamp and die set.

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Purple Owl


 The last of the MFT Feathered Owls that I have coloured and as you can see it’s an almost purple card.

Yes the papers are Doodlebug not sure what year though. The snow scene made with Simon says Stamp background stamp and their slopes and hills die. The trees are Marianne dies and the Believe stamp and dies for the sentiment.

Monday, November 09, 2020

Christmas Reindeer


I was going to post this card last week when I discovered he didn't have his scarf and where it went I've no idea. It was suppose to be a bit of the tree paper which by the way is from MFT and finding an alternative was proving exclusive. I decided to go with silver to match the snowflakes in the background paper and the reason why I made the snowflake embellishments. I also make the scarf to flow to the left by turning upside down so it wouldn't lay across a snowflake. Wish I hadn't done it now but its too late all elements are well and truly stuck.

The card was inspired from Pinterest but I'll be honest they did a much better job. The Picture Book Reindeer from Simon says Stamp, snowflakes with Penny Black Snowy die and the fern leaves are again Simon says Stamp but it was their wreath making one. Sentiment Stamp sat on my desk possibly LOTV.




 

Friday, November 06, 2020

Holly Banners


 Another card that was made quick and simple that you then wonder does it really work. I do have this problem cutting into pretty paper and then finding it leftover when all the rest as gone. Which as happened with this Doodlebug paper.

So I managed to cut it with the Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners and use some Kraft card for a rustic background look. Bit of Ribbon and a poinsettia made with all the bits of Poinsettia Parade I didn’t use (I leave them in the envelope withe the die) previously.

Sentiment is Creative Expression but I double layers to help it stand out more.

Thursday, November 05, 2020

Snowy


 I love Penny Black Snowy snowman and I even have the matching die which is where I found the snowflakes die I’ve been using.

I’d cheated with the body and didn’t bother to colour any shading and I paper pieced the hat and scarf and used my flower soft and fun flock for the brim and bobble.

Made a winter scene with slopes and hills and birch trees. Finished off with snowflakes and a sentiment.

It’s been a funny week so far and now we go into lockdown 2, let’s hope it works and get to enjoy Christmas with our families.

Wednesday, November 04, 2020

Snowflake Squares


 Still using Pinterest for inspiration this time tiny Stitched Square with snowflakes cut with silver. I did stamped the sentiment directly to paper but as you can see I messed up and had to replace it with a fishtail banner.

Quick post, face to face doctors appointment this morning had to be flipping freezing but at least not raining. So won’t be getting wet waiting in the car park.

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Marianne Gnomes


 A mish mash of a card, the Gnomes and Tree dies are new, saw them on eBay and had to buy them. They are Marianne dies smaller than I expected but still worked out cute.

I used Simon says Stamp stitched ovals to cut an oval in the centre of the card used their slopes and hills die for snowdrift and backed with snowflake paper from Doodlebug. Penny Black snowflakes die may have to cut another, the white space by the single tree is annoying me.

Sentiment is the one found on my desk could possibly be LOTV.

Monday, November 02, 2020

Feathered Owl


 I been looking through Pinterest for card inspiration and saw a similar card maybe with a different feathered owl and colours.

I have a couple of sheets of this old Doodlebug paper from an old set and the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp and the stitched rectangle is theirs too.

Of course my owl is from MFT, I also used the stamp to paper piece his hat so it all matched. I decided  it needed a tree (have new die must use) and then I still thought something was missing so added some tiny snowflakes from Lawn Fawn.


Friday, October 30, 2020

Yuletide


 I was inspired to make this card with last weeks I think CAS(e) sketch, it helped that the poinsettia was already cut out. I made it with some very old dies I have but it didn’t work for card I was working on.

I used the Memory Box wreath die with some Penny Black Holly, I die cut it out then chopped it up to fit my card. Yes that is the Stamping Up papers but the sentiment is Simon says Stamp.

I am unhappy about one bit of it of the card but I’m telling myself it’s fine and someone who is not a card maker won’t notice.

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Prancer


 You know I said I was using Pinterest to help with Christmas card inspiration and trying to use whatever I had in my craft room well I did sneakily buy this Penny Black Prancing Reindeer. I have a family of deer or the head of a stag but no prancing deer. I got it off e bay but it was actually Cuddly Buddly shop and it arrived really quick.

I also discovered I have loads of sparkling gold card, I think worked Ok with Stampin up Papers. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp, Inside Christmas Greeting I think.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Slimline Feathered Friends


 It was only right that I made a slimline card with the MFT owls but I made it as a tall card. The Newton Nook slimline square inserts gives each owl their own space.

The snowflake papers are Doodlebug and the slopes and hills die is from Simon says Stamp, MFT does one similar but the SSS are easier to grab in my craft room. The bare trees are MFT not what they were made for but it still works.
The snowflakes are Penny Black it came with their Snowy Snowman die they are cut in sparkly card stock and sentiment is Tiny Words from Simon says Stamp

This card took most of the allocated time in my craft room, that’s not including colouring.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Golden Baubles


 While all the baubles dies are out, I remembered the CAS(e)  sketch from a few weeks but and I saw a card almost like the one I made. 

I do have a thing about baubles need something to hang from so I used the Simon says Stamp Pine needles die and since my Poppystamp baubles are tiny I used some thin gold thread to hang them from.

I also used the wonky rectangles again from Simon Says Stamp another card I’ve seen recently reminded me how they make such a difference in a CAS card. Finally stamped and embossed sentiment that I found on desk probably from last year.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Baubles


 Remember the fancy Stampin up paper, well I’m using it again this time with a Memory Box ornament die. I’ve been on Pinterest to get some inspiration for using papers and rather than buying new stuff to scrap lift the card I’ve used what I’ve got.

I went through my stash and sorted out all my bauble stamps and die and settled on these and the sentiment is a Creative Expression which I backed with white card to help it stand out more.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Little Christmas Tree


Yes I did it again managed to delete my photo before posting my post and I've just noticed too one of the snowflakes have lost its pearl, will need to sort that out before posting. I gonna blame blogger because I reckon they've been messing about with the look again!

I thought this image was in Mo's shop but I can't find him so he could be a Patreon image. The papers are left over Doodlebug ones and the snowflakes are the new MFT ones. Added some Glossy Accents to the star and sprinkled gold glitter on top of it to make it sparkle.

No idea what it happening with the indents now.

 




 

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Robins


I had this idea since I saw the sketch some weeks ago on Freshly Made sketch but if I’m honest doesn’t quite work out. I really needed to forget the sketch and centre my robins in the middle of the card.

The Robins are are from a Penny Black clear set quite old now but love cute birds. They are standing on a Memory Box branch die and decorated with a holly punch. Sentiment really old Stamping Up stamp set.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Bethlehem


 I brought the some patterned paper Stamping Up then had no clue what to do with it. There is a lot of gold involved which surprised me why I chose it I much prefer silver. One thing I realised how many different colours of gold there are.

 I have plenty of gold in my stash but the card ones show up the release dots so much I couldn’t use them. In the end I had to cut the dies in gold paper and thin white card to give some depth to the dies which is why there is a white shadow on the die cuts.

To help  give me ideas I checked out Pinterest, so I made some cards using what I had rather than buying yet more stuff. The star is a Simon says Stamp die and the sentiment is a really old Stamping up sentiment and the Eastern Village I brought last year.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Slimline Penguins


 Yes it’s definitely looking like a penguin Christmas these little chaps are from Mo Manning which were perfect for this slimline card.

I found some delicate snowflake scrapbooking paper so I cut out the penguins with a bit of a white border to help them stand out. Then I layered them, the snow balls were covered in glossy accent and the covered in glitter. The camera makes it look cream but is better in real life. I stamped and embossed the sentiment with silver embossing powder.

Snowflakes to finish with mini ones in the centre cut from silver paper.

Monday, October 19, 2020

Poinsettia Corner


 I found a piece of paper with this poinsettia stamped on it, I obviously didn’t like how dark the ink was. So I using the matching dies, cut them out and layered it together. Added some stamens that came the die set.

Not sure on the make of sentiment, I had quite a few stamps out trying to find which would fit in the space that was left.

That was the last card in my drafts, I do have some cards to post but need to take their photo today.

Yesterday was my birthday, in fact this year we had planned for a year of celebration none of which worked out. But it did turn out to be a good day.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Snowman


 I wanted to use a mitten die to embellish this LOTV snowman card but I don’t think it would show up amongst the patterned paper. So I had to step back. 

I used White Pearl thinking they would be white but in fact I should of used the Nuvo White drops on the snow falling in he image.

I cheated again with he white peel off.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Holly


 Since finding stamping and embossing background stamps in white I’ve been thinking of trying it out with other stamps. Didn’t quite work out with the Whimsy background but I wasn’t wasting it there’s a lot of embossing powder used on these cards.

I used the old Penny Black Holly and I cheated with the sentiment by using a white peel off. I gave most of my peel offs away but kept some sentiment ones.

I’ve a feeling I used a CAS(e) this sketch from a couple of weeks ago.


Wednesday, October 14, 2020

More Penguins


 Sorry for no card yesterday hope my cute Mo Manning penguins make up for it.

The papers are some scraps of Doodlebug ones from a few years back. The snowflakes are Simon says Stamp with some mini Lawn Fawn ones in the centres. I cheated and used some old craftwork cards printed sentiment which fit in the old Stampin Up oval punches.

Already said my penguins are from Mo Manning although Mo calls them merged, she means they come with hats and scarves. I had to place them together which was easy once I worked it out.

Monday, October 12, 2020

Background Snowflake


I've discovered why I keep deleting my post while writing it on my Ipad, I try to swipe back up to look at the card to check what I've used and all it does is make my photo disappeared.

Now I worked that out I will try to be more carefully but it does mean today's card is late. This is a smaller version of the card from last week, this time with a more pleasing background separation.

I'm not keen on my snowflake but did like last weeks poinsettia, so we know what I will be using if I made the card again.

The snowflake is made up with various Simon says Stamp snowflake dies and their stitched banners with a Tiny Word Christmas sentiment.

I will have a week of blogging at some point to make bulk Christmas Cards I plan to check out the ones I've made and repeat them in bulk. I doubt anyone would be interested in my repeating the same card. I may wait till November when panic sets in because I like to be finished with them by the 1st December.

Friday, October 09, 2020

Leaves, Berries and Poinsettias


 I’m not sure whose sketch inspired this card but it turned out OK. The back ground is Leaves and Berries from Simon says Stamp and I coloured the berries with a gold pen.

The group of poinsettias are also Simon says Stamp, I didn’t put a sentiment on because it’s pretty obvious it’s a Christmas card and there will be a Happy Christmas on the inside insert.

Thursday, October 08, 2020

Bit of a Mistake


 I’m trying to make a card with last weeks Freshly sketch but made a mistake with the portion size of the background. It took so long to stamp the background and colour the snowflakes with a glitter pen which the camera doesn’t pick up, I was not going to waste it though.

I do like my Stampin Up poinsettia but because the divide is in the wrong place the sentiment doesn’t fit.
Hopefully someone won’t mind or realise the errors.

Wednesday, October 07, 2020

A Couple of Penguins


I had a little bit of scrap pattern paper left over from yesterday’s card add some snow drifts to make it go a bit farther and with a couple of MFT penguins also left over I made another card.

I used the CAS(e) sketch from a couple weeks ago, Tiny Words Christmas from Simon Says Stamp and a sparkly snowflake to finish.

I’ve worked out I’m halfway with Christmas card making so I need to get cracking with them. 

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Slimline Penguins


Well that was a bit of a nightmare this morning, I've taken to writing my blog post on my mini ipad in the morning but today I managed to delete the photo of my card and if there is one thing the ipad hates about blogger thats trying to load photos to a post.

Finally here's my card for today a slimline card, the card is larger than the slimline dies from Newton Nook its actually A4 folded in half and trimmed one end so it will fit a DL envelope. It worked in my favour I think so I could use the Believe from dies from Simon says Stamp and matching stamped sentiment. 

Snowflake is Simon says Stamp with Lawn Fawn mini Snowflakes for the centres. Snow drifts are MFT and so are the cute Penguins. I didn't use my mixture of fun flock and flowersoft for the hats just wondering whether they would look alright without.

Friday, October 02, 2020

Fairy Lights


 Recently MFT have brought out Fairy lights which reminded me that I have the Fairy Lights dies from Simon says Stamp and I’ve never used them.

I cut them out of various aqua colours and silver card for the tops, rounded them with a large embossing tool. Add the white line with a uniball white pen, usually it looks pants when I put random white lines but it seems to make all the difference this time.

Found a nice Simon says Stamp sentiment stamped and embossed with silver.

Thursday, October 01, 2020

Poinsettia Wreath


 Again far to late to enter the Freshly Made Sketch, the sketch I used is #453 published the 16th September.

I hunted through all my Memory Box dies to look for a wreath, found more than one but thought the one above would work with a bit of gold.

Then I dressed it with a chopped up Holly die from Penny Black and a couple of poinsettias from Simon says Stamp. The sentiment stamped and embossed with gold to match the wreath is a Stamping Up one.

All in all simple but turned out OK and if I find myself short of Christmas cards easy to make.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

All of Us


 There is a new sketch on Splitcoast Stampers today yet I’m posting a card using  sketch 819 from a couple of weeks ago, that seems to be the way I work.

I found this image in my waiting to be used pile, all coloured up and ready to be turned into a card. It’s a Penny Black stamp, I have collected quite a few over the years mostly wooden stamps and none that I can part with but seem to be rarely used now days.

A few stars cut from Simon says Stamp and MFT dies and found some black and white Doodlebug bakers twine for the corner.