Merry Christmas

 

Just wanted to wish everyone

A 

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.