CUTplorations December Reminder ...

Well there is just one week left before the big day ... are you all sorted? cards posted? gifts bought and wrapped?  If you are all sorted ... why not take some timeout and get creative!  Or maybe you're like me and just need to make one more card ... then take some time and get crafting.  I'm here to inspire you to join in with this month's CUTploration challenge at STAMPlorations.

Two simple small cards ... letting the dies do the work!  I cut four bauble bases and adhered them together using double sided tape.  I added a layer of the tape to the top layer and adhered the intricate die cut and gold gilding flakes to the red bauble and silver to the blue one. The gilding shines beautifully in real life ... the photograph doesn't do justice to it.  I finished the card with a simple sentiment and for added interest add some gold and silver thread to the top.

I used:

STAMPlorations - Christmas Bauble #1 - Layering dies

Gilding flakes from my Mum's stash!!

I do hope you will join in with the challenge and look forward to seeing all of your beautiful creations.

Enjoy!

ATSM Make your Mark ...

Whoosh ... that's the sound of 2017 disappearing into the past ... with less than a month left before 2018 arrives we have time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More and it is time to make your mark:

I hope you will find time to get out your colouring supplies and join in with the challenge - I used distress inks to water colour poinsettia images before die cutting large snowflakes, adding a sentiment and this is what I got ...

I hope you will find time to join in with the challenge - if you need more inspiration pop along to Addicted to Stamps and more and check out the awesome designs from the rest of the design team.

Enjoy!

A special card ...

Good afternoon from a very snowy Oxfordshire ... I hope you are all tucked up somewhere dry and warm!!  I've been trying to get the house straight all ready for Christmas ... something that I really shouldn't leave until December!!!  

I'm just taking a lunch break and wanted to share this card with you ... a very special card for a very exciting and positive event.  You see my daughter has just got engaged!!! I make lots of cards but this one is more special than ...

I ink blended a panel of card for the hearts and stick frames.  I created some washi tape using a mixture of stamps, tissue, distress inks and double sided tape.  I also die cut congrats four times and adhered them together to create a solid sentiment.

I used:

Sizzix Heart dies

Poppy Stamps Stick Frames die

Distress Inks - Salty Ocean. Mermaid Lagoon, 

STAMPlorations - Mixed Media Elements, Mixed Media Grunge

CUTplorations - Congrats die

Wink of Stella

Tissue

I'm entering into the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up - December Challenge - die cutting, ink blending, stamping, splatter, tissue

Addicted to CAS #126

STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge

Enjoy!

AAA Cards Sparkle ...

It is hard to believe that this will be the last challenge of 2017 at AAA Cards ... doesn't time just fly by so quickly!!  I do hope that you can find time to join in with the challenge ... what's the theme ...

... not only is it the last challenge of the year but we are also giving you extra time to join in.  As you can see this challenge will be open for four weeks instead of the usual two ... so even more time to get out the supplies and get creating!!

It is difficult to see the sparkle but the snowflake is covered in gold gilding flakes and does shimmer and sparkle especially when spinning on the card.

A simple design using:

UNIKO - Designer dies Snowflake Trio,  Festive Sentiments Clear Stamps

I do hope that you will join in with the challenge and I look forward to visiting your blogs and checking out your designs.

Enjoy!

CUTplorations December Challenge ...

Have you completed all your Christmas cards? Me neither!!  Hopefully I will be able to inspire you to get out your dies and card making supplies.  It is time for the new STAMPlorations Cutplorations challenge has a decorated Christmas tree as the theme! So no excuses ... get creating!!

I decided to hit the challenge head on and went for the classic baubles!!

I die cut three bases and three top layers of the baubles.  I covered the bases in double sided tape, added the intricate patterned top layer and then added gold gilding flakes to exposed tape.  Before adding the baubles to the card I stamped some "leaves" ...  I actually used a feather stamp as I thought the looked like pine fronds!

I used:

STAMPlorations - Christmas Baubles #2 layering dies

                              - Feathery

Gilding Flakes - from my Mum's stash!!

If you need further inspiration pop across to STAMPlorations and check out the design team's brilliant designs.

Enjoy!

Lots of words ...

Good evening ... I'm still on the hunt for the elusive ideal Christmas card ... this is today's contribution:

I like a card that is all about the words!!  I first stamped and heat embossed with clear embossing powder the red 'Happy Christmas' then stamped the rest of the words with distress inks.  I trimmed the panel, added a fishtail and then adhered it to the card base with foam tape for added dimension.  This might just be the design I use for the balance of my cards as it is relatively simple to create.

I used:

UNIKO - Festive Sentiments, Pure Florals: Poinsettia

Distress Inks - Festive Berries, Pine Needles and Peeled Paint

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #357

Uniko Challenge #44

Penny Black and More - December CAS

CAS Colours and Sketches #251

Enjoy!

Foiled snowflakes ...

Good evening ... just popping in to share a card ... I'm still on the hunt for a design that is effective but easy to replicate ... I quite like this one but it takes too much time to make multiples of but I might be able to adapt the design using a different technique!

This is full of very shiny snowflakes but, as always, impossible to show in a photograph - you will just have to trust me.  I die cut all of the snowflakes from a sheet of double sided tape and adhered them to a piece of card.  I removed the tape backing and then applied a selection of different coloured foils to the images.  I added the die cut sentiment and adhered the panel to the card base with foam tape for dimension and interest.  I think the design might work with stamped snowflakes and heat embossing which would be quicker than foiling the images.

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

"Less is More" #356


Uniko Challenge #44


STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge


Enjoy!