SHC - Christmas in May

.... I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. Normally, I'd have at least 30 Christmas cards in my stash by now, but for obvious reasons, I'm running behind. So I spent the past weekend making Christmas cards. I've used a mixture of old and new Concord & 9th stamp and die sets. All the inspiration comes from Jennifer McGuire.

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, Big On Christmas, Christmas Cottage

Inks: Gina K - Kraft, Fresh Asparagus, Dark Chocolate, Red Velvet

Accessories: SU Card - Early Espresso; White Card

I'm submitting this card to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT22-18 - love these colours.

I love the turnabout stamps - they make it so easy to make lots of cards quickly and all look different too. Inside the card is a white panel onto which I stamped a simple greeting and a tree.

Next are a couple of more modern cards:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, All the Merrys, Christmas Cottage

Inks: Gina K - Bubblegum Pink, Soft Stone, Stormy Sky; Memento - Angel Pink; Versamark

Dies: MFT - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 1 #9

Accessories: White Card; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting these cards to Jingle Belles - JB-21-10 where they have the lovely colours, and to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#68 where it's Anything Goes.

For a completely different look, I trimmed the stamped panel into two wonky pieces with stitched edges and added them to the front of white A2 note cards. I added simple greetings. Both cards have the same design inside the cards.

I made a couple more cards with the Tiny Trees turnabout background:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, All the Merrys, Christmas Cottage, Trim the Tree

Inks: Gina K - Applemint, Lucky Clover, Jelly Bean Green, Christmas Pine; Memento - Tuxedo Black

Dies: C&9 - Trim the Tree

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers

I used the inlaid-die technique for these cards. I like being able to get two cards from one piece of stamped card!!

Next, I have a series of three cards made using a turquoise and silver plaid background and some tiny trees:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, Big On Christmas, Christmas Cottage, Trim the Tree, Plaid Background

Inks: Gina K - Ocean Mist, Key Lime, Tranquil Teal, Wild Dandelion, Dark Chocolate; Versamark

Dies: C&9 - Tiny Trees

Accessories: White Card; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting these cards to Happy Little Stamps Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#05, Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#429 where it's Any Occassion, and to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#116 where it's Anything Christmas Goes.

The inside of each card is the same - so much quicker for multiple cards.

Next I have a traditional style card with a red and gold plaid background:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, Big On Christmas, Christmas Cottage, Plaid Background, Mix & Match Holiday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Jelly Bean Green, Dark Chocolate; Versamark

Dies: C&9 - Tiny Trees, Mix & Match Holiday Sentiments

Accessories: SU Card - Cherry Cobbler & Kraft Card; Gold Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to ABC Christmas Challenge - ABCXMAS where the letters are J and K - K for Kraft. Inside the card I used Christmas Cottage stamps to make the greeting.

My last card - yes, really!! Is another fun plaid background with a faux 'Christmas' tree made from the Mix & Match Holiday Sentiments:

Stamps: C&9 - Big On Christmas, Plaid Background, Mix & Match Holiday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Jelly Bean Green

Dies: C&9 - Mix & Match Holiday Sentiments

Accessories: Pretty Pink Posh - Sparkling Clear Confetti

I'm submitting this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#44 where it's anything Goes. I had such fun creating this faux Christmas tree from words. Inside, the greeting is from Big on Christmas.

I'm so pleased that I managed to get all these cards made. But, I'm shattered!! Don't think I'll make a lot like this again for a while. That's all for now. See you soon.

SHC - December Calendar ....

.... Morning all! I'm here with today's post for Seven Hills Craft blog. I don't have a card to share today, but I have decorated my December calendar page with lots of pretty stars:

Stamps: Altenew - Fancy Star Builder; C&9 - Big On Christmas

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Red Hot, Applemint, Fresh Asparagus; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: A4 Wire Bound Blank Calendar; Altenew - Fancy Star Builder Stencil Set

I started by stamping the words in bold black ink in the centre(ish) of the blank panel. I then used the star builder stencil to add pale green stars and small red stars. I used the matching stamp set to add details to the green stars with a dark green ink and silver ink. I stamped the large spiky star in pink and repeated it in red. I then used a silver ink to add fine detail to the stars and also to the background. I finished by inking up one of the small dots in red and green and randomly stamping on the background. This is such a festive panel. 

I had planned on making several cards with the fancy star stamp and stencil sets. However, we went away for the weekend to a photoshoot in Dorset. In many ways this was lucky for us - we missed the worse of Storm Arwen. There was no electricity in our village for a couple of days, but it was all on by the time we got home. Our journey home, on Monday, was so pretty. There was a light dusting of snow all the way from Dorset. Most of the snow had gone from the final part of our trip home and yesterday the temperature in was into double figures!!!!

That's all from me today. This weekend I'll be writing my Christmas cards and getting them into the post. See you soon.

SHC - More Christmas Cards ....

.... Morning! I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. The recent cold weather has put me in a wintery mood and I decided to make a few more Christmas cards for my stash. After all, it's useful to have a few spares. Here's my first card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Big On Christmas; Hero Arts - Color Layering Holly

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Grass Green, Christmas Pine, Lipstick, Red Hot, Cherry Red; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Quilted Front Cover Plate; Hero Arts - Color Layering Holly

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Cherry Cobbler; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Uniko Studio Challenge - USC#68 where the theme is celebrate with the option of using red and green, done. I'm also playing along with Global Design Project - GDP#319 where the theme is Christmas, and Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#32 - it's the first time I've used the Hero Arts layering holly stamps and dies!!

I used an American A6 card (6¼" x 4½"). I cut a piece of white card 5½" x 3¾" and stamped a bold sentiment in deep red ink in the centre of the panel. I used a stitched card front die to add detail to the panel and layered it on to a piece of deep red card. I adhered the whole piece to the front of the notecard. I've had the Hero Arts Color Layering Holly stamp set and dies for quite a while, and this is the first time I've used them. The holly leaves and berries are triple-step stamps and then cut out with the co-ordinating dies. I die cut extra holly leaves and berries in deep red card and layered the stamped pieces onto them. I adhered them to the front of the card and added sparkle to the berries with a clear aqua shimmer brush. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of deep red card and on the white panel added a greeting and holly for decoration.

Next, I have a couple of mini slimline cards - they work perfectly with the stamp sets I've used.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Big On Christmas, Tiny Trees Turnabout

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Blue Lagoon; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 7

Accessories: White & Black Card

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#211 where the theme is colourful, and to Happy Little Stampers Christmas - HLSXMAS#11 where it's anything goes with the option of creating a scene (which I skipped).

I cut a piece of white card measuring 6½" x 6¼", scored on the long edge at 3¼" to make a mini slimline card. I used a stitched edge die to cut a piece of white card. I put the panel in the MISTI, positioned the large sentiment and used brushes to add ink to the stamp. I stamped each colour in turn, repeating a few times to blend the colours. I added some silver stars for a bit of sparkle. I layered the panel on black card and adhered the lot to the front of the notecard. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a Christmas greeting and added a few more stars.

Finally, another mini slimline card - very clean and simple.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Big On Christmas; MFT - Party Lights; Hero Arts - Color Layering Holly

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Blue Lagoon; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 7

Accessories: White & Black Card; Glossy Accents; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush; White Gel Pen

I'm submitting this card to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT43-21 - where they want to see fairy lights, and to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#106 where it's anything Christmas goes.

I used the same method as outlined above to make this card. On the stitched edge die cut panel I stamped the fairy lights - the wire in black ink and rainbow colours for the lights. I added a simple Christmas greeting, layered the panel on black card and added to the front of the notecard. I added sparkle to the lights with a clear aqua shimmer brush, I used a white gel pen to add a highlight and covered the lights with glossy accents for shine. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped a greeting a more lights.

I think that probably is all the Christmas cards that I'll be making this year - but who knows!! Thanks for staying with me. See you again next week. Take care.

SHC - More Christmas Trees ....

.... Morning! I'm running a bit late with my post for Seven Hills Craft blog. I've got some Christmas cards to share today - all feature products from Concord & 9th. I'll start with a CAS and sparkly card:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout. Big On Christmas

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Fresh Asparagus, Turquoise Sea, Tranquil Teal

Dies: C&9 - Fa La La Fringe Tree Dies

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Pear Pizzazz; Silver Holographic Card

I'm submitting this card to CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#441 - it's been a while since I joined in and I love this sketch. And to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#31 - This is the first use for the Tiny Trees turnabout and Fa La La Fringe dies.

I used my MISTI to stamp the turnabout image in four shades of green ink on green card. I cut a piece to match the shape in the sketch and adhered it to the card. I used the 'falala' die to cut a piece in silver holographic card and two more white pieces which I layered together. I adhered the word to the front of the card - done - clean, simple and sparkly! Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of green card. On the white panel I stamped a couple of small greetings and a tiny tree. All done.

Next is another CAS card and it's one-layer too:

Stamps: C&9 - Fa La La Fringe Tree

Inks: Gina K - Jelly Bean Green, Christmas Pine, Red Velvet; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata - Golden Glitz

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge - HLSCAS#10 where they want a one-layer card.

I used kraft card to make the A2 note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the multi-step fringe tree. I stamped the first layer in bright lime ink and then brushed on a darker green at the top of the fringe layers. I repeated this process for the second stamp. Next I added the baubles in bright red ink. I completed the tree by stamping the five-point star in gold ink. Finally, I added a simple greeting in black ink. Inside the card on the white panel, I stamped a greeting in green ink and added some gold stars.

Next is another one-layer card - but not so CAS:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout. Big On Christmas, Fa La La Fringe Tree

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Fresh Aspargus; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata - Golden Glitz

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge - HLSXMAS#10 where it's Anything Goes with the option of joy. I'm also playing along with The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#103 where is Anything Christmas Goes.

While I had the turnabout stamp in the MISTI, I stamped it in red and green on the front of an A2 (US size) card. I stamped the 'love & joy' image from Big On Christmas in black - I stamped it three times for a very dark image. Inside the card I simply added a greeting and some gold stars.

My final card another clean, simple card, but with some sparkle:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, Big On Christmas, Fa La La Fringe Tree

Inks: Gina K - Bubblegum Pink, Wild Lilac; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer

Dies: C&9 - Fa La La Fringe Tree Dies

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Highland Heather; Silver Holographic Card

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#10 and to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#39 where it's always Anything Christmas Goes.

I used my MISTI to stamp the fringe Christmas tree. I stamped first in pink ink and then brushed on lilac ink towards the top of the fringe layers. I stamped the star in silver ink. I used the co-ordinating Fa La La Fringe Tree dies to cut out the tree and star, and also holographic silver baubles and pot. I also cut a solid white tree onto which I adhered the fringe layers. I curled the layers slightly to add some dimension. I adhered the tree, star and pot to the front of an A2 white note card and finshed by adding a greeting in lilac ink. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of lilac card. On the white panel I stamped simple greeting and added the tiny fringe tree to match the front of the card.

I now have 62 cards in my Christmas stash ready to go. I may need to make a few more, but there's no rush as the bulk is done! 

Before I go, I'd like to thank everyone for stopping by and for leaving comments - I really do appreciate them. That's all from me today. See you again soon.