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.

SHC - It's All About the Dies ...

... Morning! I'm running a bit late with my Seven Hills Craft blog post - Internet gremlins!! Fortunately, Bev did my slot yesterday and I'm doing hers today. I'm focusing on dies today. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has many dies in her stash, and I'm often guilty of not using them enough (at all!!). I'm making up for that today. Here's my first card:

Dies: Concord & 9th - Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White and Black Card

This is as clean and simple as it gets. I used the hello die and its shadow to cut a black mat layer and white top layer. I adhered them together and glued them to the front of my card. Done!! The inside is blank for my message. My next card is still quite CAS, but much brighter:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Bold Butterflies, Fluttering By Turnabout Stamp, Kids are Grand

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Stormy Sky; Stampin' Up! - Poppy Parade

Dies: C&9 - Bold Butterflies, Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Poppy Parade

I'm submitting this card to Uniko Challenge - USC#65 where it's Anything Goes with the option of using dies - done!

This was very easy to make. I die cut the large 'hi' twice in red card and layered them together and adhered them to the card. Next, I stamped the layered butterfly onto white card and used the matching die to cut it out. I applied a thin line of glue down the middle of the butterfly and added some dimensional pads under the winds. I finished the front by adding a tiny butterfly trail. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of red card and on the white panel I stamped a message and added a tiny red butterfly.

Next is another clean and simple card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Kids are Grand

Inks: Gina K - Lucky Clover

Dies: MFT - In Focus Florals

Accessories: White Card; Brusho Crystals - Sea Green, Emerald Green, Lime Green, Turquoise, Black; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl

I'm submitting this to CAS on Friday - CASOF#206 where they want to see the colour Green. Done!

I stamped the little clusters of kisses and the sentiment in green and added the lovely die cut leaf/floral image. This was cut from some water colour panels that I had in my stash. I made them ages ago, so it's nice to actually use them!! The inside is blank for my message.

The next three cards are all made using the water colour panels that I found in my stash. When I make panels like this, I keep a note of the products I use.

Dies: C&9 - Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White Card; Tim Holtz Water Colour Card; Brushos - Gray, Burnt Sienna, Black, Dark Brown, Sandstone; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl Spray

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stamps Water Colour challenge - HLSWC#06 where it's Anything Goes.

This was so easy to make. The water colour panel was quite large, so I cut it to fit the front of an A2 size card (US size) and adhered it to the card. I had a strip left over, so I used the large 'hello' die to cut out the word. I used the shadow die to cut out a mat layer. The first time I did it in black card, but the word was lost on the front of the card, so I cut a white shadow layer. I glued the pieces together and added it to the centre of the card. Done. I love this one!! The inside is blank for my message.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Kids are Grand

Inks:Versamark

Dies: MFT - In Focus Florals; Gina K - Master Layouts1

Accessories: White & Black Card; Brusho Crystals - Ost Blue, Ost Red, Violet, Cobalt Blue; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl; White Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#215 - I've gone for the Anything Goes Birthday option.

Another card that was very quick to put together. I used dies to cut the water colour panel to size and layered it onto black card and added it to the front of the card. I die cut three white flowers and layered them together and glued directly to the card. I finished the front by stamping a birthday greeting on black card and heat embossing with white powder. I trimmed the strip to fit the front of the card. At the moment, the inside is still blank.

Finally, I used the negative space on the green water colour panel:

Stamps: MFT - Itty Bitty Basics

Inks: Versamark

Dies: MFT - In Focus Florals, Itty Bitty Strips; Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; SU Card - Costal Cabana; Brusho Crystals - Sea Green, Emerald Green, Lime Green, Turquoise, Black; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#27 - the dies are all new.

I used a die to cut the water colour panel to the right size and layered it on black card. I then adhered the little pieces from the leaves back into the leaf spaces. I adhered the whole panel to the front of a pale green note card. I finished the front by stamping a message on black card, embossed with white powder and used the matching die to cut it out. I used dimensional pads to adhere it to the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and added a white panel which is blank for my message.

Thanks for sticking with me to the end of this post - it's a long one!! 

Yesterday was my 61st birthday and I had my second Covid vaccination as a present. I was also lucky enough to get lots of lovely cards and some super stamps for presents. See you soon. Keep safe!

Happy Anniversary ....

... Morning! I'm here with a quick post today to share an anniversary card that my mum asked me to make for her. Friends of hers will be celebrating their Ruby Wedding anniversary soon, so I had fun making the card for mum. 

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Heart Turnabout; MFT - Birthday Sentiments, Essential Sentiments, Journal It - Pocket Calculator; Lawn Fawn - Milo's ABCs; Visible Image - Follow Your Heart

Inks: Gina K - Lipstick, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Hero Arts - Unicorn

Dies: Concord & 9th - Heartstrings

Accessories: White & Black Card; Red Satin Mirri Card; Holographic Heart Card; White Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#05 and to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#26 - I've had the Heatstrings die for ages, but this is the first time it's been out to play!!

As it's a Ruby anniversary I had to use red, and I combined the red with grey and black (sadly I missed the deadline for Paper Players - PP#540). I started by cutting a piece of white card 5½" square. I used my MISTI to stamp the Heart turnabout stamp. I stamped the first and third impression with bright red ink and the second and fourth in soft grey which gives a complete background. I edged the panel with a black marker and adhered it to the front of a 5¾" white square card. The heartstring die set consists of three parts - a tiny heart, a solid heart and the heartstrings die which cuts out the string sections. I used the solid heart and heartstrings die to cut out the red satin mirri layer. I used the solid heart to cut out a silver heart holographic layer as well as two white hearts. I adhered the two white hearts together, adhered the silver heart layer on top of them and finished by adding the red heartstring layer on top. Next, I die cut a small black heart onto which I stamped the number 40 in white ink and heat embossed with white powder. I adhered the black number heart on top of the heart panel and glued this to the card. I finished the front by stamping a simple 'happy anniversary' message in black.

Inside the card, I cut a piece of red mirri card for the mat layer. On the white panel, I stamped a beautiful graffiti style heart in soft grey ink. I stamped a scripty 'happy' in black in and a clean, crisp 'anniversary' in red ink.

I'm very pleased how this turned out. And I'm so pleased how the heartstring die looks, I can see it working for a shaker card!! I took a close-up photo of the holographic heart card - it's so pretty in real-life as the shimmer moves:

Jonathan and I travelled down to the University of Nottingham to see Kat yesterday. It was a wet and dull day, but it was great to see Kat. It's the first time that I've been down to see her room since she started last September. She made the place beautiful and so homely. Kat's course has almost finished and she'll be coming back home in three weeks'. The year has flown by. I asked Kat if she'd had a good year despite all the difficulties with Covid and the various restrictions. She said yes, and she's loves her course and she's made some very good friends.

Well, that's all from me for today. See you soon.

C24C - Christmas Night ....

... Good morning! May is flying by, but it does mean that it's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#34. For the next couple of weeks we want your Christmas cards to be about Christmas night. I've focused on Christmas Eve night and here's my first card:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Christmas

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Anita's Classic Christmas DP Red/Gold; Kanban Toppers - Carol Singers

I was going through my stash of card and paper last week and came across some Kanban Card Topper sheets that I got from QVC quite some time ago (about 2009). In an effort to use up some of my stash, I went through to see what I could find that fit the theme. I came across a sheet with Carol Singers calling at the house and a sheet with a couple walking towards church. So I decided to use them for my cards.

I cut a piece of gold design paper slightly smaller than my card base and adhered it to the card. I cut out the pieces of the image, trimmed to remove any paper tags and edged the pieces with a marker pen. I used dimensional pads to layer up the dimensional image. I adhered the finished piece to some black card and glued it to the side of the card. I finished the front by added a simple greeting. Inside the card, I cut another piece of design paper for the mat layer and on the white card I simply stamped a Christmas greeting.

I am pleased how this came out and it really does remind me of Christmas eve nights at my in-laws when the local carol singers came calling. Here's my second card:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Christmas

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Distress - Chipped Sapphire

Accessories: White Card; Anita's Classic Christmas DP Blue; Kanban Toppers - Christmas Morning

The image on this topper is actually going to church in the morning, but I've used Distress ink to darken the sky and suggest dusk and the couple are now walking to a Christmas Eve church service. I used a blue marker to go round the edge of each piece. I adhered some blue design paper to the card, added the dimensional focal image and finished with a simple Christmas greeting. Inside, I used another sheet from the design paper pad for the mat layer and stamped a simple Christmas greeting in black on the white card.

I'm submitting these cards to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#24 where it's anything Christmas goes, and to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSXMAS#05 where it's anything Christmas goes (and I've skipped the option).

That's all from me for today. Don't forget to visit our blog - Christmas 24 Challenge - to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the design team. See you soon.

C24C - Theme - Reindeer ...

... Good morning! We've had some lovely bright sunny days here in North Wales, but even though it's been bright, we've still had cold, frosty mornings. I spent yesterday afternoon working in my craft room on my card for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#32 where we have a theme of Reindeer. I've made a simple and elegant card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Yonder Star Background, Rustic Christmas, Ornate Ornaments

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Kaleidacolor - Fruitcake; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Spellbinders - Deckled Mega Rectangles Lg (S5-015) #4; Kaisercraft - Deer Head

Accessories: White Card; Gold Linen Effect Mirri Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Green Card

I'm submitting this to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSXMAS#04 where it's Anything Goes (I'm not doing the option). I'm also playing along with The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#92 where it's Anything Christmas goes.

I've used one of my all time favourite background stamps on this card - Yonder Star by Waltzingmouse Stamps (sadly Claire shut up shop a while ago). I inked it with a Kaleidacolor pad - these colours are just perfect for Christmas - and stamped it on the front of an A2 card. On some white card I stamped the lovely stag's head with sentiment in Versafine ink and heat embossed it with clear powder. I then carefully fussy cut it out. I used a fancy edge die to cut the gold panel and adhered it to the centre of the card. I used dimensional pads to adhered the stag's head. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped a simple Christmas greeting and added a green die cut stag's head.

Please don't forget to visit our Christmas 24 Challenge blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the team. You have until 30 April to join the fun. Bye for now!