52CCT - Pick a Previous ....

.... Hello! I've been enjoying our wonderful summer weather, sitting out in the sun and playing in the pool with Mum and Kat. And catching up reading too. It's been far too nice to sit in my craft room. However, I did take some time earlier this week to make my card for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT30-16. We have five Saturdays this month which means we have a bonus challenge and Jacqueline has selected PICK A PREVIOUS 2016 SKETCH. I picked our February Sketch; here's my card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Peaceful Pines
Inks: SU - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry; Crumb Cake; Chocolate Chip
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Panels; SU/Sizzix - Perfect Pines
Accessories; White Lustre Card; SU DP - Season of Style; SU/Sizzix EF - Softly Falling

I've been very faithful to the sketch, but I like Christmas trees, so it was fun. I've made a reasonably clean and simple card. I die cut a panel of design paper attached it to the card and then adhered another die cut and embossed white panel on top. I used my MISTI to position and stamp the sentiment in the top corner. I finished the front by adding the Christmas tree which was stamped on scrap white card and cut out with the matching dies. On the inside I cut another piece of the design paper for the mat layer and added a Christmas greeting to the white panel, along with another tree.

I'm submitting this card to a couple of challenges - Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#204 has a CAS challenge, and Merry Monday Challenge - MMSummer is running a Christmas in Summer link up. For more inspiration do visit our blog to see more from the rest of the team.

No more crafting for me today. Mum and I plan to visit the shops for a bit of retail therapy!

52CCT - Technique ...

.... Good morning! I'm actually on time with my DT card this week. Mind, it was quite close as I only finished it last night at 10.00pm. Our challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT29-16 this week is a technique. We want you to make a card with 2 or more folds. I have to admit that I'm not great with fancy folds, so I've gone for a simple stepper card:

Stamps: Uniko  - I love Tea, Essentially Christmas; Stampin' Up! - Peaceful Pines
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Gumball Green, Real Red
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Gumball Green; SU DP - Real Red; SU/Sizzix EF - Softly Falling; Clear Embossing Powder

I got inspiration for this card from the photo for Merry Monday - MM#209, and I'll be submitting this to Lori's Christmas in summer challenge. I made a very simple stepper card with just two folds from some green card. I cut a couple of white panels which I embossed to suggest falling snow. I stamped the tea cup on two pieces of red design paper and again on white card. I added a pattern to the white cup and then cut them all out. I adhered the cups to the card and finished off the front with a small bunch of holly leaves and a bow. On the inside I stamped a greeting on the white panel and added more decoration.

For more inspirations - do visit our blog to see more from the rest of the design team. Have fun!

I'm off to some mixed media classes at Scrappy Chic today with Finnabair. Really looking forward to getting covered in paint! I'll share photos soon. Bye for now.

52CCT - Sketch ....

.... Good morning! It's the first Saturday in July, we're half way through the year. If you've been playing along with us every week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, then you'll have 25, or more, cards in your Christmas stash. Jacqueline continues to be our host this month and this week she has a fabulous sketch - 52CCT26-16 for us. Here's my card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Peaceful Pines
Inks: SU - Emerald Envy; Distress - Aged Mahogany
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Perfect Pines Framelits; Die-namics - Cross Stitched Circle Stax #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Holy Night, Christmas Carol; SU - Brad

I went with a slightly vintage look for this week's card. I cut a piece of design paper to cover the card. It wasn't quite the colour I wanted so I inked over with distress ink and this caused the star pattern to pop. I stamped the Christmas tree in green and cut it out with the matching die. In the paper pack I found this musical score and cut out a portion with a die. I finished the front with a greeting from the paper pack and added a brad. On the inside I cut a mat of the design paper and added a greeting on the white panel.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the team.

We've come to the end of our visit to the UK. We fly back to the States today - I'm looking forward to being home. My mum is coming with us for a two month holiday! That's all for now - see you soon.