Set of Five Christmas Cards

.... Good afternoon, it's another lovely day and I've been indoors! I've made a set of five Christmas cards for my stash - they are all inspired by the current challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown to use letters and/or numbers - 52CCT2026-07. 

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas

This card is also being submitted The Neglected Stuff Challenge - NSC#0226 - it's been a very long time since I used any of my design paper pads!!

The same process was used for all the cards. I used my MISTI to stamp the image on white card, removed them from the MISTI and coloured each image with Copic markers. I returned the coloured images to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine Clair Nocture ink - it is a really dark black. I carefully cut out all the images and then added some shimmer to each image with Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel pens. I had put the images aside overnight to make sure gel ink dried completely. I used a die to cut out the front panel from design paper - to match the colours on the focal image - and adhered to an A2 notecard. I used dimensional tape to add the focal image. On the inside of each card, there is a mat layer of design paper, and on the white panel a simple greeting with a couple of stars to match the main colour.

The next card in the set is being entered into AAA Colourful - AAAC#25 -  these are such lovely colours.

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Blue Sky

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Violet Crush

Next is a card inspired by the image at Time Out Challenge - TOC#307 - I like the soft colours and the dotty pattern:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Lovely Lavender

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Silver Bells

For the next card I used the colours at The Color Hues Challenge - CH#127 - peach and teal are such a pretty combination and make for an unusual Christmas card:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Sweet Mango

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Storyteller

And the final card in this set of five, is inspired by ABC Christmas Challenge - ABCXMAS#02 where I've picked C for the colour crimson:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Red Hot

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas

Sorry there are so many photos in this post! I had fun with them and I'm building my Christmas stash nicely. See you soon.

Birthday Bear

... Morning!! It's been so grey and wet here for the past couple of days, which is kind of good as I can play in my craft room with no guilt!! Today I'm sharing a birthday card:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage, PC-Birthday, Royal Mail, Sweet Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Sky Blue, Wild Lilac, Sandy Beach, Warm Cocoa, Black Onyx, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Nesting Postage Collage Die

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Waffle Flower Stencils - Nesting Collage Party Bear Stencil, Nesting Postage Collage Blocks

I'm playing along with the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#633 - colours

Time Out Challenge -  TOC#305 - use a favourite technique - stencilling

Just Us Girls -JUGS#807 - to use a stencil

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#82 - Waffle Flower stash all new!

I started by cutting out the central 'postage stamp' die cut and the Party Bear stencil to create the image. I added some extra details to the image - a first class symbol, forever and some white details to the image. I stencilled an 'airmail' border directly onto an A2 white note card. I adhered the finished panel in the centre of the card and added a postage check mark. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of kraft card and on the white panel, I stamped a birthday greeting and added a little 'stamp' showing birthday candles.

This card is for our daughter's boyfriend - he said that he wanted a 'cute' card! I think this fits the brief!!

     

That's all for now - I plan on spending most of this weekend in my craft room making more cards - Christmas and birthday. See you soon.

Snowman

... Hello! I hope everyone has had a good weekend.  I was busy this weekend, more of that below, and I made a card too - another for my Christmas stash:

Stamps: Funstamps - Scribble Snowman; Winnie & Walter (W&W) - Winter Wonderland, Sentimental Wishes

Inks: Gina K - Blue Sky, In the Navy; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - In the Navy; Gina K Stencil - Glacier Lace; Copics; Glitter

This was fun to make and I'm entering the following challenges:

CAS on Friday - CASOF#325 - where they want a Snowman

Time Out Challenges - TOC#304 - they want to see glitter

Colour Hues -CH#125 - blue and white

ABC Christmas Challenges - ABCXMAS#01 - (A) Anything Goes

I started by stencilling an icy background directly on the A2 note card. I stamped the snowman on white card and used Copic markers to add colour. I stamped a few extra snowmen, then fussy cut the focal image along with the spares and layered them up for dimension. I stamped the greeting directly onto the card and adhered the snowman above. I finished the front by adding some glitter to the snowman's hat. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark blue card. On the white panel I stamped a Christmas greeting in dark blue ink and added some soft stencilling at the corners of the panel. I took a close-up photo of the hat to show the glitter.

So, I said above that we were busy this weekend. Jonathan had a photoshoot at the house with Bobbi; she's a bundle of fun! I watched some craft videos, caught up with the European Ice Skating Championships, which came from Sheffield, and read a bit. We also went to the cinema to see 28 Years Later The Bone Temple - it was silly and lots of fun and very bloody too!

It's been a fun weekend. That's it for now. Thanks again for stopping by to see my cards and for all the lovely comments, they are much appreciated.

Grateful for You

.... Hello! In my Friday post, I mentioned that I attended the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop earlier this month. Bev and Tracey put on a brilliant workshop with lots of opportunity to make cards (and shop too!!). I started work on several cards and brought them home to complete. This is the first of the completed cards:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Swiss Dots; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Inks: C&9 - Briar Rose, Wildberry, Eucalyptus, Juniper; VFC - Nocturne, Twilight 

Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Accessories: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection Layering Stencils; White Card; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenges - TOC#296 where the theme is support/friends/encouragement, and to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#500 to use diecuts and/or stencils.

We did have instructions for suggested cards, but I went rogue!! I stamped the dotty background in soft grey directly onto a white note card (it was going to be one layer). I took the opportunity to try out Pinkfresh Studios dies and matching layering stencils and made this lovely flower. I stamped C&9 So Many Saying in black ink and used the co-ordinating die to cut them out (I have lots still to use). I used dimensional pads to add the greeting. When I got home I found I'd made the card upside down, so I simply cut the completed panel off, trimmed it to fit on the front of an A2 (US size) card, edged it with a green Copic markers and added it to the card base. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white, edged it with the green marker and glued to the inside of the card. I had more die cut flowers, so I simply added a flower to finish the inside.

The workshop that I attended was held in Warrington and hopefully, Bev and Tracey will be back there again soon. However, if you fancy attending a Uniko/Dies to Die For Workshop, the ladies are holding another retreat on Sunday 12 October in Worsall Village Hall, Yarm. It's only £60 and well worth it.

Jonathan and I went to the cinema yesterday to see The Roses - it's a remake(ish) of The War of the Roses. It stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in the main roles. The script is brilliant - witty, sharp, bitchy, sweary (very) and so black. It was a joy to watch them both, and the rest of the cast were brilliant. I recommend it.  That's all for today. See you soon.

SHC - Happy Birthdays ....

.... Hello! It's time for my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Craft Blog. I have a couple of birthday cards to share today and they are quite different. I'll start with clean and elegant birthday card:

Stamps: MFT - Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings, Whimsical Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Innocent Pink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - Happy Birthday Block

Accessories: White Card; Gold Pattern Design Paper; Gina K Card - Innocent Pink; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Less is More - LIM#440 where they have a colour challenge to use Pink, Grey and Gold. It's been a while since I joined in with their challenges, so I'm pleased to finally get there!

I started by cutting a piece of white card 5" square, placed the die in the centre and cut out the greeting 'Happy Birthday'. I layered the cut piece onto some gold patterned design paper that I found in my stash. I edged the whole piece with a pink marker pen and adhered it to the front of a 5¼" white square card. Next I used the die to cut out the letter from pink and grey card. I used the inlay die technique to replace some of the letter on the front of the card. I left some of the letter empty to show the gold paper. I added shimmer to the pink and grey letters with a clear aqua shimmer brush. I'm pleased to say that you can see the shimmer in the photo above - it is so pretty in real-life! On the inside, I cut a 5" square of the gold paper and adhered it inside the card. I cut a piece of white card 4½" square and stamped a fun greeting in the centre. I added some decoration around the edges in pink and grey ink. I adhered the panel inside the card. I do like the bold gold border.

Next, I have a shaped birthday card to share. I don't usually make shaped cards, but this was fun.

Stamps: MFT - Happy Birthday Background Stamp, Playful Peacock

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Innocent Pink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: MFT - Playful Peacock; We are Memory Keepers - Nesting Hexagons #13, #11, #10, #9

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Sakura Stardust Pens

I'm submitting this card to AAA Birthdays - AAAB#24 where they want to see a shaped card (not a square or rectangle), and to Time Out Challenges - TOC#185 where they have an inspiration photo. I took the colours from the photo as my inspiration.

I started by using a large hexagon die to cut a hexagon shaped card from a standard A2 card. I was careful to make sure that the top cutting edge was just off the card, so that the card could open. I then used the same die to cut a full size hexagon (marginally bigger than the shaped notecard) onto which I stamped the happy birthday text background in soft pink. I adhered the stamped piece to the notecard. On some scrap card I used my MISTI to stamp the front-facing peacock, removed it from the MISTI, coloured with Copic markers, returned it and stamped with Versafine black ink and then heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching die to cut out the peacock. I used a couple of smaller hexagon dies to cut a mat layer in turquoise and a white layer. I positioned the peacock on the white card, stamped a pun greeting in black and then adhered the whole panel to the centre of the card. I used some Sakura stardust pens to add coloured glitter to the spots on the feathers. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer in turquoise and on the white card I stamped another of the peacocks, coloured it with Copic markers and adhered it to the mat layer. 

Both these cards are for my stash - I have a few birthdays coming up this month, so it's good to have some ready to go. That's all from me today. See you again soon.

C24C - Santa Claus ....

.... Morning! Wow, this month is flying by - we're already half-way through. However, that does mean it's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#22 where we want to see your cards feature the main man - SANTA CLAUS. I've made two cards, here's the first:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Around Christmas Time

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Red Velvet; Versamark

Dies: Die-namics - Circles Stax 2 # 7

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Silver Embossing Powder; Stardust Clear Glitter Pen

I'm submitting this card for CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#396 and to The Colour Throwdown - CTD#619. It's been a while since I played along with any challenges, so this feels good.

The card was super easy to make. I used the MISTI to stamp the lines on the card - that way I made sure they were straight! I stamped the Santa circle on white card, colour the hat red (of course) and added some colour to his face and to the words. I repositioned the image in the MISTI and stamped in Versamark ink and embossed with silver powder. I used a circle die to cut out the image and adhered it to the front of the card. I added some sparkle to the little bell and added a simple greeting in red. On the inside, I simply added another Christmas greeting.

Here's a close-up of the Santa image - this one has always been a favourite of mine:

My next card is a slightly different take on Santa - this one features Santa's footprints:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Secret Santa; Concord & 9th - All the Merrys

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Red Velvet; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Silver Embossing Powder; Stardust Clear Glitter Pen

I'm submitting this card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#461 and to Time Out Challenges - TOC#174 where the theme is Festivals - Christmas is a biggy!!

I positioned the large shoe print stamp in the MISTI and it on white card. I removed the card and coloured the lines with Copic markers, repositioned the image, stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with silver powder. I carefully cut out the embossed image and edged it with a soft grey marker. I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped a row of Santa's footprints up the side and then adhered the large embossed shoe print. I edged the panel with red ink and adhered it to the front of a 6¼" × 4½" card. I finished the front by stamping a greeting in red. On the inside, I added another greeting and a 'approved by' stamp on the corner.

I took a close-up photo of the shoe print so that you can clearly see how the colour appears:

I think this is a fun challenge and I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your creations. Don't forget to visit our Christmas 24 Challenge blog to see more cards from the rest of the design team. Bye for now.