Author: Catherine

Hi – back with another card for the #30dayschristmascardmakingchallenge that Martin hosts and todays prompt was Mistletoe Mischief.

So I went with a couple of stamps from a magazine kit! in fact there was mainly magazine kit stash used on this both new and old!

I started with the main image of the mistletoe and stamped it twice and coloured it with stampin write markers and then the same for the bow. I then cut them out, layered them up and adhered them into the little cluster. It was quick thick cardstock so it holds the loose shape well so there is some dimension to the cluster.

Next I grabbed a die cut circle that was in the ready die cut pouch – not sure how long I’ve had this ready made for but it’s been a while!

I used a stencil from another magazine kit to add some gentle colour and pattern behind the focal image – you can’t tell from this but it is a snowflake design.

I decided to add the mistletoe cluster to this and then added the main sentiment (Waffleflower) over the top with some foam at either side to protect the dimension of the cluster.

Then I grabbed the lighter green cardstock from my Everyday cardstock from Kingston Crafts. I created the card blank and a separate panel to raise up. The panel I used an old magazine kit embossing folder which has a poinsettia design and the merry Christmas message. I sanded back the embossed panel to expose the white core which is such a cool technique you can do with this cardstock.

Then I raised this panel above the base with foam adhesive and then added the circle to the front flat onto the textured surface.

Then it was time for finishing touches and I used both the clear and the lime glitter glue from Kingston Crafts. I added dots to the circle elements in the embossing folder and to the mistletoe berries and the centre of the bow using the clear – and then the berries in the embossing folder I added the lime. It is subtle but provides some lovely little elements of sparkle!

Really pleased with how the card came out and all the textures.

Sorry the final card is a little dark – not sure what happened – maybe there was an extra dark bit of cloud at that point in the sky!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

You know me – when I get a product to play with, no matter what the original theme, I try and make something Christmassy with it! Well the Spring wax seals kit has got this lovely heart seal and that in my opinion does not need to just be for valentines – I thought it would work well for Christmas too.

In a break from tradition for Festive Friday though I decided to make tags rather than a card – I just was feeling the need to start on tags as we get closer to present buying season.

I started however with the stamping of some wreaths (these are old stamps from SU) and a few flowers and colouring them with my alcohol markers and fussy cutting them out.

Then I grabbed the seal kit and had a play with a few colours of the wax to create four seals with the gorgeous heart shape.

I pulled some of the dark green card from the everyday cardstock pack and cut it into 2” strips and punched the top with a tag topper punch and embossed some leftover green with various embossing folders to give some textural elements – I love sanding back this cardstock when it’s embossed – it really adds an extra element! I then had fun pulling various bits and pieces from the stash to make each one different…

I then started assembling… as I did I ended up messing up the silver seal so I made a different one and decided to jazz that one up a little … I added white posca to the heart and then when that was dry some of the clear glitter glue to make it sparkly white!

I added die cut bows, banners, sentiments and ribbons and stamped sentiments and generally had lots of fun. I added spots of glitter glue to a few too.

They all have a different look because of the colour and the accessories but those wax seals really help finish off the tags. So cute!

Perfect tags for adding to the top of wrapped gifts or a gift bag or even could be used as card toppers.

And such fun to make with all the little elements – I think my favourite is the bronze/brown one with the green glittery stars in the wreath…. Although the rustic looking one with the sparkly white heart on the seal is also fun! How about you?

I was delighted when I got to see these on TV – especially as Martin gave me the title of ‘Queen of Christmas’ – there were squeals of delight when I was watching that was for sure!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! Back again with another Christmas card inspired by Martins challenge.

Today’s prompt is Twinkle Twinkle so I immediately grabbed a very old but lovely stencil from Claritystamps and embossed some sparkly white stars onto a panel of the green cardstock and turned it into a wreath!

I grabbed some stamps and dies from a magazine kit to add the floral element. I stamped the image and embossed with the same sparkly embossing powder and then the central element of the flowe I coated in the versamark and the same powder too so they all coordinate.

Then the Peace and Joy set of stamps and dies for the sentiment.

I mounted the panel onto a white card blank and called it done!

Simple and fun and super sparkly!

Happy crafting!

I saw the purple cardstock and decided it was such a regal colour I wanted to go to town with embossing to make a special card.

I started by cutting a card blank – whilst it isn’t the thickest cardstock in the world it still works well enough for making a card blank I think – especially as I always add a topper and an insert which helps strengthen it. Besides a store bought card can be pretty flimsy so this is still stronger than that!

I then cut a slightly smaller panel and added both silver and clear embossing. The swirls I stamped and embossed with the silver and then I did some messy script stamping and used clear embossing for that.

I then inked the edge of the panel and the same for the card blank to add some depth to the edge and on the topper I then distressed it to expose the white core.

I then splattered heavily with some purple shimmer paint and set it aside to dry.

I decided to use the Eclectic Bouquet from Altenew to stamp and emboss in silver and then I die cut it. I diecut the same shape again three times to give it a lot of dimension – I could have just used the adhesive foam but I like to die cut and stack sometimes instead.

I then took an Altenew sentiment and die cut and stacked that and a piece of shimmery glittery ribbon and added that under the sentiment for an additional texture.

I stamped the same swirl a couple of times onto a panel of the white everyday cardstock and then added that to the inside.

So a special and elegant card I think and that everyday cardstock stood up well to all the stamping and distressing and splattering!

This was another card that got its little moment on tv as I spotted it on display!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I don’t have a video to accompany this card because I wasn’t in the mood to edit and knew it would take me a while to make the card over a few crafting sessions… so instead just sharing on the blog and instagram.

I love floral cards and had a lot of Poinsettia products I could have used but I went with the waffleflower layering stencil and layering stamp set.

I did a background onto the cardstock and then added that as an angled panel raised up on adhesive foam. I then did the stamped and die cut flowers and had then hanging over so that they needed some bits with adhesive foam squares and some straight onto the background panel.

I used the Noel die cuts from a previous die cutting session and layered them so the dark red shadowed the white and added a strip of vellum underneath to ground the sentiment.

I finished off with the gems to add sparkle.

Inside the card I added the background I had trimmed off the front piece and the final poinsettia stamped and die cut piece.

Love how this finished up but do wish I had used green not navy for the background stencilling to keep the colours similar. But that being said I still love how it finished up!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I’m back with another design team contribution for Addicted to stamps and more where the challenge for this fortnight is Make Your Mark.

I created this card… it was nice to love away from Christmas just for a bit!

I used the stamped image from Altenew called Splendid Bouquet and stamped it in black and then die cut it.

Then I added extra lines with my fine nib pen to add my own touches to the image.

I then used the final layer of stencil that coordinates and added just a light amount of ink through the stencil. I think this is a really pretty and different way of using the image.

I used an inky panel and embossed it with the fern folder and then lightly brushed over with a light green ink to just enhance the texture. I mounted the panel onto green and added to the card blank.

I added the sentiment with a ribbon scrap underneath and then found these super sparkly gems in the stash to finish off!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Back with another ‘as seen on TV’ project – this one was just in a panning shot but it was still fab to see and made me squeal when I spotted it!

decided to have a go at playing with the spring wax seal kit – this time the butterfly seal and made quite a few mixing different purples and blues together. I must admit it took a little while to get the melting part sussed – knowing when it was the right consistency to pour and how much wax – but the good news is that any that you don’t get right can be melted again for a second (or third) attempt! I think I ended up with six beads per seal for these but they are quite chunky so if you want them flatter use less.

I decided to use a few to make a simple card.

I say simple but I did end up with a few die cuts and bit of ribbon, sequins and a stamped sentiment – oh and two pieces of the spring slimline papers!

I kept to the purple and blue theme with the papers I chose and then added in the pink and dark blue die cuts and then stamped the sentiment in the dark blue and mat it too.

Inside the card I took a little more of the paper and just added a couple of strips to follow through the theme.

Just love those cute butterfly wax seals – they turn a simple card into something a little more special! plus how cute are those spring slimline papers!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hi there – me again! It’s been a blog overload the last few days – really should try and pace some of these but can’t resist sharing as I go and I have a lot of the DT stuff still to share! So this is my card for Martin’s challenge…

I went with the new alpaca pals by Tracey Hey stamps I’d bought to create a wreath of baubles and holly for this one.

I added water to activate the ink on the watercolour cardstock and then used some of the smaller stamps to add the silver elements.

Then a label die cut from the purple and a stamped, embossed and die cut sentiment. Oh and the ribbon underneath to add a softer texture into the mix!

I added the teal green mat as it went with the colour of the holly.

Finishing by touch was some drops of the pink glitter glue.

I did film this one so check out my YouTube Video here.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Last minute decision to join in with the challenge today as we had an early tea so I had time before the ironing chore needed prioritising!

It really was a quick card so it was easy to do and film and quickly do a voice over for my video – and now I’m writing this – but really do have to get on with the ironing!

So – stamped the hat, masked it, stamped frosty, masked it and then inked the background including the snowflake mask to add a little interest to the background!

Then added the embossed snowflakes with glittery embossing. Next a mat of the green and the die cut Lawn Fawn Sentiment. Next the stamped sentiment.

I then added the gems to finish off!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

PS I hate ironing but promise you I am off to do it now!

Whilst I enjoyed scrapping pictures of Simba which I shared the last two days, I knew I also wanted to make a dog themed card from the kit and I may have gone rather over the top with this one!

But it did pay off because it did get a bit of attention on the tv show! 😆

I decided to use some stamps from My Favourite Things to create the images … but then went heavy with the papers from the kit to make a fun fold card!

I used the everyday cardstock for the base and cut two cards that then interlocked. Then went about decorating all the panels with the fun papers and some of the die cut elements.

I also added the twine to the front.

I heat embossed the sentiments from the stamp set to add one to the front and one to the middle of the card and left a panel for the message. I added some of the elements on the front with the foam adhesive to give it dimension.

I think this makes such a fun card and I really enjoyed putting it together.

Happy crafting!

Catherine