Author: Catherine

Hello! Another festive project and once again using those inky backgrounds I made months ago and the die cuts I cut from scraps to get me past the mojo fail a few days ago.

This time I embossed the panel using a folder I got from a magazine and then added some embossing on the embossing!

This gave the background a lovely pearly finish. Then I stamped and fussy cut the pointsettia image. This gave a nice coordinating image to sit behind the die cut.

I added the rest of the sentiment from the Peace & Joy set. I also added some gems.

I keep it simple then just on the card blank with a small frame around the background panel.

Please check out the process of this coming together over on my YouTube channel.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hi

Perfect theme for this design team challenge for Creative Knockouts – Christmas in July – so it works perfectly for my full month of festive projects! So this is also day 18 of my Christmas in July !

I used the Hot Chocolate image from Polkadoodles for this as they are sponsoring the challenge at Creative Knockouts!

I used promarkers to colour the image and then chose patterned paper I thought worked with the soft colours I used.

I added the lace and the die cuts behind the image which again made the card look quite soft.

I also used a smoky slate card stock for the base again this makes it less stark than using white would have done!

Enjoyed making this cute card. As with my other Christmas in July projects there is a process video for you to enjoy!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

When I have a crafting mojo fail I often start die cutting scraps to at least get something done even if it doesn’t lead to me creating it helps me feel productive … and more often than not I do end up creating something as a result! So in my stash I have lots of pre die cut bits and bobs ready to create with. Well this card started very much as one of those mojo fail – just die cut sessions.

I die cut loads of the Joy dies (smallest and middle layers) in colours I thought might come in useful for Christmas cards. I chose these because I had not managed to use them on the previous card and had come up with a block.

My other way of clearing my crafty block is to make backgrounds and not worry about what they get used for. So I sorted through the stash of ready made backgrounds I had and found an inky piece I thought would work and grabbed that to play with.

I added gesso through a snowflake stencil to the background which changed the panel into a Christmas themed one. Then I grabbed some coral cardstock and adding red ink to an embossing folder I added the texture and colour.

This then sat behind the three Joy die cuts and gave them some variation from the background.

I added a second sentiment from Altenew and some gems and then mounted onto white and a white 5×7 cardblank.

I did video the whole process and as I say in the video I am not 100% in love with the card but I don’t dislike it – and so that’s ok. At least it got me creating and using those die cuts and another one of the ready made backgrounds!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Well these turned into a challenge of a project I can tell you … totally lost my way half way through and couldn’t decide what on earth to do with them – but rescued them and love the final product!

I started with the stamping of the words on a panel of A5 and chose pinks and purples because I thought I would use the lilac word background dies I had already stamped but then changed my mind completely. So for at least half an hour I pulled out lots of different things to try and then ended up creating a floral cluster in a vase and loving the very non traditional cards I made!

The word stripe was inspired by a card I remembered Deborah Wheeler doing that I liked but never got around to trying out.

I used all the lovely foliage stamps in the Peace & Joy stamp set and then fussy cut them (hate that they don’t have dies for these too) and then from Splendid Stems I pulled in a few of the dies including the vase/bowl and created my floral display.

It was good to use some glimmer paper too – I’m not a fan of glitter stuff normally but in small quantities like this I can cope!

Inside the cards I did some stamping in the corner of the white panel to keep it tied in with the outside of the card too.

I do love how these cards finished up but goodness me it was a trial in the middle till I ended up with my floral focal point! Check out the video of the heavily edited process! 😂

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Decided to grab an old magazine stamp set to make a background onto Kraft.

From this I made three cards.

After all the stamping in the background I added some shimmer splatter. I cut the piece into three panels and each one got added to a panel of white cardstock.

I stamped the deer head twice with versamark and then gold embossed, then a third time with the brown ink onto white. I fussy cut each of them.

I mounted each of them onto a further panel of Kraft and between the stag head and the background I added a panel of the copper twine.

I added the same sentiment to all three to keep it simple.

Just love the shimmer and the way it changes as the light hits it.

Also just realised I’ve done three different deer projects on the run so will try and grab something different for tomorrows!

And for those that fancy watching the process – here is the video!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I have a quick and easy card using the gorgeous deer stencil from Donna Downey.

Used distress oxides to add the colour straight onto the card blank and then splattered water and inks.

Used some dies to then create the sentiment cluster.

Finished off the front with the sequins for a bit of bling!

Inside the card added a panel with an inky border.

Simple but fun card! Can see me doing more of these with different colour schemes! But for now check out the video of it coming together!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

It was the last of the 18th birthday celebrations yesterday and so here is the card I made for my daughter to give to her friend – I know this is in the middle of my Christmas in July project but don’t worry there will be a festive themed project coming up shortly!

Amelia and Maya both love green so there is a lot of green on this but of course I also added the pop of pink and peach on the flowers.

I used the Altenew Eclectic bouquet set for this … the stencil to colour, the die to cut out and the embossing folder for the main bouquet element.

I also stamped and stencilled and die cut two of the leaf elements.

Behind on the panel I created a ‘wreath’ using the wreath builder and the stamps in the set for the greenery.

I then die cut a piece of the silver glimmer paper using the zero waste leaf die and used two sprigs for behind the main bouquet.

I added the background to a piece of the glimmer paper (which I gutted to conserve the paper for other projects). And then I raised it on foam so it had some dimension.

I chose to use some thicker stickers for the number 18 and then a sentiment I had die cut already. I added the scrap of the peach gathered ribbon and the silver ribbon for a bow for embellishing.

I also added green enamel gems for the finishing touches.

So happy birthday to Amelia and hope she enjoyed her celebration!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Todays Christmas in July project went mixed media (maybe it is all the #dyicad2024 rubbing off on my festive makes!?!)

I chose gelli print backgrounds, book print and the lovely stamps from Woodware of the deer.

I added the backgrounds to the painted texture embossing folder and then added ink to highlight the texture. This also tied it into the card blank that I chose to make from the Berry Burst card stock.

I used the sticker sentiments from Tim Holtz to finish off.

Inside I stamped the deer onto white and added that. The white panel makes it easier to write on than the bold cardstock when the time comes to add those!

As per usual videoed the process. I’ve been getting more followers and views than usual with these videos which is interesting – apparently not just me who does #christmasinjuly

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello!

Today’s Christmas project was these two cards with a stamped background using my oldie but goodie set Christmas Season. I really love these stamps. I stuck to a lot of green for these cards and then threw some Blackberry Bliss in at the very end!

I also videoed the process so you can check that out over on YouTube.

I did finish off each card differently but it’s obvious that they were done at the same time with that glorious background.

I love making backgrounds like this – it is such fun to just play and get colour down and layer the images and the text stamps. And of course lots of gold splatter too!

For this one I chose a premade diecut word for the main focal point and then layered the die cut leaves under the label I made. I also added extra inking in the centre of the panel to create some definition for the die cut leaves to sit on.

This one I die cut two labels to provide a layer for the leaves to sit between. I also embossed the sentiment to tie in the gold in the background splatter.

Inside each card I created a panel with the stamping too.

Those Blackberry Bliss berries just pop on the cards – love them!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I decided to go back to the wreath builder template/guide and have another try with the Tidings and Trimmings star with the idea that came to me whilst editing the video from day 7!

And I am super happy with what I created. I went rainbow with the stars using four colours of distress inks.

I actually had two goes at it…

I added black flat star sequins on the cards as embellishment and used the fabulous Claritystamps sentiment to finish them both off!

I mounted both onto black and made one as a larger 6×6 card (I added foam for this one to raise the topper) and the other a smaller than A6 card blank.

Added a single star that I stamped and fussy cut in the inside.

As per the other ones so far this month I videoed the process!

Happy crafting!

Catherine