Rudolph Days June 26

 Here we are at the Rudolph Days challenge and it's definitely flaming June with extremely high temperatures.  Never mind here's my Christmas card which might put you into a cooler frame of mind.  I've used a digital image which I resized so that I could group them together to look as if Daddy Rudolph has two younger family members to help him in his work.  I die cut a decorative window frame offset into the piece of white card and then popped the image into the frame.  The simple addition of a die cut tree and stamped sentiment complete the composition.  Happy Rudolph Days everyone - shame we can't go outside and roll in the snow 🤣🤣

Image - digital download from Craft Addiction UK (several variations in the set)
Frame Die - also from CAUK
Tree - unbranded die
Sentiment - from a long retired Stampin. Up set
Deckle Square - unbranded die from Amazon
Background - piece of seasonal paper from my oddments stash

Snippets Playground Challenge # 535

 I think I may be first through the Playground gates this morning because I just couldn't wait to try a new slant on an old technique.  Miss Di had spotted this 'game changer' way of making Eclipse style cards and showed us a wonderful example, also sharing links to a video.  This looked so interesting that I just had  to give it a try and this is my version using circles instead of narrow strips of 'Snippet' card.  The cream background is a fairly large snippet and of course the nine circles needed were also cut from my cream snippets.  A quite large stamp has been used, for the first time as it happens, because I was somewhat taken aback at just how large the stamps were in this set so they've not really been used as often as intended so it was great to have an opportunity to make use of this one.  There's a slight change in the way things happen the Snippets challenge as regards prizes - read all about it and catch up with news of Dudley's exploits as usual - always my first port of call on a Sunday morning 😉.

Coffee Time Stamp - Aall & Create # 642 which I've had for quite a while
Sentiment - computer generated

Tag-along

 Well, two posts in one day because I have another tag to share with the Tag-along and ATC challenge where the theme this time is to incorporate text within the project.  I started by cutting the tag from a very old paper pad which has a selection of black and white text pages - quite thin paper so I glued it onto a matching white tag before then cutting another one using red card.  This red one was offset slightly to give the appearance of a swinging tag.  A small black sentiment outline die was used, folded in half and glued to the top pf the tag rather than threading a ribbon through.  The birds on the  branch and also the ones on the wire were die cut from black card and glued in place.  A few small 'splodge' stamps were used on the background for added interest.  I think this one might well end up being used as a card topper, probably for a masculine card.

Tag Die - an unbranded one from Amazon
White Tag -  text paper pad by Papermania from many years ago
Bird dies - also unbranded ones which I've had for some time

Allsorts Challenge #852

 The theme for the Allsorts challenge this time has been chosen by Ellie and it is **Blooms and/or Bees** with of course the *anything goes* option.  Prize this time is from Buddly Crafts and you can see more details on the Allsorts post..  

I was reminded recently of an idea using circles so decided to re-visit the technique for my card this time.  I'm not sure if it has an actual title but I think of it as 'swirly circles'.  Circles in three colours and of different sizes are required and they are cut in half and laid out to form this design.  I then die cut and coloured some flowers and a couple of bees, adding a sentiment and that's my card finished.  

Flowers and Bees - die sets from Craft Addiction UK
Circles - cut from some pieces of  long retired Stampin Up design papers

Ruffles at Home

 I have a cute dog card to share today - just couldn't resist the latest set of stamps designed by Louise Dunne.  I had to build him a kennel though, using a bit of ingenuity and dies from various sets in my stash. No doubt I could have purchased a kennel die set but before going in search of one I stopped to cast my mind through dies which I already have to see if I could come up with any ideas.  I stamped, coloured and die cut Ruffles, masking off the party hat he was wearing.  I then did the same with the bones, dog bowl and paw prints, finally die cutting some grasses and the various bits and pieces to build the kennel.

Ruffles - from Ruffles and Crumpet stamp/die set Craft Addiction UK
Bones, paw prints and dog bowl - from above set
DIY kennel using dies from various sets in my collection
Grass - die from a long retired Stampin' Up set
Background - cut out circle die from CAUK
Sentiment Stamp also CAUK

Using Things Up

 I had three die cuts left over from the set used on my previous card and decided to incorporate them into another card right away rather than let them lie around unused.  I die cut a stitched frame, an owl in flight and a backing piece to fit within the frame.  This was smooshed with  Chipped Sapphire Distress ink to give the appearance of a night sky. The tree, fence and crescent moon were coloured using Distress inks and a water brush - Wink of Stella was added to the moon.  The owl die cut was layered up to give it some perspective (coloured using alcohol pens).  Once the framed scene was complete it was backed with a piece of green card and a sentiment was added.  This design was inspired by a recent You Tube video from Chris Stokes

Tree, fence and moon - part of die cut set using Aall & Create Roadway Vistas #78
Owl - die from owl set by Craft Addiction UK (mixture of sizes and designs)
Frame - dies also from CAUK
Sentiment - wiry words, a very old stamp set from Creative Design

Happy Mail

 A lovely friend sent me some happy mail recently which included a wonderful die cut frame set.  Of course I couldn't wait to have a play with them and built up a little scene with yet another perch for our favourite bunny.  I did a bit of smooshing on the white background piece and coloured the tree and fence which had been cut using white card.  I then die cut bunny and a couple of tiny flowers, adding a stamped sentiment.  A big thank you to my friend, ( you know who you are) - making this certainly made me smile 😊😊

Frame, tree and fence - Aall & Create die set #78 Roadway Vistas
Bunny - my unbranded favourite bunny
Flowers - dies from Gummiapan