Happy New Year

I would like to wish a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to all my friends and followers.

I've actually made a card today and it should fit the challenge on Pixie Snippets which is running into two weeks this time around and with some lovely prizes too.  Backing paper is a large snippet from my box of papers and the the die cutting was done using scraps of various colours from by bits boxes. The trellis was cut from dark brown and layered onto some kraft card;  the bird house, bird feeder and birds cut were popped onto a cream pearly shape; finally a computer sentiment was added along with a few pearls.  It is quite good to get back to making something which isn't Christmas themed.

Trellis die - Couture Creations Tied Together
Bird House and Feeder - Signature dies from Joanna Sheen
Sentiment - Cuttlebug dies

Boxing Day

I opted for a 'stay at home' Christmas this year and the weather yesterday was bright with some sunshine which is more than can be said for today which is dark and somewhat damp here.  I spent part of yesterday and some of this morning making  this bag - I had already embroidered the Redwork panel so just had to cut out the fabrics, stitch them together and complete the 'big stitch' quilting so that I could assemble the bag this morning.  I've enjoyed doing this and now I have yet another useful bag to add to my collection - I might just have to do lots of shopping so that they all get good use!!  I particularly like these Redwork style designs and the embroidery is relatively simple and very relaxing to do and of course doesn't necessarily have to be stitched in red - in fact I have another panel under way at the moment which could well feature on yet another bag.

Christmas Wishes

I would like to wish all my followers and friends a very Happy Christmas and the best of wishes for the New Year.  I seem to have been missing again from blogland but my internet slowed down to almost a halt and I was unable to get on-line until it was sorted.

Background - created with a mask to emboss white card, brushed with blue Distress ink afterwards
Image - from Lili of the Valley
Greeting - strip embossing folder, also brushed with blue Distress ink

Unusual Request and Apologies

First of all I must apologise for my absence from Blogland for a little while - hopefully normal service should be resumed shortly and I will be back visiting and posting!!

Now I wouldn't immediately associate elephants with Christmas but yesterday evening I received a request for a Christmas card featuring them.  I turned to my CD collection to see what I could find and came across this pair on a Jane Netley Mayhew collection from Joanna Sheen - hopefully they will be acceptable.  I used various dies and some backing paper to make what I hope is my last Christmas card for this year (I did think I'd finished anyway) but luckily hadn't put away all the seasonal bits and pieces yet although that must be the next job in my craft room.  I wish I knew who keeps making it such an untidy space - not difficult to guess!!

Gold Frame - Couture Creations die
Square mounts - Tonic nesting scalloped squares
Poinsettia - Sue Wilson dies
Ivy - Sue Wilson die
Sentiment - Computer printed and onto Cuttlebug circles.

Stitchery

I came across a lovely book recently which has lots of small patchwork items which include embroidered panels and which would make really nice gifts or items to sell for charity.  This is a folder with pockets inside to hold maybe a notebook or other bits and pieces which you might want to keep safe - it is roughly A5 size.  I enjoyed making this and being small I was able to find bits and pieces of fabric without going out to buy any more.  I certainly have lots of fabric around so will probably make a few of the other things from the book.

Snippets Challenge

Seeing the latest Pixie Snippets Challenge tells me that yet another week has gone by - at speed too I might add!!  This time I'm putting in a selection of small (4" square) cards which I made to showcase just some of the techniques which can be achieved using embossing folders with other mediums such as gesso, Distress ink, gilding wax etc.  I aim to put these cards together as I thought they would make a useful gift because it is always handy to have a few notelets available.  I used lots of small pieces of cards and some even smaller snippets for the sentiments on their little labels.

Christmas Tag Card

This card is another of the samples I made for a recent demonstration day using a dies.  The fancy tag was cut out a couple of times using alternate colours of card and then cut once more so that I could hand cut the parcel to make an extra layer.  I added some ribbon and a die cut bow.

Dies - Lattice and tags from Tonic
Bow - Sue Wilson Itty Bitty Bow

Pixie Snippets Challenge

I came across this Pampered Pets die set recently while looking through my collection to make some samples for a recent demonstration day and realised that it hadn't been used for a long time and the cat is rather elegant so deserves an airing.  As most of the card is made from odd bits and pieces of card (mostly Centura Pearl) it suits the Pixie Snippets Challenge.  I hope some of you are having a nicer day than it is here today where it is very dull, cold and raining so I'm off to sit by the fire to do a bit of embroidery for a change.

Background - Piece of paper from Pampered Pets pad (Papermania)
Oval - Tonic dies
Layers - Sue Wilson dies, one embossed with swiss dots folder
Cat and handbag etc - Pampered Pets die set Papermania

Mistletoe

I've dabbled with a bit more quilling for a card, this time making some mistletoe which I've popped onto a die cut shape. The background was made using a mask to emboss the square of card and applying some Versamark through the snowflakes before removing it, then using some twinkle white embossing powder.  

Die cut shapes - Spellbinders
Background - Special touch snowflake mask
Greeting - computer generated on cuttlebug shapes

Missing in Action!

I've just realised it is over a week since I posted anything on my blog which is BAD and I will try to do better.  I have been keeping busy one way and another, mainly preparing samples for an upcoming demonstration day - that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it!!  This Christmas card fits well into the Pixie Snippets category because it consists of various snippets of card and ribbon.  Again I was tempted by a freebie given with a magazine - this time a bauble which is handy given that Christmas is fast approaching.  Details of items used are given below as usual.

Baubles - Marianne die backed with Spellbinder circle in white
White panels - Centura Pearl card embossed with Sheena snowflake folder
Red panels - cut using Tonic die
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cuts

Birdcage

For the Pixie Snippets card this week I decided to use up some of my smaller snippets to make the various decorative elements on this card.  Background was a piece of Coredinations card embossed and sanded, The oval frame and backing were die cut, as was the birdcage, birds and foliage.  The flowers were punched from a left over snippet of printed paper.

Background - Coredinations whitewash card, Crafter's Companion birdhouse embossing folder
Oval Frame - Sue Wilson Austrian collection dies
Cream oval - SW die embossed using Couture Creations folder
Birdcage - Spellbinders die
Birds and Foliage - various Marianne dies
Flowers - X-cut punches with Cosmic Shimmer pearl centres

Cats

While trawling through boxes looking for something to use for a card I came across this cat topper which was left from a sheet printed some time ago and thought it should be used up rather than printing any more sheets to add to boxes.  As you may realise I really am trying to use up things which are cluttering up my space - although I think I should go through the boxes really thoroughly and weed out items which I probably wouldn't use and maybe pass them on to someone who might make use of them.  I imagine some packets of goodies would be a welcome find in the charity shop!!

The 'angel' cat is not so angelic really if you spot the feathers in his mouth!!

Image - Crazy Cats, Card Creations
Backing paper - from my stash
Circular shape - Spellbinders die
Border - Tonic punch
Greeting - computer generated

Pixie Snippets Playground Week 149

The card for this weeks Pixie Snippets challenge uses up some more of my bits and pieces of card. I've been die cutting yet again which I find is a great way of using up remnants (and of course cutting into yet more new sheets occasionally to make even more leftovers!!) ...sigh... the pile never seems to diminish.  I used a piece of background paper from my stash and cut the next layer using Tonic header dies, also cutting a backing piece to put behind the cut out areas.  The centre shapes were cut using Sue Wilson dies, again using odd bits and pieces of card.  A snippet of matching ribbon was added behind the shapes and a computer sentiment added along with some tiny flower embellishments for the centres of the flowers.

Dies - Tonic Header die
Centre - Sue Wilson California collection dies
Embellishments - Hobby House

Time Flies

Now where did the last week go - I only know it has whizzed by somehow and not much blogging.  I keep saying I ought not to start anything new in the way of crafts but there I was idly glancing at the TV while drinking one of my many cups of coffee and spotted Linda Jones demonstrating wirework jewellery.  This is something which I've not really tried apart from bending the odd headpin now and again.  Luckily I had some wire around and a pack of beads handy which had come as a free gift in with some other supplies so I got out my tools and had a go.  This is my first effort - not perfect by a long chalk but I did enjoy doing something different and might see if I can use up some of my 'orphan' beads by incorporating them into a bit of wire jewellery.

Snowflakes

I decided to revisit triple stamping for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week and duly snipped three squares of white card which were stamped using snowflake stamps from Creative Expressions.  These in turn were layered with pieces of navy card.  I then used more snippets to stamp and punch a greeting and a glittery snowflake making a fairly simple card for the Christmas collection.

Stamps - Creative Expressions designed by Phill Martin
Snowflake - Papermania die
Greeting - Clear stamp from my stash on Stampin' Up punch shapes

Great Day Out

I spent a very productive and enjoyable day yesterday at a Stampin' Up Christmas extravaganza day and this is just one of the lovely things we made.  You can see all the projects on Jenny's blog - Stamping Moments where you can also purchase the instructions if you like the look of the items.  We were kept busy all day making a selection of cards, a box, a decorated clear bauble for the tree and there was an opportunity to put together a lovely star book.  A Christmas tree stamp set was included and there is also a matching punch available which would save lots of cutting out time.

I would say that this was a brilliant way to spend a Sunday (or any other day for that matter) and there was coffee and cake available too which has to be good.  I'm already looking forward to the next event in the Spring.

Apologies

Apologies to everyone - I've been unable to visit blogs since Wednesday because the power was off for a couple of hours during the morning and when they turned it back on it appears to have 'killed' my router which left me with no broadband connection until a replacement router arrived today which I've just set up to get me up and running again.  However did we manage before the Internet kept us in touch!!

Hopefully normal service is now resumed.  There is always a silver lining though - at least I've not been able to spend any money on online craft goodies and couldn't go out to the local shop in case I missed the package being delivered!!

Christmas Village

In spite of having a good stock of Christmas cards I'm still drawn into making more - this time using a 'free' die which was on a Tattered Lace Magazine which jumped into my basket some time ago.  I have to confess that today was the first time the die had actually been taken off the magazine so that it can be stored away with my collection.  I used the free embossing folder which has appeared previously but this time I cut out an oval from the middle of it to contain my little village scene.  Backing paper is a pretty one with embossed snowflakes found in my stash.  I wondered about adding a greeting but probably won't because this really speaks for itself as a Christmas card.  Of course looking for something else, I've come across a set of free bauble stamps which have never been used so maybe another seasonal card is called for!!  I think I picked up the magazine with those on the cover last year and they deserve to be used.

Embossed panel - free folder used on white Centura Pearl card dusted with blue ink
Background - Papermania paper with embossed snowflakes
Village - free dies from Tattered Lace
Snowy hill - scrap of white card torn
Scene - dusted with Glamour Dust for a bit of sparkle

Pixie Snippets Playground 147

I've taken a picture of some more of my paper blooms (see previous post) which I imagine should qualify for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week because those fringed asters and the other blooms certainly involved lots of snipping.  The finished flowers are around 3 inches across and the asters for instance involved cutting fringes with scissors into three strips of mauve/purple paper around 16" long for each - this certainly required a degree of concentration!!  The alium type flowers are made from numerous punched shapes glued to polystyrene balls and then 'fluffed out'.  Apologies for the photograph but I had to take it rather quickly because I seem to have lots of odd jobs to catch up on today so couldn't really spare any more time to set this up but I'm sure you get the general idea. Hopefully when I've caught up with myself I can get back to making some more cards.

Paper Blooms

I've spent an enjoyable day today in my local craft shop demonstrating the making of paper flowers using a book called Paper Blooms.  It was something new for me making flowers more or less life size although I've made lots of miniature ones before - give anything a go that's me!!  One good thing about these ones was that the materials used were reasonably easy to get hold of and a minimum amount of equipment required.  I've taken a very quick photograph of some of the ones I made and will try to get some better pictures in daylight.  The poppies and other large white flowers were made from coffee filter papers and wine filters, the pumpkin was made using strips of orange card with a couple of stamped leaves and other blooms made using odd bits of paper from my stash.  The fringed asters which don't show too well took a lot of cutting of fringed strips before they could be assembled.

Floral Card

It's a while since I did much in the way of stamping or colouring because as you may have noticed, dies seem to be very much in vogue at the moment.  However considering that I have so many stamps I thought I should redress the balance somewhat so here is a card with a stamped and coloured image as the main feature with some die cutting as embellishment.

Floral Image - Stampin' Up coloured with alcohol pens
Dies - Deco Labels from SU
Border - Cuttlebug die with Die-namics bow die
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cuts

Christmas Cards

I've made a couple of Christmas cards to pop into my box - one using an embossing folder and die cut flower and the other using an image from Crafter's Companion 2013 Christmas Collection (bought last year) and nothing from the kit has been used yet so thought I'd better have a go rather than be tempted to buy this year's collection.  It has been raining steadily all day today and so very dark and chilly, really miserable.

Embossing Folder - Couture Creations
Poinsettia - Sue Wilson dies

Image - Crafter's companion 2013 collection
Snowflake - free die from magazine

Pixie Snippets Challenge 146

Each week on the Pixie Snippets challenge there is an opportunity to be included in a random draw to win a generous prize and last week I was lucky enough to be picked out of the 'hat' when I won a die set which cuts various sizes of sequins.  Of course I've included some of these into my card for the challenge this time around.  I started with a snippet of Centura Pearl card which was embossed and then had some blue ink brushed over - more snippets of card to cut a banner, a lacy strip, a flower and some leaves with a final snippet of ribbon from my overflowing ribbon box - finally some tiny snippets in the form of a few strategically placed sequins using my new die.  There is another great prize on offer this week so why not have a go and use up some of your snippets.

Background - Die-sire embossing folder
Banner - die cut using Stampin' Up framelits set
Flower - stamped using SU Beautiful Bunch and matching punch
Lacy Border - Couture Creations die
Leaves - Robert Addams die (Papercrafts)
Sequins - Die-namics die

More Pearly Technique

I've made a card using the other experiment with pearlescent medium and Brusho crystals - this time salt was added while the piece was still quite wet and brushed off when dry.  I didn't want to cover up too much of the background so simply added a banner, a few flowers and a sentiment, details below.  These crystals are really good for making backgrounds and the results are quite unpredictable which for me is part of the fun.  Apart from the background, everything else was made using snippets of card from my famous bits boxes so this could be another entry for the Pixie Snippets challenge - luckily I had an ink pad the right colour for the flowers!!

Banners - Sizzix dies for Stampin' Up
Flowers - SU Flower Shop and Petite Petals with matching punches
Sentiment - Computer generated on Cuttlebug die cuts.

Male Cards

When looking through my box of cards I realised I was a bit short on ones suitable for sending to a man.  My followers will have realised that I am well into die cutting at the moment but sometimes I feel that the cards made using some of the more elaborate ones are perhaps more suited to send to ladies.  When I spotted this corner die I decided to use it for a plainer type of card but of course it could just as well be used with floral embellishments to make a prettier card.  That's what I really like about using dies - their versatility and the way they look so different depending on colours chosen and the way they can be combined with other elements.

Background - Corner lattice die by Papercraft (Robert Addams)
Circular dies - Spellbinders
Lattice strip - Cuttlebug die
Sentiment - Stamped and punched (Stampin' Up)
Image - Stampin' Up Wetlands stamp set

Playing with Backgrounds

I spent some time yesterday playing with my recently acquired Brusho crystals (just had to try some when I spotted them at a show recently) and the pearly paint background technique and it certainly helped to take my mind off the horrible weather.  I used one of the pieces as a background on this third sympathy card.  The flower was stamped, coloured with alcohol pens and cut out so that it could be popped onto the oval which had the stem stamped.  The greeting was also stamped from the same stamp set.  Details below of items used.  Thankfully the sun is shining today although there is a definite chill in the air - winter woollies time I think although I think the thermals can stay in storage for a bit longer!

Background - Brusho crystals and pearl acrylic medium on watercolour paper
Dies - Tonic (purple),  Pierced oval Spellbinder, fancy tag Spellbinder
Stamps - from Stampin' Up Bloom with Hope set

Make My Monday

Well Monday has come around so quickly again and this week it has brought horrid weather -  dark skies, lashing with rain and VERY windy so what better than to hibernate in the craft room.  The challenge on Make My Monday is babies or children and my offering is a card made using a purchased topper image from Hobby House, along with a die cut doily and a computer greeting.  There are some pretty ideas from the Design Team if you follow the link to take a look.

Background - Centura pearl embossed using a free folder (from a magazine last year)
Doily - Marianne die
Image - printed topper from Hobby House
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cuts.

Snippets Challenge 145

My second sympathy card is also an entry for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week because apart from the background which is printed from a CD the remaining elements were all snipped from remnants of card found in my bits boxes (details below).  I keep on trying to use up the bits but the boxes never seem to contain any less although entering this challenge each week must help I'm sure.  There is a random draw each week in the playground and I've been lucky enough to have my name drawn out to win a prize of some dies to add to my growing collection.  Why not see if you can use up some of your snippets - there are some House Mouse stamps for a lucky winner this time around.

Background - Printed from Chocolate Baroque Essence of Nature CD
Sentiment - stamp from Clearly Besotted
Dies used - Tonic Silhouette Scenes set
Dragonflies - Couture Creations dies

Sympathy Card

Every now and again I go through my box of cards to tidy them up a bit; make sure they are in their proper categories and  replenish sections which are running low.  This time it seems to be sympathy cards which are needed so I've made a couple today.  I resisted the urge to put any further embellishments onto this one because I felt it would then be suitable to send to a man.  The cream panels were die cut and the kraft card cut  to fit using a guillotine before being embossed.  The sentiment has been stamped and punched.  I might show the second one in my next post.

Cream panels - cut using Tonic die
Kraft panels - cut to fit and embossed with Cuttlebug folder
Shaped pieces - Sue Wilson French collection dies
Sentiment - Stampin' Up stamp and large oval punch

More Stamping

While these stamps were still on my table I've made a second Christmas card using them and I must be careful not to put them away too safely otherwise they will disappear into the depths and not be used for ages!  I must point out that what appear to be smudges on the white areas are in fact marks on the scanner glass which needs a good clean - mind you I often do get unwanted marks on this style of card and have to start all over again.  I'm always reluctant to add stamped greetings direct to cards which are almost finished in case I get them crooked or messy in some way, always safer to stamp on separate card and punch or die cut.  However this work is actually all on one layer but it does seem strange not to have die cuts somewhere.

Christmas Wreath

Despite the fact that I already have a huge collection of stamps, I was tempted to buy more at a show on Sunday when I saw them being demonstrated on the Card-io Stand.  The demonstrations appeared to use stamps from numerous stamp sets but I did stick at buying two - a twiggy one and one of the Christmas ones.  However this did mean that when I came to make a card I had to search through my collection to find something to add to the wreath and also had to improvise a bit with the Christmas trees (should have got that set as well I think).  It seems ages since I made a card without doing any die cutting but this one is all stamping and on one layer for a change. Small amount of distress ink and crystal glitter added.

Wreath - Card-io twig stamp (oriental)
Additions to wreath - from some discontinued See-D stamp sets (years old)
Snowman and chalets - Card-io stamps
Trees - improvised using tips of a tree stamp
Greeting - from a freebie Christmas set in my stash

Make My Monday

The Make My Monday challenge this week is to make something using die cuts and/or punches which just ties in nicely with a card I've made.  The sentiment is computer generated the sentiment and the remainder is die cut using Tonic dies which I must say do cut beautifully, even their more intricate ones cut well.  I used some background paper from my stash - had it ages but it seemed just right to go on this card.

Background - paper from Artlicious (now Chocolate Baroque) probably discontinued
Main Dies - Tonic Studios
Sentiment -  computer generated and Sue Wilson French collection dies

Pixie Snippets challenge 144

My card for the snippets challenge this week is one which I CASE'd from Sue Wilson's blog although mine isn't exactly like hers.  It involved loads of cutting various die shapes from the French Collection sets, even as far as cutting the centre layers in half and rearranging them within the outer window which frames them.  I won't be making too many like this because it took me simply ages cutting and then assembling the various shapes and then of course there are the flowers and leaves. but I do like the final result.

Dies - Sue Wilson French collection dies and ovals from Austrian collection
Flowers - Sue Wilson's faux quilled blooms and grand vinery dies
Background - rose embossing folder

Home Decor

This project is another one of my demonstration samples and this time I used a box frame which I'd had hanging around for quite a while - I buy these things when I spot them and often don't get around to actually doing anything with them immediately.  What is it they say about roads being paved with good intentions - that's me!!  I spotted the quote on an item in a shop recently and quickly jotted it down - something I often do rather than trying to remember until I get home.  This was reproduced on the computer using a variety of fonts, then cut out with a die.  The fancy die behind the quote is quite a large one so I cut it through the middle and removed part so that it would fit the space (join is hidden by the quote die shape).  A die cut bow and a few flowers were added - this now sits on my mantelpiece at home - fun to make and in my opinion nicer than the plaque from which I 'borrowed' the quote.

Background - Hessian embossing folder from Crafters Companion
Fancy die - Spanish Collection by Sue Wilson
Bow - Itty Bitty Bow dies by Sue Wilson
Flourish - Grand Vinery die by Sue Wilson
Flowers - Small ones hand made using small flower punch (Tim's rose style), daisy punched from                   scraps

Butterfly Box Card

This 'card in a box' which surprisingly folds flat for posting was another of the samples I made for my recent demonstration days.  Apart from the piece of card for the main body of the card, everything else is cut using pieces from my bits boxes.  The panels on all the flaps were embossed and sponged with ink to show up the pattern and I've added stamped flowers (punched) and die cut butterflies.

Embossed panels - Couture Creations embossing folder
Butterflies - Spellbinder dies
Leaves and small flowers - Sue Wilson Faux quilled Blooms die set
Stamped Flowers - Stampin' Up stamp set with matching punch
Greeting - computer generated on Sue Wilson California set dies

Recycled Gift Bag

When I was making samples for  recent demonstrations of die cutting and embossing I had an idea for a gift bag and managed to incorporate a recycled bag which I received with some shopping a while ago (never throw anything out is my motto!!)  I embossed a panel large enough to cover the store logo and then decorated it using a selection of the Sue Wilson seasonal dies which were being promoted in the shop - they sold out!!  I see the corners of the bag are a bit creased by handling but I'm sure I can get the iron out to flatten it.  I've taken pictures of some of the other items I made and they might appear here in due course.

Background - Hessian pattern embossing folder
Flowers - Sue Wilson Mosaic poinsettia dies and matching plain dies
Twigs and greenery - Sue Wilson Pine Bough set of dies
Greeting - Freebie Christmas stamp on die cut tag shape

Autumnal Colours

The challenge for this week at Make My Monday is to use autumnal colours which as they say is 'easy-peasy'.  I've been out in the garden tidying up some of the overgrown shrubs - at least until my green garden waste bin was stuffed full, then I came indoors for a rest!  While I was dabbling quietly with Craft Artist by way of relaxation I thought I would see if I could come up with something suitable.  I've made this fun anniversary card using a selection of items from various digikits.

Pixie Snippets Week 143

My card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week is another one using snippets of quilling paper - this time formed into a simple Christmas tree.  The rest of the card is put together using oddments from my bits and pieces boxes so plenty of 'snippets' this week.  I quite enjoyed my return to quilling but wouldn't like to do it exclusively because I much prefer to experiment and 'dabble', trying many different techniques and styles.  Variety is the spice of life they say!!

Tree - various quilling shapes
Background - an odd piece of seasonal paper
Circles - Spellbinder dies
Label shape - Deco labels Sizzix die (Stampin' Up)
Sentiment - stamped onto a scrap of card using Stampin' Up stamp

Pearl Effect

I've spotted a faux mother of pearl technique on a couple of blogs recently so of course I just had to try it after popping into my local craft shop for some pearlescent medium.  This was used as a resist by dabbing it onto white card and then sponging with two colours of distress ink.  I then cut it to size and put it into an embossing folder before using the resulting piece as a background for some swirls and flowers.  A small sentiment was added so that most of the pretty background was showing.  I can see lots of possibilities for this technique and will certainly be doing more of it.  I'm not sure the pearlescent effect comes over particularly well in a photograph but it is very pretty in real life as it catches the light.

 Background - made using Pearlescent medium and Distress inks
Flowers - Heartfelt Creations Sunkissed Fleur stamp, coloured with alcohol markers
Flowers - cut out with matching Spellbinders die
Flower Centres - sparkles from Hobby House
Swirls - Sue Wilson Grand Vinery dies
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cuts.

Floral Card

Today's card is well away from the Christmas theme and shows a flower which I think looks like a blue poppy (Icelandic??) - a stamp from a the Stampin' Up set Bloom with Hope coloured using Distress markers.  This is layered 3D style onto a shape from the Apothecary Accents thinlets die set in the centre of a 'create a card' die cut from Die-sire. This in turn has been layered onto an embossed piece of blue card. The sentiment is computer generated and cut out using Stampin' Up punches.

Challenge Time Again

I can hardly believe it is time for a new challenge on Pixie Snippets blog - yet another week has whizzed by while I wasn't looking!!  My snippets this week are a slight departure from my usual work because they are quilling strips.  This came about because a member of our craft group expressed an interest in quilling and while I am no expert, I do know the basics so agreed to show her how to get started.  We are a small group where it is all about sharing our knowledge and expertise - a great way of introducing people to different crafts. I feel that quilling is something which can develop with practice once the basics are learnt and then it is a case of using the various shapes to build up a wide variety of designs.

As we are rapidly approaching the festive Season I thought I'd make up a little robin for her to try and here he is incorporated into my card for Snippets this week.  The  background paper is from Craftwork Cards but all the other pieces are from my snippets boxes.

Background - Craftwork Cards paper pad
Circles - Spellbinder dies
Square layer - scrap of card embossed with Tim Holtz music embossing folder
Greeting - stamp from Stampin' Up on X-cut die cut tag
Robin and Holly - quilled with 3mm papers

Another Christmas Card

Today's offering is another Christmas card using the free embossing folder used yesterday but this time including two of the stamps from the same freebie.  That really was a bargain set because there is also a Christmas tree stamp and some good quality papers included so I don't feel so bad about buying that magazine.  This card was finished off with the addition of a Sue Wilson poinsettia and a pine branch from another of her Christmas die sets.

more Freebies!

Yet again I've been tempted by freebies with magazines and this week I must confess to buying not one but two!  This last week has been particularly hectic both socially (meeting friends for coffee - twice) and preparing for two busy days demonstrations with the Big Shot and various lovely dies and embossing folders - quite tiring but so enjoyable.  I was more or less ready with samples until I spotted these magazines and just had to make a quick card using the embossing folder from Cardmaking and Papercraft which is a full size one and comes with three lovely stamps as well.  The sentiment came as a die with Papercraft Essentials.  I think this card will fit the bill for the Pixie Snippets Challenge this week because apart from the square of Centura Pearl card in the background everything else was cut using snippets from my bits boxes.  Of course I've not yet used the stamps so maybe another Christmas card will follow incorporating those as well.  I do like my freebies and judging from remarks from some of the lovely visitors to the show I'm not alone.

A six inch square was cut from Centura Pearl white card and embossed with the free folder, then lightly brushed with blue Distress ink to show the detail.  The free sentiment was cut from the white Centura pearl and mounted onto an oval  cut from a scrap of blue pearl card using dies from Sue Wilson's Austrian collection. More snippets of matching card were used to cut out some of the smaller flowers from Sue's new Poinsettia collection - a few odd pearls added for the centres.  Sorry about the dark shadow on the right hand side, scanner letting in a bit of light I think due to the height of the flowers.

I see I've not posted on my blog since last weekend - apologies for that and in fact what I really should be doing this morning is putting away all the 'stuff' which was packed up to take to the show but I just had to catch up with blogs and so on but unpacking the bags and boxes must be my next priority so that I can craft some more!

Pixie Snippets Challenge 140

My card for the Snippets challenge this week uses a letterpress technique for the background - a large snippet of watercolour paper was run through the Big Shot with a Special Touch mask which had been inked with Distress ink before making the embossing 'sandwich'.  Four smaller snippets of watercolour paper were then cut using a die from Spellbinders fleur de lis set and arranged on a snippet of black card which was then set on point onto the background.  The smallest dies from the Sue Wilson  Provence die set (French Collection) were used for the central motif with a computer sentiment punched out.  Finally I used some really small snippets of the black card to cut out the fleur de lis corners.  There is a great stamp on offer as a prize to be picked at random this week so well worth having a go I'd say and good luck everyone!

Tags or Toppers

The theme of the challenge this week on Make my Monday is Tags/Toppers and I think this card should qualify.  The topper was stamped with Stampin' Up Apothecary Art stamp set and cut out with the matching die set.  Flowers were coloured with alcohol pens and the larger layer of the topper has been embossed using the letterpress technique - two little banners form a 'ribbon' behind the topper.

A 'Case-d' Card for Snippet Challenge

This card was CASE-d from Sue Wilson's blog and she says these 'buckle' style designs are a favourite.  I certainly like the style but found it wasn't particularly easy to line up the various frames and glue them in place without either getting them skew whiff or getting glue everywhere - no doubt she has it off to a fine art!!  Although I started with new pieces of card I did use up some of the snippets for the smaller elements so guess it will fit the Pixie Snippets challenge this week - there is certainly lots of cutting involved.  Details of items used are below.

Background paper - Prima
Dies - Sue Wilson California and Austrian Collections
Corners - Whimsy dies
Sentiment - Stamp by Stampin' Up

French Connection

What is the French connection you might ask - well I've used dies from Sue Wilson's French collection sets to make this card which is sort of in her style but not so elaborate. (How does she find time to do all the pricking around her borders?).  Hers must take absolutely ages to make because this one took long enough with all the various die cuts and embossing required.  A non crafting friend asked where I bought all the 'bits and pieces' which I put on my cards, having no idea that I actually either stamp, colour and/or cut them out myself.  Details of items used are below.

Background - Creative Expressions Pinpoint embossing folder Floral Brocade
Dies - Sue Wilson's French Connection Auvergne and Provence
Greeting - computer generated and punched with a Stampin' Up oval - just the right shape and size
Spray - Vinery die with Faux Quilled Blooms dies

A Sympathy Card

This card is a combination of stamping and die cutting using fairly subdued colours in keeping with the sentiment using a mixture of dies from Tonic (corners) and Spellbinders for the circles.  The stamp is from a set by Stampin' Up.

Pixie Snippets Challenge 138

There aren't too many snippets on my card for the Pixie snippets challenge this week because I wanted to show most of the background which I made using a mask to emboss.  I inked one side of the mask with Versamark before running it through the Big shot, then added clear embossing powder and heated.  The next stage was to choose three colours of distress ink to colour the piece.  Once this was done it really seemed a shame to cover it up so I rooted around in my bits and pieces file and found a stamped greeting and the decorative doily mat then looked in my scraps box and found a piece of matching blue card which was cut for an extra layer to produce this fairly minimalistic card which is nice and bright for a fairly dull morning.

Background - inked with Distress inks
Mask used - Special Touch triple scallop
Doily - Marianne die
Greeting - free stamp (from magazine) on Nellie die shape

Raining Flowers

The stamp used on this card is from a set which has long been retired but there are some nice dual stamping designs to choose from.  I started by die cutting some layers using Sue Wilson dies, stamped the flower and cut it out with an oval die.  A computer sentiment was added and a stamped and punched butterfly.

Shaped layers - Sue Wilson California collection dies Decorative Frames set B
Oval - Spellbinder die
Butterfly - Butterfly Pot-pourri from Stampin' Ip with matching punch
Flower - from Raining Flowers set (retired) by Stampin' Up
Sentiment - computer generated on Spellbinder fancy tag