Christmas Wreath

Yesterday I spent some time die cutting a selection of seasonal bits and pieces so that they are ready to hand to make a few cards today.  In the end I only had time to make the one because I had the offer of being taken out shopping - nothing exciting, just food but it was an outing.

I started by cutting a square on which to put the wreath - doubled up one in brown and one in kraft - then I assembled some of the flowers and leaves before adding a bow and the sentiment.  One more card for the box but still plenty more to make.

Square - Noble pierced squares die by Sue Wilson
Wreath and most of the flowers/leaves - Sizzix die
Bow and a few odd small flowers - a freebie die and some punched 'waste' from a border die
Sentiment - from Netty's cards on punched shapes by Stampin' Up.

Christmas Joy

I've settled into making some Christmas cards mostly using up pieces of backing paper which I've had for some years and of course delving into my boxes of snippets.  I was rather caught by surprise when I die cut this large holly sprig because when I bought it I'd not realised that it cut the leaves out with separate outline, veins and the inner parts of the leaves.  However I found another shade of green to cut out another one so that I could mix and match and helpfully the berries are separate as well.  I had thought the whole thing would cut with maybe embossed details for the veining - that will teach me to look more closely in the shop!!  The 'joy' die was much more straightforward to use.  A piece of paper with music and holly sprigs was used as a background and I've kept the whole thing fairly flat for posting.

Background - paper from Craftwork Cards a while ago
Dies - from The Works

Nativity Scene

I decided I should get on with some Christmas cards as the season is fast approaching and could well overtake me if I'm not careful.  As this one has used up a few of my snippets I'm taking it along to the Playground where Di has made two floral cards using the stamps which are the prize this time around.  The die set for my card came as a magazine freebie and with the camel and palm trees could be used for occasions other than Christmas - think holidays in the sun.

I started with a snippet of purple card which had Pixie powders applied (they work just as well on dark card as they do on light), then found more snippets of grey and kraft.  These were cut using a circular die before cutting with the nativity scene dies.  A larger circle was then cut along with a kraft frame into which the various layers were placed.  The word 'peace' was stamped onto a snippet of cream card and I felt this was all this card needed.  The image and frame were popped onto a square card and I nearly forgot to mention my rummage through the metallic card snippets box where I found the tiniest piece of shiny copper to die cut the star

Circles - Noble Pierced circle dies from Sue Wilson
Scene - freebie die set from Simply Cards and papercraft magazine
Stamp - from a freebie set, punched with Stampin' Up small oval punch