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.