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