Snowflakes are ...

The die used here is quite large and it has a stamp set to go with it not much else is needed to make a card.  I cut the word from Centura pearl card and the rectangular layer from a dark red pearl card.  The little sentence was stamped onto some matching white card before cutting out a banner shape.  I simply added a die cut snowflake and backed everything with a piece of snowflake design paper which I printed from a CD which I've had for many years.  My collection of Christmas cards is growing which has to be good.

Background printed from Season's Greetings CD Artylicious (no longer available I imagine)
Rectangle die - Wonky stitches rectangles from Creative Dies
Snowflake Word - die and stamp set by Creative Expressions
Snowflake - Docraft die
Banner - Creative Expressions die Sue Wilson

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

Pixie Snippets #338

I'm just making a quick dash into the Playground - between the raindrops and falling leaves - such a rough night and today isn't much better here.  As always there is a lovely prize on offer and Di has made a great card for inspiration as well as giving us updates about the newest furry playmate.

My card uses a piece of rather garish background paper which I toned down with some gesso before over stamping with various swirls.  The rest of the card is made from snippets of card which have been die cut and the flowers utilised a two stage stamp set which I particularly like.  The fancy shape only comes in one size as a die so I cut the darker one in half vertically before popping the pieces  carefully behind the stamped layer.

Swirls - various stamps from Creative Expressions
Flowers - stamp set from Stampin' Up
Border - die from The Works
Flower panel and sentiment - dies from Stampin' Up

Apologies for Being Missing - Again!

I'd not realised just how long it is since I last posted a picture on here until a friend pointed out it was five weeks - how bad is that eh???  Anyway I made a rare visit into town yesterday and of course had to glance at the magazines - in fact I picked one up, put it back and then would you believe picked it up again but it does have a handy set of Christmas dies even though I don't actually NEED any more seasonal 'stuff'.  As there are lots of small dies in the set I was able to use up quite a few of my snippets to take along to the Playground which I've missed for a couple of times so I'm not sure if I'll be allowed in. As usual there is a great card for inspiration and a super prize on offer for a lucky person.  If you love dogs it is worth a visit because there is a new cute furry friend who has arrived to live at the Playground - aaahh!!!

I started by finding a snippet of blue card and a smaller one of white pearl which I die cut into a snowy hill to add to the blue layer.  I then used the jar die to cut out an aperture which was backed with another white snippet (embossed with falling snow design).  The jar has an outline die and an inner one so I was able to cut a silver frame to pop into the aperture.  I then set about cutting out some gingerbread men, snowman, trees, a label with wording and holly all using some really tiny snippets which were a fiddle to glue into place and, being out of practice, has taken me most of the morning but at last it is finished!!

Snowy Hill - die from Lawn Fawn
Embossed snow background - Sizzix die for Stampin' Up
All other Dies - from set given free with Die Cutting Essentials magazine

A Little Birdie...

...told me.  Actually two little birdies chatting together on this quick birthday card using up various scraps of card and paper just lying around.  The birds were stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured using water based pens before being cut into an oval shape.  A second, larger oval was die cut to match the odd piece of card which had been coloured with Pixie Powders - this in turn was layered onto some matching paper which was a magazine freebie.  The sentiments were stamped onto the 'Pixie' layer and all stamping was made so much easier by using the Misti positioning gizmo.

I felt I needed a break from the stitching efforts of the past couple of weeks and a bit of stamping and colouring just did the trick.  I knew that if I didn't immediately put the birds onto a card they would join the other 'stuff' just loitering around waiting to be used!!

Birds - Crazy Birds Tim Holtz
Ovals - Tonic dies
Wording - free stamps from a magazine gift from way back