Merry Christmas - Robin's Wishes

For the second Christmas card for this year, I kept the same layout format as the one for that Mischievous Cat card.

I used the Silhouette Cameo to cut the circles and draw a few snowflakes using a doodlebat font and a silver pen. This time I used the 'Random Dots' embossing folder by Echo Park. I thought the randomly spaced and sized dots mimic snow nicely.

I added a little ink blending to the areas directly behind the birds on the A2 cardbase and mounted the panel with foam to the card front. The birds were also attached with foam so I could perch them in the holes. I like the dimension this gives while still ending up with a flat card that is sturdy and easy to mail. All the images were coloured using coloured pencils and I added a little bit of glitter to the birds' hats for festive cheer.

For the inside I used a 'basic' sentiment and image. This cat looks so very pleased with itself. I coloured it to look like the cat in the house this is going to...
A strip of washi tape finishes the bottom of the card off nicely and carries on the theme of 'presents' while a bit of glitter on the sentiment's heart shape adds sparkle.

The images and sentiment are from the Penny Black 'Winter Wonderland' set.

I have used this set many times over, with a few projects showcased here on the blog. The images are also very good for decorating writing paper. I would like to try using the birds to make fabric too. But that may have to wait for another year!
So many ideas, so little time!

Merry Christmas - Mischievous Cat

For once I thought I would start my Christmas cards when I'm inspired and not wait until closer to Christmas. So this year I had several done by the end of October. I'll be posting these once a week for the month of November.

First up - this mischievous cat, after some thought, had a great idea...

I cut the circles from white cardstock and used the 'Polka Dots' embossing folder by Cuttlebug to give it the delightful texture. I did some basic colouring on the stamped images using coloured pencils. Then I mounted the panel on the front of an A2 cardbase with foam for added dimension.

The cat images are from 'Nine Lives' by Penny Black.   I enjoy using this set for all kinds of cards and for decorating writing paper. The expressions are priceless!

And this is what that cat got up to...as to be expected, right?

I used strips of washi tape to decorate the top and bottom of the inside of the card. All the colouring was done with coloured pencils.

The Christmas tree is from the Penny Black 'Holly-Jolly' set

I used this set for another card I made last year : -  'Critter Christmas'

Winter Snow Fun

This stamp set -  Winter Wonderland by Penny Black - just begged to be made into a slider card!

I coloured the images with coloured pencils and trimmed the little hedgehog out with scissors. The embossed snowflakes were done with the 'old style' Fiskars embossing plates. I find these very useful for adding selective embossing, exactly where I want them to be. I also drew in more snowflakes to match the flakes in the stamp to complete the image.

I cut the slot for the slider with the Silhouette Cameo. As a weight I used a dime. I like that it is smaller and thinner than a penny. I trimmed the foam to fit the slider nicely - snug enough to add support to the cardstock but wide enough to allow the dime to slide easily. I attached the coin to the little hedgehog image with foam tape. 

The little hedgehog now slides and sometime swirls down the slope. Every time it goes down the bank it ends up differently at the bottom. Which I think is pretty true to life. I must be a big kid but I have sent the little fella down many many times...hehe

On the inside is a bunny friend who ended tummy first in the snow... leaving lots of space for a message...or even a short winter poem!

I added little spots of glitter glue snowflakes on the outside and inside of the card .

The card turned out to be most enjoyable to make...and the critters are very cute indeed. I hope the little ones this card is intended for, will enjoy watching them have a little snow fun.

Last year I used the robins from this stamp set to make decorations for the tree - Tree Decor Wood Slices

Let the snow fun begin!

Flying Away - Birthday Card

A birthday card in warm colours, send with warm wishes!

I started with the brown cat. And then added the warm colours on the balloons...and decided to keep the rest all in the yellows through reds. I'm so pleased with how this one turned out!

A simple greeting inside leaves room for a personal note...

 A little detail there of the paper ribbon.

I popped the tag up with foam tape and I like the dimension it gives to the card.

The cat stamp is from Penny Black - Bubbly

The sentiment is from Stampendous - Happy Messages

and the balloons are from an old Provo Crafts set.

Have a happy week creating!

Tree Decor - Wood Slices

A casual remark from a friend got me thinking...and playing.

And this was the result :

My friend commented on how perfect a log, in the bucket of firewood, would be for making wood burning ornaments. It did not take me long to ask hubby to slice the 'log' for me! However I found that the soft center of the wood (Big Leaf Maple) was hard to avoid and the darker areas really bugged me.
So I broke out the stamps and although the soft bits are still visible, I find it less obvious. Of course these pictures show them huge. The actual slices are only 1 7/8" tall (46mm), so in reality you have to look closely to see the imperfect bits.
This mouse image is 1.25" tall. (I touched up the black on the eyes and other parts of the image, after I looked at this picture. Now the lines and details are clear and crisp again)

I stamped them using Stazon ink and did the colouring with colour pencils.

I added a bit of glitter glue to some areas as well and embossing powders with glitter. For the puffy details on the birds' hats I used Tulip Puffy Dimensional Fabric Paint.

I'm very pleased with the results and will be keeping eyes open for more suitable logs for future decor items! It would be good to find slightly larger slices as there are so many images that would work very well for these.

Stamps used are all by Penny Black

The mouse is from Holly Jolly

The robin trio from 'Winter Wonderland'

The hedgehogs are from 'Every Which Way'

Fun Gift Bag For Knitting

I'm not sure whether I get more pleasure from making gifts or from wrapping them!

After finishing the knitting - a lovely hat, the pattern for which you can find HERE

Next I stamped a piece of kraft paper, using Penny Black stamps, from the 'Nine Lives' set. This set is a favourite of mine...the heart is from another unrelated set.

Next I folded a gift bag using an empty cereal box that was a good size for the hat.

I folded it flat so that it looks like a gift bag

And in went the hat, wrapped in tissue paper

Some holes in the top of the bag allowed me to tie ribbon through and attach a gift tag to.

For the gift tag I used an image from the Penny Black set 12 Days Of Christmas. This set cracks me up! I could not find it on the Penny Black site, so I think it may be discontinued. The link is to Amazon.

Seeing as the project features knitting, I thought the 'Turtle Dove' perfect for my gift!

I sure hope my friend likes and enjoys her gift!

Critter Christmas.

It is that time of the year - Christmas card time. Sadly I find myself making less and less cards all the time. Somehow my friends are not Christmas card senders. Rather a pity that!

But the person who this card is going to, will I know, really appreciate it!

I kept it all very flat as it needs to be mailed internationally, but it opens up and still becomes a decorative piece.

All the papers are from the Recollections 'Sugar Plum' paper pad which I picked up from my local Michaels.

On the left front of this gate fold card I stamped the heart for the sentiment with red ink and embossed is with red sparkle embossing powder. Since the little hedgehog was still debating the tree decor, I added sequin 'balls' to the tree from him.

This fun image of an imminent disaster made me smile while colouring and cutting it. So cute! I stamped the image onto a patterned paper background as well. That way I did not need to cut all the uneven lines and details around the edges. I also wrapped the tree with gold embroidery thread and added a bit of gold glitter to the star.

On the inside of the left flap I added the little mouse bringing a present to put under the tree.

I added a heart shaped paper clip to the front to keep the card nicely closed for mailing.

I could add a note to the inside of the card, or to the back panel.


I`m entering this card to the current AI Challenge 172 - Be Merry

I used images from the Penny Black 'Holly Jolly' Set

and the sentiment on the front is from the Penny Black 'Winter Wonderland' set

Birthday Wrap Cards

When I received a parcel wrapped in this brightly coloured paper, I knew I had found the 'designer' paper for my next card!

All I needed to add was a stamp or two and pinking shears.

For the first one I used an image from Penny Black's 'Bubbly' Those furry friends are having waaaay too much fun celebrating!

For the next one I chose another stamp from Penny Black's 'Bubbly'

And for this last card I used an image from 'Every Which Way' also by Penny Black

On this one the wrapping paper shows some creases, but I really don't think that matters, do you?

I added an (older) Provocraft  Happy Birthday stamp to the side, popped the balloon up with foam tape and attached the tag to the card with a raffia style bow.

I'm making good progress on building up a good supply of cards and enjoying every minute of it!