Ho Ho Ho Santa!

Hello,

I'm pressing on with the Christmas cards and getting inspiration from challenges. I matted and layered some white embossed Kanban Christmasy card onto red card then on to an A5 card blank. I found Kanban Santa and Rudolph toppers which I've had for ages, and die cut 2 red Hs and Os and 1 green H and O using a Tonic die which a glued onto white card. Then I punched some red and some green   scalloped  circles to mount them on to. I arranged them on the card and finished it off with a red ribbon bow which was decorated with white Christmas trees.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
CHNC Challenge 239 Ho! Ho! Ho!

If you'd like to leave a comment that would be great.

Let it snow on vellum

Hello,

I don't usually use vellum or acetate much but I was inspired to give it a go when I saw the 52 Christmas Card Countdown challenge. So I embossed some white vellum using a Crafter's Companion snowflake embossing folder and secured it to silver pearl card using some American Crafts glitter brads. I layered some Tatter Lace snow snowflake paper on to blue mirror card, and them both onto a white card base. I cut the Tonic Let it snow sentiment and the Rocco snowflake out of blue mirror card and silver holographic card and layered the blue on to the white ones. I then glued them to the vellum panel and secured that on to the card with foam pads.

I'm entering this into the 52 Christmas Card Countdown challenge: Embossing on Vellum.

Thanks for stopping by, any comments are gratefully received.

Anniversary card

Hello there,

it was some good friend's anniversary and this is the card I made, it was based on the Butterfly tied Z-fold card I made in April. I used a cream card blank and folded the front back in half. I cut gold paper to fit the front fold back and the inside of the card, then I embossed ivory card using the Tonic Amelia folder cut to fit the gold panels, layered them up and stuck them on the card. I used the Tonic Affections Square Base and Mrs & Mrs insert cut from the ivory and gold card and matted and layered them up. I used super sticky tape to glue the ribbon where the topper would cover it, then used foam pads to stick them to the left side of the card. I cut 3 corner flourishes using the Art Nouveau die and glued them to the corners of the card, and created a sentiment for the other corner.

I also decorated the inside of the card and found a suitable verse to use.

My friends loved the card, I hope you do too, please leave a comment if you'd like to.

Thank you card with a cat

Hello,

this is a quick thank you card that I made for an auntie who loves cats! I found a cat image for the centre of the card and then chose blue card to co-ordinate with it. I used the Tonic Thank You Sentiment die set, it's part of a general set which I have used a lot as it's really flexible as you can layer it up with foam pads or keep it fairly flat by just using glue which is good for posting. I started with a 14 cm x 14 cm blue and white dotty card blank. I cut the large and medium layers from pale blue card which I left plain, and also white card which I cut the pattern into, and just layered them up together. Then to finish I cut the cat image using the small die so it matched the edges of the other layers. Auntie was really pleased with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas - with a gold bow!

Hello,
For this card I used a cream 5 x 7 landscape card, the cream backing card is from Kanban, again bits left over from other cards, and the holly paper from a Bo Bunny magazine freebie. All were matted and layered on to green mirror card, I created the Merry Christmas sentiment from Washi tape, then finished it off with a gold organza bow and ribbon to match the gold in the sentiment. This was quick and easy so I may well make more of this style but using papers and ribbon in other colours.

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
My Time to Craft Challenge Blog: Christmas in July
Pile it on: Christmas/Winter in July

Thanks for stopping by, any comments are gratefully received.

Deck the halls Christmas card

Hello,
getting into the swing of Christmas cards so thought I'd make a couple more. I found the Deck the Halls dies cut in my bits and bobs box so decided to start with that, it's a Tonic Sentiments die I've had for a couple of years. I also used the Tonic layering squares to cut the mats for the sentiment, really handy to have the basics like this rather then relying on cutting with a trimmer or guillotine! The cream backing card is Kanban, again bits left over from other cards, and the paper from a Bo Bunny magazine freebie. All were matted and layered on to green mirror card, then onto a cream A5 card blank using the Die Cuttin' Divas sketch, then finished off with a poinsettia and red pearl.

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas: Christmas in July
My Time to Craft Challenge Blog: Christmas in July
Pile it on: Christmas/Winter in July
Tuesday Throwdown: Christmas in July

Thanks for stopping by, any comments are gratefully received.

65th birthday card for a female friend

Hello,
this is the birthday card I made for a close friend, it was a special birthday so I wanted to make a special card. I embossed some white card using the Tonic Annabel embossing folder and matted and layered it on to gold mirror card and then on to an 8 x 8 gold card blank. I cut the Tonic Happy Birthday Pansy Topper die set from beige card and inserted a topper into it, added a discrete 6 and 5 to mark the birthday and added it to the centre of the card. Then I punched a butterfly from the same card as the topper and also from some cream and beige patterned paper, layered them up, stuck them on the card and added a gold pearl. I cut Fanciful Flourishes from the cream and beige patterned paper, glued them to the card then added a white and gold organza bow to finish it off. The Tonic Topper and Die sets are really useful for creating cards, I've used them quite a bit already.

I'm pleased with the card and hope you like it too. Please leave a comment if you'd like to.

Create a Card birthday cards

Hello there,
I had some birthday cards to make so thought I'd have a go at using the Crafter's Companion Create a Card dies to create a couple of easel cards and a basic card.

The first one was a 90th birthday card made from cream, pink and pale green card. I used embossed cream card for the card blank and cut the Enchanted Create a Card from cream card then used Spun Sugar distress ink to colour through to the embossed areas. I matted the die cut onto pink card then green card and created the easel. I added the name and age, cut using a Tattered Lace from pink card die, to the centre die cut. For the stopper I die cut a second centre die from the Create a Card die and matted and layered it onto a pink mat, then added a pink rose and sentiments cut from the Tattered Lace Cherished Circles dies.



The second card was for a friend's 40th birthday and was created in a similar way using the same Create a Card die. The colour theme for this was cream and dark teal.

The final card was a basic card made with cream and gold card and using the Decadence die with a Craftwork Cards sentiment in the middle.

I hope you like the different cards made from these Create a Card dies.

Lilac birthday dress

Hello,

This is a card I made a while ago but had forgotten to post! I started with a cream 8 x 8 card blank, matted and layered some lilac card and then some backing card from a Kanban kit I've had for ages. I cut the Tonic Tres Belle square die from the same lilac card, then the Mannequin from a paler lilac card. I cut her dress from the darker lilac card, added some tulle and layered them up. I added 3 lilac roses and a sentiment, and a single rose with tulle plus some gems to finish it off. This was the first time I'd tried using fabric in this way and was quite pleased with the result.

I hope you like the card, if you'd like to leave a comment that would be great.

Christmas bears

Hello,
my second card, again using up my stash.

This is a stepper card from a Kanban kit from a couple of years ago which came preprinted with foiled snowflakes, plus I added on extra snowflakes and a sentiment from the kit. The bears topper is just something I had lying around in my stash, but looks quite cute and will be ideal for some friends who are bear mad. As a finishing touch I added some gems to the centres of the snowflakes.

Thanks for stopping by, any comments are gratefully received.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:
The Glory of Christmas: Feature a Creature
My Time to Craft Challenge Blog: Christmas in July
Pile it On: Christmas/Winter in July
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra: Anything goes

First Christmas card!

Hello there,
I thought I'd better make a start on my Christmas cards so I dug out my Christmas stash to have a rummage through, flicked through some magazines and checked out some challenge blogs for inspiration. I made this one with a topper I'd had lying around for ages, and used some cute patterned backing paper with reindeer and a sleigh from a Bo Bunny paper pad which came free with a magazine to layer it on to. I matted and layered them on to gold mirror card and then a red card blank. I finished it off with a few poinsettias - one of the most famous Christmas flowers. One down - only a few dozen more still to go!

Thanks for stopping by, if you'd like to leave a comment that would be great.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:
Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog: Traditional Christmas Colours
My Time to Craft Challenge Blog: Christmas in July
Jingle Belles: Old-fashioned Christmas
Pile it on: Christmas/Winter in July
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra: Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge

Birthday wishes card

Hello,
I decided to look at my bit boxes and see what I could make with what was there left over from other cards when I'd embossed or die cut card that I'd not used in the end. I found some pale yellow card which was embossed with butterflies, a couple of butterflies punched using a Tonic punch, and the small centre die cut from the Tonic Decorative Wreath Rings die. I matted and layered the embossed card on to gold paper which matched the butterflies and wreath, then on to the same pale yellow card and finally on to a Kraft card blank. I added the wreath to the card with a Craftwork Cards sentiment in the middle then layered up the butterflies.

I'm quite pleased with the end result so I'm going to see what else I can make from my left over bits and bobs. If you'd like to leave a comment and let me know what you think that would be great.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks: Clean and simple
Seize the Birthday: Anything goes

Cricketing bear

Hello there,
Another male card to make but as this friend is cricket mad I decided to use that as the theme. I went to one of my "go to" birthday dies - the Tonic Happy Birthday Sentiment Die set for the happy birthday but combined it with the Thinking of You die set outer frame. I used a 6 x 6 kraft card base, cut the outer frame in cream card and the happy birthday frame in green card chosen the match the topper. This was a character from the Forever Friends Retro Collection Male CD.

The Tonic series of Sentiment Dies are so handy for making a quick card, I use them a lot. I hope you like the card, any comments are greatly received.

Someone special card

Hello there,

For this card I started with a cream A5 landscape card blank and decided to use a paper pad I bought a couple of years ago but hadn't used as I like it so much - as you do. I chose 2 co-coordinating sheets and cut 2 panels which I layered on to Kraft card, then layered the small panel on to the left side of the large one and put them on the card blank. I used the Tonic Swirly Frame die to cut a mat from Kraft card and then the detail of the same die from cream card and layered them up. I cut the Someone Special sentiment from Kraft card using the Tonic Art Nouveau die set and glued it to the middle of the frame, added gold pearls and put it in the middle of the card. To finish it off I punched a butterfly and a heart from the patterned paper, glued them to the card and added a gold pearl to both of them.

The layout was from a Die Cuttin' Divas sketch challenge back in June which I'd planned to enter but ordinary life got in the way of my crafting so didn't get time to make a card! I normally do square cards so I collect A5 sketches for inspiration as I find them harder, and thought this would be really versatile for many occasions. Not sure yet who I'll send this card to but hopefully the person who receives the card will like it, I hope you do too. If you'd like to leave a comment that would be great.

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
Cut It Up Challenge Blog: Words
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge

65th birthday card for a man

Hello there,
men can be difficult to make cards for and this card was for a close friend's big birthday so I wanted something a bit special but not making a big deal of the 65th birthday. Fleur de lis are a bit more masculine so I decided to make that the theme. I started with an 8 x 8 x antique gold card blank and matted and layered it with red card and white card embossed with a fleur de lis design. I used the Tonic Florid circle cut from red card and backed with antique gold card, then cut the Tonic Happy birthday Pop-Up Sentiment die from red card, backed it with white card and popped it on top. I cut the middle of the Tonic Dotty Lace Circle die from red and put a gold edged, transparent 65 in the middle - subtle but still marking the big birthday.

Hope you like it - if you'd like to leave a comment that would be great.

Black and white anniversary card

Hello,

been a while since I posted as we've had more work going on in the house so I've been a bit distracted. I had made a card for my hubby's anniversary based on a sketch in Quick Cards made easy which I had submitted and which was published in the May issue, but just not had chance to post it.  I used an 8 x 8 white card blank, silver mirri, some silver patterned backing paper and black card. I used the Tonic Delicate Lattice die and matching punch, a heart cut using the Tonic Affections First Crush die, the Affections All My Love die-cut as a sentiment and a flower using the Bellus Buttercup die and the small Delicate Daisy die in the centre.

My hubby liked it and I hope you do too, if you'd like to leave a comment that would be great.