Christmas - the Last Batch

Hi everyone, I sat down one day this week to make a final “production line” batch of CAS Christmas cards for hand delivery and managed to produce the following fundamentally similar one layer cards with the main differences being the colours and sentiments. 

I stamped the baubles on each card using various shades of Versafine Clair, then stamped the holly branches using two tone stamping. I hand drew the bauble strings with fineliner pen, shaded the baubles using Zig pens and white pastel pencil, then added sparkle with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. I added a little background stamping in grey, then stamped the sentiments in black. I added white Posca and Signo pen highlights to the baubles and holly, and a sparkly outline to each bauble to finish. Sadly the photos don’t catch the sparkle at all .. such dull and miserable weather we’ve been having! 

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE22 Winter Wishes, TE21 Holly and Berries, TE18 Decorations; TE 11 Background Elements (card 6); sentiments -  Woodware Christmas Sparkle (card 2); Visible Image Poinsettia Grunge (card 4); Uniko Christmas Wishes (cards 3 & 5);

Media: Versafine Clair (Bali Blue, Charming Pink, Verdant, Summertime, Baby Pink, Arctic, Lilac Bloom, Very Peri, Hawthorn Rose, Avocado, Shady Lane, Morning Mist, Nocturne); pastel pencil (white); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white); Signo pen (white).

Here’s one where the baubles and holly were stamped using Distress Oxides rather than VFC.

Stamps: As above;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers; Mowed Lawn); all other media as above.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Card 1 (above)

As You Like It - Anything Christmassy (2nd entry)

Daring Cardmakers - Word Prompt - Happy

Inspired By #315 - Christmas

Simon Says -  Celebrating 20 Years of Distress #SSS20YearsofDistress

Simply Clean & Simple (December) - Anything CAS Goes (2nd entry)

Card 2

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Theme (Sparkle)

Creative Crafters #83 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments #265 - Sparkle and Shine (3rd entry)

Dragonfly Dreams (December) - Christmas (3rd entry)

Sweet Stampin’ - Christmassy Creations (2nd entry)

Card 3

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Any Winter Holiday (2nd entry)

The Holly and Ivy #174 - Anything Christmas Goes (3rd entry)

Krafty Chicks #747 - CAS

Little Red Wagon #787 - Merry Christmas

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2450 - Anything Goes

Card 4

Creatalicious #284 - Anything Goes with option Christmas (2nd entry)

Creative Crafting Uncles #60 - Christmas (2nd entry)

Dream Valley #327 - Anything Goes

Sparkles Christmas #167 - Feature a Christmas Song or Carol 

(Deck the Halls)

Card 5

Christmas Crafts All Year Round (December) - Bows, Gifts or Decorations (3rd entry)

Dream Factory #134 - Christmas Again! (3rd entry)

Pearly Sparkles #102 - Christmas

{PIN}spirational #320 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Card 6

Crafty Calendar (December) - Christmas

Peace On Earth #78 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Create, Share, Inspire (Nov/Dec) - Christmas/Festive Project (6th entry)

Word Art Wednesday #679/680 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Phew! As much as I love making Christmas cards, I think I’ve had enough for this year now, so apart from my darling husband’s card that’s my Christmas makes finished for 2024.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Winter Wishes

Hi everyone, with Christmas hurtling towards us I am now at the stage of making a few last minute cards for hand delivery - here’s another of the fairly simple cards I managed to make in a recent crafty session.

I created a one layer card blank using a sheet of 30cm x 15cm Pink Frog super smooth card, so I could stamp and blend inks straight onto it. I created a moon and  softly defined sky by blending lilac dye ink around a circle mask, then stamped a tree three times - once in Nocturne VFC, then again using 1st & 2nd generation Monarch. I added a couple of snow drifts using my Mini Hill masks and blended Elements ink, then stamped background wording and number 25 in Morning Mist to add a bit of interest. I added some white and sparkly highlights to the moon, trees and snow, then stamped the main sentiment in Monarch. I finished off by adding some white Posca snow spatters. Very straightforward, but I was pleased with how it turned out.

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE23 Winter Delights, TE22 Christmas Wishes;

Media: Spectrum Noir Harmony dye ink (Pale Fig); Lavinia Elements ink (Graphite); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Monarch, Morning Mist); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Signo pen (white); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia Mini Hill masks and circle masks. 

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #117 - Anything Christmas Goes (4th entry)

Crafter’s Cafe #314 - Anything Goes with option Monochrome (2nd entry)

Creative Inspirations (December) - Let It Snow! (2nd entry)

Everybody Art #570 - The Letter W (winter)

Four Seasons (December) - Anything Goes Winter (3rd entry)

The Holly and Ivy #174 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Create, Share, Inspire (Nov/Dec) - Christmas/Festive Project (5th entry)

Word Art Wednesday #679/680 - Anything Goes 

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Snow Dome

Hi everyone, Christmas is fast approaching now … how are your preparations coming along? I have mostly finished making my Christmas cards - I just need to make a few more CAS ones for the neighbours and my husband’s card which I always seem to leave until the last minute! This is the last of this year’s posted cards for other close family/friends, which is for my husband’s aunt. It’s my first outing for the Moon Jar sticker stencil to make a dome, though I have previously used the base when making a smaller round snow globe here.

I cut a piece of white stamping card and attached the sticker stencil “outer” then used the “inner” to mask the base which I shaded with Scorched Timber Distress Oxide. I then created the dome with blended Elements ink. I added a few snowdrifts with blended Elements and mini hill masks, then stamped the tree + Annie and Edward. I added a star to the top of the tree stamped in Versamark and heat embossed gold, then added mini holly round the top and base of the dome, and a couple of fairy foragers. I coloured the tree with fine brushstrokes of Pine and Olive Elements topped with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. I drew baubles in the fairies’ hands with black fineliner, then coloured the tree baubles and holly berries with Posca sparkle pens, and the fairy wings with Sakura stardust pens. I added a few white Signo and Posca highlights, then my sentiments in black, highlighted with Sakura Stardust pen. 

I couldn’t resist adding a couple of tiny robins which I stamped in Sand Dune then coloured with Zig pens and white Signo pen - I rather wished I hadn’t done that afterwards as I need quite a bit more practice colouring them but never mind! I added some Posca snowflakes falling and gathering at the base of the dome, and after matting onto a green frame and C5 card blank I added a little red bow to finish.

It’s another sparkly one …

Stamps: Lavinia Christmas Joy, Annie and Edward, Fairy Foragers, Mini Holly, Small Robins, Seasonal Words, Christmas Greetings;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Scorched Timber); Lavinia Elements inks (Della Blue, Pine, Olive); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Shady Lane, Rainforest, Acorn, Sand Dune); Versamark; WOW gold metallic embossing powder; Posca sparkle pens (red, yellow, green); Posca pen (white); Sakura Stardust pens (red, yellow, clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens;

Tools: Lavinia sticker stencils set 9 - Moon Jars, White Orbs stencil, acetate Mini Hill masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

As You Like It - Anything Christmassy

Cardz 4 Galz #240 - Christmas 

Christmas Crafts All Year Round (December) - Bows, Gifts or Decorations (2nd entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (December) - Use a Stencil

Creatalicious #284 - Anything Goes with option Christmas

Creative Crafting Uncles #60 - Christmas and/or Happy New Year

Creative Inspirations (December) - Let It Snow! (2nd entry)

Creative Moments #265 - Sparkle and Shine (2nd entry)

Double Trouble #181 - Anything Goes with option Use a Bow (2nd entry)

Festive Fridays (December) - Christmas (2nd entry)

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #12 2024 - Anything Fantasy Goes (2nd entry)

Inkspirational #331 - Use Stencils

Lavinia Creative Challenge (December) - Snow Is Falling (2nd entry)

My Time To Craft #549 - Something Snow Related

Peace On Earth #78 - Anything Christmas Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas (2nd entry)

Sadly some of our Christmas preps have been a bit derailed due to the storm damage last weekend, so my husband had some painting and fence mending to do and consequently we are a bit late getting our Christmas decs up this year. Nonetheless it’s starting to feel pretty Christmassy now!

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

The most wonderful time of the year

Hi everyone, today’s cards are from a small batch of CAS one layer cards I made for hand delivery. I made them very similar except that I kept one completely CAS, and the other I added a bit more background stamping … not sure which I like the best! I think though I may be making a few more of these as the bauble stamp is ideal for quick makes.

I created a one layer card blank by scoring Pink Frog super smooth 30cm x 15cm card, then stamped the baubles using Strawberry and Green Oasis VFC. I stamped the foliage several times in the top corner using a mix of Shady Lane and Rainforest VFC, then shaded the baubles using Zig pens and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. I hand drew the bauble strings with a fine liner, then added some background stamping to card 2 in Morning Mist VFC and the sentiment in Nocturne.  

Here’s a closeup of each card.

Card 1

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE18 Decorations; AALL & Create #806 Fallen Leaves; Uniko Christmas Wishes;

Media: Versafine Clair (Strawberry, Green Oasis, Shady Lane, Rainforest, Nocturne); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Posca pen (white); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear).

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #117 - Anything Christmas Goes (3rd entry)

Cardz 4 Guyz #362 - Holiday/Christmas Card or Tag

Christmas Kickstart #93 - If It’s Christmassy Link It Up! (3rd entry)

C.R.A.F.T. #744 - Christmas - The Last Stretch

Krafty Chicks #746 - Christmas

Make My Monday #240 - A CAS Winter Card

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #249 - Anything Goes

Simply Clean & Simple (December) - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas

Card 2

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE18 Decorations, TE22 Christmas Wishes, TE 11 Background Elements; AALL & Create #806 Fallen Leaves; Uniko Christmas Wishes;

Media: As per card 1 + Versafine Clair (Morning Mist).

Challenges I would like to enter:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round (December) - Bows, Gifts or Decorations

Creative Moments #265 - Sparkle and Shine

Daring Cardmakers - Bright

Double D - Christmas Ornaments (2nd entry)

The Holly and Ivy #174 - Anything Christmas Goes

Sweet Stampin’ - Christmas Creations

Tracy Evans FB Create, Share, Inspire (Nov/Dec) - Christmas/Festive Project (4th entry)

Word Art Wednesday #677/678 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

That’s all from me for today - take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Birthday Flower

Hi everyone, today I would like to share the card I made for my oldest schoolfriend’s birthday. I decided to have a play with one of my favourite older Tracy Evans stamps, along with a matching teeny tag from a set I recently acquired in the sale specifically to match the larger flower.

As luck would have it I used a number of snippets for this card, and Sarn and Di have two fabulous mega challenges going on over the course of December over at the Snippets Playground, with surprise festive bundle prizes on offer on top of the usual hot chocolate and mulled wine in the tree house! What a fab way to celebrate the festive season! ❤️

I cut a piece of white stamping card 6.5” x 4.5” and created a background by daubing Distress Oxides onto an acrylic block masked with tape to the correct size, spritzing with water then removing the tape and stamping onto the card. I stamped the focal flower, then stamped again onto a separate snippet of card. I coloured the flower head and leaves with Zig pens, added silver and white Posca dots to the flower centre, added Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to the flower head and circle then fussy cut them out and set aside. I stamped the teeny tag onto a small white snippet and coloured the flower head as above. I added some background stamping to the corners for added interest then stamped the sentiment and coloured it with Sakura sparkle pen. I assembled the card by attaching first the flower head with scrunched up silver holographic thread behind it (which totally refused to behave itself!!), then the circle, then the tag on top of some thread placed across the card. I matted the piece onto a large snippet of black card stock and a 7” x 5” card blank, and finished off with a teeny silver bow on the tag.

This is another very sparkly card where the photos don’t really capture it due to the poor winter light.

Stamps: AALL & Create #904 Flower Journey, #531 Textured Florals, #899 Garden Mix Tagged; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE6 Branched Heart; sentiment - Woodware Made For You;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides inks (Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Lilac Bloom, Very Peri); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pens (silver, white).

Challenges I would like to enter: 

AAA Birthday #68 - Lovely Layers

Addicted to Stamps and More #483 - Birthdays

Beautiful Blossoms #23 - Anything Floral Goes - TOP 3

Double Trouble #181 - Anything Goes + option Use a Bow

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #12 2024 - Birthdays

{PIN}spirational #320 - Anything Goes

Snippets Playground #495 - Use Snippets 

Triple B (December) - Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies

We Love 2 Create #11 2024 - Anything Mixed Media Goes  (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #677/678 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Hi everyone, today I would like to share the latest page I have made for my 2025 calendar - August.  I wanted a summery theme (even though we certainly can’t rely on the British summer weather!) and I was inspired by a recent tutorial by Emma-Jo at Lavinia  here, where she used the gorgeous little cottages to make a beach hut-type scene with stylised waves created using hill masks. I introduced a few extra elements due to the different size image I wanted to create (Emma Jo’s was a DL card) plus I used different pens and slightly different techniques to create the sea and sky - but I loved the basic concept so much I thought it was perfect for a “summer holiday” calendar page - we can live in hope of sunny skies! 

I cut a piece of stamping card 19.5cm x 14.5cm and created the waves by blending Blue Atoll Elements ink using a hill mask, and edging each wave with a narrow band of Blue Lagoon. I then masked the waves and blended Sundance up to a masked horizon line to create the sand.

 I stamped a row of three cottages and had the brainwave of using the large stones stamp (which I think I have never used!!) to create a sea wall. I then masked the cottages and stones and blended more Blue Atoll Elements to create the sky and sun, which I coloured with more Sundance. With the masks still in place I used the stones stamp to create little walls between the cottages and stamped some birds in flight, then added some green foliage between the cottages.

I removed the masks and coloured the cottages and stones with Zig pens and added some white Signo pen highlights, then outlined the waves with blue Posca sparkle pen and painted further stylised mini waves with turquoise sparkle pen. I also added dots to the beach and white Posca dots to the waves in the same style as Emma Jo, and also some sparkle with both Sakura Stardust and Spectrum Noir sparkle pens. 

I stamped the sentiment which seemed to me to be made for this scene, and at that point I felt it needed something else … seagulls! I stamped 2 birds sitting on the sea wall using Sand Dune VFC then painted them with white acrylic Posca pen paint and Zig pens for the beak and wings, and outlined them with a black fineliner.  I’ve not tried this before so it wasn’t perfect, but I was reasonably happy with how the birdies turned out. To finish I blended a bit more Blue Lagoon Elements around the edges to add depth.

Here’s an angled picture to show the sparkle.

Stamps: Lavinia Woodland Cottages, Stones (large), Leaf Creeper, Bird Collection, Birds, Deeper than the ocean;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Atoll, Blue Lagoon, Sundance); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Avocado, Paradise, Sand Dune); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pens (blue, yellow, clear); Posca sparkle pens (blue, turquoise, yellow); Posca pen (white); Signo pen (white); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear);

Tools: Lavinia acetate hill masks and circle mask.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Ally’s Angels #88 - Anything Goes - WINNER

Crafty Catz #684 - Anything Goes

Creative Artiste #111 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Double Trouble #181 - Anything Goes 

Everybody Art #569 - House/Home

Krafty Chicks #745 - Stamps

Love to Craft #83 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Love to Scrap #170 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Mix It Up #74 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

My Time to Craft #548 - Anything but a Card 

Outlawz (December) - Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone

Path of Positivity #126 - Anything Positive Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Make It Sparkle (3rd entry)

We Love 2 Create #11 2024 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Word Art Wednesday #677/678 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

This was another project that took hours to complete, but I must confess I was thrilled with it when it was finished, so many thanks to Emma Jo for the inspiration. 5 calendar pages done now … only 7 to go! 🥰

I hope everyone has survived the terrible weekend storms unscathed. We came home from a weekend away to find a large bush collapsed in the front garden, damp on the ceiling of our living room bay window which was only replastered and painted less than 3 months ago, rear garden fence pieces strewn around and a greenhouse glass panel smashed on the floor! The joys of English weather! 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

FarmQuest Country Christmas #15 - Guest DT

Hi everyone, last month I was delighted to be invited by the team over at FarmQuest Country Christmas challenge to be their Guest DT for December - and of course I said yes! All I had to do (and all you need to do to join in) is to make a “Country Christmas” themed project - how easy is that?

So what do we mean by “Country Christmas”? Anything Christmas or December/January holiday or winter wishes themed …. and …. content needs to be outdoor/rural Christmas decorations and/or wintry scenes. 

There is plenty more inspiration available from the Design Team - please do visit the FQCC challenge blog to view their projects and link up your entry here. 

Here is my card for the challenge.

I cut a 15cm square of white stamping card, and used a square mask along with a small circle mask to create the background sky and moon, using Elements inks.  I masked the bottom of the square with paper and stamped a row of fir trees using a variety of shades of blue VFC and 1st/2nd generation, then stamped the reindeer, birds and little robins in Nocturne.  I added snowy accents to the trees with a white Signo pen, then added sparkly highlights to the whole scene with Sakura Stardust pen. I grounded the animals with a little blue/grey Zig pen then added some Posca snowflakes and wisps of mist using white pastel pencil. Finally I stamped the sentiment in dark blue, then matted the finished piece onto dark blue linen card stock and a 7” square card blank.

Here is an angled picture to show the sparkle.

Stamps: Lavinia Reindeer (large), Fairy Fir Tree (small), Small Robins, Birds; Uniko Christmas;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Della Blue, Dark Denim); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Twilight, Medieval Blue), Very Peri); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pen; Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Signo pen (white); Posca pen (white); pastel pencil (white).

Challenges I would like to enter:

2 Sisters on the Blog #92 - Blue (2nd entry)

12 Months of Christmas #117 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Aud Sentiments #320 - Non-Traditional Christmas Colours and/or Winter + a Sentiment  (2nd entry)

Christmas Kickstart #93 - If It’s Christmassy Link It Up! (2nd entry)

Country View Challenges (December) - Christmas

Crafter’s Cafe #314 - Anything Goes with option Monochrome

Dragonfly Dreams (December) - Christmas (2nd entry)

Fab ‘n’ Funky #606 - Christmas Animals 

Festive Fridays (December) - Christmas

Four Seasons (December) - Anything Goes Winter (2nd entry)

Lavinia Creative Challenge (December) - Snow Is Falling (version without sentiment)

The Male Room #193 - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas #59 - Anything Christmas Goes with option Monochrome (3rd entry)

Peace On Earth #77 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Pearly Sparkles #102 - Christmas

Simon Says (Monday) - Make It Sparkle (2nd entry) - DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Winter Blues (2nd entry)

Stamping Sensations (December) - Winter (2nd entry)

We Love Stamping (December) - Winter (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #677/678 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

I’d like to say a big thanks to Becca and the FQCCCB team for inviting me to be their guest DT this month - we look forward to seeing your entries!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,