Winter Greenery

Hi everyone, in my ongoing quest to make a few last minute simple Christmas cards I wanted to use up some snippets, so I decided to stamp some small stitched squares of winter greenery, then mount them onto an embossed panel made from a larger snippet!

Here’s a picture of my snippets…

…and one of the cards I made.

I die cut a stitched rectangle of white card, then dry embossed it with an extremely old Cuttlebug embossing folder called ‘Holly Ribbons’. I die cut 3 small stitched squares, and stamped them with Lavinia Holly, Mistletoe and Star Pine in various shades of green VFC. I coloured the holly berries with red Signo pen topped with Sakura Stardust pen, the mistletoe berries with clear Stardust pen, and the Starpine with Wink of Stella. I edged both the stamped and embossed panels with blended Olive Elements ink, then  added white Posca accents and faux snow spatter. I die cut a small stitched rectangle and stamped the sentiment, then assembled the card onto a dark green border and 7” x 5” card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Holly, Mistletoe, Star Pine, Christmas Greetings;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Olive); Versafine Clair (Shady Lane, Grass Green, Rainforest, Nocturne); Signo Pen (Red); Sakura Stardust pens (red, clear); Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Hunky Dory Moonstone Duo- Stitched Square and Rectangle dies; Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons embossing folder.

Challenges I would like to enter:

As You Like It - Festive Creations (3rd entry)

Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Goes with option Celebrate Any Holiday

Cut It Up #345 - Oldie But a Goodie + Use a Die Cut 

(My embossing folder is very old)

Krafty Chicks #799 - CAS

Little Red Wagon #838 - Christmas Card

Make My Monday #267 - A CAS Quickie Christmas Card (2nd entry)

The Male Room #205 - Christmas Colours (Red and Green)

Shopping Our Stash #563 - My Sweet Embossable You  (2nd entry)

Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Christmas (2nd entry)

Snippets Playground #521 - Use Snippets

Once I got going I actually made three cards - another very similar to the one above, plus a third using old designer paper instead of an embossing folder.

… and an angled picture to (not very successfully!) show the sparkle.

All supplies as above except for Lili if the Valley designer paper.

Challenges I would like to enter:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Colour Challenge

(I picked May 2025 - Red & Green)

Colourful Options (December) - Colour Mood Board (4th entry)

C.R.A.F.T. #770 - Christmas (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas (December) - Christmas/Winter with a Die Cut (3rd entry)

Girlz Rebel #47 - Anything Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers (December) - Use Designer Paper

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2550 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #730/733 - Anything Goes

That’s all for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting,

Hugs,

Let It snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow ❄️

Hi everyone, today I would like to share a fairly CAS (for me) Christmas card,, which brought out to play a gorgeous but much neglected Visible Image grungy snowflake stamp.

I die cut a wavy stitched square of white stamping card, stamped the focal snowflake using Versamark, then heat embossed using WOW Midnight Dream embossing glitter. I stamped spatters from the same stamp set using Arctic VFC, then matted onto a border of dusky blue glitter card (my last piece!). I stamped a Uniko sentiment around all 4 edges of a 6” square card blank, then attached the stamped panel. To finish I added a large sparkly crystal gem to the snowflake centre.

The embossing glitter really is very sparkly - here is an angled picture to show it.

Stamps: Visible Image Let It Snow; Uniko Background Builders - Winter Wonderland;

Media: Versafine Clair (Arctic, Medieval Blue); Versamark; WOW Midnight Dream embossing glitter;

Tools: Craft Addictions UK Wavy Double Stitched square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Sparkle and Shine (3rd entry)

A Place to Start (December) - Anything Goes with option Winter Things (3rd entry)

As You Like It - Festive Creations (2nd entry)

Cardz 4 Galz #265 - Christmas Sparkle (2nd entry)

CAS on Friday #324 - Snowflake

C.R.A.F.T. #770 - Christmas

Creative Crafting Uncles #72 - Christmas/New Year

Everybody Art #591 - Christmas and/or New Year

Krafty Chicks #798 - Christmas

Make My Monday #267 - A CAS Quickie Christmas Card

Papercraft Challenges #125 - Festive Sparkle

Shopping Our Stash #563 - My Sweet Embossable You

Simon Says (Monday) - Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Sparkle and Shine (2nd entry)

Tic Tac Toe #285 - Tic Tac Toe

(I chose Texture/Free/Sparkle)

Word Art Wednesday #728/729 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

Again I made two of this design. Yesterday was in fact a mega productive day by my standards, as I managed to make 10 Christmas cards in total. This was the only ‘new’ design though - the others were all variations on other cards I have produced over the past month or so. Nonetheless I am finally getting there: not only are all my posted cards done and dusted, but I’ve very nearly finished all my hand delivery cards too - I’m actually further ahead than normal!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

The Magic Million! 🩷

Hi everyone, I’m really excited today, as I realised that after 17 1/2 years (I started this blog back in June 2008) I have today passed 1 million page views on my blog!  This actually represents 10 years of active blogging, as I stepped away from it from 2013 to 2021 for a variety of reasons - so I only actually reached half a million views in December 2023! 

I’m really thrilled, and would just like to say a huge

 🩷🩷🩷 Thank you  🩷🩷🩷

to all my visitors.

Take care, and thanks a million for visiting!

Hugs,

Snowflake Wreath ❄️

Hi everyone, I’ve been trying to make a few last minute Christmas cards, so have been seeking designs which are effective without being too complicated. I decided on a snowflake wreath as they are straightforward, but in my opinion very pretty with the Lavinia snowflake stamps. 

I die cut a square of white stamping card using my wavy stitched square die, and created a circle by blending Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink around a circle mask. I then stamped a variety of snowflakes to form a wreath, using various shades of blue and pink Versafine Clair. At the start I hadn’t decided what I would put inside the wreath, but I decided on a focal sentiment by Penny Black. Finally I added some teeny gems to the snowflake centres, and matted the finished piece onto a card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Large Snowflakes, Small Snowflakes, Snowflakes; Penny Black

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Stormy Sky); Versafine Clair (Medieval Blue, Bluue Belle, Very Peri, Arctic, Baby Pink, Hawthorn Rose;

Tools: Craft Addictions UK Wavy Double Stitched Square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas (3rd entry)

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Sparkle and Shine (2nd entry)

A Place to Start (December) - Anything Goes with option Winter Things (2nd entry)

As You Like It - Festive Creations

Cardz 4 Galz #265 - Christmas Sparkle

Christmas Kickstart #105 - If It’s Christmassy Link It Up! (3rd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #142 - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar (December) - Winter/Christmas (2nd entry)

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

Girlz Creative Christmas #154 - Anything Goes Christmas (2nd entry)

Peace On Earth #101 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Sparkle and Shine

Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Christmas

Word Art Wednesday #728/729 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Baubles amongst the branches

Hi everyone, today’s card is another Christmas card using the latest Lavinia Faelight Chronicles collection - I really am loving the Starpine, Sugar Pine Cones and Winter Foliage as well as the Glimmer Orbs which I think look so dimensional! 

I die cut a stitched square of stamping card, and randomly stamped cascading Starpine in a mixture of 1st and 2nd generation Shady Lane Versafine Clair. I infilled the hanging foliage with Winter Foliage stamped in Avocado. I stamped three glimmer Orbs of various sizes, then interspersed with Sugar Pine Cones stamped with Pinecone VFC.  I coloured the orbs and pinecones with Zig pens, added a layer of Wink of Stella to the orbs for sparkle, and white Posca pen accents on the pine cones. I stamped some Mini mistletoe from the Winter Foliage to top off each pinecone, then stamped the sentiment and coloured it with a clear Stardust pen. To finish I hand drew the bauble strings then matted the finished piece onto a red border and my card blank.

Here’s an angled picture to put the ‘glimmer’ in ‘Glimmer Orbs’! This picture actually illustrates a problem I am finding increasingly with my Gemini die cutting machine - the plates are very warped and damaged, but I’m soldiering on with them as new ones are not readily available. However they cause my cardstock to ripple and buckle, which can be seen in this picture.

Stamps: Lavinia Starpine, Sugar Pine Cones, Glimmer Orbs, Christmas Greetings, Seasonal Words;

Media: Versafine Clair (Shady Lane, Avocado, Pinecone, Nocturne); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas (2nd entry)

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Sparkle and Shine

Addicted to Stamps and More! #507 - Christmas (2nd entry)

Aud Sentiments #332 - Traditional Christmas + a Sentiment  (3rd entry)

Christmas Kickstart #105 - If It’s Christmassy Link It Up! (2nd entry)

Colourful Options (December) - Colour Mood Board  (3rd entry)

Country View FB Challenge (December) - Christmas (3rd entry)

Creative Inspirations (December) - ‘Tis the Season (2nd entry)

Everybody Art #590 - Bingo (3rd entry)

(Green / Red / Christmas)

Fab ‘n’ Funky #627 - Christmas (2nd entry)

Girlz Creative Christmas #154 - Anything Goes Christmas - TOP 3

Passion For Markers #818 - Mega Christmas Challenge: Add a Sentiment

Peace On Earth #101 - Anything Christmas Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Use Dies in DIEcember (3rd entry)

Sweet Stampin’ - It’s Christmas! (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #728/729 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

That’s all from me for today.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Poinsettia Grunge 🌺

Hi everyone, whilst poking around in my Christmas stash to find some inspiration, I dug out this Visible Image Poinsettia Grunge stamp set which has been pretty neglected - in fact although I often use the sentiment from this set, I reckon I’ve only ever inked up the flower once before back in 2023! I must admit I’m not usually a big fan of poinsettias, but I rather like the offbeat quirky look of this one with the script writing on it, and since it last came out to play I have acquired my Zig pens which are ideal for colouring it with. 

I die cut a wavy stitched square of white card and stamped the focal flower, then masked it. I stamped co-ordinating background script text and spatters, then removed the mask and coloured the flower with Zig pens topped with Wi k of Stella, and gold Posca in the centre. I added white Posca accents then matted the finished piece onto a red border and card blank before adding a stamped sentiment.

Stamps: Visible Image Poinsettia Grunge, Sketched Tulips (script), Sunflower Grunge (spatters);

Media: Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pens (white, gold);

Tools: Craft Addictions UK Wavy Double Stitched Squares die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More! #507 - Christmas

Aud Sentiments #332 - Traditional Christmas + a Sentiment  (2nd entry)

 Beautiful Blossoms #35 - Anything Floral Goes (2nd entry)

Christmas Kickstart #105 - If It’s Christmassy Link It Up!

Colourful Options (December) - Colour Mood Board  (2nd entry)

Country View FB Challenge (December) - Christmas (2nd entry)

Crafty Calendar (December) - Winter/Christmas

Creative Inspirations (December) - ‘Tis the Season

Everybody Art #590 - Bingo (2nd entry)

(Green / Red / Christmas)

Fab ‘n’ Funky #627 - Christmas

Let’s Craft and Create #226 - Anything Goes with option Vintage Feel

Neglected Stuff (December) - Use Your Neglected Stuff

Simon Says (Monday) - Use Dies in DIEcember (3rd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Use Dies in DIEcember (2nd entry)

Sparkles Christmas #179 - Poinsettia

Sweet Stampin’ - It’s Christmas!

Word Art Wednesday #728/729 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Flutterby Birthday 🦋

Hi everyone, today I’m taking a little break from Christmas makes as I needed to make a friend’s birthday card. I decided to try another eclipse card, but this time with a rainbow of butterflies.

I cut a wavy stitched square of stamping card, and stamped the Visible Image butterflies in a rainbow of colours using Versafine Clair. I then created another eclipse card by die cutting the word birthday, cutting it 3 more times from separate snippets of card, then stacking the sentiment layers. I matted the panel onto a card blank and finished off with a scattering of rainbow coloured gems.

Die cutting the sentiment layers for an eclipse card is a great way to use up snippets - and I even remembered to take a photo of mine (wonders will never cease!). You may notice there are enough word cut outs to furnish two eclipse cards - that’s because I made another one while I was at the table, very similar to my first eclipse card here. I’d already given my first eclipse card away and it was well received, so I thought I’d make another in a different colour to have in reserve for when the need arises. 

Stamps: Visible Image VI Minis (butterfly), Birthday Wishes;

Media: Versafine Clair (Strawberry, Summertime, Cheerful, Grass Green, Blue Belle, Monarch, Nocturne); 

Tools: Craft Addictions UK Wavy Double Stitched Square die; Julie Hickey ‘Birthday’ die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Colourful Options (December) - Rainbow Inspired (2nd entry)

Double Trouble #205 - Use at least 3 Colours, 2 layers, 1 image

Krafty Chicks #797 - Birthday - TOP PICK

Simon Says (Monday) - Use Dies in DIEcember (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Use Dies in DIEcember - WINNER

Snippets Playground #520 - Use Snippets - TOP PICK

Sweet Stampin’ - Birthdays

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

Word Art Wednesday #728/729 - Anything Goes

Word Power (December) - Sentiment as Focus

That’s all for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Pipspell Wreaths 🐭

Hi everyone, I really like to make a few stamped wreaths for Christmas cards each year, and I have seen some gorgeous ones made with Lavinia’s latest Faelight Chronicles Christmas collection foliage stamps, so I really needed to give it a try. Here are three wreath variations I made in a recent playtime.

For the first card, I die cut a wavy stitched square of white stamping card, and created a circle by blending Olive Elements ink round a circle mask. I stamped Pipspell the mouse, then created a wreath around him by stamping a variety of stamps from Starpine and Winter Foliage sets using a mixture of Shady Lane, Avocado and Portobello VFC and 1st/2nd generation. I coloured Pipspell and his glimmer orb with Zig pens topped with Wink of Stella. I added some white Posca highlights, and added sparkle to the Starpine by adding light flicks of Wink of Stella. Finally I stamped the sentiments and matted the finished panel onto a card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Pipspell, Starpine, Winter Foliage, Christmas Greetings;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Olive); Versafine Clair (Shady Lane, Avocado, Portobello, Nocturne); Kuretake Zig Clean Color ware colour pens; Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Craft Addictions UK Wavy Doubke Stitched square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas

Aud Sentiments #332 - Traditional Christmas + a Sentiment

Colourful Options (December) - Colour Mood Board

Girlz Creative Christmas #153 - Anything Christmas Goes

Hand Stamped Sentiments #477 - Mood Board (2nd entry)

(I was inspired by the wreath and red baubles)

———-

The above card used the same method and supplies as card 1, just playing around with how I stamped the foliage. I think this one turned out most symmetrical of the 3! 

Challenges I would like to enter:

Cardz 4 Galz #264 - A Cute Christmas

CAS on Friday #323 - Christmas (3rd entry)

Country View Crafts FB Challenge (December) - Christmas

Creatalicious #295 - Anything Goes with option Christmas in Traditional Colours (3rd entry)

Everybody Art #590 - Bingo

(Green / Red / Christmas)

{PIN}spirational #332 - Mood Board

(I was inspired by the wreath and red baubles)

Simon Says (Monday) - Use Dies in DIEcember

———-

For my final card I added Sugar Pine Cones stamped using Pinecone VFC, and also coloured with Zig pens.

Challenges I would like to enter:

ABC Christmas - X is for X-Stitch (or any stitching) (4th entry) - TOP 3

Critter Crazy #105 - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter

Die Cut Divas (December) - Christmas/Winter with a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Inkspirational #355 - Mood Board (2nd entry)

(I was inspired by the red bauble)

Merry Little Christmas #65 - Anything Christmas Goes (6th entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

I really love these new foliage stamps, particularly the Starpine, and adore Pipspell as he is so cute! In my stamping drawer though he may be getting a bit lonely, as I haven’t purchased Thistlewhisk to keep him company! I don’t think I’ve yet quite worked out the best way to colour Pipspell, but I’m happy to keep practising. Meanwhile, I’m pleased overall with how these cards turned out and they were relatively quick to make - this close to Christmas that’s always a bonus! 

During the past month I’ve managed to make almost 20 Christmas cards so with posting dates around the corner, the situation is looking a lot better than it was - though I’m still not quite there yet !!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,