Christmas Cards – Using Stuff Up

christmas card with embossing and a star aperture

Hello Peeps, how are you?

It’s that time of year, you know the time of year when everything you do is geared towards one day. This week I have been shopping (on-line), shopping in actual shops, because that’s still a thing and making Christmas cards/tags.

Looking around on the internet I’ve seen people painting lovely watercolours and making them into cards, I thought what a lovely idea, I should do that! Who am I kidding; I would have to start making my cards in august if I wanted to finish before Christmas.

Introducing all the stuff I have made this week. The star card is made with nesting star dies and has a little floating star in the aperture. It’s a 6”x6” card so the top layer was embossed with an embossing then the folder was moved along to emboss the other side, happily it worked quite well.

In real life the card is very sparkly and has blue glitter borders. It doesn’t show up, we have very poor light this time of year and even at midday in bright-ish sunshine everything looks washed out.

 

The gold card bases were given to me, they’re an odd size 6”x3”. The second card in the picture was embossed with a die; I like it more as a die-cut. I had some fancy paper which was a cross between tissue paper and mulberry paper; I used it to back the cut-out, it looks really good when light shines through it.

The reindeer card is made entirely with peel-offs. For some unknown reason I seem to have loads of peel-offs, they need using up. It’s just the right size to place a gift voucher into.

 

Another card made with card bases I seem to have acquired these are 6”x4” cards. An embossed panel and die – cut snowflakes, I also managed to use up more of my peel – offs and a small piece of thin ribbon.

 

Through out the year, when ever we get something in pretty packaging I die cut some tags and put them in a little box. Then when I need tags for gifts they’re cut and ready to use, just pick something that goes with the wrapping paper.

For the main presents this year I thought it would be nice to have die-cut names on the tags to make them a little bit special. I cut each letter three times and glued them on top of each other to give some dimension, then glued the names onto the tags, it’s a bit fiddly but I like the effect. It also used up lots of tidily bits of card I had hanging around.

I haven’t bought any new dies, stamps, card or anything else really this year. I have far too much stuff and really need to use things I already have so that’s what I’ve been doing. To be honest all this making hasn’t really made a dint but I’ll keep going and eventually I’ll get to the bottom of it all.

So, cards done, tags done, vouchers done. Gifts almost wrapped, shopping done, and we still have a couple of weeks left to go, yes! I’m on it this year hehe.

Thanks for stopping by today. Till next time, have fun x

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Snowflake Gift Toppers

Hi there. How are you. I’m not panicking yet eeep!

This week I have been making gift toppers, lots of gift toppers. The big wrap is coming and I wanted to get everything ready.

I used white gold and silver card plus some items from my recycling box (old wrapping paper and coloured envelopes from a recent birthday.) No point in throwing that stuff out when I can use it.

To start with I die – cut lots of snowflakes. The snowflakes were folded along the centre and the “arms” (if that’s what they’re called?) it gives them a little more dimension and shape. I stack them biggest on the bottom to smallest on top and the colours alternated so they stand out better. They are glued in place and put aside to dry.

The bases of the toppers in the first picture is a spellbinders Persian Motifs die cut in white card. The little stack of glued snowflakes are then added to the top.

these were the simplest to make and the largest. I also made some with smaller bases.

The base of the second set were made out of a piece of wrapping paper cut with a spellbinder strip die and a peace of blue envelope that had been folded into a concertina in line with the points of the die – cuts and cut at roughly 1 1/2 inch lengths diagonally so they are pointed at one end and straight at the other.

The two strips were layered on top of each other and glued into a circle which in turn was pushed down into a small rosette about 3 inches in size. To stop them from pushing back up again I glue a small circle of card on the bottom and weigh them down with a small coaster till they dry.

The little stack of glued snowflakes were again added to the top.

The third set were made from a craft coloured envelope cut with the same spellbinder strip die made into a rosette, a gold/silver die from the same set(Persian Accents), and a paper poinsettia on top. I explain how to make the poinsettias here, the only thing changed are the colours.

I put little gems in the centre to finish them off, cos you have to have bling at Christmas, that has to be a rule doesn’t it?

That’s another thing off the list of jobs to be done. I always think I’ve started early enough and it just gets away from me but “determined” is the word, have to get my head down and get on with it!
Thanks for stopping by, till next time, have fun x

Dies used:
Sizzix Bigz Die – Tattered Poinsettia
Sizzix Movers and Shapers – Mini Cardinal & Poinsettia
Spellbinders – Venetian Motifs
Spellbinders – Persian Accents
Spellbinders– Create a Flake #4
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Festive Collection – Snowflakes
Embossing Folder used:
Craft Concepts – Budding vine
Spellbinders– Create a Flake #4

CAS Christmas Wreath Card

Hi there.

Times knocking on so it’s time to start the Christmas cards. I know lots of people make theirs in July but I’m never that well organised.

For some weird reason I save some of the tiny bits of waste when cutting dies. I put them in little baggies to use as confetti or just because I like the shapes and think It will save me cutting the die just to get that tiny circle swirl or star.

This card was made with lots of these tiny off cuts and scraps from my bit baggies.

To get a circle shape I embossed a spellbinder embossing circle, this gives a little extra texture as well as a shape to follow. Then with my scraps circles rings and swirls I just place them around the edges. The bow is a small off-cut of coloured raffia tied in a knot.To finish it off I used a silver peel-off sentiment and a few little blue and red gems.

Top tip: The gems are really tiny so I used a small piece of blue tack (poster putty) as a picker-upper.

It turned out quite well. The only real expense in this card is the card base and envelope (and to be honest these are just pennies), everything else is made from scraps and waste. I can easily make a few of these cards with all of the bits I have saved so I’m off to a good start. I don’t want to make them all the same, that would be very dull, but a couple of each type really helps to get the job done.

Thanks for taking the time and stopping by. Till next time, have fun x

Dies Used:
Spellbinders – Nestabilities Enhancing Elements Gold Rounds One Die Set
various makes and types of dies for the tiny bits

Flowery Birthday Card

Hi there. How are you.

For this card I used a couple of dies that came free with magazines. I used the dies I had but similar dies can be bought and used in place of them.

The daisy border was a half daisy Tattered Lace die cut on top, rotated and used again to cut the bottom. It’s a bit fiddly but I like the result.

The smaller blossoms were made with a single strip die. You’re supposed to wrap the paper around and round till it makes a quilled flower. It doesn’t seem to matter how I roll or curl it they always look so scruffy, so I decided to try and simplify things a bit. I cut five of the petals from the end, rolled them into a circle and glued the edge. The bigger flower was a crafters companion simple five petal flower die.

The centres are dandelion clock dies. I used them because they remind me of cherry blossom stamens.

The background is made using a Swiss Dots embossing folder. It’s a long card so I embossed one side then flipped it around and embossed the other end. I wish all folders were as repeatable as this one.

The butterfly and sentiment are stamped out and heat embossed.Then all things were cut out and glued into place. Gems were added for a little sparkle.

Writing things down always seems to make it look far more complicated than it really is.
I like the texture and the small splashes of colour. Little things like this make me happy.

The other day my daughter and I picked blackberries. It’s getting late in the season but there’s still a few left and maybe, if we can, we will pick a few more soon. They taste really good with strawberries and a little yoghurt.

The cold days are now starting to close in now, the nights are getting darker and autumn seems to be on it’s way.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my ramblings. Till next time, take care and have fun x

Dies Used:
Sue Wilson – Dandelion Clocks
Tattered Lace – Free Daisy Strip (free)
Spellbinders – Circle and Scallop Dies
Crafters Companion Die’sire – Flower (free)
Crafters Companion Die’sire – Quilling Flower Die (free)

Embossing folder Used:
Cuttlebug – Swiss Dots

Stamps Used:
Random No Name – Butterfly, Happy Birthday

Floral Gift Topper

Hi there.
When I’m sending gifts I like to use little gift toppers. After taking all the time to wrap something neatly I think they really finish it all off beautifully.

The base is a tattered lace strip die folded back and forth into a concertina. join the consertina at the ends and push down to form a rosette and glue a circle top and bottom for support.

Three small memory box, flourish die cuts form the next layer. A tattered florals die cut and all three sizes of spellbinders blooms one.

They are all layered up on top of each other and glued together. Simple and effective.

I hope you are all well. Thanks for stopping by.
Till next time have fun x

Dies used:
Spellbinders – Blooms One
Sizzix Bigz Die – Tattered florals
Tattered Lace – Free from magazine
Memory Box – Macarena Corner

Happy Mothers Day

Hello.

When I started writing this post it was actually still mothers Day ?! Flicker messing about with the settings I think! Enough gripage!

Today I’ve gone all tasteful and even matt and layered stuff. The sentiment was computer printed and cut out with a circle die. The aperture was cut the same way.

The flower was made out of white, green and pale yellow paper using a some sizzix flower dies. Once the flower and leaves were cut (from the same die) I sprayed them with water and carefully scrunched them into little balls. Then they were opened up and allowwed to dry. Have to be careful at this stage because they’re a bit delacate. This seems to set them in shape.

Once dry I gently rubbed some pink ink across them just to add a little colour. I also did this on the green and yellow petals to tie them all in together.

I like how it turned out, plain, simple and the flower turned out ok too. I really do need to work on my flowers though. I find it really hard working out what to put in the middles.

Inks used:
Distress Ink – Picked Raspberry
Dies used:
Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die – Tattered Flower Garland
Sizzix Bigz Die – Tattered Poinsettia
Spellbinders Nestabilities – Circles

 

More Snowflakes

Hello there. I’ve been at the snowflake dies again and made a few more cards.

The card base was embossed with an embossing folder.

The snowflake is made up with two different sets of dies cut out of blue silver and white card.  These were glued on top of each other because I was going to post them. If I was hand delivering them I would have used foam pads to give a little more dimension.

The sentiment didn’t happen on this one because I didn’t think it through properly and couldn’t stamp over the embossing, so that had to go inside.

The second one was printed on the computer first. (It would have been easier to stamp but I don’t have anything that size). The merry Christmas’s make a nice frame for the snowflake.

The die cuts were arranged in the same way and glued to the card. I didn’t want to emboss over the words so I just pushed the folder into the spaces and squeezed it together with my fingers. This means the the dots are not quite as pronounced as the other one but I do like the effect of them fading out towards the edge.

They’re not big cards, about 4″ square but they are relatively easy to make, especially if there’s not too much time. (Note to self make them earlier next year!)

Off now to do more Christmassy stuff, Bye.

Dies used:
Spellbinders Create-A-Flake Four
Spellbinders Create-A-Flake Three
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

 

Snowflakes

Hello there, Computers are fun aren’t they? Well not when they break down actually. Sooo everything’s been a little delayed.

Today’s offering is a Christmas card, oh yes, and since I haven’t finished making mine I’m going to have to get a move on.

I cut three snowflakes out of the front panel to start. I wanted them to stay white and this was the easiest way.

The rest of the panel was then blended lightly with blue ink and stamped with a flourish in the same colour.( I’m not sure where the flourish is from. If I find out I’ll put the name in later.) It was then glued to the card and the snowflakes placed back into their holes.

The sentiment was stamped with embossing ink and white embossing powder onto a small shape made with labels #4. I cut it down length wise using the ends of the die.

Inks used:
Distress Ink – Broken China
Embossing pad – Clear
Stamps used:
Random flourish, Sentiment
Dies used:
Spellbinders Create-A-Flake Four