Let It Snow

The start of this year's Christmas cards!

I've used a sentiment die from Lawn Fawn with snow-foiled acetate by Hunkydory
Deer/ tree die from eBay.
The acetate layer has been cut larger than the mat it sits on and scored each side to give a bowed effect.

Peace

I usually make several different designs of Christmas cards to post out but this year decided to keep things simple.
I made this card and then, rare for me, made quite a few more!

The patterned papers are by Stampin' Up!
It's a white background with foiled snowflakes on one and starbursts/ fireworks on the other.
For some of the cards I kept the white as it was, on the other cards I smooshed Colour Cloud Ink over to change it to lilac.

Some of the cards I used a pearlescent purple layer with silver card and the others I used a rich brown with gold card.

The foil snowflakes are also by SU
Sentiment die is by PTI

Merry Christmas

Snowflake die -  Memory Box
Sentiment -  Simon Says Stamp
Scallop die -  Spellbinders
Patterned paper - Papermania

Snowflake

Sentiment is Craftwork Cards.
Snowflake die is Memory Box

Love, Peace, Joy

Paper is My Mind's Eye
Vellum quote is DCWV
Snowflake is Papermania

Joy and Cheer

Having been ill I'm struggling to get back into crafting at the moment so a very simple card here.

It's Cuttlebug embossing folder 'Joy and Cheer' and I've highlighted it with some Glamour Dust.
The snowflake is a brad I've had in my stash for about a decade.

The ribbon looked very flat and limp and I wanted it to curl.
I wrapped it around a pencil and blasted it with my heat gun for about ten seconds or so and this seems to have done the trick. In future I'll try and remember to use a couple of strands of ribbon if doing this as it doesn't look very full whereas when it was straight it was enough for the card.

Shaker

The first couple of years after I started card-making I had to try every new technique and trend. I was a very regular visitor at my local craft shops they must have seen me coming and got sucked into buying things that with hind-sight I really shouldn't have.

Spirelli, decoupage, accordian cards, iris-folding, tea-bag folding, one of those Fiskars shape-cutters that everyone else hated too.

And shaker cards.

I really liked the idea of shaker cards but mine always looked a bit boring: they were okay when being shaken but the rest of the time (ie 99% of the time) they were just sad.

The other day I got it into my head that I should have another go at shaker cards, no idea why, I must have been ill.

So I gave it a go but hopefully have now got it out of my system and won't attempt another one for the next decade or so.

Snowflake frame is a Sizzix die
Stamp is by Woodware
Card is midnight-blue pearlescent . I've filled the shaky bit with Diamond Dust and some Bedazzles.

Christmas

Tag punch and stamp are SU.
Letters cut using Sizzix Block Party and embossed with snowflakes embossing folder.

Gift Wrapping

I like to bulk buy plain wrapping paper at this time of year. Have you ever noticed how much cheaper it is in Oct/ Nov/ Dec?
There are lots of offers on in the shops; 3 rolls for 2, 2 for £4, that kind of thing.
If you buy plain, spotty or stripy (ie not a specific Christmas pattern) then you can use it all year round for birthdays and other occasions.

Some people might think it is not Christmassy enough but I think by the time it is under a tree, in a decorated room, it looks just fine. Plus you can always add bows and ribbons and hand-made tags to jazz it up.

This year I thought I'd try going without tags altogether.
I used some scraps of card to cut out names on my Sizzix and then put them through a snowflake embossing folder and glued them straight to the parcels.

Using up scraps + saving money on paper and tags = more money for stash :)

Christmas Mini Book

Christmas mini book made using Dovecraft chipboard covers.

Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder.

Basic Grey and Dovecraft papers, Basic Grey tag.

Lots of bits from stash.

Snowman

Scribble Snowman rubber stamp by Art Stamps/ Personal Impressions.

Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder.

Braid by Anitas.

Santa Collage

Santa Collage rubber stamp by Rubber Stampede

Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder.

Merry Christmas ribbon from Tesco

Tis The Season

Sentiment is a Hot Off The Press stamp.

Cuttlebug embossing folder "Snow Dots" and "Ice Crystal" combo for the snowflake.