Christmas Elves

Earlier in the year I visited a real-life craft shop (yes it was a highlight of 2021 for me!)

I bought a single sheet of Christmas elf toppers, and a single sheet of coordinating patterned paper, by Maja design.

When I eventually started making my Christmas cards I wondered why on Earth I'd only bought one sheet of each. The toppers were so easy to use, the patterned paper ended up being 'gutted' so I could get maximum cards from it. I added other papers from my existing stash plus various dies, stamps and sentiments.

 

Poinsettias

I made these cards for my craft club ladies. We haven't actually had a club since March 2020 but maybe 2022 will be kind to us?

I used Lisa Horton poinsettias embossing folder with matching die, and added some gilding wax. 

I tried to mix it up a bit, using different sentiment dies and colours, but the base is the same for each card.

 

Peace

I thought I ought to start making some Christmas cards 😁 no rush...

This card was made with Reverend Sheena in mind, the bird die was free with a craft magazine.

 

birthday wishes

Papers are Maja Design

Sentiment die is Sue Wilson

Mini tag die and stamp by Stampin' Up!

 

Mum

I love these papers, they're by Maja Design and the collection is called Miles Apart.

Friends of ours live in Wath-Upon-Dearne and we try to visit them once a year or so. I discovered that they're about ten minutes away from a wonderful craft shop called The Craft Box, located in a Heritage site in Elsecar (near Barnsley). It's well worth a trip, the shop has a great range of items and the staff are so friendly, they have amazing samples dotted about the shop, and they run classes.

We used to have some good craft shops locally but sadly over the years they've closed, so big excitement for me to go in a 'real' shop and be able to examine papers and match up colours, something that I struggle with online.

The alphabet dies were from AliExpress and the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts. Card is 8 x 8 inches.

 

Thinking Of You

A simple card using Tonic dies  -  I say simple but it took me a while to figure the dies out! I'll know better next time.

 

Woodware

Sentiment stamp is by Hobby Arts

Bubble flower stamp is by Woodware. 

I have lots of Card Candi from years ago so was pleased to see this style of stamp come back. Grateful thanks to my mum who sat patiently sorting my Candi into colour themes.

Card is 8 x 8 inches, I trimmed 4 inches from the front right.

 

Ocean

I love this sentiment, it's quite apt for me because this year I took up paddle boarding.

The stamp is by Lili Of The Valley, slimline dies from AliExpress.

 

Purple birthday

I used white embossing powder and an Inkadinkado swirl stamp on some plain lilac card.

The sentiment stamp is by Hobby Arts

I think the swirl stamp is Crafter's Companion

 

Money Box

I wanted to make a little gift for my friend Steven, who likes to come up this way for a holiday each year.

I bought a plain, inexpensive money box, I think it was Hobbycraft or similar.

I gave it a couple of coats of red paint, then decorated with Graphic 45 papers, and sealed with Mod Podge.

 

Best Wishes

I wanted to make a flattish card. With hindsight this would have looked nicer if I'd done a square mat and layer under the gold circles.

Dies are all Sizzix

 

Birthday Wishes

A card I made last month for Val's birthday

I used alphabet dies and sentiment stamp by Crafter's Companion, blending inks, and ombre paper (I think this was Hobbycraft)

Flowers are Prima.

 

Joan

Joan is my longest-attending card club lady.

She loves poppies so every year I have the challenge of thinking up a new poppy card for her birthday.

I’ve used Crafters Companion bargain alphabet dies, outlined with some Glamour Dust, and Heartfelt Creations stamps.

I now have a great-niece called Poppy, born last month, so I predict two lots of Poppy-themed cards each year.

 

60

Card for a friend of mine who loves cocktails.

I used Sue Wilson dies, number dies were from AliEx.

Background is stamped and heat embossed, card is 7 x7 inches.

 

Baby

Same alphabet dies as previous post.

This time I tried plain card but edged each letter with glitter.

Other alphabet is Sizzix

 

Craig

Card I made for my brother's birthday.

I bought a set of alphabet and number dies from Crafters Companion recently. I didn't exactly need another alphabet set but this one was a bargain £12, and it's slightly different to all my others.

The set does not cut the whole piece out, it scores down the left-hand side. I wanted to try it out on stripey paper because I needed to make sure each letter was level, and this seemed the easiest way to do that.

 

Happy Birthday

A card I made for Pat, one of my lovely club ladies.

Unfortunately my club is still closed, hard to believe - 16 months now.

For the card I used DCWV patterned paper and Sizzix dies. I think the embossing folder was a magazine freebie, the sentiment stamp is by PTI.

 

Box

I bulk-bought a box of Lindt chocolate bars (Amazon) recently to use as inexpensive gifts. I wanted something slimline that would fit through people's letterboxes if necessary.

I made two different style boxes, one holds three Lindt bars and the other holds four.

 

Happy Birthday

A card I made for one of my card club ladies, Margaret.

I used Crafter's Companion patterned paper, and I think the sentiment die is by Tonic.

 

Set Sail

While I had my Graphic 45 papers out I thought I'd make another card. Have to say I love their range of papers, I've collected quite a lot so really need to use them up now.

 

Love You

I'm usually very last-minute making cards for my husband. This year I decided to at least try and be more organised, so I'm a good month ahead with our anniversary card.

I've used Graphic 45 papers, I can't remember where the sentiment dies are from - I cut two and layered offset for a shadow effect.

I love the quote here "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor".

We've both had paddle boarding lessons recently so thought it was quite apt!

 

Happy Easter

All dies used are by Sizzix. 

Last year I discovered a website called Creative Rox, and managed to buy quite a few bargain sets of dies. This was one of them.