One for the Troops & 52CCT Challenge 21

It's a colour challenge over on 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown this week:

And this was an easy one for me because I LOVE LOVE LOVE this colour combo!

Banners & flags are on trend right now, and the addition of an embossing folder or too gives this card it's simple but elegant look.  Don't stress about getting your banner ends even, simply use a square punch, just make sure you line up one corner of the square in the centre of one end of your cardstock.

This is also a fantastic way to use up scraps of cardstock.

Tip:  Spend some time running your smaller scraps through your embossing folder and keep them in a bag, box or drawer so you've got them ready for your next "quick" card!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set:  Greetings of the Season & A Banner Christmas
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Big Shot &embossing folders:  Vintage Wallpaper (R), Square Lattice & Pretty Print.
Bakers Twine & Rhinestone Jewels

Challenge #30 Christmas Stampin' All Year Long

Over on Christmas Stampin' All Year Long there's a photo inspiration challenge.  These can often present far too many choices - colours, patterns, shapes, etc, but that's one of the reason's they're good to have a crack at.  Focus, focus, focus!

   

Inspiration Photo

 While this was intended as a Christmas card, I realise there's no greeting - oops!  I'll have to add it later!!

Lovin' the ribbon?  Wide, soft & really easy to tie into a knot or a bow. It's in the upcoming holiday catty.

Are you coming to the launch on Saturday?  No? Well get your skates on and reserve your spot.  You'll go home with some super ideas and lots of goodies!

Good heavens, is that Washi AGAIN?  What is this woman doing?  It's all about washi and Gorgeous Grunge isn't it?!

Have a great day.
Cheers
Karen

Mojo 307 & JAI 178

No, a whole week hasn't passed already, it's just that last week my card was almost late for Mojo Monday and this week it's really early!   This is the first time I've combined two challenges, how exciting!

 

When I saw this sketch, it said Christmas.....partly because I've been working on some demo samples for my mini launch, so I'm kind of  "in the zone".  And also because I'm growing my stash for the troops - rather well right now as it happens!  Yay me!

And that's where the Just Add Ink challenge comes in, because this week is snowflakes!

So, here we have a couple of my fav things - snowflakes, and traditional Christmas colours.  What could be better (some real snow please!).

Do you like the way the snowflakes are stamped?  It's a technique called Stipple Kissing.  Start by inking your stamp in the lighter colour - I've used Crumb Cake.  Then, using a stipple brush, swipe it gently across the darker ink - Cherry Cobbler, and dab it on top of the stamp.  You can do specific areas as I've done here but it also looks great when it's a bit random and slap dash.   Be sure to breathe all over the stamp to moisten the ink before stamping onto your cardstock.

The rhinestones add a touch of sparkle and for a change I've used the embossed Old Olive cardstock on the de-bossed side, or the side where the image is pushed in.

Supplies used:
Stamp Set - ?? Sneaky Peeky,  Sweet Sentiments
Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink - Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Paper - ?? Sneaky Peeky
Petals a Plenty embossing folder, ??? Sneaky Peeky Framelits & the Big Shot
Rhinestone jewels, 1 1/4" square punch, stipple brush

What are those gorgeous sneaky peeky products?  You'll find out at the mini launch - email me to book - AND you'll get to use them too!

Cheers
Karen

Christmas Stitches CSAYL #29

At Christmas Stampin' All Year Long  (CSAYL) this week it's a stitch challenge.  Oh dear!  You know I have neither the skill nor the inclination for sewing, so why am I doing this one?!  Well, Christmas Cards for Our Australian Armed Forces is only a couple of months away and I need to stay focused!

Solution?  Faux stitches!

This was a super easy card because all the elements came together really well with the most fussy bit being the paper piercing for the stitches.  Even that was pretty good with the use of Stampin' Up'!s piercing template.

Please don't look too closely at my marker-on-washi- technique.  It's a bit slippery to work on and not up to standard!

Supplies used:
Stamp Set - Greetings of the Season
Cardstock - Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla
Ink - Cherry Cobbler Classic and the matching  marker for the stitching
Northern Flurry embossing folder and the Big Shot
Paper Piercer & Essentials Piercing Template
Washi Tape - sneaky peeky from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue
Rhinestone Jewels

Have you had your craft fix today?
Cheers
Karen

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown August Sketch Challenge

The deadline for Christmas Cards for Australian Armed Forces is just a few months away, so I'm really pleased to have found this site, 52{Christmas}Card Throwdown,  to keep me on the move towards my goal.  No, I don't have a set number that I like to make, I just want to have a good sized stash when the time comes :).

Here's the design team sketch:

And here's my offering:

I like how this one turned out, especially as I've used a non-Christmas stamp set, which speaks to it's usefulness year-round :)

Stampin' Up! Rhinestones are so easy to use.  How did I line up those 7 little ones on that ornament?  Easy, they come in a long strip with a continuous line of glue dots attached so all you need to do is cut the length you want and stick them to your project.  There are also 3 other sizes that are individual, again with glue dots so they're super quick to stick wherever you want.

My main embellishment is a Soda Pop Top from our last seasonal catalogue.  I've flattened it in the Big Shot - really easy, just put it between the two cutting surfaces and run it though.  I did mine on Tab 1 of the Multi-Purpose Platform but you should check yours first to see which "sandwich" layer works best.  The centre was made by stamping a snowflake and punching out with a 1/2" circle punch.  I stuck it down using glue dots.  Be careful with your choice of adhesive when working with metal because PVA or craft glue usually doesn't give a strong permanent bond.

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Mosaic Madness & Greetings of the Season, Snowflake from Snow Swirled (R)
Cardstock; Old Olive, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Silver Glimmer Paper
Mosaic Punch
Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder
Rhinestones, Bakers Twine & Soda Pop Tops (R)

Right, I hope you've had a crafty day, or maybe get some time this evening to make something.
Cheers
Karen

Card Delivery Day is Here!

Well, it's Monday 7th November and I'm off to the barracks to deliver all the lovely Christmas cards that are so beautifully handmade & donated by many wonderful cardmakers from around Australia.    I will add some pics to this post when I get back later on.

I did open the door this morning to the postie with another box of 100 so I'm thrilled that they made it to me on time.    If you have sent cards and your name is not on the list perhaps they haven't made it to me yet.    Watch this space, I'll see what I can do.

Those are just some of our cards packaged into the yellow envelopes ready for the off.   That little lot is going to Afghanistan.

When I arrived at the barracks there were some extra cards sent there to be included with our stash so that took the total to 2,601! How fantastic is that?    So there you have it.....another year of CCFTT is complete.  Take a bow everyone.    You've all done very well!

Happy Monday
Karen