Positively the last Christmas cards for 2021

Some of you may have picked up from some of my postings that I am a member of the UK Stampers Network.  This lovely group are primarily about all things stamping but they do have certain internal little groups that you can get involved in and not use stamps - like the ATC group .  They also do craft retreats and on one of these they learned some card shapes - one of which was a 3 point card.   It was talked about on the blog and I loved what they had done.  I am known amongst some of my friends as an 'any shape as long as it is square' kind of crafter but I did like the cards they showed me.  So I had a go and here are my last two Christmas cards for 2021.   I love them and plan to use the shape more often when I am making my 2022 Christmas cards.

Now the blue one was my 1st go and I still have that one but the second is in an envelope ready for the postbox.

For them both I used backing paper from stash.  The images are die cuts.  The meeces are from Carnation Crafts and the Santa is from Tattered Lace.  The sentiments were cut with dies I have had for ages.

Admittedly I made the basis of the cards  some time ago (September) but with help of the new pain medication from my GP to help with the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome I managed to complete the red one yesterday but only because I had already cut out the images and they were safe and ready in my die cut stash.

I think I like the shape more each time I look at them.

Thanks for looking.

Hugs

Carol

xx

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge - #75 - Anything Goes hosted by Moi.

This is the last challenge for CD Sunday Plus until after Christmas and the New year.

I have saved one of the Christmas cards I made with the new Tattered Lace dies and charisma sets - Christmas Tidings - that I bought a little while ago.  I showed you one that I had made (here) and this is the second I kept under wraps until now.

Out of the two I made at the time I think this is my favourite.  I found the background on the net but couldn't find to whom to attribute it to.  Who ever it was - thank you - and I only used a very little.

I love finding images to use that say Happy Christmas without always having to add the  words - and I think this is one of those.

So for the card I used the aforementioned background over which I placed the bauble made using the die cut charisma in two embossed layers,  over the extra bauble die cut,   and then a die cut bow.

As always I look forward to browsing through the entries we receive.  I am still hors de combat with the carpal tunnel syndrome and will do my best to get back to commentating asap.

This won't be my last post before Christmas but it is not too early to wish all a very happy festive season.

Carol

xx

Christmas is coming.

 There isn't much serious crafting I can do at the moment with my right wrist in a splint but I have been able to do some very gentle craft work for a little while with the splint off.  Only in little spurts - I promise.

A while ago I bought some kits to make tiny Angel and glass bauble hanging ornaments to make up.  I went a bit mad with the Angel kits and bought 5 kits (10 in each) in Poppy, Ivy, Honeysuckle, Heather and Harebell.

The Angels came from here  and the glass baubles came from Amazon.

Then on Amazon I found some small Pre-lit little trees to use as table centres or coffee table displays.  So I bought some of those to display my new Angels and baubles.  Here is a photo of the first one I have made.  Still to be played with a bit more.

The little trees are beautifully made and as I have so many Angels and baubles I have bought several and intend to give them as Christmas gifts.  I even found Christmas Ted  to be in the photo.

Carol

xxx

More for Christmas 2021

Because at CD Sunday Plus we now accept cards and projects made using digital stamps and images I have become much more aware of what - in the digital world -  is out there and available to purchase.

When I see a new to me site mentioned as a source used in an entry I go off to investigate.  Such a site I found the other day - HettyClare.  I have added the site - with a link -  to my side bar.

I purchased a few images and one in particular was a Christmas one.  I have made three cards using the purchased image.  I used a background from MCS and my graphics programme, ACDSee, to add the borders and text.  I really do not know what I would do without ACDSee.  Here are the three.

Later I might add  a little glitter or even some enamel type colouring to the fairy lights.  I try to make all my Christmas cards different but I do choose one each year to be my go to one in case I have not made enough.  I like this one so it may well be the one I choose.

I am so glad that my cards for the rest of the year are now complete - touching wood - as I am suffering a recurrence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my right hand.  I had cortisone injection back in 2017 and was fine but it seems to be back.  Now I will start the long process of trying to get treatment.  Unlikely but we will see.

Hugs

Carol

 xx

Another for the Christmas box

This time I have made a 7" x 7" card.   I needed the space to get everything on.  I have used all Carnation Craft goodies, for this one except for one sheet of backing paper:

It took me quite a while to design and stick.  A slightly new style for me but I enjoyed the playing around.

The gold and cream backing sheets were printed from Carnation Craft (lets call them CC for short) and Tattered Lace (TL). The gold comes from 'Illuminating' (TL) and the cream from 'Christmas Time'  (CC) - which is also where the circles and centres come from.  The Christmas Roses, Sherry and glasses are from CC Christmas Accessories.  I chose to use a sentiment die that I have had for some time.  Where from I disremember.

There are three circles in the Christmas Time collection and I have made up the other two but haven't decided how to present them yet.

I hope you are all well into your Christmas Card making.  This makes my no: 52.

Carol

xx

Christmas 2021

I think this is possibly Christmas card no: 48.  For this I have used a new to me  collection  by Tattered Lace called 'Christmas Tidings'.  There are six die sets in the collection - each comes with  two outer rings and the image die. The Charisma image is in a download as usual and, I believe, on a USB.  To make it look like a bauble with a hanger you have to buy another die from the same set - The Festive Bauble.

I have made a couple so far and but am only going to show one of the two at the moment.

I found the background from somewhere and cropped it and added a couple of toning borders with my graphics programme.

Here is a picture of the die that I used for this card.

 

These dies and images do make lovely cards and am now off to make some more.  I will show you these later.    It is just the first one I cannot show you as I have made it for CD Sunday Plus and 'rules is rules'.

Hugs

Carol

xx

Another Christmas Wreath but different hues

 I haven't added any Christmas wording yet.  I haven't decided what to say or where to say it.  I have though added a little glitter to the centre of the Christmas roses.

As before I used the Carnation Crafts 'Christmas Wreath' maker but with a different selection of colours.  I also used less items than with the first wreath.

Hope all are well.

Carol

xx

More goodies to play with.

I have been trying out my new Carnation Crafts die set - 'Christmas Wreath' maker.  The die-cutting takes quite a while and isn't for the faint hearted,  but oh so worth it.  I have had such fun creating my first wreath.  I must admit to searching the internet for an already made example to put me on the right track.

Here is the one I finally made:

I just have to now cut lots more die cuts in different hues so that I can create a few more.  Happy days.

Carol

xx

p.s. Do you think a little glitter dust might be the thing?

Another for the Christmas box

This was made using a new Carnation Crafts purchase - Classic Christmas frame.  I like that is makes such a simple but attractive card with just the addition of a die-cut sentiment.  I can't remember where the sentiment came from.  The two opposing corners each have three layers of decoupage.

I have also purchased the new Christmas Wreath Maker so I am going to be busy for while.

Keep staying safe.

Carol

xx

More stitching

 I have sat and stitched these cards during these last few days.   Mostly in the evenings whilst catching up with recordings on the box.  I have quite a few toppers of various kinds already made up so I choose a border and then the colours to go with a particular topper and hey presto.  All the borders are from 'Stitch and Do':

The die cut topper comes from Tattered Lace and I bought the die-cuts from eBay.

This topper and the one in the card above both come from a Carnation Craft die and vignette collection.

 

 

I have used this topper before and it comes from Tattered Lace Sparkle and Lace Collection.

 

I can't remember if the topper is a peel off or a die cut. The bow is a die cut.

The hanging stars are cut using an old die I have had for some time.  Where from? I can't remember.

I really am enjoying mixing stitching with die cutting.   I like making a variety so I have plenty to choose from when sending off a card -  trying the match the card with the recipient - if I can.

Hugs

Carol

xx

More for the Christmas Box

The patterns for both of these are by Stitch and Do.  The pattern on the green card I have done before.   I love the simplicity even though it is quite a bold pattern.

The pattern on the red card is a new one for me.  I particularly like the stitched star pattern in the corners.  I have not seen that before.

I have used die-cut 3D images for both cards and just added some gems in the corners.

More Robins for Sue. xx

Hugs

Carol

xx

 

More stitching but this time for the Christmas Box (card no: 35)

 

Stitch and Do -Cards Only

 

I sat and did the stitching last night whilst half watching some old Silent Witness DVDs.  I am using the new Mettler threads.  I have now used 9 of the colours.  I like to use just three colours for each card and then match the image to the threads - or vice versa

The beautiful Robin is a 3D die-cut from Carnation Crafts.  They do a set of two - names Flynn and Fifi.  I don't know which one is which especially as male and female robins look the same.

I also use a Carnation Crafts die to cut out the red layer of card.  The sentiment is also die-cut but I can't remember which make.

CD Sunday Plus - #61 - hosted by Pamela - Anything Goes (as long as our Rule 3 guidelines have been followed).

 

I fibbed.  Here is a 4th card in a row card made using The Card Hut CDs.   It was very easy to make and I admit I like the simple elegance of the background and images.   I used  'A Touch of Christmas' and  'Art Deco'  CDs by The Card Hut.  This time I used one of the frames on the CD, and printed it out on a semi gloss card and it looks very effective making the water and snow look very cold.

I think this might be my 'go to' Christmas card for this year if I suddenly find I haven't made enough.

I look forward to visiting you all and I will also be busy choosing my Top 3 from Challenge #60. We get so many great cards it is not something to be rushed.

Take care.

Carol

xx

A couple for Christmas and one for the box

 Stitch cards again.

Both the stitch patterns are by Stitch and Do and purchased from here.

Both the central images are from a Tattered Lace Collection.  I tried to match the thread colours as nearly as possible to the images and then added gems to the Christmas tree and half pearls to the second card. The mouse in the shoe is decoupaged.

This third card is again using a pattern from Stitch and Do. The threads are by  Gutermann.  The sentiment is die-cut from some glitter card,  and gems are from stash.

Carol 

xx

Yet more Stitch and Do cards

For these ones I haven't used the kits as such.  I have purchased the toppers with the ready pricked patterns and used my own threads and backing card.  I have sourced the 3D Push out die-cut decoupage from a few places.  In fact - on a couple - I have used a Tattered Lace or a Hunkydory die-cut image.

I have also purchased some A6 ready pricked toppers but haven't had a chance to use these yet.

Tattered Lace die-cut image

Tattered Lace die-cut image

Hunkydory die-cut image

I am really enjoying making these little cards.   I have been doing stitching rather than parchment at the moment.   I have such a collection of threads, needles and patterns etc  that my sister has bought me a wonderful new sewing box for my up coming birthday.

Off to do some more stitching.   I had my 2nd Covid-19  vaccination this morning and was told just to take it easy as the second could be more potent than the first.   I don't need telling twice to sit with my feet up and stitch.

Keep safe.

Hugs

Carol  xx

These are the sites where I purchase most of the bits and pieces.

Here  Here  Here

More Stitch and Do cards

I have managed three more of these little cards in the last few days.  I have been catching up with recorded drama series from the TV,  and watching again old series - like all of Death in Paradise.  I can sit with my feet up and stitch away.  I can't bear sitting doing nothing.

Here are the latest three cards.  They all have 3D die cut decoupage images.  The first one is for Christmas.

These next two are for the go-to box.   For the second one I have used a Tattered Lace die-cut charisma teacup and saucer for the central image.

 

I really enjoy making these.  Just three colours are used for each one and now I have discovered that I can purchase just the pricked patterned toppers on their own.  Four sets of six arrived this morning.

I will post the site details for these items in my sidebar.  Just in case you would like to join in with my stitching.

Hugs

Carol

xx

P.S. I have now added a further site to the side bar for a great selection of 3D Push Out Decoupage sheets.  I have just received the latest 20 sheets that I ordered the other day.  Here  Art of Craft

Some recent 'Stitch and Do' cards

These come in kits of 3 x base card, 3 x already pricked pattern, threads and 3D images.

I don't use the 3D images provided as they are not die cut.  I use Jeanine's 3D Push Outs which can be bought in various places. I also use a mixture of the threads provided and my own.

They do make attractive delicate looking cards and I love the patterns.  Here are some I have made recently.   Three for Christmas and two for the go-to box.

 

I can usually stitch one in an evening whilst TV watching.   I bought 7 packs - 21 cards.   I may manage them all before I wonder off to do something else.  Not for nothing was my nickname at home 'butterfly brain'.

Hugs

Carol

xx