Happy New Year 2025

 I'd  like to wish all my team, customers,  class attendees and social media friends and followers a wonderful 2025. Thank you for all your support last year. Here's to a great year of creativity for us all .  🩷🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Dear Santa thank you card

 Whilst tidying my craft space I found a stamped image from the  Dear Santa stamp set. Not wanting to waste it but not having any need of a Christmas card a  thank you card sprang to mind. This made me think about how many "Christmas " items in my stash could have uses beyond the festive season! So I decided to have another look at some of the pretty festive pattern papers I was putting away.  And low and behold in the oh so cute Snowy Scenes paper pack was a gorgeous plaid. Now I love me some plaid at any time of year so this was just perfect 👌 

With the stash sorted I set to making a card. I decided to use a technique called triple stamping but this time with no stamping and only 2 layers. So the name isn't quite right.. but the idea was 😉.

Start by cutting a piece of pattern paper to 14.4cm x 10cm.  Then either cut a panel or die cut a panel from the center of it. I chose to cut a piece out that measures 10.5cm x 6cm. Then adhere the larger piece to an A6 card base. Next adhere the cut out panel to a piece of cardstock the same colour as the card base measuring 11cm x 6.5cm. Pop this piece on top using 3d foam ensuring that the missing piece is covered. Line up the piece of pattern paper so that it continues the pattern of the background and adhere it to the cardstock panel. 

Using my alcohol markers I coloured the image of the little girl writing her.. thank you list 😉. The colours used in the colouring reflect the colours in the paper. 

Use a scrap of the pattern paper to decorate tha inside of the card.  This helps to give any card a touch of luxury and makes it feel even more special. 

After colouring the little girl image I fussy cut her out. I stamped a thank you sentiment onto a piece of basic white cardstock and cut the ends on the diagonal.  I then took a scrap of coral cardstock and used an embossing folder called Forever Plaid to give it texture. The ribbon and knot are the same shade of petal pink so everything coordinates beautifully. Adhere the image and sentiment to the panel then use 3d foam to adhere it to the card.

I hope this has inspired you to have another look at your holiday stash and see if you can use it in other ways.

Happy Boxing Day

 Today's inspiration is a thank you card made using scraps from the star top box project. I'm calling this technique paper crazy paving!. You can find all about the box Here. Today's project is really easy all you'll need is some double- 

sided adhesive sheets and embossing powder.

Start by applying the adhesive sheet to a piece of cardstock.  Then peel back the cover and add your scraps leaving gaps between them. Then sprinkle your embossing powder all over to act as the grout between the shards of paper. Heat the power and voila you have your paper crazy paving panel.

The nice thing about using embossing powder is that it gives a lovely texture effect too.

That's it for today as we're off to the pantomime for a Christmas treat 😃 have a great day what ever you're doing x

Star top box Bloom Impressions dsp

 Happy Christmas Eve 🎄 Today I'm  sharing the details of the project I made during my Facebook live yesterday. This gorgeous box is now where near as difficult as it looks! The pretty pattern paper is from the upcoming 2025 Sale-A-Bration offering from Stampin' Up! And will be available with qualifying purchases during January and February. Oh and it's called Bloom Impressions 😉

OK so to start you'll need 2 pieces of cardstock measuring 15cm x 21cm. Score at 5cm, 10cm, 15cm and 20cm along the long side . Then at 2cm and 8.5cm on the short side. Next score diagonally in each of the top rectangles in both directions.  Now mark along the top at 2 5cm, 7.5cm, 12.5cm and 17.5cm. Then score from these marks down to the center point of the rectangles.  Notch as shown below.

Please watch the video to see how this all comes together  

Here is the other box shown in the video.  I hope you enjoy giving this fun box a go.

A little bit festive thank you card

 Do you still have your Christmas stash out? Or is it all put away for another year?  Well if you have some Christmas papers out why not use them for thank you cards! Today's inspiration is made using paper and elements from the fab A Little Bit Festive paper pack that's got 2 sheets of die cut elements included 😀 

The card started with a random thank you sentiment found on my desk! I don't remember what project it was from and don't remember the stamp set the sentiment comes from either 🤣

These papers were just scrap strips placed back in the packet for just such a project. Yes I do place the leftovers from a project back in the paper packs... don't you? After all waste not want not 😉

The strips are 2.5cm x 6.5cm apart from the dark blue ones which are and element that I cut to 6.5cm long and then cut in half.

I love the die cut elements included this pack so had to use some for the inside as well... after all no surface need go undecorated 😅

Well I hope this project has inspired you to use up some of those leftover paper scraps. Even if they are from your Christmas stash to create beautiful  cards with.

Jewel tone new year cards

 Do you ever just stumbled upon an idea that is a bot of a light bulb moment  💡 ? Well today's inspiration is the result of one such moment! Sadly I can't find the original inspiration to give credit but who ever you are thank you . 

The light bulb moment was the beautiful rich tones of the card that the creator used. As  Stampin' Up! Has a wonderful array of colours to choose from it was easy to find coloured cardstock to use. 

First up let's me share the beautiful Ruby version made using a shade of red called Real Red.

And the sapphire version using blueberry bushel....

The next version could be either a peacock sapphire or a Chrysocolla using pretty peacock cardstock....

And finally the amethyst version using gorgeous grape cardstock...

The effect is created by applying black ink around the edges of the panel that has images heat embossed with gold embossing powder . To continue the same gold tones with the metalic strip apply versamark to a piece of white cardstock.  Then add the same gold embossing powder and heat as usual. 

So which jewel is you favourite? 

A whimsical Christmas tree treat box

 Today I'm sharing pictures of the treat box I made for my Facebook live on Monday.

The one from the live is made using fresh freesia cardstock. And embellished with Regal foiled adhesive backed dots.

The white version is embellished with fun Rwd and white Peppermints.

 These cute boxes are easy to make and takes little time. They start as a piece of cardstock measuring 21cm x 9cm.  Scored at 10.5cm. Next you mark the center of each end in the middle, 4.5cm, then score out from the center mark to the left and right hand side of the 10.5cm score line top and bottom.

Sounds confusing?  Well why not watch my live to see how it works!

The circle punch I used is a ¾" one. Top tip punch from 2 sheets of cardstock at once! Also punching the circles is a good think to do whilst watching a movie or the TV..  just remember to pop a tray or basket on your lap to catch them 😉 

Reindeer fun gift box

Need a little treat box for that little something?  Well here's a fun idea for you! Using a pre made gift box and decorated using die cuts it's not only fun but easy too 😀 and who can resist the super cute reindeer from the Reindeer Fun bundle of stamps and dies?

The base of the project is one of the Book treat boxes that come in a pack 10, which is just as well as you'll want to make more than one of these for sure 😉. And the come pre scored and with adhesive strips in place 😀. 

The pattern paper used is from the Take a Bow paper pack. Filled with fun colourful patterns all in red and greens. The piece used for the front of the box measures 7cm x 9.5cm (2¾" x 3¾"). The rectangular mats are from a die set called Nested Essentials. Adhere the paper to the front cover of the box, making sure that the adhesive strips to attatch the box component is the right way. Then adhere the rectangular layers together and add then to the box front using 3d foam. Only add 3d foam to the top and bottom and the side opposite where the closure tab goes. Don't remove the tape from the closure tab as it will slip behind the focal rectangles and remains closed on its own.

Next decorate the inside of the front cover of the box. 

Below is a diagram of how the red cover for the inner box is made. It starts with a piece of cardstock measuring  14.1cm x 12.3cm (5½" x 4⅞") scored on all sides at 2.5cm. (1")

Next create tabs by cutting up the score lines on opposite sides and creating notches as shown below. Then take the largest rectangular die from the Nested Essentials die set and cut an appature in the middle as shown. 

Use a piece of acetate to cover the appature adhering it to the inside of the lid. Next take a small circle punch and create to finger notches one on each side of the lid buy punching our semicircle. Add a simple sentiment across the front of the lid to finish it off.

 

This cute box is both fun to make and fun to recieve 😃.

Yuletide Village home decor

 A quick 3d home decor projects for today's inspiration.  Made using the amazing Yuletide Village stamps.  Boy are these guys versatile! 

Take a piece of basic white cardstock measuring 28cm x 14.85cm . Then score along at 1cm, 10cm, 19cm. Now stamp your village along the length of the cardstock making sure to position them so they don't fall on the score lines.  Next colour them in.

Once they're all coloured in fussy cut along the length connecting the mat ground level.

Next take a piece of vellum measuring 14.85cm x 28cm. Score at 1cm, 10cm and 19cm. Then take an embossing folder and dry embossing the vellum.  You may have to do the embossing in sections,  if you're using a directional folder make sure you position it well.

Adhere the tab on the cardstock to the last panel to create a triangular shaped. Then adhere the vellum in the same shape and slip it inside the cardstock. 

Now stamp, colour and fussy cut some extra houses and trees. Position these according to your taste, then using 3d foam adhere them along the bottom of the project.

Now add your chosen lights. You could use a battery operated flickering tealight or some micro led lights like I have.

All in all a fun and easy project that could be a great ine to share with children for the festive season. 

Yuletide Village winter wishes card

 A fun colourful card to give to my neighbours today using the Yuletide Village stamps. My neighbours don't celebrate Christmas but I still like to give them a card and they give us one too!

The card is inspired by an old BBC children's programme called Balamory.  The show is set in a fictional village in Scotland and all the characters houses are bright bold colours. The cute houses in the Yuletide village set just remind me of the characters homes 🤣

The winter wishes sentiment is just perfect for this card but wouldn't it make a fun birthday card for someone who celebrates their birthday in the winter?

The simple shapes make creating masks easy. The masking off of the stamped images allows you to add colour to the Sky behind and between the houses. 

Yuletide Village home decor

 Reduce Reuse Recyle.. words of wisdom for sure especially in today's throw away culture.  Why am I talking about it today? Well today's inspiration started life as an old frame I found whilst going through some boxes! I have to admit to being one of those people who think .. don't get rid of it yet it might come in handy! Do you do that? Then start going through the "junk" box and think why did I keep that! 🤔 Well today I'm sharing a project using the gorgeous Yuletide Village stamp set.

The Yuletide village stamps are a wonderful image only photopolymer stamps set that is definitely more than just a Christmas set. You can use it for so many occasions and some fun 3d / home decor projects too!

The projects starts by cleaning the tired old frame and finding some pretty pattern paper and some white speckled vellum.  Adhere the paper then the vellum to the back panel of the frame. 

Then cut 3 strips of cardstock the width of the recess of the frame. Make each strip taller than the other so that you have a small, medium and larger strip. Now stamp your chosen houses and the church on to the strips. Colour them in then fussy cut them out making sure to leave the edges curved to resemble Snowy hills.

Use 3d foam to adhere each layer to the other. Checking that they fit inside the frame and are positioned appealingly. 

Once you're happy with the layout the fun starts with the addition of s string of battery operated micro lights! Carefully position the lights behind the buildings and hide the wire behind the layers. The wire is very fine and should slip between the backing frame and allow the battery pack to sit behind the frame.

Now my photo's really don't do this cute project justice.  It lights up beautifully 😍. 

So if you're someone with a box of " that'll come in handy one day" type of person maybe it's time to have a look see what you've got in there 😉 

The last Christmas card of the year Reindeer Fun

 Wow it's got here so so fast! It seems like only yesterday we started... making Christmas cards for 2024 that is 🤣 When do you make your cards for the festive season? I start in September and finish in November ( even thought this post is a little in to December it was made in November 😉) I know some of you are super organised and make them all year long. Are you one of those? Or are you like me and start late summer/ early autumn? Or are you really last minute dot com and don't start till December? What ever way you like to make your festive creations here's another fun card to inspire you. Using the adorable Reindeer Fun stamps and dies, as well as the gorgeous Reindeer Days pattern paper this card is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face 😀 

Don't you just love this super cute die cut reindeer? And the die cut wreaths make the perfect "O" for Ho, Ho, Ho! 

The shiny bows and berries are made using a technique that is so easy. All you need is some clear packing tape. Place the tape over a piece of cardstock and rub it down with a bone folder so that there are no air bubbles. Then die cut as usual simple! And the effect is a lovely shiny finish that the photo doesn't really do justice to. 

Decorating the inside of the card give you even more opportunity to share your creativity ✨️ 

Well that's all my Christmas cards done but fear not my Christmas stash isn't going to be packed away just yet! I've got some 3d ideas and tag ideas that I just have to make and share with you here before it's time to put it all away 😉