Magnolia Doohickey Dies - Paris Night Xmas theme

I do love the simple features of this Magnolia die and when I thought about using it for a Xmas card all I had to do was search through my Cottage Cutz dies to find a suitable Santa hat and wreath.  I found the hat in Santa Down the Chimney and the wreath is from Deer w/Wreath.

The star border punch is a Martha Stewart one and I think the sentiment is a JustRite one but not entirely sure.  It is punched out using the SU Word Window punch.

Punch Art - Xmas Pud

I must confess to having cased this Xmas pud from a craft blog but cannot for the life of me remember where.  I seem to recall it was a Stampin Up demonstrator and as I did not have the correct SU punches I had to use Spellbinders Classic Circles Large with the SU Scalloped Border punch.

The holly is a Cottage Cutz die called Holly Berry and I used the Spellbinders Pinking Circles Small for the outside of the circle.  The embossing folder is a SU one and the sentiment is from the JustRite set called Happy Everything Card Making set - this was one the mouse did not eat !!

Update

Well, it appears the mouse left the house whilst we were away but not after eating some of my cards and projects.  It also tried to make a nest in one of my drawers housing some acrylic and JustRite rubber stamps.  I think the stamps are able to be salvaged and the damage could have been a lot worse.

My craft area is upside down. I have found a large plastic container and tossed everything that was in the drawers that could be eaten into it.  Who knew a little mouse could cause that much chaos !!  A huge thanks to our friend and dogsitter who methodically went through my mountain of craft supplies to hunt the mouse down.  She definitely prevented more damage, which I am most grateful for.

Well, all that means no projects for this week.  I will use the weekend to restore order to my craft area and hopefully tackle a few cards.  By Monday I am hoping to have my voice back to full strength, after 3 weeks I really need to talk again !!

In the meanwhile why not take a look at some super simple Xmas cards on The Penny Black Blog.

Another Apology

No posting this week, I'm afraid.  Am still struggling with  my cold and no voice plus we are away for the first part of the week.  I have been unable to get to my craft table as we have a mouse in the house and he has decided to take up residence in my craft stash - or so DH informs me.  I am rather afraid of mice, especially since this one is quite bold and I decided to give my craft area a wide berth this weekend.

We are back later in the week and I hope the mouse will have then left the house and I can get back crafting.  We are off to a farm to see the tigers so all the fresh air should clear my head.

No project today

Apologies, but I have a dreadful cold and laryngitis so unfortunately I am unable to post a project for today. Hope to see you Monday.

House-Mouse Designs - Birthday Cake

Although I have a couple of House-Mouse stamp sets I cannot recall having used them.  Their designs are very distinctive and I am not sure whether or not I like them.

For this stamp I decided to use Copics to colour it in only because I was wanting to fade the pink on the waterlily leaves - the outer row under the water.  I used Distress Ink for the water.  The image is framed with a Nestabilities Labels Four die and then matted onto a Labels Seventeen die in pink cardstock.  Under that is a Martha Stewart border punch in cream.  The background paper is from my stash and was a little too bright so I toned it down with a layer of vellum.  The corners are from an EK Success punch, the flowers are from my stash with the leaves being from a Martha Stewart punch.  The sentiment is from a Clear Dollar set called Something to Crow About and it was punched out using a SU punch called Word Window.

PaperArtsy - Noel 6

When I was looking through my Xmas stamps I found this PaperArtsy set I had not yet used.  They stamp really well and are easy to hand cut out.

The baubles were stamped using Maroon Archival Ink and placed on a cream background which was embossed with a SU folder called Textured Impressions.  The sentiment is from a Whimsy set called Vintage Christmas and it was die cut using Clear Dollar Tabs and Tags.

I have been looking for a Xmas card I can mass produce and think I have found it with this one.

Punch Art - Cute Xmas Teddy

I usually start with where I copied the idea or design from - not this time !!  I made this dear little chap up all by myself !  The teddy punch art list is as follows :

Head - 1¾" SU Circle

Ears -   ¾"  SU Circle and ⅜" Circle - dark brown - cut 2 of each

Antlers - Cottage Cutz - Santa w/Reindeer

Body -  Nestabilities Classic Circles Large - 4th largest approx 2⅜".  Cut 2nd one in patterned paper and trim.
Hands - 1½" circle,  ¾" circle in dark brown - cut 2 of each.   ⅛" circles - punch 6 in dark brown.

Sleeves - in patterned paper using Nestabilites Classic Circles Large - the smallest die.
Feet  -   1" circle, ⅝" circle in dark brown - cut 2 of each.  ³⁄16" Crop-a-dile circles - punch 6.
Cheeks - I punched out a circle of just under ⅜", tossed out the circle and used the balance as a template.  I used Distress ink, Tattered Rose, and added 3 white dots with a gel pen.
Face  -  Peachy Keen Stamps PK 135 Medium Bear Facial Features for the eyes and nose.  The mouth was from PK 754 Critter Faces Set A Medium - it was part of a face so I blocked out the part I did not want and extended the line between the mouth and the nose with a black pen.
Fence -  Woodware Peeking Over stamp set, coloured with a variety of Distressed inks until I found the right colour.

A word of warning here - I have used only metric for the past 40 odd years so my understanding of inches is fairly limited.  I have to count the little stripes to try and work it out, so if the above looks wrong please alter it.  Normally DH helps but with me having no voice it is annoying to have to bbm him for every little thing. 

For the background I could not find the right paper so I looked through the embossing folders and came across this Craft Too one.  I used Momento Ink - New Sprout on the folder and was delighted it worked first time round.  The sentiment is from the JustRite Christmas Mini Sentiment set and it was punched out using SU Word Window punch.

Kraftin' Kimmie - Stella Strawberry

I have had this stamp for a while now not knowing what medium to use for colouring in.  I chose Copics but felt I could have done a better job.  Blame it on a dreadful head cold and no voice.  Most frustrating !

The card and the image were die cut using a Go Kreate set, the sentiment comes with the Kraftin' Kimmie set and I used a Clear Dollar Design Label die to frame it.  The scallop design on the edges is from a Martha Stewart punch.  I used Antique Linen Distress ink to shade the white cardstock the image is stamped onto.

Just Rite - You are my Anchor

I was looking to make a male birthday card in a hurry and came up with this simple one.

The background stamp is a Tim Holtz one called Air Travel and the centre stamp is from a Just Rite set called You are my Anchor.  I used a Nestabilities Circle to cut out the compass, sponged it with Antique Linen Distress ink and lightly coloured it in using a combination of Stampin Up and Aquamarkers.  I thought the pinking circles (yes, I used them again !) finished it off and I used rises to pop it onto the background.  I also used Distress ink on the background.

Cute Xmas Wallet

When I came across a tutorial on this cute wallet over at Stamping Addict I immediately saw the potential for changing it to a Xmas theme.  The original wallet, or billfold as it is called in the US, was for a Father's day project but one could also use it for a male birthday as the inside can hold store gift cards as well as money.

For the outside of the wallet I embossed one of them with a Sizzix folder and the other with a Cuttlebug Xmas folder.  The circles are Nestabilities, the label on the green wallet is from a SU punch and on the blue wallet it is a Nestabilities one.  The reindeer is the last of my Cricut ones I have been using.  I used SU cardstock for the wallets as it is quite sturdy and decided to use a velcro sticky dot to close it. 

On the inside I found the bottom section a bit bare hence the snowflakes.  The labels are from Go Kreate and the To / From sentiment is from Kaszazz with the Xmas wishes sentiment being from SU.

Xmas Money Holder - Peachy Keen Penguin Doll

I happen to rather fond of penguin images so when I found this Peachy Keen / Cottage Cutz die in my stash, I was delighted.  These little chaps were cut out of scraps and on the 2 outside ones I used the face stamps provided with the die but on the middle one I remembered I had a Peachy Keen Winter Faces stamp which I used.

The shape of the purse was hand cut and I used a CB Xmas tree embossing folder for the middle section.  It opens up as :

The opening was too tight fitting so I scored half way down the back and only sealed it up to that point.  This way the back flips open and the gift money can be slotted into it.  The label used on the top to seal the purse is from Go Kreate.  I was at a bit of a loss on how to close it so after trying a few options I went for an easy one, a ribbon. 

Cricut - Create a Critter - Reindeer

As I cut out a number of these little reindeers I thought I would use this chap on a Cottage Cutz Wagon.  The snow around the top of the wagon is from a Martha Stewart border punch and I used Distress ink for the shading inside the wagon.

The reindeer is 3" and his face was altered by using Peachy Keen Everyday Character Face Parts and More PK 494.  I stamped the eyes seperately otherwise they would not have slotted over the holes made by the Cricut.  The little tuft between his antlers is from a SU punch set called Punch Pack.

The blue background paper is from Creative Memories, the white paper has been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder called Swiss Dots and the sentiment is from Lili of the Valley - Christmas Circular Sentiments.  Again I used the Spellbinders Pinking Circles for the sentiment.

CottageCutz - Jolly Elf

Doesn't this little elf just want to make you smile ??  He fitted together really well and I used the normal scraps from my stash to assemble him.  The gold buttons on the jacket and skates are made with Ranger's Butterscotch Dimensional Pearls.

The Spellbinders die used is called Lattice Rectangles and I sponged Faded Jeans Distress Ink on the top part.  The blue paper behind the die is from Creative Memories and I am not sure where the circle paper came from.  The sentiment is from a Kaszazz set called Mini Messages - Christmas.

Lili of the Valley - Feathered Friends

I keep on asking myself why I am attracted to images with lots of colouring in especially when I struggle to match colours.  Anyway, I stamped this dear LOTV image onto watercolour paper and used a combination of Aquamarkers, Marvy Le Plume II, Stampin Up and Tombow makers plus a SU blender pen.  I also used Copics (very carefully) for the faces and little girl's legs.  I find if I stamp the image and leave it for a couple of days it is easier to use the Copics.

The Spellbinders die used to frame the stamp is Wonky Rectangles edged with Antique Linen Distress ink.  It is a new die for me and I think one which I will get a lot of use out of.  Behind that is a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangle matted on Xmas paper.  The Poinsettia is a Magnolia die on which I edged the petals with a gold pen and the leaves are from a Cottage Cutz die called Holly Berry Mini.  The sentiment is from a Clear Dollar set called Charlie Reindeer Games and it was stamped onto a Go Kreate Concentric Tag. 

Punch Art - Reindeer Trio

These delightful reindeers were cased from Kim Score at Paper Punch Addiction.  I had to alter a number of the punches as I did not have them plus I was rather puzzled by the reindeer's ears.  Kim punched them from a SU heart punch but that did not look right on my faces.  Please note I am totally clueless when it comes to reindeers.  I can describe the ears of lions, tigers, cheetahs, pumas, jaguars, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas etc as I have seen them all but I have yet to see a live reindeer.  One day, maybe ...

Anyway, the punches / dies used are as follows :
Heads   -    SU Owl body used upside down
Ears      -    Cuttlebug die - 6 petal flower
Muzzles -    Cuttlebug Alphabet die - this one had tags and the oval I used was a thow away middle part
Antlers   -    Cottage Cutz Festive Deer
Nose     -    ½" circle  - red
Hooves  -    ½" circles - black
Faces    -     Stamp - Peachy Keen Tear Bear Faces Parts PK 139

The "wall" in front of the reindeers is a Go Kreate die and I used a Martha Stewart border punch for the snow.

CottageCutz - Festive Deer

Again another easy CottageCutz die to make up.  This is one I could do a lot of cards with as it is quick and easy to put together.

The embossing folder is a Sizzix one, the sentiment is from Lily of the Valley and I used (again) Spellbinders Pinking Circles for sentiment.  I have had the large and small pinking circles in my collection for a long time and cannot recall a time when I used them.  All of a sudden they are my circle of choice.  It goes to show, don't get rid of any craft items, you never know when you might need them !

Cricut - Life's a Party - Halloween Coffin (larger)

This is the second coffin I cut out using the Cricut Life's a Party cartridge but this time I made the size 5".  Again I used Pumice Stone Distress Ink around the edges, stamped images from the SU Wicked Cool set and then popped a house from the Spellbinders die called Halloween Fence.

This box is also very shallow and is limiting with the amount of sweets it can hold.  I suppose parents would say that is a good thing !

CottageCutz - Santa Mouse

As I am rather partial to CottageCutz dies and as I have been able to locate a couple of the older ones locally I thought I would make a few of Xmas cards this week with them. 

This mouse was fun and easy to make and did not take a lot of time to fathom out.  I used a square card as the made up die is quite broad.  Underneath the blue snowflake paper, which I found in my stash, on both of the vertical sides I slipped in a border punch design by MS.  I added a piece of white paper embossed with CB Swiss Dots, distress inked the edges of the blue paper and the card was done.

Cricut - Life's a Party - Halloween Coffin

This is the first time I have made a coffin and did think it would be a bit deeper.  A friend came up with the idea of putting a sucker in it - might just have to do that and give a bag of sweets on the side.

Using my Cricut and the Life's a Party cartridge I cut out this 3" coffin in grey cardstock.  After scoring all the folds (with my Scor-It) I used Pumice Distress Ink around all the edges.  I flattened the box out again and stamped bats and spider webs from the Stampin Up set called Wicked Cool.  The sentiment is also from a SU set called Batty for You and I matted it on a Nestabilities Pinking Circle.  I affixed the circles to the box using SU dimensionals.

Christmas Card - Cricut Create a Critter Reindeer

Every now and again I haul out the Cricut and set it up.  I was cutting out a couple of Halloween items this past weekend and found this dear little reindeer on the Create a Critter cartridge.  I cut four of him out as this year I am going to have to do multiple cards of each design I create otherwise I will not get finished in time.

The reindeer was cut at 3" with a dark brown cardstock underneath and a coral colour on top.  I did not have the correct colour for the top and sponged on Antique Linen Distress ink to change it into the colour I wanted.  The mouth was DH's idea and I used Peachy Keen's Funshine Face Assortment ⅝" - I blocked out the rest of the stamp and used just the mouth.

The embossing folder is one from Sizzix and I used Chipped Sapphire Distress ink for the top of the card.  The sentiment is from Lily of the Valley in the UK - Set 5 Christmas Circular Sentiments.  I matted the sentiment on a Nestabilities pinking circle which was the only circle I had which fit the odd size of this stamp.

Halloween Witches Hat

There have been a couple of witches hats on the craft blogs and I decided to combine a few of the designs. 

The tall cone of the hat was made using the SU Petal Cone die cut out twice.  Of the four flaps on the die I cut off three.  I also cut out a band of the patterned black and white paper using the die. The brim is made with 2 Nestabilities Grand Circles.  I used a distress tool around the top brim to give it a slightly ragged look.  You might ask why 2 brims, well, firstly, it gives a bit of strength to the hat and secondly it hides the elastic I used to close the hat.

As you can see the cone part lifts up to allow sweets to be popped in.  I used a button to hook the elastic over.  This was not my idea as I saw it on a blog but cannot for the life of me remember where.
To decorate the hat I used the larger of the Tim Holtz Rosette dies with a Nestabilities Pinking Circle in the middle.  The stamp is from a SU set called Wicked Cool.  I used Distress Ink around the outside and coloured the socks in with a Spica pen.

Impression Obsession - Shuttered Window Box

This is another image I spent quite a while colouring in.  It is not that I colour in slowly, I just have a hard time deciding what colours to use.  It would help if I laid them all out beforehand but I seldom do that preferring to make it up as I go along.

The window box was stamped using black Archival ink onto watercolour paper - my normal one this time which made it a lot easier to use blender pens.  I coloured in using Letraset Aqua Markers and then cut out the image.  The background paper was one I had laying around on my desk and I cannot remember where it came from - the joys of getting old !!  The sentiment is from an Art Impressions Doorways set called Cafe and I used coffee Archival Ink to stamp it onto a beige coloured card stock.  I then cut it out and cut out one of the flowers in the flower box so I could hang the sign over it.

Stampscapes - Water Mill

Not sure if I have the name of this stamp correct but I bought it at a craft show and there was not even a company's name on the packaging let alone a stamp name.  Not the best way to sell your product !

I thought this would make a quick and easy sympathy card.  Using Archival Sepia I stamped the image onto a beige colour paper, used Nestabilites Labels Seventeen to frame it and Distress inked the edges with Antique Linen.  The sentiment is from SU and die used to cut it out is a new one for me - Spellbinders Blossom Tags and Accents.  The background paper is from Creative Memories.

Stamparvie - A Christmas Delivery

This cute Laurence Collection image from Stamparvie took me around 3 evenings to complete the colouring in.  I used Hero Arts watercolour paper for the first time and found it hard going (near impossible in fact) to use a blender pen on it.  I ended up using a combination of Stampin Up, Marvy Le Plume and Aquamarkers plus Spica Pens to add a bit of glitz to the presents.

The dies used to frame the image are new from Sizzix - this one is called Tags Rounded and I think it will be one I get a lot of use out of.  The green dotted paper was sourced locally at Simply Creative and the yellow brick effect came from an unnamed Stamposaurus stencil.  I picked up a number of stencils from the craft show I recently attended in England.  I had never really used them before but after seeing a demonstration of Distress inks and stencils, I bought the correct set of brushes and was happy with the effect for my first effort.  The red flower was made from a Marianne D design called Poinsettia Miniature.  The leaves are Spellbinders and from a punch.

Gina K Designs - A Beautiful Life

This is a simple but elegant stamp set with a whole host of greetings you can use.  It also requires a minimum of colouring in and can be used for when you need a sympathy card in a hurry.

I used Archival Ink for the image and sentiment and coloured the flowers and leaves in using markers.  The card size was cut down to fit the stamp.

Penny Black - Sunshine in the Rain

I am a sucker for teddy bear stamps and this one is really cute.  The best about Penny Black stamps is they come with a picture of the image coloured in.  It does not get any easier than that.

This image was stamped on watercolour paper (still my favourite) and coloured in using Distress inks.  The brolly was paper pieced.  I used Nestabilities Curved Rectangles to die cut the image and layered it on an embossed piece of blue cardstock.

Post-It note - Art Impressions

Another of my post-it note gifts.  This time I could not find the exact colour green cardstock and decided to use a paint swatch which DH picked up at the local hardware store for me.  I had forgotten that the Archival ink I use will not dry completely on it.  I thought a heat gun would help but it did not so I ended up putting a square of vellum over it to stop the ink from smudging.

The sentiment is from Flourishes and the image, coloured in using markers is from an Art Impressions Doorways Clear stamp set called Apr/May DW.



Go Kreate - Binki Boo Bear

This is a die I really love for baby cards.  I think the dummy does it for me !

The background on the white card was embossed with the CB Swiss Dots folder, the bear was sponged on the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink and a Peachy Keen face was added.

The blue 'nest' the bear is standing on is a Boss Kut die, the sentiment is a Flourishes one from a set called Baby Love and the banner is from Spellbinders Ribbon Banners.

Apologies for the quality of the photo, the actual card is a lot lighter.

Post-It note - Stampin Up - Open Sea

With just having been away I made a number of small gifts to take overseas.  This is a post-it note pad which I covered using a fairly thick locally obtained cardstock.  Next on was a layer of cream paper, then a layer of yellow on which I stamped a set of Crafty Individual ticket stamps and distressed the edges.

The focal image stamp is from the Stampin Up set called Open Sea.  I used Archival Ink Sepia and popped it onto dimensionals before placing it on the cover.

Whilst in London I managed to get to a craft show which was pure sensory overload !  I bought a number of interesting stamps and other goodies but will need time to sort them all out before using them.