Three Trees and Deer Yuletide Season Christmas Cards

These are the last three Christmas cards I made for me to use in 2019.  These cards were made using the SU! 'Dashing Deer', 'Winter Woods' and other stamp and die sets, the 'Softly Falling' embossing folder for texture and some Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper for the all important seasonal sparkle.

I do love to see a group of cards together!

Here is just one card.  The colour combo is Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede and Whisper White.  The large trees, the deer and the sentiment squares were all popped up on Dimensionals.  I added three die cut snowflakes cut from the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper to complete the card fronts.

 

Here is a closer look to show the texture and sparkle better.

 

Here's how I decorated the inside of each card.

Here's how I decorated each envelope flap.  The sentiment was perfect as I gave one card to my hubby and the other two cards went to very dear friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Dashing Deer', 'Winter Woods', 'Greatest Part of Christmas', 'Frosted Foliage' & 'Christmas Gleaming' sets
CS: SU! Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz & Whisper White, SU! Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
Ink: SU! Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! 'Detailed Deer', 'In the Woods', 'Snowfall' & 'Stitched Shapes' die sets, circle punch, 'Softly Falling' embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals
Ruth

One Sketch Layout - Nine Christmas Cards

Following a card layout makes a card come together quickly and easily and that's very welcome at Christmas!  I made nine cards for my card group ladies using one sketch layout.  I kept the same sentiments and used the same 'Nested Label' die cut shape. 

Here are all nine cards.

Here is a group of three cards.

 

A second group of three cards.

 

The last group of three cards.

 

Card one.

 

Card one inside and envelope.

 Card two.

 

Card two inside and envelope.

 

Card three.

Card three inside and envelope.

Card four.

 

Card four inside and envelope.

 

Card five. 

 

Card five inside and envelope.

 

Card six.

 Card six inside and envelope.

Card seven.

 

Here's a closer look at the poinsettia.  I used a technique where you stack layers of single ply napkins plus one CS layer (the CS layer goes at the bottom) before die cutting a shape.  Once the shapes have been die cut you add colour using water and your chosen medium - I used Real Red and Cherry Cobbler inks from a re-inker bottle applied using an Aquapainter.  You then need to let the shapes dry completely before assembling.  I loved the velvet like finish and the different colour shading - some of the napkin layers needed to be glued together and I wasn't keen on that aspect!  I'm glad I tried the technique but it's not something to do if you're pressed for time and you need to make quite a few.

 Card seven inside and envelope. 

 

Card eight.

Card eight inside and envelope.

 

Card nine.

 Card nine inside and envelope.

 It was great fun to use the same layout with different colours, techniques, supplies and embellishments to end up with nine different cards!

Ruth

December 2019 Card Group Projects

Whew, December was a busy, busy month!  Finally I've got some time to share the cards we made at our December card group meeting.  We only make two cards at our Christmas meeting as we send time having some festive fun along with the crafting!  Both cards were made using images from the SU! 'Pop of Petals' set.

The first card is a Christmas card featuring a stamped wreath using an image from the 'Pop of Petals' stamp set.  I made a Real Red A6 size card base and added a patterned paper flagged banner .  I die cut a circle from a piece of CS and used the negative piece to draw a pencil circle on a piece of white CS so I had a guide as to where to stamp the images to form the wreath.  I stamped three layers in Pretty Peacock ink - first I stamped three times in stamped off twice ink, second I stamped three times in stamped off once ink and then the third layer was stamped three times in full strength ink.  I used a stitched square die to cut out the panel and glued that over the top of the banner.  I stamped the gorgeous sheer ribbon bow from the SU! 'Wishing You Well' stamp set in Real Red ink, fussy cut it out and popped it up on the side of the wreath.  To complete the card front I added three clusters of red rhinestone jewels.

 

Here's the inside and the enveloope.  I drew a line with a Real Red marker from the sentiment and added a patterned paper punched ornament.  I used a metallic Sharpie to colour the top of the ornament.  The element for the envelope was made from a stamped sentiment and more punches.

 

The second card is a birthday card using flower and leaf images from the 'Pop of Petals' set and an almost monochromatic colour combo - Rococo Rose, white and a little pop of Old Olive.  I stamped the 'Hardwood' background stamp on the front of the card base - the stamp isn't wide enough to cover the entire front of an A6 card front so I cut off a bit from the side and glued a white panel inside the card.  I stamped the sentiment, cut out the 'Stitched Nested Label', stamped three flowers in Rococo Rose ink going from full strength to stamped off twice and layered the stamped flowers onto plain punched flowers.  I stamped two leaves, fussy cut them out, tucked them behind a flower and popped the whole label up.

 

Here's the inside and envelope.  I used a background stamp and sentiment from my much loved 'Butterfly Basics' stamp set for the inside and punched flowers for the envelope.

 

Santa couldn't make it to hand out the Secret Santa gifts, but it was OK as an elf was on hand to do the job!

What a lovely afternoon we had, I'm looking forward to starting a whole new year of card groups in January 2020! 

Supplies for Christmas card:
Stamps: SU! 'Pop of Petals', 'Wishing You Well' & 'Christmas Traditions' stamp sets, Hero Arts '???' set
CS: SU! Real Red, Pretty Peacock &Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! 'Brightly Gleaming' Specialty DSP
Ink: SU! Real Red & Pretty Peacock
Tools: SU! 'Gleaming Ornaments' punch pack, 1/4" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch & 'Pretty Label' punch, MFT 'Fishtail Flags' Stax die
Embellishments & accessories: SU! red rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals

Supplies for birthday card:
Stamps: SU! 'Pop of Petals' & 'Butterfly Basics' stamp sets, SU! 'Hardwood' background stamp
CS: SU! Rococo Rose & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Rococo Rose & Old Olive
Tools: SU! 'Stitched Nested Labels' die set, SU! 'Four Petal Flower' punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals
Ruth

Ornaments Split Diagonal Panels Christmas Wishes Card

This card was made following an unusual layout from Dena Rekow's November Facebook class, it has loads of potential I think, lots of possibilities!  Dena's layout was portrait oriented but I rotated the layout to landscape.

I love non traditional colours for Christmas cards and the SU! 'Brightly Gleaming' Specialty DSP is so rich and elegant.  I immediately thought of using patterned paper for the split diagonal panels and once I'd decided on the paper the rest of the card came together really quickly.  I adhered the two diagonal panels to the front of the Mossy Meadow card base and added Night of Navy CS strips.  I stamped the 'Merriest Christmas Wishes' sentiment from the 'Dashing Deer' set but trimmed the banner to only show the 'Christmas Wishes' words.  I glued that in place but popped up the punched ornaments.  I adhered three copper star embellishments to complete the card front.

 

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope featuring more of that gorgeous patterned paper.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Christmas Gleaming' , 'Dashing Deer' & 'Greatest Part of Christmas'' sets
CS: SU! Mossy Meadoe, Night of Navy & Very Vanilla 
Patterned paper: SU! 'Brightly Gleaming' Specialty DSP
Ink: SU! Night of Navy
Tools: SU! 'Gleaming Ornaments' punch pack
Embellishments & accessories: SU! 'Star Designer Elements', Dimensionals
Ruth

Snowflake Panels Christmas Card

This is a card I've made using one of the fab layouts that Dena Rekow from the Creativity Cave designed for her November Facebook class.  I'd love to use more of the layouts but I'm just not getting the time at the moment.  I'm on a day off from work today though and I need to work on my card group prep.  After that I just might be able to make a card using a different layout!

After cutting a piece of Whisper White CS I applied SU! Seaside Spray ink with an oval make up brush - going from lighter to darker to get an ombre effect.  I then cut the piece of CS into the four panels.  I stamped the snowflakes in Night of Navy ink going from full strength ink to stamped off three times images and I edged each panel with Night of Navy ink using a sponge dauber.  I positioned the panels loosely, stamped the sentiment and then glued each panel in place.  I stamped the snowflakes in the top left corner in Seaside Spray ink and added a few rhinestone jewels to finish the front.

 

Inside I stamped the snowflakes in stamped off once Seaside Spray ink and stamped the sentiment over the top in Night of Navy ink.  Navy snowflakes on the envelope flap finished it all off. 

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Frosted Foliage' & 'Greatest Part of Christmas' sets
CS: SU! Whisper White thick & regular
Ink: SU! Night of Navy & Seaside Spray
Tools: Sponge dauber, oval make up brush
Embellishments & accessories: SU! rhinestone jewels
Ruth

Tree Frame Home Decor

I do love a good rummage around a charity shop and on a recent visit I came across a fun tree photo frame that caught my eye.  I immediately thought of placing some pretty patterned papers in the circle apertures.  It was absolutely filthy but a bargain so I brought it home and gave it a thorough cleaning.

As the frame was tree shaped I decided that papers from the SU! 'Bird Ballad' pack would be ideal.  I have circle dies that are the perfect size for the apertures so it was quick and easy to cut out the papers.

 

Here's a closer look at the circle apertures.

 

What a sweet little project to work on.  It will be very easy to replace the patterned papers so I can change things up any time for a bit of variety!

Ruth

Bird Ballad Gift Bag

A week or so back we spent a few days away in the New Forest and I bought a friend some fudge as a little gift while we were shopping in Lymington one day.  Rather than just presenting the fudge in the cellophane bag it came in I thought I'd make it a bit more special by making a gift bag. 

I chose pretty papers from the SU! 'Bird Ballad' DSP pack for the bag and the tag.  After assembling the bag I punched two holes at the top and made a tag using two 'Stitched Nested Labels' dies.  I popped up the bird label onto the Old Olive label with Dimensionals.  I used some old, long retired Old Olive grosgrain ribbon to add the tag to the gift bag.

 

Here's a side view.

Here's a closer look at the tag.

Supplies:
Stamps: none
CS: SU! Old Olive 
Patterned paper: SU! 'Bird Ballad' DSP
Ink: none
Tools: WRMK Gift Bag Punch Board, SU! 'Stitched Nested Labels' die set, Crop-A-Dile
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals
Ruth

November 2019 Card Group Projects

Unfortunately, circumstances meant we had to cancel our October card group meeting so it was especially nice to see everyone at group this afternoon.  I just can't believe we've only got one more group left in 2019!

The cards we made at the September card group meeting proved a tad challenging and the ladies pleaded with me for "simple cards next time".  So, a month later than originally planned, I'm sharing the three simple cards I designed for them.

I went to The Works - I don't go in there very often but when I do I make a beeline for the dies and other crafty supplies.  I can't seem to visit The Works without picking up a couple of dies because they are such a bargain, I just can't resist!  On this visit I came across a roll of Santa's belt ribbon and I thought it would make a cute and simple Christmas card.  I wrapped a section of the ribbon around a square of Real Red CS that I'd embossed with the SU! 'Subtle' embossing folder, layered that onto a mat of Basic Black CS and added black punched circles to act as buttons. I thought the sentiment was ideal for this Santa coat card as it's what Saint Nicholas says at the end of "The Night Before Christmas", the poem written by Clement Clarke Moore.  After stamping the sentiment I added three red rhinestone jewels.

 

The 'Subtle' embossing folder adds such a nice touch of texture!  I layered a few circle punched shapes together to add dimension to the buttons.

 

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope.

 

The second card features a holly wreath die I also picked up from The Works.  I cut the bow portion of the die separately from Real Red CS, snipped it and glued it over the top of the Mossy Meadow wreath shape.  I lifted the holly leaves up a bit for some dimension and added pearls to embellish.  I absolutely love the mixed fonts of the 'Christmas Greetings' sentiment!

 

Here's a closer look at the wreath, the detailing on the holly leaves is fab!

 

I used some long retired SU! patterned paper to decorate the inside of the card and the envelope.

 

The final card is a birthday card - although with different sentiments it could become a Christmas card! A good design for a male too I think!  I finally used my SU! 'Painted Seasons' goodies (stamps, dies and patterned paper) that I got during Sale-A-Bration at the beginning of the year.  The card base is Crumb Cake, the mat layer is Soft Suede and the plain CS strip is Poppy Parade.  I stamped the pine cones in Soft Suede ink, the leaves in Call Me Clover ink and the sentiment in Poppy Parade ink.  The pine cone on the left is popped up on Dimensionals.

 

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope.

 

Every year at card group we exchange Secret Santa gifts and I make the tags to go on the presents and distribute them at the November meeting.  This year I've used a pretty holly ornament die that - surprise, surprise, I got in The Works! 

I die cut the ornament in SU! Shaded Spruce CS and adhered a Whisper White CS circle behind the ornament shape.  One of my Nestabilities circle dies was the perfect 3 1/4" size - what a result!  I added red rhinestones as holly berries and tied on red and white baker's twine to complete the tags.

Here's the pile of tags.

Here's just one tag.  I love the font of the merry Christmas plus the detail on the holly leaves!  

 

As a bit of fun I put names in a hat and held a draw for two prizes - one each of the holly wreath die and the holly ornament die.  Can't wait for next month and the Secret Santa pressies, that's always fun!

Supplies for Santa coat card:
Stamps: SU! 'Greatest Part of Christmas' & 'Christmas Traditions' sets
CS: SU! Real Red, Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU! 'Subtle' embossing folder, heart from SU! 'Trim Your Stocking' die set, SU! circle punches, SU! 'Christmas Traditions' punch
Embellishments & accessories: Santa belt ribbon from The Works, SU! red rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals

Supplies for holly wreath card:
Stamps: SU! 'Greatest Part of Christmas' set
CS: SU! Mossy Meadow, Real Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Season of Cheer' DSP
Ink: SU! Mossy Meadow
Tools: M&C Boutique holly wreath die from The Works, circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: white pearls, red pearls

Supplies for pine cones birthday card:
Stamps: SU! 'Painted Seasons' & 'Perennial Birthday' set
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Soft Suede & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Painted Seasons' DSP
Ink: SU! Call Me Clover, Poppy Parade & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! 'Four Seasons' & 'Stitched Rectangles' die sets
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals

Supplies for gift tags:
Stamps: none
CS: SU! Shaded Spruce & Whisper White
Ink: none
Tools: M&C Boutique holly ornament die from The Works, circle Nestabilities die
Embellishments & accessories: red & white baker's twine, SU! red rhinestone jewels
Ruth