Snowflake Floating Front Card - 52 {C}CT Oct Colour Challenge

We have a colour challenge for you this week at 52 {C}CT.  I do love a non traditional combo for a Christmas card and these colours are bright and fun!  Remember to use at least three of the colours in your card.

 

Floating front cards are my current fave style of card to make - I love that they're dimensional but  fold flat to go in an envelope and that they're easy to make.  If you fancy trying a floating front card yourself there are instructions on my Tutorials page HERE.  

I chose the blue, aqua and magenta colours for my card.  The card base is made from Coastal Cabana CS and I covered three panels with Whisper White CS dry embossed with a polka dots folder.  I layered three stamped and die cut snowflakes together to create a floating front element and I attached that to the card by gluing the snowflake to butterfly hinges I made from punched circles folded in half.   I die cut two Coastal Cabana scallop edged borders, glued them to the card and added white punched snowflakes.  I added coloured rhinestones to the snowflakes - the aqua ones I had in my stash but I used Sharpie markers to add colour to clear rhinestones to get the deep blue and magenta gems.  To complete the card front I added some clear rhinestones to the arms of the large blue snowflake.

Here's a view of the card from the top.

Here's a view of the butterfly hinges which allow the image to float when the card is on display but allow the card to be folded flat to go in an envelope.  I used a 1" circle folded in half.  I applied glue to the front tabs of the hinges and pressed the snowflake floating front element down onto the hinge tabs.    

Here's the back of the card where you can see the sentiment panel and the closure made with a punched circle and a cut slit. 

Here's the card folded flat with the envelope.  My finished card measures 5 3/4" square and I used a 6 1/4" square envelope.

Putting this card together reminded me of a favourite Laura Ashley shirt I owned back in the 80's - one of those long oversized shirts with the shoulder pads - it had a magenta background and large royal blue and paler blue flowers and jade green leaves - I REALLY loved that shirt - and the bright pink suede pixie boots I most probably wore with the shirt, ah, happy times!  

I hope you'll play along with this fun colour challenge and add a Christmas card to your stash.  Link up your colourful Christmas creation at the 52 {C}CT challenge post, I look forward to seeing what you make!  

This is my last card for 52 {C}CT as I'm stepping down from the DT after this challenge.  I joined in June 2012 and I've enjoyed creating many festive cards over that time - huge thanks to the lovely ladies at 52 {C}CT who made it fun!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Festive Flurry' set, Hero Arts 'Wonderful Christmas' cling set
CS: SU! Coastal Cabana & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Danube Blue & Lilac Posies, SU! Coastal Cabana, Sharpie markers
Tools: SU! 'Festive Flurry' Framelits dies, Large Scallop Edgelits die, 1" & 1 1/4" circle punches, Simply Scored, Cuttlebug Polka Dots embossing folder, Fiskars Snowflake punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals

 

Christmas Jumpers Cosy Christmas Card

Happy World Card Making Day, I will be playing and creating in my craft room all day to mark the occasion!  If you fancy joining in the global card making event and want to make a Christmas card, pop over to 52 {C}CT where we have a sketch challenge for you to take part in. 

 

I've inked up the two sweet, woolly jumpers from the Woodware 'Christmas Knits' stamp set.  I stamped onto watercolour paper, used inks and a water brush to colour the images and I fussy cut both jumpers.  I saw the 'Cable Knit Pattern' embossing folder at my local craft shop, the Glitter Pot,  and knew it would be perfect to use with the Christmas jumpers!  I embossed two squares of Core'dinations CS with the folder and sanded it to bring out the embossed pattern detail.  I layered the Fired Brick square onto a larger Island Indigo square, layered the Pool Party square onto a larger Early Espresso square and glued the panels to the front of a white DL sized card base.  The 'have a cosy christmas' sentiment in the set is on three lines so I used masking to stamp the sentiment on just one line.  I popped up the jumpers and added Stickles to both of the noses.  I threaded the teeny tiny buttons with sewing thread before attaching the buttons to the card front.  

 

Inside I stamped the mittens as if they're hanging from the sentiment and added more cable knit embossed CS.  I stamped, watercoloured, fussy cut and attached a snowman head to punched circles to decorate the envelope flap.  A very jolly card to make!

Please join us this week and make a Christmas card using this wonderful layout.  Link up your creations to the 52 {C}CT sketch challenge post HERE.  I look forward to seeing what you make!

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodware 'Christmas Knits' set, Hero Arts 'Holiday Cheer' clear set, Imaginisce Mittens Snag'em clear stamp
CS: PaperMania white DL card blank, SU! Island Indigo & Early Espresso, SU! Pool Party Core'dinations CS, Ranger Fired Brick Core'dinations CS
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Pool Party, Island Indigo, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede & Wild Wasabi
Tools: square Nestabilities dies, X Cut 'Cable Knit Pattern' 6" x 6" embossing folder, circle punches, water brush
Embellishments & accessories: 'Orange Peel' & 'Xmas Red' Stickles glitter glues, PaperMania monochrome tiny buttons, black & white sewing thread, glue dots, fine sandpaper, SU! Dimensionals

Suspended Snowflake Spinner Card - 52 CCT Sept Stash Challenge

The lovely Asha, our September challenge hostess, has a fabulous stash challenge for us this week at 52 {C}CT - Diamonds & Pearls.  Well, I had a blast making my card for this challenge!  My 'diamonds' are SU! Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper and rhinestone jewels and for the pearls I used pearl jewels plus white with a hint of silver pearl CS. 

 

First off I made a 5 3/4" square Night of Navy card base and  I die cut the circle burst from a square of gorgeous Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper.  The Memory Box 'Large Circle Burst' die has been on my want list for a long while and I gave into the temptation very recently!  I was delighted to find that one of my favourite SU! 'Festive Flurry' snowflake stamps was the perfect size for the circle aperture and I stamped the snowflake onto the pearl CS in Night of Navy ink.  I knew the ink wouldn't dry on the coated pearl CS so I heat embossed the image with clear powder.  Then I had a light bulb moment - it occurred to me I could use the holes of the die to suspend the snowflake within the aperture.  I cut the circle burst from the front of the navy card base and glued the Dazzling Diamonds panel over the top.  I stamped and heat embossed another snowflake, die cut the two shapes, threaded silver thread through two holes, tied a knot and glued the two snowflakes back to back on either side of the thread.  Not only is the snowflake suspended within the aperture but if you twist the thread a few times before placing the card in an envelope the snowflake will spin when the recipient opens the card!  I haven't made a spinner card in a while so it was fun playing with that for a few moments - I really should get out more LOL!

Here's the card when it's closed ready to slip inside the envelope.  I added pearl and rhinestone jewels on the outer circle of holes, placed Night of Navy die cut corners and added punched pearly snowflakes.  One thing about this circle burst die is you get lots of dots left over from die cutting so I placed a larger sparkly dot on each snowflake centre followed by a teeny tiny rhinestone.  

Here's the card open showing the suspended snowflake.

 

Here's the card fully open.  Talk about precision placement - I had to get the Night of Navy and white circles in exactly the right position because I wanted the white circle to show behind the snowflake - but with the sentiment hidden - and the navy showing behind the two rows of dots.  Easily done thanks to Collall photo glue (AKA snotty glue!) which gives you time to wiggle your pieces into place before the glue dries! 

Stamped snowflakes and a die cut name label on the front of the envelope completed the card.

Do please join us this week, have fun making a card and link it up at our 52 {C}CT Diamonds & Pearls stash challenge - it will be great to add another Christmas card to your stash!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Festive Flurry' set, Stampendous 'Small Merry Christmas', PSX 'Snowflake Medley', IndigoBlu 'Snowflake Lace'
CS: SU! Night of Navy & Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, white with a hint of silver Centura Pearl CS
Ink: SU! Night of Navy
Tools: Memory Box 'Large Circle Burst' die, SU! 'Festive Flurry' Framelits die set, MFT 'Photo Corners' Die-Namics die set,  X Cut snowflake punch, circle Nestabilities dies, label dies from Sizzix 'Card, Fancy Frame Flip-Its #2' Framelits die set, heat tool
Embellishments & accessories: clear embossing powder, SU! rhinestone & pearl jewels, PaperMania teeny tiny gems 

 

Nordic Dove Season's Greetings Card - 52 {C}CT Sept Theme Challenge

Asha has chosen a marvellous theme for us as our challenge this week at 52 {C}CT - Nordic Christmas.  Nordic made me immediately think of Sarah Lund's jumpers (from the TV series 'The Killing'), we love Scandi noir crime thrillers in our house!

 

So what exactly is a Nordic or Scandinavian Christmas?  Here are Asha's wonderful guidelines:

Simply put, it's rustic, minimalist, cool, cozy, calm and peaceful. That means Natural and Neutral tones such as wood, black, white, kraft, silver, wheat. The most popular accent colour is Red.  Green or Blue are alternative complimentary colours but avoid using all three unless you have lots of neutral colours and  space to maintain the uncluttered feel. Repeat patterns are another common feature. It's all about light and purity. For texture, opt for natural material such as wood, straw accessories, tree branches, pine cones, linen.

The Look: Homespun, Handmade, Nothing Manufactured. Simple elegance is the motto but not necessarily extreme CAS. Keep your designs light, fresh and not overly embellished - that's it!

I've opted for a red, white and kraft colour combo and used the Woodware 'Nordic Dove & Branch' stamp set.   Cheery red and white gingham, that's always homely and cosy to me so I definitely wanted to include that!  I stamped the dove in Real Red ink, layered the white panel onto a Crumb Cake mat, added ribbon strips at two corners and added a bow.  My friend Wendy ordered some SU! Nordic Designer Buttons and she very kindly gave me one each of the buttons and the red and white one just HAD to go on my card somewhere!  I threaded the button with some linen thread, attached it to a punched Crumb Cake 3/4" circle and placed it on the dove.  After stamping and cutting out the sentiment strip I stamped and punched the heart circle element which I then popped up.

Another red stitched heart was stamped inside the card along with a sentiment stamped in Crumb Cake ink.

I punched just a portion of the stamped dove image with a circle punch - the portion made me think of a snowflake - although I know a snowflake really only has six 'arms'!  Anyway, I matted the circle onto a larger Crumb Cake punched circle and placed it on the envelope flap - and I really liked how that looked!  

Please do check out the natty Nordic designs from the rest of the DT - including a wow make from Peg, a guest designer.  Then go off and make a cosy Christmas creation yourself and link it up on our 52 {C}CT challenge post here - and have fun!

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodware 'Nordic Dove & Branch' set, heart from PaperMania Home for Christmas 'Baubles' cling set, Hero Arts 'Holiday Cheer' clear set
CS: SU! Real Red, Crumb Cake & Whisper White 
Ink: SU! Real Red & Crumb Cake
Tools: various sized circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: red & white gingham ribbon, SU! Nordic Designer Button, linen thread,  Dimensionals

Baubles Flourish Merry Christmas Card - 52 {C}CT Sept Colour Challenge

Asha has set us a wonderful colour challenge this week at 52 {C}CT.

Red  OR  Blue  +  Black  AND  White  +  Silver  OR  Gold

You may use various shades of Red (such as burgundy, poppy, crimson, scarlet, excluding pink) OR Blue (royal blue, sky blue, cornflower blue, navy).

My choice was to add blue and silver to the black and white for my card.  I've made black, white and blue Christmas cards before and loved the combo but I haven't made one for a long time and I really enjoyed using the combo again.

I stamped the Baubles Flourish image in black ink onto a white CS panel, stamped the baubles on a separate piece of CS in Marina Mist ink and fussy cut the Marina Mist baubles.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment with silver powder, layered the white panel onto a black mat, adhered that to the front of a 5 3/4" square Marina Mist card base and popped up the baubles.  I added three Marina Mist punched snowflakes and sprinkled on silver nailheads to complete the card front.

The IndigoBlu Baubles Flourish stamp is a gorgeous, elegant image - it has flourishes and snowflakes so that's a winner with me straight away - but I also love that you can use just the flourish part of the image.  As I always decorate the insides of my cards plus the envelopes I knew I'd use that feature a lot!  After I'd stamped the flourishes on opposite corners I added the stamped and silver embossed sentiment panel and decided to add one bauble hanging from the flourish.  I added tiny punched snowflakes and sprinkled more silver nailheads.

Here's the envelope flap with another bauble and more snowflakes.

Please do join us this week at 52 {C}CT, you know that Christmas card stash needs topping up!  The rest of the DT have made wonderful cards to inspire you so check those out before you get on with your own festive makes!

Supplies:
Stamps: IndigoBlu 'Baubles Flourish', Stampendous 'Fancy Christmas', inside sentiment from Hero Arts 'Very Merry Christmas' clear set
CS: SU! Marina Mist, Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Marina Mist, Encore Silver pigment ink
Tools: heat tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: silver embossing powder, small & large silver nailheads, SU! Dimensionals

From Our House To Yours Christmas Card - 52 {C}CT Sept Sketch Challenge

It's the start of a new month which means a new challenge hostess at 52 CCT and during September the lovely Asha will be our hostess.  This week at 52 CCT we have a sketch challenge for you - what a fun layout!

 

For my card I've mixed new and old stash - my new SU! 'Holiday Home' stamp set and some old, hoarded patterned paper.  I stamped the sentiment, cut it out with a fishtail flag banner die, shaped it and glued the banner to the Real Red A6 card base. I adhered the holly paper and added the ribbon and a bow.  I stamped the house in VersaFine Vintage Sepia ink on watercolour paper, coloured with inks and a water brush, stamped Real Red festive lights and fussy cut the house.  I die cut 4 circles using Very Vanilla and Wild Wasabi CS circles and popped up the house.  I stacked three vanilla die cut snowflakes together and added a red sparkly dome sticker to the centre. 

I added more holly paper inside and on the envelope flap and stamped another sentiment to complete the card.  

Please do check out what the other DT members have made to inspire you and then go and create a Christmas card using this fab layout.  Link up your card on this post at 52 {C}CT so we can visit your blog and see your festive creations!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Holiday Home' set, Woodware 'Happiest of Christmases' set
CS: SU! Real Red, Wild Wasabi & Very Vanilla, watercolour paper
Patterned paper: SU! 'Holly Berry Bouquet' DSP pack
Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia, SU! Baked Brown Sugar, Daffodil Delight, Real Red & So Saffron
Tools: circle Nestabilities dies, Sweet Dixie 'Snowflakes' die set, MFT Die-namics 'Fishtail Flags Stax' die, water brush
Embellishments & accessories: PaperMania red Shimmer Dome Sticker, SU! Dimensionals

Flourishes & Snowflakes Merry Christmas Card - 52 {C}CT Aug Pick A Previous Sketch Challenge

This week at 52 {C}CT we're asking you to pick one of our previous sketches to create a Christmas card with.

 

I've chosen to use sketch #25 from February 2014 because I hadn't used that sketch before due to taking a break from 52 {C}CT at that time.

 

Firstly,  I stamped the very gorgeous IndigoBlu 'Vintage Flourish' stamp a few times on Bermuda Bay CS using Bermuda Bay ink to create a background.  I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white powder.  I added two strips of patterned paper and a strip of silver glimmer paper to the Bermuda Bay panel and glued it to the front of my 5 3/4" square Pool Party card base.  I stamped and die cut the snowflake, die cut the circles and popped up the snowflake.  I punched three sparkly silver snowflakes, glued them down and completed the front by adding some deep aqua gems. 

For the inside of the card I cut a white panel, stamped a partial Bermuda Bay flourish and stamped the sentiment in Island Indigo ink.  I used snowflake patterned paper to decorate the flap of the envelope. 

Please do join us at 52 {C}CT for our Pick a Previous Sketch challenge this week, you know it will feel great to add another Christmas card to your stash!  We have an archive of our previous sketches so all you have to do is visit the sketch archive page and select a sketch to work with.  As always, there will be wonderful inspiration from the rest of the DT so do check out their cards.  Very sadly, Mynnette is no longer with our DT as she has chosen to step down.  I'm sure you'll all miss seeing her fab cards each week - I know I certainly will - and she will be missed so much at 52 {C}CT!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Festive Flurry' & 'Greetings of the Season' sets, IndigoBlu 'Vintage Flourish' stamp, Stampendous 'Snow Brackets' stamp
CS: SU! Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Island Indigo & Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Patterned paper: SU! 'Winter Frost' DSP
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate & Island Indigo, VersaMark
Tools: SU! 'Festive Flurry' die set, circle Nestabilities dies, snowflake punches, heat tool
Embellishments & accessories: PaperMania aqua gems, SU! Dimensionals

Deer & Trees Card & Patch Snowman Card - 52 {C}CT Aug Stash Challenge

Our challenge hostess Gill is asking us to use both glitter AND bling on our cards for the 52 {C}CT stash challenge this week.  You can't beat some seasonal sparkle!

 

I have an abundance of glitter and bling in my stash - loose glitter, glitter glues, glittery embossing powders, glittery embossing pastes, glittered CS, glittered patterned paper, glittered embellishments, rhinestones, gem brads and jewelled embellishments.  It was so hard to choose what to use for this challenge so I made two cards!

This first card features sparkly embossing paste and rhinestone brads for the glitter and bling.  I applied Gun Metal Sparkle Medium paste through the stencil onto a piece of acetate and when the paste had dried I fixed the acetate piece to a larger piece of Soft Sky CS with rhinestone brads.  I adhered the panel to a 5 3/4" square Basic Grey card base.  I stamped the sentiment, die cut two flag banners, offset them, added another rhinestone brad and popped up the banners.

Snowflake stamps are always hard for me to resist and I just HAD to have the beautiful IndigoBlu 'Snowflake Lace' stamp when I saw it.  I've stamped it in Soft Sky ink to decorate the inside of the card and the envelope.  As with the card front I chose a sentiment for the inside that doesn't mention 'Christmas' as it's always good to have a card to give to friends or family that don't celebrate 'Christmas' but that you want to remember and include.

Of course, I had to show more of the beautiful snowflake stamp so I stamped on the front of the envelope too!  I added a name label and two rhinestones.

My second card features glitter glues and rhinestones for the glitter and bling.  Snowman stamps are also hard for me to resist but this one I was able to borrow, thanks to my very kind friend Lesley.  It's a large stamp so I used a 5" x 7" card base and covered the card front with snowflake patterned paper.  I got busy stamping and snipping to paper piece the snowman and I used markers to add colour to the smaller areas of the image.  Once finished I fixed the white panel to a Cherry Cobbler CS mat layer with black brads and I adhered the panel to the card front.  I stamped the sentiment, cut it out with a label die, sponged the edges with Cherry Cobbler ink and glued it to the card.  I used three different Stickles glitter glues to add a touch of sparkle to my snowman, glittering the side of his body, his nose and the holly berries on his hat.  I added rhinestones to the four black brads, to the sentiment label and to the heart.  To complete the card front I added teeny black buttons to the snowman.  

 

Here's a close up of the glittered parts of the snowman.

Here's the inside and the envelope flap with just stamped snowflakes and a sentiment.  I do love red and pale blue together on Christmas cards!  

So rummage in your stash and break out that sparkle and shine to create a Christmas card for our stash challenge at 52 {C}CT this week.  I look forward to seeing your dazzling creations!

Supplies for card one:
Stamps: 'Warm Winter Wishes' from SU! 'Snowflakes' set, Penny Black 'Beautiful Season', IndigoBlu 'Snowflake Lace'
CS: SU! Basic Grey, Soft Sky & Whisper White, acetate
Ink: SU! Basic Grey & Soft Sky
Tools: Imagination Crafts 'The Clearing' stencil, MFT Die-Namics 'Fishtail Flags Stax' die, label dies from Sizzix 'Card, Fancy Frame Flip-its #2' die set, 1 3/4" & 2" circle punches, spatula, paper piercer
Embellishments & accessories: Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium Gun Metal paste, SU! rhinestone brads 

Supplies for card two:
Stamps: Woodware 'Patch Snowman', SU! 'Sweet Essentials' set, Hero Arts 'Holiday Cheer' clear set, Woodware 'Snowflakes & Sparkles'
CS: PaperMania 5" x 7" white card blank, SU! Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Snow Festival' DSP pack
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Baja Breeze & Cherry Cobbler ink pads, SU! Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede & Early Espresso markers
Tools: Hero Arts 'Small Tag Frame' Frame Cuts die, paper piercer
Embellishments & accessories: 'Star Dust', 'Orange Peel' & 'Xmas Red' Stickles glitter glues, black brads, PaperMania tiny black buttons, SU! rhinestone jewels