Snowman-In-A-Box

     This card is one we will be making at a workshop being held locally tomorrow. We have ten students of all skill levels coming to make some Christmas cards, some for the first time so let's hope they like snowmen!

      When finished this will fit a standard C6 envelope but it begins life as a piece of card 8" x 4", scored across the short way at 1", 2", 6" and 7". There is a square die cut from the centre panel of the card to form the window.
     It is best to decorate this layer before folding any of the crease lines, so there is double sided extra tacky tape down each side that has been covered with a mixture of craft foil and glitter.
     The snowman is stamped in Memento ink on a square of card suitable for alcohol markers, he is also decorated with glue dots covered in micro beads, foils and glitter.
     The image panel in mounted in the centre of a backing card which measures 6" x 4". Then stick the folded front to the back by glueing the end 1" wide panels only, this will make the window.

     To finish the outside of our card there is a die cut snowflake decorated with foil and glitter attached to the outside of the frame with foam pads.
     The greeting is stamped and embossed on white card and cut out with a punch before being mounted flush to the card.
     When attaching the outside embellishments remember to keep the circle inside the front edge of the window so the card will fold flat and fit inside the envelope, the snowflake will be fine as it's on the side moving across the card when folded.

Materials list - available from your  local craft shop

Woodware Craft Collection - Stampendous Silver Embossing Powder

                                          Stamps - JGS101 Snowman / FRCL184 Christmas Rounds

                                                        JGS404 Christmas Cheer

                                          

Stix2 Anything -  Iridescent Glitter

                         Silver Glitter

                         PVA Glue

                         Redline Tape

                         Micro Beads

                         Die Cut Snowflake

                         Glue Dots 3mm / 6mm / 10mm

                         Craft Foils

                         Foam Pads

                         Tape Runner

I would like to enter this Jolly Snowman in the following challenges:

Holly Jolly - Snowman

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick A Previous Theme - Snowman

ABC Christmas - V is for Very Cute

Bauble Window

   Welcome to my project for November at House Of Cards. This month we have a technique challenge for you, 'Stamped and Cut Window'.

     Yes I know, there's no stamping on my card! I didn't realise until last night, I got SO carried away with the window part of the card, I do apologise.
     I was so keen to try using some of the patterned card I have in my stash to make a few cards this year rather than just gazing at it. I had the same design in two colour ways so I thought this would make a great window card.
     I cut a square of mauve bauble card and cut a bauble shaped hole in it, then placed a paper template over the same bauble on the grey card to help me line up my die and then cut.
   

      There is a silver mirri card layer stuck on to the white card blank, then the mauve layer is stuck on top using double sided foam tape. The grey bauble is stuck flush on to the silver layer afterwards, I found it easier to line it up his way around.
     The greeting is die cut from purple mirri card and stuck flush to the card. This card has a lot of shine but it looks great from different angles.
     In theory I should now have the same design but with opposing colour ways to make another card, in practise.....we shall see!
     Come and join in the card making fun with us at House Of Cards, we have lots of inspiration for you, plus some great technique tutorials from the DT.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Glory Of Christmas - Glitter and Shine

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Previous Theme - Ornaments

A Snowflakes Promise - Winter / Christmas 

Magazine Wreath

     This wreath is made using a magazine so it has lots of colour in it, for a more subtle decoration try using an old book or sheet music. The middle can be decorated with fir cones rather than baubles for a fully recycled look.
     Each page has been rolled into a cone, this wreath has approximately 46 cones made from half of an A5 page. The overall size will vary depending on your page size.
     The first layer of cones was stuck to a cardboard circle using hot glue, the following layer was also stuck down using hot glue and placing each cone in the gap between the first ones. The centre layer has less cones as it's a smaller circle, you could continue with shorter cones and less of them until the middle is full, or you could stick baubles or cones in the centre.
     The baubles could be old ones that no longer have their hangers or bargain finds from local charity shops. This time of year they are selling lots of pre-loved decorations at great prices so you can recycle and help charities too.
     On the back of the card circle I have stuck a string loop firmly covered by another card circle so it's neat and tidy. After Christmas I can remove the baubles and save them for next year, then recycle the paper and card keeping storage to a minimum.
     Pop over to Altered Eclectics for a look at some of the other recycling ideas, there are some great gift ideas using household items. Come and join us with your creations, we would love to see them.

I would like to enter this wreath in the following challenges:

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Christmas Decorations
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Christmas
Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Christmas

Bottle Top Baubles

     This fortnight at The Male Room we would like to see your masculine creations made using 'hardware' e.g. brads, eyelets, charms. etc.  As Christmas is not too far away I chose to make a Christmas card that carries it's own present in the form of two bottle top baubles, these can be removed from the card and hung on the tree.

      These bottle tops are from a pack of new tops I had in my stash, you could just as easily make these with used ones once they've had a wash.
     Place your bottle tops in a basic sandwich of base plate and two clear plates (Bigshot), like you would for an embossing folder, and roll.
     I was a little cautious at first but they squash very well giving you a great metal disc to decorate.

      Using PVA I glued around the ridge on my tops and covered with silver glitter. Next I stamped  a snowflake on white card and embossed it in silver, adding a tiny blue gem to the centre. The next one was the word Noel stamped on to patterned paper and embossed in silver.
     Then both images were die cut, these measure approx 7/8ths of an inch, this will vary depending on your bottle top.

      The image discs were glued in place and allowed to dry. Once dry I filled the recess with Glossy Accents and left them to dry overnight.
     Each top has another card disc on the back which is stuck firmly over the silver thread which they will hang by. You could write a tiny message on them just for the recipient.
     The baubles are hung from a die cut pine branch edged with Distress Ink Faded Jeans, which is mounted on foam pads on a snowfall textured background.

     I was going to dry emboss the background with the words but in my haste to do this I mistakenly embossed the whole card blank! Not wishing to waste the blank I decided to use it as is and snowfall the front panel instead.
     Doing this meant that it would be hard to write on so I die cut a bauble shape from plain white card and stuck it over the back of the blank after colouring it blue, now there is somewhere to write and the greeting is peeping through the bauble die cut, disaster averted!
     The baubles are hung on the branch and fixed on the card with blue tac so that they will come off easily, I shall add a small note in the card to let the recipient know this.

Materials list - available from your  local craft shop

Woodware Craft Collection - Stampendous Silver Embossing Powder

                                          Glossy Accents

                                          Snowflake and 'Noel' - from clear stamp sets.

Stix2 Anything -  Iridescent Glitter

                         Silver Glitter

                         PVA Glue

                         Redline Tape

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Snowflakes Promise - Christmas/Winter
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas

Ringing Pink

     Here's something a little different, I don't use these colours very often but I think it's turned out quite well. It's Breast Cancer Awareness at Jingle Bells Challenge this month, they donate money for every pink card entered in the challenge making it a very good reason to go pink!

     The stamp is from Woodware and the sparkly bits from Stix2, there's a materials list at the end of the post.
     The card was coloured using Koi watercolour pens and acetate sheets. On one sheet scribble with the pens, starting with the palest colour first, then spritz with water. Place the other sheet on top to make a sandwich, then pull apart to reveal coloured splodges, place your card on to the splodges and you have a patterned background (well two actually as you can use both sheets of acetate). Once done wipe the acetate clean ready for next time.
     When the background has dried stamp the image using Versafine Black ink, then use the Koi pens to colour in the design. The pattern on the background will show through a little but I think it adds to the design.
     After colouring stamp the bell part of the design on to sparkly acetate and cut them out. Stick this sparkly layer over the bells to make them sparkle and shine. The other decorations on the design are made using Stix2 glue dots and glitters, foils and micro beads.
     The sparkly black card has been punched out of an A4 sheet using a lattice punch by Woodware, this punch can be used as a complete lattice or as an edge just by moving a button across to block part of the cutting process, it sounds complicated but it really isn't.
     To mount the image I used Black card and then white card coloured with an alcohol marker that would match the colours in the design. I often use white card coloured around the edge that will be seen, this way I can get my mat layers to tone in perfectly with my design.
   
Materials list - available from your  local craft shop
Woodware Craft Collection - FRS291 Christmas Bells clear stamp
                                          Koi Watercolour Pens
                                          CP19-02 Ribbon Border - Pointelle punch
                                          Watercolour card

Stix2 Anything - Stardust Glitter Card - Black
                        Sparkly Acetate
                        Glue Dots 3mm & 6mm
                        Seed Bead and Fine Glitter packs
                        Shiny Transfer foil

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - Pink Christmas

ABC Christmas - Unusual Colours

Holiday Deer

     Making holiday cards for people of other beliefs can be tricky, but not with this stamp set from MHK Designs, there are two greetings that don't mention Christmas and a winter picture.

     The set is called Holiday Deer and has a gorgeous picture and a mix of greetings for the season.    
     The picture was printed in brown on to thin cream card and then distressed with Old Paper Distress Ink, a crackle stamp and a splodge stencil. All this added to a torn edge really makes it look vintage which is what I wanted for this image.
     The beauty of a digital image is being able to change the size and even the colour if you play around with a photo package or just the settings on your printer.

      The image is mounted on a die cut layer of pearlescent chocolate card cut using a Spellbinder die set called Mega Curved Rectangles. The gold layer is made by drawing around the outside of the die and hand cutting, this is because the next size up was too big, I only wanted a small gold outline. The last layer is the same cream card as the image but not distressed.
     A Kraft card blank was stamped with a pine branch and Archival Ink Coffee before adding the image layers. The greeting was die cut using a Sizzix die Fancy Charms, I used a gold pen to colour a small edge around the shape before mounting it on foam pads across the bottom of the card.  
    In the top corner I have added some die cut pine branches and a couple of fir cones. This style would also make a great masculine holiday card, just change the greeting to a Christmas one if you wish.

Pop over to MHK Designs Facebook page or MHK Designs On A Stampage for a chance to win a stamp set.

I would like to enter my Holiday Deer in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - Unusual Christmas Colours

Christmas Card Challenges - Photo Inspiration

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - In The Wild Woods

A Snowflakes Promise - Winter / Christmas

Spooky Treats

     With Halloween fast approaching MHK Designs have released some great digital stamp sets and backing papers to help you create something spooky.

    The images have been reduced to fit within the smallest Spellbinder Pumpkin die in the set. Each one has been coloured with Distress Ink before being removed from the die so it has a little white border.  That's the beauty of digital stamps, you can make them whatever size you need.
     All the images came from Spooky and Flight by Night stamp sets.

      The little boxes are self closing so little fingers shouldn't get hurt trying to get the treats out. The instructions for these can be found here on You Tube.
     These boxes are made from one sheet of A4 thin card, printed using a backing paper from the Trick or Treat set. Four boxes from one sheet will each hold approximately three wrapped sweets, so it all works out at a reasonable price.

      Each die cut pumpkin shape is stuck on to the box with a sticky foam pad in the centre, so as the box is popped open the pumpkin doesn't bend.

     There is a Facebook page for MHK Designs which will show you all the amazing designs available, not just Halloween. You can showcase your own creations on the page and chat to the designer too.

I would like to enter these little boxes in the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - Halloween

Robyns Fetish - More than two pumpkins (each box has 1 front & 1 back)

Crafty Calendar - Halloween