Happy New Year

     Another card made with a die from John Next Door's new Art Deco collection, Kramer. The sentiment on this one makes it perfect to use in wishing you all a Happy Crafting New Year, let's hope we can return to workshops and shows soon.

     Using thick black card I cut the screen using John's latest Lantern die, I think it makes a great screen card because the feet just look right for it.

     With the Kramer die I cut two panels in the same black card and trimmed them down to fit the screen panels.

     To back these patterned panels I used a piece of thin card that had been covered with a d/s sticky sheet and then covered with guilding flakes. I've had these flakes for years, they're gorgeous but I can't 'save' everything.....it's time to use them.

    

     For the centre panel I wanted to add my sentiment but plain cream card looked wrong, so out came the Distress Ink and a blending brush. Using the die as a stencil I coloured the cream card with the same pattern as the panels but left it pale enough to see the stamping.

     I cut the cream card panel to be the same size as the others and stuck it on the screen card.

     The card looked good but not quite right, it was missing a focal point on the front. I searched through all my Mizuhiki cords to find colours that would go with the guilding flakes, stand out, but not too much. Finally settling on a mix of green, teal and copper, which can all be found in the flakes.

     The knots are simple but effective on oriental cards, adding a small touch of authenticity. 

     I hope next year sees us all return to sharing ideas and techniques in person, Happy New Year.

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

Creative Creases - #22 Use A Fun Fold

Time Out - #204 New

Modsquad - New.....include something new

Art Deco Chinese

     This is made with a die from the second release of Art Deco dies by John Next Door, Kahn. These dies have a very oriental look to them so that's the way I decided to go with this card.

     I cut the die in satin gold card and kept the pieces that popped out. Then I cut it again in gold mirri card but left a wider border around the outside, again I kept the pieces that popped out but used the framework as a mat layer on this card.

     I used a piece of oriental patterned paper to back the satin grid, mounted this on the mirri grid, then paper pieced some of the popped out bits into the gaps. The small red and black centre piece was cut and added on top to give a splash of colour.

     Another piece of the same backing paper was added to a dark red card, then the grid layer was mounted on foam to finish off.

     A simple but effective card suitable for either man or woman, a greeting could be added at a later date when required.

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

Lemon Shortbread - #161 Anything Goes

International Art & Soul - #123 Dies or Punches

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes With Dies

Merry Christmas

     I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a much Happier New Year. I am certainly hoping that 2022 is less challenging than this year has been.

     This simple little card was made using John Next Door's finger stamps, along with the antler set. The gift was stamped first, then masked before the flower pot was stamped, this was also masked before the next step.

     Using one antler stamp and brown ink I stamped the bare tree, then with a holly stencil and a pale green ink I made the background and the ground . Removing the masks and adding the stocking came next with a small gold embossed star on top.

     The mats and layers were die cut with a mixture of stitch dot and plain rectangles and mounted on a white card blank. A fun card that's nice and flat for posting.

      

Have a happy crafting holiday and see you all next year.

Scenic Baubles

 

     This month's challenge at Christmas Craft Creations is to 'Make A Scene'. It doesn't have to be a card, any handcrafted project is acceptable as long as you follow the theme.

     To make the mask for this card I die cut three different bauble shapes using John Next Door dies. I then taped this mask over a piece of white card and started to add colour with a blending brush.

     The trees and deer are also by John Next Door, these were stamped using a dark blue ink as black would have been too harsh.

      Before removing the mask I spritzed the scene with a little water containing some pearl mica, it gave it a subtle sparkle and by doing it when the mask was still on it's only across the scene.

      Having kept the cut out shapes from the mask I taped the together and then placed them over the dry scene. Using a text stamp of Christmas greetings I used second generation ink to add a pattern all over the card.

      The scene was mounted on a piece of dark blue card to give it a border, then onto a narrow mat layer of silver mirri card cut with a Presscut stitch dot edge. To get the right blue for the card I went around the edge of a white card with blue Distress ink, then mounted the scene layers on top of that.

      The bows were die cut from thick double sided silver pearl paper and finished off with a tiny blue gem. There is no greeting on the outside because the text says it all already.

      Please pop over and share your winter scenes with us at Christmas Craft Creations, we'd love to see what you've made.

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

Jingle Belles - It's a Wrap

A Place To Start - #12 Anything Goes/ twist~blue

Peace On Earth - #5 Anything Christmas

The Paper Players - PP570 Winter Wonderland

Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas

Cardz 4 Galz - #161 It's Snowtime

Crackers Are Not Just For Christmas

 

     The challenge at River Of Creativity this month is all about Celebration, this doesn't have to be Christmas, it can be the celebration of anything. I have chosen to make a cracker because I like them and think it's such a shame they only get used at Christmas, they're great for any occasion.

     This cracker is actually a half normal size version, great for tea parties and other get togethers, it also means you can cut two from one A4 sheet of card.

     Glitter card makes for a very bright cracker and using the Craft Artist non shed, non shed because it's not actually glitter atall, means there's no mess.

     Using the new strip dies from John Next Door, JND235 Shiregreen, I cut several lengths of black card to decorate the cracker before assembly. Two strips with one side and the bar middle, then one strip with both sides and the bar middle. All the strips were attached with redline tape as it's good and strong.

     To make the rosette I cut two strips in black using only one side die and stuck them together to make one long strip. Then I scored the strip at every pattern repeat, each diamond point and each gap between diamonds.

     Once all scores were made I pleated the entire strip and glued the ends together to make a ring. After the glue had dried I gently pushed the straight side of the ring down on my craft mat to make it form a rosette, this took a little bit of encouragement but it's so worth the time spent. Happy that the rosette was alright I glued a small piece of black card under the centre of the rosette, placed a small weight on top to hold it and went away for a cup of tea while it dried.

      In my stash I found a nobly clear gem that would fit perfectly over the small hole in the rosette, but I didn't want a clear gem so I coloured it yellow with an alcohol marker before sticking it firmly in place with strong glue. As the rosette had a flat back because of the small card circle it was stuck to it was easy to fix to the cracker with redline tape.

      This cracker won't actually crack, I didn't put a snap inside but you could if you wanted to. I chose to use curling ribbon to seal the cracker  because I like the curls you can make with the ribbon ends, I have used two lengths on each end to get extra curls.

      You can make these crackers with any colour combination you wish and any decoration that suits the occasion, so why limit their use to Christmas. A cracker is not just for Christmas, it's a great way to wrap a small gift any time of year.

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

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas Present

A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Creatalicious - Anything Goes/option Christmas

Gnometastic Turkey Roast

 

     The new challenge at The Paper Funday has started, this month the optional twist is 'Holidays'. You can enter any papercraft project that you have made.

     This handsome fellow is a digi stamp from Polkadoodles, you can get him pre-coloured or line drawn like this one was. The original gnome is holding a very yummy looking cake on his hand but I chose to change that and have him hold a roast turkey. 

     I think he's great for a masculine Christmas card, which is why I kept it simple, no bling, just traditional colours. I have also added a holly sprig to his hat and to the turkey for a splash of added colour. Having a greyish moustache and wearing chef whites it needed brightening up a little, that's also why I fussy cut him, to cut down on all the white card around him. 

     Please pop over and join in with the holiday spirit at The Paper Funday, we'd love to see your projects.

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

ABC Christmas - Y-yummy, Z-zigzags

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #570 Anything Christmas 

Incy Wincy Designs - Traditional Colours/Colour on Kraft

Sunday Stamps - Mood Board ~ traditional colours