Crystal Forest

     This project was the first one I made with the new Jane's Tree die set from John Next Door, I loved the idea of having a 3D tree. I have used a few of his other die sets to make the complete project, all part numbers are listed below.

      Using a strong white card I cut two of Jane's Tree and two of each of the larger deer from Four Seasons, plus two base pieces from the Large Lantern die set.
      I cut down the centre of one tree to the middle and up the other tree to the middle, then I slotted them together. They were then stuck onto the completed base card, glued and covered with clear glitter.
      To make the deer stand up I stuck each pair together at the top and inserted an acetate bracket between their feet.
      There is also a small pine tree from Finlay's Trees and two sets of flowers from the Four Season's set, all of these have been left as plain card - no glitter.

       The Large Lantern is cut from snowfall acetate and assembled with redline tape. Once all the plants and animals were stuck to the card base I slid it inside the lantern, stuck it down and tied the top shut with a small length of string.
      To decorate the top and hide the string I made a big bow using wire edged silver ribbon and die cut some of Lesley's Twigs, a piece of ivy and a couple of Pinstripe Poinsettia.
      These were all stuck on with hot glue, the large flower at the front and the small one at the back.   

      To finish off around the outside I die cut some icicles in plain white card and stuck them upside down, all the way around the base to look like snow covered grass.
      I did toy with the idea of adding a small light in the top, but didn't have much time to puzzle over how to fit it or how to switch it on and off, so I'll have to try that on another one sometime.
      I think this would make a nice table centre, if you have inquisitive little fingers around it's quite safe as it's all inside the acetate case and if it is dropped it won't shatter.
      Jane's Tree die set, plus a few others, will be on Hochanda on Sunday, so keep a look out for the Crystal Forest.

Materials List
JND195 - Jane's Tree die set  : centre tree
JNDCC019 - Large Lantern
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
JND187 Twig die set
JND124 Ivy Corner die
JND196 Finleys Trees : small tree 
JND194 - Four Seasons : deer & shrubs
CTGFP-10 Monochrome Glitter Card : white
CAT002 - Glue Glaze pen
S57085 - Ultra Clear Tape : Redline tape
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

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

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

As You Like It - Favourite way to add ribbon & why.....a bow to hide something
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas #214
The Holly & Ivy - Anything Christmas     Top 5
Classic Design - Anything Goes
Worldwide Open Design Team - Anything Goes for a DT  (Lockwood Angel)

Golden Bauble

     This card was made to showcase the new holly stamp and die by John Next door, when teamed up with the ivy corner it makes a great set of foliage.

     To begin with I cut and coloured the ivy, using several colours of ink makes it look more natural.
     The holly was stamped in dark green ink on green and then coloured with another shade of green ink to give it depth. John's method for lining up the die really does work, once cut out all  the holly was just right.
   

       I snipped between the leaves on the closer pair and on one sprig cut off the single leaf, once arranged with other foliage you can't tell anything has been changed.
      I was given one of John's baubles already cut by a friend at our little craft group. I matted the bauble on an embossed white panel, then matted that on old gold and a white card blank.
     Once the bauble was stuck on it was easy to lay up the foliage and decide where to glue it. The addition of a die cut greeting on the bauble and some red gems for berries finished it off nicely.


Materials List
JND135 Holly Die
JND136 Shaded Holly Stamp
JND126 Round Bauble Die
JND124 Ivy Corner Die

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

ABC Christmas - S-Sparkle & T-Texture

Sparkles Christmas - Winter Wishes

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas/optional patterned paper

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas