Blue and Silver Swinging Snowman

     This one is a mix of old and not so old items, the die to cut the swing card is new to me and the lovely snowman came from one of last years Christmas cards. It's blue and silver to comply with the new challenge we have at Christmas Craft Creations.

     I cut the base card in white using the swing card die, it came with solid panel dies as well so I cut them in silver pearl paper.

     The blue snowflake pattern was a separate die set which I was lucky enough to get at the same time I bought the swing card set. The snowman was cut from an old card and as luck would have it he had a dark blue glitter band all the way around him.

      The hardest thing was making sure I stuck the snowman on the correct side of the circle. A nice easy card to make, especially when you get to recycle parts of old commercial cards, gentle on the pocket too. When folded up it's a 5.75inch square so standard letter post.

      Please come and join us at Christmas Craft Creations with your blue and silver projects, we'd love to see what you've made.

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

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas

Sparkles Christmas - Snowman     Top 3

The 12 Months of Christmas - #74 Card For A Child

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #528 Anything Christmas/Cute

The Holly and Ivy - #87 Anything Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - #31 Anything Christmas     Top pick

Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - #30 Take Your Pick - Shaped card/Snowflakes/Glitter

Snow Happy

     This month at Christmas Craft Creations we are looking for shaped cards. I did try a different shape but it all went horribly wrong, so here's another snowglobe. 

     As before I cut a white card blank and stuck all the globe elements on to it, including a full circle of blue card to hide the fold on the white card and make the circle of the globe complete. The die used for the snowglobe is by John Next Door. It isn't just for Christmas cards, a crafting friend has made some very nice birthday cards with photographs, it's also perfect for popping a unicorn or a castle inside.

      As we are now closing in on Christmas rather quickly being able to make some quick and easy recycled cards is very handy. Please pop over to Christmas Craft Creations and show us what you can make.

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

ABC Christmas - S - Snowy

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - 2 Things Beginning With S   Top pick

Winter Wonderland - Snowmen and Snow     Top 3

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas

Christmas With The Cuties - Bling It On

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

Snowglobe Recycling

     This month at Christmas Craft Creations our theme is Christmas characters, that could be Father Christmas, carol singers, a Nativity scene, snowmen and many more.
     Staying with my recycling theme I used a snow globe die set by John Next Door along with some of last years commercial cards. There are no progress photos because I got carried away making and forgot about the camera, it's all pretty simple though.
     I had a rummage through my card stash and found some turquoise card that was a close match to the colours in the pictures and as I had two of the same picture I made two cards, changing the colour of the base so they wouldn't be the same.
     The snowflake is a mix of several different sized ones from various sets layered up with a tiny gem in the middle. They have some shape to the base so may not be good for posting, but hand delivered will be just fine.

     We have a prize this month at Christmas Craft Creations so why not pop over and join us, you may be lucky, if not you will at least have one more Christmas card made. We also have a DT call so if you like what you see and wish to join us then please apply.

I would like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - N-no fuss/ O-over the top

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Cool

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas    (Top Pick)

Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - Anything Christmas

Ike's World - Show Us Christmas

Invisible Snowman....Well Almost

   A new challenge at Christmas At Sweet Stampin' brings another snowman, the challenge is for Christmas projects and this months theme of snow people is purely optional.

     I started with a nice white card blank and a die cut paper bow, I discovered that with a small snip and a tiny fold I could get that bow to look like a scarf.
     Some tiny clear gems coloured with a black alcohol pen for his mouth and three small buttons from the tin for his body left me hunting for some wobbly eyes.
      As most crafters do I keep small bits of card for the odd tiny die or snippet needed, so a rummage through the draw and I came out with some pearlescent orange card for a carrot nose.
      Then there was the debate over whether he should be wearing a hat or not, I decided not. One very easy card made from stash bits and bobs, a good one to make with or for a child.
      Please pop over and join us with your Christmas projects, it doesn't have to be a snowman, we'd like to see whatever you make.

I would like to enter Ducky in the following challenges:

Sparkles Christmas - Snowtime

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas/ optional-no stamp

      The Holly & Ivy - Anything Christmas

Christmas In The Sun......

.......is clearly not good for a snowman.  Our new challenge at Christmas At Sweet Stampin' is Christmas In The Sun. Half the world has a Summer Christmas and I'm ashamed to say I've never really noticed what their cards are like, this is my effort at making a sunny Christmas card.
      On a plain white card I masked the top left corner and used a stencil to add the suns rays in yellow Distress Ink.
      At the bottom I stamped a cloud, which just happens to look like a pool of melting snow. This was also in Distress Ink so I used a water brush to move the ink around a little.
      I stamped a snowman's head on black card and cut out his hat, then cut out a small carrot. These were added to the cloud, along with two googly eyes at a jaunty angle.
      It actually took longer to go through my Christmas stash to find the greeting stamp than it did to make the card, I knew I had a 'warm wishes' somewhere.
      And there you have it, a CAS, lightweight sunny Christmas card with a little humour.
      You don't have to follow our theme at Christmas At Sweet Stampin' but we would love it if you did.

I would like to enter this poor little snowman in the following challenges:

The 12 Months of Christmas - Anything Seasonal / optional - Plaid
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Seasonal / optional - For man or Boy
The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes

Let It Snow

      After watching Tim Holtz Holiday Hacks I rummaged through my Sizzix Bigz stash and found a snowman and this is what I came up with.

     In his video Tim shows how to fold a piece of card with a 'W' shape at the bottom and die cut it to get the shape to stand up all by itself. If you haven't seen the video then I would recommend taking a look at some of the ideas he shows, this one is very simple but very effective.
     Having cut my white card snowman with a 'W' bottom I then cut another shape in white glitter card to go on the front, in this layer I also cut the words 'Let It snow' with some dies from the 'Holiday Words - thin' set. To make the words show up I backed them with a small piece of light blue pearl paper.
     Once the glitter layer was stuck on the card I trimmed the bottom flush with the card and stuck a black top hat on to finish off. There is just enough room on the back of the snowman to stamp a small greeting and to write a message. I think a few more of these will be made for the Christmas card box, so this year I won't be caught out not having enough come December.

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

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Let It Snow

Winter Wonderland - It's Snowtime

The 12 Months of Christmas - Anything BUT Rectangular

Dies R Us - Anything using Die Cuts

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

Snowman In Distressed Jeans

     For my mid month inspiration at CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra I chose to raid my stash of toppers. I have a small box of toppers that I have made either at demo's or craft club meets just waiting to be mounted onto cards.
     This little chap is an Inkadinkado stamp that's just perfect for another mask and distress image. The snowman is stamped on to plain white card, then again on to a sticky note. Cut out the snowman on the sticky note, minus his arms (it's OK, it doesn't hurt him) and the scarf fringe, place this mask over the stamped image on the card.
     Tear a strip of paper to make another mask, this time for the snowdrifts. place the paper strip across your card and begin to colour the card with Distress Ink Faded Jeans, move the mask down and colour again but this time with a little less ink and a little less pressure. Repeat this again, making sure you leave the lower area white.
     Spritz the card with water and dab off with a clean piece of kitchen towel, this will give you the snowflake effect.
     Remove the mask from your snowman and allow the card to dry. Once dry colour in the hat and scarf. Mount on a small layer of silver card and then on to a decorated card blank.
     This card blank has been stamped with a selection of snowflakes in blues and silver, making a random pattern, you only need to stamp the edge that will be seen
      This year I am a little behind with my Christmas cards so having a topper stash box is proving to be very useful. I hope you like this little fellow, he has a few friends waiting their turn in the box so you may see them pop up from time to time.
      Please pop over and take a look at the DT mid month inspiration at CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra, come and join us with your creations.

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenges - Christmas Is Coming

Jingle Belles - The Great Outdoors

Christmas Box Snowman and Angel

     Last week I showed a Christmas Collection Box and promised further details of the snowman and angel, well here they are.
     The snowman is two small polystyrene balls stuck together with a cocktail stick spike between body and head. The balls were then covered with PVA glue and sprinkled with white flock.
     Once the flock was dry the tiny black gems were stuck on for his eyes and a really tiny nail art gem for his nose. His mouth is a series of small dots made with a permanent marker.
     His hat is made using the top from a lip balm stuck on to a small black card disc and coloured with a permanent marker. His scarf is a small length of blue fancy knitting yarn.
     He is stuck to a card base that has been covered with flock and clear glitter and he is backed by a small piece of snowflake scrapbook paper.

      The baubles are cut with the smallest Spellbinder bauble dies, four for each bauble. Each shape has been folded and stuck to the corresponding side of the next shape with black thread running down the middle. To get the baubles to hang properly I made a false ceiling with card and taped each thread securely to it before gluing it in place.
     The angel is made using two beads, two finding and a post. The dress is a flower trumpet and the head is a pink bead, the wings are one little finding and the tiny cap at the top is another.
     They have all been threaded on to the post, once threaded the end has been turned over to make a loop so it can be hung ( would make good seasonal earrings) or it can be bent over to look like a halo.
     This little box has been fun to make, if time allows I would like to make some more for Christmas to have dotted about the house as this one is now travelling the show circuit with J&C Creations.

Musical Snowman

    I thought making a card with a snowman on it might help me feel a little cooler.....not today. It's so good to have a summer this year though, I'm not complaining.
    This week I have mixed the snowman from Holly Jolly with music from Jingle Belles, ribbon, papers and gems from 52 CCT and a little faux stitching from CraftyHazelnut. It's all blue and white so it also qualifies as a male Christmas card for Cards for Men who are doing Christmas in July.
    Talking of cards for men, have you had a look at the new challenge blog for male cards? It's called The Male Room and it launches next Wednesday with an 'Anthing Goes' theme. Please pop over and have a look, every day until the launch they are showing a new card made by the design team to get you inspired.
    Back to the snowman, he has been cut using a Sizzix die-Winter Wonder from music card made by stamping in Distress Ink faded Jeans on to white card, the edges are blended with the same ink. He then has 25 cut out using a Sizzix Movers and Shapers die with silver star mirri card placed behind.
    He is mounted with foam pads on to a snowfall embossed panel that has faux stitching around the edge and a blue ribbon across the lower part. The paper underneath that is from my stash, it's been around for some time so I can't remember where it came from. There are three gems in the corners on this paper and a snowflake to finish it off.

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

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 1 Ribbon, 2 Papers & 3 Gems

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Snowmen

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Stitching

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas

Jingle Belles - Sleigh Bells Ring (music)

Cards For Men - Christmas in July

Snowman Blues

    Back to cards for Christmas this week. This happy little snowman is a stamp from the Tatty Button range by Creative Expressions.  He was stamped on to plain white card in black Archival Ink, then masked with a sticky note while the background was made using a torn piece of paper and Distress Ink Broken China.
   The image is cut out with a Spellbinder die - Labels Seventeen, as was the turquoise mirri card that is behind it. The image is mounted on foam pads but the mirri card is flush to the patterned paper that covers the front of a white card blank. The snowman's hat, scarf and nose are coloured with Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks, they do have a lovely mica shine that unfortunately doesn't show well in the photo.
    There is a strip of dark turquoise ribbon across the lower front of the card as well as a clear gem in each corner. The greeting is die cut using Britannia Word Dies and white pearl card.

    I would like to enter my snowman in the following challenges : 

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Sketch

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Card for a child

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Tic Tac Toe

Penny Black Snow Family

 I would like to bring together my entry for this weeks 52 Christmas Card Throwdown and a post for J and C Creations blog, which has this month's challenge as Animal Antics featuring Penny Black. This lovely Snow Family is a stamp from Penny Black, now I know they're not exactly animals but they are very cute and they do bring a smile to your face and there just might be a tiny animal under all that snow, honest!
They have been stamped in Archival Black ink and coloured with watercolour pens. I used a grey Promarker to add a little shading and if you look closely you might be able to see that the bobbles on their hats are fluffy, I found some flock in my stash that's been there for years because you only ever use a little at a time.

The background has been embossed with an embossing folder from Cuttlebug - Snowflakes. I chose not to try and emboss the lower part as once snow has fallen it looks smooth ( and I didn't want to mess it up!).
I cut around the family and across the lower background and then mounted it on foam pads to give a little dimension. The greeting is stamped in black and clear embossed, then it was cut out using the smallest die in the Mega Deckle Edge Label die set from Spellbinders.
A reasonable quick and easy card that looks clean and simple. I hope you like it.