Tag Archives: christmas

AAA Cards DT: 1/9th ± gnomes #225

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A tough challenge this week at AAA Cards blog – 1/9th. The idea is that all the elements on the card fit into a rectangle only 1/9th of the card area. Up to now, I’ve met the challenge following the guide image on the blog, which is in a grid pattern. This time, I’ve used a rectangle across the page in a landscape format 1/9th the height of the card. Within it, I have drawn and coloured my gnomes along with trees – all of which together look suspiciously like a Christmas card. Given at the time of making and writing the temperature here in Leicester is a roasting 39ºC, it was the furthest thing from my mind!

gnomes in a row Continue reading →

Craft Label DT: Twelve Days of Christmas

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I’ve three more cards to share, this time using the First Edition Paper pack ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, available from Craft Label. The 12×12″ pad features 48 sheets, 16 designs, with some in canvas effect paper, some with glitter or foil and about half are double-sided. The paper is a good 200gsm weight and printed with soy ink. Illustrations include drummers drumming, partridges in pear trees, candy canes and of course, the obligatory fiiiiivvvvee gooooollllllddd rings. Here are the quick, clean and simple cards I have made using the papers…

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Craft Label DT: North Star Christmas Cards II

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Time for another look at the First Edition North Star paper pad from Craft Label. As well as the glittered design, two foil designs and two pearlescent designs, half the pad is double-sided as well. It’s a 200gsm paper, so a decent weight for card making and also making 3D projects as well. Today, I used the grey-green papers which accompany the blue-silver colour scheme in the pad.

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Craft Label DT: Christmas Decoupage

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A quick and simple decoupage project, these upcycled powdered drinks containers could be used to hold candy canes, breadsticks or even Christmas potpourri. Paint over the drinks containers with black paint/gesso or be prepared to do a couple of layers of the decoupage paper to cover the text/pattern on the containers. Glue on the strips of decoupage paper with the decoupage adhesive and varnish and allow to dry.

Line the pots with paper from the North Star paper pad.

I decorated the blue with the foiled stars from the North Star paper pad in two strips edged with silver peel-off borders. Embellish with a mini gift bow and silver Merry Christmas sentiment. I’ve added a few glittered half-pearls in two sizes as a finishing touch.

I created a wreath effect on the red pot with alternating felt poinsettias and gold mini gift bows before glueing down one of the wooden Merry Christmas sentiments. Quick extra embellishments to finish: gold peel-off borders top and bottom and some gold ‘nail heads’ (sequins would also work here).

As it’s Black Friday, there’s a 3 for 2 promotion over on the Craft Label webshop, so pop over and get hold of the following to do this project!

  • First Edition Christmas Deco Mache decoupage paper: Sentiments / Snowflakes
  • First Edition Deco Mache decoupage glue adhesive and varnish: Matt
  • First Edition Deco Mache brush set
  • First Edition FSC Christmas Paper Pad: North Star 6×6″
  • Simply Creative Christmas Mini Gift Bows: Gold & Silver
  • Simply Creative Basics Felt Image: Poinsettias
  • Simply Creative Christmas Wooden Sentiments: Merry Christmas

LIM DT: Festive OLC

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Another challenge is live at Less is More. This time it is a one layer card with the theme ‘festive’. As before, one layer cards mean just that: no hiding behind layered papers or mats, perfect printing first time and minimal embellishments. Even die cuts aren’t allowed as they are an added layer. I normally paper-piece the stamp I chose to use, so that was not an option in a one layer card. Instead, I went with some colouring-in:

I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black using a stamp platform, and then again with Versamark as I then decided to heat emboss the outline with clear gloss to make it stand out a little. I then coloured in with ProMarkers adding lots of layers and then highlights with a correction pen and Posca markers. Finally, I added some stickles and liquid pearls to give a little more interest to the card.

Used for this card

  • Woodware clear stamp: Huge Noel [FRS219]
  • Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
  • VersaMark ink pad
  • WOW! Embossing Powder: Clear Gloss Super Fine
  • Letraset/Winsor & Newton ProMarkers: Denim Blue / China Blue / Cool Grey 3
  • Ranger Stickles: Waterfall / Gunsmoke
  • Ranger Liquid Pearls: Royal Blue
  • Tippex Correction Pen
  • Posca Pen [PC1-MR]: White

LIM: Colour Challenge

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It’s time for another challenge at Less is More… This time we have a colour challenge: Blue and Silver or Red and Gold. For me, they are classic Christmas colours, so I’ve used that theme for my cards this time around. First up, my choice for my design team card. It’s hard to see with the reflections, but the snowflakes are heat embossed in silver. The watercolour is Chipped Sapphire Distress Stain flooded into water, then splattered with water and blotted dry.

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LIM DT: Christmas in July

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I know, I know, I mentioned the c-word in the middle of summer. It’s not my fault! The Less is More challenge theme this fortnight is ‘Christmas in July’ and it’s a one layer card. That is to say: one piece of folded card stock with no other layers or embellishments added and keep to the clean and simple rules as well. It’s not that easy and is one of the challenges that I usually need several attempts at to get my stamping and colouring all square and ‘perfect’ for the design team post.

Here’s my take on the theme:

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Printing: Christmas Linocut

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I’ve recently been asked by a friend to teach him how to do a linocut. That got me thinking… ‘I really ought to review how to do a linocut’! The last time I did one was a school humpty-hump years ago. Things have moved on a little since then – the tools are the same, but there are various different hardnesses of lino and even a lino replacement. I chose to use Speedball’s Speedy Carve block, a (4×6″) piece of pink rubber which is softer to carve than lino. I designed the cut in Illustrator and then transferred a laser copy to the rubber by ironing it on face down. Top tip – wait until block is cool before peeling off for a better transfer.

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Laser Cut: Christmas 2019

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I know, it’s the C-word again, but in the crafting world, Christmas is in July. I think it is so that all the kit can be bought, put somewhere safe, searched for and then, in a final frantic rush, used. In my case, it’s because I have an idea or find inspiration that I have to do something with. It also helps that I am well prepared for a table at a local craft fair at the beginning of November.

This week’s offerings summarise a few hours work over the last month or so, featuring original artwork inspired by Pinterest browsing or from my own creativity.

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Laser cut: Christmas Lanterns

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I mentioned that I’d been working on some Christmas projects after hearing that I have been given a table at a very popular craft fair in November. Here are six MDF Christmas lanterns for tealights – they are 10cm cubed and will contain a glass tealight holder. I had a fair bit of brain ache when working out what would work without bits dropping out if they weren’t connected to anything else. I obviously got it right as nothing is missing, and I was chuffed to cut each design correctly on the first go.

Christmas lanterns Continue reading →