Charming!

 Last year the clasp broke on my cheap pandora style Christmas Charm bracelet. So I saved the charms to use on this years Christmas cards. I, then, promptly forget about them!

I've just found them when routing around for something else, They are a selection of presents, snowmen, snowflakes, Santa etc

I've threaded them on red velvet or silver ribbon and layered them on scraps of sparkly Dufex that I have had kicking around for years.

plus I've used some other scraps of backing papers too - so quite pleased with the overall effect.

Tonic Floral Cuff

 Having a break from making Christmas cards ( you can have too much of a good thing!) So I decided to have a play with the tonic goodies I won last week.

The floral cuff die has a lovely clean, crisp cut and comes with 5 matching graduated flower dies

The embossing folder makes a nice clean pattern too - I think I will get alot of use from these in the future!

Papercrafter Mag 153 - Kanban Vintage Christmas Kit

 I loved the Kenban Vintage Christmas card kit that comes free with this months Papercrafter Mag and these are the first cards I have made using the die cuts from the kit

They have a lovely traditional feel to them, ideal for my older relatives!

Plus this fab  golden sparkly robin background paper!

Stocking Up

Well, I wasn't the only person who headed to to Hobbycraft to stock up on card making essentials, as I had to queue for 20 minutes to get in, but at least I won't run out of double sided tape or card blanks now.

I also treated myself to Creative Stamping Magazine (issue 89) to inspire me through the next few weeks of lockdown.

It has encouraged me to do a bit of heat embossing - a technique I have sorely neglected for a while.

Lucky Me

 

I was lucky enough to win this Tonic Cardmaking Collection kit last week.  Christina Griffiths from Card Making Magic, has a regular giveaway on her blog (called Flowers, Ribbons & Pearls) and last week I was the winner!

There are lots of papers and toppers, an embossing folder and 10 stamps!

Plus a fab Floral Cuff die and loads of ideas in the magazine to inspire you to use it - a great giveaway!

Why not pop over to her blog and see what she is giving away this week, she posts one every Friday and the winner is drawn out of the hat on Saturday! You could be lucky like me.

Papercraft Essentials 191

 

The latest edition of Papercraft Essentials Magazine caught my eye in WH Smiths because of the free RSPB foiled kit

I've already made some lovely bird themed Christmas cards

as well as a couple of birthday cards using the toppers, papers & embellishments - and there are still plenty left!

Christmas Circles

 

Last night I spent an enjoyable time making stenciled circles with my distress oxide ink pads on to the back of old Christmas cards from last year

Which today I have turned into a variety of different Christmas cards for this year ....

using lots of stamps that haven't seen the light of day for a long time!

A very good way to spend a rainy day.

Hunkydory Robins

 

Christmas card production is now in full swing and this selection of robin cards were made from the Hunkydory Festive Birdsong Topper pack

I just love a traditional 'robin in the snow' Christmas card - and luckily so do some of my friends and family!

Paper Cuts - Holly Berry Die

 

A while ago I bought this Holly Berry die from Creative Expressions, so now its time to make some Christmas cards with it!

This one just uses a burgundy and gold mat with matching ribbon to set it off

Whilst this uses a vintage printed vellum ( that I have had for years!) with some Nuvo drops to highlight the berries. Three different cards in different colour schemes and styles to show how versatile it can be!

Christmas is a coming!

 

I make it a point never to start making Christmas cards until after the 1st September - surely 3 1/2 months is long enough to be covered in glitter?

It also seems wrong to make Christmas cards when it is still hot and sunny. So, earlier this week the weather cooled down and I went and rummaged in the cupboard under the stairs to dig out my 3 boxes of Christmas goodies. Really I have so many stamps, papers, dies and embellishments, that there is no excuse to buy anymore this year.

Colours of the Autumn

 I bought myself the latest copy of Simply Cards Magazine with these lovely Autumnal trees, leaves and sentiment stamps

And I teamed them up with a Hunkydory background sheet that I bought at my recent charity shop haul.

to make these Autumn themed cards - won't be long now til the leaves start falling off the trees!

More Charity Shop Bargains

 Popped in to one of my favourite charity shops for St Elizabeth Hospice and found loads of card making stuff!

I picked up loads of Hunkydory shopper sheets in a whole variety of styles

A complete cardstock pack from Hunkydorys Watercolour wings selection, retails at £12.99 - pleased about this, as I already have the matching topper deck.

A large pack of embellishments and toppers from Craftwork Cards

Plus some cute Christmas card kits and lots of Christmas banners from Lakeland  - all for £5.00. The first cards that I made all featured birds. 

Buttons and Bows

 

I have added a few buttons and bows to some of the images from the Hunkydory Topper pads I bought recently to make some quick vintage style cards for the charity box. It was all that I felt like doing in the hot, humid heat we had last week.

Pokemon Go

 I mentioned a couple of years ago on this blog about my love of the Pokemon Go game, and its still going strong!  As I don't have a dog, its a good excuse to go out for a walk and collect Pokemon instead. 

I am surprised how many 'older' people like myself play it regularly too - its not just for the kids!

Charity Shop Bargains

I ventured out to one of my local charity shops this week and picked up these 4 Hunkydory little books for only £2.00 each! Normally they are £8-£10 each and only have a couple of toppers used, so great value.

There were lots more books there, but I left them for some other crafter to pick up and enjoy.

The books were Vintage Lace, Charming Chaps, Twilight Kingdom and Florals - and so cover many different styles and occasions. I will have great fun using them in the future!