Grandchildren's Christmas cards

The first three of these cards used templates from Cardmaking Paradise.

Card Recipe
Card
Tim Holtz Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock
Red Card
Inks
Distress Inks - Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo
Other
Beads
Googly eyes
Zig Posterman white pen
Chalk
Ric-rac braid

Card Recipe
Card
Brown, white, red and black card
Tim Holtz Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock
Other
Die cut holly leaves and berries
Glitter snow
Stampendous Crystal Glitter

Card recipe
Card
Red Card
Core'dinations Core Color - Cream of wheat
Glitter card
Ink
Vintage photo Distress Ink
Other
Wooden holly embellishment

I still needed a card for our eldest grandson. I thought I'd have a go at making a shaker card although I'd never made one before. I remembered a tutorial I had seen on Joanne Allison's blog last Christmas for a shaker ornament. I decided to leave it as an ornament but it could easily have been mounted onto a card.

Card Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+
Black card
Inks
Distress Inks - Forest Moss, Broken China
Versafine Vintage Sepia
Stamps
Snowflake - Anita
Snowman - Clarity
Tree and deer - Crafty Individuals plate CI-257
Other
Snow glitter
Red organza ribbon
Rub'n'Buff - Grecian Gold

Two card swaps

I took part in two Cardmaking Paradise swaps.
The first was to take a quote as a starting point, mine being -

I put the quote on the inside of the card.

Card Recipe
Card
Tim Holtz Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock.
Xerox Colortech+ white card
Inks
Distress Inks - Crushed Olive, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Wild honey, Rusty Hinge
Archival Coffee
Stamp
Inkadinkado
Other
Rafia
Quote computer generated using Annifont

The second swap was a Christmas card.

Card Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+ white card
Inks
Distress Inks Broken China, Tumbled Glass
Versafine Onyx Black
Versamark
Stamps
Stampendous - Reindeer Swirls set
Anita - Snowflake
Other
Spellbinders die cut snowflake
Diamond Stickles
Rhinestone

To see all the swaps go here.

How did that happen!

My younger son was 30 recently. Not sure how, as it seems no time at all since he was a baby.

I covered one side of the embossing folder with Distress Ink before putting it through my Wizard. I love that shabby effect.

Card Recipe
Card/Paper
Xerox Colortech+
Tim Holtz Shabby Vintage Paper
Ink
Distress Inks - Faded Jeans, Broken China
Other
Font - Typewriter
Martha Stewart edge punch
Tim Holtz embossing folder

Cats!

This card is a variation of one I made back in June (here) which had been based on one I saw displayed at The Craft Barn.

Card Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+
Ink
Versafine Onyx Black
Black Soot Distress Ink
Stamp
Katzelkraft Mini 03
Mask
Creative Expressions Stone Wall
Sentiment
Computer generated with Typewriter font

I've had the stamp I used on the next card for some years and the image still makes me smile.

Card Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+
Craft Creations Hi-5 Pearl
Inks
Brilliance - Pearlescent Purple, Pearlescent Lavender
Stamps
Swirl stamp - maker unknown
Cat - Rusty Pickle
Sentiment - Personal Impressions Mix and Match set PICSA6070
Other
Fibres
Craftworkcards Candi

Summer time tag card

I used Bundled Sage Distress Ink applied with Cut'n'Dry foam for the background of this tag card and then stamped randomly over the top with Paper Artsy's Dots and Script stamps using the same colour ink.

Card Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+
Tim Holtz Core'dinations Colorcore Cardstock
Stamps
PaperArtsy - Dots (SM15), Script
Tim Holtz Papillion set
Flower - freebie with Craft Stamper magazine
Inks
Distress Ink - Bundled sage, Dried Marigold, Spiced marmalade
Mask
Tando - MSKlEAVES 2
Other
Cosmic Shimmer - Rich Gold
Gold Glamour Dust
Fibres

Butterfly Easel Card

This butterfly easel card template from Cardmaking Paradise is fairly quick and easy to make.

Card Recipe
Card
Craftworkcards Digital Ultra Smooth Premium Card
Tim Holtz Core'odinations Colorcore Cardstock
Craft Creations spotty paper
Inks
Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
Versafine Onyx Black
Stamp
Darkroom Door Wildflower Collection
Other
Cosmic Shimmer Rich Gold
Tim Holtz Florets Masks
Flower arranging stamens
Flat back pearls
Paper flower

I was posting the card so I made a box to send it in - so easy to make with a Hougie board. I stenciled Distress ink through and around a Tando mask and added a stamped butterfly. The stamp was a freebie with Craft Stamper magazine.

Butterflies and flowers

For this card I put two pieces of cardstock together with eyelets to form my base and scored a line about an inch in on the front piece to allow for opening.

Card Recipe
Card
Core'dinations Core Color Cardstock "Latte"
Brown card
Inks/Stains
Wild Honey Distress Stain
Distress Ink - Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge
Broken China
Cosmic Shimmer - Rich Gold
Stamps
Tim Holtz Papillon set
Crafty Individuals CI-185
Other
Ribbon
Eyelets

Now for something completely different!

This card is in complete contrast to my previous post.

The background was created with Distress Stains. I used a die cut as a stencil for the clock face and sponged Black Soot Distress Ink through it. Applied the same ink over umbrella man and around the edge of the background and quote.

Card Recipe
Card
Papermania Kraft Card
Xerox Colortech+
Inks/stains
Distress stains - Peeled Paint, Wild Honey
Black Soot Distress Ink
India Ink Black
Die Cuts
Tim Holtz - Umbrella Man, Clock
Stamps
Tim Holtz - Good Thoughts Collection
Other
Brads

60 not out!

This easy decoupaged chap is from the La Pashe Flippin Men series. The striped paper was a free download but I can't remember where from though.

Maze Book

I took part in the Cardmaking Paradise Maze Book Swap. This was my first attempt at making this type of book and I was very pleased with the end result although I did have a few mishaps along the way.

I received a lovely book in return all the way from Australia made by Colleen which contained some great quotes, words of wisdom and a very funny joke.

To see this one in its entirety and all the other swapped books go to Cardmaking Paradise and click on Maze Book Swap.

Flower Easel Card

Used another of the Cardmaking Paradise templates to make this flower easel card. The base card was slightly more mauvey in real life. The white pieces in the centre of the flower were some plastic bits left from a stain glass decoration kit my sons had. I knew they would come in useful one day but didn't expect to wait nearly twenty five years for that day to arrive!!

I made a box to put the card in. It was the first one I made using my Hougie board - it was so easy.

Laptop Card

A friend's teenage son spends hours playing War Hammer games, so the laptop template from Cardmaking Paradise was just what I needed to make him a birthday card and he loved it.

Card Recipe
Black Card
white card
Silver card
Acetate
Down loaded War Hammer picture and Dell motif
Letters and numbers computer generated.

Three birds and a frog!

I made this birdhouse card for our eldest granddaughter's birthday using a Cardmaking Paradise template.

Card Recipe
Card/paper
Greyboard
Anna Marie designs white smooth card
Craftwork cards digital ultra smooth premium cardstock
Black card
Recycled green paper from a diary
Paint/ink
Paperartsy Fresco Finish - Orchid, Dolly Mix, Crackle Glaze
Momento Tuxedo Black
Stamps
Woodware Birds FRS206
Other
Paper flowers
Flat back pearls
Leaves cut with Marianne die

I stumbled on the digital image on this next card by accident and it fitted the bill for our eldest grandsons birthday. He spends many a happy hour catching the frogs in our pond. (Much to my displeasure and probably the frogs!)

Card Recipe
Card
Papermania Kraft card
Xerox Colotech+
Stamps
Grass - English Stamp Co.
Bull rushes - maker unknown
Digital Image
Fred She Said
Inks
Spiced Marmalade
Dried Marigold
Dies
Spellbinders Nestabilities - scalloped circle, labels four
Other
Sentiment - computer generated
Copic & Promarkers

Tag Cards

This tag card was a Design Team project for Cardmaking Paradise. The remit was to use lots of texture. I think I ticked that box! The card measured 19 by 10 cms and stood "A" shaped.

The top part was embossed and then the embossed part was painted over with Fresco paint to give a a shabby appearance. The lower half was stamped and clear embossed before applying wall filler through sequin waste. Distress ink was then applied to this area. I die cut three petal pieces for the flower which I spritzed liberally with water, scrunched up the pieces and then gently opened them up and left to dry over night.

Card Recipe

Card
Xerox Colotech+ Copier card
Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Paper Stash

Inks/Paints
Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
Versamark
Adirondack Pitch Black Pigment Ink
Distress stain - Broken China
Fresco Paint - Ice Blue
Personal Impressions Clear Gloss embossing powder

Stamps
Tim Holtz Papillion set
Hobby Arts CS034D Scene-it Sentinent (CS034D)

Embossing Folders/Dies
Cuttlebug Swirls
Spellbinders Labels 4
Tim Holtz Die - Elegant Flourishes, Tattered Florals

Other
Tando Leaves 2 mask
DIY fine surface filler
Flat back pearls
Ribbon coloured with Distress Stain
Fibres

Following publication of the tag project on Cardmaking Paradise Sara challenged members to make a tag card. Mine was smaller than my Design Team one - this time 7cms by 15cms. The background was the wrinkle free distress technique. I then laid my mask over the top of that and sprayed with water and blotted off excess and dried the tag. However the masked areas didn't show up enough so I put the mask back on but not in the same place and stenciled on some Distress Ink. Now it was much more to my liking.

Card Recipe

Card
Craft Creations Taffeta Smooth White
Anna Marie White Smooth Card

Inks
Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Dried Marigold, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint
Versamark

Stamp
Craft Stamper freebie

Dies
Spellbinders Labels 4
Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes

Other
Distress Embossing Powder - Peeled Paint
Ribbon coloured with Distress Ink
Flat back pearls
Sentiment computer generated
Brad

Daisy Fresh

Sometimes simple is the way to go!
The flowers were stamped onto opaque vellum that had white flower sprigs printed on it. I then inked over them with Sky Blue Pearlescent Brilliance ink to make the petals shimmer.

Card Recipe
Card/Paper
White linen card
Vellum
Bazzill card

Inks
Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue
Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps
Dimension Fourth - Flowers
Sentiment Personal Impressions - Mix and Match

Die
Tim Holtz - Elegant Flourishes

Other
Flat back pearl

All about me tag

I took part in the "All about me" tag swap at Cardmaking Paradise. I found it difficult to find anything interesting to "say".

The map is the area I live in and I enjoy my garden. I like the colour blue although my favourite Distress Inks have to be Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge. I'm surprised I haven't had to re-ink these pads yet!

Card Recipe

Inks
Distress Inks - Frayed Burlap, Pumice Stone
Versafine - Onyx Black

Stamps
Butterflies and moths - Tim Holtz Papillion set
Quote - Tim Holtz Good Thoughts set

Other
Map photocopy
Shrink plastic
Glossy accents
Tando leaves mask
Fibres
Flower made using Neil Walker's "paper technique".

I received this beautiful tag from Christa. I love her loose use of colour.

No beige in sight!

A birthday card made for a friend who once remarked "You know you're getting old when you start wearing beige and putting the milk in first."

Card recipe

Paper/card
Zerox Colortech+ 250g copier card
Coredinations card - Malaysian orchid
K & Co floral paper

Digital Image from Pink Petticoat coloured with Copics & Promarkers

Stamp
Stamping Bella

Die/punch
Spellbinders Labels Four die
Martha Stewart punch

Other
White ribbon coloured with Promarker
Flower
Rhinestones

Ballet dancer

Simple birthday card using the versatile dancer plate designed by Sioux Jenneys for The Artistic Stamper.

Card recipe

Card/paper
Anne Marie White Smooth Card
Craftworks Cards White Digital Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock
Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Paper Stash

Stamps
Dance Plate & Dance Dictionary Background - The Artistic Stamper

Inks
Distress Ink - Broken China
Versafine - Onyx Black & Smoky Gray
Memento Tuxedo Black

Other
Flat back pearls

Whoo! Blog Candy from The Craft Barn

To celebrate over 600 followers on their blog The Craft Barn have £200 of blog candy on offer and you have until the 25th November to be in with a chance to win. Click here for the details.

I'm back!

Who stole the last three months? I haven't been idle in that time though and I have a long list of projects to "show and tell" over the next couple of weeks.

Way back at the beginning of August Sara of Cardmaking Paradise set us the challenge to use her new birdhouse templates. So I made this birdhouse hanging.

For the background I used the wrinkle free distress technique which was partially over stamped with a script and embossed. Some dots were added through sequin waste and Inka Gold applied randomly.

It's not very clear in the photo but the bird was covered in UTEE and with some gold embossing powder along the tips of the wings.

Card recipe

Card
Craft Creations recycled greyboard

Distress Stains
Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Walnut Stain

Inks
Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge
Versamark
Ranger Archival - Coffee

Embossing Powder
Personal Impressions - Clear gloss, Gold Sparkle
Distress - Peeled Paint
Melt Art UTEE

Embossing folders/dies
Tim Holtz - Patchwork Texture Fade embossing folder, Tattered Florals die, Elegant Flourishes die
Spellbinders circle die

Other
Eco Green acrylic black paint
Inka
Spellbinders metal
Beads and brad from stash
Flower made using Neil Walker's "paper technique".

The perfect flat knot

Cardmaking Paradise design team member Anne C made a video showing how to tie the perfect flat knot.

So I had a go and yes you can make a perfect knot when you know how!

Card recipe
Card
White linen
Craftworks Cards White Digital Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock

Paper
Origin unknown

Die
Nellie Snellen multi frame square MFD006

Stamps
Free stamp from Craft Stamper August 2011
Personal Impressions "Mix and Match" sentiments

Ink
Memento Rich Cocoa

Copic markers
R20, R22, G07, G14

Ribbon
7mm organza Moss

Goodbye!

This card uses the Cardmaking Paradise moving arm template.

Card recipe

Card/paper
Core essentials Sugar'n'Spice
Bella Coordinates - mint green dots

Dies/punch
Provo Craft Hippie Chick
Martha Stewart punch

Distress Inks
Worn Lipstick
Peeled Paint

You can see other versions of this template made by members of Cardmaking Paradise here.