White (and Gold) Christmas

Well, I finally got back on to my blog... I have a couple of very simple Christmas cards to share today, with the common theme of being Gold and White - and being from last year. 

The first one is using an image I got from the internet, printed on linen card using a laser printer then foiled using Deco Foil and a laminator.  Matted onto gold card and mounted on foam dots.  I used a digital sentiment from (the now sadly defunct, sob) Digistamp Boutique and gave it the same foiling treatment, again matted on gold card and popped up on foam dots, two layers for the sentiment panel

The second card uses plain white card, the background is embossed with two embossing folders; the bottom with a freebie I got in a magazine, the top with a Couture Creations folder (Tied Together) - It looks a bit unfinished in the photo, but it looked better IRL.   I cut the gold card circle with a L'il Inkers Stitched Circle Die - It's actually the "negative" of the circle I cut for this card... the great things about these dies is there are stitches on both side of the cut line, so both "inside" and "outside are usable.  The white Merry Christmas die with the snowflakes I've had for ages, can't remember where I got it.

The third card incorporates elements of both the first two cards, this time I used a kraft card base and plain white cardstock.  

I used the same image (foiled using the laminator) mounted this time on a kraft mat cut and embossed using a Spellbinders Scalloped Oval die (the image panel was cut with a Spellbinders Classic Oval die, and embossed the whole background panel using the Sizzix folder, I added gold "pearls"... well, flatback thingys :-) from my stash to the intersections of the diamonds.  The sentiment, a digi, is from Pink Petticoat, their Traditional Christmas Greetings 1 set (I think it's no longer available) was given the foil treatment... not that it shows in the pic, lol

That's it for my three cards.  I would like to enter in the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges has "Make a Card", Fab'n'Funky Challenges has Christmas, Merry Christmas Challenge , Crimbo Crackers, Sweet Stampin' Christmas and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge have "Anything Christmas" as always, and Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty  Creations, 4 Crafty Chicks, Creative Fingers, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends,  Polkadoodles, Creatalicious Challenges and Crafting With Attitude all have Anything Goes challenges

I am super busy (what's new?) at the moment, making a couple of cakes for my lovely neighbour... she is 90 and so "together", I just love her :-)  I will try and get back soon to get some of my drafts stuff... well OUT of Drafts :-))
Until Then, Happy Crafting, Donna

Mermaid Tissue Box

Good morning, or afternoon etc, Today's offering is this tissue box:

"Make a Tissue Box Cover" was the theme over at the All That Scraps challenge blog this week: It was a bit of a challenge because I'd never made one before, but only a bit because they had a link to an easy-peasy tutorial from Split Coast Stampers - which I've taken the liberty of copying here.  I had to "metricate" it as I don't even possess a ruler with inches on it, and am completely amazed at those of you who can work with 9/16" etc!!!  Give me multiples of ten any time, lol.

All this fabulous paper came as part of my Christmas present from my son, he got it in Starfish Lane in North Perth; the lovely ladies there have the BEST range - but I leave Chris choose for me in the interest of NOT spending my entire life there choosing for myself!  He has good taste anyway, and it means I don't always get the same kind of stuff - you know how it goes!

One of the mermaids has pink hair and a purple tail, so my mermaid has the same, her name is Treasure Tempestwind  and she is one of the Sweet November stamps I got as a digi  from All That Scraps, they do come in rubber too - of course!  Treasure and her little seal friend are coloured with Copics  It is hard to see in the photos, but the turquoise and purple paper are both flocked, they feel lovely!!  The purple has a pattern in it and the turquoise has a sort of nap that makes it look (to me at least) like light playing on water.

I used some of my new Nesties (again for Christmas), the outer circle is "Lacey Circles" and the inner is just plain Circles.  I embossed the edge of the plain circle then ran my RV17 Copic around the very edge - it helped tie the colours in without interfering with the image.  Usually I would ink the edge in for 1cm or so - that's 1/2" for you old fashioned types :-) but this line gave a cleaner and somehow more appropriate look.

I used Fiskars Apron Lace border punch on the edge of the turquoise paper on the lid and on both sides of the purple strip around the middle of the box, I'm really pleased how well it goes with the Lacey Circles.  The top of the box has an opening (for the tissues, of course) cut from Nestabilities Labels Four - still one of my faves.  I framed it using the purple paper, amazing how "unfinished" it looked without it.

Sweet Stampin' has "try something different" as it's challenge theme this week  and Cupcake Craft Challenges has "something new" (all that new stash and a new technique!) so I'll be entering there; Stamp Challenges has "use a digi" - my favourite challenge, and Oldie But a Goodie has "bright and cheerful" - which I think this project definitely is! Bizzy Becs still has her competition (for Aussie customers only, sorry) running which involves using a Nestabilities die, never a problem.  Great comp, go have a squizz ("look" for you foreigners!)

Thanks for looking at my little tissue box: off you go and try it for yourself, you'll be amazed how simple it is!  Until next time - Happy Crafting, Dee

Pearl Says Hello

I told you I'd be doing some more mermaid cards!  This is Pearl Tidepool with her little friend Seymour, again the image is from CC Designs Sweet November collection available at All That Scraps. It is my round card and also myfirst easel card, I have made it so the personal message inside can't be read without opening the card, ie when it is on display you can't read what is written inside.  It does mean the card "lays" down a little, but being round meant that there wasn't a lot of room to write inside.

Pearl has been entered in a beauty competition!  More than one in fact!  I've entered this card in a few challenges; the Finally Friday challenge over at Two Peas in a Bucket (http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/challenges/ )this week was "make a friendship or hello card", also the Tickled Pink monthly challenge (http://tickledpinkstampmonthlychallenges.blogspot.com/) which was to use the sketch provided by Kellie Winnell - here it is 

The papers are from Kaisercrafts Hippy Girl 6"x6" paper pack .  I embossed the background with Cuttlebugs Tiny Bubbles embossing folder - how appropriate!!  The image is coloured with Copics and Versamark pigment inks  I glittered up her tail, as I did with Current Ebbtide and also glitter embossed the sentiment, though it hardly shows in these photos! I added pearl "bubbles to finish it off.

Seas the Day

This is Current Ebbtide, from CC Designs Sweet November collection, isn't she GORGEOUS!

I used pearl cream card as a base, the patterned papers are from Kaisercraft Gypsy Sisters 6"x6" collection. The sentiment is computer generated.  I painted Ms Ebbtide with Jo Sonja paints and highlighted her hair and headpiece with white gel pen.

The starfish were from a $2 shop: there were all sorts in a packet including starfish, butterflies and hearts - all of which I will get to use, the air bubbles are pearls from a different set of embellishments from the same shop. 

 I DO love a bargain!!!  The rhinestones on her belt add a bit of glamour.  I added glitter to the tail by mixing embossing powder and glitter together , sprinkling it on to the tail (which had a light coat of adhesive spread on it)  then heat setting - as described  here on Tori Wild's Blog. Once she was finished I cut her out and pop-dotted her on to the card. The border at the bottom came in the Gypsy Sisters collection, I punched it with a corner punch manoeuvred around to fit the "bumps" and embossed it with the Textile embossing folder from Cuttlebug, all the different textures on this card make it quite interesting. My son Chris bought me some vellum for Mothers Day that has starfish printed on it, just perfect for the inside of this card, I must get some more as I am just going to HAVE to make more mermaid cards, I had such fun!!