Rudolph Days Challenge - August 2024

Crumbs, August already - apparently some shops are already stocking their shelves with Christmas goodies, mostly chocklit of course, perleease!!

This is my offering for both the Rudolph Days Challenge and also the Christmas Kickstart Challenge - two Monthly Challenges I try very hard not to miss: - plus two other favourites:

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" pale ivory linen card blank, side opening

- the stamped image was in a Gummiapan (UK Meissen, I think) sale a year or so ago, no name but to me he's 'Skiing Reindeer' - imaginative huh?! I bought three very similar different reindeer images and they too also come with matching dies, they cost me very little and will make an appearance on here ASAP

- stamped the image onto a snippet of pale ivory linen card on the plain reverse for smoother blending, using a VersaFine Clair 'Morning Mist' ink pad

- coloured the image using Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils and Sansodor blending solution and then die cut it - using the matching die. I made a little jig of the image for best placement!

- tickled the bauble on the reindeer's antlers using Clear 'Wink of Stella' and put it to one side

- next, took a background 'snowy hillside' piece of card from the KanBan 'Christmas Wobblers' backgrounds pack and die cut it using a 5" x 5" Heffy Doodle 'Stitched Squares' die - now that I knew where the ski-ing deer should be positioned

- next step was to trim a piece of Tonic pearlescent 'Red Velvet' card down to 5.25" x 5.25" square to back the 'scene' panel

- glued the red panel and the scene together and then glued them onto the card blank

- added the sentiment, already made in two layers, in my favourite Tonic Christmas sentiments pot - using a  glue pen

- the final touch is the reindeer in action! I backed him with a blank die cut for stability and then added him to the scene using thin sticky pads and the usual glue stick trick whilst placing him

- made two whilst at it of course! Finished.

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

- Rudolph Days Challenge - August 2024

- Christmas Kickstart #89 - Animal Antics

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #65 - the Gummiapan reindeer stamp and matching die were NBUS

And last but never least:

Allsorts Challenge #795 - Delightful Animals

I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see again properly with my new glasses whilst making these cards. But the very best thing is to be able to pick up a magazine or book with smallish print and be able to read it properly. Bliss!

See you on Sunday for a new Snippets Challenge!

Sunday Snippets - Ruby Wedding Anniversary

A very special friend  has just celebrated her 40th/Ruby Wedding Anniversary and I wanted to make her and her hubby a card to perhaps keep so I pulled out some of the trickier and more testing techniques in my paper crafting skills and made this:

I used:

- 5" x 5" white card blank - scored then creased down the middle of one piece to form the basis for an easel card

- 5" x 5" piece of the same card for the front panel, to be added onto the easel once decorated

- Tonic satin mirror card in 'Scarlet Organza', die cut using a 5" square die from Heffy Doodle's 'Stitched Squares' set of dies  - twice, one for the card front and one for the base then set aside

- Tonic 'Silver Damask' card, trimmed to 4.75" square, twice, as before then set aside

- then dry embossed a snippet of white card using an X-Cut 'Polka Hearts' folder and set it to one side

- I know, a lot of stuff is set to one side for later but that's often the way my mind works - build up the card in my imagination, make the different pieces and then assemble it 

- time to finally make the 'shaker element' for the main card panel

- I used a die, again from Heffy Doodle's closing down sale, from their 'Stitched Hearts' set of dies to cut an aperture in a piece of set aside 'Silver Damask' card then backed it with a snippet of acetate - I used red line tape for that part

- taped right around the back of the heart aperture edge using thin foam tape

- filled the shaker 'hollow' using a mix of  Heffy Doodle 'Red Velvet' and also Lucy's Little Things 'Platinum' shaker mixes

- removed the top layer from the strips of foam tape around the back of the heart aperture and gently placed the snippet of embossed hearts card as a backing (that was only half an inch at most bigger than the shaker element) 

- then ran thin foam tape right around the edges of the shaker element panel and popped it onto the pre-die cut piece of red satin mirror card - almost finished the front panel!

- die cut the numbers 40 from the same red satin card using a set of Cuttlebug 'Olivia' dies - pre-loved by a lovely friend and now loved by me! Added the numbers to the bottom right hand corner of the front panel and put it to one side ready for later 

- then made up the red and silver damask panel for the base portion of the easel card and set that aside as well - tell you what, 'ASIDE' was getting a bit crowded by now but I had a plan!

- at this point, as it was standing room only in 'ASIDE' I added the base panel onto the easel card base using glue

- then adhered the front panel to the 'standing up' portion of the easel card  using red line tape

- needed something to prop the easel up with of course, so I die cut a 'Happy Anniversary' sentiment twice from the same red satin mirror card and layered them together, for this I used a Creative Expressions die called 'Shadowed Sentiments - Happy Anniversary' and a glue pen

- die cut the sentiment backing from vellum and adhered it to the back of the red mirror card sentiment before - once again, putting it to one side whilst I worked measurements for the actual panel for the 'prop up' portion

- decided to keep the theme of red satin mirror card and the silver damask and used a 'STAX Fishtails' die by MFT to die cut the backing layer - the height was fine and I just altered the width to suit by replacing and locking in the straight end of the 'fishtail' die before running it marginally through a die cutting machine

- gingerly trimmed down a snippet of silver damask card to match the pattern above as much as possible in order before gluing it to the red panel prop then adding the assembled sentiment to the panel

- added the whole 'prop up' panel to the card front, using thin strips of foam tape and, as always these days, a few swipes of glue stick to allow some movement upon first contact 

- and that, was it - finished! Then I lay down in a darkened room with a wet flannel over my face to recover!

I did so enjoy making this card, but the battle was between the heat and also I was running on non-prescription specs still. I always say though, I'm more of a paper and card engineer than a real artist. Which is why I do so enjoy the precision of making a card like this one - particularly when it's for someone extra special. 

Long story, best kept short about the eyes, but it appears that the optician didn't send off for the frames (ironically they're 'frameless' glasses) for a further 10 days after my appointment! I now finally have the glasses and they're great! Light as a feather and at last I can see 👀 the full benefits of cataract surgery. 

Also, on the 'up' side - I had a final check with Tom the Eye Doc and he's very pleased with the results from cataract surgery and my new prescription readings. Being blunt, he was given a bit of a sows ear to begin with, due to other vision issues, so I never expected a silk purse. He's done his utmost with massive improvements from where my sight was at and I think we got 'soft suede' and that's good enough for me! Three cheers for Tom the Eye Doc!

I'd like to enter this card into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #65 HERE

And, into the current Allsorts Challenge #795, # under the 'Anything Goes' rule.

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley has a pre-bedtime treat each evening (OK, and perhaps one or two during the day). His bedtime treat is his favourite and for years now he's done his special 'party piece' to earn it. Len shows him the treat first and says 'spin!'. And little Dudley spins repeatedly, using all four paws like a whirling dervish right across the landing from our bedroom to my craft room  doorway. Len follows him then pops the treat onto a side unit beside my desk and I give it to Dudley, with a special cuddle. His record is seven full spins - always done at great speed so that he's almost a little white spinning blur! I would so love to capture it on video so you could see him in action - that's a challenge I've now set myself!

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #486 are now published HERE. 

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground! Just scroll down from my results post - over in the Playground.

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - Wedding Wishes

It's very rare for me to have reason to make Wedding cards - this is for a lovely blogging friend who got married earlier this week:

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" white card blank, side opening

- a whole piece of 'Burnished Rose' card from Craft Perfect's 'Moonlight & Rose' - a very pretty shade of pale rose in satin mirror finish (even though it looks pale gold in every photo I've taken!) - trimmed to just slightly smaller than the card front

- a whole piece of 'Frosted Silver' card from the same pad. trimmed to just slightly smaller than the 'Burnished Rose' piece of card

- a piece of white card, dry embossed using an X-Cut 'Polka Hearts' folder and trimmed to just slightly smaller than the silver layer

- then glued all three layers onto the card front and set to making the embellishments

- die cut the heart twice from more 'Burnished Rose' card using a Tattered Lace die called 'Filigree Heart' - to my delight the intricate little pieces stayed firmly in place so I just glued both layers together and set them aside

- next I used a snippet of the 'Frosted Silver' card to die cut two linked Wedding bands before glueing them together and setting them aside - the die is unbranded 

- finally, using snippets of 'Burnished Rose' card I die cut the sentiment words twice and layered them together. Both dies are Heffy Doodle ones called appropriately enough 'wedding' and 'wishes' (psst, look closely enough and you'll probably see that the fonts are different)

- all that was left was to place the die cuts where I wanted them and then glue them in place. The heart itself was lifted up using thin sticky pads

This is a gorgeous paper pad and I squirrel every little snippet in a 'halved envelope' pouch inside the back cover - hence finding the ones I used for the sentiment and rings.

I'd like to enter this card into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #65 - the heart, rings and sentiment dies were all having a first outing

Dudley Pupdate: He's such a rascal! We had a food delivery mid-week and Dudley was doing his sentry duty malarky with Honks in his mouth at the top of the stairs whilst the delivery driver was unloading. I turned from my desk and said - 'Go on then, say hello Dudley' - and off he bounced down the stairs as if to say 'I haf permission to show you my favourite duck'!! And presented the driver with his beloved Honka! Sob, SO cute. I think the delivery driver would have adopted him on the spot given a chance.

Very importantly, we have a new Challenge #487 being run by our lovely Sarn over HERE! Do please come and play - the more, the merrier!

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - Triptych Nativity

Here's my snippets card for this week:

I used:

- pale ivory linen card, die cut using a Studio Light 'StencilSL253' die, scored and folded to make the triptych card

- used snippets of Tonic Pearlescent 'Majestic Gold' card as the 'framing layer' on each panel. cut using a die from the same Studio Light set then glued in place

- the Nativity scenes are from a Crafters Companion paper pad calle 'O Holy Night' - the papers have a scene on one side and toning pattern on the reverse. That meant I could juggle exactly where I wanted the cenre panel to be die cut from the scenic side - then use the reverse of a further sheet of the same colour and design 6" x 6" paper to die cut the side panels

- glued the side panels in place

- finally, added the sentiments, die cut from snippets of pale ivory linen card and also Tonic Pearlescent 'Majestic Gold' card. The sentiment dies are Poppy Stamps 'Noel Snowflake' - with the snowflake portion not die cut - and what my storage file index says is 'Peace Circle' by MFT - I've had it for ages and something makes me doubt it's by MFT. So it could be Memory Box or Poppy Stamps - anyone know?

I made four cards in the same design, just using different papers - all still with a central Nativity scene and toning papers from the reverse of a sheet of paper exactly the same. When the cards are folded, the 'peace circle' is the 'front' portion and that's why I chose to make it bolder by adding in the 'waste' from Tonic gold cuts of the same die. I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

- Darnell's NBUS challenge #65 - HERE - the 'Peace Circle' die had its first outing

- Allsorts Challenge #793/4 HERE - under the 'Anything goes' option

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley is/was quietly delighted that recently the temperatures have been more bearable - although they are poised to rise once again I see. I had to apply his monthly flea and worm prevention liquid in a stripe down his shoulders where he can't reach it the other day. We had the usual 'Sand Dancer cum Seven Veils' performance from 'his Nibs' needless to say, as I made sure he had an extra thorough brush and comb out, even though he's got a short puppy cut.

I (and Len when he's trimming) find we have to play sneaky with him. He turns his back, so I work on his plume of a tail, he whips back round to face me with a glare, so I dive in with a brush or comb to do his front paws and legs, so he stands up like a boxing hare - and I race in and tackle his tummy, chest and (ahem) personal areas! He falls flat on his front with nose pressed against my chesticles.  so I tackle his back - and so it goes on. Oy Vey - what a workout. We're both exhausted afterwards. If anyone's seen the film Edward Scissorhands sequence where he cuts the hair of several neighbours - that's me, hands, arms and tools flying as fast as possible. I just need Edward's pure white face and we're away!

It's Saturday evening and across the landing I can see him cosied up to Len on our bed, ready for an early night. But, always with one eye open ............ in case there might be treats on the horizon!

Remember, the results from Challenge #485  are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE. 

Hope to see you on the swings for the current challenge as that runs for almost another week. The number of entries is extremely low so far - perhaps folk are on holiday and so on? I know that three sets of neighbours around us are all off on Summer cruises - not all together, I hasten to add!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - 'Storyboard'

There's been a bit of a craze recently for die cut frames to form either a 'storyboard' or 'a collection of pseudo postage stamps'. They are such fun to play with, so when Heffy Doodle had their closing down sale fairly recently, I bought a set of 'storyboard' dies  and this is my first play with them:

I used:

- 5.5" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening - the set of dies is Imperial and perfect for USA A2 sized cards which is a size I really like for the balanced proportions

- then used a piece of the same white card used for the card blank to die cut the 'frame' using the main die from Heffy Doodle's 'Imperial Storyboard' set of dies

- had already picked out the paper pad I wanted to use - one of the earlier ones dating back 14 years called 'Born to Shop - Bubbles'. Aha, closer inspection says it's by Docrafts! 

- in the back of the pad I found everything I used as a paper snippet on this card. First of all I trimmed the piece of plain mauve to sit behind the framework of panels, glued it to the back of the framework and then added the completed frame to the card front - all done using glue pens

- then die cut the little five patterned inserts from snippets and glued them in place

- die cut two sentiments from pale mustard coloured paper (the beauty of the paper pad is that the reverse of each sheet is plain, using colours from the patterned side) and layered them together. The shadow die set I used is by Memory Box, called 'Big Hugs Posh Script'

- die cut the shadow from a snippet of vellum and glued the die cut words on top

- then just glued the sentiment 'panel' onto the card front - finished!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenge:

- Darnell's NBUS challenge #65 HERE - both the 'Storyboard and the 'Big Hugs' dies were having a first outing 

Dudley Pupdate: poor little guy really has been feeling this heatwave we're having. We've lost him a few times as he silently roams around the house during the night, looking for the coolest places to lie. Wedged between a tiled wall and a toilet pan is his top choice of place right now - cool on both sides as well as his nose! If only he knew that water would cool him down - but, as he hates to even get his tippy toes wet, it's a non-starter to think about a paddling pool for him!

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground HERE. And, if you like the 'Storyboard' die set I used - there's one exactly the same included in the prize bundle!

Hope to see you on the swings - the sight of Sarn trundling a huge freezer into the Playground did stop me in my tracks the other day. No doubt she has plans laid for cold drinks, lollies and ice creams! 

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me