Thursday 18 July 2013

Mad dogs and Englishwomen......

don't go out in the midday sun, instead they sit in a craft room with a fan blowing hot air round the room, making Christmas cards:

But, I didn't want to miss my weekly entry for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge, which is 'Trees'. I did then have to trot round the house to find a spot to take the photo - who would have thought that a holographic image and some embossing would be so darn 'ornery' to photograph! And of course this card is also for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for July, where it's always 'Anything Goes'.

I used:

- A6 cream card stock

- the same cream card to emboss a backing using a Quickutz folder - bought before I had the sense to write the names on in permanent marker :(

- image is by Kanban - another bargain from Newbury - from their 'Golden Christmas Trees' set. I made two card the same (yay!) and found that one was badly die cut with one side a bit 'off' so I just used a circular die to create a properly positioned circle from both toppers to keep them the same (bit of OCD there)

- that also meant I could then draw round the outside of the die onto the reverse of the red backing card to then cut a slightly larger circle, and the same backing card was also used behind the embossed layer. Shame to cover it all up really as it's 'red satin mirri card' and has a lovely soft sheen rather than 'in your face' brightness. Also made by Kanban and rare as hen's teeth I'm afraid

- four brushed gold Josy Rose nail heads to finish off

And that's a total of 49 Christmas cards all finished and packed away. Plus, the topper sheet has enough of those gold die cuts left to make a further four cards - two with matching sentiments - which will be done ASAP. Bargain! 

 
Di
x

20 comments:

  1. Gorgeous card, such a pretty image. Wow that is a lot of Christmas cards, you are super organised. Thank you for my embossing folde it arrived this morning and it is amazing. Hugs, Amanda x

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  2. aha so special an 49 Di am impressed esp as you have done insides as well think will start to do my inside of cards early too, instead of leaving till later, or some of them anyway and special ones can make them special with other poems.. after calligraphy teaching this term..

    Am totally snowed under here :o
    love your card, and yes outdoor is best have found take al mine in courtyard garden best light mostly, love Shaz in Oz.x

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  3. Love the image and card is briliant
    super
    great work
    have a nice day
    hugs Tamara

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  4. Pretty card you have created, Di! Good for you to get such a head start on your Christmas cards. Thanks for stopping by my blog leaving me a comment.

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  5. Love this pretty image Di, must investigate what you call toppers! The embossing is a perfect bg too for those sparkly layers. Cathy x

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  6. Hehehe....this mad englishwoman was chasing 5 grandchildren around from 6am til 9 pm last night....a wonderful day but boy....what doesn't hurt doesn't work this morning!!! Why do we do it? :-) :-)
    Maybe the bouncy castle was just asking a little too much of this old achy body of mine eh?
    Hugs
    A x

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  7. Lovely card Di. I'm afraid my crafting has taken a bit of a back seat at the moment. Craft room is like a sauna with the current heatwave and I'm having a new boiler fitted so workmen all round the house. Well only 2 of them but feels like a lot! And yesterday they had to test it out so all the radiators were on full pelt! Phew was it hot!!

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  8. That's your Christmas card box full up then!

    Lovely tree card there Missus which I have no doubt looks even better IRL with the schparkle showing easily.

    Air kisses,
    Sarn xxx

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  9. He he - what with your Xmas cards and my winter draught excluders - we will be well ahead when the time comes!!! x Jo

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  10. Beautiful card, Di - thanks for once again supporting both CHNC challenges x

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  11. Great card Di - love that image. I can't believe you have 49 of them already! I think I might have about 5 and I thought that was sooooo good. LOL.

    Hugs Sue Pxxx

    Oh by the way my craftroom is too bloomin' hot but I have to leave it a little while before I put the fan on 'cos it gets even hotter as the day moves on - and (as my nan used to say) I wouldn't feel the benefit! Lol again.

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  12. Hello Di, another perfectly lovely card - I like the unknown embossing folder background. So sad the Kanban are no more because that rare red satin mirri sounds much nicer than the 'in your face' stuff. Hugs, Elizabeth xx
    PS: my craft room is the coolest place in the house in the afternoons at the moment.

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  13. Hi Di, Lovely card as always xx

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  14. 49 is an impressive number of card finished...you have been working hard! Heat and all

    This is a pretty card. that miri satin is lovely! The one I had trouble with was American crafts...I am going to spurge on a full sheet at the Lss and see if theirs rub off too!
    It always amazes me how carefully you can trace an dcut a new circle...they are always so perfect that you would think they were also a die.

    Just ent you off an email...heading out for a lovely latte and a snoop at the local paper...It will be the first time this year I have managed to walk all the way up to our front gates and then up about 2 or 3 blocks to the coffee shop! Wish me luck...I am practicing for all the walking I will need to do in England!!! lol

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  15. Lovely card Di. You all complain that it hard to get enough light for your photos, but it is just as difficult when the sun is reflecting off them, or casting a shadow of the camera over the main image! but this one looks good. I think I am going to do a run of fifty Christmas cards all the same because I am miles behind this year. Kate x

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  16. By the way, Congratulations on getting your little house mouse as Joanna Sheen's Daily Talent Spot! Kate x

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  17. This is gorgeous Miss. I shall be round to view your cards with a view to nicking a few when you are not looking later!!
    Ummn. You haven't mentioned the pig that was running amok in the Playground recently....is that what is in the bacon butties?
    Hugs
    xx

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  18. Lovely, sparkly card here, and I really liked your mirri paper. (someone used the term 'Faux mat' for enlarging the 1st mat, so I have been borrowing that terminology. I do the same on many of the dies to get a mat. I'm so glad you ladies had such fun on your outing, got such great bargains. Wish I were there to enjoy it with you. Bet ya'll had a blast! And good for you with so many Christmas cards built up in your stash. Quite an inspiring feat to be sure. Hugs

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  19. What a beautiful image, Di! Love the gold and red mats! And the EF is on my want list now.

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  20. Lovely sparkly Christmas tree Di. I have some of that red satin mirri but couldn't bring myself to use it yet x

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