Friday 14 April 2017

Catching up on Christmas cards

Sigh, I've slipped on my '12 per month Christmas card target', so the other day I set to and made a batch of six identical cards. I know, boring for some people but once the 'production line' is set up it really is a time saver in the long run.

The plan was for 'simple' - yet it ended up with a good few steps to get there! This is one I made:
I used:

- 4" x 5.5" forest green card blank, tent style

- piece of white card stock, trimmed to an eight of an inch smaller all round than the card blank

- then I drew a fine line right across, three quarters of an inch from the top of the piece of white card (using a soft pencil) for placement of the window die I was going to use next

- die cut the window aperture out of the white panel using MFT's 'Rectangle Peek-a-boo Window' die and rubbed out the pencil line

- used a sentiment from the Personal Impression 'Many Greetings' stamp set and Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink to stamp 'Merry Christmas' on the white panel. As I was making six at once, this stage was a breeze using the Misti!

- backed the aperture with a small piece of white card - I wanted the extra feature of the 'window' but still wanted the whole panel to be white :)

- die cut the mittens using little Stick-It backed snippets of SU's 'Real Red' card stock and a sweet Frantic Stamper 'Hanging Mittens' die

- peeled off the Stick-It backing and stuck the mittens in place in the window area

- adhered the white panel to the card front with a sandwich of white fun foam to add dimension

- something was missing and I messed about for ages trying options. In the end I plumped for Josy Rose shiny silver star hot fix nail heads just to 'lift' the mittens a bit

Ha! My in-house critic just couldn't 'get' the mittens on a Christmas card (he's so behind with trends at times, bit like me really) but at least he didn't ask if they belonged to the Lone Ranger!

Snow flakes would have been better but my punches, dies and little sequins are all too large - or so I thought! I could possibly have used the 'fall out' from my Martha Stewart snowflake border punch - but of course that only occurred to me when it was too late. Those hot fix nail heads can't be prised off - not that I tried. So, Lone Ranger mittens it is - note to self for next time though!

Almost half way through the month and certainly need to get a wiggle on to start my 12 Christmas cards for April - for some reason, much less enthusiasm this year and if it becomes a chore then I'd rather not play.

Speaking of chores and playing - I can't say often enough just how much easier it is running the Snippets Playground. The easing of pressure is phenomenal and I'm so grateful you all went along with the new format.

Oooer, almost forgot, I'd like to enter this card into a couple of challenges run by Hazel. I used to play every single week but have been a bit naughty lately:

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge 328 and

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for April 2017

Two of my favourite challenges, no pressure and you can always just go for the 'Anything goes' option as well! Hazel works really hard on these challenges so it would be lovely if you could join in - when you're in the mood for making Christmas cards of course!





30 comments:

  1. Simply beautiful...I love, love this card, it is so pretty and festive!! I need to make a few holiday cards to get ahead!! Funny it is already the 14th there, it is 8:27pm on Thursday here yet...kind of thru me for a minute..lol!!

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  2. Mittens on Christmas cards is very classic here, Di, so I truly get and love this design! Yet another fantastic use of that p-a-b die!! I think this is the best one yet and well done getting the most use of the schtuff while you had the schtuff out!! I'm delighted that the new format has made your life less stressful! Enjoy the holiday weekend!! Hugs, Darnell

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  3. Oh Didi, how gorgeous, I neeed oh so neeeed to get mine done tooo, love this... have a happy Easter God blessed in every way. Hugs Shaz in Oz.x

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  4. This is really lovely, perfectly CAS and strikingly elegant. Tell He Who Must Be Ignored that as a parent and grandparent the ought to *totally* get the mittens!
    So glad you are finding the playground easier now, I know from when I helped out that it's a massive amount of work, and with so many different styles and techniques, a generic "copy and paste" comment just wouldn't work. Not that it's my way of commenting - if I ever do one it's probably because I have a temperature of 104 and ought to be in bed!
    Jane

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  5. Well done you on getting any Christmas cards made this early Di, this one has a lovely crisp elegant feel. So please you are finding the Playground more manageable now and equally pleased you came up with a solution that works for you.

    Hope you have a lovely Easter.

    B x

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  6. Hi Di this is a gorgeous Christmas card. I made a few Christmas cards the other day I hate the scrabble at the end of the year. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  7. Oops I call my sister Di, Didi, and went into automatic mode.. see all best folks are called Di. 😁
    Shaz.x

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  8. Beautiful Di, I love those gorgeous mitts. I like to make an ammount of cards for Christmas per month, as you say it's so much easier in the long run.

    Sue xx

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  9. Super card Di and such a great cas design. Well done on getting ahead with the christmas cards... It'll no doubt be a last minute panic for me. Have a great easter and tell Parsnip he has to share his choccie eggs xx

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    1. Ha, fat chance! The little pig is already guarding them, armed with a water pistol! xx

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  10. I love these cute mittens Di and mittens and suchlike are definitely things we would be wearing here at Christmastime. I love the peek-a-boo window and the little nailheads stars on them too. x

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  11. That looks like a great card for 'batch baking' just love the little red mittens. Have a good Easter break and I'm so pleased the fortnightly challenge idea is working out well for you.

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  12. Fabulous minimalistic card Di and I love the little stars...just finish it off! Happy Easter to you!

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  13. You have used again this amazing frame die in a so pretty way! Love how this CAS turned out! Love also so much the red mittens with the gold star, so sweet and cute! And having six of them ready for Christmas is a good thing!
    Happy Easter!

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  14. Hi Di,
    this is a wonderful card and your design and work is as ausual excellent.
    My DH would have said the same too.
    I don't think they keep up with the trends for cards as much as we do, but then I suppose we don't keep up with the trends of their hobbies either.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  15. Sweet card Di. I have to be in the mood for making Christmas cards and find that happens nearer The big day!

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  16. Hello Di! Yes I am back in the cold and wet - unfortunately! Mr Mojo is still sunning himself somewhere so have no ofeering for anything at the mo...
    But I real;y like this card! Cute mittens and perfect for Christmas
    What do men know???? LOL x

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  17. This is a superb card, both LIM and CAS but are they not the same thing, the red really looks brilliant against all the white. Need to go to Specsaver though as at first I thought it said Melty Christmas and I thought where is the snowman, oh it must have melted, then peering at the screen realised it was merry.
    Happy Easter my lovely friend. Oh and I was 20.

    Kath x

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  18. Lovely to see you again entering your lovely Christmas crafting for both of my CHNC challenges - always love seeing what you've made xx

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  19. Super CAS Christmas card Di, I love it!
    Janice x

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  20. Love this cute mitten Christmas card, so cute with the little stars! The Lone Ranger hadn't crossed my mind. The peek a boo die is perfect and I love the sentiment font! It's so cool the new Playground format is so much easier for you! It's supposed to be fun for you as well as us! Thank you so much for doing it! Hugs. xxx

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  21. Fab Xmas card. I love the pop of red mittens - what's not to love, hmmm Len?

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  22. Fabulous card, crisp and clean. Love the mittens. Think I need to buy some for next winter, I have an issue with gloves. I have the worlds shortest little fingers. I can literally fold the finger of a glove in half due to where they come up to. One of my friends nearly wet herself in a shop when I showed her! Have a great Easter. Cara x

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    1. So funny Cara! It doesn't stop your lovely card making though :) xx

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  23. This goes back a while, but I do want to express my thanks for the cute prize I just received - and a special thanks to you for going above and beyond to make sure I got my cute prize. The cat stamp and the Window die will both be great to use - I hope to have time to play around with them later today! Thank you again so much - and good luck to all the challenge entrants!

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  24. I love this card. I FINALLY just purchased a pair of mittens at the end of Christmas. I'm always on the late end. The stars in the middle are cute.

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  25. Hi Di, l love your batch of cards and don't find them boring at all this one is gorgeous love the image and the edged stiching always is a favourite of mine .....sending lots of love and hope you have a lovely easter weekend x

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  26. I'm so behind in my commenting Di, so please forgive me for being late to the table! Life, it just gets in the way at times. lol I have been doing fairly well with my Christmas card resolution, but I do have one month I need to make up for. Will do that I hope this month! Although this month is zooming by at warp speed! Your card is lovely and I love that you mass produced it! It's what we need to do and nothing wrong with it either. You have inspired me to do something similar as I have a mittens die that this design would work well with and skates, so might have to CASE you!! Hugs, Brenda

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