Wow - I almost missed out on this month's Rudolph Days Challenge over at ScrappyMo's. That would probably be a first. As luck would have it, I came across an ancient Christmas card a couple of days ago which so far as I can see hasn't ever been posted on here, I was so proud of it too:
I used - bear with me whilst I think back:
- A6 pre-made hammered red card blank
- a silver window peel off stuck to clear acetate, which I then carefully trimmed so that the windows would open
- stuck a piece of craft stiffened 'gauze' with white spots on (like snow falling) to a scrap of dark blue paper, then onto a scrap of white card which I coloured with a dark brown Whispers pen for the 'window ledge'
- popped a silver star onto the background so it would show through the arch in the upper part of the window
- glued the window piece to the background piece then trimmed the background all round, in line with the peel off front
- glued the window to the card front- added the two black kitties (a ready made die cut bought from Kirsty Wiseman at Dies to Die For - which might give some of you a clue how long ago I made this card!)
- then added the silver 'Seasons Greetings' sentiment strip along the top part of the card (bought from Lakeland back when they sold craft stuff)
- a small red gem either end of the sentiment strip to finish off!
Gosh, this was a walk down Memory Lane. I realised as I was writing this post just how long ago this card was made (possibly up to 13 or so years ago, I had to give up crafting whilst the house updating/additions were being carried out and the dining room was out of action and used for storage) - and also how the craft suppliers have moved on as well. Added to which so has life here and it's almost like a piece of history!
It was one of the very first cards I ever made for Christmas and I remember making a few the same or fairly similar at the dining room table using ready made die cuts from Kirsty Wiseman when she owned Dies to Die For, Lakeland made some lovely crafty items (they're back to being all household stuff now and have been for many years) and card blanks were ordered from a company based in Cheshunt. You could splash out and buy small swatches of the card they used - their website was basic and no colours or images. I don't even recall Hobbycraft from back then! A dedicated craft shop per se was a find indeed .......... it'll never catch on they thought! How wrong could they be?
The card was also made back in the days before we had die cutting machines of our own (as I recall), raising elements with sticky pads wasn't really 'in' yet, I was crafting in the dining room (long before I had a craft room or even this blog - I wouldn't have known a blog if it jumped up and bit me back then), I used wide double sided tape or UHU glue as adhesive, the acetate would have been (ahem) acquired from the office where we still used it for overhead projectors and I had some fancy edged scissors which I thought were the 'bee's knees'. The one thing is that, due to the lack of available inspiration, I did think up the design all by myself!
Ironically, I found this card just four days after the 11th anniversary of me dipping my toe in the water and starting this blog up. How time flies!
Gorgeous card, I bet you were proud of it. Thanks for the little craft history lesson too. You have been around much longer than me, but it is astounding how easy it is to access supplies now. It will be 4 years since I wrote my first blog in June this year. Things have changed a lot in that time. I wonder where things will be in another 4 years? If I keep buying stuff at the rate I am now, I might never be found under it all! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Di this is a gorgeous Christmas card. I love it. Take care. Hugs Jackie
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely card. I remember those days too - my friend and I often reminisce back when we "had nothing" to craft with lol! I got my cuttlebug in late 2009. We used to go to Hobbycraft workshops in 2000 -2002, so they were going then, this was before the workshops were banned due to H&S!
ReplyDeleteA super card, certainly hasn't dated and love the snow. Kirsty Wiseman, certainly a blast from the past. I wonder how long ago it was since we met up, I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteKath x
Well considering you made it that long ago it in the days when stickers were the thing, I had lots and still have a folder with some in, it looks great Di, and the silhouette cats sat in the window and a prettily made background too and love the spots of falling snow, and the red hammered premade card is so bright and Christmas-y. x
ReplyDeleteLovely card Di, and lovely walk down memory Lane! How things have changed.....xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely card Diane.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful meander down memory lane and a realisation of just how much crafting has progressed since the very early days of 'buy it, stick it on, card made'. Great that you could recall how you made this one, clever stuff.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful card Di, made with what was available then - I too started on the kitchen table, as did so many of us!
ReplyDeleteStay safe
Blessings
Maxine
How lovely thoughts, you have surely a long crafty story to keep memories!
ReplyDeleteThis card is so cute, love the window and the gauze with white spots, they really feel as snowfall!
Hugs and cuddles to Dudley!
ooo, I love reading this, thank you! and you have such a good memory.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite the same here, we exchange stamped images and die cuts because we couldn't afford stamps and dies from abroad ... it was such a revelation for me when I discovered ebay.co.uk or ebay.de, wow ...
crafty hugs xx
OMG.......fancy edged scissors. That made me laugh. That was one of my first really cool purchases. I finally got rid of them last year after they sat there for years. I got tired of them whispering to me so out they went to live with someone else. [Bunny]
ReplyDeleteA fantastic card Di. I love the mess effect behind the cats
ReplyDeleteSue xx
Wonderful card, Di. Thanks for the trip down memory lane xoxo
ReplyDeleteAdorable card. Love cats looking to the night.
ReplyDeleteHi Di,
ReplyDeleteHappy Rudolf Days.
What a super card and a great design.
Love the window with the cats and wonderful textures too.
Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Lots of love crafty love Jenny L DT
a lovely interactive Christmas card that looks brand new! thank you so much for playing along with the March Rudolph Days Challenge. I knew you wouldn't miss it.
ReplyDeleteLinda, DT
Certainly flying at the rate of knots here. Interesting to read your review of your card making prior to us starting our blogs almost simultaneously but unbeknownst to each other . I actually have a photo here of my first two cats sat on the dinning room window sill (which doesn't exist anymore as french doors in their place now looking out at the garden at night time ) so we were probably even having our house renovations done about the same time too. Talk about joined at the hip as twins. Email coming tomorrow but must get to bed now as absolutely cream crackered here.
ReplyDeleteHugs Me.
11years wow how time has flown Di and still going as strong as ever....love your card especially the window silhouetting the cats 🐱 xx
ReplyDeleteWow--what a creative & fun Christmas card, Di! I don't think I could even share a card I made that long ago. In fact, I just threw out a bunch from years ago knowing I will never give them to anyone. There are so many options now, but honestly, I think there's almost too much! New releases every few weeks is overwhelming! Guess people must be buying, but it isn't me! I do still love a lot of my old products, but I am glad they came out with personal die cutting machines & the MISTI--haha! Happy Easter--lockdown & all!
ReplyDeleteSweet card Di.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the trip down memory lane. Things sure have changed.
Happy Easter xxx
Beautiful card!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this walk down memory Lane with you.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started, I can remember the excitement of finding a single die cut image or 3D image packaged all by itself and sold for some astronomical price!
I used to enjoy a shopping trip to America as they had so much more selection. The shops here let you used their die cut machines as long as you bought the paper from them. But all the dies were huge and the images were mostly too large for cards!
Ahhh, those were the days!
Your card looks great. Loving the way you cut the window open and also love that sort of snowy screening you used. Will have to look and see if I own any of that!
Thanks for taking part in the Rudolph Days Challenge.
Wow, I'm so impressed that you made this so long ago. That snowy mesh is such a fun touch, and your patience in cutting around the window sticker and acetate makes me want to give you a medal! My earliest cards were no where as fancy as this, and how great that you kept it to remind you of those days.
ReplyDelete