Sunday 20 March 2022

Snowflakes and a snippet

I've wanted to enter the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #60 from the beginning of the month - the theme is 'Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies'. So it had to be a snowflake, or several  - and it's also my snippets card for the new Snippets Playground Challenge #424 - over HERE:

Ha, ha - without me swinging from the ceiling - you also got me wearing a red top reflected in the mirri card! I tried believe me!

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank - tent style - snigger, purely as I glued the final elements on with the card not sitting in front of me as a side opening one, but I actually like it!! Could have been top opening so I did OK really - phew

- piece of baby blue pearlescent card stock, just slightly smaller than the card blank, glued in place and it is even on all sides, dratted camera is determined to cause issues if it can

- then came a marathon die cutting session, using the fabulous Paper Boutique 'With Festive Love Doily' set of dies

- first die cut the midnight blue pearlescent background, and set it aside

- then die cut the 'snowflakes circle' from just some white fairly lightweight card stock I found in one of the many boxes of Christmas card sheets lurking here

- followed that by using the circle die in the set to fully create the frame - and set that aside for now as well

- reverted to my small Altenew die cutting machine and used a snippet of silver to cut out the backing for the sentiment. Then used leftover white pearlescent scraps, from the centre of the cut out circle, for the actual sentiment and three snowflakes. Very little was left over!

- assembly time! Just glued all the layers in place, using Collall All Purpose glue for the large midnight blue piece and a glue pen for everything else - bit fiddly at times

- for a finishing touch I added some teeny clear gems around the snowflake border, to the centre of the three separate snowflakes and also to 'dot the i's' in the die cut sentiment - just because I felt like it! 

I originally spotted a very similar die set over at Jules' blog - a good while ago. Needless to say I couldn't track the set down and so sort of gave up for a while. Suddenly, a good few months ago, a similar enough one popped up in an online shop and greedy little pig here had to have it. And also a more Summery one, which will be a future Playground prize as I managed to get two of those. But I need a rest before going down that road again

The first shock was a sheer size of the set of dies, in terms of dimension! You need almost a 6" square background/card blank before you get going. I rarely make large cards so that was my first challenge! In the end I just used all the dies included in the set - putting other ideas to one side. At first it seemed quite limiting and I did wonder if I'd been sold a 'one trick pony', to coin a phrase! However, I do think that, as Jules did on one of her later cards, the snowflakes frame is just so perfect to put round an image. I also fancied adding a round snowflakes shaker element in place of the sentiment - but I went with the flow and stuck to the set of dies whilst ahead.

This is my snippets card over at the Snippets Playground. The prize this time has no connection to the above card - but there's some really exciting news! Whooooosh - byeeeeee, you might have at least read to the end of this post!

I'd also like to enter this into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #36 for March HERE - the set of dies was most definitely NBUS!



21 comments:

  1. I just popped over from the Treehouse to say how lovely this Christmas card is. It’s brrrrr-illiant!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  2. You're well on your way to having a large stack of cards for the holiday, this die set will make a fun shaker. I'm sure you're pleased to have the help managing the busy Playground!

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  3. This is a stunning card Di - even if it is larger than your 'normal'. You rose to the challenge of using it beautifully
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  4. Very impressive card with that large snowflake die set and I always love reading your descriptions of the pros and cons along the way as the card progressed. A useful buy I'd say.

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  5. A lovely card Di and a fabulous snowflake too. I've recently bought a new die and, like you, hadn't realised it would take up the whole of the 6" x 6" card, but it does make it a great focal point.
    Kath x

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  6. This is a gorgeous card Di fabulous snowflake set l love a bit of pearly card and the added gems just completely transformed your card xx

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  7. Absolutely stunning! Gorgeous dies - I do love snowflakes! They are quite large, aren't they. But beautiful!

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  8. So beautiful and elegant card, and just love that big snowflake frame!! The tiny gems added look precious!
    Hugs

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  9. Hi Di this is a gorgeous card. I love it. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  10. Gorgeous card, Di! I love this colour combo so much. So glad you've found time to join the fun again at Christmas Kickstart, Jo x

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  11. What an elegant card Di. I have one of these sets and use the outline for a shaped card then, like Jules, colour an image and use the snowflake as a frame xx

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  12. Beuatiful snowflake card Di! Love the layering to create a lot of dimension. xx

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  13. This is fabulous Di and I love the two blues and white colour combination and the snowflakes and sentiment with the added gems on them and around the main image really finish it beautifully. x

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  14. This is wonderful and I have the same issues with photographing mirror card! That big snowflake looks marvelous with those tiny little gems!

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  15. Blue and silver are one of my favorite combinatios. This is just beautiful! (Even with the red reflection.)

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  16. A gorgeous card Di and I am VERY impressed with your photography as my last go with shiny card photography is still very much alive in my mind!! What lovely news for The Playground! Hugs, Vicky xx

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  17. I've managed to bounce over from the playground - sure are strong springs Sarn put on the trampoline! A lovely card, and when I got my die I was taken aback by the size too!
    L x

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  18. This is a beautiful snowflake and that shine is fantastic and fun!

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  19. I love the subtle sheen that the pearlescent card gives on this elegant design, Di! The large snowflake is so bold and stylish and I love how you finished it off with the tiny gems - just gorgeous!
    Thanks for joining Jo and me at Christmas Kickstart this time.
    Hugs
    Carol x

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  20. Oh wow--what a beautiful card, Di! I adore the sentiment--one I've never seen--& the tiny gems are perfect! Had to smile about the opening changing. At least it worked in this case, so you didn't have to cut the card apart. I actually sent one to a good friend that opened backwards. Decided she could use a laugh, so didn't fix it.

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