For Brenda - 'A Winter Story'

I already entered over at Allsorts but really wanted to have a second entry with a Poinsettia theme. Brenda did almost throw down the gauntlet when I mentioned it, and I'll always try to take it up - so this is for Brenda. After almost burning the midnight oil here - it's done - ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:

I used:

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

- all papers are from the Stamps by Me' 'A Winter Story' kit - from last Christmas I should add, unused until now. There are various paper packs in 6, 8 and 12 inches square, plus printed A4 vellum. Some embellishments are also included and that's mostly the 6" pack I used today

- the 12" x 12" square pack of papers is plain on the reverse and, whilst too large a pattern on the front for my personal preference, the reverse using the same colour pallette is a perfect foil to pick up colours in all of the smaller patterned papers for framing purposes. Happy dance here when I realised that! 

- picked out the card front paper from the 6" square paper pack then found the perfect green for the 'frame' piece I had in mind from the 12" paper pack (reverse)

- die cut the sentiment circle from the 6" pack once again - using a Heffy Doodle 'Double Stitched Circles' die and pt it to one side

- 'fussy cut' a poinsettias embellishment from the 6" square 'A Winter Tale' paper pack, used a large ball ended rounding tool and a foam mat to round it a bit for dimension. Then 'shimmered' it using clear 'Wink of Stella'

- used the biggest die in the Heffy Doodles 'Double Stitched Squares' die set to cut the patterned paper to suit. To make it more 'lifted' I backed some plain 250 gsm white card with double sided 'Stick It' sheet bafore adding it to the reverse of the patterned sheet - before I die cut it 

- glued the green 'frame layer' to the card front then added the stitched edge wreath square of patterned paper - both using Collall All Purpose glue

- then popped the sentiment onto the front of the card, followed by the two poinsettias down below the robin. Used thin sticky pads for the sentiment and double layered thin sticky pads for the poinsettias

- final step once the topper parts were in place - added touches of clear 'Wink of Stella' shimmer to the purple berries in the wreath and one bauble in the sentiment. None of which I could captture in photos of course!

Naturally, I would like to enter this card into the current Allsorts Challenge, which is HERE - 'Winter Flowers and Fauna'.

Also, Darnell's NBUS Challenge #69 for December HERE - the 'A Winter Story' kit was having a first playtime!

Well, this was my first real toe-dipping into the wider world of predesigned and printed collections of papers, embellishments etc. Interesting and a different slant on making a card - once you choose the items to use, it's easy- ish!

Sunday Snippets - Streamlined Sprig

1Not too long ago I spotted one of my super-enablers (our much loved Darnell) using a die set that I fell in love with and HAD to have. Fortunately, despite being a USA Altenew product, it's stocked by a UK supplier. Here's my card and the leftover snippets:

I used:

- white card blank, trimmed to 5'5" x 4.25", tent style

- a piece of the same white cardstock - I use Craft UK card blanks ( just under 6" square) and cut them down to size for most of my card blanks then, when I want matching front panels, I use half a card (ie. the front or back) to play with .... and keep the other piece for the future of course

- die cut the white panel using a couple of dies from the Spellbinders 'Hemstitch Rectangles to form the edging pattern, I used the 'Venise Lace' set of dies as it looks a little Art Deco to me, then set it to one side

- next came the flower spray - I used a gorgeous set of Altenew dies called 'Streamlined Sprigs' to die cut the main stem and outlines from a snippet of Tonic 'Black Velvet' card stock

- next, used a couple of snippets of Lindy's Magical Shakers pieces, made way back in April, to die cut the flowers and the leaf

- glued the outline and the flowers and leaves together

- time to stamp the sentiment, using a VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' inkpad and a sentiment stamps from Woodware's 'Deco Sayings' set - a real favourite of mine

- used the floral sprig to position the sentiment using a medium sized Misti then stamped the sentiment in the bottom left hand corner

- then added the Altenew floral sprig using glue pens

- added a slightly smaller piece of thin foam sheet behind the front panel

- glued the front panel to the card front - I used Collall All Purpose glue for this and the previous step

- finished! 

You may wonder what I do with so many unwanted 6" x 6" envelopes when I merrily chop down the UK Craft card blanks. I do chop them up to refill my 5.75" x 4" 'pad' of paper slips - and also give Len a wadge for his little 'notes to self' that we all seem to do. Mindlessly chopping is truly very therapeutic!

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

- Darnell's NBUS challenge #66 - HERE - the Altenew 'Streamlined Sprig' die set had its first outing

- Allsorts Challenge 797# - HERE - under the 'Anything goes' option. The proper theme is Autumn Colours - nice one ladies!

Dudley Pupdate: We've had a fairly normal week here - whatever 'normal' is of course! It's rained, a LOT! So Dudley (the water hater supreme) has resisted venturing out, a LOT. We've gently 'toed him into the rain'. A bit when he was obviously crossing his legs and also when clenching his nether regions! Sometimes, I think a 'normal' dog who skips round in the rain and loves puddles would be great - but, not half as funny as Dudley 'Rain Avoidance Antics' I suspect! I also suspect that Dudley would hang on for the toilet when it's raining until his eyes pop out!

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

Do come and play with us in the Snippets Playground - the more, the merrier! Dudley is willing to hold one end of the skipping rope!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,