Kool Kitty Musings

Be Merry

Today's card keeps things nice and flat for postage.

I really fell in love with this year's Merry Days release from Crate Paper - in fact it prompted me to have a big paper spree to catch up with new releases and a few old ones.

I especially love the combination of platinum gold glitter on the ephemera and the whole style of the ephemera, stickers, and many of the paper designs.

Really reminds me of Meri, Meri brand party décor (which I loooove) and some of my favourite M&S wrapping paper from a few years ago (I'm still hoarding it!).

Paper: Crate Paper - Merry Days, Elle's Studio
Ephemera: Crate Paper - Merry Days
Die: Lil' Inker Designs - Silly Stitches

The die-cut scraps bowl also had another visit. The grey background panel was waiting to be used and was a nice wintry addition between that lovely plaid paper and the wreath. I think that paper design is from an old Elle's Studio release.

I'm also thinking I need to get some vintage platinum glitter to just add to die-cut edges - but it's so much easier when someone else has already done it for you, and a lot tidier too!

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Lil' Inker Designs - Silly Stitched dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	Crate Paper - Merry Days - Cheer paper Shop at: SBC	Crate Paper - Merry Days - Ephemera Shop at: SBC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

Fa la la la la... la la la... laaaa

For today's card design, I made a few of the same design while I had these papers and dies out.

It's definitely clean and simple, but really effective too! :D

Paper: Pebbles - Cozy & Bright
Dies: MFT - Fa La La, Avery Elle - Season's Greetings, Avery Elle - Double Pierced Squares
Other: 3D foam tape, Nuvo drops

The papers from the Pebbles Cozy & Bright collection are really cute, but sometimes it's a real struggle to use busy patterns on a card without everything else getting lost.

Well, this turned out to be one of my favourite ways to still keep everything clean and simple, but include enough of the patterned paper showing through.

I couldn't resist using a festive red and white candy stripe for the negative die-cutting with the MFT Fa La La die. I'm glad I bought a few sheets of this paper as candy stripes that are the right shade of red and width don't appear every year!

And what can I say about that Fa La La die? Well, if you want an easy focal point and don't mind an assembly session with 3D foam tape you will love making these simple square cards.

I also found the pierced square dies a great way to add interest without adding yet another fussy detail to the mix.

Finally, for extra pop, I cut the holly and berries from the Avery Elle Season's Greetings word die and then went in with some Red Berry Nuvo drops to add shiny berries.

Note to self: leave more time between applying adjacent berries otherwise they sort of meld into one blobby berry.

 

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Avery Elle - Double Pierced Squares dies Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC	Avery Elle - Season's Greetings dies Shop at: EH | SHC	MFT - Fa La La die Shop at: EH | SHC	Bazzill Cardshoppe - Marshmallow Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Pebbles - Cozy & Bright - 'Tis the Season paper Shop at: SBC	Pebbles - Cozy & Bright - Home for Christmas paper Shop at: SBC	Pebbles - Cozy & Bright - Santa Land paper Shop at: SBC	Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops - Red Berry Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

Celebrate the season

Today's card is a trip down Crate Paper memory lane.

I've used bits and pieces from their last two Holiday releases including some of their acetate ephemera.

Must confess I'm not a big fan of this type of embellishment they did. Often my favourite design in the pack was done in clear acetate rather than as a cardboard element and you have no idea until you open the packet that that's the case - really disappointing! These clear ephemera pieces only appear at their best against a white background and it's really difficult to attach them without using glue (since that looks really untidy if you go that route) and I no longer have a Xyron machine to transform them into stickers.

It took some creative attaching to use the little snow globe acetate element on this card. ;)

Paper and ephemera: Crate Paper
Stamp: PTI - Holiday Tree
Dies: Lawn Fawn - Put a Bow on It, PTI - Double-Ended Banners, Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Mats: Rectangles
Other: Misti, 3D foam tape

So the snow globe scene, I traced around the acetate piece onto white card and once cut out I attached the acetate to the card with a mini stapler.

I die-cut a mini bow from the 6x6 paper pad to conceal the staple before mounting the snow globe on my card. It's looking a bit fuzzy because it's only attached at the top under the bow, but it's the best way I've found to attach these acetate pieces and make them show up properly.

The sentiment is from a favourite stamp set by PTI that I reach for when I want a typewriter-style festive greeting. This set is now discontinued, but it's a firm favourite each year. I should really use the snowman and tree stamps in it more! :)

I definitely think you can't beat a bit of heat embossing for festive sentiments. It really finishes a card off nicely. Also another spare die-cut used up from my scraps bowl. The die for the double-ended banners cuts two at once so I had one left to use up.

 

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PTI - Holiday Tree stamps (r) Shop at: MISC	Lawn Fawn - Put a Bow on It dies Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC	Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Mats: Rectangles dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	PTI - Double-Ended Banners dies Shop at: MISC
Versamark ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC	Bazzill Cardshoppe - Marshmallow Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	PTI - True Black cardstock Shop at: MISC	Crate Paper - Snow & Cocoa - 6x6 paper pad (r) Shop at: SBC
Crate Paper - Falala - Very Merry paper (r) Shop at: MISC | SBC	Crate Paper - Snow & Cocoa - Ephemera (r) Shop at: SBC	Hero Arts - White embossing powder Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH	EK Success powder tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

All is calm

Today's card shows that I obviously planned to make something starry over the summer.

It's another dimensional star I made but never managed to put on a project. Hm... I have no idea what I originally had in mind, but these wood effect stars seem just perfect for Christmas cards so I'm glad they've been put to good use and are no longer gathering dust in my little bowl for spare die-cuts.

Paper: Elle's Studio, Crate Paper
Stamp: Neat & Tangled - Winter Wishes
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs - Silly Stitched dies, PTI - Seeing Stars
Other: Misti, 3D foam tape, Nuvo drops

And once again the card blank had already been prepped with patterned paper ready to make a card, so it was another perfect combo of ready-to-use elements that just needed to be assembled with the right extras.

To go with those bold pink stripes I looked to one of my favourite versatile patterns from last year's Falala Crate Paper Holiday release. With such bold colours I wanted to keep everything else really simple so there are just some clear Nuvo drops in the centres of the pompom elements for extra sparkle.

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Neat & Tangled - Winter Wishes stamps Shop at: SBC | SHC | SSS	Lil' Inker Designs - Silly Stitched dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	PTI - Seeing Stars dies Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS
Crate Paper - Falala - Very Merry paper (r) Shop at: MISC | SBC	Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops - Morning Dew (clear) Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS
Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

Christmas card countdown to the big day!

So how was your first day of December?

Mine started with a lovely breakfast:

Mum and I hit the shops and Ikea earlier this week and it was a lovely surprise to see they are selling the gingerbread version of those fab little cinnamon rolls. I enjoyed a few with my hot chocolate this morning. Hopefully the packet will last a few more weekends. ;)

I've not got my tree up yet, but my new decoration from Laura Ashley that I bought back in September can officially take its new place on the mantelpiece – just need to add all the other decs!

I was also really tempted to snuggle under the lovely throw my mum got me for my nameday:

But I had to focus on getting something on my to-do list sorted.

Namely getting my recent Christmas card projects all photographed ready to blog.

I've had to cut some corners to get this all done, but needs must in December!

I'm hoping to share them on an almost daily basis. Most are stand-alone makes, but a few are similar as I made a handful while all my supplies were out.

So apologies if things look a bit samey, I definitely have a go-to design when under a time crunch. ;)

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I'm starting with a mini square card using bits and pieces that were ready to assemble.

I must have had a card in mind last year, but just not managed to put it all together.

 

Paper and sticker: Basic Grey
Dies: PTI - Seeing Stars
Other: Nuvo drops, 3D foam tape

The small square card blank was already covered with this lovely paper from Basic Grey and I'd already made the dimensional star sometime this summer for another project where it didn't work out.

So I just cut a circle of paper from the pink polar bear design, but it looked a bit flat. A bit of inspiration came to me, and I used scissors to cut a fringe, once fluffed up it suddenly looked much more festive.

All I needed to do was add a greeting with that sticker and add some clear Nuvo drops to bring the berry elements out. :)

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PTI - Seeing Stars dies Shop at: MISC	Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Standard circles large Shop at: AZ	Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops - Morning Dew (clear) Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

2018 card challenge - December prompt

Well folks, it's here...

We've officially reached the final prompt of the 2018 card challenge!

Well done to all those who have kept up so far, just one more card to go. :D

In a tribute to the season, this month's challenge is all about adding...

Sparkle!

{Pinterest pin}

Yep, glitter, sequins, gems galore... take your pick!

You can be as subtle or OTT as you like. :D

And if you still have festive or cards to make, this is definitely the challenge for you!

Happy crafting one and all. :D

2018 card challenge - June and July cards plus bonus card

Well before I enter Christmas mode completely I thought I'd best share the rest of my non-festive makes from 2018 - not that there have been many, but I am feeling more crafty now that I've got 40+ Christmas cards made in the last month or so! Phew!

So first up we have my car for the June prompt: borders.

It features a wreath as a border to my sentiment, the first outing of my Turnabout Wreath stamp set from Concord & 9th!

Paper: Lawn Fawn
Stamps: Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout; PTI - Graceful Greetings
Other: Misti

I must confess that my friend and I did have a bit of a mathematical moment when we used the Wreath Turnabout stamps for the first time,trying to work out which colours to use together and where they'd be.

But it all worked out ok in the end. Hopefully we'll be faster next time! lol

Here are the supplies for that card:

 

Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	PTI - Graceful Greetings stamps Shop at: MISC	Lawn Fawn - Large cross-stitched square stackables Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Cilantro ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Lawn Fawn - Manatee ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Mermaid ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Peachy Keen ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow 6x6 pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

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And onto the next card.

Thie one uses the Wreath Turnabout stamps again but for a different look as the background to a focal sentiment.

I borrowed the greeting stamp from my friend so I'm not sure who designed it:

Paper: Simple Stories
Stamps: Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout
Other: Misti

This time I wanted a summery colour scheme with some hot pinks and teal tones that reflected the background paper I used.

Here are the supplies for this one:

 

Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Large cross-stitched square stackables Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	PTI - Harvest Gold ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Hibiscus Burst ink pad Shop at: MISC
PTI - Lemon Tart ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Simply Chartreuse ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Soft Stone ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Summer Sunrise ink pad Shop at: MISC
PTI - Sweet Blush ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

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And finally I had fun with my Distress Oxides creating this watercolour background for my July "Celebration" card, once again with borrowed stamps for the sentiment:

Die: Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up
Other: Misti, Distress Oxides

Lots of drying with the heat gun between layers to create this pastel rainbow effect. Once I was happy with the final background I dried it then flicked contrasting ink over for extra pop, and finally cut the watercolour cardstock with my trusty scalloped die from Mama Elephant's All Prettied Up set and mounted it with foam tape on a light grey card blank. :)

Here are the supplies for this card (minus the sentiment stamps which I wish I had! lol):

Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up dies Shop at: EH | SHC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Dried Marigold Shop at: EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Fossilized Amber Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Mermaid Lagoon Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Tumbled Glass Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Wilted Violet Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Worn Lipstick Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Versamark ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC | SSS
PTI - Soft Stone cardstock Shop at: MISC	Tim Holtz - 4.25 x 5.5 Distress Watercolor Cardstock Shop at: AZ | SSS	Hero Arts - White embossing powder Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS
EK Success powder tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Ranger - Artist brush set Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS