More Christmas cards

I make slightly less fussy cards for other family members, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles and batch make these too.
The problem is I usually make too many and then can't remember who I've sent what to from one Christmas to the next. I really must get more organised.

Panels made using Cuttlebug EF.
Poinsettia dies from Spellbinders.
Snowflake dies from The Works
Branches punch.
Sentiments by Dovecrafts

Thanks for popping in x

One of those cards...

Hello there,
Earlier this week my friends partner died after being very poorly for quite a while. He was only 59 and my friend Georgina is understandably devastated. Luckily she has a good, close family unit and some great friends.
So this is one of those cards. The one's we don't really want to make but can, sometimes, be the most important one's.

I've kept it light and colourful but not too gaudy, with just a touch of black.

I used a mix of die cut flowers to get the effect I wanted
Dies; Memory Box, Tulips and Poppies. Circle and rectangle, Die- namics.
Cuttlebug embossing Folder Swiss Dots.
Sentiment, Flourishes
Small butterfly punch.


Thank you for visiting x

Simply Less is More # 221

Hello There,

Well I`m a bit earlier this week for the Simply Less is More Challenge thank goodness. The craftroom move is done, most of the sorting out is finished but I`ve put the rest on hold so I can get back to some crafting.

I`m also entering this into  Pixies Snippet Playground,

The challenge this week is to INCLUDE A TAG
Well anyone who has been following me recently will know of my almost obsessive use of tags on cards so this was right up my street.

I made two cards, this is the girly one.
Using the CB Swiss Dots EF I made a panel for the front of my card.
I used a left over scrap of Pink Petticoat Swiss Dots printed card for the tag, cut out with a Die- namics tag die.
The heart is also cut from a scrap of white card with a Sizzix heart die.
The butterfly is from a Memory Box die and, again from a scrap of pink paper.
The twine is white crochet thread that I coloured with a Spectrum Noir pen.
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Lines made into a banner.
I`ve finished off with some irridescent sequins and some tiny clear gems.

I also made a male one, just because.
Again mostly from scraps and snippets.
The panel on the front is another from CB because it reminded me a little bit of the sea.
The tag is another from Pink Petticoat swiss dots.
The Anchor and Wheel dies are from Die- namics
The sentiment is computer generated.

My daughter ( Rubys Mum) made me cry on friday. Now this is not unusual as I cry at the drop of a hat but I still fill up everytime I think of this.
One of the kids at the oncology clinic in Leeds wanted to go to see the new Cinderella movie so her dad rang the local cinema to see when the quietest time was to take her. He explained to the lady on the phone that because his daughter had cancer, her immune system was very delicate and they couldn`t risk taking her when there would be lots of other people around and also the air conditioning can cause problems. The lady on the phone said she fully understood as she had been poorly too and to leave it with her and she`d get back to him.
A couple of hours later the lady rang back to tell him that she`d been intouch with Disney and they had agreed to let them put on a special screening of the film.
Thinking that there would be maybe a few dozen other special children there off the family went to the cinema. When they arrived the little girl was greeted by two real life Disney Princesses ( Cinderella and Frozen) and they had the whole cinema to themselves. The little girl was sat with the Princesses at either side holding her hands, she had a huge box of chocolates and the time of her life.
How wonderful is that?
I`m off now before I start myself off again.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 212

Hi there
I`m quite late with my card for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge which is titled WINGS
I made two cards over the weekend but have only found time to post them.

For my first card I used Kaisercraft stains stamp set using Versacolor Mint, Orchid and Heliotrope.
The leaf stem is from Papertrey Turning a new Leaf stamp set stamped in Memento London Fog
I made the butterfly with Memory Box dies and purple and white vellum.
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Line stamped and embossed in silver ep.
I added some gems to finish.

My second card also features a butterfly ( I`m so predictable).
I started with a scrap of paper printed with yellow hexagons from Pink Petticoat and given a fishtail.
I added a tiny strip of bright orange paper to give it some zing.
The tag is cut with a die from Die- namics and embossed with a Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls EF.
The sentiment is also from Flourishes.
I cut a circle from yellow card and embossed that with a Craft Concepts Woodgrain EF.
The leaf is part of a Memory Box Lorelai Stem die.
The butterfly is a stamp from Docrafts stamped in Versa mark Black and embossed in clear EP then coloured using Promarkers.

Not a great deal to tell you this week. Ruby continues to improve and although she`s still having terrible trouble with her calf and ankle muscles, she`s finding her own way around which is all good.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 191

Hello There,
Well it`s a good week for me this week over at the Simply Less is More Challenge. It`s recipe week and we are asked to make a card using MOSTLY WORDS.
I had decided to make my batches of  Christmas cards for friends and neighbours over the weekend, keeping them simple and using text as the main focal point. Basically all I`ve had to do is put this card together. Simples!

Cuttlebug Snowflake EF on panel.
Words PC generated and cut out with a SB nestie oval die.
Snowflakes, lge Crafters Companion die, two smaller ones punched from pale blue glitter card.
Finished off with a small gem in centre of larger snowflake.

Time permitting I`ll be back during the week but don`t hold your breath. Enjoy whats left of the week end,
Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 173

Hi There!
Anyone who follows my blog regularly will know just how much I love my dies so you will understand how chuffed I was when I saw this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More was to use a DIE CUT.
This is what I made,

I started by embossing a square onto a 6x6 card base using a square nestie, masked it off then sponged it in very pale pink decorative chalk.
I made the vase by cutting out an oval shape with a nestie, then cutting across the top with another oval to make the opening. I cut  straight across the bottom with scissors for the base, chalked that in pale pink with a little darker pink along the bottom and one side to give it some depth, then ran it through the cuttlebug with a swirl EF.
I cut the foliage, Memory Box Flutter Vine in pale green card and the flowers, also MB Dancing Tulips, in white card. I coloured the flowers with Promarkers and cut the stems to fit the vase.
I slightly curved the vase with a bone folder and used a big blob of silicone glue to adhere it to the card base and slotted in my flowers and foliage while the glue was still pliable.
The word dies are from Britannia Dies cut from white card and adhered with a quickie glue pen.
I`ve got a family birthday coming up next month so I think this will do very nicely.

Not a very nice day today, in fact in feels more like october than nearly june. I`m hoping it`s going to improve soon as I`m sick to death of rain already. I`m sure I`m solar powered.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 166

Hi there, I hope I find you well.

It`s saturday once again, where do the days go, and that means it`s time for another challenge at Simply Less is More. It`s colour week this week and the girls have chosen,
                                             A TOUCH OF TURQUOISE
I must admit turquoise is my least favourite colour which is probably why I have no ink whatsoever resembling that shade.It did dawn on me afterwards that I could have used markers for stamping but by then I`d already made my card. Never mind, here is what I came up with,

I didn`t want to many layers on my card so I ran the card base through the Cuttlebug with this stripey EF from Darice. I love this folder, it`s a good size which means I can do the whole card in one go.
I made the tag using a Die-namics die and punched a hole in the top.
I found a small piece of turquoise striped paper from Pink Petticoat
in my  bit box and used it along the bottom of the tag.
I also managed to find some matching card for the Happy Birthday using dies from Britannia dies.
A piece of narrow ribbon and a few small gems and Voila!
It reminds me a bit of a beach hut. Maybe thats because I`m longing for warm sunshine and sand between my toes.
Right, gotta go...I`ve a pile of ironing with my name on it...oh joy!

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Love is in the air.

Good evening all.I have another Valentine card to share today, this time a bit more funky and fun.

I had a sudden `need` for the  dots mask/ stencil but didn`t want to wait for delivery so I made my own version. It`s a bit basic but I`m pleased with the result. All I did was punch some holes in some waste acetate ( backing from a stamp set) using a spring loaded hole punch and dabbed my ink through it.
Then I cut a tag from a Die-namics die and embossed it with CB Candy Cane EF.
I cut some circles from scraps and punched a tiny heart from the larger circle, cut a heart with a Sizzix die and embossed that with Swiss dots EF. I used the tiny heart to decorate the tag.
The sentiment is a fabulous one from Avery Elle and was the main reason for making the card.
Finished off with a few small clear gems.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 140

Morning All!
I`m actually here to share card made for Simply Less is More. I know...it`s been way too long and I have missed it so much. ( note to self, Make more effort)

The challenge this week is to make a white on white Christmas card and as I`m still in full flow Christmas mode I thought it would be a shame to miss it.

I used a Cuttlebug Snowflake EF for the background.
The leters are cut using a Die namics Alpha Die set, mounted on foampads.
The flower is from a pack by Docrafts especially made to colour yourself but I`ve left it white and shaped to make a Christmas Rose. I added some white stamen to the middle of the flower and some punched fern leaves.

I`m determined to join in more often again no matter what so hopefully I`ll see you all again next week.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Bright and Bold thank you card

Afternoon All!

Regular readers will know that every now and again I get the urge to go bright and bold with vivid colours. I`m sure this is because of an inbuilt need for bright sunshine, which we have had a little taste of this week but are now back to a dull grey. Will spring ever arrive?

Not too OTT which is just as well but I`m really pleased with the effect.
Hearts are cut out with a Sizzix die.
Sentiment is PC generated.
The coloured hearts were embossed with a Swiss Dots EF after cutting.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx

White on white thank you

Good evening all!

A really quick post from me to share another thank you card to add to the stash. Mojo and imagination were sadly lacking but after a quick trawl through the web and Pinterest I had ideas coming out of my ears. Pity I ran out of time :)

Panel made with CB Candy Cane EF.
Alphabet is Die-namics raised with foam pads.
Daisies made with a punch and clear gems.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 104

Hello everyone.
The snow is gone at last and we have sunshine and showers. So much better than the freezing temperatures we`ve had recently. I just hope we don`t get flooding across the country now.

It`s week 104 at Simply Less is More and this week we have a sketch.

Very simple, all we are asked for is to keep the same orientation and scale. Couldn`t be easier.

I`m in valentines mode for some reason and Mr Mojo has come calling today so I`ve taken advantage and made two cards.

 My first one is a more traditional, love and lace type card.
The lace is from The Stampman Aspects of Design Lace sheet one, stamped in Versafine Onyx and embossed in clear EP.
The heart is cut from a glitter sheet in Hot Pink with a Sizzix heart die and placed using a foam pad.
The sentiment is computer generated in Amazone font.

My second card is a bit more funky ( I think).
I scored a panel onto the card base and added Hearts cut out with a Sizzix die and then run through the Swiss Dots EF.
The sentiment is computer generated.

I have a week off work this week so I`m having a lazy day today before I start on a mad spring clean and then hopefully some more craft time.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Jingle Bells

Good Morning All!

Another quickie.

These cards were inspired by Jen from her DT card for Less is More last week.

All much of a muchness ( similar Darnell lol).
The bells are from a local haberdashery store.
I embossed the panels using 2x candy Cane folder and 2x Snowflakes folder matted onto matching coloured card. The bells are tied with either Twine or gold cord.
The sentiment is by Creative Expressions.
Nice and simple but I like `em.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Twins are twice as nice

Morning All!

One of the lads at work has just become the proud Daddy of twins, a boy and a girl, perfect. Naturally I had to make a card.

The image is from LOTV coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
Cut out with a nestie oval and matted onto a scalloped oval in lemon.
The gingham DP is by Pink Petticoat.
I added a strip of lemon card which I embossed with the Swiss Dots folder and also some stars cut out with a X Cut nested die and also using the Swiss Dots.
I`ve added glitter to the scales to give it a bit of sparkle.
Normally I would have added flowers but  the stars seemed more appropriate for the boy
.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 94

Good Afternoon All!

The challenge this week at Simply Less is More is to use HARDWARE on our cards.
This will probably be something metal but could just as easily be brads, charms,eyelets,clips, staples, pins, studs etc.
Right...

I always check the challenge on a saturday morning before heading off to dads and then to do the weekly shop. This gives me a chance to come up with an idea or two while I`m dusting and vacuuming. During my trip to the supermarket I had a lightbulb moment when I spied a pack of christmas party confetti.
This is what I came up with;

The cards bases are 6x4.
I ran a smaller piece of card through the CB with Swiss dots and Candy cane EF matted onto mirri card.
The sentiments are both from Papermania Silent Night set stamped and heat embossed and matted onto mirri.
The Holly and Berries are from the confetti, made of this metal or foil and are a lovely finishing touch and really cheap too.

I knew I had some charms that I bought after the charm challenge and I also have a SiL birthday coming up so I`ve posted that one too.

5x5 card base.
The panel is made from the off cut when I made the base from an A4 sheet.
I stamped the image from Marianne Emberson in Versacolor sandstone and embossed in clear EP, then inked the panel with Spun Sugar DI and Rosebud Memento.
Added some twine and a butterfly charm.
The sentiment is computer generated.
And there you have it.

I`ve had a terrible week. Alans eldest sister has been very poorly for a long time and recently went into hospice. Last saturday we were told that she had taken a turn for the worse and she died on tuesday. At the same time we found out that a brother in law is ill and is awaiting tests. Fingers crossed it`s not as serious as it could be. Ruby is back in Leeds General having chemo and then one of my regular customers, a lovely bubbly lady has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. I am in desperate need of some good news please.
Sorry to be such a misery guts.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Man cards

Good Morning All!
I hope you are all well and not feeling the monday morning blues :-(

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was short of man cards. Well it`s taken me long enough to get into the swing but I managed to make a few.

 For this one I used cream hammered card for the case and some burgundy leather look card for the panel.
The letters are cut out using Die_namics Alphabet and the star is a X Cut nested star, all cut out of gold mirri and embossed with a Cuttlebug EF Candy canes.
The sentiment is PC generated.

 This one is on a white card base with DP from Pink Petticoat His Papers.
The letters and star as above but in silver and embossed with Swiss Dots folder.

 This one is also a cream base card with a green panel embossed with the Candy Cane folder.
The letters and star are made using brown card and the Swiss Dots folder.

Not earth shattering in their design I know but in my experience men prefer CaS.

I have another batch to show later in the week.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More Silver 2nd entry

Good Afternoon and a happy sunday to you all.

Thisis my second attempt at this weeks colour challenge at Simply Less is More which is to use SILVER in our creations.

This time I`ve not done any stamping.
I ran a panel through the CB using a snowflake EF then matted it onto some silver mirri card.
I made the word using Die-namics alphabet set from silver mirri and then ran them through the CB with Swiss Dots folder.
I placed the letters using foam pads to give some definition and glittered some of the embossed snowflakes with Glamour Dust. They look fab IRL but don`t show up well in the photo.

I apologise for the reflection but no matter what I tried I couldn`t get a pic without it. I don`t even know what is reflecting but it makes the silver look gold :-(

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 87

Good afternoon All.

As it`s the fifth saturday of the month, it`s a lucky dip challenge at Simply Less is More
This time the theme is Love & Marriage.

I made a very simple card.I used the Swiss Dots folder for my panel and added a white ribbon and slider.
The sentiment is by Rubbadubbado stamped in clear ink and embossed in detail silver EP then cut out with a nestie oval.
I cut out some elements of the Fleur de Lis accents from SB and positioned them on the oval with a dab of glue. And that`s it, easy peasy and quite quick.

I spent the morning yesterday at the Macmillan Cancer Trust Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning ( try saying that with your mouth full lol) and took some cards along to help raise funds.
Although I only sold 8 cards, I met some lovely people and got some very helpful feedback. I now know that I`m seriously lacking in man and boy cards so  I think I`m going to have to concentrate on those for a while.
I did wake up in the early hours of friday convinced that no one would even look at the cards never mind buy any so 8 was a bonus and the feedback did wonders for my confidence. All in all I had a wonderful time and the little bit I raised can only help can`t it? The school is sharing the money raised between Macmillan and Candlelighters which is great and as soon as I know the total I`ll put it on here.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx


 

Feeling Under the Weather?

Good Morning All!

A quick post from me. I want to make the most of my time off and get some crafting done.

The challenge for this fortnight at In the Pink is ANYTHING BUT A SQUARE

I suppose I could have made a rectangle card but as most of mine are either square or rectangles I thought I`d go mad and make a circular card.

Besides, I wanted to play with my dies again and this Umbrella from Die-namics is fabulous.
I made the circle using a Spellbinders Lacey Circles die in white.
The pink is cut with a circle die then run through the CB with the Swiss Dots folder. I thought it looked a bit like rain or snow ;-)
The umbrella is made using scraps from Papermania Blueberry Hill DP and some dark pink card.
Sentiment is computer generated using Amazone font.

I would like to take the time to welcome my newest follower Irene. Thank you Irene for choosing my little blog to follow.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Happy Birthday Cheryl

Good afternoon all!

Today is my eldest daughter, Cheryl`s birthday. Being Ruby`s mum the last few months have been quite difficult but Cheryl has always had a strong personality and she`s coped really well. I`m sure this is where Ruby gets her strength from.
I hope that by her next birthday all this is behind us and we are all looking forward to a brighter future.

This is the card I made for her. I had promised not to make another Poppy card but since I had the die I just had to use it.
Really straight forward. Sentiment printed from comp then run through with Swiss Dots EF.
Memory Box Poppy die cut out twice in green and twice in red. Flower heads chopped off, coated in Glossy Accents and replaced. Job done.

Just a quick note...Ruby starts school on wednesday for the first time. She has had some time at the nursery before but with all the treatments she`s had it`s been a bit random. Now it`s the biggie.
Can`t quite believe it, doesn`t seem 5 minutes since she was a baby. I`ll let you know how she gets on.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx