My Advent Countdown
For the last couple of years I have made little boxes to hang on our Christmas Tree to count down the days till Christmas. My grandchildren love coming and opening the boxes and of course there is chocolate inside (and more in the cupboard to cover however many children there may be visiting at the time).
This year I decided that I would make little matchboxes. Since I don’t have a matchbox die for the Big Shot, I had to make these from scratch. I have a tutorial which I found quite some time ago by Kristen Aune and this gives the dimensions to make the matchboxes. You can get 2 from 1 A4 sheet of cardstock. I cut the boxes from various colours – Old Olive, Real Red, Ridinghood Red, Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler. I left the box plain only punching a hold in one end with my Crop-a-Dile to add the ribbon to hang them from the tree. The covers have been rolled using matching ink and the Starburst Jumbo Wheel. I inked the image from the Four Frames stampset using Early Expresso ink, stamped onto Whisper White card and then punched them out using the Decorative Label Punch. The numbers are cut from cardstock using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlit Dies. I will have to change the decoration on the front as the double digits do not work with the image I used for these boxes.
I have actually only made 9 of these, just enough to get them onto the tree when the Grandchildren helped me put it up last week. So I had better stop procrastinating and get the rest done.
Bye for now, Kris.
December Frenzy
From today until the end of the month, Stampin’ Up! is having a huge sale with current product up to 50% off!!! How fantastic. Click on the photo to see which products are discounted so that you don’t miss out.
Bye for now, Kris.
Two more tutorials
from Craft Project Central.
This Tooth Fairy Tin & Wand set is sure to delight any little girl. This gorgeous tutorial was designed by Heidi King. Please visit Heidi’s blog to see more of her fabulous work and don’t forget to let her know how much you love it.
This fabulous Field Flowers Stationery Gift Set is designed by Eileen LeFevre . The beautiful colours and distressing give an truly gorgeous vintage feel. I thoroughly recommend a visit to Eileen’s blog to see more or her amazing work and of course leave her a comment to let her know how much you have enjoyed your visit.
Unfortunately these are the last two projects for November but there is still time for you to visit Craft Project Central and subscribe. At only $10.00 for 10 tutorials why not give yourself and early Christmas present.
Bye for now, Kris
A Pretty Happy Birthday
Here is another card I made using the Creating Pretty Card Sketch for November at Craft Project Central.
I punched a large oval from Tempting Turquoise card stock, a 1″ circle from Pacific Point card stock and a small oval from Real Red card stock. I attached linen thread to the back of each punched shape and then attached the shapes to a piece of Whisper White card stock. I punched both long edges of a narrow piece of Pacific Point card stock using the Scallop Edge Border Punch. I attached the linen thread to the back of the strip of Pacific Point card stock and then attached it to the Whisper White card stock. I ran this piece through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder which embedded the images into the Whisper White card stock. 
I love this technique and I love how the linen thread remained “unattached”. I inked the image from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stampset using Real Red, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped onto Whisper White card stock. I punched the image out using the Extra Large Oval Punch. I cut Real Red card stock using one of the tags from the Lots of Tags Sizzlit Die Set and the Big Shot and attached it behind the image and then to the card front using dimensionals.
All in all a very simple card but I think it is quite cute.
Bye for now, Kris.
Holiday Garland and Tree Decor
Here is another fantastic decorating idea for the Holiday Season. This latest project at Craft Project Central was designed by Sandra Farrell and it is truly gorgeous. I so love the neutral shades she has used in this project so it is sure to fit with any decor. Please take the time to visit Sandra’s blog and let her know how much you love her work.
Well there are only two projects left to be released for November, however, there is still plenty of time to visit Craft Project Central and sign up. You will be very glad you did.
Bye for now, Kris.
Something New
I am ashamed to say that I have had the Bevelled Windowpanes since they were first released but have never used them. When I attended Regionals recently one of the presenters used them to create a focal point for a wheeled image. I thought it was a fantastic idea and decided to give it a try.
I used Whisper White card stock for my base and embossed the bottom half only using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. I wheeled a piece of Whisper White card stock using the Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel and Early Expresso ink. I added this piece to Early Expresso card stock which has been punched along one long edge using the Scallop Trim Border Punch. I wheeled Friendly Words onto Whisper White card stock but this time using Real Red ink. I cut the section of words I wanted to highlight from this panel and attached it to the back of a large Bevelled Windowpane using Mini Glue Dots. I cut slits in the cardstock matching the ones in the Bevelled Windowpane and threaded Real Red 5/8″ Satin Ribbon through the slits. I attached the Bevelled Windowpane to the Early Expresso image lining it up and then tied the ribbon into a knot. This piece was then attached to the card front.
Its a very simple card but the Bevelled Windowpanes give a real WOW to the card. Hopefully, I will be able to come up with some more ways to use these to share with you.
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenges Week 18
I cannot believe how quickly the weeks are flying at the moment. As usual at this time of the year there are all the end of school year activities (and as a doting Nanny I don’t want to miss any of them) as well as all the seasonal celebrations. Anyway,…. this week the sketch at Sunny Challenges and Creations is brought to you by me and as well as using the sketch you must use the Upsy Daisy stampset.
Here is the sketch. It is one that I love to use and I hope that you are inspired to play along with us this week. My card starts with a base of Basic Black card stock and to this I have added a layer of Whisper White which has been embossed using the Stripes Embossing Folder. I love this folder but do notice that it embosses so deeply that there is a tendency for it to cut through the card stock, so I do not use any tabs on my Big Shot when embossing with this folder and I still get beautiful deep embossing without any damage.
I stamped the daisy image from the Upsy Daisy stampset using Versamark ink onto Whisper White card stock, sprinkled it with White Embossing Powder and heat set it. I sponged ink over the top of the image starting at the top of the panel with Regal Rose ink and then Melon Mambo ink in the middle and Rich Razzleberry ink at the bottom. I also sponged the Rich Razzleberry ink lightly around the edges of the image panel. I used a tissue to remove any residue ink from the embossed flowers, attached it to a layer of Basic Black card stock and then the card front. 
I embossed a strip of Whisper White card stock using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and attached a strip of Basic Black card which has been punched using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch behind both long edges. I love the scallops created when you use this punch, they are so tiny and cute. This piece was then attached to the card front over the bottom of the image panel. I stamped “birthday wishes” from the Sincere Salutations stampset using Melon Mambo ink onto Whisper White card stock and punched it out using the Large Oval punch, attached it to a Basic Black Scallop Oval and then the card front.
Well now it’s time for you to visit Gwen and Vicky and see what gorgeous creations they have for your inspiration. When you are ready then pop into Sunny Challenges and Creations and add your card to Mr. Linky. I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous cards this week.
Bye for now, Kris.
Non-Traditional Christmas Card
The challenge this week at Late Night Stampers is to make a Christmas card using colours which are not traditional. I thought I would give this one a try.
I started with Wisteria Wonder and added a layer of Very Vanilla which I embossed using the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder. I punched a hole in the centre top using my Crop-A-Dile and pushed a short length of the very beautiful Wisteria Wonder 3/8″ Ruffled Ribbon through the hole and secured at both the back and the front before attached it to the card front. I stamped the christmas ornament from the Tags Til Christmas stampset onto Very Vanilla card using Wisteria Wonder ink 3 times and punched them out using the Ornament Punch. I folded each ornament in half, attached them back to back and then to the card front over the ribbon. I love the gorgeous 3D look and you can still put these in an envelope to post as it will sit flat.
I stamped Merry Christmas from the Contempo Christmas stampset onto Very Vanilla card, attached it to a layer of Wisteria Wonder, which has one long edge punched using the Scallop Trim Border Punch and then attached it to the card front.
I think this is a combination which works well for Christmas even if it is non-traditional.
Bye for now, Kris.
Happy Anniversary Sarah & Sean
Today is my daughter and son-in-law’s anniversary (eleven happy years) and I thought I would share the card I made for them.
I started with Wisteria Wonder cardstock and added a layer of Very Vanilla card stock which I embossed using the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder but I didn’t emboss down the left hand side. I embossed another piece of Very Vanilla card stock using the Stripes Embossing Folder, added a mat of Wisteria Wonder card stock and then attached it to the left hand side of the card front. I stamped the stem image from the Field Flowers stamp set onto Very Vanilla card stock using Lucky Limeade ink. 
I added a mat of Wisteria Wonder card stock and attached it to the card front. I inked the large “base” flower using Wisteria Wonder ink, stamped off onto scrap paper and then onto scrap Very Vanilla card. I stamped over the top using the large “top” flower using Wisteria Wonder ink.
I repeated this process once more and then cut both flower out. I attached them flat to the card front. I stamped “congratulations” from the Perfect Punches stamp set and punched the greeting out using the Modern Label Punch. I cut a mat using the Movers and Shapers Punch Window from Wisteria Wonder card stock. The greeting is also attached flat to the card front. I love how this card turned out and as it happens I used the sketch for the challenge this week at Sudsol.
I want to send congratulations to my sister who is also celebrating her wedding anniversary today.
Bye for now, Kris.
Workshop Make & Take
I designed this card for the make and take at last weekend’s workshop because the Hostess had previously ordered Heat and Stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds and had not been able to get it to work.
I started with a base of Old Olive and added a layer of Whisper White which I embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. The image from the Lovely As a Tree stampset is stamped using Old Olive ink onto Whisper White card. The entire piece is then covered with Versamark ink and then covered with my Heat & Stick/Dazzling Diamonds mix and heat set. (I mix my Dazzling Diamonds and Heat and Stick powder in equal parts which makes it only one step to get the shimmery look to the card front.) I have to apologise because I didn’t take a close up of the image panel to show you the gorgeous shimmer this technique gives. The image panel is added to a mat of Old Olive card stock and then added to the card front. A 1″ wide piece of Whisper White card stock is wheeled using the Soft Holly standard wheel and Old Olive ink. The edges were also sponged using the same ink. Both long edges of a 1-1/2″ wide piece of Old Olive card stock were punched using the Scallop Trim Border Punch and then attached behind the wheeled Whisper White card. The piece is then attached to the card front covering the bottom section of the image panel. “Merry Christmas” from the Petite Pairs stampset is stamped onto Whisper White card using Old Olive ink and punched out using the Large Oval Punch. The greeting is attached to an Old Olive Scallop Oval and then the card front.
This card gave the guests at the workshop an opportunity to try a few different products from the Stampin’ Up! range. Although, I must admit that it is always easy to get a gorgeous card using the Lovely as a Tree stampset.
Bye for now, Kris.
Stamping with Kris 