Christmas Craft Creations Challenge April Reminder - Non-Traditional Colours

Hi crafters,

The Reminder Team are sharing more inspiration over at the Christmas Craft Creations Challenge Blog for our April theme of Non-Traditional Colours.

I chose some Concord and 9th inks for my non-traditional colours.  I went with a combination of Nectar, Stardust, Sea Glass and Midnight.  I love the results and could see this colour palette being lovely for baby cards too.  All three cards feature panels from the Create-in Quads Layering Stencils - Deck the Halls from Taylored Expressions.  I still have another panel of stars waiting to be made into a card.  

Card 1

Once I had a ink blended the Create-in-Quads stencils, I used the co-ordinating dies to cut out the ornaments.  I chose three that would create a focal point for my card.  I pulled out the Simon Hurley Create Halftone Holiday stamp set and used the pine branch image to create a frame around the card in C9 Midnight ink.  I stamped the strings from the same stamp set using Catherine Pooler's pigment ink in Silver.  I stamped the sentiment in silver and then heat embossed in clear to avoid smudging.   I finished off the card with PFS Clear Drops in Ice.  

Card 2

This was a super quick make.  Once I had finished stenciling, I die cut a panel of Night of Navy cardstock from Stampin' Up! using the Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Rectangles dies.  I cut the long edges off and adhered behind my stenciled panel.  I added a greeting from the Spellbinders Mini Christmas Greetings Stamp Set in Midnight ink.  

Card 3

I added this stenciled panel to a Night of Navy card base and then die cut the sentiment using the Pretty Pink Posh Merry die in matching cardstock.  I love the simplicity of this design and you could easily mass-produce these for the holiday season.  

I had so much fun making these three cards and challenging myself with a non-traditional colour palette.  I hope you can join us for our non-traditional colours theme.  You have until Tuesday 7 May 2024 at 6pm BST to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge Reminder - Designer Paper

Hi crafters,

The Reminder Team are sharing more inspiration over at the Christmas Craft Creations Challenge Blog for our March theme of Designer Paper.

I made three cards using one sheet of the Honey Bee Stamps Holiday Traditions 6" x 6" Designer Paper.  It stood out for it's bold design and mix of traditional and modern colours.  

I made three card bases using heavyweight white cardstock in American A2 size of 4.25" x 5.5".  I cut the 6" x 6" piece of designer paper at 4" and then cut that piece on the diagonal to get two backgrounds.  This left me with a strip that I could use on the third card.  

Card 1

I masked the edges of my card with Gina K Masking Magic Strips and stamped the Picket Fence Studio Hark, the Angels Sing Background Stamp in Concord & 9th Avocado ink.  I added the designer paper section below and then finished off with a strip of gold metallic cardstock on the diagonal edge.  I created the poinsettia using the Altenew Poinsettia 3D Die Set in Real Red cardstock from Stampin' Up! with a gold metallic centre die cut.  I stamped my sentiment using the Spellbinders Mini Christmas Greetings Stamp Set in the Avocado ink to match my background stamping.  

Card 2

The second card uses the leftover strip of designer paper.  I created a panel of white cardstock and splattered Light Gold from the Gansai Tambi Starry Colours palette.  I set this off to the side to dry while I stamped my focal image.  I used the Concord & 9th Ornament Stamp & Stitch Bundle, stamping in Lumberjack Plaid Distress Ink and C9 Avocado ink.  I added foam tape to the back of the die cut ornament and attached a length of Spellbinders Black Cord before securing this to the back of the splattered panel which already had the designer paper adhered.  I finished with a bow at the top of the ornament also in the black cord from Spellbinders.  

Card 3

Using up the second half of the original piece of designer piece I made a third card.  I adhered the designer paper to the top of the card base.  I created three poinsettia blooms using the Honey Bee Stamps Winter Bouquets Honey Cuts in Real Red cardstock with metallic gold centres.  I adhered these to the diagonal cut of the designer paper, adding some greenery in Avocado cardstock between the blooms.  I finished off this card using a sentiment from the 

Gina K Designs Peace Love Joy Mini Stamp Set in Lumberjack Plaid Distress Ink.

I had so much fun making these three cards and I'll definitely be pulling out my designer paper again soon.  I hope you can join us for our Designer Paper theme.  You have until Tuesday 9 April 2024 at 6pm BST to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge Reminder - Stencils or Embossing Folders

Hi crafters,

The Christmas Craft Creations Reminder Team is back with more beautiful inspiration for our February challenge.  The theme this month is Stencils or Embossing Folders.

I had a tough time choosing which products to use for this challenge - I love stencils and embossing folders.  I ended up using a stencil set from Lawn Fawn called Poinsettia Background Stencils.  I'll be honest and confess that I can't remember for the life of me what inks I used to colour this stencil set!  I think it was Simon Says Stamp inks but I really can't remember.  However the golden paste layer was Gold Rush Lunar Paste by Simon Hurley Create.  I love the Lunar Pastes for their immense shine and versatility.  I didn't want to cut my background down so I made a 6" square card and wrapped it up with some red metallic twine from Hobbycraft.  I finished by stamping a MFT sentiment from the Gnome for the Holidays stamp set onto a Tim Holtz tag die cut.  This die set is super old so I'm not sure if Tim even makes it anymore.  It was the perfect size for my "present".  I ink blended inside the edges of the tag to make it stand out from the background.  

I hope you can join us for our Stencils or Embossing Folders theme.  You have until 12 March 2024 at 6pm GMT to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations January Challenge Reminder - Glitter and Sparkle

Hi Crafters,

The Christmas Craft Creations Reminder Team is back with more fabulous inspiration for our January challenge.  This month's theme is Glitter and Sparkle.  

I started with a white American A2 cardbase.  I used the Hero Arts Poinsettia Bold Prints Stamp with Versamark clear sticky ink on black cardstock.  I poured on Hero Arts Gold Glitter Embossing Powder and heat set.  I actually have a whole background piece left from making this card so I'll have to use that up soon.  I created a sentiment using the Concord & 9th Festive Phrases stamp and co-ordinating die set on white and black cardstock with gold embossing powder.  I popped up the sentiment for added dimension.  

I hope you can join us for our Glitter and Sparkle theme.  You have until 13 February 2024 at 6pm GMT to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations December 2023 Challenge - Christmas Decorations

Hi crafters,

I'm back to share more inspiration for the latest challenge over at Christmas Craft Creations.

This month our theme is Christmas Decorations.  We would love to see how you decorate your cards for Christmas.    

I started by hot foiling the Retro Ornaments from Simon Hurley Create in gold foil using my Spellbinders Glimmer machine.  I put the panel into the Pine Branches 3D Texture Fades Embossing Folder from Tim Holtz.  I used a blending brush to add a small amount of Pine Needles Distress Ink over the pine branches.  I finished off with a Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strip.  

If you are planning to get a start on next year's Christmas crafting, join us for our Christmas Decorations theme.  You have until 9 January 2024 at 6pm GMT to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations December 2023 Challenge - Christmas Decorations

Hi crafters,

I'm joining in with the Launch team again at Christmas Craft Creations.  We are sharing inspiration for our new theme.  

This month our theme is Christmas Decorations.  We would love to see how you decorate your cards for Christmas.    

I started with a kraft card base and then used the Waffle Flower Bokeh Stencil and white pigment ink.  I cut the shiny gold bauble with the Hero Arts Bulb Ornament Infinity Dies and embossed using the Spellbinders Scenic Poinsettias 3D embossing folder.  I sanded back some of the design to reveal the white core of the metallic cardstock.  I cut a red bow using the Holly Berries Stamp & Cut XL set and then hot foiled my sentiment with Yana's A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments from Spellbinders.  

If you're making a few last minute Christmas cards, join us for our Christmas Decorations theme.  You have until 9 January 2024 at 6pm GMT to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations November 2023 Challenge - Add a Hat

Hi crafters,

I'm back to share more inspiration for the latest challenge over at Christmas Craft Creations.

This month our theme is Add a Hat.  We would love to see your take on this theme.  

I was feeling the frosty vibes for my card!  I started by stamping the Simon Hurley/Ranger Stippled background stamp in Morning ink from Simon Says Stamp.  It's pretty faint in the photos but more impactful in real life.  I used the Spellbinders Let It Snowman A2 Cardfront die set which is great for a quick card as all the elements for card are included in one die set.  The original die features a leaf arch but I cut them off and added snowflakes instead.  I cut the snowman out from Spellbinders Pop-Up Die Cutting Glitter Foam Sheets in white.  I created the snowman's hat from glossy black cardstock and silver foil cardstock.  I finished off with a silver foil sentiment die cut.  

We are loving your creations for our Add a Hat challenge so far and keep them coming in!  You have until 12 December 2023 at 6pm GMT to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel