Christmas Craft Creations August 2023 Challenge - Clean and Simple

Hi crafters,

I have super exciting news!  I'm now part of the Christmas Craft Creations Design Team. Christmas Craft Creations (CCC) is a monthly challenge blog for Christmas projects.  There are two inspiration posts a month from the Launch Team and the Reminder Team, which I've joined.  

August's CCC challenge is all about Clean and Simple (CAS) cards.  I chose to use mainly Spellbinders products because they had just shown up in the mail.  I created a standard American A2 card base at 4.25" x 5.5" on white cardstock.  I embossed a slightly smaller panel of white cardstock using the Spellbinders Adorning the Tree 3D embossing folder.  I pulled out my Glimmer machine and used gold foil with the A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments hot foil plate set by Yana Smakula for Spellbinders.  I popped the sentiment up using foam tape.  I used various small foliage dies from two Spellbinders die sets - Joy and Christmas Blooms.  I cut the foliage from white cardstock and inked using paper pouncers and Concord & 9th inks.  I finished off the small poinsettia with tiny dot die cuts from gold foil cardstock.  

We would be delighted to have you join us for our Clean and Simple challenge this month which ends on Tuesday 12 September at 6pm GMT.  A great way to get a head start on your Christmas crafting or add to your finished cards.  

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel

Gnomie Thanks Card!

Hi crafters,

I have a die cut gnome card today and I'm so in love!  It also fits perfectly for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Die Cuts.  

I started by embossing a piece of white cardstock using a wood grain embossing folder from Stampin' Up!.  I ink blended over the white cardstock with Fog ink from SSS. I added a die cut frame of patterned paper on top using my favourite Frames dies from SSS.  I've had this patterned paper in my stash for such a long time and it was finally time to use it on a project!  Next, I cut three of the Delicate Leafy Branch dies from SSS in white cardstock.  I used the Pocket Gnome die from SSS and combined Copic colouring with patterned paper.  To finish off the card, I used a sentiment from Pinkfresh Studio stamped in Memento Tuxedo black ink.  

I would like to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Die Cuts.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel

Floral Butterfly Thanks Card

Hi crafters,

I have a thank you card today for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge of Anything Goes.  I used mostly SSS products to create my card.  

My card base is a standard American A2 at 5.5" by 4.25".  I used the A2 Marquee dies to cut from white cardstock.  I masked off the die cut circle edges and then ink blended through the Layered Flowers Stencils. I used Pawsitively Saturated ink in Bubblegum, Sweets, Peachy, Sprout and Fairway.  I used the A2 Marquee dies to cut from vellum and layered this on top of my stenciled panel.  I pulled out the Etched Butterfly Die and cut this from white cardstock.  I ink blended over the body of the butterfly with Bubblegum ink.  The sentiment is die cut using the Bold Thanks die and ink blended over the die cuts using Bubblegum and Peachy inks.  I added sparkle to the sentiment and the body of the butterfly with a Wink of Stella clear glitter pen.  I finished off by adding a few gems from Little Things by Lucy.  

I would like to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

Happy crafting,

Rachel 

Flat Shaker Card - Happy Birthday

Hi crafters,

I have a flat shaker card for you today for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which has a Happy Birthday theme this week.  This is only the second flat shaker card I've made and I've learned all the things not to do now!  

I started by cutting down some stamp packaging to create the pocket for the shaker elements.  I turned on my Spellbinders Glimmer Machine and hot foiled the frame in purple from the Spellbinders Geometric Floral Hot Foil Plates straight onto the plastic packaging.  For the inside of the card I used a piece of white cardstock and mopped up some leftover Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powders from another project.  I embossed the panel using the Altenew Cupped Blossoms 3D Embossing Folder.  I adhered the plastic packaging around the embossed panel on three sides and then added sequins from Simon Says Stamp and Trimits in co-ordinating colours.  

I cut the sentiment using the Big Happy Birthday Wafer Dies from Simon Says Stamp in white cardstock and turquoise matte foil cardstock.  To finish the card I embellished using die cut butterflies in pearlescent vellum from the Butterfly Shimmer Wafer Dies by Simon Says Stamp.  

I would like to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Happy Birthday.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Happy Birthday Hummingbirds

Hi crafters,

I'm back to share a card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday challenges.  The SSS Monday Challenge for the week beginning 7 March is Add Some Green.  The theme for the SSS Wednesday Challenge posted on 2 March is Add a Die Cut.  My card incorporates both challenges.  

I created a card base using Hamilco heavy weight cardstock.  I hot foiled the Happy Birthday sentiment in purple using my Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System and the Spellbinders Stylish Script Happy Birthday hot foil plate.  I cut two of the Leafy Frame die from SSS in white cardstock and adhered to my foiled panel using liquid glue.  The hummingbirds are made using the Eclectic Garden die set from Concord & 9th, with Stampin' Up! cardstock in Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape and Pool Party.  I coloured the eyes using a black marker and then added a layer of black glaze pen on top.  To finish I adhered jewels from Little Things by Lucy in Lime and Shimmering Pool with liquid glue.  My finished card measures 4.25" by 5.5".  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

A New Beginning!

Hi crafters,

In case you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, I'm here to fill you in on a couple of changes.  I resigned from Stampin' Up! at the end of September 2021 and I'm no longer a Demonstrator.  There were a couple of reasons behind my decision.  Firstly, I really wanted to use and showcase products from multiple companies and this isn't allowed when you sign the Demonstrator Agreement.  Secondly, there were several SU! products that were reappearing catalogue after catalogue and I think I just needed a change.  I still love Stampin' Up! products and will continue to use them in my crafting.  However, I kept seeing and lusting after products from a range of other companies such as Simon Says Stamp, Hero Arts, Pinkfresh Studio, Honey Bee Stamps, Ranger and more so I made the decision to resign.  Now the crafty world is my oyster!  

So in honour of branching out, here are a few cards I've made with products from various companies, all named above.  

Happy crafting, 

Rachel x

Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop - Step It Up

Hi crafters,

I'm taking part in the Stampin' Dreams blog hop with the Crafty Collaborations team.  We are a group of international Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from all over the world.  Our theme is Step It Up and I can't wait to see what everyone has created.  There is a full list of of the blog hop participants in this post.  

I have two Christmas cards today using the Bright Bauble Bundle.  The first card is stamps, paper and ink but the second is stepped up using Specialty DSP, die cutting, ink blending and heat embossing.  

I started both cards by making a card base from Thick Basic White cardstock.  I placed the first card base into my Stamparatus and lined up the big bauble stamp from the Bright Bauble stamp set before inking in Polished Pink ink.  I also stamped the bow in the same colour.  I drew the string with a Polished Pink Stampin' Write Marker.  I added clusters of stars around the main image with Misty Moonlight ink.  I stamped the sentiment in Polished Pink and trimmed this out before adding with Stampin' Dimensionals to my card base.  I finished off by placing three 2021-2023 In Color Jewels onto the centre of the bauble.  

The second card has the same stamped background in Misty Moonlight but this time I added a strip of the Whimsy & Wonder Specialty Designer Series Paper behind the bauble.  To create the bauble I stamped in Versamark ink and then added silver embossing powder, before heat setting with the my heat tool.  I used the co-ordinating dies to cut out the bauble and ink blended onto the white cardstock with Polished Pink ink using a Blending Brush.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop the bauble up.  I added a silver bow to the top of the bauble with some of the Simply Elegant Trim.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment also in silver and then mounted this onto some Misty Moonlight cardstock.  

I hope you are enjoying the Step It Up blog hop.  To keep hopping simply click below to the next person on the hop.  We love to hear what you think of our creations, so don't forget to leave a comment.  

Happy crafting, Rachel x

Product List

Bright Baubles Bundle [156384]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Stamparatus [148187]	Whimsy & Wonder 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [156329]	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230]
Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]	Misty Moonlight A4 Cardstock [153086]	Polished Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [155712]	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Metallics Embossing Powders [155555]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]	Blending Brushes [153611]	2021–2023 In Color Jewels [155571]	Simply Elegant Trim [155766]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]