seasonal stitching !!

 

Merry Christmas all.... I hope you had a lovely day !! I thought I would quickly share this little felt bauble with you between the festivities. the background is similar to the Christmas pudding I made before. I cut 2 circles of blue felt, then added a wavey edged semi circle in sparkling white felt to the front piece. I satin stitched along the white and added some French knots as falling snow. using some green and brown embroidery threads, I also added a few trees in the background. I cut out the reindeer using the mini reindeer sizzix mover and shakers die by tim holtz. I then carefully stitched around him to secure him to the bauble. the final step was to stuff and blanket stitch the back and front together, including some matching ribbon at the top for hanging.

 

Mx

delightful droplets ...

I made this simple pair of earrings for my nana. they are made from a head pin and a simple white drop bead, then an eye pin and a pink crystal bead. I connected them all together and attached them onto a clip-on earring finding. To make the earrings feel more special, I hand made this little gift box for them using kraft cardstock and acetate, embellished with patterned paper and ribbon.

Mx 

a tweet little treat !!

 

these pegs are a fun and easy to make gift idea. I bought some plain wooden pegs, painted them and then hot glued an embellishment on. I choose these little wooden bird buttons I got from homebird house. (of course you could use whatever you liked... the idea is to customize them for yourself or someone special !!)

I added a strong magnet (cut into a strip) onto the back of each peg, making them perfect for holding notes on the fridge. as I was sending them as a gift, I made a presentation box/ packaging. for this I used a piece of card, cut into a strip and scored and folded into shape. It was very handy as they were a perfect fit for a 4x4 card bag.

Mx

flower flourish...

 

to make this card I cut a piece of white card to shape, inked it using spun sugar tim holtz distress ink. I stamped the flourish from everything Eleanor (SU!) over the top in the same colour ink. I stamped 2 flowers from the flower shop stamp set (SU!) and coloured them with promarkers. I added a touch of glitter and punched them out using the pansy punch (SU!). I added this to my card using foam pads for dimension. I used the family sentiment die from tattered lace to die cut mum in white and glue this in place along the bottom edge. I added a final touch of glitter using a sakura pen along the edges of my pink panel.

 

Mx

punches, glitter &blooms

#103

padded puddings!!

 

I've been hand sewing some tree decorations. these are my christmas puddings.. they are so cute and really simple to make. I took 2 felt circles (find a lid or any good size circle to draw around then cut it out). I also added a white half circle to make the icing, with the wiggly edge secured using satin stitch. I used french knots to create some texture on the main body of the pudding. the holly leaves were cut from some green felt and stitched into place at the top of the pudding with buttons for berries. I chose some gingham ribbon to be able to hang the puddings from the tree or cupboard handles. once everything was in place, I stitched the two halves together, (padded out with some wadding for nice fat puddings) using a decorative blanket stitch. 

 

I'm really pleased with how these have turned out. If you like them too, keep checking my blog as I'm busy stitching and creating more little bauble designs !!

 

Mx

spread the christmas cheer...

 

Here is another of my chocolate box cards. Just a quick post to say thank you to everyone for their lovely comments on my previous post with the box cards... I'm glad you're enjoying my free template. If you haven't seen it yet, here's the link to save you searching ( http://craftylilmouse.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/chocolate-box.html )

 

Please share pictures of your makes, as I'd love to see what creative things you have made !!

 

Mx

 

 

 

chocolate box

 

 

I've made these chocolate box cards to send the kids at christmas. I bought a chocolate bar and measured it to calculate the dimensions of the box. I took an A4 sheet of card and scored the net. folded it and cut it out. I then glued the box together. I then stamped and coloured an image from lili of the valley with a stampin up! sentiment on digi cardstock. I created a freehand border using the sekura micron pen, and added glitter to the images too. I layered mirri card behind the image and added this as a decorative panel to the front of the box. I also found coordinating papers to decorate the sides and top of the box. The chocolate was then sealed inside ready for the kids to open at Christmas.

 

 

 

 

I think this is a great idea to combine a card and a gift as the flap on the box creates somewhere to write your message and the box holds the gift. you can customise the boxes to have the card open at the front or back (depending on which way up you use the template!!) or make the box to fit a different sized gift. These aren't just for Christmas, change the image and you can send them any time of the year.

 

challenge #20 - Box it up!

'Merry Christmas'

Mx

out of this world...

front

 

insert

 

back

 

 

I did this card mostly on serif craft artist, using the good life digi kits. I designed my layout ready for printing on to good quality cardstock. I then trimmed and matted onto a black 6x4" card blank. I printed out an extra rocket and cut it out to layer on top of the other using foam pads. I love serif for the times when you just want a play without using up all your cardstock, it can also be a quick way to create personalised cards. I do like to print out the sheets and do some matting and layering, sometimes adding extra layers of decoupage or embellishments... even just a touch of glitter makes a digi crafted card feel more handmade!!

 

Mx

merry mail !!

 

 

to make this card I inked the 6x4" cardblank using tim holtz distress ink pads. I then stamped a foliage icon (LOTV- set 78) using the same ink pad over the entire background. I added brown ink to the edges. I cut a mat of stamping cardstock and stamped the image (LOTV- Christmas robins) using memento, then coloured this with copics. I added ink to this mat and again used brown to darken the edges. I tied a co-ordinating ribbon to the top with a small knot then matted this layer on to some gold mirri card. i stamped my sentiment (LOTV- set 8) on to a scrap bit of cardstock inked it to match the card and cut it out. for the postmark lines, I directly stamped onto the card once everything else had been glued. to finish this card I added some glitter to the snow. I think the muted browns and post mark create a vintage feel to the card.

 

 

 

Mx

a barrow of wishes...

the main image is from the summer afternoon stamp set from stampin up!, i stamped it with memento and coloured using copics and promarkers. i added a scrap piece of patterned paper to the side of my mat and hid the joint was some twine and a button. the sentiment is an SU! express yourself stamp. i added the topper onto a kraft 5x5" card black, using foam to add dimension.

# use kraft

sketch #219

Mx

trick or treat!!

 

i bought these coloured pencil sets from wilkos, they have a kraft cardstock tube with a clear lid which doubles as the sharper, i thought they would be a fab gift for the kids ...i used some we are memory keepers Halloween 12x12" papers cut to size and simply glued around the tube to add some colour and decoration.

i made matching treat bags by putting toffee's into a clear plastic bag (used for packaging cards) and sealing them. i cut a piece of black cardstock to size and folded in half. i stapled the card bag to one half then glued them together to seal the bag inside. i added some paper, which i stamped with a Halloween greeting and icon. for this I used the stamp sets jack of all trades and wacky wishes from stampin' up! plus an archival ink pad in jet black.

 

 

i finished off by adding a ribbon around the top of the purple set, as i thought it would look nice for the girl it is going to, but i don't think it is needed... of course you could decorate yours however you liked.

hope you like my ideas for Halloween!!

 

Mx

shimmer and silhouettes !!

 

to make this card i cut a strip of digi card and inked it using tim holtz distress inks, to make a background. i stamped this panel with my floral image and sentiment, using an archival black ink pad. i mat and layered this onto some black and then the 5x7" card blank. i used a scrap of card and stamped some butterflies, again using the black ink pad. i coloured the butterfly with the same shades of tim holtz distress markers. i added more detail with some iridescent watercolour paint from cosmic shimmer. i cut these out using the elegant butterfly punch from stampin' up! and attached them onto my card using foam pads in the centre. for this card i used the papillon potpourri, for my family and just believe stamp sets from stampin' up!

 

 i realise i don't always show the inside of my cards, but thought i would share it this time... i used the purple ink pad to create a coloured cardstock which faded to white space in the centre, i added black ink around the edges to frame the mat a bit more. i stamped and coloured a small butterfly in the bottom corner and added my message sentiments to the centre. i used two stamps to create the verse, one from lili of the valley and the 'happy birthday' from SU! in the stamp set matching the front.

sketch #97

 

Mx

classic cobalt...

 

for this card I decided to keep it simple, I only used one stamp set and 2 colours. I mat and layered with white and blue cardstock, using the 6x4" landscape card blank as my base layer. I stamped various images, from the six-sided sampler set by stampin' up!, across the page using cobalt archival ink. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig from stampin' up! to line them all up neatly.

 



sketch- #96

 

Mx

out of this world !!

for this card I used the terrestrial friends stamp set from kirsty wiseman. I made a background by stamping the star image all over the card using different coloured memento ink pads. I cut a square of digi cardstock and stamped the rocket and planet images where I wanted them. I promarkered the outer edges of the rocket on the card and the planet. I added different coloured stars around the top half of the card. I stamped the rocket a second time onto a left over bit of card, then coloured the image using promarkers. I used this to layer on to the card to add dimension. I mat and layered my square of card onto yellow, then glued all layers together onto the card blank. I stamped a sentiment from the set onto a scrap piece of yellow, cut it to make a banner shape and added it to my card, completing the sketch. I added the finishing touches with a sakura glitter pen.

 

sketch - #332

 

i am also adding this for the DT

 

Mx

twins!!

just a quick one tonight...

I mat and layered digi cardstock and papers (bear necessities pad from lili of the valley), on to a 6x6" card blank. I inked the edges of the paper with tim holtz distress inks (gathered twigs), on one of the layers I used a scallop border punch from stampin' up! to add interest. I stamped my image (twice as nice from lili of the valley) on to digi cardstock using memento ink and coloured using promarkers. I stamped the sentiment to match in the bottom corner to complete the design.

 

I am also posting this for the DT

#269- oh,baby

 

Mx

mistletoe mice...

 

to make this card I cut a panel of white card just smaller than my 6x6" card blank. I then used the snowflake corner embossing folder from the snowman range to add intrest to the top section of my card. I glued a piece of patterned paper on to the bottom half of the panel and trimmed it to fit. I added a ribbon to hide the join and secured it behind, before sticking the panel on to the card. I stamped my moonbeam meadow kiss image from crafters companion, onto some digi cardstock, using a memento ink pad. I coloured my image using promarkers. I cut this out using a circle die from sizzix and cut another piece of co-ordinating paper (from the frosty Christmas pad from lili of the valley) in to a larger scallop circle, then layered to two together. I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set on to digi cardstock, then cut it out using an oval punch from stampin' up!. I took the piece of paper I had used to make the mat and cut out a scalloped oval, again with a punch from stampin' up!, to layer with the oval. I added sakura glitter pen around to edge of my circle and oval layer, I added more glitter onto the image where the snow was.

#241- snowflakes

Mx

shake your booties !!

 

I didn't have a plan for this card so I am happy with how it turned out. I haven't done a shaker card in ages and now I know why... they are a bit messy and so hard to photograph!!

 

for this card I took a kraft card blank, (this is a 5x7 landscape.) I cut a mat out of a piece of kraft card and layered it with a piece of paper, from the lili of the valley country lady 8x8 paper pad. I added a piece of ribbon and tied it in a bow, over to one side, and glued the mat onto the card. I used a paper-piercing template and mat from stampin' up! to add some detail to the edges and a pattern across the bottom. next, I stamped a sentiment from the stampin' up! bring on the cake stamp set, using an archival coffee ink pad onto some co-ordinating paper. I then cut this out using a sizzix circle die. I took a third piece of paper from the pad and cut out a circle, using the size down in my circle set. I then glued acetate to the back of the paper before cutting out a bigger scallop circle (with the circle in the middle) to create a frame. to make the shaker I added foam tape all the way around the edge on the back of the acetate, being extra careful not to leave any gaps.  I put the pattern side down and added a bit of glitter a few sequins and a good amount of pinflair ice diamond to the centre. I stuck the stamped circle onto this, remembering to keep the patterned side down. I then turned it over and glued the shaker element onto my card. I finally stamped a magnolia image (tilda with rubber boots) on to craftwork cards digi cardstock, using memento ink and coloured her with promarkers. I cut her out to add to the side of my shaker, using tape on the overlap and foam on the rest to keep her level with the shaker.

 

Mx

 

autumn blooms

 

 

to make this card I stamped the image (blossom from lili of the valley), on to craftwork cards digi cardstock, using memento in rich cocoa . I coloured this with my promarkers. I used colours to compliment an autumn colour palette, which matched some patterned paper from the all spice 6x6 pad, (my minds eye) that I had chosen. I cut my image into a rectangle and cut the patterned paper to the same size, then layered both of these on to kraft cardstock. I glued some ribbon across the card using small bits of wet glue to hold it down to the card and then added double sided tape in the centre where I knew it would be covered. I glued both toppers down at an angle. I used a scallop oval punch from stampin' up!, to cut a piece of the patterned paper. I  then stamped my sentiment, (for my family set from stampin' up!) on to a piece of scrap white card, then cut it out with the oval punch from stampin' up!. to add a bit more detail to the card, I used a brown fine liner to do small dots in trio's across the background of the card. I also added some stitching to the edge. to finish the card, I used a sakura glitter pen to highlight the image and sentiment.

 

'anything goes !!'

 'use your favourite colour combo'

'autumn colours'

 

Mx

banners for boys!!

 

for this card I have simply mat and layered some blue and white cardstock, then cut banners of patterned cardstock and complimentary coloured cardstocks (all of these were just out of my scrap box). I stamped a sentiment from the says it all set from stampin' up! using a jet black archival ink pad. I cut this into a banner and mat and layered on to the blue. I glued all the layers into position to finish the card. this is a very simple card that is great for everyone... just pick your papers to suit the person!!

 

#94

#214

 

Mx