It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

Yeah ok … so it’s not beginning to look like Christmas just yet! It’s still seven months away, we can all keep breathing haha. 

I finally got my hands on a few Christmas themed die sets I have been after from last year, so I decided to pull one out to play. This one is the Festive Friends die set which was Spellbinders October 2024 Small Die of the month, I recently came on sale on the Spellbinders web site, so I grabbed one.

For my card I created a Centre Step Card which I turned into a Centre Step Easel Card, I used an old Cheery Lynn Designs die set, which has long been retired. I have linked to a couple of others, the Divinity Designs one is exactly the same, but I like the insert for the inside on the one I used. 

To add the panel to turn my card into an Easel Card, I cut a piece of Cardstock that was 5 1/2 inches x 6 inches and then scored along the 6 inch side at 1/2 inch, I then used the 1/2 inch tab to attach to the back of the card.

I went a little crazy with the penguins, making seven all up, I assembled two upside down, so that they were facing the opposite way, so they weren’t all the same.

I used glitter cardstock to create the snowy hill at the bottom of the card, the base is also glitter.

The sentiment is one from Mama Elephant, which I have used for the stopper of the card. I layered the sentiment using Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals.

For the polar bears jumper, after die cutting the piece, I used an embossing folder to add texture, rubbing white ink over the raised areas.

The card folds flat and will fit in a 6 inch square envelope.

Here is a look at the inside of my card and the easel base, 

The Merriest Christmas is a Spellbinders Betterpress plate which I stamped using black ink. 

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today I am sharing a Christmas card I created. I recently received an order I placed for a couple of Slimline dies from Kat Scrappiness. I had been looking forward to receiving the Cityscape Slimline die set, so of course I wanted to play. As I wanted to do something different to what I have seen created with this die set, I decided to create a Christmas card.

I used the largest rectangle die from Lawn Fawn's Large Slimline with Sliders die set to die cut the base panel for my card.  I then used Distress Oxide inks in various shades of blue (colors included in supply list below), masking a circle for the moon. After I had blended all the inks, I then splattered the background using white paint.

I die cut the Slimline Cityscape die set from black and yellow cardstock and layered them together. I adhered this to the bottom of the blue background panel.

I added Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer die which is an older Cheery Lynn Designs die. 

To finish off the front of the card, I added the sentiment which is from The Ton's Easy Expressions - Holiday stamp/die set.

For the inside of the card, I added the Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer to the top portion of the card.

I added a border along the bottom of the card which is from Lawn Fawn's Slimline Stitched Hillside Borders die set.

I added the two sentiments to the centre of the card. The first is from Mama Elephant's Santa's Sleigh stamp set, the second is from MFT Stamps Bitty Holiday Wishes stamp set.

Supplies:

For your shopping convenience, all products are linked below. Compensated affiliate links are used where possible with no extra cost to you. This helps me to continue to share all the projects I include on my blog. For the benefit of my Australia readers, I have started to include some links to Australian stores when available. Please note I only use and share products I love.

Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer Die - Cheery Lynn Designs (discontinued)

 

But First .... Beer

Hi Crafty Friends,

It’s challenge time with the “Crazies” over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. Anja our challenge hostess of the month, finishes off the month with one last challenge.

Anja's son is turning 21 tomorrow, how did that happen? No little boys card for this one anymore, Anja has challenged us today to make a masculine card.

Last month I received this amazing layering stamp set from The Ton. As I was making the card I decided that it was perfect for this challenge, so decided to save it for today. I love how realistic that beer looks and you can never have too many male themed stamps can you.

I had such fun stamping up my first mug of beer that I ended up stamping two more and then die cutting all three for my card.

I used my Cheery Lynn Designs die to create the Centre Step card base, it has been a while since I have made one of these and they are so easy to make.

I added a couple of sentiments that come in the Beer Stamp set on the front of my card ... lots of perfect sentiments for male birthdays or Father's Day.

I added the wood panel paper to the lower part of the card so it resembled a table that the mugs were on.

For the inside of my card I added two more sentiments from the stamp set. I also added a few more beer mugs, these ones are from a freebie Apple Blossom Stamp set I received from a magazine, but you can also buy them separately.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Amy Ottmers

Anja de Regt

Joanne Grzelak

Karen Aicken

Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Supplies:

For your shopping convenience, all products are linked below. Compensated affiliate links are used where possible with no extra cost to you. This helps me to continue to share all the projects I include on my blog. Please note I only use and share products I love.

Centre Step Die - Cheery Lynn Designs

May the 4th Be With You

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today is May the 4th ... which means it is Star Wars Day and also International Space Day .... May the 4th Be With You! To celebrate the day I decided to create a space themed card using Lawn Fawn's Beam Me Up Clear Stamp set.

I created a Centre Step Card using the Cheery Lynn Designs Centre Step die, you can also create this style of card by following a tutorial I made over 6 years ago which you will find on YouTube here.

To create the background of this card I used Distress Oxide  inks and the Galaxy Sky Technique. I then splattered some watered down Copic Opaque White over the background to resemble stars.

The cratered planet on the base of the card is a stamp from an old There She Goes stamp set, which seems to be my go to when I am making space cards. I also added a few planets from this stamp set and an MFT Stamps stamp set.

For the inside of my card, I added a sentiment using stamps from the Lawn Fawn Beam Me Up Clear Stamp set and surrounded this with a few more aliens from the stamp set.

Supplies:

Stamps: Space Explorer - MFT Stamps; Out of This World - There She Goes

Dies: Centre Step Card - Cheery Lynn Designs

Other: Copic Opaque White; Foam Tape; Copics

Hope

Hi Crafty Friends,

It’s challenge time with the “Crazies” over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. Bonnie Sharp our challenge hostess for the month finishes off the month with one last challenge.

I'm sure you all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My challenge to you is to create an inspirational card using pink somewhere on your creation! Bonus points if you send your card to someone needing a hug!

For my card today I have created a Centre Step Card. I used a die to create the base of my card, but if you don't have a die it is easy enough to create this style of card as you will see in a YouTube video I made about 6 years ago. 

To decorate my card I have used the A Way with Words - Hope die set which is a brand new die set from Suzanne Cannon available from Elizabeth Craft Designs. I also used the Bugs & Butterflies Clear stamp set with coordinating dies.

Here is another photo of my card taken at a different angle so you can see the various folds in the card. I added the "pink ribbons" to each of the two side panels.

For the inside of my card I used a few more of the A Way with Words die sets. The "You Are" is from the A Way with Words - You Are Perfect die set. I can see the You Are part of this sentiment being used for many occasions and can be mixed and match with many of the existing and new A Way with Words die sets. The 'Amazing' sentiment is from the A Way with Words - Amazing Beautiful die set.

As you can see I also added another pink ribbon and butterfly.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Amy Ottmers

Anja de Regt

Bonnie Sharp

Caz Counsell
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak

Judy Rozema
Karen Aicken

Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:

Other:

Cardboard - Pink; Dark Pink

Inks - Black

Centre Step Die - Cheery Lynn Designs

Foam Tape

Copic Markers

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today I am sharing another Christmas card with you using some more freebie stamps I got from a Magazine,  I love this cute image of the boy looking gout the window waiting for Santa to come.

For this card I created a Centre Step Card. I added two Christmas trees also included in the stamp set to either side of the window. I also added a sentiment from the set.

Here is another photo of my card taken at a different angle so you can see the folds in the card.

I added Nuvo Drops to the ornaments on the Christmas tree and also the star. I also added Glossy Accents to the glass areas of the window.

For the inside of the card I added a die cut image of Santa in his sleigh. I also added another of the sentiments from the stamp set ... this time "Do you hear what I hear?" means something totally different to what it does in the Christmas Carol which is one of my favourites.

Stamps: Away in a Manger - Wild Rose Studio (Freebie Set from Creative Stamping Magazine Issue 48)

Paper: White; Red; Retro Three Paper - Authentique

Dies: Step Card #1 - Cheery Lynn Designs; Oval Dies - Spellbinders; Santa - Impression Obsession

Other: Black Ink; Red Ink; Nuvo Red Berry Gloss Crystal Drops;  Nuvo Woodland Green Gloss Crystal Drops; Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops; Foam Tape; Copics

Believe

Hi everyone,

It's challenge time with my friends over on the CCEE Stampers challenge blog. As challenge hostess for the month I am back with my final challenge for the month.

Saturday the 24th June was Fairy Day ... so for our challenge this week let's include a fairy or fairies on our card.



I recently spent three days demoing at our local Scrapbook and Papercrafts Expo here in Brisbane and of course you don't spend all that time at a show and not come home with anything right! A couple of my purchases at the show were a couple of fairies from Lavinia Stamps. My friends have been talking about these for about a year or so now and have a good collection, so I figured it was time I got a few too 😀.

For my card I decided to create a Centre Step Card using my Cheery Lynn Designs die set I have had for a few years, it makes creating this style of card super easy.

I die cut all the layers for the card in white, masked the moon on the centre panel and then used my Distress Oxide inks to create the background. I stamped a few pieces of scenery and added the fairy to the centre panel.

I also added some Moonlight Glitter Nuvo Drops randomly over the card to give it a fantasy feel.

On the bottom panel, I added the A Way with Words - Believe sentiment.



For the inside of the card I added the other fairy I purchased at the show and a sentiment.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog (goes live 12 AM EST) to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs:

Anne Harmon

Joanne Grzelak

Liz Williams

Lois Bak

Lynn McAuley

Maryann Einam

Vicky Gould

Stamps: Tree Goddess Luna; Moments Like These - Lavinia Stamps; Fairy Wishes - Practical Publishing; Grasses - IndigoBlu

Paper: White Soft Finish Cardstock - Elizabeth Craft Designs; Black; Purple

Dies: Centre Step Card - Cheery Lynn Designs;  A Way with Words Believe - Elizabeth Craft Designs

Other: Black Ink;  Broken China Distress Oxide; Wilted Violet Distress Oxide; Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide; Wilted Violet Distress Ink; White Blizzard Glitter Nuvo Drops; Foam Tape

Birthday Fishes

Hi everyone,

It's challenge time with my friends over on the CCEE Stampers challenge blog. Lois Bak our challenge hostess for the month continues to issue the challenges.

Lois loves to make Fun Fold cards. So for our challenge this week we are to make a card that includes more than one fold.

For my card I created a Centre Step Card using the die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

To decorate my card I used some new dies I received as a freebie in a magazine that I recently purchased. I die cut a whole bunch of the images using black cardstock, so I have heaps for a few more cards yet.

For the background of the card I used some digital papers that were a bonus to download from the same magazine which were designed to work with the dies. 

For the inside of the card I added a few more of the die cuts and also added a sentiment.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog (goes live 12 AM EST) to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs:

Anne Harmon

Joanne Grzelak

Liz Williams

Lois Bak

Lynn McAuley

Maryann Einam

Vicky Gould

Stamps: Best Fishes - Simon Says Stamp!; Fish Wishes - Paper Pretties

Paper: White; Black; Blue; Freshwater Friends Digital Paper - Die-Cutting Essentials Magazine

Dies: Centre Step Card - Cheery Lynn Designs; Freshwater Friends - Die-Cutting Essentials Magazine

Other: Black Ink; Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape - Elizabeth Craft Designs

Celebrate

Hi everyone,

It’s challenge time with the “Crazies” over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. Being the challenge hostess for the month, I continue to issue the challenges.

Apparently today is Zoo Lovers Day .... so for our challenge this week we are featuring animals on our cards wild or not.



Since I just received one of the new Heartfelt Creations Monkeys stamp sets, it wasn't hard to figure out what to use on my card for this challenge. I didn't get the matching die set so I used my Scan n Cut to cut out the image.

As you can see I created a centre step card using the Cheery Lynn Designs die. I have been wanting to use this designer paper for a while now, so it was good to finally be able to cut it.

To decorate my card, I used some flowers and ferns that I found as a freebie with a magazine recently.



For the inside of my card I used some more of the designer paper. I also added another flower and a sentiment from the same freebie stamp set I got.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Amber Trubiak 

Amy Ottmers

Anja de Regt

Bonnie Sharp

Caz Counsell
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak

Judy Rozema
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einam
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Vicki Beall

Kristine Reynolds (April Guest Designer)

Stamps: Relaxin' Monkeys - Heartfelt Creations; Hummingbird Designer Collection - Apple Blossom Designs

Paper: White; Green; Papaya DP Say Aloha Collection - Kaisercraft

Dies: Centre Step Card - Cheery Lynn Designs; Stitched Circles; Dotted Scallop Circles - Elizabeth Craft Designs; Sentimental - Avery Elle

Other: Black Ink; Foam Tape; Copics

Plane Awesome

Hi everyone,

Last week I posted a card I created using Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Sky's the Limit stamp set. I had stamped out two of the cute plane, so I decided to make two cards. 

For my card today I decided to create a Centre Step Card using  Centre Step Card die set from Cheery Lynn Designs. 

I used the clouds from the  CountryScapes Clouds & Grass die set, when it is die cut in green it looks a little like bushes.

For the inside of my card I added another sentiment and the plane image which is stamped off the edge of the card.

Stamps: Sky's the Limit - Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps; Sports Boy - Stampendous

Paper: White; Green; Save the Date Collection Banner DP - Kaisercraft; DP - SU

Dies: CountryScapes Clouds & Grass; Pop it Ups Outdoor Edges; Pop it Ups Anita Frames Pop Up Card; ModaScrap Stitched Fishtail Banners - Elizabeth Craft Designs

Other: Black Ink; Peeled Paint Distress Oxide; Foam Tape; Copics

Snow Fun

Hi everyone,

It's challenge time with my friends over on the CCEE Stampers challenge blog. Vicky our challenge hostess for the month is here with one last challenge.

By now we’re in the snow season …. Let’s see an all occasion card – thinking of you, get well, hello …. Any card you can send on a normal day … no birthdays or holidays … and it should have snow on it in one way or another. 

Recently while surfing through Facebook, I came across some cute Puppy digital stamps which I NEEDED! While I was purchasing them, I also found this cutie which I thought would be perfect for this challenge. So of course I added it to the cart too haha! The image comes without a mouth so I used a stamp of a mouth that I had in an old faces stamp set.

This card was inspired by a card I created last year, I used the same base and designer paper but other than that is is change. 

I wanted my card to look like a snowy scene outside a house. So I added the Garden Notes Carolina Window & Shutters. I added the snow bank from the Pop it Ups Outdoor Edges and on each sided I added some winter trees using the CountryScapes - The Woods 1.

For the sentiment along the bottom edge of the card I used the "Play" from the new A Way with Words Fun Play die set. For the "Let's" I used the A Way with Words Let it Snow die set and separated the "Let" and used the "S" for the word "snow" to finish the word.

For the inside of the card I added some more of the brick designer paper along the bottom edge of the white panel. I then used the word "snow" for the A Way with Words Let' It Snow die set and the word "Fun" from the A Way with Words "Fun Play" die set.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog (goes live 12 AM EST) to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs:

Anne Harmon

Joanne Grzelak

Liz Williams

Lois Bak

Lynn McAuley

Maryann Einam

Vicky Gould

Stamps: Winter Kid Digital Stamp - Bugaboo Digi Stamps; Faces - Provo Craft

Paper: White; Red; DP - Authentique

Dies: Centre Step Card - Cheery Lyn Designs; Garden Notes Carolina Window & Shutters; CountryScapes The Woods 1; Pop It Ups Outdoor Edges; A Way with Words Fun Play; A Way with Words Let It Snow; Winter Sweater (snowflakes) - Elizabeth Craft Designs

Other ECD Products: Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape 64mm; White Silk Microfine Glitter; Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter; Red/Gold Glitter Dots Peel Off Stickers

Other: Foam Tape; Copics