Deer Family Christmas card

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? Probably much the same as ours. We do go out for walks and we are still doing our shopping. Other than that it is just staying home and staying safe. 

I have found crafting a bit difficult. Last week I had a focus and a deadline to meet and I managed it. This week it is hard to know quite what to do.  I always start Christmas cards straight away. I have been given lots of lovely old cards and they make gorgeous Christmas cards. So when I can't think what else to do I start making Christmas cards. 

The background is an old card. When I saw it I thought that needs some deer on it. 

This is the Deer Family die set from Creative Expressions. I had the male deer already cut and laying on my desk. I like the pale colour against the background. I had a snippet of the same colour card and I cut the mum and baby to match. 

The sentiment was on the card so I didn't have to add one or cover one up. The snowflakes I added were cut with the snowflake dies that come with the Jane's Trees die set from the John Next Door range. 

I am pleased I have made a start on the Christmas cards. There are always so many to make. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 394 at Pixie's Snippets Playground

The Happy New Year Challenge at Fezziwigs Festive Frolics 

Challenge 524 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

I hope the rest of the week is kind to you. 

Stay safe and take care. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Snowmen for Beccy's Place

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I do hope that you had as good a Christmas as you could with the current restrictions. We unfortunately had to self-isolate which meant that the meagre plans we had were curtailed even more. It has meant that we cannot go out for walks. We are so glad that we have a garden. I cooked a nice meal which we enjoyed together and we had a WhatsApp video chat with the family. On Boxing Day we started an online Murder Mystery which is lots of fun. We are allowed out on Wednesday. The NHS app has a count down. 

This is my last post of the year for Beccy's Place I am lucky enough to be one of her blog contributors. I was given the Snowman Encore digital stamp set to work with. 

I made my own backing paper with some of the snowflakes from the set. I used a gel pen to add extra dots. 

Beccy's Blog is a great place to visit there is lots of inspiration, competitions and there are free images as well. Click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

This is the Snowman Digital stamp set. There are a lot of images here. The image set is available HERE. 

Here are some of the snowmen. They were coloured with my Polychromo pencils. I used a sentiment from the set too. 

Here is a second card I made. This little snowman is so cute. I used my Polychromo pencils again. 

Here are the cards together. They have all been sent now. I did have a few cards left over this year. I also did much better with the sizes only one needed a large letter stamp. 

Have a Happy New Year

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Cute Hedgehogs posting a Christmas card in the Snow

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? It was so wet and windy yesterday. We had a Eat Out to Help Out meal with our friends yesterday. We booked it early on and it was hard to get a booking. In the end we booked for a very late lunch. It was a very nice meal though. Today I am visiting the lady who is opening her house and garden as part of the Hampshire Open Studios event. She is allowing me to have a table of cards. We will sorting out the final details. 

I have been practising  my colouring again. I do like using my pencils and I find that I can colour much smaller images which in turn means the cards I make don't have to be so large. This is much better for postage. 

The backing paper came from my stash. I added a couple of snowflakes cut with Sue Wilson's dies. 

This image is from Di's Digis but it doesn't appear to be in the shop anymore. I coloured those cute Hedgehogs with my Faber-Castell Polychromo Colouing pencils. The mats and layers were cut with the Double Pierced Square dies from Creative Expressions. 

This is a a super cute card. I will save this one for my cousin and her partner as they both love seeing the hedgehogs in their garden. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The August Rudolph Days Challlenge

The Anything Goes Challenge 25th August at the Through the Craft Room Door (TTCRD) Challenge Blog

Challenge 41 at the Christmas with the Cuties Challenge blog

Week 33 at the Colour Crazy Craft Challenge blog

The August Challenge ar Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge blog

Challenge 504 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 77 at the Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 25 at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge blog

Have a great day. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Christmas cards made with Recycled Packaging

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? What things have you been up to. Our neighbours have finally replaced the broken fence between our properties. I have been holding back from doing any planting in our front border in case in got trodden on. Now I have the delightful prospect of working out which plants to put in.

I have challenged myself to join in with the Rudolph Days challenge every month. The challenge is for Christmas cards and starts on the 25th of the month and runs until the end of the month. I was doing quite well with making Christmas cards earlier in the year but just so much else to do I haven't made so many. If it wasn't for the Rudolph Days challenge I might not have made any. I really don't want to be making them at the last minute the way I did last year.

I was looking for something in my Christmas stash and I came across some packing for some slipper socks that I had saved. I love the snowflake border around the edge of the panels I matted and layered the panels. 

I found a square image for the top of the card. 

The sentiment cut with a John Next Door die fitted onto one of the flaps. 

The second card was made in the same way. 

I cut a sentiment with a Creative Expressions die in white glitter card. 

This snowflake was on one of the panels I added a die cut snowflake over the top. 

Here are both cards together both made from the same packaging. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The April Rudolph Days Challenge

Challenge 434 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge 

Challenge 183 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Challenge 48 at the Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 9 at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) Challenge Blog - Anything Christmas

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I hope that you have had a great week so far. I have another busy day ahead I am heading off to Winchester for my regular visit and in the evening we are going to see Shrek the musical at the Mayflower Theatre.

The new challenge starts at the Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) Challenge blog and as we are getting near Christmas the theme is Anything Christmas.  If you are like me you have lots of gift bags and boxes that you need to get made before the big day.

The image is from an old card. I used the colours in the image to make the mats and layers. All the white on the card is glitter card so it does sparkle. 

Our challenge is lots of fun to join in with why not join us. 

I just couldn't resist this super cute image of a Blue-tit surrounded by the red berries. 

This is a die from Creative Expressions. 

This is such a large card it is one that has been delivered by hand. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 173 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Challenge 494 at the CRAFT Challenge blog

Challenge 559 at the Cute Card Thursday Challenge blog

Challenge 409 at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge blog

Challenge 42 at the Holly and the Ivy Challenge blog

Challenge 414 at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

The December Challenge at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge

Have a great day. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Z - Fold Christmas Scene Christmas Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

Happy Monday. I hope you had a good weekend and are ready for the week ahead. We visited two garden centres over the two days. On Saturday we visited Rosebourne near Andover to celebrate our Son-in-law's mum's birthday. We had the most amazing cream tea. On Sunday we popped over to Garsons and visited their Christmas shop. The different sections are themed around musicals. Of course we had coffee and cake too. It would have been rude not to. I have another busy week coming up.

When I made my first Z-fold Christmas card I started thinking how I could I could change the design. This card is slightly larger.

The main part of the card is 6" x 6" and the side panel are 3" x "6. I used both the Snow Scenes and the Deer Scenes die sets from John Next Door  to make the decorative edges. 

This shows how the the Z-fold works I do decorate all the way down to the bottom. The greeting will go on the back. 

I am sure I will be making a few more of these cards they are so easy and very effective. Not just for Christmas . For Beccy's Challenge maybe I could go for Quiet. 

I would like to enter the following challenges: 

The November Challenge at Beccy's Place Challenges 

Challenge 412 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

The November Challenge at the Die Cut Divas Challenge blog

Challenge 229 at the Crafting from the Heart Challenge blog

Challenge 28 at the Love to Craft Challenge blog

Challenge 4 at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge blog

Happy Crafting 

Hugs Jackie xxx

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Z fold Snow Scene Christmas Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? This week is a bit busy for me. I am hoping to fit in some crafitng though.

On the way to  Destination Star Trek last weekend  we stopped off on  the way at the Crafter's Companion shop in Evesham. One of things I bought there was the Snow Scenes die set from John Next Door. We also had a very nice lunch in the cafe there as well. At home when I was looking for some inspiration for the die set and I came across this blog post https://maximumcraftsblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/z-fold-christmas-village.html. Where the author had made a Z fold card with the Snow Scenes dies and she had written instructions.  My card is very similar to the one she made.

If you check her blog the instructions are there. The folded card is 5" x 5". The Snow Scenes dies work really well with this size. The background was made with the Falling Snow embossing folder from Creative Expressions. I sanded back the embossed card to reveal the white of the inner card. 

This shows the view from the top. It is good to decorate the panels all the way down.  The sentiment and Snowflakes come from the Happy Snowflakes dies set. 

It is so good  that this card folds up to be 5" x 5". As usual I made my one a bit puffy so it will need a large letter stamp. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 226 at the Crafting form the Heart Challenge blog

Challenge 409 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

The Challenge starting 30th October at the TTCRD Challenge blog

The Fancy Folds Challenge at the Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge blog

The Challenge starting 15th October at the Merry Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 170 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Challenge 403 at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge blog

Challenge 155 at the Creative Moments Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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My Husband's Christmas Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I have been busy making Christmas cards again. The weather being the way it is has meant lots more time to craft.

Usually the first Christmas card I make is for my husband. This year with all the things going on I have only just got round to making it. Getting this done made a huge difference to how I am feeling about things. The card for our daughter and son-in-law is already made. Last week I managed to get lots of Christmas cards made with a Hunkydory kit that came free with the November issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.

I was very quick off the mark to get the Champagne Bottle die set from John Next Door. When I saw it demoed on TV I could see it had lots of potential.

So I used it to make a Christmas card for my hubby. The dies cut beautifully. I embossed the background and used some ribbon from my stash. The card is just a bit smaller than A4. The set comes with two dies that cut out stars. I have wanted dies to do this for ages and in fact I used them first on another card. I also cut some snowflakes in white to add texture to the background. 

I used John's sentiment on the label. 

I cut the wine glasses in silver mirror card and added red mirror card to look like red wine (it is his favourite). 

Here you can see the detail of the bottle. There are lots of dies in the set it has been well though out. I did use some number dies from my collection to add the date. 

Usually I post an off set picture of the card. I tried twice and for different reasons the photos  didn't work so I gave up.  I am pleased with how this card turned out. I have already made a birthday card with this die set it is going to be very useful. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Challenge starting 15th October at the Merry Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 169 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Challenge 407 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 154 at the Crafty Moments Challenge blog

Week 489 at the Allsorts Challenge blog

Challenge 412 at the Fab 'n' Funky Challenge blog

Challenge 402 at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Winter Wonderland - Arctic or Antarctic Animals

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitor

How has your week been? I hope you have something nice planned for the weekend. Tonight we are going to see a Dad's Army radio show at our very small local theatre. We have four trips there booked this term. It is so nice having a theatre you can walk to. The rest of the weekend will be spent sorting out jobs around the house and maybe a bit of Christmas shopping.

Today the new challenge starts on the Winter Wonderland Challenge blog and the theme is Arctic or Antarctic animals and the sponsor is SheepSki Designs. 

I made a frame for the image with the Double Pierced Rectangles from Creative Expressions. I used two die cuts at the side that I received with a prize so I don't know which die created them. 

There are lots of cool images in the store click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

This image is called Cool Couple and it is available HERE.  I printed onto Neenah card and coloured with my Promarkers. This is the first image I have coloured for ages. I even coloured the background. I coloured and cut out the penguins and the moon so they they could be mounted on foam. 

I do love this sentiment die from John Next Door. I am using it a lot on my Christmas cards. 

I think I know just who to give this card too. 

Have a great weekend.

I would liked to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 38 at the Holly and the Ivy Challenge blog

Challenge 169 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Challenge 406 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 486 at the CRAFT Challenge blog

Challenge 19 at the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge blog

Challenge 10 at the Crafter's Castle Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Always Fun Challenges - Challenge 63 Sketch

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How was your weekend. We were busy as usual. Invigilating is all finished now. So I have some time to catch up on things.

Today sees the start of Challenge 63 at Always Fun Challenges this time the theme is to follow  the sketch.

I have had a pad of the beautiful Christmas paper for a while.

The challenges are always fun why not join  us?

This is the sketch to follow. 

This is the Penguin Elf Digital stamp from Whimsy Stamps and it is available HERE. I made him a background in Publisher. Then I printed onto Neenha card stock and coloured with my Promarkers. 

This seems to be my go to Christmas sentiment at the moment it fits into very small spaces. 

I cut snowflakes in glitter card to replace the hearts in the sketch. 

Shall I let you in to a little secret? I am well behind with my Christmas card makes. So I have decided that where I can for my Design Team makes I am going to make Christmas cards. 

Happy Crafting

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The June challenge at the Christmas at the Sweet Stamping Challenge blog

Week 372 at the Allsorts Challenge blog

The June Challenge at the Color It Create It Show it Off Challenge blog

Challenge 86 at the Crafty Friends Challenge blog

Challenge 390 at the Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 

Challenge 211 at the Crafting from the Heart challenge blog

Challenge 24 at The Merry Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 390 at the Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

Week 24 at the Digi Choosday Craft Challenge

Hugs Jackie

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Winter Wonderland Tribute Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

This is the second post for me today. This is my second challenge with the Winter Wonderland Challenge blog and this one is special both teams are involved and it is a tribute to the founder of the blog who sadly passed away.  The sponsor this time is Imagine That Digistamp.

I create the background for the image with my computer. I used a snowy photo of our back garden that I had taken. With auto shapes I added the snow at the bottom. 

There are some gorgeous image sets in the store. If you click on the logo you will be taken there. It is worth a visit. 

This is image is called Sweet Deer and is available HERE. I used the pre-coloured image that came in the set. As it is a PNG image I could put it straight onto the background. I used a punch to cut some snowflakes. 

I generated a computer sentiment. 

I like this card a lot and I think I am going to make some more of them. They are nice and flat for posting. 

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. I will be working on wedding invitations for the wedding in Malta. 

I would like to enter challenge 48 at A Snowflakes Promise Challenge blog, challenge 7 at the Merry Christmas Challenge blog , the Year Round Link Up at Imagine That Digistamp and challenge 11 at the Crafty Animals Challenge blog. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie