Those very difficult men's cards

Mr C has a birthday soon so of course I had to make a card. 
I'd planned this to be arranged across an A5 card but I did the measuring wrong so changed the idea. It's always the maths which lets me down!
I'm very lucky that he is never happier than when improving something around the home. I say 'do you think we could...?' and he's off to get tools, hooks, wood and it's done before I know it. There are occasions when a little reining in is useful in order for some planning but I know how lucky I am. 
He'd probably appreciate a wooden card but here is the best I could do. 

I'm sorry about the bad photo, it really didn't want to be photographed. 
I embossed a piece of card  with a wood grain folder (unnamed) and used the tools stamps from Creative Stamping # 40. 

I cut the squares with a knife and rule. I'd meant to use a punch but it was the wrong size and the squares were too big. That is what probably took the longest. 
I think I like it but wish I'd raised up the squares perhaps for some contrast. Part of me wanted to start colouring the tools but I thought it might go wrong so I held back but I like the mono look. 
I've also used a tattered lace edge die and JustRite rectangle die. Sentiment from the same magazine. 

I'm jumping over to Pixie's Snippets Playground. All the kraft card used is snippets. As it has cooled down a bit I won't need to tuck my skirt into my knickers and get in the duck pond. No-one wants to see that. 
Thanks for visiting and Enjoy The Day. x

Christmas Card Throwdown - June theme

We have a new challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown. This one might prove rather more tricky than the last one. We are asking you to use:

I chose to make a tag shaped card using a die from Elizabeth Crafts. I don't use it very often as it is quite big for a tag. The leaves and diamonds came in the set. The Nutcracker image was generously donated by Deborah. It's a Walztingmouse stamp now, sadly, discontinued. 

Just in case you can't quite see, I've die cut Merry Christmas in Kraft and glued it above and below him. 
You have two weeks to take part in the challenge. 

CCT - gems, pearls or sequins.

Here is my second card for our challenge and Christmas Card Throwdown. 

I'm very pleased with it so I hope you like it too. The stamping is not perfect but I'm OK with that. It has a rustic look.  Also I had the edge stamp the wrong way round on one side but did not start again!
I've used an Inky Doodles Stamp for the edge, Creative Stamping knitted stamp for the background (second generation) and Stamplorations leaf and squiggle for the wreath. 
The I sewed on the sequins so there is no chance of them falling off. 
I tried a sentiment in the middle but preferred it without so I added it on the inside. 
Unfortunately the glue came through the paper a bit which spoils the inside but happily did not come through to the front. 
This is how I masked and stamped the edges. This is the inside. 
I've discovered I can draw on my photos. So I did. Mask from corner to corner and stamp here:

 Move the top strip so it is over the corner of the edge you have just stamped and stamp here:

Continue until all the corners are mitred. 
Again not quite perfect but what in life is?

You still have a week to join in so dig out something sparkly and get creative. 
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the Day. 

Christmas Card Throwdown - June stash

We have a new challenge for you at Christmas Card Throwdown. This one I think will be very popular:

We all like at add some bling to our cards so dig into your stash and see what you can find. We look forward to your amazing creations. 

I've always liked making things in miniature. Tray gardens, doll houses and clothes. Now I've made teeny tiny cards. The idea is not new of course, Jules at 'Always with a heart' makes the most gorgeous tiny cards. 
I had some little envelopes so I thought I'd make use of them. The cards are 7 x 7 cm. Here is a picture with a roll of washi tape for comparison. 

I've used a set of stamps which came with Papercraft Inspirations magazine #156 last year. I'm probably not alone in picking one or two stamps from a set and using them many times and the rest not at all. So this time I've used 4 that I've hardly used or maybe never used. 

                                                                               
                                                                                                                                  
   

                                                                                I embossed the baubles in gold, so they have a lovely shimmer, and edged with Tattered Lace and Tim Holtz dies. I also embossed the edge of the patterned paper. 

I wanted them to be quite special as they were so small. 

 I've added patterned paper, washi tape, gems and some tiny ribbon knots. Some had more scope for adding gems than others. I used a gold Sharpie around the white cut edges. 

I've already entered Pixie's Snippets Playground for the fortnight, otherwise I'd be popping over there with these. Obviously they are all made from snippets!
I don't think I'll be posting these. I'd worry about them getting lost in the post. They'll probably be for had delivery to local friends and neighbours. 











Thanks, as always, for visiting. Enjoy the Day. x