Merry Christmas

Wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy new year!

And if you don't celebrate Christmas I wish you Happy Holidays.

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you call back again soon, take care, Dawn x

Welcome Christmas

Here is my second card using this gorgeous Welcome Christmas stamp set.

I used real red as my square card blank, a strip of old olive card across the centre and then very vanilla for my layer, cut using my fleur de lis shapeabilities die.

I stamped the wreath from this stamp set in old olive (another fav colour) and added red glitter for the berries, again I tied a knot in a small piece of real red grosgrain ribbon to add an extra detail and cut the four corners of my base card with my scallop trim corner punch. Simple! another easy but effective card. Let me know what you think, leave me a comment. Happy crafting Dawn x

Welcome Christmas

Here is a very simple card I cased from the Stampin' Up! leaflet showing this stamp set "welcome Christmas" which has now become one of my favourites and I'm sure I will use lots making cards for next year (but not yet!)

Unfortunately my photo was not very good, the card base is actually real red, the strip of paper was from the Christmas cocoa paper set available exclusively with this stamp set, the greeting was stamped in chocolate chip ink and cut out by hand, I also added a small tied piece of real red grosgrain ribbon and red glitter as the berries on the wreath. Simple but effective, I think. Dawn x

Advent box two

Here is another of my advent boxes, don't worry I'm not going to add all twenty five of them, just these two!

The box was made in the same way as the other one and decorated with the small Christmas tree die, also from my fanciful holiday shapeabilities die set. The tree was cut from old olive card and I stencilled through the die to add the colour with inks and cut n dry foam. I added a silver clip to each of the boxes. I hope you like my advent calendar, I love how it turned out although I was quite surprised at how long they took to make.

Until next time, Happy crafting Dawn x

Advent calendar

This year I made my children's advent calendar and here is one of the twenty five boxes that I made.

I used a mini milk carton die for the box base, I cut twenty four chocolate chip boxes and 1 gold mirri box, I stamped each box with the triple snowflake from the serene snowflake stamp set in whisper white craft ink, I love this ink it's sooo white!

I then made embellishments to decorate each box, this one was using the reindeer from my fanciful holiday shapeabilities die set.

I cut him from whisper white card and inked him with crumb cake and chocolate chip ink to add definition, I also added a red nose as this had to be Rudolf!

The mini tag was stamped in chocolate chip and cut out using the mini tag punch. I added a silver clip on the top of each box and filled with a selection of sweets that my children enjoy.

I hope you like my advent calendar, please leave a comment to let me know what you think. Happy crafting, Dawn x

Bauble card 4

Here is the last of these cards.

I have used cherry cobbler as my base card and one of my mats, old olive ink, always artichoke ribbon, delightful daffodil as my punched mat and whisper white craft ink on the base. Please leave a message to tell me which colour combination is your favourite Dawn x

Bauble card 3

A bright cheerful colour combination, not everyone's usual Christmas colours, this one was influenced by my friend who loves pink!

Melon mambo ink and card, whisper white craft ink, tempting turquoise ink and ribbon and so saffron card, with a couple of basic rhinestone jewels. Dawn x

Bauble card 2

Here is my second colour combo. Yeah I know other people can put multiple pictures on one post, well, I can't, it just goes funny or the pictures end up where I don't want them, I'm really not good on the computer.

This card uses riding hood red and so saffron card, and baja breeze ink onto a white square card blank. Dawn x

Bauble card 1

Do you remember me saying about the Stampin' Up! colour coach?

Well these next cards were made using the colour combinations from there. The card is basically the same but I tried it in a couple of colour ways to see which one I liked the best.

This card uses bravo burgundy, so saffron, whisper white craft ink, baja breeze ink and a basic rhinestone jewel onto a small white square card blank.

Please feel free to leave me a comment letting me know which colour combo you preferred. Dawn x

Church..

Here is a card made using the church from the retired silent night stamp set, stamped in chocolate chip ink onto very vanilla card, layered onto crumb cake then on a chocolate chip card base. I added chocolate chip taffeta ribbon across the top left corner and embellished it with two layered flowers and a pearl. I added glitter to accent the main picture, as you can probably tell I really like this stamp set and I'm not ready for it to retire from my stamp collection! Dawn x

Retired Silent night!

Here is another card using the now retired Silent Night stamp set, simply stamped in black onto whisper white, layered onto black card and sprayed with spray and sparkle-silver, a simple white satin bow finishes this card. I like it, I hope you do too Dawn x

Retired Silent Night

Here is a simple z card made using the Stampin' Up! now retired Silent night stamp set, a beautiful stamp and perfect for Christmas and other occasions, its a shame it had to be retired but then they had to make space for all the lovely new products! I hope you like it and the other cards for today, until next time, Happy crafting and Thanks for visiting Dawn x

Colour coach

Here is the amazing Stampin' Up! colour coach, each card shows the colour on the front and on the back it tells you combinations that will co-ordinate and work well together, with the help of this I am gradually being brave and trying combinations that I wouldn't usually use. I highly recommend this product especially for anyone like me, who struggles with colour co-ordination. Dawn x

Tree trimmings 2

Here is my alternative colour combo using my tree trimmings stamp set. I used the colour coach to take me slightly out of my comfort zone (I know I didn't venture far with the colours but I am definitely trying new colour combos with its help) Hope you like it. Dawn x

Tree trimmings

Here is a small square card made using Stampin' Up! tree trimmings stamp set another I really like. This is what colours I would usually reach for but I made another card the same in a different colour combo, I will put that one on next. Dawn x

Gorjuss girl

I also like the Gorjuss girl range of stamps and although the stamp doesn't shout Christmas it is mission to use my stamps in a variety of ways. The background is made with snowflakes cut using a die in the same colour as the base for a subtle but textured card base, the poinsettia is also a die both by marianne designs. Another simple card, I think, my favorite style. Dawn x

Serene snowflakes!

I Love, love, love this stamp set and reach for it often, maybe a little too often, nah!

I don't usually go for pinks but my close friend loves pink so I try to add pink into a card every now and then.

Dawn x

Pretty baubles

I copied this idea somewhere from another blog but sorry I can't remember where, it was a while ago now. I changed the colours, quite frilly and girly.

Dawn x

Argh! Christmas is coming...

Oh no, I have been so busy and the family have been poorly with all the usual bugs and germs that I have been naughty and not been on here to add pictures of my Christmas cards, I'm sorry!

Well here goes, you know me with my lack of computer knowledge so, I guess they will have to be added one at a time.

Here is a simple square card that actually doesn't have to be a Christmas card, quite masculine I think. Dawn x

Santa's sleigh...

This is my last sample from Sunday.

My friend bought the sizzix 3d sleigh die and made a lovely sleigh that she put sweets in and would like to use for her table settings for Christmas and when I saw it I wanted to make a matching Christmas card and well here it is...

I cut the sleigh shape in real red, stamped it in white craft ink with snowflakes (serene snowflake stamp set again!), then in gold and trimmed the gold to fix on top of the red. The Santa was made using a sizzlet set I had and then I cut a circle to make his tummy, each layer was inked in chocolate chip to add definition. The letters are cut using chocolatey goodness sizzlet alphabet set in chocolate chip and whisper white and glittered when assembled. The background was embossed using swiss dots cuttlebug folder, I fixed two pieces together to make it large enough for the card. This card took quite a while to complete but I love the effect, I hope you do too, I would love to hear what you think, please leave a comment. Until next time, Happy crafting Dawn x

Yankee candles!

This box is perfectly sized to hold two Yankee candle votives, a pretty gift and simple!

Take away style box

This box was made using the sizzix carry all xl die and after struggling with the written instructions making the first one, I went to plan B and looked at the pictures, much easier. I decorated this box very simply with a strip of designer series paper and a felt flower, Simple!

Christmas box

Here is another sample from Sunday, with a close up of the snowflake, I love these boxes, they are so versatile and the finished size is good.

I stamped the base card with chocolate chip and white craft ink and serene snowflakes (yeah I know I'm obsessed with this stamp set!!) The snowflake uses the marianne design dies layered in silver mirror card and crumb cake. A single strip of the gorgeous wide ribbon finishes the hole design perfectly, I think.

Halloween box

This sample was made with the sizzix box #3 xl die, very easy to assemble, I chose to decorate using Martha Stewart punches.

Cupcake

As I promised here are some more samples that I made for the craft show last Sunday in Taunton. I would like to say a huge Thank you to everyone who came along and said Hello to me on the sizzix stand, it was great to see so many crafter's and lovely to put faces with names, I hope you had fun, I did!

I made this with the sizzix cupcake die, I inked each layer to add definition. Hope you like them x

Sizzix at Taunton!

Hi everyone, I just wanted to tell you about a great day out for all you crafter's, if you are in the Taunton area tomorrow. Sincerely Yours have a craft show taking place at Castle school (Wellington Road, Taunton, Somerset) If you are coming along please come and say hello, I will be on the sizzix stand and this is just one of my samples....

The box is made using an xl die and I even made the bow!!

Hung up on the holidays!

Here is a card I made a long time ago (I love making Christmas cards so, I make them all year round) It is using the now retired Hung up on the holidays stamp set from Stampin' Up!

I used chocolate chip card as my card base in DL format, very unusual for me, a strip of real red and a white panel on top, stamped with a bauble, a candy cane, a star and a gingerbread man all at slightly different heights to add interest, I stamped the "strings" using a stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up, a brilliant piece of equipment, The Happy Holidays greeting is from another retired stamp set called Flaky Friends, this was my first ever Stampin' Up! stamp set and I still love it and cannot bear to part with it!! I hope you like it. Happy crafting Dawn x

Gift box

Here is the matching gift box to go with my Serene snowflake Christmas card.

As you can see I used the same stamp set and ink colours, the box is cut using the sizzix carry all, box die. The snowflakes are cut from silver mirri and bashful blue card, using marianne design dies, with a silver gem in the centre. I also added a strip of night of navy grossgrain ribbon around the centre. I particularly like this box as its a decent size to put gifts in, max height is 10cms, width 9.5cms and depth 5cms, measurements are approx. Happy crafting Dawn x

Serene snowflakes, Christmas card

Here we go its time to start showing all things Christmas...(its not to early is it?)

I made this card a while ago, I love this stamp set. I cut my A4 card length ways in half to create the card base and scored in the centre (this will fit in a standard size envelope). I stamped the card front with the triple snowflake from serene snowflake stamp set, using night of navy and craft white ink. I added a greeting stamped in craft white to the right hand side near the snowflakes. I punched a large circle out from the bottom left hand corner on the card front and layered die cut snowflakes over the hole, I added dazzling diamonds glitter with a glue pen but I don't think it shows in the picture. Another simple card but I like it, I hope you do too. I have made a matching gift box, I will add this soon. Until next time Happy crafting Dawn x

Happy halloween...

I have been busy making Christmas cards, they will follow soon but for now...

Here is a simple card using one of the lovely gorjuss girl stamps (I love this stamp). I used stampin' up! pumpkin pie card on top of a shimmery white card base, stamped with my lovely spider stamp in black. I added a border cut from black using a martha stewart deep punch, then the gorjuss girl as the focal point in the middle, cut out leaving a small white edge. Simple!

Happy stamping, Dawn x

Celebrate with.....

We all celebrated the fantastic new products with chocolate cupcakes and hot chocolate with marshmallows on the top, mmm yum!

Everyone who attended entered a draw with a chance to win an amazing Stampin' Up! prize worth over £50 including a wood mounted stamp set, jumbo wheel and handle, two packs of new colour card and co-ordinating ink pads, and the winner was.....

.....Lesley,

who was very pleased with her prize, well done to you.

Thank you to everyone who came and supported me, I couldn't do this without you.

Until next time Happy crafting Dawn x

Buttons, yum!

Buttons...yum! these are gorgeous and well, look at the colours, I love Stampin' Up! for co-ordination of its products!

Gorgeous stamp sets...

These stamp sets are gorgeous, Contempo Christmas and Ornate flowers both in the "clear" option. They come in their own dvd case for easy storage with a full size picture on the front cover and an icon of each stamp on the spine, much easier to find what your looking for without taking them off the shelf. I will show you the sample I made in the future, you can see it in the bottom of this picture for now. You can also see Delightful Decorations, a versatile set that makes lovely 3D baubles to hang up as well as adding to your cards or scrapbook pages.

Bright colours

Look at these gorgeous colours...

More goodies!

More goodies...this time some wood mounted stamp sets, the amazing new paper stack and buttons, new catties and the lovely ornament bauble punch.

New toys...

Here you can see some of the new colours of card and ink along with the new clear stamps sets (they are more like unmounted than clear, as they are red rubber on mount foam...lovely, and a little cheaper per set than wood mounted, so, if you're watching the pennies these maybe an option for you) Oh and the amazing rhinestones and pearls, these are perfect!! I think you will be seeing these on lots of my cards...soon.

New catalogue launch party..

Well, hello everyone and thank you to all of you who came to my Stampin' Up! launch party yesterday, I think it is fair to say we had lots of fun, here are a few photos of the "goodies" everyone was able to touch, stroke and buy if they wanted. Fortunately my delivery of new products made it just in time.

Retired..brilliant blue card

Hi, here I have used the now retired brilliant blue as a card base, yes I know square again. I cut my mat and layers using nestabilities, they are so versatile. I have stamped using white craft ink all over the base card. I have used the largest stamp from the serene snowflake set like a medallion style and decoupaged it but twisted the top layer a quarter turn and added a matching button in the centre. Navy ribbon was added onto a strip of white card across the centre.

Thanks for looking, Happy crafting Dawn x

Pastel Christmas

I usually choose bright or bold colours so this was something a little different for me, I used certainly celery for the base card, a small piece of bashful blue cut using the eyelet border punch and some snowflakes stamped using my fav serene snowflake stamp set onto whisper white and then cut using different sized circle punches, I added a simple knot of bashful blue taffeta ribbon down one side to complete the look. Although this is very different to my usual style, I like it. I also don't think it has to be used as a Christmas card because of the colours.

Happy crafting Dawn x

Serene snowflake stamp set

Here is another simple Christmas card using old olive as the base card and of course serene snowflake stamp set, I love this set.

Happy crafting Dawn x

Christmas cards...

Yes, it's that time of year when, if you make cards, you are planning your Christmas cards, I will be putting photos of cards on here that I have been making over the last few months, it didn't feel right putting them on before.

Here is a simple small square card using soft suede as the base card and my fav serene snowflake stamp set, you will see lots of cards using this set. Happy crafting Dawn x

Christmas workshop 3

Christmas workshop number three...

Yes, that's right Christmas workshop number three, today. Another group of lovely people but I can't say ladies this time as my one male crafter joined us today, well done John, come on guys we are not that scary really! I would like to say Hi! and welcome to a new face amongst us, I hope you enjoyed your crafting time with us, Sandra.

We made three Christmas cards all using the Serene snowflake stamp set, I adore this set. Take a look at previous posts for more details of the cards.

Stampin' Up! new catalogue...

As you may have noticed from the picture near the top right of my blog, Stampin' Up! have a new catalogue and wow they have loads of gorgeous new items, please feel free to click on the picture it will take you to an online catalogue where you can browse the wonderful items and maybe start jotting down a wish list. If you would like to purchase any item/s from the catalogue please email me at DawnStrickland20@sky.com or alternatively if you live locally and would like to host a workshop where you can earn free goodies give me a call on 07779071588

Cupcake Catty Launch Party!

Anyone wishing to see Stampin' Up! products and catalogue in the flesh are welcome to contact me for details of my launch party next Saturday (9th October) where I will be serving hot chocolate, homemade cupcakes and showing some of the new products from the catalogue. This is being held at my house so booking a place is essential...I would hate to run out of cupcakes!! I am selling raffle tickets on the day, for your chance to win £50 of Stampin' Up! products call me for details, hope to see some new faces.

Happy crafting,

Dawn x

Christmas workshop 2

Well, we are getting well on our way to making all things Christmas and on Wednesday evening was my second Christmas workshop. Here are two photos of the evening, everyone crafting away happily, using their own Serene snowflakes stamp set which was included in the price. Thank you to all my wonderful crafter's for joining me on this workshop, if you would like to join us with crafting drop me a line and I will send you details of what we are doing and when. Thanks for browsing, Happy crafting, Dawn x

Melon mambo snowflakes...

Here is an alternative Christmas card using the serene snowflake stamp set.

I have used a white square card blank and randomly stamped snowflakes all over. I cut my mat using a nestability, a scallop octagon on this occasion, I stamped my chosen snowflake and cut it into an octagon slightly smaller than the mat, I also stamped another layer and cut out part of the snowflake and layered this at an angle with foam squares. My greeting is from the sparkly and bright stamp set, cut out with a scallop oval punch and layered onto an oval. I added a strip of coordinating ribbon across the centre, near the bottom edge of the card.

Ingredients:

Stamps used; Serene snowflakes, Sparkly and bright.

Inks; melon mambo, rich razzleberry.

Punches/dies; scallop octagon and octagon nestabilities, su scallop oval and oval punches.

Ribbon; melon mambo spotted

Card; whisper white, melon mambo

Thanks for browsing, until next time happy crafting, Dawn x

Christmas mini gift bags

I made these Christmas mini gift bags as a small token of thanks to my wonderful ladies who support me with my Stampin' Up! projects and workshops throughout the year. As our Christmas workshops are including the Serene snowflake stamp set I felt it was perfect for these too.

Each bag was made using bordering blue as the base colour stamped with the different sized snowflakes in a combination of night of navy, white craft, and brocade blue inks. I used night of navy and whisper white for the borders and cut them with the eyelet punch. I stamped a snowflake onto whisper white and cut out with 1 3/8 circle punch, I layered this onto a bordering blue scallop circle cut using the punch and added white dots to the scallops with a white uni-ball gel pen, I also added a gem to the centre of the snowflake and finally added silver shimmery ribbon to the top. Each mini pouch had a mix of sweets inside.

Until next time, happy crafting and thank you for stopping by Dawn x