A Recycled Christmas.

This year I am determined not to leave my Christmas cards until the last minute (like how many other years?) so I am doing Christmas Challenges through the year to keep me motivated.

The first challenge I am entering is an Up-cycled/Recycled/Free Christmas Card Challenge at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge.

The second challenge at Laineys Crafty Space - Christmas Fun is Anything Goes!  As long as it is a Christmas Card.

The third challenge at Challenges 4 everyone is Anything Goes as well.

The fourth challenge at Card Makin' Mamas is also Anything Goes!

Ok so on with the card... the challenge to recycle/up-cycle... the boys had rescued some Christmas cards a few years ago that someone was throwing out!  (Yes perfectly good cards - not even written in!)

• So I cut out Santa... completely on one (very fiddly!), then on the second one I cut the sack, hand, cuff, coat bottom ruffle and Santa's head!  Mounted them all on foam to give the image some depth.  Next B handed me the Christmas Tree card (even more fiddly lol) and so I cut that. 
• I then scored some white card to make a box shape on the front of the card (Thank you Ultimate Crafters Companions score board.. soooo easy!).  
• My lovely Silhouette Cameo next was employed to cut the window out of black card.  
• I scored in some detail and mounted with both foam and tape to give dimension.  
• I then manually cut the "window"out of the front panel of the "box".  
• I hand measured and cut a front panel then embossed it in my Cuttlebug using a Sizzix - Tim Holtz embossing folder to give a brick effect.  
• The window got a backing of recycled embossing folder packaging as the window. (Which made taking photos a nightmare as I have a white iphone lol)
• So on the front of the "box" I put the brick panel then the window on using double sided tape.
• I mounted some nice "wall paper" from my stash, added a stamped Chandelier and heat embossed with gold.
• Santa and the tree then made themselves at home in the room with some handy-dandy double sided and foam.
• I sealed the box then made and mounted a card and double sided it on the back.
• The finishing touch some glue and Flower Soft "Polar Soft" - and if you are going to use this... TURN OFF THE FAN *chuckle*  Snow in Western Australia.. who would have thought?!?

 

Happy Crafting *Hugs* Sarah

Downhill run!

Ok still battling my list of Mad March Birthdays… I would ask why so many birthdays in March but since mine is one I better not!  Hehe…  This one is for a young man who is turning 9!

I am entering quite a few challenges with this one… I don’t think I will win any but it IS keeping me motivated to get these cards done in a timely and focused fashion! (Wonders never cease!) So thank you challenge makers… much appreciated!  Now in NO particular order…

First:  Colour challenge of GREEN… with CardMakinMamas.  Perfect for the month of March! 

Second: Simon Says Stamps Challenge of Anything goes with a highlight on Tim Holtz products… which I love especially for my male cards!

Third: Crafty Cardmakers Challenge of Masculine Birthday and Technology!

Fourth: Card marking and Papercraft wanted to see some results of using scraps!  That’s what my motorbike and happy birthday Panel is made out of!

Scraps... it's amazing what all those little bits can make!

Materials Used:

Green corrugated cardboard. 

Scrap card from stash.

Sizzix Tim Holtz embossing folder “steampunk”.

Cuttlebug “Celebration stamps” Die cut (the stamp shape).

Cuttlebug “Happy Birthday 2 x 2.75” folder.

Cuttlekids “Offroad” motorbike.

Thanks for stopping by…

Sarah x

There is always time for a party!

It has been forever since I did a challenge (we moved!) but its Mad March which means a mega amount of Birthdays all clumped together sooo what better way to get motivated and some direction than challenges? 

The first inspiration & direction I am taking is from a Simon Says Stamps challenge which was Anything goes with a focus on Tim Holtz… what is not to love about this?  Now the majority of my Tim Holtz seems to be my “masculine” and “steampunk” themed folders and dies along with my Adirondack/Tim Holtz inks so that made my decision easy… a card for Pop!

I accidentally stumbled on Simon Says Stamp and Show’s blog (so glad I did!) and voila my decision was made as to what to do… a challenge of “By the Numbers”… Now Pop who is turning 84 years young has rebuilt many clocks and has fascinated my boys with winding and chiming them!

Tim Holtz’s Alterations Texture Fades Sizzix Embossing Pocket Watches folder… Try saying that fast!  A celebration of Pop’s birthday and his love of clocks and the order that the numbers on the faces bring him… Perfect for both challenges!  So here is the result:

I embossed the copper coloured Spellbinders craft foil through my Cuttlebug in the Pocket Watches folder and cut it to size, matted it on black cardstock then made a white card blank and mounted it.

I also used Tim Holtz’s idea-ology Game spinners on the pocket watch cut from my Spellbinders Timeless Heritage Die.  I highlighted the numbers on the pocket watch with a black sharpie (awesome on Spellbinders foil!) and then added some texture to the foil with a few light dabbings of Tim Holtz and Adirondack Rust coloured alcohol inks…

That’s about it… Have a great day!

Sarah.