On the second day of December ........

Happy Friday!

I hope you've had a good week.  

What's everyone got planned for the weekend?  I think I might make a start on the Christmas gift wrapping tomorrow ..... one of my favourite festive tasks.  

I finally made time to start writing some Christmas cards today ....... yeah!!   

The posting dates may have had something to do with it, as I have a few overseas cards to send.  And, it's our crafty Christmas lunch on Sunday so I had to get those ready ....... Secret Santa gifts too  (I do love this time of year!)

My Christmas cards this year have all been very CAS, and made in batches  

The gorgeous Sparkling Season stamp set by Gina K Designs, from this years Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember,  is perfect for creating elegant looking Christmas cards with minimum fuss.

These were done using one of the stamps from the set, along with one of the sentiments ......... couldn't be more simple.  And, if you use a stamping platform, then everything can be done at once.

I stamped in Versamark, heat embossed in gold, and then added some gold ink splatters onto the background ....... (the coloured card is actually a gorgeous deep purple which isn't really coming across in the photos.  With the gold embossing, it does look quite regal)

I added another sentiment from the same stamp set inside the card, along with the baubles again.

This time I stamped with a metallic gold ink ...... how pretty is that!

Our weekend is starting early, we're off out for dinner this evening.  We're trying out a new restaurant that opened recently ...... La Villa Perrilla.  It's a South American place, and the menu looks amazing.  The cocktail bar doesn't look too bad either 🍸

We're not eating until 8 so, we might have a pre-dinner drink before we go ..... well it would be rude not to open todays advent calendar windows now wouldn't it ......

Chris and Myra came yesterday with these ......... mine's the gin one and hubby's is the rum.  

It's years since I've had an advent calendar ......... these are so much better than the chocolate ones!!!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.

Cheerio until next time ......

PS  Don't forget about the 12 Days of Christmas over on the Sweet Poppy website.  One fabulous product, available for 24 hours, at an amazing price.

Todays offer is .......... the gorgeous Floral Dahlia stencil 

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month ......

It's December!!!!!!!

Happy Thursday to you ...... the first day of December and the big countdown begins.

The advent calendars have been opened, Mr. Buble is playing in the background, and there's mince pies in the kitchen (yum!).  Lists have been made, cards are almost done and .......... the trees are up! 

There's the one in the hallway which you've already seen ....... very traditional

There's one in the dining room ......... frosty blue, silver and white

And the main tree in the lounge (my favourite) ...... which is all white and gold

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.

Speaking of which, if you're a fan of Sweet Poppy Stencils then today is the first day of their 12 Days of Christmas 

Each day there will be a Sweet Poppy product available at a very special price and it will last for 24 hours only or while stocks last.

They've started with something festive so, if your love your baubles check out the Sweet Poppy website, you won't want to miss todays special offer. 

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time ......... 

The final Simply Sweet Poppy Facebook Challenge ..........

Happy Thursday ..........

I hope you're all well. It's very wet and blowing a hoolie here, not the weather we wanted for the Christmas Lights switch on in Douglas this evening.  Think we'll give it a miss if it stays like this, and I might just switch on my own Christmas lights and decorate another tree ....... a bit early I know but there's already one up in the hall!! 

If you're a fan of the Simply Sweet Poppy Stencils Facebook Challenge then time is running out to get your entry in for this, the final challenge .......... The Magic of Christmas!.  

As always, there's a £40 voucher for the winner to spend on the Sweet Poppy website.  Just follow the simple rules .........  use only Sweet Poppy stencils, keep any stamping to a minimum, and stick to the challenge theme ...... easy!

So, what makes Christmas magic for you?  

It's got to be family and friends for me, and I love all the trees and decorations .........

For this card, I used the Sweet Poppy Snowflake Tree (at least I think that's what its called ...... I can't find it on the website so unfortunately I think it may have been retired, which is a shame as it's a lovely tree.  There are other gorgeous designs on there that you could use instead)

I used Pearlescent White Stencil Medium onto black cardstock, sitting the stencil off the edge of my card

Once the paste was dry, I used a blue Stardust gel pen to add colour to the ribbon.

I also used a glue pen to add glitter to the snowflakes ...... looks so pretty and sparkly in real life.

I finished off with white paint splatters on the background and a simple heat embossed sentiment

Next up, baubles!  You can never have enough baubles on your tree!

I'm so sorry but, I think this stencil is also retired, or it may just be out of stock, because I couldn't see this on the website either ........ maybe I should check the website first, before I make my cards!!!!!

Anyway ...... I used the paste again, this time when it was dry I added some rainbow coloured foil over the stenciled design, and then ran it through my laminator

I added some crytal glitter to give sparkly highlights (and also disguise where the foil hadn't quite covered completely!) 

And I finished off with some white paint spatters and a festive sentiment 

The challenge is open until the 29th of the month so there's only a few days left to get those entries in.

Happy stenciling!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

We might have another tree up this evening, we'll see how things go today.

I've got my crafty bunch coming at the weekend and the deal was, I had to have a tree up as it's probably our last crafty get together before Christmas.

Well ....... I did it.  There is a tree up, only took me five and a half hours!    

It still needs a few more baubles on it though.  I'm sure it grows every year!!!  I'll have to see what I can do before weekend!

Cheerio until next time .......

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree ........

Happy Tuesday ..........

I've been at it again, batch making Christmas cards that is ...... well there are only 40 days to go before the big day!!!!!

Now you know me, I do love a nice Christmas tree and yes, it is almost time to get those baubles out and start decorating! (Carol, if you're reading this, there will be a Christmas tree up for our crafty get together next weekend ........ fingers crossed!) 

Anyway ......... speaking of Christmas trees, here's a beauty.  One of the latest stencil designs from Sweet Poppy ...... the gorgeous new Fir Tree

It is a large stencil but, as I always say, you don't have to make large cards.  These are 7x5 inches (my go to card size), and I think it looks great.

This was the sample I did for the TV show last month ...... I love it!  So CAS, I just had to make more. 

I used the Sweet Poppy Stencil Medium in the Pearlescent White through the stencil and then sprinkled over with Fine Crystal glitters whilst the paste was wet, and left them to dry naturally.

A few little sparkly gems added here and there, and a star on the top ......

All finished off with embossed sentiments.

Here are a few more ideas done last month for the TV show, using this fab stencil .......

Here's the tree full size ..... it's so pretty!

I used the stencil medium again, this time sprinkled with green glitter and then I fussy cut the tree once it was dry, and used fom pads to attach it to my card

A few gold and silver ink splatters on the background, dots of glitter glue for the baubles to decorate the tree, and a tub for it to sit in on the bottom ..... very festive!

Same stencil ..... used this time to create a little winter scene.

Just by using a little bit of masking you can alter the size of the tree, and create a little forest scene in the background .........

 adding the full size tree in the centre

Large trees not your thing? ....... then just mask off the bottom of the stencil ....... make the tree a size to suit you

This looks so cute ....... and it's one layer, so perfect for posting!

I simply used a bit of masking tape to cover the bottom the part of the stencil, before using the stencil medium.  I left it overnight to dry completely, then I used foil over the stenciled design and ran it through a laminator.  

Quick tip - if you're using foil on your stenciled designs, before you apply the foil, carefully dust around the edges of your design with an anti-static bag, being a bit careful not to get the dust on the stencil medium.  This avoids the foil sticking where you don't want it.    If  this does happen though, you can remove the foil by gently using a sand eraser (check them out on Amazon, they're not expensive)

A simple gem on the top of the tree, and a sentiment stamped underneath ...... done!

I love it when it's time to put the Christmas tree up, and it's almost here ...... whoo hoo!! 

A few new baubles have already been bought, and I'm already thinking of where to put the trees.  

I am a little nervous though ...... this year we have a little one who is now very mobile, and is into everything.  Christmas is going to be fun this year! 

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .......

Mistletoe anyone!!! ...............Christmas card ideas using Sweet Poppy stamps

Happy Friday .........

I can't believe we're into double digits in November already ........ this month is flying by!

Did anyone catch Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils on the TV yesterday? ...... sorry I didn't give you a heads up!  

I think it was the last show for 2022 but, don't quote me on that, I could be wrong.

Don't worry, if she is back again before the end of the year I will let you know .... I promise.

Yesterday's show was focusing on some new stamp designs, Christmas ones, and of course some gorgeous stencils.  If you were watching I hope you managed to get what you wanted ...... everything sold out so fast!!!  If you did miss out on anything, check out the Sweet Poppy website, you'll find all the new products on there.

 

Are all your Christmas cards done or, are you like me and only just making a start?  To be fair, I am earlier than last year with my cardmaking and, I have started thinking about trees and decorations.  You never know they might just go up that bit earlier too!

 

Clean and simple (CAS) is the way I'm going this year for my cards, and the Sweet Poppy stencils and stamps are just perfect for that.

How about a bunch of festive Mistletoe .........

Stamped and heat embossed onto black cardstock, and then coloured using metallic/pearlescent paints

A touch of glitter on the berries and a little white paint splattered onto the background to give the look of falling snow

And a bit of festive red twine to finish off.

Same stamp, different look .......

You don't always have to colour in your stamped images, why not use coloured cardstock.

For this card I've stamped and heat embossed an all over design, and highlighted just the berries with a touch of crystal glitter ......

Then used a two part die cut sentiment as my focal point .......

Or, how about Kraft card ........

Heat embossed in white this time, and coloured with pearlescent paints again.  

I added some white Enamel Accents to the berries and sprinkled with glitter whilst they were still wet.

Splattered the background with white paint, added a sentiment and finished off with a bow ..... very festive!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.  

It's looking like a quiet one for us, there's nothing in the diary .... yet!  

Cheerio until next time .........