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 .........

Time to make a start on the Christmas cards .........

Happy Monday ........

Welcome to November ....... and dare I say it ......... the run up to Christmas!!

I hope you're all well.  Did you have a lovely Halloween?  It was very quiet here, we didn't even bother with Trick or Treat!!

 

It's still a little quiet on here too .... sorry!  I'm not quite sure what I'm doing with my time but, I don't seem to have had much spare recently.  And, with not having to do the Blog Challenges each month my cardmaking has taken a back seat for now.

I have made a start on some Christmas cards though, which is not bad going for me.   As you all know I'm usually on the last minute, still making them in December!!    This year though,  I thought I'd try and get them out of the way early so,  I've spent the last two crafty get togethers with the girls in a festive mood.  I prepped everything during the week and then on the day all I had to do was put everything together ...... easy!  And look, a whole batch done .........

Nothing too fancy ..... festive red and gold, and very CAS.

I used the beautiful new Big & Bold Joy Ornaments from the Colorado Craft Company.  A gorgeous stamp set with pretty detailed baubles, two sentiments, and the letters to create the word JOY

I simply stamped onto red cardstock, and then heat embossed in gold ......

I did the letters with plain gold embossing powder and the bauble in the centre using a sparkly gold

I stamped and embossed the rest of my sentiment onto a seperate strip of red card, and attached this underneath with foam pads ..... simple to do, but a very classic look I think.

I also had a play with my version of a technique I saw on Katrina Werner's blog a while ago ..... using Distress Re-Inkers to create a sort of ombre effect background ...... what do you think?

I really like the effect, and again it's another great way to create a whole batch of fabulous Christmas cards in no time at all.  Just paint your background cards, leave overnight to dry (that's what I did anyway) and then use large Christmas sentiments to add your greetings.

I used Festive Berries Distress Re-inker and Hot Pressed Watercolour cardstock (the smooth stuff!) 

I mixed the re-inker with some water, and used a paintbrush to add the colour across the card, starting at the top working my way down the card adding more water as I went along to get the ombre effect.  I repeated the process a few times until I got the colour, and the blend, that I was happy with and then left the card to air dry.

Once it was completely dry, I used an anti-static bag over the whole piece and then stamped and heat embossed my sentiment in gold

Another stamp set from the Colorado Craft Company ....... Quick Holiday Cards Savvy Sentiments .... I do like a large sentiment stamp!

To finish off I sprinkled on a little Chunky White Embossing Enamel and heat set this from underneath

Well, that's another one for the festive box!

This technique was so much fun to do, I might just give it a try using some different colours!  Gets me using those Distress Re-inkers too!

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

We're off out for tea this evening, first time in a while.  No special occasion, I just didn't feel like cooking!

Cheerio until next time .......