my Crafty Corner

Cards and other handicrafts made by Jean Straw

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Three Rudolph Day Cards

 It's 25th November already which means it is the last Rudolph Day for this year and although I am a bit late turning up I have got three cards to show you today. It is also the last RD to be hosted by Sarn at Stamping for Pleasure, and I would like to thank her for this  friendly challenge which has revolutionised my christmas card making so that I no longer have a mad panic about now to get enough cards made in time for posting. This year I have a nice box full already made and just have a few close  family ones still to make. RD is all set to continue next year though as it is to be taken over by Scrappymo, of  Scraps of Life by Scrappymo.
A crafting friend of mine gave me some die cut christmas ornaments and ribbons that I wanted to use so my first two cards are designed around them. They were mostly cut from red satin card and gold mirri card  so I began by pairing up the solid and filigree cuts as you can see. I think I had to take the photo under my craft light as good daylight is in rather short supply at the moment, and that has caused a shadow to dull the gold card in the lower bauble, but it is actually just as shiny as the top one. The base card is DL size and the backing paper is from an LOTV pad, inked around edges with fired brick Distress Ink.  The greenery was cut with a Tim Holtz Winter Foliage die and I assembled it intertwined with one of the die cut ribbon loops from my friend. I then hung the baubles from the ribbon using a fine gold peel off for a chain. The greeting is from Chocolate Baroque.


Also among the die cuts from my friend was this glittery purple ornament with the silver overlay already attached and although it not the sort of colour that I usually use for christmas it is beautiful so I looked for some card to go with it. I found this snippet of pale pink pearl card and cut it with my favourite Spellbinder die from the Marvelous Squares set. I also used the largest die from this set to cut a mat from another snippet of textured silver card which just fitted onto a 4" square base card. I  layered everything up and added a purple metallic bow to the bauble and a tiny christmas greeting. I have had this little stamp for years and have long forgotten the make of it, it has a square outline round it which I don't like so I usually colour the words with a marker pen before stamping it.  I am not sure if the tiny snowflakes were punched or die cut but they were in with the other die cuts so as they matched the bauble I decided to add them to the corners.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
My third card is made with a stamp and an embossing folder that were  free with a craft magazine. I cut and folded an A6 base card from red cardstock. I used the free border EF to emboss across the bottom. It made a lovely deep embossing but it did sort of stretched  the card and made it look a bit wonky so to tidy it up a bit I embossed a line either side of the border with my scoring board, which helped a bit. I stamped the holly wreath with Olympia  green Versafine ink onto a snippet of white card and added the berries with a marker pen, and drew over the twiddly bits with a Sakura gold sparkle  pen. I think the greeting is from another free set. I cut this out with a Spellbinder scalloped circle die and coloured the edge with a red marker pen, and then mounted it onto a snippet of gold mirri card. When this was mounted onto the card I  added some gold coloured gem stones below the image and rubbed a little gold wax over the embossed panel for highlights.


As I used quite a few snippets in the making of these cards I am also going to skip over to see what everyone  else has been making at Pixie's Snippets Playground.
Thank you for visiting my crafty corner today and for your comments all of which are really appreciated.
Jean















20 comments:

  1. OH my gosh, what a beautiful collection of Christmas cards! I love those fabulous ornaments with the designs in them, and the embossing on the 3rd looks so elegant too! Well done on all three!!

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  2. Some great dies, some great papers and beautiful designs here today! I just love that ribbon diecut looping thru that yummy foliage!

    Hope to see you in January at Rudolph Days at my blog. I will be auto posting as we move Jan 23 ! Hey ho it will be hectic that is for sure.

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  3. Lots of snippets, divine baubles, and THREE gorgeous cards for RD! You get the prize, Jean! You are an inspiration to all of us!! Hugs, Darnell

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  4. Three beautiful cards! My favourite is the top one - I love the baubles against the lovely backing paper. Cant believe how close we are to Christmas. I need to get my skates on to finish the rest of my Christmas cards! xx

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  5. Hi Jean . . . thank you for entering these three gorgeous and festive cards into Rudolph Day. I love that you also used up some snippets. The bauble cards are so shiny and lovely. And the holly embossing on the 3rd card is wonderful.

    Thanks for playing along.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  6. All so eyecatching and bright and shiny. Love the magenta ornament.

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  7. Beautiful cards Jean. Lovely colours you have used.
    Veerle x

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  8. Well done for making good use of all the die-cuts. The first card is my favourite. I try lots of colour combinations but still always return to the more traditional ones by choice. Kate x

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  9. Lovely designs Jean, love the baubles, they look great!
    hugs Jacee
    Simply Paper Card Design

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  10. Fab cards Jean lovely colours you have chosen huggles Sue xx

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  11. Three beautiful cards Jean and the baubles are all so pretty. I love the foliage with the pretty paper on the first, the adorable pink glitter card and S/B Majestic Square die on the second, and the freebie holly stamp and embossing folder which work so prettily with the lovely red card on the third. x

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  12. Beautiful cards, love the die cut baubles.
    Yvonne x

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  13. Three wonderful card and all stunning in different ways.

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  14. love the baubles, and how fab is that free embossing folder xxx

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  15. Oh my, these really are gorgeous Jean! I always read all the detail about how you made each card you show and there's a load of work in all three of theses - even if some bits were 'donated' :) I think the very top one is my favourite - but then again ..........

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  16. gorgeous cards, Jean! Those baubles are wonderful and I love the different colour schemes you have used!

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  17. These are beautiful Jean. I do love the baubles...as you may remember mine from earlier this year.
    Great colour schemes.
    Hugs
    xx

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  18. Oh my goodness, Jean. These are wonderful. I love the sentiment and the image on your card...sooo much. Can't decide which I like better...lol

    Your friend is a lucky girl!

    The ATC's are great too. I have only made ATC's once...a big batch for WOYWW a couple of years ago. They are quite addicting!

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  19. What loveliness on all 3 of these cards. Your red & gold ornaments were gloriously festive & tradional but I also liked the non-traditional color of #2. Especially the way you've carried through the matting colors on the beautiful S/B square. That is a such an elegant die & showed off the fancy ornament stunningly. Your tiny matching bow was perfect. I'm always amazed at the freebies ya'll get with your magazines (I'm sure the magazine cost reflects it too!). That is a beautiful flourish wreath with the holly stamping, and the way the EF trim matched that look was so pretty. Loved reading how you 'fixed' the stretching with your scor lines, which added another dimensional touch. Great cards, Miss Jean - each one of 'em. Your imagination was working terrifically to take your gift ornament dies & make such unique & pretty cards. TFS & Hugs

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