Getting to that time of the month....

Well the 19th of this month sees Kraftyhands returning to the screen with some old and new stock.
So its about time I started showing a few of my new creations...........
My reason for not blogging is that I'm setting up an online shop, and I dont really like to post about cards which are to be given to others really, I dont think its fair that strangers get to see the card before the recipient.
So hopefully you will understand my silence.
But here's one that's for TV! In other words, one I am happy to blog about!
Sympathy cards are hard to make, give and recieve. But it comes to us all, and as humans, and some animals, we need to be supported in our loss and for most of us we use a Card.
As I sit here writing this it's actually my husbands birthday, a day he shared with Karen across the road, who died of Cancer 3 years ago. A day I always Remember Karen, and her gentle spirit, so posting this card for me is quite apt, as I still miss her presence. I was touched the other day when Pintrest told me someone had pinned one of my Cards, It was actually My Sympathy Card for Karen, to the person who pinned it, Thank You, xx.
Sympathy Cards are hard to do, and as Card makers its the less pleasurable side of card making, something that takes thought, consideration, restraint.
But occasionally a resource comes along that helps, and such is the CD In Sympathy By Kraftyhands, restrained, thoughtful verses, gentle, hopeful images.

The Tag and Backing paper are from the CD, the cut file I made using the flourish from the Tag.
I chose to do this style, as I find it hard to do Sympathy cards for people I dont know. When I do a Sympathy card it needs to be simple and elegant, and this Tag and paper were my choice.
The Flourish on this tag inspired me to take the card further, Its beautiful, intricate like life.  So I Imported the pdf into MTC and pixel traced it to get the flourish on the tag. Then made a frame linking 4 of the flourishes and a separate mat mat of 2 linked flourishes. It was cut on the Zing, from Anna Maries Chocolate card stock.
An 8 inch scalloped card base, a chocolate matt, the backing paper with a grey organza ribbon and bow, the two layered flourishes, and then the tag. Inside it has one of the verse toppers on insert paper.
A beautiful elegant Sympathy card.

hugs

Lou

Finally!

Well its been a while hasnt it?
Unfortunately I am now on my 6 th printer within 11 months, can you tell I'm not impressed so far? The last one started turning up its toes, just after the samples were done for the Craft Nouveau CD, and then went and died, deceased, pushing up the daisies, etc.
So printer number 6 is here, and had a rough introduction to my craft room, with a mass stack of printing as soon as it was plugged in,
First out of the printer was my Challenge card for Kraftyhands:  Santa's Little Helpers, a beautiful CD and one of my all time favourites.
Now this month the challenge is JUST FOR FUN, there is NO PRIZE! and the theme for the challenge is Classic Christmas ( Red, Gold, and Green).
Now the set I have used is intended for a 5x5 or 6x6 card, well I disagree, and Mine is 8x8, lol, and is just 2 sheets from the cd, a backing paper from the cd, card stock, and die cuts:

I created an 8x8 card base in forest green cardstock, and then cut diagonally across the card front. Then I started cutting all the mats and layers for the card, 1 base mat from Gold, embossed with the Embossilicious holly folder, one from red, then 2 from Green gloss card, One piece of Gold Linen textured paper, and 2 from the red Merry Christmas backing paper. And finally the main image and the backing that goes with it.
But if you've looked at the photo's and read this far your busy saying to yourself, "erm , hold on a minute you havent said about all the gold layers, or the other green layer?"
No I havent, because they are not layers. Although this card looks lavish, the gold layers were created using a gold paint pen on the edge of every layer. I cheated in other words!
So , having cheated, and saved a huge amount of Gold mirri for next time, I started to position all the layers.
The inside: I used the insert panel, and the gift tag  together for the sentiment.
The outside, I obeyed the rule of thirds, and aimed for the right hand corner of the card front, leaving the left hand bottom corner free. the backing card and topper base are the same size so I offset them on top of the Gold Linen.
I then did the decoupage, and managed to get loads of dimension by folding the presents on the edges of the parcels, some 3D glaze on the eyes to bring them to life, and some clear glitter on the snow. Add the slim ribbon at the base of the card
The I added some die cuts, Spellbinders Christmas Lights border die, and a freebie little tree from Papercrafting Inspiration magazine. The snowflakes were punched from the Gold linen paper with a Martha Stewart punch. Finally some pearl gems to finish off,
and a nice big statement card, without all the weight and layers!
Right no prize this month, its just for fun, so do pop over to the challenge blog, have a look at what my Teamies have done, and join in, but remember the theme, Classic Christmas, using Red, Gold and Green.

Hugs

Lou