24th Advent Window - Double window Finale!

As always Christmas eve is the day that I dress my tree, so today's card is mirroring that.

As I said earlier I am slightly carried away with the shaker cards, and could hardly wait to use the this stamp set and matching Die.

Stamp set: Shaker & Celebrate

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green

Card stock: Kraft, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Chocolate Chip,

Old Olive

Accessories: Shaker Shapes Framelits Die, Green Mica Flakes

I kept it simple at that without adding baubles, less is more ;-)

This stamp set and dies versatility leads to the second window today,

so reassuring to think there isn't an age limit for shaker cards :-)

Although it's not strictly Christmas, it IS sparkly ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 23 - Decorations for me ;-)

Having festooned work spaces at the beginning of the month and helped my Dad with his decorations yesterday, it might be time to get a few decorations up in my house ;-)

As like there is little possibility of having a white Christmas this year, I have used a snowflake background for my door wreath this year for a festive feel.

Loving all things natural I have wrapped my wreath in Jute ribbon and this season's Gorgeous Real Red 3/4" Stitched edge ribbon.

I've then added Vintage Leaves stamp set with White embossing Powder and the co-ordinating Leaflets framelits dies in Garden Green card stock, Perfect Pines Framelits in Kraft and Chocolate Chip for the Pine cones, Old Olive with Pearl Mistletoe berries and a Red Glimmer Joy from the Wonderful Wreath Framelits - Tah Dah!

Just the rest of the decorations to do now ;-)

I was also lucky enough to receive this from my SU mentor

Monica Gale

Think this would work with hearts and the Bauble shapes too :-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

22nd Advent Window - Mixing it up!

At this point, when I have a little time in my crafting room, I have great difficulty keeping to one set, and when making a card for my Dad, not getting completely carried away ;-)

So this really is a less is more card, I wanted to use the hostess set from the current main catalogue, ending up just using the banner and holly from the set, then just a little embellishment with my favorite embossing folder at the moment :-)

Stamp set: Time of Year

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Real Red

Ink: Real Red, Garden Green

Accessories: Christmas Greetings Thinlits, Heart Framelit, Bunch of Banners Thinlit, Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bell Christmas Trinket Embellishment, Red coloured Pearls for Holly Berries, Linen thread for the bow.

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 21 - Snow Place (like Home) ;-)

On the shortest day here's a card with Night of Navy Background :-)

This Snow Place set is just too tempting to send to families where you can copy the number of family members, or maybe that's just me getting carried away, again ;-)

Stamp sets: Snow Place, Thoughtful Branches

Card Stock: Night of Navy, Dazzling Diamonds, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Garden Green, Real Red, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Versa Mark heat and glue powder and Dazzling Diamonds Powder

Accessories: Snow Friends Framelits Dies, Beautiful Branches Thinlit Dies

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

20th Advent Window - Cable Knit :-)

As a knitter this embossing folder was easy to put on my wish list, I really love the textured impression this embossing folder creates.

Stamp Set: Stitched with Cheer

Card Stock: Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Real Red, Garden Green, Gold

Accessories: Bunch of Banners Framelits, Holly Berry Builder Punch, Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Embossing Folder

If only knitting cable was this quick ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 19 - Shaker Ornament card

Somehow I'm obsessed with shaker cards this year and wanted to use the Delicate Ornament Thinlit to layer up the retired Sleigh Ride Edgelits Die, with a Black Glimmer for the night sky.

Stamp set: Christmas Pines

Ink: Garden Green

Card stock: Black, Red and Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Silver Foil

Accessories: Delicate Ornament Thinlit, Sleigh Ride Edgelits, Starlight Thinlit

Think I may have put too much snow in and the massive sequins and snowflakes could really slow Santa down with a serious snow blizzard!!

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

18th Advent Window - Merry Medley

Being lucky enough to have finished work till the New Year,

there are a few ideas that have been rattling around that I can now translate into reality, and I do love a background stamp.

Stamp: Merry Medley

Ink: Silver

Card Stock: Silver Glimmer, Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green

Accessories: Silver 1/8" ribbon, Christmas Trinkets Embellishments, Rhinestones, Swirly Scribbles Thinlit Die

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxx

17th Advent Window - Gingerbread House

When my niece and nephews lived in this country, and came to us on Boxing day, one year I made a Gingerbread house, it took quite some time to construct and decorate, (and 15 minutes to eat).

This little house was SO much easier, needed no cooking and no mess with the icing decoration, and it was really fun to do :-)

I simply couldn't resist the vellum window and a little battery tea light inside ;-)

Although there are stamps for the sweet decorations, I have cheated and used the Candy Cane DSP for the sweets - this is simply Kraft, Whisper White, Red Foil and Dazzling Diamonds cardstock and the Hone Sweet Home Die Set.

Now though, I think I might be making a little village with tea lights and sprinkling some white flakes all around, so easily carried away!

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxxx

Stellar Advent Window 16

Here's another opportunity to keep it simple.

The fabulous Star of Light stamp set and matching die set really lend themselves to this Gold Foil, embossing powder and whisper white combination.

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

15th Advent Window - Snowflake

As the weather here seems to be warming rather than cooling I thought I would use some festive Candy Cane DSP to try out a paper crafting Snowflake I saw on Pinterest 

This is my first attempt, and it was lots of fun

Just think I might need to shorten the central snowflake lengths, but love the lattice formation and the snowflake branching effect at the ends.

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 14 - Peaceful Pines, Take Two

I love things back to front and in reverse, and here you see this obsession with the greeting in this card.

The different designs of this stamp set means the possibilities are endless ;-) especially when you can create leaf texture with one of the dies.

Ever wonder how collections of three seem to take over, I just think that it's because I am one of three that it always feel right :-)

Stamp set: Peaceful Pines

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red

Card Stock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Foil

Accessories: Perfect Pines Thinlit Dies, Small star punch

Keep on Christmas Crafting,
GenGen xxxxx

13th Advent Window - Stitched with Cheer 3

Last, but by no means least is the 3rd design from the project kit. . .

I love the gentle colour way of this design, and although not easy to see in this picture but I have stamped snowflakes in silver ink, using silver baker's twine for the stitching and adding a little rhinestones for a little Christmas shimmer ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting

GenGen xxxxx

Advent Window 12 - Stitched with Cheer 2

As December takes hold the card project kit means that I can actually get cards in the post ;-)

The fabulous background printed card means production is super quick, a little gold stitching around the tartan star in the already cut holes, with the burlap ribbon giving a rustic texture, simply add banner greeting, holly and berries et voila! Matching envelope liners are such a joy ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

11th Advent Window - Pretty Pines Wreath

I seriously love the Pretty Pines Thinlit Die,

so made this wreath for a friend who loves Green and Black,

Happy Birthday TLB ;-)

So I simply wrapped this wreath with green ribbon, used Garden Green and Old Olive card stock for the Pine Thinlits, with Silver Foil Holly leaves using Leaflet Framelits, and Silver foil and Basic Black for the Pine Cones, Black Glimmer for the Star and the Silver foil for the Noel from Wonderful Wreath framelits, with Garden Green for the Mistletoe with Pearls for the berries.

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 10 - Stitched with Cheer

As December races past us having a project kit in the wings allows time efficiency and a little lee way for your own interpretation to enhance the design.

This is of course from the fabulous Stitched with Cheer Project Kit which provides you with all the card stock, accessories, envelope liners and precut shapes that make the three designs, so hope to show the other two designs later in this advent blog ;-)

I've used the matching stamp set Stitched with Cheer and Emerald Envy Ink and added small Pearl embellishments.

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

9th Window Advent - Star of Light

My initial design foray with this stamp set was with a fellow crafter, and of course the delectable copper foil card stock :-)

Stamp set: Star of Light

Card stock: Copper foil, Whisper White

Ink: Versa Ink, Copper emboss powder

Accessories: Starlight Thinlit dies

Looking forward to playing around with this stamp set and matching die more, as the starburst stamp and intricate dies are very moreish ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxxx

Advent Window 8 - Merriest Wishes!

Somehow the first week of December has flown past and I'm feeling the need to wrap up, not because it's cold outside, but to ease the present wrap-athon ;-)

So here are some tags that I've made with recent workshops

Stamp set: Merriest Wishes

Card stock: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Copper Foil

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Merry Tags Framelit Dies, Old Olive Baker Twine and a little red coloured pearl for Rudolf's nose ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

7th Advent Window - Hang Your Stocking

He's on his way, so for those of us who are hoping we've been good enough to get a visit . .

There are so many elements to this stamp set and die that the possibilities are endless and for me that is far too tempting ;-) Especially for a crafty afternoon with JF :-)

Stamp set: Hang your Stocking

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Warmth & Cheer DSP

Accessories: Christmas Stocking Thinlit Die, Bunch of Banner Framelits, Gold ribbon

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

6th Advent Window - Peaceful Pines

Just when you think you don't need a stamp set, one of your customers asks to do a workshop with one of her sets and then you add that stamp set to your next order, oops!

Twinkly Tree time!

 

Stamp set: Peaceful Pines

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red

Card Stock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories: Perfect Pines Thinlit Die, Star embossing folder

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 5 - Holly Berry Happiness

Here is a card design that I have used at a couple of workshops lately.

Today is a double advent window.

As always I prefer the less is more design, I think the more you do with this wreath, the more of the stamped wreath you cover up, which is always a conundrum for me,

but everyone likes different images ;-)

The fabulous thing about this arched holly branch means that a half overlap creates a circle, just the magic you need at Christmas ;-)

Stamp Set: Holly Berry Happiness

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red

Card Stock: Real Red Whisper White

Accessories: Real Red 3/4" Stitched Edge Ribbon

For additional interest I used the matching Holly Berry Builder Punch for 3D holly leaves, done with the 2 step printing to create the contrast, and red coloured pearls for the holly berries.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

4th Advent Window - Flurry of Wishes

I love this stamp set and wanted to show off the clarity of the stamp set.

The Celtic feel of the snowflake stamp is particularly appealing to me, and a little shimmer in the cardstock and sparkle in the rhinestones ;-)

Stamp set: Flurry of Wishes

Card Stock: Bermuda Bay, Shimmery White, Vellum

Ink: Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Snow Flurry and Washi tape punches, Rhinestones

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 3 - Christmas Pines

I still love the least work with the most effective impact.

For this design I have used some festive DSP for a background and minimal stamping,

but effective die cutting.

Stamp set: Christmas Pines

Card stock: Warmth & Cheer DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Old Olive, Green Garden

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Mini Pinecones, Banner Triple Punch, Pretty Pines Thinlit Die

Tempting to put it on my front door ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Second Advent Window - Cookie Cutter!

This stamp set really took my eye when the seasonal catalogue was released, and with my love of everything Kraft/natural this appealed to my super quick crafting need ;-)

Stamp Set: Cookie Cutter Christmas

Card Stock: Candy Cane Love DSP, Kraft

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Red Glitter

Of course the rest of the stamp set is seriously fun, but I think my Crumb Cake Gingerbread man needs to be in Cajun Craze, but that's a minor tweak ;-)

Of course, Christmas isn't Christmas without the man himself . . . .  this time with Black glitter for gloves, boots and belt.

Keep on Christmas Crafting

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 1 - Candy canes at the ready!

Thought I would start this years advent blog with something quite different, some Christmas Trinket inspiration, as we ALL need a little Christmas silliness in the earring department ;-)

Card Stock: Candy Cane Love DSP

Accessories: Scalloped envelope die, Christmas Trinket Embellishment

As there are three trinkets in the set it made sense to make earrings out of all three ;-)

I love the Holly and berries and the bells are seriously Ding Dong Merrily on High!

Of course when you make the three earrings, you need a larger gift box and the Candy Cane Love DSP is SO Christmas, it's the perfect combination with the Baker Box die, a great way to start off the secret Santa stint.

Keep on Christmas Crafting

Ho Ho Ho!

GenGen xxxx

A collection of Boys Birthdays

At a time with milestone Birthdays all around, it occurred to me that when you reach 50 you are officially a couple of cards short of a full deck, and we have a good friend who epitomises this phrase and had a 5th Birthday party, so I made this card with that in mind . . .

Card stock: Basic Black, Real Red

Accessories: Party Pop-Up Thinlits

With the inside of the A5 card using those miniature cards that you get in crackers ;-)

As a good friend pointed out this design would also be great for an avid card player :-)

There are also some men in our lives that require a less is more approach for their celebrations and the new Stylized Birthday Stamp is perfectly understated.

Card Stock: Pacific Point

Stamp: Stylized Birthday

Ink: Versa Mark and White Emboss

Accessories: Confetti Stars Border Punch

To finish off this little catch up, we are at the other end of the numbers game with little Alfie

Who is of course a Turtles fan and a Fabulous 4

- you can NEVER have too much Glimmer paper ;-)

Just couldn't resist the inside greeting to read . . .

Where does the time go?

Talking of which I'm hoping to start my Advent blog from the 1st of December, so there will be a daily blog 1-24 December,

keep on crafting, GenGen xxxxx

 

Online Extravaganza Time!

As always, I have managed to tempt myself with the current promotion - oops ;-)

Click on the linked image right to see the offers :-)

Keep on crafting ;-)

Wonderful Workshop in Pumsaint :-)

Many thanks to Margaret and the lovely ladies of Pumsaint Craft group that invited me to do a workshop for them last Monday, a very productive couple of hours :-)

Autumn is my favourite season, and the drive to Pumsaint in the autumn, sunshine was really wonderful, perfect weather for a card like this . . .

Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree for background oak leaf, Vintage Leaves, Stylized Birthday

Inks: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green

Cardstock: Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Leaflets Framelits Dies, stampin dimensionals

I've been waiting for another opportunity to do the simple version of the fairy card, adding vellum wings and a little fairy glimmer, so we did this,

Stamp set: Fairy Celebration

Card stock: Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper, Pool Party, Watercolour paper, Vellum

Inks: Staz On black, Pool Party, Blushing Bride

Accessories: Bitty Butterfly Punch, Rhinestone basic jewels, Pool Party ribbon, Aqua painters and Subtles Stampin' Up! markers

As always I will create a less is more card that can be done in minutes which suits my poor time management :-) but also wanted to show the whole stamp set so everyone could pick the image they liked the most, so took these unfinished images to illustrate,

The final card we did involved no stamping, and as sometimes we need cards that can fit several occasions I used the Bloomin' Heart Thinlit with foil card stock, for a simple and elegant card that could be used for Wedding, Anniversary or lust congratulations sent with love . . .

Card stock: Silver Foil

Accessories: Bloomin' Heart Thinlit and Sunshine Wishes for congrats, Pearl basic jewels

As always there is a little tinkering with design when I think I'm finished, as all crafters never really throw anything away, here's what you can do with the pushed out card from another heart, in the example below a contrast with the delicious copper foil card, to make the flowers pop more, but it is quite a challenging jigsaw ;-)

A similar effect can be achieved by putting a contrasting foil heart behind the Thinlit design ;-)

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

DSP offer on till 31st October!

Late as always with promotions, but this one even I will make the most of ;-)

Will add a side widget with link so you can find the offer simply :-)

Keep on crafting ;-) GenGen xxxx

Boys Birthday Wishes

So with one of my workshops, we are continually searching for Boys Birthday card designs. Here's a few I have done recently . .

For my Big Brother, down Under . . .

Stamp set: (Hostess set) Time of Year

Card stock: Retired DSP, Whisper White, Mint Macaroon, More Mustard

Ink: Mint Macaroon, Tip Top Taupe

Accessories: Bunch of Banners Thinlits and Star punch

For my favorite 55 year old colleague who shares my fascination with bones, the design started like this, with the colours influenced by his Jamaican themed party

Then I felt that footprints were needed, and of course the restrained outer needed to be perked up with a little embellishment on the inside - hee hee hee!

This is of course the No bones about it stamp set, with embossing folder for the background and a banana leak from Botanical Blooms stamp set and matching die.

Last and with a restrained less is more approach to my Uncle's 85th Birthday, this time with a retired stamp set as well as retired DSP, just in case any of you out there have these supplies to hand!

Keep on Crafting, GenGen xxxx