24th Advent Window - Tree Day!

 For anyone who has seen my blog before, my house decoration is always fresh, as it's always last minute ;-) So in celebration of finally getting a Christmas tree decorated . . .

Stamp Set: Tag Buffet

Ink: Mint Macaron

Card stock: Snowflake Splendor DSP, Old Olive, Mint Macaron, Vellum

Accessories: In the Woods Dies, Snowflake Adhesive Backed Embellishments, Copper Star Embellishments, Mint Macaron Sheer ribbon.

Keep on with Christmas Cheer,

despite circumstance, adversity, difficulties,

one day at a time, keeping hope in your heart.

GenGen xxxx

23rd Advent Window - Christmas Colours!

 Even though it's difficult to feel in a festive mood, there's always Christmas colours ;-) Somehow no stamping with this card!

Card stock: Real Red, Poinsettia Place DSP, Red Velvet, Garden Green, Early Espresso

Dies: Poinsettia Dies

Accessories: Red Rhinestones, Retired Christmas Ribbon, Gold Glitter Enamel Dots

Keep Christmas alive with Craft,

GenGen xxxx

22nd Advent Window - Stellar home move!

 In celebration of the Winter Solstice I seem to have embroiled myself and husband in home moving for my brother and sister-in-law. So, being a little short of time, their Christmas card doubles as a new home card too ;-)

Card stock: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Red Velvet

Accessories: Star die and retired stash too

Keep crafting for relaxation,

GenGen xxxx

21st Advent Window - Snow globe decoration

I get to this point and feel that the focus does need to turn to tree decorations, so today's card includes a removable snow globe with snowflake sequins ;-)

Stamp Set: Nature's Beauty, Tag Buffet

Ink: Staz On, Watercolour pencil, Copper

Card stock: Whisper White, Copper Foil

Accessories: Snow globe shaker domes, Forever Flourishing Dies, Triple banner punch, Woodland Embossing folder, Snowflake sequins, Copper stars

Keep calm with crafting,

GenGen xxxx

20th Advent Window - Stamparatus Curves

 So a little simple stamping . . . with my stamparatus!

Stamp set: Curvy Christmas

Ink: Balmy Blue, Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce

Card stock: Classic Christmas 6"x6" DSP

Accessories: Curvy Dies

With the shortest day tomorrow, and a very significant planetary alignment happening, lets look forward to more positive change, even with a very different Christmas ahead.

The joy of stamparatus is being able to make multiple cards, and have included my selection to show even with the help of stamparatus it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to make two cards the same! ;-)

Crafting at home continues,

GenGen xxxx

19th Advent Window - Poinsettia Place

 It's back to simple stamping, making the most of Designer Series Paper, and matching dies!

Stamp Set: Poinsettia Petals and Wrapped in Christmas

Ink: Crumb Cake, Garden Green

Card stock: Garden Green, Whisper White, Copper Foil

Accessories: White linen ribbon, Pearls, Poinsettia Dies, Washi tape Punch

Keep doing a little craft each day,

GenGen xxxx

18th Advent Window - Partridge and pear!

 So, time to bring on the Christmas colours!

Stamp Set: Arrange a Wreath

Ink: Real Red, Grey Granite, Pear Pizzazz

Card stock: Old Olive, Shaded Spruce, Whisper White, Red Velvet, Poinsettia Place DSP

Accessories: Wreath Builder Dies, Red Organza ribbon, Red Rhinestones

Keep on building Christmas,

GenGen xxxx

17th Advent - Punchtastic!

 Sometimes I want to showcase seasonal DSP, especially when I haven't had the chance to play around with the lovely labels pick a punch ;-)

Card stock: Classic Christmas 6"x6" DSP, Gold Foil, Whisper White

Using Lovely labels Pick a Punch

Ink: Cherry cobbler

Stamp set: Tag Buffet

Ho Ho Ho! Card making made simple,

GenGen xxxx

16th Advent Window - Peace

Sometimes I have an initial idea for a card, and then it changes in the actual action of making the card. I had thought of making the dove possible to be a tree ornament, but didn't want to pierce the dove with a thread, so simply attached it to the foil background.

Somehow I've managed to include myself in the card, the joy of foil background ;-)

Stamp set: Wrapped in Christmas

Card Stock: Peacock foil, White Velvet, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point

Accessories: Detailed Dove Dies, Winter Snow Embossing Folder, Classic Label Punch

Keep on wishing for a peaceful time,

GenGen xxxx

15th Advent Window - Peaceful Pine

 I love the sentiment of the Peaceful Boughs stamp set, but it always seems a shame to have it on the inside, and I'm time saving with the background ;-)

Stamp Set: Peaceful Boughs

Ink: Shaded Spruce

Cardstock: Silver Foil, Feels like Frost 6"x6" DSP

Accessories: Snowflake Splendor 1/4" ribbon, Blue Adhesive backed gems and rhinestones, Poinsettia dies.

Less is more ;-) Keep it simple

GenGen xxxx

14th advent Window - Simple Stamping

 So halfway through advent and I've returned to stamping - hoorah!

Stamp Set: Nature's Beauty, sentiment from Tag Buffet

Card stock: Copper Foil, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede and Water colour pencil

Accessories: Retired copper ribbon

I stamped off the background tree for the distance, but love the detail of this stamp set, so didn't want to over complicate the design.

Sometimes we need to let the stamps show themselves off.

Keep on stamping,

GenGen xxxx

13th Advent Window - Glimmer time

 So, as I sneak a little play time I have an opportunity to explore the gorgeous details of the So Many Snowflakes Die set

Stamp Set: Snowflake Wishes

Card stock: Balmy Blue Glimmer, Whisper White, Vellum

Ink: Night of Navy

Accessories: So Many Snowflakes dies, Adhesive backed Snowflakes, Basic Rhinestones

I'm never sure why you cover detail with the greeting banner, so have bypassed that dilemma with the vellum banner, still seeing the die detail underneath.

As it's Sunday, I've added a little extra, as when I made the card, I thought it would be good to co-ordinate the gifts too. As my love of natural brown wrap isn't everyone's choice.

Somehow my friends children having the initials that spell ELF still makes me smile ;-) This is of course Feels like Frost 6"x6" DSP with the metallic side outermost and curvy keepsakes box dies.

 

Then co-ordinating Snowflake Splendor DSP for wrap, with a Balmy Blue Glimmer Snowflake on a background of Whisper White Essential Tag punch, with the Snowflake Splendor 1/4" ribbon for trim.

Keep on making time for play,

GenGen xxxx

12th Advent Window - cutting corners!

 It;s maybe a bit obvious by now, that sometimes I'm a little time challenged and enjoy a deadline ;-) With that in mind today's card is super quick, but not short on impact (hopefully).

My cheats here are Gold Cards and Envelopes, Evergreen Forest 3D embossing folder, Brushed Gold Card stock, Organza red ribbon, Gold Ink and stamp from the Arrange a Wreath stamp set and a couple of red embellishments, and of course the corner punch.

Keep on crafting, even when time is short,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 11- Stellar

 With yesterday's window being a bit dowdy, I thought I would turn it around today with some sparkling home decor. I've simply stamped vellum with silver ink and Dove of Hope stamp to cover the front of a simple white illuminated star.

With tiny silver sequin edging for a little added bling.

With the added bonus of today being Birthday celebrations for TLB, so today is seriously Stellar ;-)

Keep the sparkle going,

GenGen xxxx

10th Advent Window - Peaceful Boughs

 Leafing through the main catalogue this carried over Christmas stamp set was changed with a textural element with shimmering embossing paste and stencil.

Stamp Set: Peaceful Boughs

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

Card stock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Shaded Spruce

Accessories: Beautiful Boughs Dies

I think I'm going through a phase of muted anticipation of Christmas, but think this one is a little too dowdy, despite the textured background. Thought it was still worth sharing as not ever card leaves the craft room ;-)

Keep on card making, it's all part of the process,

GenGen xxxx

9th Advent Window - Curvy Christmas

 So the Curvy Christmas bundle was an absolute must for me, and the understated nature of the sentiments seems to be appealing to me in these unusual times, when we're perhaps not seeing friends and family quite like we would.

Stamp Set: Curvy Christmas

Ink: Versa and Silver emboss powder, Night of Navy

Card stock: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Crumb Cake (Classic Christmas 6"x6" DSP, Silver Glimmer

Accessories: Small Star Punch, Curvy Dies, Silver Mini Sequins

Keep on shimmering and sparkling,

GenGen xxxx

8th Advent Window - Saesonal Wreath

 You know when you see a card design in the Main Catalogue, and you know you have the gold foil leaves to make the wreath as you used them when the Forever Fern Suite was released? Then you spend quite a while looking for that particular paper pack, to no avail and then have to create your own version, so here it is!

Stamp Set: Winter Woods

Ink: Real Red

Card Stock: Real Red, Crumb cake, Whisper White, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Gold foil

Accessories: Winter Woods, Pointsettia, Forever Flourishing Dies, Red Rhinestones and Old Olive/Pretty Peacock 3/8" ribbon

I guess my wreath is a little more unique, much like my actual wreath looks when I get round to making and hanging it, natural, uneven, but sensationally seasonal.

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

7th Advent Window - Poinsettia Parcels

 As we've all become aware of the recycling choices for Christmas I have decided not to stamp my brown paper, but to embellish the plain paper with ribbon, and adding 3D elements, here some Poinsettias.

Ribbon: Mossy Meadow 3/8" Diagonal Stripe, Red Organza with Poinsettia suite

Dies used: Poinsettia and Wreath Builder

Card stock: White Velvet, Garden Green, Old Olive, Read Red, Copper

Embellishments: Pearls, Red and Gold jewels.

Keep on wrapping, one parcel at a time,

GenGen xxxx

6th Advent Window - Thoughtful Trees

As life has been challenging this year, Christmas might be different too. With this in mind I wanted a pared back card, but then somehow jingle bells were added, so not as restrained as I initially set out to do. It was a great excuse to use my stamaparatus for the background greeting :-)

Stamp Set: Curvy Christmas, Rooted in Nature

Card Stock: Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Gold Hoop Embellishments, Old Olive Linen thread, Jingle Bells, also available in red and green. Nature's Root dies.

May Christmas be thoughtful,

GenGen xxxx

5th Advent Window - Winter Snow!

 Somehow a little snow on the hilltops is quite the inspiration, with the only question being Emboss or Deboss?

Stamp set: Snowflake Wishes

Ink: Balmy Blue

Card stock: Silver foil, Pool Party, Whisper White, Balmy Blue Glimmer

Accessories: Winter Snow Embossing Folder, So Many Snowflake Dies, Snowflake Splendor 1/4" ribbon, Blue adhesive backed gems, Snowflake adhesive backed embellishments, Lovely labels Pick a Punch.

I think I prefer Deboss, as it looks like Jack Frost patterns.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, especially inspired by nature, 

GenGen xxxx

4th Advent Window - Dove of Hope

Sometimes, especially in these circumstances I purposely pare back designs for a little simple stamping. 

Stamp Set: Dove of Hope

Ink: Smoky Slate

Card stock: Smoky Slate, Feels Like Frost 6"x6" DSP

Accessories: Detailed Dove Dies, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Snowflake Splendor 1/4" ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Make time for a little simple stamping,

GenGen xxxx

3rd Advent Window - Stellar

 One of last year's favorites for me was the Christmas Gleaming bundle, and the printed and punched ornaments make a great star ornament. 

This year the colour combination is Night of Navy, Whisper White and the fabulous 1 1/2" Metallic Mesh Ribbon with a central faceted gem and rhinestone, for my friend JCF xx

Keep Christmas crafting, it keeps the light shining,

GenGen xxxx 

2nd Advent Window - Tag Buffet Project Kit

 Despite varying firebreak lockdowns and restricted movements I still seem short of time, ridiculous really. It was this constant in my life (never having enough time), that made this project kit the best option for me, especially when the stamp set is included in the kit.

Tag Buffet Project Kit

Ink: Real Red, Garden Green and Shaded Spruce

and Stampin' dimensionals ;-)

A little Christmas Crafting

is one more thing off the list,

GenGen xxxx

1st Advent Window - Snowflake Wishes

 As always, one of the first cards I show each Advent year is the card I send to family in Australia, with the strongest focus on Snowflakes and all things frosty, for their hottest time of their year!

Stamp Set: Snowflake Wishes

Ink: Night of Navy

Card stock: Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper, Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper, Window Sheet, Whisper White

Accessories: So Many Snowflakes Dies, Snowflake Sequins, Snowflake Adhesive-Backed Embellishments, Basic Rhinestones

In these dark times, we all need a little sparkle.

A little Christmas Crafting can lift spirits,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Eve!

 Somehow, with the difficulties that 2020 has presented even I've been looking forward to Christmas a little earlier than my usual Deadline Diva approach!

As an instant Christmas Creation I made these Mini Curvy Advent boxes.

'Tis the Season 6"x6" Designer Series Paper

using the Mini Curvy Keepsake Boxes Dies using 

Whisper White for the Advent Tag numbers.

I've left the final arrangement to my niece as she starts the Christmas decoration. I was thinking they could be dotted around the tree, but she might simply string them like 3D bunting. This year's advent has Advent Activities for her nieces and nephew to build the Christmas excitement ;-)

Time for a little Christmas Crafting!

GenGen xxxx

Time to play!

 For me a bonus of Lockdown is having a few moments to play, I seriously love the falling leaves with the autumn colours, and so my Halloween wreath is more autumn fest than spooktacular!

Stamp sets: Love of Leaves, Hallows Magic

Card stock: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, 

Daffodil delight, Basic Black

Ink: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb cake, Versa Ink

Accessories: Stitched leaves dies, Halloween Magic Dies, 

Acorn trinkets & Copper Embossing powder, 

1 1/2" Metallic Mesh Ribbon

Keep on crafting.

GenGen xxxx

Perfectly Batty!

In these difficult times, my Halloween celebrations are somewhat muted.

Stamp Set: Hallows Night Magic

Ink: Versa Ink and Green embossing powder

Card stock: Black Glimmer Paper, Magic In the Night 

Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Halloween Magic Dies

May your celebrations be magical,

GenGen xxxx

 

Birthday Bloom!

 So a little time to play with my Prized Peony Bundle, 

for a socially distanced drop off!

Stamp set: Butterfly Wishes

Card stock: Night of Navy, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, 

Peony Garden Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Night of Navy and metallic edge ribbon

Keep on Card crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Hello Autumn!

 Autumn is my FAVOURITE season, 

the leaves changing and then falling to crunch under foot.

Stamp Set: Beautiful Autumn and greeting from Looking Up! Card Kit

Card stock: Mint Macaron, Gilded Autumn Specialty DSP, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Acorn Trinket, Autumn Punch Pack, retired copper trim.

Retired punch for the greeting ;-)

Keep on crafting, 

with nature inspiring you,

GenGen xxxx

Birthday Wishes in Blue

 Sometimes, with Birthday cards for a teenage boy, I try not to go over the top

Hoping MB had a fabulous Birthday TODAY!

                                   Card: Flowers for Every Season 

                            Memories and More Cards and Envelopes, 

Boho Indigo DSP, Whisper White Card, 

retired stamp, die and Denim Ribbon

Keep on card making!

GenGen xxxx

New Mini Catalogue now available!

Contact me is you'd like your copy,

Keep on Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Silver Wedding Anniversary

I'm not sure how my friends have been married for 25 years, as it seems like yesterday that we were going to their Wedding! I wanted a simple silver themed card, and the Peony Garden Suite has subtle Silver elements . . . 

The beautiful Designer Series Paper and the Vellum Squares created the gentle heart shape, in the card below. The heart shape highlighted with the silver elastic thread, with the silver foil bow cut from the Arrange a Wreath Bundle, silver foil base and white stich detail of the ribbon at the side.

Loving Silver Celebrations,

keep on card making, 

GenGen xxxx

Boho Birthday

Sometimes, a product medley comes along that jumps out at me. With the new catalogue release it was the Boho Indigo Product Medley

As you can see, the stamps, papers and accessories are very versatile. Also, for those of us who have a love of all things blue, the possibilities are endless!

So here's my first project with my supplies ;-)

The only additions were Night of Navy and Melon Mambo Ink 

and Whisper White for the background, Garden Green and Old Olive card for the leaves.

Keep on card making,

GenGen xxxx

Time for Love!

When I was able to sneak a peek at the new catalogue I knew that I would be buying this embossing folder . . . and for me dandelion seed heads are an indication of time passing, so a perfect fit for a simple Anniversary card.

Card stock: Bermuda Bay, Vellum, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay

(Sentiment from a retired Stamp set, punched with a retired punch)

Accessories: Dandelions 3D embossing folder

Keep it simple, but keep on crafting,

GenGen xxxx

83 years young!

Today is my Dad's 83rd Birthday, and as tempting as it is to put numbers on his card, I decided to go with a theme of celebrating at home, as we're all doing at the moment. Fabulous to finally have some DSP that actually shows WALES!!

Stamp Set: Perennial Birthday (Retired)

Card stock: Copper foil, World of Good DSP, 

Early Espresso, Whisper White

Accessories: 1/4" Faux Suede Trim, Triple Banner Punch, 

Retired Copper Stars

It's been a lovely day, the sun has shone, there's been a lunchtime drink in the local pub, and our usual Sunday dinner, but with the addition of dessert . . .

Keep on card making,

and enjoying Summer Strawberry Meringue Roulade ;-)

GenGen xxxx

Celebrating Dad

Some of the silver lining of Lockdown is the time I've been able to spend with my Dad, still great company and moments of sparkle :-)

And with Father's Day in this time period, Dad was happy enough to have Sunday dinner as his present (phew)! Also giving me an opportunity to play with the Forever Greenery Suite.

Stamp Set: Forever Fern, and retired greeting

Card stock: Pretty Peacock, Forever Greenery DSP, Pear Pizzazz, Vellum, Whisper White

Ink: Pretty Peacock, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Greenery Embossing Folders, Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack, Forever Flourishing Dies, Lovely Labels Pick a Punch, Gold faceted rhinestones

As Dad spends so much time in the garden,

this suite is spot on ;-)

Keep on being inspired by nature,

GenGen xxxx

Eighteenth Down Under!

My gorgeous niece Down Under is 18 TODAY!

As I write this blog her High Tea Birthday party 

will probably be in full flow ;-)

As you can never have enough sparkle in your life, I've simply surrounded her Birthday number with 18 white velvet die cut feathers.

Joining you with a celebratory cuppa from Wales, 

sending love across the miles xx

Keep on sparkling,

GenGen xxxx

Twins reach 12!

I know as each day passes time gets faster and faster,

seems like yesterday that L&E were born!

It's probably obvious that by now the twins have different interest, and I try at least to keep up with their latest loves ;-) L loves football, so with a green DSP background I used 12 footballs and copper stars for his number card.

As a cheat I now just accompany their card with a money envelope so they can chose something they would really like :-)

As E has just had her room decorated with Butterflies with Purple, Pink, Teal and Limed Oak, her card has 12 Butterflies, die cut, stamped on Bermuda Bay, Petal Pink or vellum, with of course rhinestones, glimmer paper using Butterfly Wishes stamp set and Butterfly Duet punch.

With her Birthday envelope matching in ;-)

Keep on card making,

GenGen xxx

Never too old . . .

. . . for a number Birthday card, 

or to be spreading a little glimmer wherever you go! 

Hee hee hee!

This is the simplest of cards, 

as I didn't want to over do my nephew's card, 

Happy Birthday for today MJ ;-)

So, retired foil card stock from Nobel Peacock for the background, 

and Stitched Stars die, with glimmer large numbers, 

as I was just unable to resist!

Keep on card making,

GenGen xxxx

Three decades to celebrate

I'm not really sure how it's possible my niece is 30! Obviously I printed/die cut 30 butterflies, and even though this card is A5 size I went with one butterfly for every decade instead ;-)

Stamp set: Daisy Lane, Butterfly Wishes

Ink: Smokey Slate

Card stock: Pink Glimmer, Whisper White, 

Highland Heather, Petal Pink

Accessories: Butterfly Duet and Daisy Punch, 

Nature's Thoughts Dies, Large Numbers Dies, Rhinestones

Keep the glimmer and sparkle going,

GenGen xxxx