Advent Window 24 - Tree Day!

 It's pretty usual for our home to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, and not put the Christmas Tree up TOO early ;-) I do like to celebrate trees though . . .

I guess not quite as classic as it could be, but I think with this year's advent blog, the trees have been reasonably unconventional ;-)

Stamp set: Dragonfly Garden

Ink: Staz On

Card Stock: Soft Succulent Glimmer Vellum and Silver and Evening Evergreen Glimmer

Accessories: Dragonfly and star punches.

Keep on crafting,

through Christmas and beyond!

GenGen xxxx

Twenty third Advent Window - natural wishes

 Last year I received a naturally inspired card, beautifully muted, and my inspiration for this.

Stamp set: Merriest Moments, Brightest Glow

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen

Accessories: Champagne Rhinestones

Wishing everyone a season of Hope & Light,

even on the dark days.

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 22 - Robin treat box

 Having enjoyed some winter walks with the company of a robin I was determined to make an more correct colour version for my treat box, but then it didn't seem Festive enough, so I reverted back to Cherry cobbler rather than the Pumpkin Pie orange, which is the realistic breast colour.

Keep feeding the birds,

especially the Robin Orange Breast ;-)

GenGen xxxx

Twenty first Advent Window - Solstice celebration

 On the shortest day of the year, I like to celebrate the darkness ;-) The dark skies create a fabulous backdrop for shimmering stars, so I have used the swirl from the Labels Aglow die set to create a star.

Stamp Set: Inspired Thoughts, Peaceful Deer stars

Ink: Night of Navy

Card stock: Silver Glimmer, Night of Navy, Whisper White

Accessories: Labels Aglow dies, Adhesive Backed Gems

Keep finding the sparkle,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 20 - Simple stamping and Rhinestone

 Sometimes I like to use stamp sets that aren't classically Christmas, and this card was inspired by a card I received ;-)

Stamp set: Eden's Garden

Ink: Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent

Accessories: Red and Champagne Rhinestones, 

Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack (retiring)

Keep on stamping,

GenGen xxxx

Nineteenth Advent Window - Decoration

 Last years illumination has had a 2022 update.

This is Evening Evergreen Shimmer Vellum with Grove dies, coupled with the Fabulous Peaceful Deer printed in Soft Suede onto Crum Cake card stock and Builder Punch, with Red Rhinestone nose ;-)

The delight I think happens when the dark night draws in, 

and the light goes on, 

as the woodland turns into illuminated magic.

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 18 - Traditional Colours

 At this point my inner traditionalist comes to the surface ;-)

Stamp set: Brightest Glow

Ink: Soft Succulaent

Card stock: Lights Aglow 6"x6" 

Specialty Designer Series Paper,

Very Vanilla

Accesssories: 3/8" Gold Shimmer ribbon

Keep looking gor the Shimmer

GenGen xxxx

Seventeenth Advent Window - Shimmer time!

 I'm lucky enough to have a friend that I exchange advent calendars with. For the 14th of December we gave each other Washi tape, I created this tree shaped card with the shimmery ones that I received.

Cardstock: 2022-2023 In Color 6"x6" Glimmer Paper in Orchid Oasis

Accessories: Retired Star Embellishment

Keep glimmering,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 16 - Peaceful Deer

 The reindeer must be limbering up now ;-)

Stamp set: Peaceful Deer

Card stock: Evening Evergreen, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso

Accessories: 3D Fern Embossing Folder, Deer Builder Punch, 

Triple Banner punch, Gold & Vanilla 3/8" Satin edged ribbon, 

Red Rhinestone

Craft for Christmas Cheer

GenGen xxxx

Fifteenth Advent Window - No stamping

 This time isn't always filled with joy and families gathering.

Card stock: Gold Foil, Lights Aglow 6"x6" 

Specialty Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Gold & Vanilla 3/8" Satin edged ribbon

With these dark skies, the stars shine brightly.

Keep crafting, GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 14 - After our snow!

 Having had a little dusting of the white stuff over the weekend and now being enveloped in ice, it gave me the opportunity for this . . . 

Stamp set: Joyful Flurry

Card stock: Tahitian Tide, Snowflake 12"x12" Specialty Vellum

Ink: Starry Sky

Accessories: Frosted Flurry Dies, Silver edged 3/8" white ribbon

This vellum is white flocked, 

so has a fantastic tactile element, as well as design.

Keep warm with card making,

GenGen xxxx

Thirteenth Advent Window - Berries abound

 So, at this point it's a struggle to create flat design for posting, as I often get carried away with embellishments ;-)

Stamp set: Brightest Glow

Card stock: Real Red, Soft Sea Foam, 

Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper

Ink: Evening Evergreen

Accessories: Labels Aglow Dies and gold elastic cord

Keep on card making,

inspired by nature,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 12 - Winter weather

 Today's card is inspired by the -7 snow covered scenes I have outside!

Stamp Set: Peaceful Deer, Merriest Moments

Card stock: Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Ink: Balmy Blue, and water colour pencils

Accessories: Retired Beauty of Trees Dies, Blending brush, Ice Glitter

Seriously sparkly with the snow,

GenGen xxxx

Eleventh Advent Window - Stellar Sunday

 Today I get to mix some of the fabulous Lights Aglow Specialty Designer Series Paper and my love of Origami.

Card stock: Gold Foil, 

Lights Aglow Specialty Designer Series Paper

Thanks as always to You Tube for fabulous instructions to make this five point star, but definitely a hand delivered card as it's far too thick to go in the post with the folds!

Happy Birthday TLB! Always an inspiration xx

Keep on looking for the light,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 10 - it's wrapping time!

 Somehow this year I'm not wrapping all my presents on Christmas Eve! Just while I have a day at home, it seems the perfect time to stamp some brown paper and make matching tags, and who can resist a matching Builder punch? Evidently not me!

Stamp set: Peaceful Deer

Card stock: Crumb cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso

Ink: Crumb Cake, Shaded Spruce, Real Red

Accessories: Deer Builder Punch, Corner punch, Triple Banner Punch, Red Rhinestone, Linen Thread, 3/8" Gold Shimmer Ribbon and 3/8" Open Weave Ribbon in Evening Evergreen

Keeping the wrap recyclable,

GenGen xxxx

Ninth Advent Window - Background or foreground?

 With Jack Frost making a keen appearance this week with -5 yesterday morning, the fabulous frosted patterns inspired this . . .

Stamp set: Snow Crystal, Brightest Glow

Card stock: Starry Sky, Pool Party

Ink: Versa Mark

Accessories: 1-1/2" Metallic Mesh Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Rhinestone

With the detail of the Snow Crystal stamp, 

it seems a shame to cover over and have it as background,

 I love the pool party and starry night together.

Keep Christmas crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 8 - Not strictly Christmas

 I really like using things that I already have, that aren't technically a Festive set, and with this design, no stamping either!

Card stock: Silver Foil, Soft Succulent, Whisper White

Accessories: Natural Prints & retired alphabet Dies, Adhesive sheet for foil letters and Silver 3/8" metallic ribbon, Wink of Stellar

I wanted a very simple design, and a little touch of shimmer on the white wreath with the wink of stellar, but you can't really see it on the picture, so you'll have to take my word for it ;-)

Keep on crafting,

GenGen xxxx

Seventh Advent Window - Lovely Label

This Label dies really lends itself to having ribbon threaded through. Today a simple card, showing the Lights Aglow Specialty Paper, rather than covering it over.

Stamp Set: Brightest Glow

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Lights Aglow 6"x6" Specialty Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Labels Aglow dies, Gold & Vanilla 3/8" satin edged ribbon

Keep on Christmas card making!

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 6 - Woodland Wishes

 Sometimes this time of year is about quiet remembrance of those we miss, and not everyone celebrates this festive time, as sometimes it's a difficult time.

Stamp set: Grassy Grove, Brightest Glow

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso

Ink: Shaded Spruce, Crumb cake

Accessories: Grove & Labels Aglow Dies

Take time to walk in the Woodland,

and keep your dearest in your heart, always.

GenGen xxxx

Fifth Advent Window - Cozy & Bright Kit

 To make the crafting at the Parkinson's Therapy Day easier, I also took along this card kit. Everything you need in the box, even an acrylic block for the photopolymer stamps.

This is the Cozy & Bright Kit, and the base card is preprinted, with the gold highlights, then the orange slices are a mixture of adhesive backed or precut with supplied foam pad dimensionals for a little depth. 

The cinnamon stick with star anise are precut for you, to tie the twine around. After placing the sentiment, the two star anise are adhesive backed and applied as you wish. I just included the front corner of the envelope, as it has the seasonal print, so something for the postie too!

Keep your card making cozy with warm colours and spice!

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 4 - Christmas Gifting Kit

 Today I'm at the fabulous Parkinson's Therapy Day, where I take along some craft for those who find it relaxing, while the group also have the opportunity to see therapists, catch up with each other, and have lunch together. So, to keep things easy I'm taking along some kits to make the crafting easy.

These are the tags/voucher/money holders in the kit,

 as you can see on the reverse there's a little pocket that you could slip a gift card/money into. I'm definitely going to be using this style to hang on the tree for children to find this year.

 To make these tags, you pop out the stag, star and tree shapes, but then you could easily make more tags with the cutouts ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, 

GenGen xxxx

Third Advent Window - Merriest Emboss

 I do love it when a set that I've enjoyed the previous year continues into the next year, as it allows me to explore other possibilities. 

In this case a less is more design, so you can really see the detail of the embossing.

Stamp Set: Merriest Moments

Card stock: Whisper White, Garden Green

Ink: Real Red and Garden Green

Accessories: Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder (includes coordinating dies)

The detail of the 3D embossing folder is so crisp, with the falling snow detail, just highlighting the sentiment plaque with a border of garden green, and a simple holly sprig.

Keep on keeping Christmas simple,

GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 2 - Lights Aglow

 As the nights are dark and the days are short, a little bit of Gold and Glimmer goes a long way! As always I don't really need an excuse to have more ribbon in my life, but this ribbon is GORGEOUS ;-)

Stamp Set: Brightest Glow

Card stock: Soft Succulent, Gold Glimmer, Lights Aglow 6"x6" Specialty DSP, Very Vanilla

Ink: Soft Succulent

Accessories: Labels Aglow Dies, Gold & Vanilla 3/8" Satin-Edged Ribbon

This fabulous Specialty Designer Series Paper has green and red sheets that you can cut into four 3" squares, circular star border seen here, and also a square star label frame - the possibilities are ENDLESS ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx