24th Advent Window - Tree Day!

Seems only right that I have a tree card on the day I put up my tree ;-)

 

 

It was difficult to limit myself with the stamping, leaving sufficient green to still look like a tree, as the silver foil die words, silver painted winter embellishments and iced rhinestones, were far too tempting.

 

As always at this time, some alterations are required to previously made decorations. Somehow couldn't encourage the central paper fan to stay put, so just put the iced rhinestone and faceted button in the centre. Thus allowing the red foil to reflect more ;-)

 

 

My last thought in this year's advent blog is for peace.

Time is so precious, make the most of those you spend this time with.

 

 

Keep on Crafting, that's what time off is for ;-)

Wishing all a Peaceful Christmas and New Year, GenGen xxxx

 



23rd Advent Window - it's official, I'm obsessed!

With the Embellished Ornament possibilities.

Might even spur me on to put my own decorations up!

I think part of the reason that I love this bundle so much is that sometimes die images don't need too much altering, here using dazzling diamonds with the Garden green and then Red Glimmer with Silver Foil and then a little stripped ribbon in matching festive colours.

 

The added bonus of this bundle set is that the stamps are absolutely gorgeous, with a little shading of the bauble with Cherry Cobbler on Real Red, with the Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum overlying the Holly stamp in Old Olive, with red pearls for berries on the top. Less is more ;-)

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

 



Advent Window 22 - nearly finished?

At this point, I feel as though I should have finished with the card making, but then there are always the hand delivered ones which I can't resist leaving till the last minute ;-)

 

This is of course the temporarily unavailable Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, with Crumb Cake ink on Very Vanilla card stock and the Among the Branches stamp set (On Sale) on a 2" circle punch central plaque , with the Christmas Greetings Thinlit in Cherry Cobbler card stock and then a Snowflake Elements to continue with the natural theme.

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx



21st Advent Window - Ornament obsessed!

You would wonder really, how, when I'm now not working, can my post publish be late? Needless to say when I'm not working the routine goes completely out of the window!

 

Today, the shortest day I thought I would add a little shimmer and shine with an old and new approach. The new being the Delicate Ornament Thinlit Die and the Old being the retiring Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies - On Sale!

 

 

So the new dies I simply used Gold Foil and 6 cuts

 

 

And then of course Merry Moments DSP  and Red Foil for the old Holiday Ornament Dies with an Iced Rhinestone in the centre to catch what little light there is today.

 

 

I forgot how much fun these decorations are to make,

keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

 

20th Advent Window - Presents for the tree

As all the children get older and want to choose their own presents, it:s far too boring not having something to open, so I made little envelopes to hang on the tree . . . 

For the older boys I used some Merry Moments DSP with the Envelope Punch Board and then tags made with the Tree punch in Old Olive, and then 1/8" Red Striped Ribbon. The younger children have small cards in a vellum envelope with the Softly Falling Embossing Folder (you'll just have to take my word for it), and Greetings from the Jingle all the Way Stamp Set, in their favorite colours, with 1/8" Silver Ribbon ;-)

Think I'm having too much festive fun now, 

who knows, maybe my tree will be up soon ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx 

19th Advent Window - Simplicity itself!

Simplicity is always my fail safe,
with all that is happening in the world,
sometimes the simplest messages are the most powerful.

Card stock: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Accessories: Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Christmas Greetings Thinlit Dies, Winter Wonderland Embellishments

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 18 - Gift time!

So as usual at this time of year I start looking at ways to make some festive gifts. So here's this year's seasonal earrings!

So the Winter Wonderland Embellishments have made some sparkly studs and the Snowflake Elements make lovely dangly earrings ;-)

I have simply used Kraft Card stock and Pillow box die with 1/8" Gold Ribbon.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

17th Advent Window - Stellar

Time to make the most of some more sale items!

Stamp set: Oh what Fun!

Ink: Gold Emboss

Card Stock: Gold Foil, Very Vanilla, Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack On Sale!

Accessories: Stars Framelits, Eclectic Paper Piercing Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, Banner Triple Punch, Gold Sequin Trim

The background vellum gives the impression of background stamping without the effort ;-) 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Advent window 16 - Ornament Die

Even I'm starting to think of putting my tree up, and to get in the mood, ornaments are in my thoughts . . . . . 

Card stock: Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Silver Foil. Pool Party, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: 1/8" Silver Ribbon, Delicate Ornament Thinlit Dies

I am officially obsessed with Foil designer vellum, 

it's helping with the festive spirit ;-) 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

15th Advent Window - natural look wreath

As always, I like to use everyday items for Christmas cards,

 and I came up with this . . . 

I used the Tree Builder Punch, using the tree section, in 4 shades of Neutral card stock :-) and used a heart thinlit as a guide for the heart shape, then added Home for Christmas Enamel Dots, a little gold ribbon and a retired greeting in Cherry Cobbler Ink.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 14 - Oh What Fun!

Huge  thanks to the lovely ladies of Llandrindod Card Club for inviting me to demonstrate yesterday. At such a busy time of year for everyone it's lovely to catch up with fellow craft enthusiasts. 

We made two cards, and ended the workshop with the Oh What Fun Tag Project Kit, with an addition of smaller bells and DSP for the top right hand tag with red foil Merry, all others from the kit.

Stamp Set: Oh, What Fun

Ink: Real Red

Accessories: Oh What Fun Tag Project Kit Now On Sale!

Now just need to buy the gifts ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

13th Advent Window - Wondrous Wreath

So today's window is continuing with the shimmer and shine theme!

Stamp set: Wondrous Wreath, Holly Jolly Greetings
Ink: Old Olive, Gold Emboss, Cherry Cobbler, Gold
Card stock: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Accessories:Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies, 3/8" Gold Glitter Ribbon, Curvy Corner Trio Punch

The two step stamp is stunning with a little gold emboss :-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

12th Advent Window - Less is more!

As always time is running a little short,
so time for a super quick card, but no stamping :-(

Card stock: Red Foil, Merry Moments DSP
Accessories: Delicate Ornament thinlit die

Always essential for a little tartan at Christmas time :-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

11th Advent Window - Among the branches

Had to be a tree theme today, especially for TLB ;-)

I have a serious obsession with the natural themes with printing and embossing, so have been coming up with different designs for the wonderful Woodland Embossing folder. It's the first time I've used my brayer to highlight the embossed images, but am really pleased with the result.

Stamp set: Among the Branches On Sale!
Ink: Tempting Turquoise
Card Stock: Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Whisper White, Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum On Sale!
Accessories: Woodland Textured Embossing Folder, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

10th Advent Window - Shimmer and Shine!

So with the dark and gloom outside I have decided today's window should be full of reflection!

Stamp set: Petite Pairs
Ink: Real Red
Card stock: Red Foil, Silver Glimmer, Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum
Accessories: 1/8" Striped Ribbon,3/8" White Glitter Ribbon, Winter Wonderland Embellishments
Punches: Tree, Scalloped Tag, Banner Triple

When the skies are dark with winter weather,
there's always Christmas Crafting ;-)
GenGen xxxx

9th Advent Window - Lighthearted Leaves

So for today's advent window we have a naturally inspired card, the season wouldn't be the same without a little Holly.

Stamp set: Lighthearted Leaves

Ink: Gold Emboss

Card stock: Garden Green, Whisper white, Gold Foil

Accessories: Leaflets framelits, Wondrous Wreath Framelits, Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Pearls and Red 1/8" Striped Ribbon

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Advent Window 8 - Holly Jolly Time!

Somehow I have been side tracked into a snowy theme . . .

Stamp set: Holly Jolly Greetings

Ink: Tempting Turquoise

Card stock: Soft Sky, Silver Foil, Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum

Accessories: Christmas Greetings Thinlit dies

Just love the sheer effect of the vellum overlying
 this simple snowflake print :-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

7th Advent Window - Snow Way!

So thought I would cultivate my inner child, which frankly is never far away! So here is a little gathering of my arctic friends . . . 

Stamp set: Snow place

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write marker

Card stock: Silver Glimmer, Soft Sky, Whisper White

Accessories: Snow Friends Framelits Dies

Needless to say, I have printed several little snow friends, now the fun is to group them together, maybe with hats and candy canes next, the possibilities are endless ;-)

Keep on Christmas Crafting with your snow friends, GenGen xxxx

6th Advent Window - Peaceful Wreath

So a Saturday of high winds has allowed me to have a play day! As always I love detailed stamps and this wreath stamp set and coordinating framelits are so effective, a real excuse to team up Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler again!

Stamp Set: Peaceful Wreath, Six Sayings, Good Greetings

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Naturals Ivory(retired), Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack

Ink: Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, Gold

Accessories: Wonderful Wreath Framelits, 1/2" Circle Punch, Corner Punch, Raffia for bow above and 1/8" Gold ribbon for bow below.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, away from the wind and the rain, 

GenGen xxxx

5th Advent Window - planning and preparation

Somehow, it wasn't until I went to write down the cards received that I realised that I had filled up my last Christmas planner! There's nothing like advance planning, and this really is nothing like advanced planning, hee hee hee! 

So, time to create my own planner by covering a lined notebook with some of the fabulous Merry Moments DSP, with some Christmas Greeting stamps in Real Red ink, with a couple of red foil stars over the washi tape, and a little 3/8" White Glitter Ribbon at the side.

Also, have realised that leaving all the present wrapping till Christmas eve is possibly not the best plan, so have decided that a little wrapping as we go along might be the way forward, so started today!

This a box I've made from a 12" x 12" sheet of last year's neutral card stock and the Gift Box Punch Board, and some of the gorgeous Cherry Cobbler linen ribbon that I bought on sale, using Chocolate Chip card stock for the tag with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and Curvy Corner Trio Punch for the base of the tag and a fabulous wooden Snowflake Elements for simple co-ordination, with a little linen thread.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, and planning ;-) GenGen xxxx

Friday - Fourth Advent Window!

Short and sweet today!

Even though the weather is not deep and crisp and even, the dark evenings encourage the creative element. Here is a card showing off some seasonal shine ;-)

Stamp Set: Embellished Ornaments

Ink: Garden Green

Card Stock: Red Foil Sheets, Whisper White

Accessories: Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Green Stripped Ribbon

Keep on Christmas Crafting, just one item a day is the GenGen way! xxxx

Advent Window 3 - all that Glitters!

Somehow I like to make things that are one thing into another . . . . . .  today it's Trees into a Star

This couldn't really be simpler and as always with me, less is more ;-) This is Gold Glimmer Paper and the Tree punch x 5, and then, cut the trunks off!

Stamp sets: Lots of Joy, Be the Star

Ink: Gold

Be sure to sparkle when you're Christmas Crafting, GenGen xxxx

2nd Advent Window

 So here we are on the 2nd December! We had a little flurry (with Hail) a couple of weeks ago, although it didn't last it does get you in the festive mood ;-)

Stamp Set: Flurry of Wishes

Card stock: Pool Party, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper

Ink: Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Snow Flurry Punch, Iced Rhinestone Embellishments, Winter Wonderland Embellishments

As always with cards there is further flurries on the inside of the card and the envelope too . .

. . . Keep on Christmas Crafting GenGen xxxx

First Advent Window!

Somehow we're in December! I always think I'm going to be more organised, really must try harder! That or I must have a slightly less chaotic life ;-)

So With this year's virtual advent calendar I have a vague idea of the things that I would like to cover over the 24 windows, and here's the first project, a quick card.

Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White and Merry Moments DSP

Ink: Real Red & Garden Green

Accessories: Circle Card thinlit, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Tree Punch and 1/8" striped ribbon in Real Red

So an easy, but fun start to the festivities, keep on Christmas crafting, GenGen xxxx

Count down Birthday cards!

Somehow this year it's been a year full of numbers. This card went down under, with 3 layers of the butterfly I accompanied it with 10 flowers to mirror the 13 theme.

Stamp set: Petite Petals, Butterfly Basics

Card stock: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Shimmery White,  Silver Glimmer, Basic Black

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Petite petals punch, Butterflies thinlit

Continuing to mix up a few elements, a punch, dies and a bit of sparkle ;-)

Stamp set: Celebrate Today

Card stock: Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer

Ink: Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Balloon and Hello You Thinlit, Confetti Stars Border Punch, Star punch from Itty Bitty Punch Pack

Finally for the Octonauts fans out there, a colour in card ;-)

Stamp set: Big Day (retired) 

Card stock: Island Indigo, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Silver glimmer

Ink: Island Indigo

Accessories: Little Letters Thinlits, Retired Numbers die.

Keep on crafting and colouring in, GenGen xxxx

All Hallows Eve

Hope you all have a FaBOOlous time!

Simple but Spooky! Loving the Black glimmer paper! The fantastic paper webs are just too good to cut up ;-)

Hope it's more treat than trick, keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

A few cards for friends

One of my favorite things is to make a card just because and pop it in the post when a friend least expects it :-)

As always, it's a less is more approach!

Stamp set: Sprinkles with Life

Card stock: Old Olive, Early Espresso

Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Daffodil delight

Accessories: Tree Builder Punch

I think colouring in is as close as I get to meditation ;-) Here's something from the Everyday section of the New Catalogue . . . 

Stamp set: Circle of Spring

Card stock: Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo and colouring pencils

Stamp set: Six Sided Sampler

Card stock: Whisper White, Old Olive & Vellum for Butterfly

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate chip, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Buttterflies thinlit, Hexagon Punch, Pearls and some paper ribbon from my stash ;-)

And my final one today has let the stamp set do all the work,

Stamp set: Sheltering Tree

Ink: Old Olive, Early Espresso

As always, less is more, keep on crafting, Gen x