Cards 2021 Part 1- Christmas "Wrap Up"

 I have made loads of cards this year.  This week, I'm going to show them to you. Feel free to just look at the pictures. I'm not going to link products, but if you have questions, please feel free to ask in the comments. 

First, considering the season, let's look at Christmas Cards. 

This year, I chose a few different designs and made multiples of each.  I wanted to experiment with a few different techniques.  January 2021, when my Aunty came to visit, she lent me some Christmas dies and I pre-cut several of each one that I liked, then put them in my stash until I was ready to start making Christmas cards. I have invested in a few more Christmas items this year as well, so next year's cards should be different.  

Next year, I think I will choose a design and make a batch of them every time I'm on holidays. This will hopefully lighten the load come October! Okay, enough jibber jabber... let's get to it. 

A simple leafy branch die from MFT was the basis for this card. The textured green background was created using ink smooshing and perfect pearls mixed with water sprayed over it to give it shine. It was laying on my desk begging to be die cut.  Arranging the die cuts in a circle and overlapping them, made the perfect wreath.  Simple sentiment stamped in the middle of the wreath and different sizes of gold sequins added some simple elegance to the card.  I love this design because it would only need a different sentiment to make it suitable for almost any occasion. Flowers could be added to change up the theme as well.  If I was going to make this card again, I would make the leaves a darker green. 

Quick and Simple- this card is just a large sentiment stamp (from Catherine Pooler Designs) and the holly and berries that came in the same stamp set to embellish it.  Colouring the holly leaves and berries with an embossing pen and sprinking "wanderlust" embossing powder (by Wow) added some sparkle and interest to this clean and simple design. I might try this stamp set on a landscape card next time.  

This die was one that I borrowed! I die cut then covered in embossing powder to emboss in gold. I mixed two of my gold embossing powders to the get variation in the final result.  I had several of these die cuts, so I also experimented with double and triple embossing to get a thicker gold finish on other cards. The gold die cut was backed with an ink blended galaxy background, which was die cut using nested die set which happened to have a square that was the same size.  

Some more simple cards using holly and berries from a Gina K stamp set.  I'm sorry, I don't know the name of the set.  Joy to the World sentiment is from Stampendous (a red rubber cling stamp).  Glory in the Highest is from a bible journaling set by Neat and Tangled. These holly leaves and berries have a traditional look about them and will compliment almost any large Christmas sentiment.  I'm a bit sad these are from a stamp set that I borrowed.  I might need to invest in one of my own! 

This background stamp "Joy, Love and Doves" is from Catherine Pooler and when I saw it I knew it would be the perfect addition to my Christmas Stamps.  This technique took a little while, so I only made three of these cards.  The watercolour background can be created using a wash or ink smooshing (you could even do direct to paper).  Emboss the background stamp in gold.  Then, use clean water on a paintbrush (or a water pen) to "colour" the doves which will pull up the dye ink colour. I also pulled up some of the ink around the words- Joy, Noel, Love and Peace. Simple, elegant and actually sort of relaxing.  My Mum loved this card design, so if I get organised early enough, I could end up making several more of this design for next year.  I made it in purple and one in green.  What other colours would work?

Masking off a strip on the card, creates a stunning ink blended "sky" as a backdrop for the stamped die cut of Mary and Joseph as they travel towards Bethlehem.  My Aunty stamped and cut out several of these die cuts (Stampin' Up set) for me a few years ago and posted them to me.  These were the last two! Stars are drawn on using a silver gel pen. The sentiments were also stamped out by Aunty, I think they might be from a Catherine Pooler set? The Joy to the World card has a better blend, with more of the lighter colour coming from behind Mary and Joseph.  The stars are better too. 

Last, but not least. The sentiment die cut is from, you guessed it, Catherine Pooler. The nativity scene is from a large Gemini die set which has several pieces to help you make an exploding box card.  I pared it right back and used only one of the dies to make these simple cards.  Stacking the die cuts gives this simple design dimension and makes a greater impact in shadows. 

If you're interested in seeing Christmas cards I have made in previous years, you can check them out here and here. 

The countdown to New Year's is ON! 

Grandma Memories

 In my last post, I told you that Grandma died recently. This afternoon we will have the memorial service. I have struggled the last few weeks with the grieving process.  I feel sad, but I also remember all the things Grandma did and said that caused us a lot of pain and disappointment (in her younger years). She had dimentia in her old age and I used to say it was nice to visit her now, because she has forgotten that she doesn't like me. She had lost many of her memories.  She didn't know any stories anymore and she didn't remember her family or her friends.  I would not wish this on anyone! God has been merciful in taking her to heaven and stopping the suffering now. I realise I need to forgive the past, because it's all over and shouldn't have an impact on me anymore. In fact in the last 10 years, most of my interactions with Grandma were positive. She had softened in her old age so why do I remember the stupid things that are so far in the past, instead of the important stuff?  Anyway, here are some memories of Grandma.  There were some good ones. 

Grandma made us bread and butter pudding one time we visited. I really enjoyed it and told her so.  From then on, if she knew I was coming to visit, she made me a bread and butter pudding to take home.  It tasted different every time.  I once asked her for the recipe.  She said, “there isn’t a recipe, it’s just a bit of this and a bit of that.” 

She told me a story about a single mother with four kids.  The lady once asked Grandma, “what do you do when you have four kids to feed and only three eggs?” Grandma explained to me that to this lady, this was an impossible situation. We talked about all the things you could do to stretch three eggs to feed five people – scramble them, make an omelet, make egg sandwiches. She taught me that a little creativity can go a long way.

“If you’re going to travel across the country with someone in a caravan it helps if you’re good friends.”

Finally, a funny story... 

The last time I talked to her, I said, “Your kids and grandkids are really smart.  I reckon they get that from you.”  She replied, “I think they took it from me.” We laughed. Grandma knew her mind used to be better.  It was hard to see her losing her memories. 

That's that then. 

Now it's December

 Christmas is upon us and the last three months have been hard! Let's focus on December. 

1 December - Grandma was Promoted to Glory (that means she died). 

3 December - Mum retired... talk about a party.

7 December - Ice cream day - Dad's birthday. 

9 December - My birthday... a celebration of how long the world has had my presence.  LOL. 

I think I might be losing my mind because I keep forgetting that I've done things or haven't done things.  My memory is certainly not what it used to be.  Of course, my memory always left a little to be desired.  You know, how I remembered every word of the "Sound of Music" film but couldn't remember anything about the science exam or the paperwork I had to complete for the work! 

Next week, we are going to Biloela for a family Christmas.  I'm not actually looking forward to it, yet.  I think I will, just not today.

Stay tuned, there will be more, one day.