First Edition Dies

Leaving Christmas projects behind (at least for a couple of months) it is now time to focus again more on the other Trimcraft collections and on some fabulous new products.

For the card, which I would like to share with you today, I indulged a bit in the brand-new First Edition die sets. I used the script alphabet set, the lock and key set and the border set. And as if this was not enough, I combined the die-cuts with patterned paper from the new 6" x 6" First Edition Sail Away premium paper pad.

A product list and instructions for this card can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

2015

Firstly, all the very best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful year 2015 to all of you.

I used the last few days to create some more handcrafted decorations for the festive season. And although I am happy with the results, they turned out to be pretty time consuming and I wondered more than once why I started them in the first place.

To cut the Christmas tree itself the cardstock for each element had to run through the Cuttlebug five to six times before all sections were cut properly. And then I sat here for ages holding together the Christmas tree elements until the so-called 'quick dry' tacky glue was holding the two parts securely together ...

The die for the baubles cuts two at the same time, but due to decorating the entire tree I needed to run it through the Cuttlebug 16 times per tree. I ordered more 3mm pearls before Christmas, but Royal Mail kindly only delivered mail on Monday this week and they are consequently not yet here. The only other sufficient amount of pearls from the same manufacturers that I had here comes on strips - and yes, I ended up removing every single one of the pearls from the adhesive strip, which took ages. As I want to keep the decorations for future years, I wanted to use a tiny drop of PVA glue for a stronger bond under each pearl anyway. I will make more of these trees ... but that can wait for another couple of months.

The ingredients for these intricate Christmas trees:
* Spellbinders 3D Christmas tree die set
* Double-sided pearlescent cardstock (I used Moondust card in 'Crystal')
* Foundations cardstock in vintage gold and vintage silver
* 5mm pearls
* 3mm pearls
* PVA glue

Winter Woodland Christmas

I hope you have all had some really enjoyable and relasing Christmas days. And now that all the Christmas e-mails are sent I can share with you the card that I created for our electronic Christmas greetings. I copied the image into Word and could then embedd it into the e-mail text.

The ingredients of this card:

* Winter Woodland 12” x 12” designer paper pack
* Winter Woodland clear stamp - snowman
* Winter Woodland clear stamp – sentiments
* Winter Woodland paper flowers
* Winter Woodland wooden elements
* Winter Woodland adhesive gems & pearls
* Winter Woodland polka ribbon bows
* First Edition dies – vintage signs
* 8” square white card blank
* solar white Neenah cardstock
* Woodware kraft cardstock
* small piece of green cardstock
* white spider web
* black Memento ink pad
* ProMarkers
* Britannia holly die strip
* Marianne Design fence die
* die-cutting machine
* adhesive
* toolbox basics

Step-by-step instructions for this card can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Krafty Winter Florals

Today I would like to share a card with you that I created using the Dovecraft Krafty Christmas collection by Trimcraft. Kraft card has become such a staple product. And it is so nice that this collection provides not only kraft card blanks and envelopes, but also backing papers and loads of embellishments which work perfectly with this type of card. Two very useful sets with Christmas stamps and a snowflake embossing folder complete the range.

A product list and step-by-step instructions for this Trimcraft project are again in my Trimcraft gallery.

Quick Christmas cards with First Edition papers

1, 2, 3, ..., PANIC!!! It is, of course, nice when Christmas cards are selling well and even the husband uses more cards, but when it is then the middle of December and you then realise that you have not sent any cards yet and only handed out one but are confronted with a serious shortage of Christmas cards for the own use then it is truly time to panic. And a solution needs to be found fast.

    

Just good that there are so many large sentiment dies on the market at the moment. Together with some metallic card, beautiful First Edition papers by Trimcraft and some metallic pearls or card candi they can really save the day. For the examples shown here I used a Sue Wilson die as well as the First Edition premium paper pads 'Gilded Winter'  and 'Vintage Noel'.

    

But the next few days will definitely be very busy ...

Tiny Tatty Teddy Baby Girl

The popular Tatty Teddy is back today, but this time as a 'bitesize' baby girl from the brand-new Me to You Tiny Tatty Teddy collection by Trimcraft.

I built up the card around one of the decoupage images. And I really like that it provides the space for a stamped or die-cut sentiment. There are even some extras on the decoupage sheet, i.e. I will be able to turn the remaining blanket-style labels into sentiment toppers for other cards.

The collection also includes a great and versatile die set. It provides all the elements for a lovely Tatty Teddy die-cut image, but also some dies that can be used on cards of a completely different style. I used the frame as well as the large rose elements (albeit choped into pieces) for today's card. Especially the frame could become one of my favourites that might feature on many future cards.

On this card I also indulged quite a bit in all the different kinds of embellishments, which are available in this collection, to create some more texture and dimension.

For a product list and step-by-step instructions please go to my Trimcraft gallery.

One Me to You image - two ways

Many of us are probably still busy working on our Christmas cards. So I would like to share two cards with you, which are based on the gorgeous Me to You image of Tatty Teddy holding a bunch of poinsettias.

The first card shows the decoupage version of the image surrounded by a number of products from the Me to You Christmas collection by Trimcraft. I also used the brand-new Dovecraft 3D Pearl Effects for the centres of the blossoms and as embellishments.

The second card features the 3D sticker version of the image. A variety of Me to You Christmas products and a decorative border created witha Sue Wilson die are completing the design.

As I created both cards for Trimcraft, I have provided product lists and step-by-step instructions for both projects in my Trimcraft gallery.