Hi Everyone,
I've had a productive day making a bunch of Christmas cards using up snippets and stash and recycling bits from commercial cards folk sent us last year - always much too good to toss.
Here's the first.
This is the card that was in the planning stages on my desk for yesterday's WOYWW post. It's a 5" square card base stamped up using a Sheena Douglas Flourish stamp. First it was stamped using the pink end of a Big & Juicy Hydrangea pad and then over stamped with VersaMark and embossed with silver powder. The recycled topper and silver mirri mat were cut out using Spellbinders labels 9. The greeting was punched out of the same card as the topper. Mauve gems and silver edged ribbon complete the card.
I have a confession to make ... I made this card for this week's Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge after spotting the theme is 'Home for Christmas'. I saw the theme and immediately had Chris Rea's voice playing in my ear and had visions of folk going home for the holiday ... think Trains, Plains and Automobiles and you'll get the picture! Consequently, this image of a couple making there way home in the snow seemed to fit the bill. Of course, if I had read Hazel's post right through ... !?!? Not to worry, the colours are non-traditional but they are growing on me, and I like the finished card, and to make up for my mistake I've made another two cards with toppers that fit Hazel's theme.
So here's the second card:
This card definitely features a house, well two cosy looking cottages actually. This time I've used a die-cut card base, measuring 6" square. The image and the greeting are, once again, recycled and the matting is patterned paper snippets from Memory Box's Spiceberry paper pack. It's not clear on the photo but there's glittery embossing on the image. The only embellishment is some red card candy.
And here's the final card:
More cottages in the snow. This one reminds me of the cottage in the movie, The Holiday ... Kate Winslet's idyllic and pretty Cotswold retreat! I was so disappointed to learn that it was just a film set, torn down after filming was finished ... places like that should really exist. Anyway, I digress, back to the card. The base for this is a scalloped-edge A5 card. The pattern paper is a piece from Papermania, Silent Night in a lovely soft green shade. The greeting is from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium, matted onto a snippet of gold card. The ribbon and gold card candy is from stash.
I'm submitting number 2 and 3 to Hazel's Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #65 - Home for Christmas
I'm also submitting all of them to the following two challenges:
Stamping for Pleasure's Rudolph Day - March 2012
Pixie's Crafty Snippets Challenge - Number 13
And as all materials that went into the making of these cards are from my stash of stuff they qualify for the 100% Use-It-Up logo.
I've lots planned for tomorrow, including a walk along the river if the weather is still as sunny as it has been today. We missed our walk today because the EM was taking advantage of the fantastic weather to paint the decking - we inherited three tiers in our very sloping garden and it is the bane of our existence. However, we dread to think what further horrors lurk beneath so have decided to live with it rather than replace it.
Now, as it is well after midnight, I'm calling it a day. I wish you all well and hope you have a good day tomorrow, wherever you are.
Happy Crafting,
All are gorgeous cards! I love the scenes and non-traditional colors used.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards Elizabeth, it's amazing what can be created using recycled images :o)
ReplyDeleteJackie xx
Hi Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to recycle those old Christmas cards.
We have a carrier bag full of them under the stairs .. .. hubby was going to make Christmas tags out of them (and has been threatening to do so for weeks now!!!).
I might rifle through them first now!!! LOL!!!
Have a lovely day Elizabeth.
Love Jules xx
Hi Elizabeth . . . FANTASTIC recyclying going on here. I commend you. Great looking cards.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in with my little challenge. Good luck in the prize draw.
Hugs, Sarn xxx
Great cards - I always say I'm going to do this but then something new comes along and I need to have it and use it! Zo xx
ReplyDeleteWow Elizabeth, these are really gorgeous! Brilliant re-use of cards too - and super results. Oh go on, have three goes on the swings this week :) Di xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful recycling and such crafty creativity - I love them all, including the first one that would have been OK for my challenge (I always allow a 'loose' interpretation of the theme just to help folk get some Christmas cards done) - thanks for joining in my CHNC challenge 65 - hope to see you again soon. x
ReplyDeleteGlad to see someone else recycling old cards. They look good, Elizabeth. Glad I am not the only one on a soap box over the postage. I just get the feeling that I am making all these cards that will never be posted because we cannot afford it. xx Maggie
ReplyDeletewow these are stunning elizabeth.i love the gorgeous winter scenes :D
ReplyDeletexx coops xx
Elizabeth, I love the cards. I save all my Christmas cards and die cut most of them. Love recycling and the art on Christmas cards is always wonderful. You gave them a great second life. We in the states are always upset over postage increases. The post office complains people aren't using their service, but they make it difficult to afford them.
ReplyDeleteWOW Elizabeth, these are stunning!Fabulous recycling!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Beautiful cards Elizabeth, they are all gorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteHave a really lovely weekend, Luv Karen xx
Wow! These cards are stunning. Even better than how they were originally. Hugs Mrs A.
ReplyDelete