Ah that's better....

 So I admitted that I would make a change when I shared this card earlier...

So here you have the card with just the one bow to finish off... simply much better!

More details here...

Handwritten Alphabet Christmas Around the World

Wondering what to do with all your wreaths and bows in the Christmas Around the World paper pack...

Why not try this... bows die cut care of the Christmas Lamppost dies... bit of  fussy cutting of the wreaths to get the solid centre for stamping on with the Hand Lettered Alphabet though...

Finished off with a split greeting from Santa's Sleigh... using marker pens on the words you require... ... or as Amanda has done ...by simply chopping her stamp up into 3 parts!

Though I have to admit...  looking at the photo...  wish I had only put one of the bows on! Funny how things can look very different in a snapshot!

My favourite Detailed Gates Christmas Card!

So I remade my Christmas Gates card that I shared here (with the Tutorial for you...) as I wanted to use the Boxwood Wreaths... and make it a quicker and simpler card in a class with lots of other projects going on...

Though luckily my brain kicked into gear before I attached the Boxwood Wreath as...with all that dimension... it would never have fit in a standard C6 envelope if I had... so the Christmas Around the World papers came out again... and a simple die-cut but flat wreath & bow was added instead...

And of course... luckily the Halloween Night papers are still in the Clearance Rack for us in Europe.. so the brick sheet in there made the gate posts really easy! I have to admit that more on their way to me and that I have bought a lot of these papers since they have been in the Clearance Rack...

Rest of the details are the same as the original ... apart from the Lanterns which are also care of the Christmas Lamppost dies... which are retiring (sniff! I am so gutted!)... but they are reduced in the Year End Sale by nearly £4...

Though the Full Bundle with the co-ordinating Brightly Lit Christmas stamps is still marginally cheaper if you want the stamps too...

And I will dash a few more of these off prior to my Christmas post... quicker to create than they look... and some already prepped and ready to go ...

Festive Celebrations for Global Stamping Friends Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our monthly blog hop from Amanda Bates at The Craft Spa in the UK... featuring Festive Celebrations...

Now I do like to celebrate the Festive period with a special advent calendar and a 12 Days of Christmas project each year... and although I have creations from through the years that get re-used... this year was time for a new 12 Days of Christmas project... or as it is known in my house... my 12 Gins of Christmas treat! And boy is it a treat each year!

I also like to make these for friends and family as a special treat to open and savour through the next 12 days of the festive period... so it also becomes the 12 Drinks of Christmas treat for the menfolk... featuring Port and/or Whiskies mainly! Or just 12 Treats of Christmas for the younger ones... featuring mainly chocolate! They always go down very well!

So take 12 test tubes... fill with whatever the recipient will most fancy... and pop in beautifully but simply decorated packaging... care of the Treat Tubes, Acetate C6 Card Boxes, Christmas Around the World paper, Stitched Felt embellishments and Jute Twine with numbers 1-12 care of my PC and a 1/2" circle punch...

Love how those back tubes appear to be floating in mid air....

And now it is time to say goodbye from me and thank you for visiting me today... and pass you onto the lovely Kristie in the USA ... just click on the arrow below to go straight there...

And here is the Blog Roll List if you prefer to hop that way - or in the event of any broken links...:

1. Anita Wifladt

2. Rebecca Urban

3. Libby Dyson

4. Jan Musselman

5. Lisa Ann Bernard

6. Karie Beglau

7. Amanda Farlinger

8. Kimberley Anne Morris

9. Tricia Butts

10. Amanda Bates (YOU ARE HERE!!)

11. Kristie Neal Walthall

12. Anastasia Radloff

13. Erica Jones

14. Jenn Charles Curtis

15. Marieke Bart

16. Courtenay Heuston

17. Angelique Stempelkeuken

18. Sarah McDermott

Lovely as a Tree simple snowy scene & Free delivery anyone?

And here is the other super CAS card sample I made whilst plotting out my Narnia card shared yesterday... and as I have been asked a few times so nicely... here is what you need for this super CAS (clean & simple) version...

But before I start... newsflash... Free shipping for 24 hours on all Stampin Up! orders ... starts  Sun 26 November 11:00 p.m. ...ends Mon 27 November 10:59 p.m. (GMT). Not near a PC or anything then?... let me know and I can place a direct ship order for you...

And also don't forget that there is only 2 days left of the Extravaganza Sale... ends Sunday 26 November 10.59pm GMT

Click here to go straight to my Online Store to quickly see pictures/prices of the items on offer until ... 10-40% off ... what have you go to lose! Apart from paying for P&P...Click here to check out all the details... or here to check out my Top Picks... though I did miss the Cable Knit embossing folder!!!

Oh and don't forget if ordering over the next few days... this month's Host Code is 392YRRXW for an extra gift (and the new Spring Summer & Sale A Bration catalogues!) from me in December... 

So back to the card today...

Craft Spa Recipe

A6 Tent Card Blank (ie 10.5cm x A4L scored LANDSCAPE at 14.8cm) (US 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" H Card Blank)

Basic Black 6.8 x 11.1cm H (US 2 3/4" x 4" H)

Papers (Christmas Around the World) 6.5 x 10.8cm H (US 2 5/8" x 3 7/8"H)

Clear Glimmer 6.5 x 2.5cm (US 2 5/8" x 1" H) (TIP cut starting from half way up on one side and create a curved snow bank as you go across & back to the centre on the other side... then you have 2 pieces of snow for 2 cards... one a valley and one a peak!)

Lantern parts - as detailed here 

Stamping of trees - as detailed there too...

And here are the 2 CAS versions side by side... Which do you prefer?? And spot the snow bank duo!

Lamppost one shared here... 

And the larger... bring it all together on the one card to impress more... shared here yesterday with its tutorial...

And if you are local... remember that it these are one of my Ronald McDonald House Charities Christmas Cheer Challenge event card designs...

Events running next week, Friday 1st and Sunday 3rd December... click here to find out more details and how you can help making cards for others if you are free...

What's in Your Wardrobe....? And the Tutorial...

But first...  a belated Happy Thanksgiving to my US readers... I hope that you had a lovely day with family & friends... and are now enjoying the madness of Black Friday!

So back to my wardrobe... though I think that my regular blog readers will already know this year's answer!

For me... it has to be a Narnia-esque scene from the The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe... a favourite book of mine when I was young... and this was my first thought when I spotted the Christmas Lamppost dies in the Autumn Winter catalogue... and so glad it was... as it has been the class favourite this year...

And so glad it all came together in this way... just a shame that I hadn't photographed the wardrobe shot when I first shared the alternative Narnia scene... it kind of spoilt the overall plot!! Just click here for that variant using Card Front Builder dies instead of the embossed white trees...

And  I do so wish that I could share the glittery sparkle on this card better ... as that is what really sets this all off to Narnia perfection!!

Want to make one for yourself ... well here you go! And apologies for the laughing heard around these parts for one of the later steps in the how to make a more Narnia-esque lamp!

Craft Spa recipe
Thick Whisper White A4L x 16.5cm H (US Letter 11" x 6 1/2")
Paper 28.1 x 12cm H (US 10 1/4" x 4 3/4")
Lamppost - Basic Black card 2.5 x 14.8cm (US 1" x 5 1/2")
Lamp Glass - Vellum 2 x 4cm (US 3/4" x 1 1/2")
Doors - Thick Whisper White x A5 (ie 14.8 x 21cm)(US 5 1/2" x 8 1/2")

Stamps - Lovely as a Tree; Snowflake Sentiments
Dies - Christmas Lamppost; Hearth & Home; Seasonal Layers
Paper - Christmas Around the World
Punch - 1 1/2" Circle Punch
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter & Glimmer Paper
Wink of Stella Clear
Stampin' Blends marker - dark Daffodil Delight

Craft Spa directions

Making your card
1. Large A4L (US 11 x 6 1/2") Whisper White panel LANDSCAPE
2. Score at 7.4cm from both sides (US 2 3/4")
3. Valley bone fold both score lines

Decorating the little scene
4. Mark bottom of paper at 6.9cm & 21.2 cm (US 2 1/2" & 7 3/4")
5. Ink up & stamp tallest Tranquil Tide trees up from those marks
TIPS
(a) avoid stamping the ground level part of the image onto the paper
(b) "second stamp" a smaller tree to the side whilst you are it... ie stamp a second smaller tree without re-inking the stamp... so that you get a faded tree in the background
(c) Always Artichoke inked trees also looks nice... hence the sample card shared here yesterday...

6. Continue stamping and second stamping green trees as desired...
7. Swoosh with your embossing buddy
8. Ink up & stamp Versamark trees and white emboss...
9. Add glue & liberally cover with Dazzling Diamonds glitter
10. Leave paper panel to dry for a while! Otherwise you will have very gluey/glittery fingers, card and worktop!!!!

Making the Doors
11. Die cut 4 x Heart & Home windows
12. Make into doors as shown here...
13. Die cut a Seasonal Layers large snowflake in Foil (Champagne Foil used here) and pull the small circles out from the waste to add as door knobs... I just use a really really tiny drop of Tombow and add the circle on top...

 Making a more Narnia-esque lamp
14. Colour vellum with dark Daffodil Delight and die cut (that's the 3 plant pot flat looking die!!)
15. Die cut other Basic Black Lamppost parts... hopefully this picture will paint a 1000 words... for the bits to cut... and the next few assembly steps (16-22)...

16. Colour your yellow lamp glass with clear Wink of Stella to add that shine..,.
17. Apply glue very sparingly to back of black lamp and pop onto the lamp glass
18. Tiny dab of glue onto the centre of the 3 prong twirly/ partial bit and stick lamp on top
19. Trim off the 2 side arms at bottom of base
20. Tiny dab of glue onto top of lamppost & stick lamp on top
21. Tinier dab of glue about 1cm (US 3/8") down the lamppost & stick cross-member on top
22. Crop the cross-member to the left (LOL!!! Maybe I should say cross-piece... nah... leaving it so some of you can have a laugh too... ! Though I did change the word trim to crop and put the cross- back in the member...!!! So glad this is not in video format... )

Finishing off
23.. Cut Landscape paper panel down to 6.9 cm and 14.3 cm (aka 6.9cm from either side) (US 2 1/2" & 7 3/4" - aka 2 1/2" from each side)
24. Adhere to inside of card
25. Ink up & stamp Black greetings
26. Adhere punched Glimmer circle & Lamppost...

Lovely as a Tree & Christmas Lamppost card

So as I was making my larger fold out Christmas Lampost & Around the World papers Narnia-scene gate fold card that I shared here last week ... I trialled a couple of different ideas on standard A6 cards...

And this card design has been so popular that it is going to be one of my Ronald McDonald House Charities Christmas Cheer Challenge event card designs...

Events running next week, Friday 1st and Sunday 3rd December... click here to find out more details and how you can help making cards for others if you are local and free...

This one just uses Always Artichoke ink instead of Tranquil Tide for the Lovely as A Tree fir trees...

Greetings from Snowflake Sentiments... all doused with a lot of Dazzling Diamonds glitter and a Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer moon and snow...

Edited to Add - recipe shared here on 25 November.... 

Christmas Lamppost Narnia card

As soon as I saw the Christmas Lamppost dies in the Autumn Winter catalogue I knew this card was coming... and I couldn't wait to share it with you today... all set on a simple little gatefold card (14.8cm Square or US Letter 5 1/2" Square as nearest equivalent)

Edited To Add 24th Nov- Tutorial now posted here 

Christmas Around the World papers... Tranquil Tide stamped fir trees from Lovely as a Tree ... Die cut Clear Glimmer (mounted on Tranquil Tide) trees & silver deer using Card Front Builder dies ... Die cut Christmas Lampost lamp .... Greetings from Snowflake Sentiments... all doused with a lot of Dazzling Diamonds glitter...

And oops ...so annoying... forgot to photo the front... so I will be back with that ... and a slight variant I made to speed up the card in class... and more details... sometime very soon... including the little tweak to make the lamp more like the Narnia one....

Making the Hometown Greetings Cityscape Simple...

Love this version of this card... maybe even more!

Time was of the essence for Denise as she had to get off early from our class date.... so no time for all the colouring, cutting out and window making as per the original version... so we just kept it simple!

Just one brightly coloured roof.... and a greeting to match ... with a silver glimmer moon and star to finish... and there you have it... a WOW card in no time at all...

Products used and more details in the original card post here...

Faux Bendi Card with Tutorial for Fancy Fold Friday

Back to Christmas Around the World papers...and Hearts Come Home/Hometown Greetings...

This was a very quick card put together mid class by special request of one of my ladies... and from a card kit set out for another card... so the final decoration is as quick as I could muster on the spot! 

We made one 2 years ago and she wanted a repeat performance for her christmas card making this year... and now everyone else wants to make it too!!

When I first made a Bendi card... I thought there would be a problem with the card in the hands of the receiver... The card will arrive flat in the envelope and I have to hope that they spot both slots and manage to assemble it... Especially that back slot... as it is difficult to see and difficult to assemble...

So I changed the card to just have the front slot... as I reckon that one will be managed! And from a distance it looks exactly the same as the Full Bendi Fold version...

And  - seeing as it is Fancy Fold Friday - here are the instructions for this Faux (or Partial) Bendi Fold version...  If you need pictures to aid you in the construction element then just look at the Full Bendi Fold card link posted

For my US readers... please note that the US Letter Size card sizes are converted from my metric sizes as best I can and have not been tested... so crafter beware!! And if it needs any adjustment I would be delighted if you told me! Saves a lot more people any anguish as I can quickly amend this post... Thanks)

Craft Spa Recipe 

Back Panel Thick Whisper White 14.8 x 10.5cm (US Letter 5 1/2" x 4 1/4")

Front RHS Panel Shimmery White 14.8 x 9cm H (US 5 1/2" x 3 1/2")

Back LHS Shimmery White panel 13.5 x 8.5cm H (US 5" x 3 1/4")

Paper panel 14.3 x 10cm (US 5 1/4" x 4")

Craft Spa Directions

1. With wider Front RHS 9cm (US 3 1/2") high panel LANDSCAPE - score at 1cm (US 1/2") from both sides

2. Turn 180 degrees (ie so your left hand scoreline becomes your right hand scoreline... ie not turning it over!)

3. Line this right hand score line up at 1cm (US 1/2") on the right hand side of the top bar

4. Cut from 0 to 1cm then 2.5 to end/9cm (US 0 to 3/8", then 1" to end/3 1/2")

5. Trim above and below to form a tab 

6. With Back LHS 8.5cm (US 3 1/4") LANDSCAPE - score at 1cm (US 1/2") from left hand side 

7. With score to left, line up panel LANDSCAPE at 5cm (US 2") on Top Bar

8. Cut from 5.5 to 7.5cm (US 2 1/8" to 3")

9. Die cut small houses on Back LHS 8.5cm (US 3 1/4") panel

10. Die cut larger houses on Front RHS 9cm (US 3 1/2") panel

11. Trim down and across score lines (& to the panel end) as necessary

12. Bone fold scorelines 

13. Ink up & stamp greeting on Front RHS larger houses panel

14. Ink up & stamp back paper panel as necessary

15. Adhere Back LHS smaller houses panel (to LHS) and Front RHS Trees panel (to RHS) to the bottom of the front face of the larger Whisper White Back Panel using the 1cm (US 1/2") sections/tabs in valley fold orientation

16. Adhere background DSP panel to front face of Back Panel (duly covering up those 1 cm/US 1/2" tabs)

17. Make sure your small tab fits in the slot. Trim if necessary...

18. You may also find you need to trim off the slope to the right hand side of the Back LHS panel so that the horizon is neater behind the front houses...

Fancy Fold Friday Cityscape U Bridge Fold Card

Back to my very favourite Hearts Come Home stamps & Hometown Greetings dies...

If this card was the village scene... and this one was the ski chalets in the mountains scene... then this one is the cityscape! 

Can't tell you how popular this U Bridge Fold card is being in classes! And I love it when the final words are "oh that wasn't so hard after all! I will be making some more..." and you certainly get lots of the images from one sheet of the papers to do so!

Resized to fit in an C5 envelope (so quite a bit larger) ... an extra section in the layering... and some hand cut-out extras from the Christmas Around the World paper pack (which are available on the 4 For 3 Paper Sale Offer running in October)

Background paper also from Christmas Around the World papers... plus a bit of marker pen or inkpad & blender pen colouring of doors, trees and roofs... and finally slivers of Foil behind the windows to add glint and shine... plus a silvery glimmer moon using the Card Front Builder dies... and there you have it...

And spot my favourite bit... the exhaust pipe smoke greeting strategically positioned behind the red car!!

And yes the card does fold flat to go in the C5 envelope!

I will be writing up a Tutorial in about 2 weeks time... but though for those of you that have already purchased my Bench Fold Card tutorial (Series One)... you already have the step by step details and the dimensions of the main card!

And before I go... here is an image of the Christmas Around the World papers... which are SO much nicer than I first thought.... I love all the images that you can hand cut out... The bottom two papers on the right being used for this card... 

Or click on the Display Visual below to go to the Autumn Winter Papers Flick-through Video... the Christmas Around the World papers are shown at about 2min35 into the video...