Poinsettia Festive Fairy Lights

The story of these started the day I showed the girls the new Autumn Winter (Occasions) catalogue back in August...

We were discussing the products we liked and the special projects we wanted to make for Christmas this year...

I suggested Fairy Lights... for which there was some excitement...

And then ...just seconds afterwards... the Reason For the Season/Festive Flower Builder poinsettias were spotted in the catalogue!! Oh boy was there increased excitement in the room...

And then there was no going back...it had to be poinsettia fairy lights... for everyone but me (who had had other plans!)

I even tried to talk them out of them (having decided I wasn't buying this stamp set...and that there would be a lot of work involved!)

But then I saw the Poinsettia fairy lights my fellow friend & team demonstrator, Sally Jo Houghton had made and shared (1 September post)... and I was hooked too....

But hey... these prove that you do have to go with the flow...and do things that don't take your fancy initially...as they are SO stunning!!

They may have been a labour of love... but they are SO worth it... So thanks girls (and Sally-Jo) for forcing my hands!! I will truly treasure these as they come out in my home every year...

Things to point out...

I used Cherry Cobbler card... I should have used Real Red as definitely more poinsettia coloured and brighter in effect... but I went with the colour theme in my dining room...which is definitely more Cherry Cobbler than Real Red!

But all but one of my girls went Real Red... which is why I have some lovely bright poinsettia fairy lights to show you too!! Thank you for the in-situ photos Heidi... they look fabulous!

But I used Real Red ink, Cherry Cobbler ink was too harsh for my taste...

Took me a few attempts to line up with the punch layout...but I mounted the 3 petals stamps up on a clear block, stamped the trio loads of times... and then punched...

Whereas the extra large singles... I punched and then stamped...

I sponged around the edge of every petal! Yes seriously - took a couple of hours or so!

I stretched every petal with my bone folder and shaped it down the centre with the bone folder down the centre whilst on a thick Stampin Pierce mat... again an hour or so!

I actually used retired gold shimmer card for the centres... trying to stick gold glimmer or gold foil to itself (with everything else going on) just proving too hard!

Just need to add the leaves I created too!! I think they will just be packed away safely for next year....

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Holly Box Frame Card

Another Simple Box Frame card....

Card details as before...

But this time...

Dressed with punched Mossy Meadow holly leaves care of the Reason for the Season stamps & Festive Flower punch nibbled around the edges with the 1/2" circle punch...

Topped off with Real Red 1/2" berries...

Poinsettia Reason For The Season Box Frame Card

Simple ..but stunning...

Make one Box Frame card...

Cut out a Poinsettia from Home For Christmas paper

Die cut a Home For Christmas paper Scallop square with a large square centre at the same time!

Stamp a simple Reason For the Season greeting... Sponge Crumb Cake around the edges...

Stick it all together

Reason For The Season Fir Trees!?

This was one of those...I wonder if... moments...

I was just clearing away after the last card class of the year...and an idea popped into my head for the Reason For The Season poinsettia petals stamps...

So I tried it... And I LOVE what resulted...

Very contemporary fir trees.... using the 3 sizes of petals... all finished off with lots of Signo gel pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter to ensure a snowy scene...

And whilst I was there I made a couple more versions of cards using this simple little snowy scene...

The first with more white...

The second on a Swing Easel card... clean and un-adulterated!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Swing Easel Card with new Tutorial

Another Reason for the Season Swing Easel card... using small poinsettias this time... this one WOWed everyone that walked in the room!!! Have to say...it "stands well" in the flesh...

These are each made from 4 of the small duos... my ladies had quite a lot of these left over from another project! More on that another day...

And the holly leaves are also made from the large petal - just nibbled around the edges with a 1/2" circle punch

And seeing as it is Friday... a Fancy Fold Friday Tutorial for you... for an A4 Swing Easel Card this time...

Apologies to my US readers as this card is specifically designed from an A4 piece of card... conversion won't work sensibly! You might as well use the 12x12 version here. I have put a 5 1/2" Square version from your card on "THE LIST" - but I honestly doubt the list will be touched again until 2016....

Now I do also have to warn you... I have had a good run on these cards - as we did 3 in this weeks' classes - and I made a few more as I was clearing up too!!! So this is now the second part of a series of Swing Easel cards....!

Recipe

Card (Vanilla) 14.8cm x A4 long (ie 29.7cm)

Paper (Top) 14.1cm Square

Paper (Base) 14.1 x 7cm

Card (Red) 9cm Square

Card (Vanilla) 8.5cm Square

Scallop Square die (Squares Framelits)

Personal Trimmer & Bone Folder

Instructions

1.    Scallop Square die cut the paper square

2.    LANDSCAPE. At 14.8cm on Top Bar. Score across whole card

3.    LANDSCAPE. At 17.3cm on Top Bar. Cut from 2.5 to 12.3cm

4.    LANDSCAPE. At 27.2cm on Top Bar. Cut from 2.5 to 12.3cm

5.    Bone Fold along central 14.8cm line

6.    With card as Tent Fold – adhere paper on front (around the cuts)
TIP – ensure you have glue spread all over (but thinly) half way down the sides

7.    Place card blank back on trimmer LANDSCAPE with papers to the right hand side…

8.    LANDSCAPE. At 21.7cm on Top Bar. Score from 2.5 to top (ie 0) and 12.3cm to bottom (ie 14.8cm)

9.    LANDSCAPE. At 22.7cm on Top Bar. Score from 2.5 to top and 12.3cm to bottom

10. LANDSCAPE. At 23.7cm on Top Bar. Score from 2.5 to top and 12.3cm to bottom

11. Place card blank on trimmer PORTRAIT with papers at Top…

12. PORTRAIT. At 2.5cm on Top Bar. Cut 2.5-7cm, LIFT, Cut 8-12.3cm

13. PORTRAIT. At 12.3cm on Top Bar. Cut 2.5-7cm, LIFT, Cut 8-12.3cm

14.  Fold the 2 side sections as Mountain, Valley, Mountain.
(Tip – it is easier to fold the 2 mountains and then push the valley fold in between)

15. Decorate as necessary

Large Poinsettia Swing Easel Card & AMAZING Year End Sale

Another Swing Easel Card share for you today....

But first... PLEASE DO NOT forget to check out the incredible Year End Sale - amazing selection of products there!!! Seriously!! There are a lot of retiring Christmas products for example - at up to 60% off... Please do not miss them.... I know some of these will sell out quickly...

Also check out this weeks' Weekly Deals (the Precision Plate is a Must Have for your intricate dies in my humble opinion!) Need something...?

I will be ordering this Friday so I can pop something on there for you... or don't delay and order through my Online Store as you look at these Deals...

This Swing Easel Card is from A4 card... so a new tutorial will be posted soon....

Lots to do...

Last but one class of the year today...

No guesses as to the stamp set we are using... time for Reason For The Season...