Handicrafts by Kate Perry and other ramblings

Monday, May 25, 2015

Trying out some more new stash for Rudolph day.

I have failed miserably so far with reaching my monthly target for Christmas cards, but at least as the 25th of each month comes around, I do manage to make one or two for the Rudolph Day Challenge..

For today´s card I am using two new items. Firstly a stamp which I ordered from Crafty Individuals, just too late to use it for last Christmas. It is a sweet little row of birds on a holly branch, so having stamped it, I used copic markers to turn them into robins. I actually stamped it twice, so this week I can use the other one on a different card. For a bit of sparkle, I added Icicle stickles to the holly.



Th other new item I used is a die set. I rather like this tri-fold style of card, but I usually make a right mess of cutting it, and all the little panels to decorate it. So when I saw a set of dies for this purpose I just had to buy it. I was happy when it arrived but I have to admit, I have a few issues with it.
The die is from a series called Presscut by Crafts-too, and it says on it "...will fit most popular die cutting machines", The site I bought if from added "...but it is just too big to cut with a cuttlebug". It is a very unstable die, because it is so thin, and all the cutting lines are thin, and it was held onto a backing card with sticky tape that was so strong I really thought I would bend the die trying to remove it. Also, although it does just fit the width of my big shot machine, (and it is only just!), it is actually about half a centemetre longer than a sheet of A4 card, so in length it doesn´t even fit in my big eBosser machine, so I had to cut it part way down, then turn it around to cut the other half. Fortunately I do buy the pads of coloured card that Lidl sells from time to time, and they are European size not A4, so the die did just fit on a sheet of that. I do think they should warn you about this on the website, which was a British company, as most crafters in UK use A4.
Rant over! The good thing was that, as well as the frame, there were twelve smaller dies for cutting panels, either with a straight edge or a tiny scalloped edge. These are both the same size for each panel, so you can´t layer one over the other, it is either or.
So, back to my card.
I was able to use these small dies, I chose the scalloped ones, and several snippets of three  designs from a pad of robin and holly paper that was by Papermania. I bought  it in UK a couple of years ago, and only have very tiny pieces of it left now.The dies made it quick and easy to assemble the card. Then I added the stamped image to the centre section, big  die cut letters from Memory Box to make the word JOY on the front panel, and a very old stamped sentiment from Hero Arts on the back panel.

So tomorrow morning I shall be linking this up at Scrappy-Mo´s blog for the Rudolph Day Challenge, and at Pixie´s Snippet Playground.

I am now working on a second of these cards using a snowy theme. I´ll add an image if I get it finished in time.

When hubby and I toured Thailand a few years ago, the ´in phrase´on T-shirts, signs etc was "Same, same...but Different". Well I managed to make my second card this evening, so here it is - Same, same...but Different!

The main image is one of my all time favourites from Penny Black. I usually stamp it in black, masking off the deer, and add them in brown. But this time I coloured it all with distress marker pens, (chipped sapphire, bundled sage, and vintage photo),   ´huffed´on it,  and stamped. You need quite wet pens, and you have to work quickly, to get a good image this way, but when it works, I like the effect.
The snowflake chains on the front are an Indigo Blu stamp, with iridescent embossing powder. The snowflakes are a Memory Box die, and all the panels are cut from odd snippets from my Christmas box. 








18 comments:

Di said...

Wow Kate - two absolutely beautiful cards here! So interesting about the die set (thanks for the warning as I only have a Cuttlebug) and yes, our paper would be too short :(

I love both cards of course, although the ribbons one just pips the deer one - mostly as the backing paper you'd been squirreling works so well with the robins image :)

Hugs

Di xx

Kathleen said...

Two gorgeous cards and I love the style of the card, a great images and lovely papers.
Thanks for joining in this months Rudolph Day challenge.

Kath x

scrappymo! said...

Oh my goodness...that die sounds like a right pain! But......the finished results were so well worth it!

Thjose trifold cards look fabulous. I have never made one...but manage to pin all sorts of beautiful ones so that must mean I eventually will brave trying one! lol I am such a chicken about new things!

Your robin card is a sweetie too!

Thanks for taking part in the May Rudolph Days Challenge.

Jenny L said...

Hi Kate,
these are gorgeous creations for the Rudolf challenge.
I love your super Robins on the holly branch, and you have coloured the perfectly.
Your other cards are a wonderful shape, and isn't it so clever to make a die for them.
Just a pity as you say that it doesn't fit most machines, you think they would have mentioned it.
Still a true crafty person always finds the answer as you have.
These dies take away all that working out of the sizes, so a good time saver.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

sally said...

Those little birdies all lined up are so sweet! I've never tried one of those multi cut card but maybe one day lol!

Sally

Sally H said...

Wow, Kate! Two stunning cards! The Crafty individuals robins are so lovely - I hadn't even spotted it was holly around the edge! Just beautiful! I totally sympathize over the American sized dies. I will be on the lookout for card in lidl now!

Jean said...

Very impressive card style Kate, the die sounds like a good idea even if it does have a few shortcomings. I love the robins, I was considering using that stamp myself this time, I'm glad I didn't now.
Jean x

kiwimeskreations said...

Wonderful cards Kate, and I hear you about the size of the die, the tape (I have had that issue) and the card size!!
Love the coloured stamp on the deer card, and I think you have made a wonderful set of cards.
Blessings
Maxine

Veerle said...

Two stunning cards Kate.
hugs, Veerle x

Joan said...

Stunning cards! I love the bird one, that stamp has gone on my wish list. Really like your tri shutter cards, the die sounds a real pain but it's good it has the smaller dies too as there us such a lot of cutting and measuring to do. The second one us my favourite, love the colours

Joan

Sarn said...

It's a shame the die is a pain to use because the card shape is FANTASTIC.

Love both the tri-fold ones, plus the cute little robin one at the top of your post.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Sue - said...

Two gorgeous cards! I love robins on a Christmas card! I cut my trifold cards on my Silhouette so I can change the size if I want to. I thought about buying the Tattered Lace dies for making them but I thought they were very expensive unless I was going to make hundreds!

Mrs A. said...

Gret idea to change the birds into robins. Think I will stick to slicing my fingers off. That die sounds much too hard work. Hugs mrs A.

Elizabeth said...

Hi Kate, love these Rudolph Day cards, they are both equally fabulous. Pity about that die - the makers slipped up there! Elizabeth xx

JoZart Designs said...

Love your cards and the £D fold is so effective. You have laid it out so well with those cute robins.The die is new to me and I used to do the fold very easily without a die but it must be quicker and more uniform.
Amazingly I have started making Christmas table centres in patchwork. ME! I don't usually think about it until November!
Thanks for your lovely comment,
Jo x

LesleyG said...

well done on persevering with the die Kate, and at least the panels sound easier! Two fab cards, I love the main images and how you've coloured them xxx

Annie said...

Fabulous Festive cards, and such details. I particularly like that little row of robins, not seen that stamp but might need to look out for it!
hugs, annie x

MaryH said...

Ah, love these sweet robins. Great coloring, and a perfect card for Rudy Day. Thanks for the warning about this die - but your card is lovely. (each of them!) Sounds like a lot of hard work on your part to achieve this stunning look. I think I would have been saying some ugly words when trying to remove the tape...But each of your cards turned out just wonderfully well. You must have the patience of Job to continue, and then to figure out a way around the stumbling blocks. Your posts are always such fun to read through. TFS & Hugs