How Time Flies

 Welcome back my Crafty Friends,

Its been a while since I wrote up a blog post, but this doesn't mean that I haven't been making cards. They simply were posted on Facebook and Instagram only.

Well, it's time to revive the blog and what better way to start than with a Christmas card...

You might remember that I like making Christmas cards using stamps or dies the are not necessarily designed with Christmas in mind.

I decided to use Gift Builder #1 and #2 dies by STAMPlorations. Yes you read correctly, after 3 1/2 years of absence Shery has reopened the online store. 

I got tone of pretty paper which cam in handy for the wrapped parcels which I popped up against a green textured background. Some pretties and a die-cut sentiment finished my card off.

On a side note, I added my old STAMPLorations DT watermark to start spreading the message before the official relaunch early next year. Please stay tuned.

That's it from me for today. Hoping to be back tomorrow with more cardmaking inspiration.

hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used 

- from STAMPlorations:

Gift Builder 1 dies

Gift Builder 2 dies

Circles All Over Texture Plate Die

Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies

STAMPlorations are having a big SALE on to welcome everyone back, lots of discounts to be had until the end of December 2025.

- from my stash

star punch, gems, sequins, pretty paper (Raspberry Road Designs) and card stock

Christmas Kickstart Challenge GDT

Hi Crafty Friends!

Today's card is one made as my guest designer piece for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge with the theme Wrapped Up For Christmas. Here it is ...

I was inspired by the cold weather here in the UK and went with the idea of wrapping up to keep warm.

  

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #72

One can never start too early making festive cards. So why not join in the fun, there is a little prize available too. Click here to find out more and join the fun.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used in today's project:

- Media Plates by John Next Door for the background rectangle

- Christmas Reindeer set by STAMPlorations for the snowflake

- all other stamps are from a set by Clearly Besotted which came with a magazine a while ago

Speckled Egg Distress ink, black Memento ink, alcohol markers, glitter and gems

Pastel Dots - Advent Calendar Day 24

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 24 and a few more surprises, the little flower and the dot are two of them ...

The dot was stamped with Periwinkle, Pink Jellybean and Apple Green Prism inks. For movement and interest, the flower heads were stamped randomly to include bits of the coloured dots.

Sentiment and gem finished my card off.

Wishing you all a lovely Christmas Eve!

hugs
Monika 💕

Advent Calendar stamps by Crafty Roo Designs

For My Friend - Advent Calendar Day 23

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 23 and this little sentiment popped up ...

I used the stamp from a few days ago to stamp my partial flower before finishing off with a metal embellishment and a couple of de-bossed lines.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs
Monika 💕

Advent Calendar stamps by Crafty Roo Designs

Being Different - Advent Calendar Day 22

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 22 and another little stamp popped up. Not sure exactly what is is meat to be, but it's certainly a good one for adding a splash off colour ... as you can see ...

I'm sure in the fullness of time I'll find other uses for it too. Simply stamped, coloured with brush markers and finished off with a couple of gems ... that's today's card.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs
Monika 💕

Advent Calendar and sentiment stamps by Crafty Roo Designs.

Be You - Advent Calendar Day 21

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 21 and another floral surprise which I turned into the card below ...

I used some Color Box cat eye pigment ink pads for the background by using them as stamps. Literally had them for ages hence the colours have a nice pastel-y look. Picked Raspberry DI for splatters, a stamped sentiment, gems and doodled border finished my card off

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs
Monika 💕

Advent Calendar and sentiment stamps by Crafty Roo Designs.

The Bright Side 2 - Advent Calendar Day 20

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 20's surprise was the little flower ...

... which I used to stamp my border. It would make a lovely background pattern too.

The flowers were coloured with marker pens and my 10 cm x 10 cm card was finished off with a bold sentiment.

Advent Calendar and sentiment stamps by Crafty Roo Designs.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs
Monika 💕