Sunday 27 October 2013

Whooo Whooo loves Christmas?

Saw this cute little owl stamp at Michael's and couldn't resist.  Just loved his cheeky look and sweet toque, and wanted to colour him up, right away! Thank goodness for those great 40% off Michael's coupons. lol

I have to make a number of fairly flat Christmas cards that will need to be mailed. These cards will have to fit through the standard postage slot, so that has dramatically influenced my card designs this month.  Hopefully this one will pass through the infamous tester slot! It does not have any layers that are pop dotted...The only depth is from the layers of paper and card stock.


I stickled the fur on the toque and on the front of the owl. Here is a bit of a close up to see the sparkle.

I read about Spica pens on my friend Mary H's blog Carolina Cards  http://carolinacardsbymaryh.blogspot.ca/
I picked up a couple of them and used the graphite colour to outline the stamped image. Just gives it a little shimmer! I was happy with the result...thanks Mary.

I attended a monthly crop tonight...4pm till midnight  at a friends house...brought along my owls and all the trimmings I needed and managed to make 5 cards! That is probably a record for me as I am the worlds slowest cardmaker. I love the social aspect of a crop almost as much as the creating...and this one always included a yummy meal to start the evening. Good food, great coffee and lovely girls...what more could a crafter hope for!

Our hostess Gloria even had a little gift for all of us....a sweet pillow box stuffed full of chocolates!

Gloria has a gorgeous, walkout basement scrapbook room. She has a group of friends over once a month to craft together. She had 2 different yummy, homemade pizzas for supper, and it was my turn to bring dessert. I brought Halloween decorated sugar cookies (sorry forgot to take a picture) and a Costco cheesecake which was a medley of 4 different recipes.

After watching Gloria use her Cameo to create the most wonderful title on her scrapbook page, I must say I am hooked! Think I might have to put this on my Christmas wishlist. She also has an electric Big Shot...What heaven that was! Push a button and the dies slide through!!! My hands and wrists are really flared up from my arthritis at the moment so it was such a treat to use her machine. Maybe another one for the wish list!

Recipe
Card base and envelope - from my stash (originally Michaels Recollections, square textured cards
Design Paper - red and green striped, Making Memories Twinkle
Designer Paper - Red and white polkadots, snippets of 12 x 12 Making Memories Twinkle, Glitter snowflake strip "B side"
Designer Paper - Green damask - snippets of 12 x 12 Echo Park, Style Essentials Green Damask
Card stock - snippets of red velvet for the corner dies, and white and also kraft,for the diecuts
Dies - Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets and Impression Obsession Snowflakes
Dies - Memory Box, leafy branch
Corner Die - Quickcuts
Bling - from my stash of red diamonds
Stamp - Stampendous - Owl on a branch
Sentiment - another Joy that I stamped a couple of months ago and don't have stamped off in my stamp binder yet. Need to sit down and get that done!

I am entering this card in the following challenges
1. Pixies Crafty Workshop - must use snippets
2. Stamping or Pleasure Rudolph Day - must be Christmas
3. CHNC Extra - must be Christmas, anything goes
4. Marks Finest Papers Christmas Challenge - must be Christmas
5. Hiding in my Craft Room - use a critter



35 comments:

Craftin Suzie (Susan Wykes) said...

Hi Maureen a totally adorable card. Love the owl stamp you certainly know how to get a bargain! An electric Big Shot that sounds fantastic I have a Big Shot Pro and it is hard work sometimes. I got a Cameo for my birthday and I do love it!! Susan x

Sarn said...

Hi Mo . . . this is just GORGEOUS - what a cute owl and I like how you've used the Spica pens. Thank you for the prize in this month's Rudolph Day.

Hugs
Sarn xxx

Joanna Wiśniewska said...

Lovely card :)

Hettie said...

This is gorgeous Mo! Love the image and you have just reminded me I have a similar owl but without the hat!
I have a Silhouette (the original one) and I love it. I use it a lot, though probably not as much as I should!
Good Luck on getting one from FC!
Hugs
xx

brenda said...

Still in c&p mode I'm afraid but wanted to take a peek to say beautiful colours and design and as always a super creation.

B x

McCrafty's Cards said...

Gorgeous card Mo, I like the owl image and the papers.
Kevin xx

cotnob said...

This is a fabulous card Maureen, I love your adorable little owl and lovely christmas papers.
Pauline
x

Darnell said...

Wait. What? An electric Big Shot?! Praise God, I never knew there was such a thing and I'm off to have a chat with Mr. Google about it. Thanks for sharing, Maureen!

Your crop sounds like it was educational, informative, productive, and fun - woot woot!!

You sweet layered owl card is fantastic!! I love those spica pens, too. Hugs, Darnell

Karen Petitt said...

Even though you haven't used any dimensional pads underneath it has great depth Mo. I love the stamp, but I've a 'thing' for owls lol!
Hope your RA settles for you soon, sending you hugs and letting you know you are not alone huni, swollen and inflamed fingers over here. I think I may have to save for a while and get myself the Crafters Companion electric die cutter - it takes up to A4 embossing folders and all other dies, including the old Sizzix, I have a few old ones and am struggling even with my beloved Cuttlebug at the moment x

Planetsusie said...

Hi there Maureen - this has brought a real smile to my face! he is such a sweetie with his tiny Christmas tree - aaaaah! There's lots of interesting stuff on here for a 'fairly flat' card and I love it.

Hugs to you Sue Pxxx

Jenny L said...

Hi Maureen,
super card. I love that Christmas owl.
great design too.
I am a collector of owls, hence my blog design.
Your crafty group sounds very lovely and very yummy.
Lots of love. Jenny L.

Pia S said...

Great layout and a fun combination of patterns and colors! I don't know what it is about owls, but I never seem to get tired of them. Cute Christmas card!

MaryH said...

Your owl is a cutie, and colored up so well on this card. So glad you are happy with the Spicas. They do glitter. Be sure to not store them up-down, but sideways (in case you didn't know). Had to laugh at your 'being the slowest cardmaker', thought I had that post! Lucky you to have a congenial group to craft & have fun with. Sounds delightful. This is a wonderful card, and your layering is beautiful with this little fella. TFS & Hugs

MaryH said...

Oops, forgot to mention this: I had an electric B/Shot & loved it. However, Sizzix replaced it for me with a Vagabond, because I was having it stop in the middle of the plates. Couldn't move it back or forward. The motor overheats & when I contacted Sizzix they wrote a reply that this was a known problem, they no longer offer the EBS & sent me a Vagabond. Just FYI. Your friend may not have this problem, but Redanne had the same problem I did, and I believe got hers replaced too. It was a lovely product - much easier than turning a crank. Hope this will help in your decision making. Hugs

Mary said...

Sweet little owl,,,you surrounded him with lots of pretties. Loved your comment about mailing. Our postmaster not only does the slot test, then he does the bend test...I'm also trying to keep it flat. I put the Teresa Collins electric die cut machine on my Chrisstmas list. I hope Santa is listening. FYI. I purchased the Sharpies in a set and I love them for those tiny places that need color. I got mine at Office Depot.

Di said...

OVE this card Mo - no wonder you fell for that lovely owl stamp.

Over here you can buy proper gauges with slots in, to check the thickness of cards before trotting off to the Post Office. It saves loads of time in the Post Office of course, sadly a lot of my cards fall into the thicker category but I decided to stop fretting over that. Figured that it's a hobby I love and if need be I'll be sending a lot at large letter rate anyhow :) Just need to go rob a bank now.

And what a super evening you had with your friends - shared crafting is such great fun isn't it.

Playing a bit of catch-up with commenting, sorry I'm late!!

Hugs, Di xx

Di said...

Hi again Mo - a thought. Do you know the dimensions you need to adhere to in Canada for letters? If the thickness is the same then I can send you a gauge like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helix-HP5010-Postal-Charge-Template/dp/B000PIZAHA

I find the main use is the thinner slot as that's obviously mostly for cards.

Email me if you want more info :)

Hugs, Di xx

Jules said...

Hi Mo

A great owl card .. .. our shops are full of owls tucked onto various gifts and cards at the moment .. .. so you are "very on trend" LOL!!

A lot of my customers want "flat" cards .. .. always a bit more tricky to produce I find as it is so tempting to add a big ribbon bow or embellishment. It doesn't take much to kick a card into the next postal bracket!!!

Hope all is good with you.

Love Jules xx

debby4000 said...

Oh this is sooo cute
luv
Debby

Di said...

Me again, we're playing ping-pong here :)

Just checked my heavy duty plastic gauge and the thickness is 5mm, same as Canada, the rest could be measured anyhow as you rightly say.

Just shout if I can help!

Hugs, Di xx

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Hi Maureen - that owl card is a HOOT! It makes me smile! Love all your layers, sooo pretty!

Julia Aston said...

That IS a cutie pie owl! love the idea of outlining with the Spica pen - and I have a couple of them so I can try it out!

Di said...

Deal done re. the postal gauge! No arguments though Mo, you've been too generous already - it's a pressie for a lovely lady :) I need to check out my local stationery store first as they also stock them, good quality robust plastic too. Perhaps a prize one week in the Playground as we all seem to be suffering these days!

Hugs, Di xx :)

Sue said...

Hi Mo!! sorry I'm late getting round to comment but haven't been too well, but oh my that owl is the cutest! love it!! hope you and your family are all well take care hun lots of love Sue xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kathleen said...

Fabulous card and a super cute image, and not forgetting the glitter, well you do have to have glitter at Christmas.
Thanks for the tip about coffee and Baileys, lol.

Kath x

Barbara said...

I love the addition of stickles on your card. That owl is adorable.

Tracy said...

Such a cute card :)
There is nothing more enjoyable than creating with friends.
Happy that you enjoyed yourself :)

Mary Jo said...

Such an adorable card!

Christine said...

Great card. Thanks for the info on the Sepia pens. I may have to try them.

Loving the idea of a Postal gauge. I'm always at the post office because my cards won't go through standard mail.

Great to see you joining the challenges at MFP's. I had missed you recently.

Mrs A. said...

Your owl is really the cutest. lovfe the stickles which shows up beautifully on the close up.
The handle finally fell off my big shot!! I have managed to put it back together but the thread has gone on the screw. Too much usage!!! Though it was second hand from EBay. I rather fancy a Spellbinders Grand Caliber but not a brand new one at those prices. Went on EBay and bid for one. I was the highest bidder at £21 and then the seller withdrew it so I was not best pleased.
Hugs Mrs A.

designermc said...

What a cute card. I love all the Owl images that are out there right now. The stickles add so much to the card! Thanks for joining us this week at HIMCR.
Nancy,DT

Craftyhugs said...

hi honey
Love this christmas card!
It is gorgeous and love the image
Hugs xx

Carol said...

Fab card Maureen. Carol x

Anonymous said...

Aww he's such a cutie, love the outline with the glitter pen, it really stands out.

Hugs
Brenda

Melanie Rozwood said...

This is cute. I like the mix of papers. Thanks for playing at HIMCR.