Hello Tall Tales and Animal Stories Cards and Bag

On ordering the Carousel Notes, my lovely upline, Helen, said to me "what on earth do you do with Chocolate Chip envelopes?" - was that a challenge?





I know what you are thinking "So where are the Chocolate Chip envelopes?"





In here.......





I used the envelopes to create 'pockets' for the cards and white envelopes to fit in!! I made four recess cards using the Animal Stories stamp set and the Tall Tales DSP along with Chocolate Chip ribbon in various forms and Funky Forest standard wheel makes an appearance too, oh, and Pocket Silhouette.

Trying to do four recess cards was a bit of a nightmare, but I think they turned out OKish.

Merry Moments Stocking

I apologise for the lack of posts recently, but we have entered silly season in the Austin household. Husband's birthday on the fourth, he then went away on business and left me with an over-excited five year old, family for big lunch, pressies to sort out, decorations to put up, oh and new kitchen, bathroom and downstairs loo flooring to sort out!!!! I kept walking past my craft room and gazing longingly at everything but just did not have time to sit and play. Then when I eventually had some time to craft I got crafter's block! Phew, anyway......

Sorry, I just couldn't resist. After making the wreath I had some holly-ish leaves left and didn't know what to do with them. As I do not have a christmas stocking, (and no chance of anyone actually buying me one!!) I thought I would make my own! Unfortunately it is only a front so Santa couldn't actually fit David Boreanaz in it.... maybe next year, Santa, please......

I love this red baubley Merry Moments DSP and teamed it with Very Vanilla. I sponged Creamy Caramel around the edges for the 'aged' look and added some of my left-over holly-ish leaves and berries. I added faux stitching around the Very Vanilla to finish it off.

Merry Moments wreath

It has taken me a very long time to get my head around this. I found a foam wreath ring at the NEC and have sat looking at it since then. I finally plucked up courage to start it, the hardest part was deciding 'Do I punch out scallop ovals and hope they look hollyish?' or 'Do I draw out all the leaves and cut them out with scissors?'.

The first thing I had to do was cover the whole ring with thin strips of Garden Green CS using PVA - never again!!! I used the Scallop Oval punch (!) to punch out Garden Green and Merry Moments leaves which I scored down the centre and then sponged with Creamy Caramel ink around the edges. The poinsettia-style flowers were punched with two of the 5 Petal Punch and layered with flowers from the Flower Fusion and they were all joined using brads. A bow of 5/8 Real Red grosgrain finished it off.

Would I make another one - not a chance!! Well, ask me next year ........