Shaky - In More Ways than One

I've never had much luck with Shaker cards, so my heart sank when Sharon issued the latest challenge for The Daring Cardmakers.
But a challenge is a challenge!

Hi, it's Sharon here with this week's dare and I've chosen:

Shake it Off

I want to see shaker cards this week, and I'd really love to see some creative ways to fill them.

To get you thinking,t here are some ideas from the design team HERE

Tools and Materials

Papers: Simple Stories 6x6 pads

Glitter card, Gold card

Memory Bos Snowflake Wreath die

Sweet Dixie tree die

Spellbinders Circle die

Tiny snowflakes and stars left over from other projects

Glitter, Gems,

Plastic packaging for shaker front (I can't find my acetate sheets) 

As usual when I try to make this kind of card it's a bit of a dog's breakfast and I think it looks more like fog than a starry, snowy scene behind the acetate! 

 It would be too easy to say, "I'm useless at these things so I'll just sit this one out" wouldn't it?.  What I like about being involved with the DCM is the variety of things we are asked to do, and how some weeks' dares will stretch some of us, but not others - we are all different and we all bring different likes. dislikes, skills, styles and techniques to the party - which is probably why we still enjoy doing it every week!
So if you've never made a shaker card before, or if like me they are not something you feel super-confident about - go on, have a go - I dare you!

Thanks for visiting

Sketch File Snowflake panel

I rather liked the effect from using all those tiny snowflakes on my Daring card last Friday, so I thought I'd try using them in another way and incorporate them into a card using the December sketch from The Sketch File Blog  

To keep the snowflakes and stars in the confines of the rectangular panel I washi-taped a rectangular frame die in place then just filled the "hole" with the tiny die cuts.  it's not as fiddly as you'd think - I put a blob of glue on the lid of my glue pot, then use a mini spatula which is just a piece of card (a few cms long)  with one end trimmed to a bit of a point.  Dip the point into the glue, use it to pick up and set the small item in place and repeat till the space is filled.  You don't need to cover the whole of the die cut with glue, just a tiny spot will keep it in place.
When you can't fit any more snowflakes in, use tiny stars, circles, gems, tiny blobs of glitter glue or whatever else you have at hand to fill any gaps. 

Remove the tape and the frame die and finish the card however you fancy. 

 This the sketch:

The Sketch File Blog 

I cut a few larger snowflakes and layered them up to make my card.  On a bit of a roll, and with more snowflakes ans stars still to use I made these too

Now, I reckon this would look fab using other shapes - I'm thinking a nice big star, but whether I'll get round to giving that a go is another thing!

Hope you like these, anyway.  Thanks for visiting

Red and Blue

It's Dawn's first time setting a dare for the Daring Cardnakers this week and to ease her in gently she's chose the colour palette for our last Colour Combo of the year.

The challenge is very simple - just to use any shades of Red and Blue on our cards

"I really do love seeing red and blue on Christmas cards or as a theme for your Christmas tree.  Something a little non traditional.  Hope this weeks challenge kick starts your creativeness ready for the festive season."

My growing snowflake die collection got another workout this week!

 

The papers are from an old Fancy Pants winter collection, along with some glitter card and pearlised card
The dies are from various manufacturers including memory Box, Poppystamps, Crafters Companion and Sweet Dixie.  The small ones are cut using a fabulous 10x10cm plate die by Cheery Lynn - I really use this one loads!


Dawn gave us this photo as a starting point but it was a good job she said any Blue would do!

The snowflake and star "swirl" was originally going to be a simple circle but I got a bit carried away, didn't I? hehe 
Gaps are filled in with tiny stars (EK Success punch), and a few dots which are the "waste"that falls when you use some of the border punches - though in this case it was the waste bits I wanted.

 

I absolutely LOVE the effect of all the tiny snowflakes and stars, even if it was a bit accidental!  I'm going to try and use this idea some more, so "watch this space" to see if I actually get round to it!

Thanks for popping by

Nice and Easy Sketch

I've used the new LO from The Sketch File Blog to make this card,  When I'm so behind with my card-making, a simple and straightforward plan is exactly what I need!

 
The script background is just a scanned piece from "The Night Before Christmas", printed onto some white Bazzill card which I'd previously tinted a very pale grey shade using Paint Shop Pro - because I didn't have a pale enough ready-made piece.
The sentiment with the little snowflakes was printed directly onto the card blank
I've a growing collection of snowflake dies in different sizes so I cut a big batch of them in various colours and papers,  then just do an assembly job until I run out.
Here's the sketch:

The Sketch File December LO

 Oh well, best get back to it then, thanks for looking in