Christmas card inspiration using Autumn Days

One of the sets I've used most for my Christmas cards this year is not actually a Christmas set at all - it's Autumn Days, a set containing the most beautiful countryside images. I think the sprig of berries and the pine cone images are absolutely perfect for Christmas as well as being useful all the rest of the year too. (To see other cards I've made using this set, go to LABELS on the side bar to the right and click Autumn Days.)

I'm showcasing the gorgeous pine cone image today:

Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a keen fan of the stamp-a-majig. Other crafters may be able to place a sentiment beautifully straight just by eye every time, but I can't... except with my trusty stamp-a-majig! This is an easy-to-use tool that enables you to stamp an image, or part of an image, exactly where you want it. And the exciting thing is that with a stamp-a-majig, you will be able to get more out of your stamps because you'll be able to combine them in new ways. Has anyone spotted my new sentiment stamp? It's actually NOT so new! The 'Christmas' part is from Basic Phrases while the 'wishes' came from the 'Birthday wishes' stamp in Sincere Salutations. Don't they work beautifully together!

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut a 7.5cm square of Whisper White card stock.
• Colour the pine cone stamp with markers and stamp in the top left-hand corner of the card stock. Stamp off about half a centimetre southeast of the main image.
• Colour the stamp again and stamp on a scrap of Whisper White card stock. Cut round the pine cones only with a pair of sharp paper snips and fix them on top of the stamped cones with dimensionals.
• Using a stamp-a-majig for accurate placement, stamp the word 'Christmas' in Real Red ink. Now colour the word 'Wishes' with a Real Red marker and, again using the stamp-a-majig, stamp it making sure the W is below the letters AS of 'Christmas'.
• Mount this panel onto a piece of designer paper cut 8.5cm square and add it to the front of a 10cm square Whisper White card blank.
• Finish the card with a knot of Real Red satin ribbon attached to the pine stem with Sticky Strip (altogether now in your best advertising voices: For Complete and Utter Confidence!)

Supplies
Stamps: Autumn Days, Basic Phrases, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Real Red
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Real Red satin ribbon, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Real Red markers, Jolly Holiday designer paper

It must be cold - and here's how I know: When I met my husband 23 years ago, we both worked at a small publishing house in central London. He was a salesman for a technology newsletter then and often had the opportunity to travel to the big computer shows. One show was held in Moscow where the temperatures were expected to be sub-zero and, as part of his bonus for reaching a sales target, my husband was given the winter coat of his choice. He is a Geordie (from Newcastle in the northeast of England) and they pride themselves on being oblivious to the cold so, although he took the coat, he complained that he had been far too warm in it! Well, it's been bitterly cold here for the last couple of weeks and that Russian coat has made a come-back - looking brand spanking new and very fetching I must say! Brrr - it must be cold!

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you'd like to make an order with me it couldn't be easier!  Just click here to email me and I'll be happy to help you. I'll be back tomorrow with more Christmas inspiration - do call again!