Christmas knitwear and holly

Before I start today, can I just say a sincere thank you to all those who have left me such kind messages while I've been ill and to my customers who have been so patient and thoughtful. It really isn't like me to take to my bed, but sometimes the rug just gets pulled from under your feet...

Anyway, I'm back today with a card for Less is More where there's a colour challenge - Red and Green. What could be more appropriate for the festive season?! Here's my effort:

This year I've been enjoying playing with the contrast between woolly backgrounds and seasonal greenery. The background here has been stamped using a variety of stamps from Make a Mitten, while the sprig is from the two-step stamping set Watercolour Winter.

You've seen me use Watercolour Winter loads this season as I love it to bits, but I wanted to show you this picture because this is what the sprig looks like when it has its outline stamp 'coloured in' with the filler stamp. It's not supposed to match up exactly which is what gives it this wonderful arty style. I spent a few minutes cutting my holly out with my sharp paper snips for this card which is something I enjoy, but it's not one to make in large batches!

The sentiment and the berries were stamped in Riding Hood Red, which I thought contrasted nicely with the Bravo Burgundy knitted background, and I chose Garden Green for the holly leaves from the same colour collection.

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Make a Mitten, Watercolour Winter, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso classic inks, Riding Hood Red and Garden Green markers
Card stock: Very Vanilla
Other: Stamp-a-majig, paper snips
I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and have them delivered straight to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on +44 (0) 1280 820593. Check out current special offers here.

I found it pretty scary being ill, especially as my husband wasn't well for a day or two either (although he's so macho he just carried on regardless!) While I was in bed, the children came to visit me regularly and my youngest son was his usual uplifting self. "Mummy I've just realised..." he cried one evening, bursting into my room. "ALL my life..." he began, as though his eleven years stretched back for decades. "I've been thinking that I've been making a penguin noise - but really I've just been doing a duck!"

See you tomorrow,