Get Cracking on Christmas 2021 - August

Hi Everyone,

Can you believe it's August already? Christmas is fast approaching, and if you still haven't started on your Christmas cards, why don't you join us, to build up your stash in advance? If you are new to Get Cracking on Christmas, please check out Jenn's blog here - she is the master-mind behind this initiative, and is the best one to explain it! :o)

Today's cards are real stunners, although in the photos they maybe don't look that nice - I find shimmery cards really hard to photograph, I'm sorry! 

This fantastic Tree of Lights stencil by Trinity Stamps is a real must have in your Christmas stash, I believe - it helps creating gorgeous cards and timeless designs in no time! I was planning on adding a simple strip with a sentiment on top of the Christmas trees, but I honestly think that the images speak for themselves - I will make sure to add some nice stamped sentiments inside instead!

What I believe really finishes these cards off are the gorgeous colourful baubles - not only do they add some colour & texture, but they also help with filling up some areas that I thought looked perhaps a bit empty.

Which colour do you like best?

In case you're looking for more inspiration with this stencil, I also made a non-traditional card with it last year, which you can see here.

Stay safe and crafty,

Mirella

SUPPLY LIST (please see affiliate disclaimer & essential supplies info here):

Glitter paper - from my stash 

FROM TRINITY STAMPS SHOP:

Blending Buddies

Tree of Lights layering Stencil

Shiny Baubles Embellishments

Joyeux Noel Coordinating Die set

FROM SIMON SAYS STAMP:

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Get cracking on Christmas 2021 - January

 Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and that the first few weeks of 2021 have been good to you!

For me personally, 2021 has been pretty crappy so far, I am afraid, but I am hoping that this means that it can only get better! ;0)

As you may remember, I promised myself to make 2-3 Christmas cards each month last year, and - whilst I didn't get the chance to blog about all of them - I did actually manage to keep myself to that promise! It made my pre-Christmas time really relaxing from the card-making & card-sending point of view (I had everything in the post by the end of November!), and so I decided to continue with this process in 2021.

To my delight, the amazing Jenn Shurkus invited me to join her in her initiative called "Get cracking on Christmas", where like-minded Christmas obsessed and highly organised (yeah right) people like Jenn herself and I invite you to that little challenge, of making something Christmassy each month. Every month, on the third Thursday of the month, a bunch of crafters will be sharing their inspiration with you, in the hope that you will join in, and share your makes with us, too! Jenn will even be hosting a FB Live every month, where she'll be talking about how she made her cards, and share other crafty news with you - this will be a great opportunity to mingle, and perhaps even craft at the same time?! 

Pop over to Jenn's blog, to read all the nitty gritty details!

Here are my two cards for this month (you don't need to make two, this is my personal challenge for myself, to attempt 2-3 each month), I hope you like them! 

They were a breeze to make, since that lovely stamp set by Woodware pretty much does all the work for you. I am sorry, I do believe that it's out of stock at most retailers at present, but keep an eye out, I am sure it will be back soon! 

A bit of heat embossing with a touch of an ink dauber, or simply stamping and a tad of coloured pencil, and voila! I also sprayed these with some shimmery sprays (home-made, with the use of Perfect Pearls), but it was hard to capture in the photos - in real life, they sparkle beautifully!

If you are new to my blog - welcome! I would encourage you to say hello over at my Instagram (@handmadebymirella), which is where I mostly post my makes. I have had a hiatus since early December over there, but I am hoping to come back to crafting in February! There's also a destash page (@destashbymirella) which you can check out, if you're after some goodies at reduced prices. I can post worldwide!

Oh, and in case you're curious what I made last year - hop over here. 

See you again next month!

Stay safe and crafty,

Mirella

SUPPLY LIST (please see affiliate disclaimer & essential supplies info here):

kraft paper - from my local stationery shop (very thin, but with some tooth - cool for coloured pencils)

golden accents  - peel offs from my stash