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Thursday 4 November 2010

...'Twas still the night before...


Ah that's better! I bought a light tent and some lights, the weather here is not conducive to good photos at the mo' and it's only going to get worse as the winter draws in!! It may take me a week or two to get things the way I really want them, but frankly this mornings pic of my card was not the best...these are still not perfect but we're getting there...lol

So, I held back my pics and took them again when I had a bit more time!

This is my second post today as we kick off the November new stamps release here at WMS! So scroll down, you will want to visit the DT girlies today for sure!!!!!


This card features the window stamp from the Twas the Night before... set that I was telling you about this morning (scroll down). My dad used to read this to us every year at Christmas, and this is maybe the one stamp set that I have done that he would have appreciated! lol! He loved this poem.

Anyhow, I took my cue from the poem and designed a little window, you know the lines:

"Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash."

Well I'm in love with shutters! I always dreamed of one of those big clapboard New England houses with shutters...not too many of them over here tho...

So I drew me a cute window frame, made it fit the Spellbinders Labels 14 die template - isn't that just the most perfect label shape ever??? Added some window stamps, a closed window, an open window and a stutter stamp! I'm in heaven. OOOdles of possible combinations and loads of wee things to put in the window....more on that later, I might just spend the whole release on this one stamp set...

In my window today, I have a wee mouse...I know, I know, technically 'nothing' was stirring not even the mouse...but hey... who says the little guy isn't sleeping on the window sill, basking in the warm glow from inside!

Do you notice the background? It contains an image of the actual poem, the first six verses to be exact. It is such a long poem that It would have been impractical to use it all, but I think the first six verses are possibly the most well known, and i think it's plenty to use for a background stamp.

I stamped the poem in brown memento ink onto a cream car base. I stamped around the edge with some foliage stamps from another new set Festive Foliage and then I sponged heavily. The next two pics show before and after sponging. Do you like my sponge stamp pad? my tiny girlie decorated it for me with pics of us all.


You can see how the poem fits onto the front of a standard card front, 4.25 x 5.5 inches. I added some detail at the sides with stamps from the new Festive Foliage set, releasing Sunday also.




Such a pretty window. I can see this in Spring with a row of little flowers along the window sill, must get me some of that flower soft stuff, that would be great for this! In my card today I added the window sashes, and the shutters and I want to show you how this is done, but I will do that in the next post, there are already a load of pics in this one.


Back to this mornings card, I wanted to share a close up, can you see how I edges the centre panel in Gold Glimmer (Shimmerz, bling, courtesy of my buddy Bev at precious scraps!) I also painted the little snowflake with it. The snowflake was a Spellbinders Borderability Snowflake border, cut out of dark brown card and popped up on a little foam.


I do love the font in this sentiment, and I love the mix of the vintage font with the clean lines of the Nordic inspired candle arch, I think they work very well together.

I promised to show how I cut the centre panel, I stamped the candle arch and sentiment on a scrap of card and then slid it up under the top portion of a Spellbinders heirloom ornaments die template, I think it was the largest one...ran it through the cuttlebug and it left a lovely shaped top to my panel. I made one exactly the same size in brown card and then stuck the two together, cream over brown, with the brown point downwards. See main pic of card.


The patterned paper frame, was a plain cream square stamped with a snowflake tag stamp from the Around Christmastime set also due Sunday the little dot is from Vintage Ornaments. I cut out the centre with a Spellbinders labels 3 die template. I used the same size die template to make an embossing on a plain brown card square of the same size.

I adhered the two together with tape around the edges and little dimensionals placed just beyond the embossing. I wanted my patterned paper to sit up off the brown card a little to help show the embossing, you can see how it sits up nicely in the main pic.


Hope it tickles, back later with a post on the window!

32 comments:

  1. Oh My, Claire!!!! Ummmmm ... I can hardly speak, actually! Your shutters card is so beautiful, it's taken my breath away. The golden glow, the open shutters, the imagary, the rich satin ribbon, the background poem ... sheer perfection!! I love the sponging on your poem page, it's so rich. Your tutorial is brilliant, as always. Wow ... what a release this is going to be ... the waiting is unbearable!! Way to go, Claire!

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  2. Your shutters card is just gorgeous!

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  3. Whoa. What fantastic cards. I am in love with the "lighting" coming from the windows and all of the colors and nesties you used...just really beautiful. I love the idea of using the actual poem as background..what a fabulous idea that could for so many different occasions.

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  4. I just love the attention to detail like the mouse in the window. You do such a good job at that with all your stamp sets. Amazing work - makes me want to stay home and play but the boss wouldn't be happy!

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  5. Claire everytime I think you cant get better, you do! This is beautiful!

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  6. WOW! Absolutely gorgeous! I love this stamp concept and your samples are so beautiful!

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  7. Heh, your new sponge pad is just lovely! :) And the card is stunning as well! The fun shape of the second card is lovely as well!

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  8. the shape created by using the die that way is wonderful. Great idea. TFS

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  9. OK, I'm in. Bring on the new release. C2

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  10. These cards are beautiful, Claire. They are so rich and warm! Especially perfect for these holiday cards! I am so glad you created this set - it really is very special!

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  11. STUNNING!!
    So gorgeous you are such an artist.
    LOVE this card and the shutters love them too!!

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  12. WOW Claire!! Absolutely stunning on BOTH accounts! :) Just marvelous my dear...marvelous!

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  13. Amazing! Your creativity knows no bounds! Just stunning.

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  14. Claire,
    You are so creative: I didn't even want to buy any Christmas stamps, but with the lovely window and shutters, and the beautiful Nordic inspired candle arch (My mom's dad was half danish and half swedish) I'm just going to have to change my mind!! Your cards are beautiful and so fun: Your things always "tickle"!

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  15. EEEKK!!!! How cute is that window set! A must get for sure and love how it works with the still need to get labels die :)

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  16. Gorgeous card Claire, get tips, very inspiring!

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  17. Claire! As soon as I saw your shutters card I was itching to show it to my DH - he's loved that poem forever and I could just hear him chuckling over it, in my mind :0) Well I've had my opportunity and he *WAS* totally tickled - it's just gorgeous!! (P.S. the holiday greens look scrumpty too!)

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  18. Love Twas the Night Before Christmas! We read it year round at my house. Maybe it's because we have the SUPER cool Robert Sabuda pop-up version? I dunno... but it's a favorite. That is for sure. Love the mouse in the window. and the warm colors on the 1st card. Dimension and the layers. Love the background snowflake pattern you created. I could keep going, but i'll stop. Looking forward to seeing more tomorrow.
    THANK YOU for sharing

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  19. GASP!!! Wow Claire both cards are AMAZING, but that first card is to die for!! GORGEOUS!!!

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  20. OK, I'm confused about where to comment with this one. Left comment below for this one, and it hasn't changed. But love them both. I'm just blown away by both of these cards!

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  21. "Hope it tickles" she says.
    It tickles, Claire, it TICKLES.

    I want that wee mousie on MY windowsill!!! How sweet is this set, I ask ya. Oh my word, this is stunning. Can we just skip straight to the release, like RIGHT NOW???

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  22. I love windows as they give us all a glimpse of something wonderful just on the other side. Your creativity is awesome. This window stamp is going on my WISH LIST for sure!

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  23. Oooh, I love the "glow" you created with that first card! So magical! Your lightbox seems to be doing the trick - great photos!

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  24. Thanks for all the how-tos! I can already tell I love Festive Foliage too! Your glowing windows are amazing!

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  25. Oh, Claire, this window is just amazing!!! I love it!! Oeh, yes, you could do soooo much with that and that mouse is so cute! Is he waltzing? Thought I just saw him waltz? Hi hi!! Perfect card!!!
    Hugs, Wendy

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  26. i've fallen in love with the little window. ahh it's a lost cause. the ornament trick is just fabulous - and i love the reindeer. they do remind me like the wooden christmas decorations that you can find in christmas markets in Germany. Swoon!

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  27. Claire, I absolutely love the card with that window, it's so beautiful and the card you made with it is jus great. Together with the wonderful background and the ribbon it's a perfect card. I think I'm going to need those labels 14, they just fit perfectly with this wonderful window.

    Look forward to seeing more!

    Kind regards
    Carola

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  28. No doubt about it ... I just HAVE TO HAVE these stamp sets! Not because I want them ... but because I NEED them ... really NEEEEEED them!

    Luv'n'Stuff
    Max
    xx
    Max's Craft Creations
    Bah! Humbug! Challenges DT

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  29. Oh, it tickles. It definitely tickles! Why did I never think to turn the #3 die on its diagonal? I'm going to try this as soon as i get off the computer!

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  30. Oh love the tutorial and tip! Thanks for sharing! its awesome!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment, :) I read them all and I appreciate you taking time to visit!