Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge - Saturday 26 April 2014

I am pleased to say that most weeks I am managing to make a Christmas card - well one is better than none and certainly better than a manic rush come October/November/December time.

The challenge over at the Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge this week is "festive food and/or drink".  I have used some die-cut decoupage a friend bought me for Christmas.  It was from DoCrafts and came with backing paper, sentiments, ribbons and self-adhesive letters.  It's a gorgeous set as it includes some non-traditional images but what I like most is that it is all printed onto linen effect paper which makes it look so nice.  

I normally struggle with smaller bits of die-cut decoupage and getting the adhesive on.  Due to the cost of postage I either use 1mm high foam pads or double-sided tape.  You get the effect of decoupage but not the height.  I had a brainwave and thought about turning over the decoupage sheet and sticking the adhesive on the back before pushing the pieces out of the backing piece.  It made such a difference and made the whole process so much easier that I shall whizz through putting the rest of the sheets together.  All I will say, why didn't I think of that sooner???

I have used a free Christmas embossing folder border on an edge of card.  I have inked around this and the topper with my Tim Holtz Festive Berries distress ink.

I have finished the card off with a sentiment from the decoupage sheet and some peel-off gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Fantastic Tuesday - Anything goes

Simon Says - Keep it clean and simple

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Embossing

Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Completely Christmas - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge - Festive food and/or drink

Crafting at the Week-end - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge - Anything goes

Sentimental Sundays - Clean and simple

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Paper piecing or Top Tip - TOP TIP ONLY - turn over a piece of die-cut decoupage and if you are using double-sided tape or foam pads to do the decoupage put it on the pieces of die-cut decoupage before pushing out of the sheet.  This makes such a difference as it is a whole lot easier putting the adhesive on with the piece held in place.  I just wish I'd thought of it sooner!!
Artistic Inspirations - Swirls and pearls/anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes