I NEVER start early enough, I ALWAYS end up making cards after the last date of posting - this year is no exception.  Some people will be getting new year cards instead, but for a few locals I'll be hand delivering so I knocked out a few bauble themed cards this weekend using the November release from The Greetery.

I started with the Twinkle Background - I love this die - it does exactly what it says on the tin - adds twinkle to your projects.   I've used it a couple of different ways.   For my first batch of cards I die cut it, poked out the little round holes but left the stars in place and painted those with a subtle pearl white-gold shimmer.   Next I cut theJumbo Teardrop Ornament (my favourite shape of the baubles in both sizes) in shades of red, aquas and gold and layered them up with a sparkly gem in the centre for extra bling.   I couldn't make my mind up on their placement so as I was doing multiples, I switched it around with some central, one to the left and one to the right - which do you prefer - I'm still not sure!  I hung them from sentiment strips in matching colours using a little string tucked behind foam tape - the sentiment is from Boughs and Holly from Concord and 9th.

Poking all the holes out and painting the stars takes a little time, so as I needed to make some more cards quickly (I started these backgrounds a while ago!) I thought I'd just grab my embossing mat and see how the background embossed - and I have to say I love the look!   I made a couple of differnt looks with them.  Firstly I used another of my teardrops and added a big bow using the Figgy Pudding Bow Topper which is the perfect size to pair with the ornament dies too.  To hang it from the card, this time I just used a black fine liner to trace the dots and circles on the "line" I hung the ornament on - this brings the one line from the background to the fore.

I used the same trick on the second card but this time I added two ornaments on two different lines and missed off the bow.  The Spire Ornament is the perfect pairing to the tear drop.

If you don't have the twinkle background (it sold out fast but is now back in stock) then the baubles work well on their own too as they are large enough to be the focal point of a CAS card.  I dug out some ancient handmade papers and used those to make my last two cards - for the first I used the Spire from teal card (the silver dot is actually the middle of the hanging part of the die - its a perfect fit!) and just double mounted it on some papers and stamped the sentiment across the ornament.

The final card is the most CAS of all - I used some the handmade paper and die cut the Jumbo Round Ornament from it and just added one band of gold and a bow.  If you die cut all the baubles at once, you can put a few cards together in under an hour (I made 9 this morning)

Hopefully that's given you a few ideas for last minute cards if you're in the same unorganised position as I am today!

NEWS FROM THE STORE

Concord and 9th's last two releases are scheduled for delivery today, but as of now (3pm) they've not arrived.   Things have been very late recently as all the couriers are snowed under with Christmas deliveries.  Will get them online asap after they arrive.

The store will cease shipping on THURSDAY THIS WEEK until 3rd January whilst we take our Christmas break and HOPEFULLY the backlogs in the mail system are cleared over that period too so we can start afresh in January.

Catch you later

Tara