How long have you been following Ashbee Design? Since 2011 when I started? If it has been a lot of years you will know that each year I design and make my own Christmas Card. Even during these years of declining Christmas Card sending I still do it. And I often share the ideas here- generally not until the following year. I have abandoned that trend. If you are on my Christmas Card list and don't want a spoiler - stop reading here.

Otherwise....

2020 will be another zig zag card following on the two previous years. I have just uploaded to my website the Zig Zag Presents Christmas Card.

It is a great crafting design because it is so customizable. All the wrapping papers are from my stash of craft supplies. What is in your stash? If you want to try using some of it up on this design download the cutting file here for $2.99. The easy-to-follow assembly tutorial is online here.

Have you realized yet that this file can also be used as a birthday card? Just use different papers!

And the download comes with a template for making the perfect envelope. It has been designed so that you can also use a standard 6 x 9" booklet envelope. If you are making a lot of cards to send you might prefer that option.

Be sure to share photos of your versions of this design with me at marji@3dcuts.com on in the online facebook crafting groups.

Happy crafting,

Marji

Tea Light Village 2020 - New Buildings!

 I started Tea Light Village in 2013 and I have added to it every year. Making 3d buildings was one of the initial reasons I purchased my Silhouette and it hasn't disappointed.  For 2020 I visited the ocean. The two new additions are a classic  lighthouse with keeper's cottage and a lobster shack with little picnic tables.

It is good to have another taller structure for the village to add variety. The village has gotten so long that it is hard to photograph. My sister lent me her mantle and I made this short video.

You'll notice that it is a thinner display. I found that my standard Hexagon bases were too wide for a narrow mantle so I designed a new series that take one corner of creating and irregular pentagon. It meshes well with the pentagon base and gives you more display options. Here is the layout I used. It even includes a little gap for the covered bridge to span.

If you are interested in making the village or expanding your current one the files for the buildings and the bases are available here.

All the assembly tutorials are here. There are links to the paper and lights I used in the assembly tutorial.

Happy crafting everyone!

Marji