Pop Out Nativity Decoration

 

     This is not a card, it's a decoration made with card using a card die. I made two cards with this die set and when I picked them up to move them they fitted together rather well, so I played around and worked out it would make a nice circular decoration, this one has three sections but it would work just as well with four.

    As I wanted three different sections and it's for Christmas what could be better than the nativity as a theme. Raiding my die sets I found I was one short so I have to thank Rene for lending me hers.

    Armed with wise men, the stable and some shepherds I worked out who would go where by which way they were facing. I also got a little happy with the scissors and chopped off a few bits here and there so they suited my plan. 

     The front band on these cards doesn't have a fold line on it, it's what gives it the ability to stand well, this is also where I wanted to add the greetings. To get the right height I cut the scene part first and then cut the band, taking great care not to cut off the scene. This can be achieved by slipping the scene part over the top of the die to avoid the cutting edge, just making sure the 'sandwich' in the machine was not too strong as it may have creased the scene.

     For the folding tabs inside I followed the same procedure with the exception of the donkey and camel, these were on different dies so I had to get creative with my cutting plates. I cut the donkey first, putting the top plate over the donkey but short of the other end of the tab, then I cut the camel by putting the top plate over the camel but short of the donkey. It sounds complicated but it really isn't, a machine will only cut if the sandwich is thick enough so if there's a thick layer missing it won't be able to cut.

     

     Once all the bands were cut I used the stencil greetings to cut them and added silver glitter card on the inside to sparkle through the words.

     I cut three sets of silver mirri mats and three sets of white card for the backings. For the wise men and the shepherds I embossed with stars but for the stable I used a ray of light folder on the white layers.

     When I glued the mat layers I left the bottom corners free so I could tuck the band underneath them for a tidier finish.

     To make the stable scene special I cut the angel, a star and the family in silver holographic card, mounting the angel and star on an acetate tab instead of card.

     With all three sections complete I then glued them together to form a circle. In hindsight I should have made sure all the bands where matched in height where they meet, maybe next time. 

     This would be great displayed on a lazy susan so it could be turned around to view all sections.

Materials List
JND213 - Stepper Fold Card die set

JND130 - O Little Town die set

JND131 - Nativity Scenes die set

JND199 - Christmas Sentiments
CTGFP-1 - Craft Artist Silver Glitter Card

CAT041 - Craft Artist Silver Card Mirri/Satin mix

S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

S57085 - 6mm Redline Tape

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - TicTacToe = Bling/Die cut/Trees

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #559 Anything Christmas/option Patterned paper or card

Winter Wonderland - September Anything But A Card 

Merry Little Christmas - #38 Anything Christmas

Die Cut Divas - September Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - September Anything Goes

Let's Craft & Create - #175 Lots Of Layers

Gem Of A Challenge - #19 Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy - #101 Anything Christmas     Top 3

Pinstripe Poinsettia Tree

     A new Christmas tree for 2020 using the new Pinstripe Poinsettia die from John Next Door, this Pinstripe die fits perfectly with 2018's solid Poinsettia die.

      Using the solid die I cut several flower sets in gold pearl paper, then with the new Pinstripe die I cut the same number of sets in red card.
      For this project I only used the third and fourth size flowers from the set, the other sizes will be used for another project later. Each red layer was stuck on to a gold layer, after this I stuck one smaller flower on to one larger flower, making a total of nine flower sets.
      For the base of the flower ball I used a polystyrene ball which I coloured red with an alcohol marker. Each flower set is glued in place as well as having a long pin stuck through the centre in to the ball, this does mean it is not suitable for children.

       Like last years trees I chose to use a wooden cotton reel for the pot the tree would be planted in. The trunk is a small thick twig cut from the garden some months ago, there is a little paper wrapped round the twig that sits in the reel to keep it tight, as well as a little strong PVA to hold it in place.
      The soil is some brown flower granules stuck on with PVA and for the pot decoration I have cut some of the Poinsettia Leaves, but this time in dark green stuck over a pale green band of paper around the reel.
      The flower ball was then pushed on to the twig and glued in place. To finish, each flower had a small gold pearl gem stuck over the pin head

2019 Poinsettia Trees

Materials List
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JND192 - Poinsettia Leaves
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
Cotton Reel / Twig / Polystyrene ball
Card/Paper
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - N is No Fuss/O is Over The Top   Over The Top

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas

The Holly & Ivy - Anything Christmas

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

Die Cut Divas - Christmas In July

Dies R Us - Christmas In July

Ike's World - S is Show Us Christmas In July

The Paper Girls - Christmas In July

Pinstripe Poinsettia Bauble

     This decoration was made with the two largest flower sets left over from making the Pinstripe Poinsettia Tree. The dies used are a combination of the new Pinstripe Poinsettia from John Next Door being released on Sunday and the solid Poinsettia die from 2018.
     When making the tree I only used the third and fourth size flowers, this uses the first and second largest flowers. I have stuck the smaller of the two petals on to the largest, added a nobly gem in the centre and then glued the two flower sets back to back.
      The acrylic baubles were from Aldi last year, they have a speckle of gold glitter in the plastic which adds to the festive sparkle. I put the twin flower set in the bauble, it fits quite snugly so it doesn't move about. I ran a small bead of 3D PVA around the edge of one half and closed it, the glue dries clear so it doesn't show.
      I had fun and games trying to tie two similar ribbon bows to go on the top, bows are not my thing so it was a challenge. The bauble comes with a hanging thread so all I had to do was use hot glue to fix the bows on top and it was done.
   

Materials List
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
Plastic bauble
Card/Paper/Ribbon/Gems
Hot Glue - Stix2
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

Seasons Greetings

     Not Just Cards challenge blog is for all things crafty, so this month I made a wreath for the door.

     The base for this was a polystyrene ring, which I then covered with hessian ribbon, to secure the ends I used hot glue.
     There is a wire loop on the back which gives me somewhere to tie the wreath to the door.
     The pine fronds are from an old artificial tree that I use as an outside decoration. The pine cones were collected on one of many walks around parkland, all I had to do was use the hot glue gun to secure it all and add in a few wired berries.
     The bow is wire edged ribbon, again stuck on with hot glue. A rather simple but effective seasonal make. Please pop over to Not Just Cards and see what other inspiration we have.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

International Art & Soul - Anything BUT A Card

Little Winter Cabin

     The challenge at Christmas At Sweet Stampin' this month is 'decoration', this could be a card featuring a decoration or an actual decoration like this one.

      I have a set of three dies that cut out houses, this is the smallest one, when finished it is only 2.5 inches tall, luckily still big enough to take a battery tea light though.
     I cut the house from some patterned card, folded all the score lines and stuck it together, the bottom has a tab so the house can be used as a mini gift box, so I didn't glue that bit.
     I wanted the door to stand out so I cut a small kraft one and glued it over the pattern. The extra roof was cut from a piece of red corrugated card, cut to hang over the edges just a little like a real roof does.

     To create a mini scene I used one of the trees from a previous post and die cut some deer in kraft card. I left a large tab at the base of the deer as a stand and folded it just where their legs begin.
     Something like this would look good on a small tray or wooden slice as a table decoration, or even in a small jar with some faux snow.
     Making Christmas cards is fun but so is making all those little decorations to dot around the house or give as mini gifts.
     This die could be used any time of year, just use different card to make beach huts or log cabins.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

CraftyHazlnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas/option Patterned Paper

My Time To Craft - Anything BUT A Card

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes