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31 December, 2025

Find Joy

 


This is a totally free card.  A cardmaking friend sent me a couple of the gold diecut borders and some extra pieces of the gold card to play with.   The strips are leftover patterned paper strips collected in my strippy bin over time.  I diecut the sentiment from the extra bits and matted in black from the scrap bin.  I think the monochrome green snippets make a great background for the bright gold borders.

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28 December, 2025

Beary Special

 


I made this for a NZ cardswap.

The background  is made using DI's as watercolours,  smooshing and blowing - it's the aurora!  A diecut bear complete with cosy scarf, popped up.  Shadows made with Copics.  A bit of stamping and some bubbly embellys.  And a peek inside...

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27 December, 2025

My own best of 2024

 

January 2024, its a sun umbrella, not a rain umbrella!  We celebrate summer in NZ.


February 2024  You know I love to get inky.


March 2024  a special birthday deserves recognition.


April 2024  sometimes a little sweet & pretty is necessary.


May 2024  I had such fun with this one.


June 2024 A mid-winter holiday in Samoa.  I really enjoy making strippy layers.


July 2024  I'm so glad I made this for Peter when he was having treatment and feeling rotten.  He loved it and kept it on display.  He died in September.


August 2024  This one is filled with joy - it made me happy making it, and I hope it brought joy in the receiving.


September 2024  I like the twist of the message not being words but music.  It was for the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember design team.


October 2024  I like the lush colouring and the fragility of the leafy stamp.


November 2024  I do like using patterned paper and liked the layering effect as well as the cheery bright colours.

December 2024  I liked making this because it has stamping, diecutting, some paper piecing... and is fun!

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Tell me what is your fave?

I hope to see you all in 2026 with your creations, and I hope you'll check in to see what I am up to.

Happy crafting whatever kind it is!!

CarolG

19 December, 2025

Pengi Wishes

 


A simple card.  Background blue card stamped with HeroArts unicorn ink, AALL & Create stamped penguin coloured with Copics.  Sentiment stamped, punched & framed with Stickles.  Of course we don't have a cold Christmas we had over 28 deg C yesterday.  We celebrate in the shade with a cool glass of something.  This is for one of my northern hemisphere buddies, but I reckon a kid would love to get this cute penguin all cosied up in hat and scarf.

NZ is home to 13 of the 18 penguin species in the world and we often used to see the fairy penguins swim by when we were out fishing.  

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18 December, 2025

Pohutukawa Christmas


 A New Zealand Christmas!  The pohutukawa is known as the NZ Christmas tree as it is out in flower now!  A sight to see - greyish dark green foliage with bright red fluffy flowers all over, flowering throughout December, while it grows in large gardens it is particularly a beach tree which is why I chose the turquoise background.  

A large background stamp with Hero Arts Unicorn ink, a diecut pohutukawa flower (Craft Creations), gold Stickles, and a matte gold strip for sunshine.

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Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree

15 December, 2025

Beach Santa

 

Here in NZ we celebrate Christmas in the heat, usually in the shade with a cool drink.  Most Kiwis head to the beach for a week or two, school is finished, some businesses close down for a couple of weeks to enjoy the summer.  We have two grandchildren off to university in February, so they will be making the most of it.

This is a cool santa & senti stamp.  I stamped santa, masked him, stamped the tree, and coloured with Copics.  The edges of the panel and senti are outlined in hot pink Distress Crayon, a nice informal edge to go with a relaxed santa.  The navy blue background panel is stamped using white ink (Hero Arts Unicorn), and I like this because of the subtle messages.  White pen highlights, Glossy Accents, and gold pearls to hang the sentiment like a bauble.  I like the non-trad colours, and the navy blue and hot pink look fabulous.

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11 December, 2025

Sweet

 


A pillowbox to fill with something sweet ... or maybe something sparkly for someone sweet?

Diecut pillowbox, diecut senti, DPapers, heart sequins


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10 December, 2025

Joyeux Noel

 


I made this for a french speaking friend of mine.

Three patterned paper strips/snippets with two corners of each punched (Punch: Couture Creations).

Diecut gold greeting, with die drop-out dots for accents.  Glossy Accents applied to berries and centres of starry shapes.

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09 December, 2025

Tree Trio


Simple, monochromatic and masculine.  

Diecut (Couture Creations), subtle stamping DI shadow.  Maybe I will add a greeting, maybe not... it speaks for itself really.

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08 December, 2025

Be Merry Be Bright

 


A simple card using non-traditional colours.  This little guy is on a mission, and I love his red scarf and boots.

Materials are all Rosie's Studio, with Stickles (on snowflakes) and Glossy Accents (on boots, nose) added.  Snowflakes punch (no brand).  The bear is popped up on foam tape.

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04 December, 2025

Joy

 


Traditional colours of dark red and dark green with a gold highlight, CAS style.  The sentiment die is Rosie's Studio, star die ...

Shared on challenges:    

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