Hello there. I have some exciting news – I have been accepted as part of the Design Team for The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge, beginning today. This is my first posting for that challenge, and each challenge will be for two weeks, with an ‘anything goes’ Christmas theme.

Here is my card:

And two other views to get the shimmer, shine, and glitz on the green and brown:

I wanted to create a card using some of my older stash so – obviously for me – I turned to my Sue Wilson die collection. I have accrued many of her dies over the years, and always seem to use the same sets – in completely different ways to previously.

I used a stash of Tonic card for each element, coming from one of the Tonic Craft Kits, which also included the sequins you see, as if there isn’t enough glitz going on!

I hope you will be able to join us, and I look forward to seeing what you create. And for something extra, I wanted to talk a little about die-cutting machines…………

I always struggled a little getting my machines to cut out the very intricate dies, having to go through several times – back and forth, back and forth – I am sure you know what I mean.

This time I used the Gemini Junior die cutting machine…..and…..just once. They went through once and die cut the intricate floral spray and sentiment. Just. The. Once. One time! Really? I hear you say – yes – really!!

Now, I have been a fan if my Sizzix Big Shot Express for years. It always did most of what I wanted, but now? The Gemini Junior is definitely the one to go to for anything intricate. Sorry…….but it just means I do have both of them out now. Oh well – a hardship indeed.

Of course, for my larger projects, I still have my Big Shot Pro, the larger circles and rectangle frames, this is definitely the machine for me, but the smaller projects will be a mixture of my Gemini Junior and Big Shot Express now…………..

What machines do you use? It would be so interesting to compare, don’t you think?