Sending a smile in an envelope

Sometimes there is only one way to face advancing age and that is with humour... after all we can all do with a little cheese with our whine and this stamp from Stampin' Up! seems to fit the bill  just perfectly.

And thankfully my dear old Mum has retained a sense of humour and she and her friends loved this card...a real change from the usual flowery offering most seventy six year old's receive on their birthday.

The image and the sentiment stamps were both purchased form the Viva Las Vegas Stamps store earlier this year and I am sure they will get plenty of use.

This was a quick  an easy little thank you popped into an envelope with a package sent recently. I really like the grunge stamps for the background and the sentiments come with built in smiles

And of course the sentiment on this last card is so true...you really can never have too much happy

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

OLD Fossil

Since my last post (too long ago) I have added another year to the numbers of my age and eaten a fair amount of cake in the process...  and although some of my friends and family may think I am as old as dirt, I was not actually around when dinosaurs walked the earth...and so with that in mind I took some artistic licence when making the backgrounds for these two cards.

 The one to the left the sponging came out more like sand dunes and has rather sparse greenery...which would probably make for hungry dinosaurs

And the one to the right was a little more hilly in the background with slightly more greenery... with more to eat maybe that is why there is a extra  dinosaur on that one!

Both cards were made using sponge techniques for the backgrounds and the dinosaurs are all stamped using rubber form The Viva Las Vegas Stamp Store and these were then cut by hand, sponge inked and mounted on foam for the 3D effect.

The inside of both cards has a greeting and a row of dinosaurs marching across the bottom of the card

My Pound O' Rubber grab bag still has lots of weird and wonderful images I have yet to use and these will no doubt feature here in coming months as I find a way to use each and every one. Perhaps you have a card in mind or an occasion that requires something a little bit different... If so drop me a line...who knows what else is in that grab bag...it might be exactly what you need.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Still here

Oh my goodness, has it really been that long since my last blog post?  Bad blogger!

Since the last post I have been to the USA again and returned armed with lots of lovely new materials, including some fabulous & very original stamps from the rather wonderful                           VivaLasVegasStamps store...                                   a hidden little gem off Sahara.

This place is well worth a visit if you are ever in town - it is a stampers dream with walls and walls of amazing rubber stamps for all occasions. The image on the right came from there and seemed apt to accompany this post.

I have been working on a new range of cards and next week will have something to share that I am really excited about...so watch this space...

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

For Mum...

I recently got a new Vintage Verses stamp set and included in the messages was one that reads

"Wishing you a day as perfect as you are..."

When I started to consider how I might use that particular sentiment (perfection is pretty rare after all)  Mum, was the word that immediately sprang to mind.  As this Mother's day card was born, using the  perfect as you sentiment as a focal point..


 This card is a shortfall design - which basically means the front of the card is not as wide as the back of the card, allowing some of the internal  design to be visible even when the card is closed.



The second picture shows the inside of the card when fully opened. There is an option for a private message tag to be included - this would slip into an open pocket on the inside panel.



There will be more Mother's Day designs coming in the next week or so. If you have something specific in mind for a card to send on Mother's Day to someone you love, then please do get in touch.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

One for the boys...

This week I have been busy making cards for men and thought I would share a couple of designs with you today. These were all for men who do not have the more traditional  interests often featured on shop bought cards.


The first one (on the right) was the card I made for my nephew's birthday this week.  The card was built onto a neutral tone card base, all ink edged and distressed by hand.  These type of cards can be made to suit any style of clothing and in a range of colours and patterns ..and not just for men either.


Sticking within the grey tones the card below was, by request,  a grungy birthday card. All hand stamped  using a combination of basic greys and some summer star fruit inks. The 3D rosette on the front was hand stamped, hand cut and layered. The inside panel of card was stamped to match.

 And the last one for today - this landscape card was made using a combination of blues and greys  stamped and over stamped onto an ink-edged white background, layered onto a black card base.
Hand stamped and pierced 3 D greetings panels were added to the front centre. The inside of the
card was stamped to match.


Of course I do also make cards with sports themes, sports cars, speed boats, poker and beer etc... but the real beauty of hand made cards is that  as well as having the potential to be personalised with names and dates or other personal greetings, they can be made to suit the interests and lifestyles of the intended recipients.

If you would like a card made for someone you care about please do get in touch...I am more than happy to help you to go the extra mile to add that extra smile.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Bad Blogger 2013

Oh my goodness I cannot believe I have neglected my poor blog yet again. It is a good job there is no blog police or I would be in serious trouble!

I have excuses a plenty... the pre festive rush was exhausting... the Festive Feast was fabulous and I had a great time. Thanks to everyone who came down to visit that weekend and a special thanks to all the lovely customers. Once that was finished I still had to make the cards for us to send to family and friends and I was busy right up until the night before Christmas.

Christmas was pretty quiet (we like that) and as a  family we were rather unwell over Xmas and into the New Year... and health issues have followed us through January and into February...

But these are just excuses. Although the blogging has fallen by the wayside, orders have been coming in and cards have been going out and all is well in the Serendipity world.

So here are a few of the creations for 2013 so far...


Left: A simple all occasions card featuring hand stamped, cut and decoupaged flowers and butterflies

Right: A hand stamped celebration card given the splatter spray treatment

 Left: Bright and bold birthday card for anyone with a need for speed. Hand stamped with punched border

Above:  Layered and Embossed hand stamped card with hand cut 3D flowers


Left:: Hand stamped, hand cut flowers and butterflies layered across this card, finished with pearls.

Right: Cream scallop card layered with neutrals, hand stamped greeting with a feature 3D frame embellishment and bow.

Left: 3D  Faux box card featuring butterflies and greenery.

Above: Scallop card double embossed with hand cut border details and 3D glittered Decoupage





Left: Hand stamped Granddaughter birthday card using two step stamping, hand cut flowers, paper piercing and decoupage, finished with mini pearls.

Right: With Love  multi layered vibrant patterned all occasions card with hand cut borders and sentiment panel.










This is just a small selection of cards form the first weeks of 2013...just to prove I have not been as idle as my blog might suggest. If you would like me to make a card for any occasion or for any of the special people in your life then please do get in touch today.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx