CHNC challenge 116: merry and bright

I can't believe that I've turned into a weekly blogger. I'm usually showing lots of cards almost every day, but the past couple of weeks have been so hectic with making cards for charity sales that I just haven't had time to blog any of them. Also, John has had quite a few hospital appointments - I'm pleased to say that all is well following the eyelid op - stitches were taken out yesterday and the only sign of anything wrong now is a coloured patch on his cheek from the bruising.

I have a sale today to raise money for Tearfund ... after today I hope to get back to normal (whatever that is!), although I'm so behind with a few things that blogging might still have to take a bit of a back seat for a while.

Anyway, on to today's CHNC challenge 116: merry and bright - please click on the link and go and have a look and, hopefully, join in. If you haven't started making Christmas cards yet, by the time this week is over nearly a quarter of the year has gone, so it does make sense to get ahead now while you can.

For my card I've used 'snowman bird house' pre-coloured digi image kindly supplied by rafty Sentiments and the background paper is one kindly supplied by Bearly mine designs - I chose this background paper because it has 'Merry Christmas' all over it, so it qualifies for 'merry' and I hope 'bright' as well! There are silver snowflakes on the white grosgrain ribbon (I know they don't look silver in the photo) and the image and the stamped snowflake are matted on to a bright blue mirror card. I tore around the snowflake and chalked the edges.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 63 - offcuts of blue mirror card
Crafty boots: old, new, borrowed or blue - the ribbon and snowflake image are old, the snowman digi and digital paper are new and, of course, there's lots of blue
City crafter 150: inspired by a song - Frosty, the snowman
Creative card crew 31: ribbon
CRAFT 198: Christmas in March
Nutcrafters 38: something beginning with B - blue
Chalknstock March: anything goes with chalk (used around the torn snowflake image)
De creatieve zebra 10: everything must
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Tuesday alchemy 52: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 260: anything goes
One stop craft 220: anything goes
One stitch at a time 154: anything goes
Craftin desert divas: craft it up & link it up party - anything goes
My grafico 147: anything goes
Paper playtime 5: anything goes
DL.ART March anything goes
Inky linky 7
Make it Monday 131
52 card pick-up 2.11

CHNC challenge 115: Santa and/or his helpers

It seems like ages since I blogged, which is very unusual for me. Lack of blogging isn't because I haven't got any cards to show, it's because I've been making too many cards and haven't had any time left for blogging about them. I have a charity sale today (when this goes live I will be going out of the door!). I have an 'at home' event next week, so I will still be busy this coming week. Added to that have been hospital appointments for John - he had an operation on his eyelid on Monday and this coming week has three hospital appointments.

Anyway, back to CHNC challenge 115 that goes live today, which is to make a card with Santa and/or his helpers.

For my card I've used the 'Santa in chimney' image kindly supplied by one of the sponsors, Digistamps4Joy. I coloured this digitally in Paint just adding a touch of a Marvy le plume alcohol pen on the bricks to give the look of a bit of dimension. The designer paper is My mind's eye Bohemia Christmas 'believe', with the addition of a gold mirror card backing mats, some red bling gems from Poundland and a gold foiled sentiment.

This is also for:

Craftin desert divas: craft it up & link it up party - anything goes
Paper playtime 5: anything goes
DL.ART March anything goes

Let's make music

This is a card that could be used for a variety of reasons - perhaps 'just a note'.

The silver card blank was run through my new eBosser with a tri-boss boofle embossing folder - lots of lovely patchwork texture, with just the additon of some stickers.

This is for:

Crafty Ann 84: the sound of music
Drunken stampers 117: the sound of music
Cards galore March: music
CRAFT 196: use embossing
My time to craft 211: embossing
Crafting by designs: silver, black and white
Challenges 4 everybody 15: anything goes
Hobby cutz: anything goes
That craft place: anything goes
ABC 19: anything goes

The Lord is my rock

This is a CAS sympathy card (insert says: with deepest sympathy), using a pearlised white card blank, a printed scripture verse matted on to silver mirror card, on to a piece of card upcycled from a craft item pack (can't remember what it was, but saved the card because I thought it too good to discard), with the addition of the little flowers.

This is for The shabby tea room 156: frame it, where this photo inspiration was given with the challenge to make something with white plus one other colour (grey) and include a frame:

Sorry, not a very clear photo:

This is also for:

A card a day facebook
Catered crop: framed
Elke kaart een feestje 156: use a frame
Sarah Hurley 78: recycle
Word art Wednesday 69: anything goes
Use your stuff 74: embracing white space (using up old supplies)
Milkcoffee: white on white
DRS 61: sympathy
Scrap-cards 43: roses

CHNC challenge 114: ribbons, ribbons, ribbons

For today's CHNC challenge 114 I'm asking to see ribbons - at least one, on your Christmas card.

For my card I've used lots of offcuts of DCWV papers that I've had in my Christmas box now for some years (still got bits left), an unknown mini snowman stamp (think I got the image in a swap), a greeting and a piece of grosgrain white and silver snowflake ribbon:

This is also for:

A card a day facebook
Pixie's crafty snippets week 61
Inspiration avenue: breast cancer awareness - think pink
Make my Monday: pink & black
Fussy & fancy 83: pink & black
Robyn's fetish 148: use ribbon or twine
Crafty ribbons 40: anything goes with ribbon
Platypus creek 26: black, white and one other colour
Cards in envy 2: polka dots and/or stripes
Cute card Thursday 259: something old - all the papers
ABC Christmas: D for designer papers
Addicted to stamps and more: anything with stamping
Fairy-tale 62: mini stamp
Stampin with the dragon: anything goes
Craft us crazy 38: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 7: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 98
52 card pickup 2.9

CHNC challenge extra for March

It's hard to believe that it's already 1 March - which means there's a new monthly challenge on my CHNC challenge extra blog. This is once again being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamp - please hop over and join in if you can - it makes sense to get on with some of those Christmas cards without the end of year rush that can creep up on us.

For my first card for CHNC challenge extra for March I've used 'skates', a Bugaboo image with the addition of a WordArt sentiment using Publisher, matted on to an offcut of red mirror card. The black and red textured mirror card on the left is an offcut from long ago and the white panel (another offcut piece) was embossed with a folder (quite hard to actually see the snowflakes here, unfortunately).

This is for:

A card a day facebook
Pixie's crafty snippets week 61
Merry Monday (always playing with paper) 51: tic tac toe - I chose the diagonal: red, digital, designer paper
Christmas at sweet stampin 3: snowflakes
Platypus creek 26: black, white and one other colour
Creative belli 164: red/black/white (used up old offcuts)
The house that stamps built DCC227: black, white & red
Inky impressions 99: splash of red
CRAFT 196: embossing
Stampin with the dragon: anything goes
Craft us crazy 38: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 7: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 98
52 card pickup 2.9

Easter eggs and butterflies

Another Easter card using a piece of K & Co daffodil paper - the paper is so pretty that it doesn't need much added, so a couple of Easter eggs and tiny flowers from Poundland and three lovely shiny butterflies with pearls added for a bit more bling, plus papermania sentiment stamp.

This is for:

A card a day facebook
Aud sentiments 75: Easter
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
Totally gorjuss 172: happy
Craft us crazy 38: anything goes
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Another Easter card

This is another card that I made yesterday. This time I've used a piece of K & Co daisy pad paper (I've had a completely new pad of this in stock for years), torn and layered on to a piece of My mind's eye spring paper. The line of gems was from Poundland and the embroidered flowers were bought from a market stall in Eastbourne last year - almost too beautiful to use.

This is for:

A card a day facebook
Aud sentiments 75: Easter
Totally papercrafts 155: hope for spring
Sentimental Sundays 143: flowers, flowers and more flowers
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
Totally gorjuss 172: happy
Den's digis: bling
Glitter n sparkle 21: bling it on
Kaboodle 160: use any bling
Simon says: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Prima botanical

Prima botanical is the name of the background paper I've used for this Easter card, the sentiment stamp is Papermania inked with memento rich cocoa and the flowers were from Create and Craft. The butterfly stamp is one of my favourites - swirling wings by Lindsay Mason - with just a few little pearls added to match the organza and pearls flowers.

This is for:

Totally papercrafts 155: hope for spring
Sentimental Sundays 143: flowers, flowers and more flowers
Perfect sentiments 67: floral fantasia
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Kreativer Bastel 16: pearls
Bunny Zoe February: flowers & pearls
Take a word: wings
City crafter 148: wings
Alphabet: A for anything with wings
Allways something creative: with wings
A and t 22: butterflies
Card mania 15: fairies or butterflies
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
Craft us crazy 37: show us your favourites - one of my favourite stamps
Happy campers 11: use a favourite stamp
Natalie and Amy 6: something old & something new - old: paper/stamp; new: flowers
Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
Going grey with Scrap-creations: go green
Totally gorjuss 172: happy
Party time Tuesday 109: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Happy Easter

Today I made a start on making Easter cards - need to make a lot before my charity sale Saturday week - managed to make six today and this is the first one. I dug out some very old K & Co papers - this one is taken from the 'daffodil' pad, mounted on to a card blank with a ready cut fancy edge (got some of these at Hobbycraft when I had a 25% off voucher - wish I'd bought more) distressed with shabby shutters DI. The decoupaged paper flowers are Docrafts (bought last year and not used then). Sentiment (from a Forever Friends set of stamps) inked with memento rich cocoa.

Easter inspired by Cupcake inspirations 199:

This is for:

A card a day facebook
Delicious doodles 24: flowers for spring
Totally papercrafts 155: hope for spring
Stamp and create February: spring is coming
Sentimental Sundays 143: flowers, flowers and more flowers
Perfect sentiments 67: floral fantasia
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
Totally gorjuss 172: happy
Natalie & Amy 6: something old & something new - old: paper/flowers; new: fancy card blank
Party time Tuesday 109: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Time for Christmas pud ...

... not really - although I do have two Christmas puddings in the freezer that I made last Christmas. I don't actually like it - can only eat it if it's plastered with some cointreau or brandy butter and lots of sauce or custard. Anyway, I digress ...

This card is a quick on based on the sketch for Holly Jolly this week (I hope I haven't deviated from the sketch too much):

This is also for Sandra's Rudolph Day for February and a late one for Sunday's with Santa facebook week 7: food (yay! I'm up to date now).

The background card, topper and sentiment are from a Hunkydory kit with just the addition of a piece of Paper Cellar glittered ribbon.

This was one of those 'difficult to get a photo on a dull day' cards! I tried and tried and this was the best I could manage without bits being obliterated by the glare of the flash.

This is also for:

Flourishes timeless Tuesday 209: all that glitters
Glitter n sparkle 21: bling it on
Dream valley 51: ribbon and bling

Continuing the gardening theme ...

... with another quick card using a Kanban topper, polka dot ribbon and a Create textured rub on:

This is for:

Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
Sandy's crafty creations February: anything goes + twist: birthday
My time to craft 210: inspired by a song:  Happy birthday - and 'these boots are made for walking'
De creatieve zebra 8: male
Cards galore February: one for the men
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Cards in envy 2: polka dots and/or stripes
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Happy gardening

Because of my charity card sales coming up very soon, I need to make lots of cards, so Kanban toppers like these are very handy - just the addition of a piece of stitched ribbon.

This is for:

Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
De creatieve zebra 8: male
Cards galore February: one for the men
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Dare to be sassy 165: stitch it up
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: sew much fun
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Especially for you

Three more cards made from a Hunkydory kit - a few more to add to the box ready for my charity sales.

These are for:

Hiding in my craftroom 86: use a kit
Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
Scrappy frogs: use red or pink
Inspiration avenue: breast cancer awareness - think pink
Alphabet: A for anything with wings
Allways something creative 48: heavenly or with wings
A & T 22: butterflies
Card mania 15: fairies or butterflies
Take a word: wings
Card caravan (the hybrid chick): cheer
Whoopsi Daisy: add a sentiment
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
The pink elephant 188: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 129
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Green fingers

Another simple birthday card for a gardener - Kanban toppers and a piece of stiched ribbon:

This is for:

Sandy's crafty creations February: anything goes + twist: birthday
Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
My time to craft 210: inspired by a song:  Happy birthday
Eclectic ellapu: masculine
Craft room: something for a man
Cards galore February: one for the men
Kort o mania 80: male
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
Dare to be sassy 165: stitch it up
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: sew much fun
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Birthday wishes for a gardener

This simple card uses a Kanban topper, some sticky flower ribbon and a Creata textured rub on sentiment. I think this would suitable to give to a man, but wouldn't be out of place for a woman who loves gardening.

This is for:

Sandy's crafty creations February: anything goes + twist: birthday
Creative card crew 30: birthday
Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
My time to craft 210: inspired by a song:  Happy birthday
Platypus creek 26: black, white and one other colour
Eclectic ellapu: masculine
Craft room: something for a man
Cards galore February: one for the men
Kort o mania 80: male
Ruby's rainbow 48: in the garden
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

More pyramaged birthday cakes

Another couple of cards made from a Hunkydory kit - the circular image is pyramaged.

These are for:

Hiding in my craftroom 86: use a kit
Cards in envy 2: polka dots and/or stripes
Sandy's crafty creations February: anything goes + twist: birthday
Creative card crew 30: birthday
Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
Scrappy frogs: use red or pink
My time to craft 210: inspired by a song:  Happy birthday
613 avenue create 8: anything goes (option: pile it on)
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Simple pyramage

This is a simple card made with supplies from a Hunkydory kit. The circular picture is built up with pyramage, although it's quite difficult to see the layers here, they are quite raised up.

This is for:

Hiding in my craftroom 86: use a kit
CAS on Sunday 2: making the rounds
ABC: H for happy birthday
Jelly park: get in shape
Paper pretties 246: circle cards

London calling ...

Mark's finest papers speedy fox & friends challenge 148 asks us to 'tell us about your state' - well, as I live in Bromley, UK, it is one of the London Boroughs, so I've made a couple of cards that reflect life in London, using a couple of upcycled pieces from a folder - very simply added on to black card blanks, with Craftime sentiments added.

I had to take the photos at an angle because the cardstock is very shiny and was reflecting glare from the flash (how I wish for sunny days to be able to take pictures outside) - and please excuse the stray white speckles that are just bits that have now brushed off.

These are also for:

Cute card Thursday 257: simplify
Flourishes timeless Tuesday 208: I'm seeing red
Scrappy frogs: use red or pink
My time to craft 210: inspired by a song: Streets of London
Order of the opus gluei 151: you oughtta be in picture - movie: Mary Poppins, set in London
Eclectic ellapu: masculine
Craft room: something for a man
Cards galore February: one for the men
Kort o mania 80: male
613 avenue create 8: anything goes
My grafico: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Penny's 115: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Traditional Christmas colours

It's time for another challenge for the Christmas Card Club and Debi asked us to make a three fold card using traditional Christmas colours. I know that there are a few interpretations of what a three fold card is.

I opted in the end for a gate fold with an extra flap - I hope this is OK for the challenge, because I know that strictly speaking it isn't actually a three fold, but a two fold with a flap! I originally thought of making a zigzag card - might make one later (ages since I made one of those).

Anyway, back to this card. Papers are double sided from Echo Park very merry Christmas. Other elements are from Hunkydory kits, plus a piece of grosgrain ribbon from stash.

On the first picture the paper clip is only to keep the card closed for the photo, which had to be taken at an angle because of glare.

This is also for:

A card a day facebook
Sunday's with Santa facebook week 8: snowflakes  (I know I've still got week 7 to do, then I've caught up)
Critter 152: snowflakes
Crafty sentiments: let's see those fancy folds
Divas by design: fancy fold
Joanna Sheen: layer it up
Robyn's fetish 148: use ribbon or twine
Aud sentiments 74: show us your inner sentiment - repeats Merry Christmas
Winter wonderland: snowflakes falling all around
613 avenue create 8: anything goes (option: pile it on)
My grafico: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Penny's 115: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 128
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8

Thank you

This card was made with some more of the materials I received from Carolyn for the swap on Crafts by Carolyn forum.

I coloured the stamped image with copics and brushed the white doily and the embossed creamed card with peacock feathers distress ink.

I used the sketch for Seems a little sketchy 33:

Inspiration from Just us girls 177:

This is also for:

A card a day facebook
Mema's crafts February: hello doily
Victorine 53: stamp, emboss and embellish
Little scrap pieces fun Friday: emboss it
Desert island 48: doily, sentiment, lots of texture, distressing, metal accent
Cards in envy 2: polka dots and/or stripes
The sisterhood of crafters: thank you
Paper-crafting journey: bingo - I chose gems, embossing, ribbon
My grafico: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Creative craft world: anything goes
Penny's 115: anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday: anything goes
LiaStampz 35: anything goes
Stampin with the dragon: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 6: anything goes
Make it Monday 128
Inspire me Fridays 97
52 card pickup 2.8