Birthday corners

I was inspired to make this quick card when I saw that Squigglefly 3812 was asking us to 'go to the corner' - I remembered a K & Co kit that I bought long ago which had these acetate borders decorated with black.

The lovely picture of herbs was actually rescued from a card received - it is much prettier in real life and has quite a lot of fairly subtle glitter on the flowers and leaves. I mounted this on to green mirror card and added the Craftime birthday sentiment.

This is also for:

The crafty pad 190: floral
Kreativer Bastel 7: flowers
Bearly mine 54: add a sentiment
Through the craftroom door 37: anything goes
Hiding in my craftroom 65: freestyle
Challenges 4 everybody 4: anything goes
Blog a doodle: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Just keep on creating September 3: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 78
52 card pickup 39

CHNC challenge 92: all wrapped up

The new challenge over on CHNC today is 'all wrapped up', however you wish to interpret that. So here is my clean and simple card for CHNC challenge 92.

This was made while I was away in Eastbourne recently using some of the Kanban kit I took with me in case I wanted to do a bit of crafting. I'm glad I made it then because I've had such a busy week that I haven't made another for my challenge - will try to do so soon. So I've gone for the presents 'all wrapped up', as well as Santa and the tree.

This is also for:

ABC Christmas: S for Santa Claus is coming to town
Christmas crafting 14: traditional Christmas colours
Fashionista 7: anything goes Christmas
Dutch dare card 184: clean & simple
Moving along with the times: seeing red
Paper-crafting journey: mythical creatures

Simply distressed

As I was rummaging through a box of papers etc I came across some heart aperture cards and a heart shaped image that I've rescued long ago from a card received. I distressed the embossing and front of the card with fired brick distress ink using a inkylicious blending brush, stuck the heart image inside the card and brushed the ink through the aperture.

This is for The crafty pad 189: inspired by a song: Together Forever - you can listen to this here.

This is also for:

Recycle, re-purpose & re-invent September: anything goes (the heart shaped image was rescued from a card received)
Love to create 34: anything goes
Blog a doodle: anything goes
The paper shelter 83: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Craft us crazy 27: anything goes (don't do Halloween, so went for the alternative)
ATCs and cards with attitude 23: anything goes
Just keep on creating September 3: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Make it Monday 108
Inspire me Fridays 77

Blue butterflies

This is another concertina  card, this time using butterflies. Once again, all background papers are from my offcuts box . I edged the butterflies with a Le Plume alcohol marker and added a few Poundland gems.

This is for:

Whoopsi daisy: things with wings
Crafting for all seasons 36: things with wings
Let's craft and create 54: things with wings
2 sisters 110: things with wings
Songbird 4: defying gravity - anything that flies
Flutter by Wednesday 207: open - with butterfly

Pixie's craft snippets 39

Crazy challenge 129: spots or stripes
Victorine 43: dots
Use it Tuesday 40: use your scraps
Fab n funky 140: starts with F - folds
Penny's 95: more than 1 fold
Cutie pie 27: shaped cards
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us your shape
LEJ designs 22: monochromatic
Take a word: blue
Recycle, re-purpose & re-invent September: anything goes (the 'William Morris' card used for the final background was rescued from a stationery wallet)
Love to create 34: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 87: anything goes
Blog a doodle: anything goes
The paper shelter 83: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Craft us crazy 27: anything goes (don't do Halloween, so went for the alternative)
ATCs and cards with attitude 23: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 37: anything goes
Just keep on creating September 3: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Make it Monday 108
Inspire me Fridays 77

The dressmaker

'The dressmaker' is the theme for Crafty emblies 3rd challenge (a new challenge blog to me), so I've used the dress forms that came with the Craftwork cards concertina cards, once again using all offcut papers as backgrounds, with the addition of some stitched ribbon, bow and buttons.

This is for:

Pixie's craft snippets 39

Crazy challenge 129: spots or stripes
Use it Tuesday 40: use your scraps
Fab n funky 140: starts with F - folds fashion
Penny's 95: more than 1 fold
Cutie pie 27: shaped cards
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us your shape
LEJ designs 22: monochromatic
Ladybug: let's play bingo: I chose: pink ribbon, stitching, pink buttons
Craft your passion 129: buttons and bows
Crafty catz 151: buttons
Southern girls 54: show us your spots and stripes
Victorine 43: dots
A & T 14: flourishes/swirls
Raise the bar 112: damask or swirls
Kaboodle 138: stitching
Crafter's cafe September: stitching
Challenges 4 everybody 3: anything goes
Love to create 34: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 87: anything goes
Blog a doodle: anything goes
The paper shelter 83: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Craft us crazy 27: anything goes (don't do Halloween, so went for the alternative)
ATCs and cards with attitude 23: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 37: anything goes
Just keep on creating September 3: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Make it Monday 108
Inspire me Fridays 77

A bit more crafting at last

I've done much less crafting that normal recently, partly because I've been unwell and also because there have been big concerns about mum, who is now settling into a residential home.

The other day I treated myself to a Craftwork cards kit from QVC - concertina cards with toppers.

This first card features the lovely bird houses supplied, which I edged with a pink Le Plume alcohol marker so that no white edges were showing when adhering to the right places on the concertina folds.

All papers used as backgrounds are from my offcuts box, so this is an opportunity to visit the playground at Pixie's craft snippets 39 - it's so long since I ventured into the playground and I hope others will excuse me if I just sit for a while and watch what's going on - haven't got the energy to get on the swings etc (if you don't know what I'm talking about, click on the link and join in the fun by using up your snippets).

The little birdies perched on top were cut with a nestability die.

What a bonus that the sun is out atm so I was able to take the photo outside!

This is also for:

Whoopsi daisy: things with wings
Crafting for all seasons 36: things with wings
Let's craft and create 54: things with wings
2 sisters 110: things with wings
Songbird 4: defying gravity - anything that flies
Shopping our stash 70: fur or feathers
Crazy challenge 129: spots or stripes
Use it Tuesday 40: use your scraps
Fab n funky 140: starts with F - folds and feathered friends
Penny's 95: more than 1 fold
Cutie pie 27: shaped cards
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us your shape

CHNC challenge 91: nativity

It's been a very difficult week with hardly any crafting taking place - I really need to be able to make a few cards to help me relax - perhaps later today.

In the meantime, this is the quick card I made last night for my CHNC challenge 91 - if you don't know about my Christmas challenge blog, please click on the link, have a nosey and join in.

I used elements from a Hunkydory 'elegant Christmas' kit 'three kings' with the addition of a couple of sentiments that happened to be in my stash that match beautifully with the peachy colour, all mounted on a stardream card blank.

This is also for:

Facebook Sunday's with Santa week 36: religious scene (still playing catch up with the challenges)
Fashionista 7: anything goes Christmas
Creative inspirations 181: Christmas in September
PaperPlay 38: choose a holiday - Christmas
Polka doodles 38: inspired by a song title - We Three Kings of Orient
Paper pretties 224: no patterned/designer paper
That craft place: bling it on
Southern girls 53: it' well bling bling
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 20: sparkle & bling

WOYWW 172

We came back home on Saturday, so I'm back in my craft room and have been making a bit of a mess - trying to feel better by getting a bit inky - you can see a card and ATC I made in the second picture and they are blogged under this post.

Short and sweet this week - to discover more about WOYWW please click on the link for WOYWW 172, have a nosey and join in!

Simply an ATC

A little bit more inkiness today to try and take my mind off how I feel. This time I've used a new 'All our yesterdays' stamp by aye Whittaker, cropping the sides a bit to make it fit to an ATC size.

I inked with memento rich cocoa and water coloured with distress inks - brushed corduroy, old paper, victorian velvet and fired brick.

This is for:

Anything but a card 2
Let's craft and create 53: anything but a card
Delightful: anything but a card
Fashionable stamping 30: good things come in small packages
Everybody art 206: ATC
Creative stamp friends 60: new stamp
Inspiration Avenue: celebrating friendships
Kaboodle 137: babies &/or children
All kinds of cards 62: friends
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 125: favourite technique - using distress inks
Take time for you 76: distressing
Freshly brewed 113: distressing
Hiding in my craft room 63: distressing
Bunny Zoe 28: distressing
Inky impressions: pink and brown
Penny's 93: pink and brown
Make my Monday: vintage childhood
Clear it out: a project with a child image on it + stash: anything you find (a scrap of cream card to work with
Craft room: childhood memories
Crafty ribbons 28: vintage
Sugar creek hollow 29: pretty in pink
Deep ocean 34: goodbye summer
SJ crafts 8: summer time
Heck of a challenge 1: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 28: anything goes
Just keep on creating 3: anything goes
Digi doodle shops best 125: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody 3: anything goes
Make it Monday 107
Inspire me Fridays 76
52 card pickup week 37

I needed to get inky ...

It's been quite a day and I'm not feeling good, but I needed to get inky and make a card. It was my turn to choose the theme for TTC12 09 on Crafts for Carolyn forum and I chose: autumn with leaves and/or trees, so this is another card for that.

This card is based on the sketch for Try stampin on Tuesday 83:

 used the lovely Stampers anonymous leaf stamp inking it with a mixture of spiced marmalade, squeezed lemonade, fired brick and vintage photo distress inks, using a water brush and some more of the colours to fill in the pieces of the leaf.

The card blank is a textured light peach colour with the edges distressed with a mix of the inks used for the leaf and the surrounding two die cuts. The tapes across the diagonal are Tim Holtz tissue tape, distressed with the inks, with the addition of a piece of narrow washi tape across the middle (freebie with a magazine).

Colours are for Creatalicious 38: autumnal colours:

This is also for:

Simon says stamp and show: tape it up
Drunken stampers 97: hand wash cold - washi tape
Take time for you 76: distressing
Freshly brewed 113: distressing
Hiding in my craft room 63: distressing
Bunny Zoe 28: distressing
Di's digi designs: use more than one die cut or punch
Desert island crafts 38: I chose: red, texture, die cuts
No matter which 2: die cuts and/or punches
Squiggle stamps: punches and dies
Addicted to stamps 39: autumn colours
The crafty pad 188: autumn colours
One stitch at a time 131: autumn
PanPastel UK 36: autumn/fall
Stampin' sisters in Christ 157: harvest card of fall/autumn project
Creative Belli 152: fall/autumn - I used a neglected stamp and tapes
Scrapalicious: welcoming fall
CRAFT 172: autumn
Crafty Ann 74: sketch and/or autumnal colour scheme
Fairytale 50: early fall
Crazy 4 challenges 154: anything goes with a fall twist
Mema's crafts September: choose a theme: fall colours
Little miss muffet 43: writing
Clearlyistamp 59: leaves
Use it Tuesday 39: anything goes - used stamp and tapes that have been neglected
Heck of a challenge 1: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 28: anything goes
Just keep on creating 3: anything goes
Whimsy 51: anything goes
Digi doodle shops best 125: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Simply create too 22: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody 3: anything goes
Make it Monday 107
Inspire me Fridays 76
52 card pickup week 37

More fun and games for CHNC challenge 90

This is another card for CHNC challenge 90 using the Santa baby and snow fun image supplied by Digi Doodle Shop. Once again I've coloured the image with copics and used papers from my Christmas offcuts box with the addition of a sentiment.



Colours are for Flourishes timeless 186: Pinterest Christmas - I chose this picture:

This is also for:

Cute card Thursday 234: Christmas in September 
The crafty pad 187: it's scraptastic - using scraps
Christmas stampin all year long 28: snowy
One stitch at a time 130: for an under 18
Pile it on 37: patterned paper
Sentimental Sundays 119: humour me
Aud sentiments 63: something funny, hunny
Freshly brewed September 112: humour
The squirrel and the fox 26: anything goes
2 sisters 109: black and white plus 1
Stamp and create September: anything goes
Just keep on creating: Christmas is around the corner
Cards for men 19: going digital - suitable for a young boy
Creative craft: all about the boys
Divas by design 52: for a child
Jellypark friends: all about the children
Craft your passion 127: blast from the past (challenge 124: power of 3 - 3 colours: red, white, black)
LiaStampz 25: 3 of something - 3 colours: red, white, black
Anything goes: early Christmas
Bearly mine 52: anything goes
LEJ designs 20: winter wishes
Papertake: things that make you go awww
Use it Tuesday 39: anything goes - used up offcuts
Whimsy 51: anything goes
Digi doodle shops best 125: anything goes
My heart pieces: anything goes
Paper-crafting journey: my sentiment exactly - use a sentiment on your card
I brake for challenges: I brake for digi images
DCC & friends 3: character crazy
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Simply create too 22: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 35: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 76
52 card pickup week 37

CHNC challenge 90: fun and games

It's time yet again for a new challenge on my CHNC blog and for challenge 90 I'm asking to see Christmas cards depicting fun and games - for more details click on the link to have a look and, hopefully, join in - it's time to begin to get serious about making those Christmas cards! Today's challenge is being sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop and for this card I've used the Santa baby and sleigh digital stamp kindly supplied by Digi Doodle Shop, coloured with copics. Papers are from my Christmas offcuts, plus a couple of pieces of glittered ribbon and a silver foiled sentiment.

Colours are for Flourishes timeless 186: Pinterest Christmas - I chose this picture:

This is also for:

Cute card Thursday 234: Christmas in September
Stampin' for the weekend 17: starting Christmas early
Christmas stampin all year long 28: snowy
The crafty pad 187: it's scraptastic - using scraps
One stitch at a time 130: for an under 18
Pile it on 37: patterned paper
Sentimental Sundays 119: humour me
Aud sentiments 63: something funny, hunny
Freshly brewed September 112: humour
The squirrel and the fox 26: anything goes
2 sisters 109: black and white plus 1
Just keep on creating: Christmas is around the corner
Cards for men 19: going digital - suitable for a young boy
Creative craft: all about the boys
Divas by design 52: for a child
Jellypark friends: all about the children
Craft your passion 127: blast from the past (challenge 124: power of 3 - 3 colours: red, white, black)
Anything goes: early Christmas
Bearly mine 52: anything goes
LEJ designs 20: winter wishes
Papertake: things that make you go awww
Use it Tuesday 39: anything goes - used up offcuts
Love to create 32: show us your ribbon
Going grey with Scrap-creations: pick 3 - I chose ribbon, red and glitter 
Whimsy 51: anything goes
Digi doodle shops best 125: anything goes
My heart pieces: anything goes
Paper-crafting journey: my sentiment exactly - use a sentiment on your card
I brake for challenges: I brake for digi images
DCC & friends 3: character crazy
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Simply create too 22: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 35: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 76
52 card pickup week 37

WOYWW 171

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for WOYWW 171 (click on the link and have a look if you don't know what I'm talking about.

I've been quiet on my blog this week because we are taking a break in Eastbourne (pity that I've been quite unwell here, but, hey ho, that's life - seemed to develop an allergic reaction to a cleaning spray that was being used in our hotel suite).

Anyway, until today I hadn't done any crafting, although I did bring some with me just in case we have poor weather and stay in. The weather has been excellent for September, but today has been cooler and we've even had a shower or two, which we managed to avoid.

So I got out the Kanban kit that I bought with me (a freebie for club members on Create & Craft that arrived just in time to bring with me) and made a few quick cards - nothing elaborate because of lack of other supplies - so there is a little pile of six cards that might get blogged if I feel like it!

Today I visited That Craft Place in Eastbourne and bought a few crafty bits that you can see in the photo (going back again before we go home because John said I could have spent more) - some masks, stamps and papers.

Apologies that I doubt I'll be able to visit others this week.

I've been spotlighted

I've been spotlighted here.

Thank you, Susan.

CHNC challenge 89: for a child

It's time for a new challenge on my CHNC blog and for challenge 89 I'm asking to see a Christmas card 'for a child'.

The challenge is being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps who kindly provided the 'akv girl xmas tree' image I've used for this card, coloured with copics and Sakura glitter pens. The background paper is an offcut of K & Co Christmas secret Santa, the hearts, snowflake  and tree with gems were free with a magazine.

I'm cheating a bit this weekend because I'm also going to show this for the Christmas Club Card challenge that has been set this fortnight by Sue W, asking us to use all our favourite things - well, I love the Christmas colours of red and green, I love using copics, adding a few embellishments as well as sentiments - and there's even a snowflake as Sue requested! I hope the girls will forgive me for doubling up this time, but as I'll be away in Eastbourne as this goes live I think I'll be forgiven.

This is also for:

Anything goes: early Christmas
Aud sentiments 62: Christmas
Nutcrafters 26: countdown to Christmas
Just keep on creating: Christmas is around the corner
Stamp and create September: anything goes

WOYWW 170

We're off on our hols today, so there's nothing going on here now except getting together some crafting to take with me - well you never know if we might get a rainy day and there's always evenings to craft while the TV is on in the background.

All that's left on my desk is my techie stuff - little laptop, iPad synching with my PC, etc etc ready for taking with me. Sorry about the strange angle of the photo, but no time for messing around tonight (should be in bed - got a lot to do tomorrow before we go ... like packing!!)

Why am I showing this? Well, it's for WOYWW 170 - follow the link and enjoy snooping on lots of craftrooms and join in the fun.

Two or three weeks ago I mentioned that I'd received some PanPastels as a prize and a few WOYWWers have asked me how I've got on with them. Well, until Monday, I hadn't actually tried them and when I did I was limited for time, so my first attempt is very basic. I used the orange and yellow that I'd received with one of the sponges to create a sunset sky on this card - you can read more about it here.

Christmas flowers

For this card I've used the sketch for Totally Gorjuss 147:

I used another vintage Santa oval and sentiment from a recently acquired kit, papers from my Christmas offcuts box and some Prima flowers.

This is my late effort for facebook Sunday's with Santa week 34: flowers (I've still got a few challenges to catch up, but time now has run out because we're off to Eastbourne tomorrow).

Apologies for the glare on the photo.

This is also for:


Pixie's crafty snippets 36
Waste not Wednesdays 28
Anything goes 75: early Christmas
Aud sentiments 62: Christmas is coming
Just keep on creating: Christmas is around the corner
Christmas cards all year round September: Christmas presents
Southern girls 52: it's all about the flora
Daring cardmakers: focus on flowers
Sparkles forum Christmas September 20: sparkle & bling
Penny's 91: sparkle and shine
Oozak 6: sparkle
Everybody art 203: vintage
Simply create too 21: so old or vintage
Great impressions September: sentimental journey - anything with a sentiment
Papertake: anything goes
Tuesday alchemy 30: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 34: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Natalia and Amy 1: anything goes
Make it Monday 105
Inspire me Fridays 74
52 card pickup week 35
DL.ART 1000 post linky party: anything goes

Vintage Santa

This card is based on the sketch for Crafty ribbons 27:

It's also a very late card for Sunday's by Santa on facebook for week 33 (yes, I really am behind) - which was to use ribbon and charm.

Papers are offcuts from the K & Co secret Santa collection, the glittered Santa is from a recently acquired kit and other bits and pieces from stash, including the ribbon originally from a market stall and the charm.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 36
Waste not Wednesdays 28
Anything goes 75: early Christmas
Creative card crew 18: Christmas
Aud sentiments 62: Christmas is coming
Just keep on creating: Christmas is around the corner
Jingle belles: holiday bingo - I chose the diagonal: Santa, flowers, ribbon
Christmas cards all year round September: Christmas presents
Sparkles forum Christmas September 20: sparkle & bling
Blog-a-doodle: a touch of sparkle
Penny's 91: sparkle and shine
Oozak 6: sparkle
Fairytale 49: anything metal (charm)
Craft room: collage
Use it Tuesday 38: use that ribbon (definitely hoarded supplies!)
Everybody art 203: vintage
Simply create too 21: so old or vintage
Great impressions September: sentimental journey - anything with a sentiment
Papertake: anything goes
Tuesday alchemy 30: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 34: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Natalia and Amy 1: anything goes
Make it Monday 105
Inspire me Fridays 74
52 card pickup week 35
DL.ART 1000 post linky party: anything goes

Autumn birthday

As soon as I start to think about autumn cards, summer seems to have come!! And I'm not complaining about that at all - long may it last. But sooner or later (and, yes, let it be later) our thoughts will turn to darker evenings and autumnal colours on the trees.

It was my turn to choose the theme for the Time to create challenge for September on the Crafts by Carolyn forum and I chose 'Autumn with leaves and/or trees'.

So here is my card. I've used the red and yellow PanPastels that I received as a prize for a challenge on PanPastel UK blending with the sponge provided. I've tried to create a sunset sky. I then used some of my Crayan d'Arche neocolor pastels to colour the ground, blending with a baby wipe. The main tree is a much-loved 'fantasy' stamp by Penny Black, inked with a mix of memento rich cocoa, fired brick distress and Paris Trunk tiara gold. I've then used a few different Clarity trees and shrubs stamps to cover the ground - with hindsight I wish I'd made the sunset sky come further down and not had so much ground coverage, but 'tis done now and time doesn't permit me to try again.

The sentiment is a Create textured rub on.

This is also for:

Dream valley 40: something old, something new - the stamps are old, the PanPastels are new
Lexi 73: autumn colours
Lollipop crafts 89: fall frolic
Delightful: fall days
Mema's crafts September: choose a theme challenge: fall colours
Cutie stampers 134: fall leaves
Paper pretties Monday 55: create a square card
Stampin' sisters in Christ 155: birthday card
Crafts and me 99: birthdays
Divas by design 50: let's celebrate - birthday
Pattie's 51: birthdays
Stampin with the dragon: birthday cards
Tanda teaser 200: CAS
Crafts4eternity R87: less is more - clean and simple
Let's craft and create 52: stamp it
Great impressions September: sentimental journey - anything with a sentiment
Perfect sentiments 47: anything goes with a sentiment
Stamp dreams 149: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
QKR 3: anything goes
Everybody art 202: anything goes
Natalia and Amy 1: anything goes
Make it Monday 105
Inspire me Fridays 74
52 card pickup week 35
DL.ART 1000 post linky party: anything goes

More Christmas bells

This is my second card for my CHNC challenge 88: Christmas bells.

This time I used a piece of Anna Griffin paper that really needs little added to it or it would take away from the design, so I cut out the bells and holly from an identical paper and decoupaged just one more layer. I added a couple of sticky glittery ribbons on the side and a Craftwork cards sentiment and then glittered the holly berries with stickles.

When I did this post last night I was too impatient to let the stickles dry, so here is another photo taken this morning now that the glitter is dry:

This is also for:

Rudolph day for August
Dare to be sassy 140: Christmas - favourite carol - I love the carol 'The holly bears a berry', which is rarely heard these days (you can see it here)
Creative card crew 18: Christmas
Aud sentiments 62: Christmas is coming
Just keep on creating August: Christmas is around the corner
Crafty sentiments: lets sparkle
Stamp n doodle: a touch of sparkle
Bearly mine 50: anything that glitters
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 20: sparkle & bling
Perfect sentiments 47: anything goes with a sentiment
Catch the bug September: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
QKR 3: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Everybody art 202: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Waste not Wednesdays 28 - using up old sticky ribbons
Make it Monday 104
Inspire me Fridays 74
52 card pickup week 35
DL.ART 1000 post linky party: anything goes

CHNC challenge 88: Christmas bells

Today sees the start of a new challenge on my CHNC blog and as we start September perhaps it's the time to get serious about making those Christmas cards ... so, if you haven't started yet, why not visit my CHNC challenge 88 and join in? I'm asking you to include some Christmas bells.

CHNC challenge 88 is being sponsored by  Robyn'sFetish Digital Stamps And More , who kindly supplied me with the digital image that I've used on this card - it's called 'Christmas bell' - I coloured with copics and mounted on to a Spellbinder nestabilities label die cut, matting on to another one made from an offcut lurking in my Christmas papers box. All papers used for this card are from my Christmas offcuts, so this is probably my last card of the week for Pixie's crafty snippets 35.

I'm not that happy with this card because I used a ready cut easel card blank (I suppose I thought it would be quicker as time was pressing), but it means that there is a bit of a different shape at the top and I couldn't cut round it because it wouldn't have fitted the shape cut on the other side of the fold. With hindsight (ah, such a marvellous thing - lol!) I would have been better to have started from scratch and made my own easel card ... nevermind!

I used a piece of sticky ribbon with green flowers and sparkly gold trim as the 'stop' across the base, also adding a sentiment.

This is also for:

Stamp dreams 148: not square
Allsorts 170: anything but square
Stampin' sisters in Christ 154: use punches, dies or shapes of any kind
Creative stamp friends 58: special card form
CRAFT 170: shaped card
Creative card crew 18: Christmas
Aud sentiments 62: Christmas is coming
Just keep on creating August: Christmas is around the corner
Card and scrap 38: use dies
Crafty sentiments: lets sparkle
Stamp n doodle: a touch of sparkle
Bearly mine 50: anything that glitters
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 20: sparkle & bling
Perfect sentiments 47: anything goes with a sentiment
Catch the bug September: anything goes
Natalie and Amy: anything goes
Jackson's digital expressions: anything goes 20
QKR 3: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Through the craftroom door 33: anything goes
Everybody art 202: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Waste not Wednesdays 28 - Christmas papers offcuts and ribbon and sentiments that are old
Make it Monday 104
Inspire me Fridays 74
52 card pickup week 35
DL.ART 1000 post linky party: anything goes