I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

No, I'm not actually dreaming of a white Christmas, but that's the title of my card for If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 11 sketch:



It's also for these challenges:

Something completely different week 28: 'blue/white and snowflakes'
Paper Maniac Inspirations: 'Create something vintage/retro - Optional Challenge:
Create something Christmas-related
Another one for Creative Belli 78: 'Christmas with creative cuts and more' - use Christmas
embellishments (the added snowflakes)
And another one for Ildi Co 5: choose a Christmas song - this time: 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas'
And the colours are good for day 131 on 365 cards: 'ad inspired' (yes, I am still doing some of the old 365 challenges!)

Etsy inspired 62: 'Quiltish from Alissa Jacobs' - the idea is to look in her shop and choose something to inspire crafting - this is what I've chosen:


On C.R.A.F.T. 26 - this was the inspiration photo given:


I've used some Craft Creations 'snowflakes on dark blue' paper for the background. The tree is a photo I took the last time we had snow, the pillar box picture is one that I used last year - I added some snowflakes as well and the sentiment was computer generated.

Sorry, the scan is a bit crooked, not the card!

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

BF November ATCs

For the ATC swap on Bubbly Funk forum this month, we were given a sketch to work with:



I used DCWV textured card and a couple of my fav cuttlebug embossing folders - d'vine swirls and swiss dots, added a few other bits and pieces and printed 'purple' in a tiny font. I made five of these.

There was no stipulation about colour, so I chose purple - I do love all shades of purple and lilac.

There are one or two challenges around atm asking for 'purple' (I've already done a digi purple Christmas scene, but thought I'd link this as well):

Incy wincy designs: 'purple!'
Lily-boo too November challenge: 'purple'
As it's an ATC, it's good for Whimsy 28: 'not a card', also for Pollycraft 28: 'no cards allowed'



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Scraps and more ...

The theme on Daring Cardmakers last Friday was 'scraplings'. I thought about this earlier in the week, but it was only this morning that I got round to doing anything for it - when I started, the new challenge wasn't up on DCM, so I thought I'd just squeeze in, but now it is - oh well, yet again, I'm late!

I decided to use one of Kathy's sketches (Kathy is one of the DCM team - an original - and a crafting forum friend):

I noticed the other day that Kathy had made a card and then a scrapling with the offcut, showing both at the same time - I thought this was a good idea, so that's what I've done.

In fact, I was able to get one card and two scraplings out of an A4 piece of card, one scrapling being a bit longer than the other.

I used various scraps, some of which is Basic Grey and some Papermania flowers with wire swirls, plus a few buttons, gems etc.

On the larger card I used ric rac and buttons, which was the challenge on 365 day 256 for 'perfect pair'. It is also predominantly red and grey which makes it OK for this week's Design Dollies colour challenge.

The scrapling on the right has the colours for this week's Kelly Jo colour chef 28: 'black, tan, red' - there is some tan within some of the spots on that BG scarlet's letter paper, honestly!

'Using flowers with black and red' is the theme for Card*a*licious 31, also incorporating 'thank you', so the third card is good for that.

Another one for Kraftin' Kimmie 6: 'lotsa circles'

And, lastly, the cards all have BG paper on and bling - the flowers and the gems - so I'm linked for Basic Grey week 8 'glitz and bling'.

They cards are a bit easier to see if you click on the picture.

So, all of this has come out of one A4 piece of card and scraps!

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Digi Purple Christmas

This is the picture given for this coming week on Art Creations Friday:



I used a digi clipart picture from Publisher, changed it to purple and then merged the purple version of the AC picture.

This is also for:

Incy wincy designs: 'purple!'
Digital Tuesday 33: 'a colour challenge' - white, purple, gold or silver (it's not very clear here, but there is silver on the baubles)
Lily-boo too November challenge: 'purple'
Doodle Palace digital images 15: 'Christmas purple'



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

O Christmas tree

This is for It's a crafter's companion sketch 10:



To qualify for that challenge, something you've used has to be available in the Crafter's Companion shop - I've used Daisy & Dandelion Christmas collection embossed glitter transfers (rub ons).

Day 128 on 365 was a card recipe:

1 5x5 Card
1 Rub-on image
2 Buttons
1 Piece of patterned paper
1 piece of ribbon - NO BOW
1 Sentiment inside the card

This is also another card for Gingersnap 30: spicy supply: 'buttons'

Colour Create 30 is 'green, red and white', optional extra: Christmas.

And for Ildi Co 5 the song this time is 'O Christmas tree'.




Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Tilda relaxing

This is for Get Sketchy 14, which this week incorporates the option: 'use your markers:



I've used the colours given for Copic Colour challenge 40:

I cheated a bit, because I used YR04 for Tilda's face and hands, which made her look far too orange, so I then used the 0 blender to take off some of the colour - she still looks a bit orange tanned though!

Using the Magnolia Tilda stamp allows me to enter this for Stampavie and more 70: 'brown + one other' - I know that there's more than one other colour, but I'm counting the red/pink as the other predominant colour with brown.

And, talking of colour, Color dare 43 is asking for rose red, chocolate chip, green galore plus any neutrals, and Color throwdown 69: 'chocolate, olive, cream, dark red. Lots of the circles and swirls behind Tilda are dark red.

This is also another card for There she goes 29: 'in stitches' (on the ribbon).

Kraftin' Kimmie 6 is 'lotsa circles!' there are lots on the BG eva paper.

This is a 'girly' card, so I'm linking too for Die cuts R us 17: 'create a girly project'.

Tuesday morning 20 this week is a recipe: '3 decorative papers (all 3 are BG - the background one isn't the base card - a white blank was covered) , 2 embellishments (ribbon and flowers), 1 flourish (the red wire behind the flowers).



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Christmas bling

This is for the sketch on Clean and simple FTL68:



Another one for Tueesday taggers 'red, green and gold'



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Christmas stars

This card is for Friday sketchers 78:


It's also another one for 3 clovers 40: 'a Christmas card with NO red or green' and also for Ildi Co 5: 'choose any Christmas song and let it inspire you' - the carol for this card is 'We three kings'.

The strips across the gold foiled card are Papermania. The outside of the image is recycled from an old card, with PM paper put behind it. The stars give a nice textured look to the card.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Wild animal!?

Well, he doesn't look very wild to me!

This is for lili of the valley 41 sketch:



It's also for:

Lili of the valley 40: 'recipe' - 3 papers, 2 stamps (the textured background and the sentiment), 1 type of embellishments (buttons) - I realise that I'm late for this one
Paperplay 41: 'recipe' - 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon, 3 buttons
Just Buggin' 11: ' into the wild' - use a Cricut animal (lion from 'animal kingdom' cartridge)
Simon says: 'animal antics'
Bubbly scrumptious 12: 'go wild!!!' - wild animals!
Elzybells 31: 'tempting textures' - I used the Elzybell texture background stamp with Colorbox copper embossed with clear; there's also texture on the ribbon and, of course, the buttons.
Little paper shop 42: 'use a die cut'
Another one for Little red wagon 3: 'distress it up' - I used four different colorbox chalk inks on the lion, finishing with an edging of copper.

Papers used were BG two scoops (for the lion and the squares) and obscure (for the textured piece and background).



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Hark the herald angels sing

I started this card a long time ago, with the background papers, but couldn't think what else to put on it, until this morning when I saw challenge 5 on Ildi Co: 'an inspiration' - 'choose any Christmas song and let it inspire you' - I then remembered one of my favourite angel stamps by Rubber Stampede, which has 'Hark the herald angels sing' music score in the background. This has been coloured with copics and stickles golden rod added on the wing, which qualifies it for Copic creations 16: 'golds'. Of course, there are also other Christmas carol titles on the torn paper on the right.

SPCC colour combo 23 is:

The colours for this are all there, even though the pink is minimal on the flowers round the angel's head.

3 clovers 40 asks for a Christmas card with NO red or green, so this fits the bill for that.

It's also good for yesterday's 'ad inspired' day 263 on 365 cards, which was deep blue and white.

The sparkle on the wings makes the card good for Creative Inspirations 36: 'sparkle' and another one for Frosted designs 'bling it on'; also another for TIOT 44: 'we've got the blues'.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Touchy feely baby card

This card is for sketchy Thursday 60 on Eat sleep stamp:



It's also for:

Dutch dare: 'felt like it' - use felt on your card - the duck on this new baby card is felt, the ribbon is touchy feely as well.

Little red wagon 3: 'distress it up' - sanded/inked edges - the 'boy' panel has been sanded and inked with chalk tangerine ink and the embossed 'boy' was chalked with Pebbles' orange.

Another one for three clovers 39: 'birds or bugs' - this time a bird.

The striped paper is K & Co, the background paper was free with a magazine.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Piling on the ribbons

This card is for Pile it on 24: '3 flowers and 5 pearls' - I used a blue flower and two brown ones and 5 prima brown pearls.

It's also for the sketch for Truly Scrumptious 20, with the additional challenge of adding texture - there are plenty of different textures on the ribbons, on the floral sentiment and on the flowers.



These other challenges are included as well (the idea with 'Pile it on' is to combine with as many others as possible):

365 cards day 242: 'ribbon frenzy' - use several different ribbons (I was stumped with this one till I got inspiration from the TS sketch.
The play date cafe 4: 'blue, chocolate brown, tan and cream
Squigglefly 28: 'thank you'
All that scraps: 'thanksgiving project'
Flutter by Wednesday 83: 'thankful' and use a butterfly (yes), fairy or angel
La la land 13: 'thankful' - La la land says: 'To show our appreciation for you, in addition to this week's THANKFUL challenge we also have a Blog Candy to give away.'
Nutty nutshells 4: 'thank you/thankful'
Paper Blooms: 'thank you' (sadly their last challenge)
Three clovers 39: 'birds or bugs' (a butterfly is a bug!)
Frosted designs: 'bling it on' (brown pearls)



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

ATG700 tape gun review

Some of you have asked about the ATG gun.

I use silicone glue for decoupage or for things that need a stronger bond, sometimes use glue dots or sticky dots, but the main form of adhesive I used to use was double sided tape. However, I started to buy some of the little sticky tape pens - the ones that you use and throw away - some you can get a refill for, but the refill costs nearly as much - and none of them last very long. I found that I was either resorting back to DS tape or paying out more for the tape pens.

So, having heard good reports from a few fellow crafters, I bought an ATG gun and can honestly say that I love it. I've used it since the day that I got it (so much so that, with the amount of cards I've made recently, I've been getting through the tape rolls!)

It seems strange to use at first, mainly because of its size, but I found that I got used to it very quickly and actually now like the solid feel of the size of it. It does take a bit of practice to get the sticky where you want it - at first I tended to be too far away from the edge of the paper, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it.

If you get some sticky where you don't want it, you can gently rub it away.

It's easy to change the reels of tape - only takes a few seconds.

I hope this review helps. If anyone has any questions, please ask.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

WOYWW today?

It's Wednesday again - WOYWW day at Stamping Ground - a day of nosing at other people's workspace! (I forgot about it last Wednesday). I haven't actually done any crafting today, but I'm sorting out my Christmas stuff. I've already made (and sold) quite a lot of Christmas cards, but need to make more and got to the point where everything was getting stashed in together - so I'm in the middle of sorting it all.

I hope to be back later on with some actual crafting (when my workspace will get a lot more untidy than it is atm).

You can see that I've had freeview Create & Craft on in the background, but tbh I couldn't tell you what they were selling, 'cause I didn't really take much notice.


Why not follow the link above and have a nose at people's workspace - and take a photo of yours and share with us.

If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Blue Christmas again

This card is for wacky Wednesday hump day sketch 7 on Paper Popsicles:

It's also for Try it out Tuesday 44: 'we've got the blues'.

Papers are English Paper Company, chipboard snowman is Brenda Pinnick and snowflakes are paper cellar.


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Birthday card

This is for Stamps and Smiles sketch 40:


The sketch looks as if it should be a Christmas card, but I couldn't see this actually mentioned, so I hope it's OK that I've made a birthday card.

The top section of the card is one piece of patterned paper cut into three (can't remember what this paper is), the strip across the bottom is K & Co.

The card is also for:

Paperplay 41: 'recipe - 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon, 3 buttons
Gingersnap 30 spicy supply: 'buttons'
Quixotic 1 and 2: 'birthday' and 'stitching' (on the ribbon)
There she goes 29: 'in stitches'




If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Turquoise and pink Christmas

This card is for Penny's challenge 15: 'it's a sketch':

And also for Apron strings 16: 'ad inspiration':



Another one for Little Red Wagon 2: 'use your scraps' - bright pink papers are from a couple of years ago, the turquoise card was in my scraps box and the chipboard snowflakes were originally part of a kit a couple of years ago - somehow they got left behind in the box.

It's also for:

365 cards day 259: 'imagine this: snow' - not just the snowflakes, but the snow on the pink paper.
Crafty Creations 41: 'snow'
Pals paper arts 16: 'Christmas cheer' (another one for this)
Gingham girl's 'word of the week' 12: 'furfuraceous - consisting of or covered with flaky particles' - I think the snow on the pink paper is right for this.
Another one for Cute card Thursday 86: 'glitter me silly' - on the snowflakes
Another one for Frosted designs: 'bling it on' - glitter, shimmer - on the snowflakes



If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Red, green and gold again

This card is for the sketch on Diva Coffee Break designs for challenge 153 (this is my first time of joining DCBD:



It's also for:

Tuesday Taggers: 'colours - red, green and gold
Creative Belli 78: 'Christmas with creative cuts and more - themed embellishments'
Little red wagon 2: 'use your scraps' - use last year's scraps - these are definitely last year's or even the year before - the paper came with a magazine (I think it was Making Cards) and the stars embellishments is a 3D sticker that has been waiting to be used some time)
Susie's sassy 1: 'Christmas' (another one for this new challenge blog)
Pals paper arts: theme challenge: 'Christmas cheer' (another 'first time' challenge for me)

You can't really see on the photo, but the stars are red and green.


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

My CJ has come home

I've been so priveleged to be part of a Circle Journal group on Bubbly Funk forum over the past few months. Thank you, girls, for allowing me the opportunity to take part in your precious journals.

Thank you too, everyone, for your fab contributions to mine.

I wasn't sure how this would work out, because my theme for the CJ was 'What Next?' I asked each person to choose the topic for the next person - I think this worked out well.

My front cover:

My welcome and rules:

I asked Karen to tell us about when she was a teenager. Obviously Karen was already crafting by then - she says: 'I loved any craft and Mum and I would spend the winters playing with cane, wool, fabric ... anything really!'

Gez's theme chosen by Karen was friendship. Under the flap of 'friendship recipes', Gez says: 'Mix greetings and smiles thoroughly. Add hugs separately. Slowly stir in love. Sift sympathy and told in carefully. Bake in warm heart. Serve often.' How lovely is that?!

Suzie was asked for her favourite school memory. I've loved reading about the Debs Ball - and the super photo of the girls in their gorgeous white dresses.

Beth was asked which 3 people, dead or alive, she would like to invite to dinner. You can see Beth's choices and she says: 'I would hope that the four of us would all get along very nicely, laugh and have some fun. I'd love to be there and sit next to Robert de Niro!

Elaine was asked: 'What smell brings back a memory?' Elaine said that she hoped I would enjoy reading about her little advnture because she loved thinking about those happy times - yes, I did, thank you, Elaine - such a mixture of memories conjured up by smell!

Nicky's topic was 'Childhood favourite sweets' - what yummy choices, Nicky - mmm I can almost taste those black jacks - and I loved Spangles.

Net was asked what makes her laugh - I wasn't surprised to see Tinker and Harry on Net's pages and to know that parrot games were her source of fun.

Paddy had three wishes - super wishes, Paddy - I certainly hope they all come true, starting soon with passing your driving test

Leigh was asked: 'What is your favourite season?' This is a wonderful choice, with such beautiful colours - gorgeous photos Leigh has shared.


Sign in pages - everyone made a tag:

Back of my CJ:


I hope you've enjoyed looking at my CJ. I will certainly treasure it. Thank you, once again, girls.