Frosty the snowman

As I've predominently used red, white and blue, this is for I did it 28: holiday colour mix up - using the colours for 4th July for a Christmas card. And the snowman is good for Paper players 23: snowman and Paper sundaes 43: let is snow, also Stampin' sisters in Christ 64: weather - snow and Crafty calendar 14: winter snowflakes.

As the stamped image is recycled from another card, I'm linking for Let's ink it up 6, Ann's creative nook 11 and Pixie cotttage 43 - they all have the theme of recycling.

The snowflake paper is Artic frog ski bunny; the snowman stamped image is unknown.

It's also for:

Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Everybody art 115: untraditional Christmas
Crafty Ann 27: Christmas card using non-traditional colours
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: non-traditional colours & Xmas card
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
One stitch at a time 38: winter wonderland
Stamp man 9: Christmas
Stamp and create 7: 'tis the season - Christmas
ABC Christmas: W for winter wonderland
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes

Gently does it

Challenge 137 on Cute card Thursday is 'gently does it' - using vellum, parchment or tissue.

I've used some white vellum with red flowers which now looks pink because it is mounted on to a red card.

I love robins on Christmas cards and this is for Alphabet B for birds.

It's also for:

Tanda teaser 158: funky feathers (I hope a robin's feathers are 'funky' enough!)
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Little red wagon 53: use the colour red
ECP 25: red
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes

Christmas day lunch invitation

Today's Oh Alice chapter 38 is to use a ticket, so I personalised one for Christmas Day Lunch using Fake Concert Ticket Generator. I've used quite a large photo, so am linking for Frosted designs: 'use up large photos'.

This was produced digitally, so I'm linking for Bee crafty 42: Christmas 2.

It's also for:

One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes

Deck the halls

It was very hard to get a photo of this card, even in daylight without a flash, because the holly mirri card is so reflective - the background of it is actually a foiled pale green.

I can't remember what the background paper is - some I had left over from original 12 x 12 sheet.

For Winter wonderland 'sing a Christmas carol' challenge this week, the carol for this card, of course, is 'Deck the halls ...', also for Dezinaworld 'song/dance/music' - update: suddenly realised that for this challenge I should have used a Dezina image - d'oh! - will be back later with one!

It's also for:

One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Pattie's creations 3: Christmas card
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Fairytale: everything goes
365 cards day 248 ad inspired:

Red and gold

Today's challenge 108 on Secret Crafter Saturday calls for 'red and gold'.

The main background paper was a magazine freebie and the strip of cream and gold foiled card was from a QVC kit from last year. The red and gold frame is from a kit bought this year - the vintage image, foiled with gold, is recycled. This image is good for Kaboodle 43 'make it vintage', CCEE 1044 'winter scene' and ABC Christmas 'W for winter wonderland'.

It's also for:

Allsorts 77: 'twas the night before Christmas'
Polka doodles 44: 'quick & easy Christmas card'
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas

Away in a manger

This simple nativity card is for Winter wonderland: sing a Christmas carol - 'Away in a manger', also for Dezinaworld: 'song/dance/music' (Away in a manger).

The picture has a gold surround, as does the Compliments of the Season sentiment (dfficult to see here). The base card is textured and the paper behind the image was a magazine freebie.

It's also for:

One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes
Pattie's creations 3: Christmas card
Little red wagon 53: use the colour red
ECP 25: red
Fairytale: everything goes

Dottie in the snow

Papers are Artic frog ski bunny. As I've used a digi is - a Charmed download: 'dottie in the snow', part of the bumper Christmas collection - this is for City crafter 29: 'get your digi on', Bee crafty 41: Christmas 1 and Die cut dreams Christmas 41 to 'use a Christmas digi'.


It's also for:

One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
ABC Christmas: W for winter wonderland
Critter 38: Christmas
Crafty Ann 27: 'Christmas card using non-traditional colours
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 27: holiday card
Everybody art 115: untraditional Christmas
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes
Pattie's creations 3: Christmas card
Fairytale: everything goes

Christmas buttons

These challenges call for buttons to be used:

Gingerloft 5 and Stamp, scrap & doodle.

The paper is Craft Creations and there is a strip of gold foil near the top (difficult to see here). The surrounds of the sentiment are gold and green.

This is also for:

Polka doodles 44: quick & easy Christmas card
One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 27: holiday card
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Cards for men 22: anything goes (think this is manly enough)

Gold cream and red

This Christmas card is for Allsorts 76: gold and cream with a hint of red - the gold doesn't show up very well, unfortunately, but it is there.

It's also for:

One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Simplicity one layer 27: Christmas kindness
Charisma cardz: with love @ Christmas (the FF bear is carrying a heart with mistletoe)
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 27: holiday card
Everybody art 115: untraditional Christmas
Created by hand: words of love/friendship
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes
Pattie's creations 3: Christmas card
Fairytale: everything goes

Candy canes

'Candy canes' is the theme for this week's challenge 48 on Sparkle creation Christmas 2010.

I've used DCWV papers and chipboard with a black bow. There are no embellishments on the first one - the papers speak for themselves - so this is good for today's 'no embellishments' Town scrapper challenge.

Sorry about the wonkiness of the scan! (the card is straight).


This is also for:

Polka doodles 44: quick & easy Christmas card
Crafty catz 57: spots and stripes
One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 27: holiday card
Everybody art 115: untraditional Christmas

Old olive and ivory notebook

The treehouse challenge 74 asks for 'old olive and beige' to be used, allowing the addtion of one more colour if needed. This notebook was made with K & co papers, some blooms and some ribbons - using my BIA once more.

It's also for:

For fun: metal (the wire binding)
One powerful hour: Nancy's previous theme: favourite flowers
Spoon full of sugar 128: relish to embellish - I love adding flowers and ribbons
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes

Notebook for a boy

Another notebook that I made the other day using my BIA machine, this time using some K & Co background paper, sticky ribbons and a couple of die cut shirts.

This is for:

Paper sundaes 42: for the boys
Crazy amigo: boys
Papertake: penny for the guy (hope it's OK that it's not actually a card)
For fun: metal (the wire binding)
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift
Ellephantastic 18: blue
Moxie Tuesday trigger: a study in blue - inspiration photo (I've gone for the colour, not the theme!):

Post it note request

I had a request from a friend to make a post-it note holder for one of her grandsons who is mad keen on Arsenal football club.

This is very simple, but it fits the bill - a die cut Arsenal footie outfit that's been in my 'masculine' box for some time and the football is a big brad.



I'm linking this for:

Paper sundaes 42: for the boys
Crazy amigo: boys
Papertake: penny for the guy (hope it's OK that it's not actually a card)
For fun: metal (the brad)
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift

Fairies notebook

Another notebook made with my BIA - can't remember what the background paper is. The metal buckle and ribbon were recycled from a card.

This is for:

Crafty creations 92: fables and fairy tales
Flutter by Wednesday 129: open theme - with fairy
Alphabet: A for angels and fairies
Secret crafter Saturday 107: anything that flies
For fun: metal
Pixie cottage 43: recycled elements
Cupcake inspirations 83:
ECP 24: autumn
Sisterhoood of crafters: fall and incorporate leaves
Double dutch 55: fall has fallen
Stampavie and more 115: orange
Play date 54:
Curtain call 54:
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes

Post it with Pooh

Anotherpost it note holder, this time featuring Pooh bear, who, of course, loves his hunny!

The background paper is DCWV pocketful of posies and the Pooh dimensional stitckers are some that I've had for ages.


This is for:

Pile it on 43: 'beary good friends'
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift
Secret crafter Saturday 107: anything that flies
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes

Make a note ... it's teatime!

A couple of post-it note holders, using some white glitter card, Craftime stickers etc.


They are for:

Whoopsi daisy: sparkle
Our daily bread: sparkle
Cowgirl Sunday: tons of bling
ABC: G is for glitter
Paper romance 30: everything but the kitchen sink - lots of glitter
Other lovelies 30: G - glitter
Other lovelies 31: H - hearts
Creative inspirations 46: glitter, glamour, girlie
Die cut dreams 71: no colouring plus feature a heart
Ann's creative nook 110: think pink
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift
Theme Thursday: favourite colour combo - black, white and hot pink is definitely one of my all-time favourite combos
2 sisters 11: no designer paper
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes
Jazzy paper designs15: blue note jazz - inspiration from webpage (the colours)



Flourishes timeless 91: choose a print that inspires you from Cafe Baudelaire - I chose the theme from:

Just for a change ...

... this has nothing to do with Christmas (well, except that it can be given as a little Christmas gift)!

It's a notebook made using my BIA. The spiky circle has been cut with a nestie. The 'notes' letters are thickers chipboard, which is good for If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday challenge 52.


It's also for:

Crafty pad 95: stitching (on the ribbon down the left side)
PaperPlay 44: circles
Our daily bread: dies
Mami doodles 13: anything but a card
All things unity 18: monochromatic
There she goes 79: anything gifty
Craft and me 16: make a Christmas gift
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes

Noel embossing

Five more embossed cards, this time using a Crafts Too embossing folder on texture card, which I then sanded to distress:

These are for:

Aly's Sunday 28: distressed
One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Tip top Tuesday 8: Christmas inspired
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 27: holiday card
Creative cottage 26: embossing
C.R.A.F.T. 75: dry embossing
Our daily bread: texture it
All things unity 18: monochromatic
2 sisters 11: no designer paper
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes

O Christmas tree

Five more very simple cards - simply green mirri card embossed with a cuttlebug folder:



These are for:

One stitch at a time 37: 'Christmas traditional or modern
Critter 38: Christmas
Tip top Tuesday 8: Christmas inspired
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
No time to stamp 163: 'tis the season for clean and simple
Frosted designs: holiday treats
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 27: holiday card
Italy on Sunday 56: trees and roots
Creative cottage 26: embossing
C.R.A.F.T. 75: dry embossing
Our daily bread: texture it
2 sisters 11: no designer paper
All things unity 18: monochromatic
Paper players: anything goes
Craft your passion 30: anything goes
Incy wincy 66: anything goes
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes
One stop craft 104: anything goes
Wee memories 29: free for all

I've been a bad blogger

I didn't blog much of my craftiness last week - just the essentials - because I was getting ready for the church mini market (I did very well there - thanks to everyone who supported). I thought that things would then be back to normal - but, oh no! Having managed to blog about my new Christmas challenge site and, fortunately, schedule a post for my card as GD on Ooh La La, our broadband (and cable TV) went on the blink on Sunday afternoon and went completely on Monday.

It has now been put right, but I feel all out of gear - I've got quite a few cards etc to show and hardly know where to start now. So today I'm going to try and catch up with a few challenges and blog some of my new crafting.

Guest Designer on Ooh La La

I was very surprised and delighted when Anne from Ooh La La got in touched and asked me to be a Guest Designer on for November and December.

The theme of today's challenge 66 for the next fortnight is 'Remember, remember'. Please visit Ooh La La to see the lovely crafting of the regular Design Team - and it would be lovely if you could make something for the challenge.

As it's Remembrance Sunday in the UK on 14 November - the nearest Sunday to 11 November - I thought I would focus on poppies.

I've used papers and images from Ooh La La's Watercolour memories CD 'Poppy farm'. I've stamped with two PM poppy stamps and sentiment and coloured with Copics. I thought the 'thinking of you' tied in well with remembering someone at a time of special need. The spotted ribbon is Miss Elizabeth's.

I'm also linking this for the Craft Garden's November challenge where they have given this picture as inspiration: