Santa and stockings

This card uses the colours for 52 Christmas card throwdown colour challenge 1:

Papers are K & Co Secret Santa - the scalloped circle was cut with a nestie, the image is Hero Arts jolly Santa and the glittered and foiled stockings were in a kit I bought two or three years ago.

This is a card suitable for a child for Crimbo crackers 7: for a child, also for Art impressions 48: a card for a child.

This is also for:

Facebook Sunday's with Santa week 4: Santa
Deep ocean 17: sparkle
Ruby's rainbow 20: red & black
Creative card crew 2: seeing red
Lothian crafts January 22: die cuts
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Gingerloft 31: anything goes
Lexi 56: anything goes
Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 72

Vintage pink and brown

For this card I've used the sketch for Techno stamper Monday lunchtime 206:

The background paper is Papermania pink collection, the sentiment is Craftwork cards, the images are glittered rub ons by La Blanche, buttons from Poundland (much more pink IRL than on the photo), ribbon and lace from stash. The panels behind the images were run through my cuttlebug with a Crafts too embossing folder - I then swiped a memento rich cocoa ink pad over the raised dots.

This is also for:

Crop stop 54: a bit old you said
Delightful: vintage/distressed
CES 68: vintage dahling!
The artistic stamper creative team January: vintage
Catered crop: button up
Papertake: buttons, bows, bling and blooms
Penny's 71: ribbons and buttons
Crafty catz 116: buttons and bows
Cutie pie 9: ribbons & lace
Scrappy frogs: lace
One stop craft 165: on the spot & ribbon
Celebrate the occasion 46: any occasion - must use polka dots
Pixie dust studio: we're going dotty
Sentimental Sundays 85: ribbon
Gingersnap GC134: spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Sugar creek hollow: embossing
The pixie cottage 104: embossing
Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
ABC: H for happy birthday

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42

Make it Monday 72

No need for clock-watching

This is a card to congratulate someone on their retirement.

My Sheri crafts challenge 76: time for a change was asking for a clock to be included on the card.

I've used the sketch for MFTWSC55:

I used old retro DCWV papers, using up offcuts and a print out of a digi clock (can't remember where it came from - it's just saved on my computer as 'clock') with a retirement sentiment.

It's also for City crafter 92: pretty inside and out, where this photo inspiration was given:

The message on the inside of the card was generated on computer:

This is also for:

Polka doodles 2: vintage/retro
Digistamps4joy 35: monochromatic - aquamarine and turquoise
Crop stop 54: a bit old you said - hope retro 60s is old enough!
Raise the bar 88: ring in the new year - circles
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
Crafty sentiments: anything goes

Just a note

When I saw the sketch for Card Patterns 148 I just knew it would be a good one for using up scraps (I never get to the end of that resolution - lol!):

I've used snippets of various papers (now I know that it is worth keeping those pieces that are under 2 inches wide!), some of which are DCWV, inked the Donna Dewberry all night media stamp with memento tuxedo black and coloured lightly with copics - this and the surrounding paper were cut with nesties. Just the addition of the lace and stitched ribbon and the card was done.

This is also for:

Paper-crafting journey 1: floral
Challenge up your life 60: bingo - I chose the top line of flowers, lace and purple, but have used some of the other elements too
Pollycraft 123: bingo - I chose die cuts, lace, pearls
The pink elephant 131: favourite colours - I love working with shades of purple
My time to craft 171: your favourite embellishments
Little darlings 15: favourite colour
Going grey with Scrap creations: die cuts
Lothian crafts January 22: die cuts
Cutie pie 9: ribbons & lace
Scrappy frogs: lace
Sentimental Sundays 85: ribbon
Gingersnap GC134: spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
Make all with love 20: stitches

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42

Make it Monday 72

Bejewelled

When I saw what Daring cardmakers were asking us to do this week - Miraculous Social Networks - 

Zuzanna said: I would like to see Facebook, Twitter, Skype, You Tube ... on your cards. You can use funny sentiments, colour scheme, fonts, style, layout or PC image - I didn't think I could take part this week because I couldn't think of a way to represent social networking.

When I did Suzie's 365 prompt for today, I chose to feature a photo of Bejewelled Blitz, the facebook game that I love - you can see here what I said about it - I suddenly thought that I could use that image on a card for DCM's challenge for a friend who also loves playing Bejewelled.


I love working from a sketch, so I was pleased to find Come and get it had a sketch for their challenge this week:

All card/papers used were from my offcuts box - the background is some old Papermania card from their teal collection, the foiled holographic strip has been in my box for ages; the ribbon is from a piece left over ages ago. The bejewelled photo and the surrounding frame were cut with nesties and the sentiment generated on my Dymo letratag.

This is also for:

Going grey with Scrap creations: die cuts
Lothian crafts January 22: die cuts
Incy wincy 129: bold and bright
Sassy Cheryl 98: bright & cheery to chase away the winter grey
Ladybug 52: bows
Sentimental Sundays 85: ribbonGingersnap GC134: spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
Party time Tuesday 51: happy birthday
ABC: H for happy birthday
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
Creative belli 136: frames
Papercraft star 80: use a frame

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got

Make it Monday 72

An urgent request

John went to a bowls club committee meeting this morning and came back with the request for three cards for members of the club who will soon be celebrating their 80th birthdays - fine by me, but ... one of them needs to go in the post today!!

So I was grateful for the sketch for Sketches by Carly 47:

The background is Kanban green grass card. The chevron piece of card and the little triangel in the bottom left corner is an offcut I've had for ages from when I made some background card with alcohol inks. The personal impressions bowler stamp with inked with memento and coloured with copics and promarker. The sentiment was generated with my Dymo letratag.

This is also for:

Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
Party time Tuesday 51: happy birthday
Card crafters circle 5: happy birthday
ABC: H for happy birthday
Winter wonderland: birthday wishes
Cards for men 2: boys and their toys
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
C.R.A.F.T. 138: use numbers

Photos catch up

I've missed taking part in Suzie's 365 for a few days, so this is a catch up.

15: generous: this is a photo I took at the Christmas Fair where mum lives - jams and cakes donated by generous folk:

16: snack: as I'm trying to lose weight yet again (having got to target weight nearly a year ago), this is the only kind of snack I'm allowing myself (but I'd rather be eating a bar of dark chocolate):

17: naughty: I sneaked up on John and took a picture while he was happy a nap - naughty me!:

18: pleasurable: I love my craft stuff - it gives me pleasure, especially my copics, promarkers and other pens - it's very therapeutic and pleasurable colouring in:

19: bad for you!: I love playing bejewelled blitz on facebook and have just discovered that there is now an app to play on my iPad - but it can be bad to spend too much time playing when I should be getting on with other things (or getting to bed!):

I'm up to date now - thanks, Suzie, for these great prompts - I had to really think about some of them!

WOYWW 137

A quick post at the end of the day to join in Julia's WOYWW 137 (if you don't know what I'm talking about, just follow the link and you might well get hooked!).

It's been a difficult day and no crafting in sight, so these photos show my workspace after making a couple of cards last night.

An overview:

To the left of where I sit - boxes that need to be put away, including a box of Clarity Stamps - some are mounted on holders and some not - problem is how to store these because the holders are funny shapes - I really must work out a system that's better than shoving them all in a box together. And you can see the Inkadinkado snowflakes stamps that I love - used one of them last night (card is shown further down my blog).

Not a lot to show in front of where I sit - apart from the computer, the pink, black and white card I made last night and some more scraps ready to make another one.

Over to the right, a box of ink pads, mainly Big & Juicy, but also some Adirondack that need replacing because the colours have gone yucky and blended in together over the years. Oh - and two brayers that needs cleaning - couldn't be bothered last night and been out today.

So there it is, not very exciting, I'm afraid.

Last week I managed to get round most of the WOYWW blogs - sorry if I didn't make it to yours. Not sure when and how I'll get round this week, but I'll try.

No birdie can fill your shoes

This is a very clean and simple one layer card for Less is more 50: one layer card - birds.

I stamped the Janet Klein's lovely Stampotique stamp with memento and coloured with copics. I'm quite pleased with the sentiment that I thought up:

You will be missed
No birdie can fill your shoes

It was difficult to get a proper photo or scan of this, so this is the best I could do - the card is much whiter irl and the pink colour of the birdie more obvious.

This is also for:

Penny's 70: birds
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Timbro scrap mania 40:  wings
Cute card Thursday 199: you're having a laugh!

Pink, pearls and swirls

What a lovely combination - pink, pearls and swirls. Hot pink, black and white is one of my favourite colour combos.

The card follows the sketch for Sweet sketch Wednesday 136-73:

The pink background is an offcut of card which has been stamped with an Inkadinkado snowflakes swirls stamp, inked with versamark and heat embossed with white detail. The other papers used are all DCVW scraps that I've had for ages. I stamped the Clarity stamps baubles with versamark and heat embossed with hot pink powder. Just the addition of a few pearls here and there and the card was complete.

This is also for:

Cards und more 45: stripes and pearls
Creative inspirations 145: swirls & pearls
Sparkle creations Christmas 2012 week 7: flourishes
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Christmas cards all year round January: non-traditional colour + bonus: embossing
The pink elephant 131: favourite colour(s)
Art impressions 47: pink, pink and more pink
Do you stack up 54: pink
Sugar creek hollow: embossing
Pixie's crafty snippets 3 (apart from the hot pink background that I stamped and embossed, which started off as a solid cardstock, other papers were all snippets)

Silhouette scene

This is one of the best cards I've made, but I enjoyed making it. It's been a difficult day, so I felt I needed to play with inks and this is what I came up with, using some new Clarity stamps (will come back later with the names of the various stamps I used, but want to get this posted now) and a brayered background using a rather smeared Adirondack stained glass (I must buy a new one). I didn't do the brayering very well at all, but I quite like the rather misty look it created, so I decided to stay with it.

This was prompted by City crafter 91: back to black - using any black silhouette image, also Quirky crafts 2 2012: silhouette, Make my Monday 32: create a scene (nature(,  and Craft a scene 1: anything goes (must be a scene).

This is also for Make it Monday 72 and Inspire me Fridays 41.

Winter tree

This card was supposed to be for Sketch n stash 78, but I took too long and missed the deadline for linking. I'm still showing the sketch to give credit to them:

I was given the starry card by a friend. I decided to stamp the Kanban tree on to the white/silver star card, inked with versamark and then heat embossed with detail silver. This was then die cut with a nestie.The silver scalloped border piece is backed with a smokey-grey mirror card which, unfortunately, doesn't show up here. Just the addition of a sentiment and the card was done.

The embossing is for:

Dancing in pajamas TCP: embossing
Sugar creek hollow: embossing
Getting cricky simply Sunday challenge: let it snow/use embossing

Colours are for:

Die cuttin divas 47: blue, silver and white
Crazy4challenges 199: monochromatic card in the blues
Secret crafter Saturday 168: anything goes with blue
Crafts4eternity R54 colour recipe - ice magic:

This is also for facebook Sunday's with Santa week 3: trees.

It's also for:
Crafting for all seasons: snowflakes
Creative belli 134: snowflakes
Fussy & fancy: let it snow
Allways something creative 22: ice and snow
Creative stamp friends 42: winter
Scrap-cards 19: winter
Tuesday throwdown 80: baby it's cold outside
Creative Friday January 53: it's cold outside
Use it Tuesday 23: all about winter
The sisterhood of crafters: winter card
Stampavie and more 160: winter
Stempelsonne 54: winter
Hobbystuggu January: winter - blue or a card that oozes cold
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Addicted to stamps 21: January blues
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Stamp and create January: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Let's ink it up January 19: anything goes

Inspire me Fridays 41

Think thin!

No, I'm not talking about diet, although I definitely do need to 'think thin' again! (I must say that this unexpected flare up of diverticulitis is helping me kickstart the diet!)

Anyway, to get back to the card, this was Keryn's instruction for us for today's Christmas card club challenge - to make a thin card to avoid having to use a large stamp when posting.

I've gone for the thinnest possible, with a one layer, clean and simple, card. However, I'm not going to confess how many goes at this I tried before I was (sort of) happy with the result.

I've used a new Funstamps stamp by Lindsay Mason called 'script robin' and the sentiment is a stamp (not sure whether it's Anna Griffin or HOTP - perhaps someone can tell me which).

As I've used a new stamp, I'm linking for:

Corrosive 140: ring in the new year - something brand new on your creation
Stampin' sisters in Christ 122: use something new
Cupcake craft 174: something new

Crafty creations 152: something new

Freshly brewed January: use something new

Fairytale 32: something new

Crafty catz 115: use something new

Also, on Crafts for Carolyn forum, Liz has challenged us to use something new and something old - the robin stamp is new and the sentiment one is old.

I inked up the stamp with memento rich cocoa, wiping the breast area on which I then put ColorBox chalk warm red ink and a spot of Marvy le plume butterscotch for the robin's beak.

For details of the Christmas Card Club please contact one of us - the links are in a list on my sidebar. If you want to get ahead with your Christmas cards we have a challenge every two weeks. If you are interested, just get in touch with one of us. We've already had two new girls join us this year - Anne and Lorraine - and would welcome anyone else who is interested.

I'm also entering this card in these challenges:

Party time Tuesday 50: use a feathered friend
Penny's 70: birds
Stamp, scrap & doodle: winter birds
Timbro scrap mania 40: wings
The squirrel and the fox 9: critters
Robyn's fetish 90: animals
Creative stamp friends 42: winter
Scrap-cards 19: winter
Tuesday throwdown 80: baby it's cold outside
Creative Friday January 53: it's cold outside
Use it Tuesday 23: all about winter - although the robin stamp is new, the sentiment stamp is old
The sisterhood of crafters: winter card
Stampavie and more 160: winter
Stempelsonne 54: winter
Heidi hobbystuggu January: winter
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Craft room: clean and simple
Card and scrap 24: clean and simple 
PanPastel UK: anything goes

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Stamp and create January: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Let's ink it up January 19: anything goes

Inspire me Fridays 41

From me to you

This is for the sketch for Make all with love 19:

 I've used the offcuts from the DCWV paper that I used for the previous card, so this is another for Pixie's crafty snippets 2, also for Aud sentiments 45: use your scraps, and Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday. The scalloped border across the middle is another offcut, flowers and gems from stash (the gems are much more sparkly brown irl). The image is a spare ATC that I had left from doing some for a swap ages ago. You can see the original post of how this was made here.

The numbers are for Our craft lounge 100: time to play with numbers and Moxie fab world Tuesday trigger: by the numbers:

Close up of the ATC I used (flash photo for the card just didn't do it justice):

This is also for:

Stampin for the weekend 24: out with the old - use old stash - everything is old
Just us girls 119: technique - collage stamping technique
Addicted to stamps 21: January blues
The house that stamps built DCC14: blue and brown card
Stampin sisters in Christ 121: thinking of you
The stamping boutique 23: twelve - there are 12 elements on this card
Timbro scrap mania 40: wings
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Simon says: spots and/or stripes
Stamp and create January: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Inspire me Fridays 41

Make my Monday 71

Blue and brown for baby boy

This is another 'new baby' card, this time background paper is DCWV, the pram sticker and ribbon are from stash.

Colours are for Ribbon carousel 35, where this inspiration photo was given:

This is also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 168: anything goes with blue
Card and scrap 23: baby
Ruby's rainbow 19: something for a baby or child
Crafty boots: new beginnings
Cupcake craft 174: something new - new baby
Lollipop crafts: anything new goes
Ooh-la-la 96: new beginnings
Crafty creations 152: something new
Divas by design 18: new beginnings
Crafty ribbons 10: new beginnings
Fairytale 32: something new
Craft your days away 36: new beginnings
2 sisters 74: use metal (the pram wheels)
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Simon says: spots and/or stripes
Moving along with the times: spots and stripes
Totally papercrafts 99: spots & stripes
Gingersnap GC134 spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Inspire me Fridays 41

Make my Monday 71

Blue for baby

This is for Here come the boys 18 sketch:

Papers are English Paper Company, the main image is a recycled topper, stickers are 'forever in time', sentiment and brads from stash.

Colours are for Crafts4eternity R54 colour recipe - ice magic:

This is also for:

Die cuttin divas 47: blue, silver and white
Crazy4challenges 199: monochromatic card in the blues
The craft garden January: monochrome
Secret crafter Saturday 168: anything goes with blue
Card and scrap 23: baby
Ruby's rainbow 19: something for a baby or child
Crafty boots: new beginnings
Cupcake craft 174: something new - new baby
Lollipop crafts: anything new goes
Ooh-la-la 96: new beginnings
Crafty creations 152: something new
Divas by design 18: new beginnings
Crafty ribbons 10: new beginnings
Little miss muffet 26: something new
Fairytale 32: something new
Craft your days away 36: new beginnings
Crafty calendar January: new news
2 sisters 74: use metal (brads and the pram wheels)
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Simon says: spots and/or stripes
Pink elephant 130: hearts
Pixie dust studio 109: put your heart into it
Designed2delight: include a heart
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Inspire me Fridays 41

Make my Monday 71

Love heart

This is for the theme 'bundle of love' on A la card monkey 91 plus the sketch:

The background paper is BG sugar rush - I'm entering this for Basic Grey 60 'something new' because the flowers I've used are new - part of the package I received as a prize from Crafty Ribbons.

The heart and crepe paper were rescued from an old card, so this is another one for St Luke's 'new year new start' challenge - the theme this month is to give a new lease of life to something destined for the bin ... Don't throw it away, turn it into something magical and give it a new start for 2012 by putting it on a card. There were originally some other flowers on the heart, but I took them off because I wanted to use some of those I'd received from Crafty Ribbons.

This is also for:

Pink elephant 130: hearts
There's magic in the air magical Monday: from the heart
Pixie dust studio 109: put your heart into it
Designed2delight: include a heart
Fab n funky 103: recycle it
My time to craft 170: hugs & kisses - love
The pretty little ribbon shop January 6: be my Valentine

Suzie's 365 14: guilty pleasure

14: guilty pleasure - This picture says it all really - I love any dark chocolate:



I won these at the raffle at John's bowls club lunch the other day. Perhaps I over-indulged because I'm really suffering atm with a flare up of diverticulitis.

CHNC challenge 55: use a digital image and/or paper

I can hardly believe that a week has gone by since my last challenge and here we are today with challenge 55 on my CHNC blog. If you don't know what I'm talking about, why not follow the link and join in - thanks to some great sponsors that are supporting me, I'm now able to give a prize every week to a randomly-chosen winner.

Challenge 55 is being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps more information here.

I made a set of five cards for this challenge using a lovely digi supplied by Bugaboo Stamps called 'Christmas words Noel'. I digitally coloured the image in Paint, adding strips of double sided tape on the sides. I then peeled the backing off separately to add Art Institute glitter. The cards are A5 folded sideways (so I can use up some more of those envies - you can see them here).

Two of Bugaboo Stamps team - kindly joined in the challenge, although, unfortunately, I failed to stress that it was a Christmas challenge blog, so their cards are not for Christmas, but, nonetheless, they are gorgeous - you can see them here and here - thank you, Cheryl and Rae Anne.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 12: Christmas stockings
Shopping our stash 34: all that glitters, sparkles or shines
Chocolate, coffee & cards 4: glitter latte - show some glitter
Sweet stampin: all that glitters
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 10: sparkle
Friendship's garden 7: clean and simple
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Inspire me Fridays 41

Make my Monday 71

Suzie's 365 13: inside your fridge

Today Suzie is asking us to show inside our fridge. So here is my 13: inside your fridge - I decided to show what's on the inside of the door:

 You can tell that a diabetic lives here - jars of Dalfour sugar-free jam, sugar-free jelly and on the top shelf is the most important of all, insulin:

Friday fill-ins

I came across Friday fill-ins via Suzie's blog (thanks, Suzie for the link), so here are my 'fill-ins':

1. When I looked out the window this morning I saw frost.
2. War doesn't make sense to me.
3. Remind me to get back to my diet.
4. Crafting is something I love to do!
5. TP is toilet paper.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found some shrivelled carrots.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a bit of television, tomorrow my plans include some crafting and Sunday, I want to go to church.

Why not go over to Friday fill-ins and join in?