CHNC challenge 80: snowmen

As I've been poorly this week with shingles I haven't managed any crafting, but have made the effort to produce a card for my CHNC challenge 80 which starts today. Please click on the link and read up about this week's challenge and also welcome Catherine as my Guest Designer for July.

The theme this week is 'snowmen' and the challenge is being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish, who kindly supplied the 'Chester da snowman' image that I've used. I coloured the image with copics.

All papers are from my Christmas offcuts box - the pink background is Papermania, the brown paper with silver glitter is Anna Griffin and the strips with stars is My Mind's Eye lost and found Christmas - an opportunity to pop into the playground at Pixie's crafty snippets 27 (sorry that I've not been playing this week, too poorly with shingles).

I used the sketch for Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 18:

Colours are for Festive Friday 26:

This is also for:

Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Ladybug: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Hooked on craft 22: Christmas in July
Crafter's cafe blog 6: Christmas in July - non traditional colours
Holly jolly Christmas challenge: acrostic Christmas challenge - I've used C for colouring with copics, H for heart, T for text paper and S for snowman, stars and sentiment.

WOYWW 161

Happy 4th July to all friends in the US

and greetings to all Canadian friends who have just celebrated their Canada Day.

It's that time of the week again when lots of crafters join Julia and show their workspaces for WOYWW 161.

There's not much crafting going on here as I've been poorly so my desk would be too boring to show, so instead I'm showing three ATCs and cards that I received from Karen, Sue and Janet. It was lovely of these WOYWWers to swap with me because I missed the 'official' swap week when I was on holiday. I apologise to Janet that I've yet to make an ATC for her, but will do so as soon as possible. Thank you, girls, for sharing your lovely creativity with me - I will treasure these.

Some time ago I won 50$ to spend at Simon Says Stamp as a result of winning one of their challenges, so I thought I'd show what came in the post the other day:

Last week I started off quite well in visiting fellow WOYWWers, but then became poorly and didn't manage to visit any more. I hope to do better this week - see how it goes. I've got to go back to the doctor's today because I'm still in a lot of pain in my face and jaw.

Suzie's 365 photos day 185: dirt

I looked deep into a tall vase and saw some dirt for day 185:

I think I need to clean it!

And here is the vase:

Suzie's 365 photos day 184: shadow

It's been such a full and difficult day here that I've only just seen Suzie's prompt for day 184: shadow. I've looked through some of my old photos and come across some that were taken when we were privileged to go to Bermuda for our tenth wedding anniversary:

Happy memories!

Butterfly wishes with love

These cards were made from the sketch for Technostamper Monday lunchtime 227:

All papers, sentiments and 3d butterflies are from Anna Griffin supplies.

The second card was made with the scraps of the first one, so another for  Pixie's crafty snippets   27  (and there are more of these snippets, so watch this space!)

These are also for:

Come and get it: cute as a bug
It's all about the vintage and beauty 22: summer and butterflies
Allways something creative 33: butterflies
Dream valley 35: things with wings
Craft your passion 166: things with wings
Card and scrap: wings
Creative inspirations 169: anything goes
Charisma cardz 25: anything goes

Bowls birthday

John asked me to make a quick card for one of the members of his blind bowling club and this is what I've made, using the square sketch for Mojo Monday 247:

All papers are snippets from my offcuts box - some are Nitwits that were free with a magazine and the piece behind the image has been recycled from a stationery wallet - so this is another one for Pixie's crafty snippets   27. The image is from the Papermania Nostalgia pastimes etc designed by John  Byars, inked with memento and coloured with copics. The scalloped circle was cut with a nestie (edges distressed with shabby shutters DI) and the scalloped dark green background was cut with my rotatrim.

This is also for:

Pile it on 27: for a guy with a sports theme
Cards for men 13: sports with a sentiment
Crafty boots: sport
Simon says: sporty and/or patriotic
Cutie pie 21: one for the boys
Robyn's fetish 114: distressing
Hotshot 9: distress inks
That craft place: it's all green
Anything goes 70: polka dot with a birthday theme
The cheerful stamp pad 46: numbers
Victorine 37: birthday
Celebrate the occasion 68: happy birthday
Emerald faerie garden 27: birthdays
Crafts and me 90: birthdays
Moving along with the times: happy birthday
LiaStampz 20: scraps
Sweet stampin: scallops
Desert island crafts 33: I chose: inked edges, a sketch challenge and use a rubber stamp

Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple

Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Mema's crafts July: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Blue Christmas

For this card I've used a fancy fold card and components from the Kanban 'all wrapped up' kit. The picture of the snowman is glittered in places and is overlaid with the spotted vellum held in place with the four brads.

I'm not really happy with it because I should have cut the snowman picture etc to better fit the upright of the card blank - I'll know better next time!

This is for:

Holly jolly Christmas: bingo - I chose: glitter, free, blue (also used brads)
Christmas card challenges week 31: monochromatic
Winter wonderland: monochromatic
52 Christmas card throwdown: anything goes
Christmas crafting July 13: two or more folds
Card crafters circle 29: construction cards
Fussy & fancy 66: fancy folds
The squirrel and the fox 21: Christmas in July
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 131: Christmas/holiday challenge - sparkle and snow
Crafty catz 139: show us your metal

Waiting for Santa

This is another card using a scene from My Craft Studio Magic of Christmas CD rom - like the one I did here - with different wording:

This is another for my CHNC challenge 79: festive funnies and also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 192: Christmas
The squirrel and the fox 21: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion July 26: ho ho ho Christmas

Totally papercrafts: can you digi it
One stitch at a time 120: use a digi
Totally Gorjuss 138: sweet and simple
Alota 85: colour challenge - blue + 1
The poodles parlour: cute and/or cuddly
Jackson's digital 14: anything goes

Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes

Paper makeup digi makeover 42: anything goes

Digital Tuesday 166: amazing animals

Tuesday alchemy 20: furry companions
Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple

Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
ATCs and card with attitude 17: anything goes
Chocolate, coffee & cards 16: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Mema's crafts July: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Santa in blue

It was Chris' turn to choose the theme for today's card for the Christmas Card Club and she chose 'Santa in blue'. I really wasn't sure what to do for this and then I hit on the idea of a silhouette of Santa and his sleigh and reindeer, so I found this free clipart picture on Microsoft Office.

I've used the sketch for Freshly made sketches 41:

 The idea of the Freshly made sketches challenges is to keep the card clean and simple, so that's what I've done, using two snippet pieces for the background, so this is my first wander into the playground for Pixie's crafty snippets 27, although I feel too poorly today to have a go on the swings - I need a quiet bench in the corner.

This is also for The paper players 102: Christmas in July.

Suzie's 365 photos day 183: grumpy

I'm still feeling poorly so we are staying in today, so it wasn't too difficult to get a 'grumpy' picture for Suzie's day 183!

I had several attempts at taking a photo of myself and wasn't really happy with any of them. I've got no make up on, my hair is all over the place ... but, I suppose, as I'm feeling poorly and perhaps a bit grumpy, it's not surprising that the photos aren't great.

In the end I opted to digitally create a kaleidoscope effect (mainly so that you didn't have to see me in large format - lol!).

Another festive funny

This is another card for my CHNC challenge 79: festive funnies. If you haven't yet discovered my Christmas challenge blog, please click on the link and join in.

Everything I've used is from My Craft Studio Magic of Christmas CD rom. I added my own text within the program. John gave me the idea for this.

This is for:

Secret crafter Saturday 192: Christmas

Totally papercrafts: can you digi it
Totally Gorjuss 138: sweet and simple
Alota 85: colour challenge - blue + 1
The poodles parlour: cute and/or cuddly

Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes

Paper makeup digi makeover 42: anything goes

Digital Tuesday 166: amazing animals

Tuesday alchemy 20: furry companions
Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple

Incy wincy: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
ATCs and card with attitude 17: anything goes
Chocolate, coffee & cards 16: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Suzie's 365 photos day 182: Gothic

For day 182: Gothic I'm showing a couple of pictures I took when we were in Maidstone. They feature the gothic window arches of All Saints Church - this is the church that John went to when he was a choir boy.

When we visited All Saints Church John met up with someone who he knew at school - they were choirboys together. This picture shows the gothic arches inside the church:

CHNC challenge 79: Festive funnies

It's time for Challenge 79 over on my CHNC blog and today I'm asking to see cards with 'festive funnies' - something amusing, funny - a humorous Christmas card to make me smile. Challenge 79 is being sponsored by Ooh la la Creations - more details if you click on the challenge link - I've love to see your entries there.

For my card I've used 'Santa putting' pyramid pictures supplied by Ooh la la Creations printed from their CD rom 'Festive Funnies' with artwork by D. R. Laird, plus backing papers from the same CD and a decorated insert. You can read more about my card here on My Crafty Outlook.

Side view of the pyramid layers:

Decorated insert:

This is also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 192: Christmas

Sunday's with Santa on Facebook week 27: a card for a man (would be a good card to give to a golf player)

Crafty boots: sport

Cards for men 13: sports with a sentiment
Simon says: sporty and/or patriotic

Allways something creative 32: football (alternatively, sport)

Cutie pie 21: one for the boys
Nutcrafters 22: making a scene

Stampin' sisters in Christ 145: use flags

PaperPlay 26: flags

Totally papercrafts: can you digi it

Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes

Daisy doodles 62: anything goes

Paper makeup digi makeover 42: anything goes

Digital Tuesday 166: amazing animals

Tuesday alchemy 20: furry companions

Incy wincy: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
ATCs and card with attitude 17: anything goes
Chocolate, coffee & cards 16: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Suzie's 365 photos day 181: silhouette

When we were in Eastbourne recently I wandered along to have a look at the funfair on the west lawns (not far from our hotel) and I took a few photos (like you do!).

I took a couple of the big wheel as it was getting dusk and when I looked at them later I thought how useless they were. However, I've used one of them for day 181: silhouette - admittedly, I've darkened the photo more than it was originally.

Thanks, Suzie - this was a good opportunity to use a photo that I thought would never get used!

Suzie's 365 photos day 180: free choice

As it's 'free choice' for day 180 on Suzie's 365 photos, I thought I'd show some photos that I took from our hotel balcony at Eastbourne. These were taken while we were waiting to see the Jubilee fireworks the night before we came back home.

I won't bore you with any more (I took quite a lot because I wanted to get the various looks of the moon as the evening progressed and it got darker).

Suzie's 365 photos day 179: weathered

Plenty of weathered wood in our garden, but thought I'd show the shed at the bottom of the garden and the fence behind it, both well weathered for day 179:

Suzie's 365 photos day 178: still life

I was out yesterday and didn't get round to doing a photo for day 178: still life, so here it is today.

Simply the fruit bowl, wedding photo of John's sister and BIL (sadly, both have died) and a Lladro ornament that I was given when I early retired from teaching.

WOYWW 160

Wednesday has come round again and that means it's time to show our workspaces to everyone else in cyberspace, particularly those that eagerly follow WOYWW 160, the brainchild of Julia that is so popular now that even if one posts early the number is likely to be on the high side.

Firstly, thanks to Carol for this lovely ATC that she sent me.I was on holiday in Eastbourne when WOYWW celebrated its third birthday, so I missed out on the 'official' swap, but some kind WOYWWers volunteered to swap with me since. Thank you, Carol.

Regular visitors to my blog will know that I make a lot of Christmas cards (as well as lots of other cards) - I blogged six yesterday. I have my own Christmas challenge blog (CHNC - if you haven't come across it, please do go and have a look and join in if you can) and I also try to enter as many other Christmas challenges as I can to support them.

So on my desk today you can see mainly Christmas stuff, having received a Hunkydory kit from C & C. Because I make a lot to sell for charity I need to make some that are easy to put together, although to be honest I prefer to make ones that involve stamping, inking etc.

I was able to get round to see a lot of workspaces last Wednesday - I wonder how I'll do this week?!? It's lovely to see variety of talent and creativity as well as marvel at the organisation of people's crafting spaces.

Thanks for all the visits and comments I received - much appreciated.

Swirls and stamping

This is a very simple card using a background card from the Kanban Gentleman's Journal kit that already has gold foiled swirls on it. I stamped a few of the Indigo Blu stamps from the 'take the time' set, using memento rich cocoa - it didn't stamp too clearly on this card, but I rather like the slightly 'old' look that it's produced. As there is a lot of gold foiling on this card it's one of those that's difficult to photograph.

This is for:

The stamp man: time or travel
Cutie pie 21: one for the boys
CCEE 1225: masculine cards
Fussy & fancy 65: boy attitude
Desmet designs June: for the men and boys
Scrappy frogs: celebrate men
Blog a doodle: swirls
Crafty ribbons 22: clean and simple
Incy wincy: anything goes
Love to create 21: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 74: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
2 sisters 97: anything goes
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 64
52 card pick up 25

Vintage Christmas

Yesterday was Rudolph day on Stamping for pleasure (it's Rudlph day on the 25th day of each month) and this time we were asked to produce six cards or other festive items.

It so happened that my Hunkydory kit from C & C arrived yesterday afternoon - I bought this so that I could make some quick cards for my Tearfund sale - so I decided to make six cards using some of the Vintage Christmas collection.

These are also for:

Crafty Ann 68: memories are made of this (a bygone era)
Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes
Heart Boden's Christmas blog June: vintage look
Cutie pie 21: one for the boys (the first three cards)
CCEE 1225: masculine cards (the first three cards)
Fussy & fancy 65: boy attitude (the first three cards)
Desmet designs June: for the men and boys (the first three cards)
Scrappy frogs: celebrate men (the first three cards)
Everybody art 199: monochromatic brown (the first two cards)
Freshly brewed 99 prize challenge June: pop it - the third card is decoupaged
Lollipop crafts 83: flowers in bloom (the last three cards)
Paper playtime 77: say it with sentiments - anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Love to create 21: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 74: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
2 sisters 97: anything goes
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 64
52 card pick up 25

Simply stamped ATC

When I was in Eastbourne recently I bought quite a few new stamps, so I thought it was about time I used one of the Indigo Blu set 'take the time'. I've made a monochrome brown ATC, simply inking with memento rich cocoa. I added some glossy accents to the front of the watch to make it look like glass and added a few buttons for dimension. Edges were inked with a copic.

This is for:

The stamp man: time or travel
Fun with ATCs 64: stamps
By the cute and girly June: cute as a button
Unique crafters 4: buttons
ATCs and cards with attitude 16: anything goes
Everybody art 199: monochromatic brown
Paper playtime 77: say it with sentiments - anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Love to create 21: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 74: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
2 sisters 97: anything goes
PanPastel UK 24: anything goes
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 64
52 card pick up 25