Here comes Santa ...

This is for the sketch for Sweet Sunday sketch challenge 190:

I've used an offcut of Papermania paper for the background, a scrap of striped paper, an upcycled picture that has some lovely glittered snow on it, a Craftwork cards sentiment and a few brads.

This is also for:

Christmas card challenge 2013 week 37: evergreen trees
ABC Christmas: P is for ... presents, papers
Sparkles Christmas 31: charmed I'm sure - charms and/or brads
Left of center 12: use something metal
My heart pieces: use a piece of meal
Jingle belles let's play Christmas tic-tac-toe - I chose clitter or bling, red or green, Santa
Crimbo crackers 48: it's snow business
Festive Friday 15: children's theme
Hobby cutz 12: card for a child
Simply create too 44: for a child
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, gliter
Creative Belli 176: glitter

Divas by design: Christmas in August

Crafting by designs: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 20: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 116
52 card pickup 2.33

When is a challenge not a challenge?

When you think you are going to enter it and then realise that the card isn't right for it. I made this card based on Anne-Marie's sketch given for Sunday sketch and stamp 169, completely forgetting that I needed to stamp to qualify for the challenge ... you'd have thought I'd have realised that the clue is in the name of the challenge blog! Anyway, I still acknowledge that I used the sketch even though I'm not entering the challenge:

The background is a piece of embossed vellum, the striped paper is an offcut and the circular embossed image is upcycled from an old card. Across the bottom is a piece of washi tape and a Craftwork cards sentiment.

This is for:

Polka doodles 33: have a heart

Divas by design: Christmas in August

Emma's 19: floral

Crafting by designs: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 20: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 116
52 card pickup 2.33

Tear it to pieces

It's time for a new challenge on The Sweet Pea Stampers and today it's 'tear it to pieces' paper tearing. Please click on the link here and see the gorgeous crafting of the rest of the team and, hopefully, join us in the challenge.

I've used the Sweet Pea Stamps 'hang in there, Kitty' digi by Karen Middleton and papers from Basic Grey Max & whiskers pad. The image was coloured with copics and the edges torn with a perspex oval template, using a slightly larger one as a mat for this. Everything was mounted on to a kraft card blank.

This is also for:

One sweet challenge August: favourite technique - I have many favourites, including distressing by tearing and colouring with alcohol pens
Art impressions 116: for the dogs (& cats)
LEJ 66: furry friends
PanPastel UK 32: cute and cuddly
Jellypar friends: cuddly wuddly
Paper-crafting journey: distressed/vintage
Can you digi it 42: lift me up - encouragement
Word art Wednesday 93: anything goes
Sweet stampin: going krafty
Use your stuff 97: four patterns - 4 different pattern papers
Southern girls 75: things beginning with F - feline
Crafter's corner 11: anything goes
Stamps + fun = creativity 164: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 20: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 116
52 card pickup 2.33

Another card for CCAYR August challenge

This is another card for the mid-month inspiration here on Christmas cards all year round for the August challenge.

Once again I've used die cuts pieces from a My Paper Stash Library kit, adding some Hobbycraft bling and some sparkly ribbon.

This is also for:

Divas by design: Christmas in August
Creative inspirations 227: monochrome
Deep ocean 58: odd shapes
Fun with shapes and more 141: nothing square
Penny's 140: lace and/or ribbon
The paper shelter 124: use that ribbon
Fussy & fancy 95: bingo - I chose: blue, ribbon, die cut
Craft-dee bowZ August: anything goes and include a handmade bow
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
Crafter's corner 11: anything goes

CCAYR mid-month post

This is one of my cards that has been posted today here for the mid-month inspiration for the Christmas cards all year round August challenge: fussy and fancy. If you haven't yet had a chance to join in, please click on the link and do so. And please have a look at the wonderful inspiration given by the crafting of the rest of the team.

I used a card blank with a ready cut fancy edge which I brushed with bundled sage distress ink, linking the inside of the card with coordinating paper. All papers are from a Hunkydory kit. Gems are from Hobbycraft and Poundland. The centre piece background with the bell is very glittered, which, unfortunately, doesn't show up too well here.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Divas by design: Christmas in August
Stamp-n-doodle: the colour green
Creative inspirations 227: monochrome
Simon says Wednesday challenge: monochromatic
DRS 83: cards with 1 decorative edge
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
Crafter's corner 11: anything goes
Creative Belli 176: glitter

Season's greetings

This is for Shell's sketch for the Come and get it challenge this week:

I've used another of those old glittered pyramage pictures by Kanban, some offcuts of papers, a star and sentiment, and some bling from Poundland.

This is also for:

Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday for August: oh scrap!
Make my Monday: add some dimension - 3D elements
Aud sentiments 87: anything but a birthday card
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
CRAFT 220: Christmas
Hobby house 3: Christmas
Crimbo crackers 48: it's snow business
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Craftin' boutique: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

Christmas with love

This is for Unscripted flashback summer 92 sketch:

Again, I've used scraps from my Christmas offcuts box, another pyramage set from Kanban, a couple of flowers and gems and a sentiment.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 85
The sisterhood of crafters: oh scrap
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday for August: oh scrap!
Hiding in my craft room 110: super scraps Saturday
Make my Monday: add some dimension - 3D elements
Aud sentiments 87: anything but a birthday card
CRAFT 220: Christmas
Hobby house 3: Christmas
Crimbo crackers 48: it's snow business
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Craftin' boutique: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

A very merry Christmas

This is for the sketch for The sweet stop 223

:
Once again, all papers are from my Christmas offcuts box, another Kanban pyramage picture, some ribbon from Hobbycraft and a sentiment.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 85
The sisterhood of crafters: oh scrap
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday for August: oh scrap!
Hiding in my craft room 110: super scraps Saturday
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
Robyn's fetish 172: lots of layers
Make my Monday: add some dimension - 3D elements
Penny's 140: lace and/or ribbon
The paper shelter 124: use that ribbon
Aud sentiments 87: anything but a birthday card
CRAFT 220: Christmas
Crimbo crackers 48: it's snow business
613 avenue create 32: anything goes
Bearly mine 99: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Craftin' boutique: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

Rooftops

This is for Kirsy Anne's sketch for The sketchy challnge 53:

All papers are scraps from my Christmas offcuts box and the pyramage pictue is from an old Kanban kit - I've made a few cards using some of these - it's about time they were used.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 85
The sisterhood of crafters: oh scrap
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday for August: oh scrap!
Hiding in my craft room 110: super scraps Saturday
Robyn's fetish 172: lots of layers
Make my Monday: add some dimension - 3D elements
Aud sentiments 87: anything but a birthday card
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
CRAFT 220: Christmas
Crimbo crackers 48: it's snow business
Simon says Wednesday challenge: monochromatic
613 avenue create 32: anything goes
Bearly mine 99: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Craftin' boutique: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

With love and Christmas kisses

This card uses papers from my Christmas scraps box as well as a piece of white and silver snowflake ribbon that was left over from making other cards. The sentiment is one from a kit long ago and likewise the glittered pyramage picture was from a Kanban kit from some time ago.

TThis is for:

Facebook Sunday's with Santa week 32: many layers
Robyn's fetish 172: lots of layers
Make my Monday: add some dimension - 3D elements
Penny's 140: lace and/or ribbon
The paper shelter 124: use that ribbon
Aud sentiments 87: anything but a birthday card
Holly jolly Christmas: gimme glitter (hard to see it here, but lots of glitter on the pyramaged picture
Jingle belles: home for the holidays
Christmas card challenges 2013 week 37: evergreen trees
Divas by design: Christmas in August

Green diamonds

This is another card using a background made with a gelli plate print. I created a base with a pale green acrylic paint, using scrunched paper to take away some of the paint and then used the That Special Touch 'argyle' mask with a darker acrylic to create the pattern.

The images are stamps that came as part of the set with a Get Stamping magazine, inked with versamark and heat embossed with a metallic green embossing powder. The silver bling diamonds down the side were from Poundland (not sure whether I like these or not - I think the card might have been better without them).

This is for:

Sunday stamper 270: green onions - use green
Order of the opus gluei 163: the start of something BIG - I started using a 6 x 6 gelli plate recently and I love it - so much so that I've gone BIGGER - bought the 8 x 10 plate, but not used it yet - hope my interpretation of the challenge isn't too off beam!
One crazy stamper August: birthdays
Kort o mania 90: birthday
Perfect sentiments 86: your favourite technique - making gelli plate prints is fast becoming a favourite, as well as stamping and embossing that has been a favourite for ages
Nightshift stamping: back to nature
Joanna Sheen: embossing
Dream valley 63: monochrome
That craft place: monochrome
Creative creations 16: monochromatic

Another celebration

This is very similar to the previous card shown here. This time I embossed on a piece of copper star dream card and then distressed with deep red metallic gilding wax - lovely stuff to work with and smells nice as a bonus!

I used the Dawn Bibby Personal Impression stamps again, this time inking with versamark and heat embossing with detail copper powder. The paper I stamped on to is My Mind's Eye alphabet soup girl 'sweet song'

Once again the paper clip is there to keep the card closed:

Very difficult to get a photo of the inside of the card as it's fairly dull today and the camera is insisting on using flash.

Because the stamping is heat embossed, it looks different depending on the way you look at it. One way it looks dark:

and the other way it looks light:

This is for:

Joanna Sheen: embossing
Penny's 139: dry embossing
Natalie and Amy 12: celebration
Whimsy 62: clean and simple
Fashionable stamping 54: clean & simple
Wow! embossing powder challenge August: art deco/nouveau
Eclectic ellapu: art deco
Papertake: occasion-ally (this card could celebrate any occasion)
Inky linky 26
613 avenue create 32: anything goes
Stamps + fun = creativity 164: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Bearly mine 99: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 153
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

Celebrate

This is a card created using an A4 embossing folder from Craftwell (for the eBosser). Having embossed the A4 card I brushed with dusty concord distress ink. For the inside of the card I used two pieces of paper from HOTP Jacie's vintage papers (I've long neglected these), stamping on the inner one using a couple of Dawn Bibby stamps by Personal Impressions, inking with dusty concord.

The paper clips are just to keep the gatefold closed, so you can see what it's like:

And part of the back is embossed and distressed:

This is for:

A card a day
Joanna Sheen: embossing
Penny's 139: dry embossing
Dream valley 63: monochrome
That craft place: monochrome
Creative creations 16: monochromatic
Crafty bloggers network 14: favourite things - embossing (using my fairly new eBosser) stamping and distress inks
Natalie and Amy 12: celebration
Whimsy 62: clean and simple
Fashionable stamping 54: clean & simple

Get wild ...

... is the theme for A day for daisies 76 - the idea is to use an animal print. The background of my card was achieved using the 'crackle' That Special Touch mica mask with my gelli plate and acrylic paints, filling a few gaps here and there with the spectrum noir pens that were used to colour the 'A day for daisies' image called 'love my baby'.

I'm not sure how wild my card is, as I think these giraffes look quite tame and sweet. I tore round the image using a perspex template and edged with the spectrum noir. I found a sentiment that matched the colour scheme.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Take a word: wild animals
Dream valley 63: monochrome
That craft place: monochrome
Creative creations 16: monochromatic
One stitch at a time 176: use a digi
Perfect sentiments 86: your favourite technique - atm I'm really enjoying using acrylic paints and my gelli plate, as well as still loving alcohol pens for colouring
Crafty bloggers network August: favourite things - acrylic paints and gelli plate, as well as still loving alcohol pens for colouring
Addicted to stamps and more 57: make your mark
Inky linky 26

Steampunk girls

I've created this for Lunagirl Moonbeams blog challenge: steampunk girls. All images are from My Craft Studio 'tinkering with steampunk' CD, adding and changing colours etc.

This is also for:

Eureka 51: clean and simple
Digitally sweet 48: layers (this is 100% digital - layering various elements)
One stitch at a time 176: use a digi
Ooh-la-la: a step back in time
Stamp-n-doodle: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes

O little town of Bethlehem

It's time for a new challenge for the Christmas Card Club girls and this time Asha has asked us to make a card based on our favourite festive tune.

I love the carol 'O little town of Bethlehem' although I have to admit that I have lots of other favourites too.

For the background of my card I embossed some creamycoloured shiny card using my eBosser with the 'star of wonder' embossalicious embossing folder by Crafter's Companion, brushing it with some broken china distress ink. This was then mounted on to blue mirror card and then on to a navy blue card blank.

The digital image was from Crafting with Jack. I imported the image into Paint and 'coloured' the background and stars, printed it and then used a couple of Spectrum Noir to colour the trees. Holographic and padded tars and ribbon from stash. Some of the stars look gold here because of the flash reflection, but they are all silver.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Deep ocean 57: Christmas in July
Craftin' boutique: Christmas
Hobby house 3: Christmas
Flourishes timeless 232: backgrounds
Get inky 10: ribbons
The lollipop ladies 74: start your day with some sparkle and stars
Top tip Tuesday 107: embossing
Penny's 139: dry embossing
Pattie's 73: embossing
One stitch at a time 176: use a digi
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
Word art Wednesday 92: anything goes
Crafty ribbons 56: anything goes with ribbon
Inky linky 26
Stempelsonne 95: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 152
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

Another card for CHNC challenge 137: picture inspiration

This is another card for my CHNC challenge 137, with this picture inspiration:

I made the background paper by inking one  of the 6 x 6 Papermania urban stamps 'home for Christmas - homespun'. As this is a large stamp I inked it with fired brick distress ink and placed the piece of card on top of the stamp, pressing down well. I then inked part of the stamp with bundled sage distress ink and die cut a circle using the cuttlebug, using this to create a spotlight, making use of the colours in the inspiration picture. The felt reindeer seemed an appropriate addition as there are deer in the picture.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Christmas stampin all year long 28: colour combos - I chose: 1 - red, green and white
Winter wonderland: cute Christmas
Deep ocean 57: Christmas in July
Craftin' boutique: Christmas
Twisted Tuesday 56: a simple Christmas in August
Flourishes timeless 232: backgrounds
Eureka 51: clean and simple
Whimsy 62: clean and simple
Crafty sentiments: animals
Crafty boots: die cuts
Cute card Thursday 281: die-ing to punch (circle die cut)
Stuck on u: die cut challenge: furry friends
Crafter's cafe 23: furry friends and/or friendship
613 avenue create 31: anything goes + optional twist: use a sentiment
Challenges 4 everybody 26: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 64: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Brown sugar 54: anything goes
Stempelsonne 95: anything goes
Creative fingers 2: anything goes
Hanna and friends 177: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 152
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

CHNC challenge 137: picture inspiration

For today's CHNC challenge 137 I've given this picture as inspiration - you can use the colours, the shape, any of the items in the picture - interpret in the way you wish.

For my first card I've concentrated on the colours, also the trees, using a stamp supplied by Flonz craft, one of the sponsors of CHNC challenge 137. I inked with versafine onyx black and dotted the trees with a quickie glue pen on to which I put some Art Institute green glitter. Papers are from my Christmas offcuts box and the ribbled snowflakes are from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

Deep ocean 57: Christmas in July
Craftin' boutique: Christmas
Ooh-la-la: a step back in time
Ruby's rainbow 60: vintage
Paper-crafting journey: distressed/vintage
Lisa B designs: vintage
The paper girls 37: glitter, glitter, glitter
Stamp and create August: glitter
Make my Monday: silhouettes
Sweet stamps 129: silhouettes
613 avenue create 31: anything goes + optional twist: use a sentiment
Challenges 4 everybody 26: anything goes
Crazy challenge 151: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 64: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Brown sugar 54: anything goes
Stempelsonne 95: anything goes
Creative fingers 2: anything goes
Hanna and friends 177: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 19: anything goes
Make it Monday 152
Inspire me Fridays 115
52 card pickup 2.32

A budding friendship ...

... between vintage children and their pets.

The images are rub ons by La Blanche (I bought lots of these long ago and still have loads despite having used quite a few over the years). The eyelash ribbon trim is Papermania, flowers from stash. The card blank is pearlescent. There is a glittery sheen on the rub ons which, unfortunately, doesn't show up too well here.

This is for:

Facebook A card a day
The cheerful stamp pad 66: vintage children
Ooh-la-la: a step back in time
Ruby's rainbow 60: vintage
Paper-crafting journey: distressed/vintage
Lisa B designs: vintage
Tok bobok 3: vintage
Art impressions 116: for the dogs (& cats)
The crafter's cafe 23: furry friends and/or friendship
Crafty sentiments: animals
Hobby cutz 12: card for a child
Sentimental Sundays 166: child's play
Pink gem 91: anything pearlescent
Crafty ribbons 56: anything goes with ribbon
Let's craft and create 76: say it with flowers
The crazy challenge 151: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes + option: vintage
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
2 sisters 155: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 18: anything goes
Make it Monday 152
Inspire me Fridays 114
52 card pickup 2.31

Cupcake notebook

A simple altered notebook, using an offcut of DCWV card run through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder and a few glittery cupcake stickers from Paperchase.

This is for:

Anything goes 98: coffee break and/or food
Top tip Tuesday 107: embossing
Penny's 139: dry embossing
Crafting with dragonflies 8: alter something
Bloggers challenge: alter it
Challenges and candies (Izazovi) 15: colours, smells, tastes of summer
The crazy challenge 151: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
2 sisters 155: anything goes
Card and scrap 59: anything goes
DL.ART August: anything goes
Sister act 18: anything goes
Make it Monday 152
Inspire me Fridays 114
52 card pickup 2.31

With sympathy

This Penny Black sparklers stamp is one of my favourites - it can be used for so many different kinds of cards, but I particularly like using it on sympathy cards because of its simple beauty.

I brushed the edges of the ivory card blank with a mix of mustard seed, tea dye and antique linen distress inks. The sentiment stamp was from Hobbycraft.

I've based the  layout on the card given to CASE for CAS(E) this sketch 39:

and the colours for Less is more 131:

This is also for:

My time to craft 230: sympathy
Lawnscaping 63: one layer