Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

Yes, that's true, but I'll have to wait a week and a half!

Simple card using some paper that was in my stash from long ago, an anchor sticker and the stamped verse, torn around and brushed with stormy sky distress ink. The verse is from a Rubadubadoo stamp set that I bought years ago.

This is for:

Creative insprations 264: beside the seaside
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): distress
Deep ocean 77: distressing
Bunny Zoe: distress
ABC: K for keep it simple
Addicted to stamps and more 94: CAS
Addicted to stamps 82: inspired by a song - Oh I do like to be beside the seaside
Lexi 115: for the man/boy in your life
Sarah Hurley 92: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 102: anything goes

Glory of Christmas challenge 33

For the Glory of Christmas 33 the theme is 'anything goes' as long as it's Christmas. We would love to see your Christmas creations there (and, no, it isn't too early to start making your Christmas cards - you'll be glad when it gets nearer to the end of the year).

Here is my design card - it is very similar to the one I did for yesterday's Completely Christmas 11 because I already had another of the images, Di's Digi Stamps 'Holly's Christmas tree coloured', printed and had the striped paper from Forever Friends 'Christmas tale'left over so thought I would tear and use it for this card.

The sentiment washi tape was from Tiger and the silk ribbon flower from Create and Craft.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets 124
The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 18
Crazy challenge 170: it's all about the stripes
Paper crafting journey: spots and/or stripes
Addicted to stamps 82: inspired by a song - We wish you a merry Christmas
One stitch at a time 212: use a digi
613 avenue create 71: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 18: anything goes
Paper makeup 139: anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
Sister Act 56: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

Making a scene on a jigsaw for mum

Mum has Alzheimer's and is in a care home. She and other ladies like doing jigsaws, but they need to be small and not too complicated so that they don't give up. I've been looking for some time for suitable jigsaws for them, but most of the smaller jigsaws are for children. I thought it would be good to give mum some jigsaws that have a picture that isn't childish.

I came across some plain white jigsaws in Tiger (there's always something different to find in that store). Including the frame the jigsaw is about 8" x 8" - perfect for putting together on a lap tray.

I used distress inks for the background and stamped using a variety of Adirondack dye inks. I used a little stamp along the bottom - I've had this stamp ever since I started crafting and find it so handy. I also used one f my all time favourite Penny Black stamps - 'sparklers' and also their 'burst of stars'. The rather fuzzy trees were made with a Clarity stamp.

This isn't by any means perfect (it's my first attempt at doing this) - it's a learning curve, but I'll certainly be buying more of them to make for mum and her friends. I can't wait to go and buy some more to experiment with creating different pictures.

I'm sharing this for the following challenges:

Crafty creations 262: anything but a card
LiaStampz 64: anything but a card
Simply create too 61: anything but a card
Treasured times 17: mother's day/anything but a card
De creatieve zebra 7: just anything but a card
Penny Black and more at Allsorts May: anything goes
Penny Black May: your favourite Penny Black stamp (sparklers)
Crafty little fairies May: in the garden
The artistic stamper creative team May: in the garden
Craft a scene May: create your own flower garden scene
Use your stuff 134: ombre (not easy to see in the photo, but the greens at the bottom go from light to dark
Sweet stamps 168: for mom
Tuesday throwdown 194: special lady
Crafters cafe 62: mum or special lady
MilkCoffee: mother's day/special lady
Nightshift stamping: more than two stamps (I used four)
The stamping boutique 16: mom
Frosted designs: all about mom
A creative need 19: for a woman
Artistic inspirations 90: all for mom/anything goes
Crafters corner 16: something special
Deep ocean 77: distressing
V's sweet 23: distress
Bunny Zoe: distress
Dream valley 81: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 102: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Stamping sensations May: anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
Sister Act 56: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

CHNC challenge 176: let it shine

Time for another challenge on my CHNC blog and for CHNC challenge 176 I'm wanting you to 'let it shine' on your Christmas creations - interpret as you will ... might be shiny paper/card, gems etc or perhaps stars or a candle ... I'm sure you will have plenty of ideas.

I've gone with the idea of letting a candle shine and have used one of the stamps from a set kindly supplied by one of the sponsors, Flonz craft. The image was stamped with brushed corduroy distress ink and water brushed to create a sepia, vintage look  I then matted the image on to gold pearlescent card and then on to a piece of Anna Griffin flocked paper that I had brushed with the brushed corduroy ink. The background is an offcut of Hunkydory card left over from a previous Christmas creation. The two embossed baubles were cut from an embossing created with a lovely Embossalicious embossing folder, which were then brushed with the distress ink.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 17
Natalie and Amy 20: rubber stamping
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Rhedd and rosies 32: it's all about texture
Deep ocean 77: distressing
V's sweet 23: distress
Bunny Zoe: distress
Loves rubber stamps 102: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Scrappers delights 22: anything goes
It's all about the vintage and beauty 68: anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody 41: anything goes
Stamping sensations May: anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
Sister Act 56: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Completely Christmas challenge 11

The week's go so quickly - it's time for Completely Christmas challenge 11 which is 'anything goes' as long as it's Christmas - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in the fun. The challenge is being sponsored by Di's Digi Stamps.

For my design card I used Di's Digi Stamps 'Holly's Christmas tree coloured' image, cutting it out with a nestie scalloped circle and brushing with fired brick distress ink. Papers are from a Forever Friends pad called 'a Christmas tale'. The sentiment washi tape was from Tiger and the silk ribbon flower from Create and Craft.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 17
Crazy challenge 170: it's all about the stripes
Paper crafting journey: spots and/or stripes
Penny's 176: 2 or more patterned papers
613 avenue create 70: anything goes (option: bling)
Crafting from the heart 17: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Paper makeup 139: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Scrappers delights 22: anything goes
Creative fingers 35: anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody 41: anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
Sister Act 56: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Suzy Bee's bloomin' challenge 28: flowers

It's time for Suzy Bee's blooming challenge 28: flowers. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in with your floral loveliness - and join in with your floral creations.

For my design card I've used Bugaboo 'Flower gals - Violet', kindly supplied by the sponsors. I coloured with spectrum noir pens and matted on to two different colours of Creata mirror card before matting on to a white DL card blank, adding flowers/brads from stash (coloured with spectrum pens to match the theme) and added the Craftime sentiment. A lovely excuse to use my favourite purple - which is good for DRS 121: purple and green:

also Make my Monday 'Seasonal flower colours' photo prompt:

This is also for:

Lacy sunshine 32: use your favourite coolour combination - purple/lilac
Sparkles 55: favourite colour combo
Pink gem 119: your favourite colour combo
Order of the opus gluei 182: flowers for all
Love to create 114: say it with flowers
Pause dream enjoy 9: flowers
4 crafty chicks 193: flowers
Delightful: petal power
Spectrum noir May: flowers
Di's digi designs: use those markers
Seize the birthday: May flowers
Eclectic ellapu: birthday
Stamps & fun = creativity 201: birthday
Going grey with Scrap-creations: mother's day/girl
PumpkinSpice 71: about a girl
DL.ART 132: anything feminine
Crafting for all seasons 76: lots of layers
CRAFT 258: birthday
My mums craft shop 17: lots of layers
Fitztown 33: lots of layers
Creative moments 42: anything goes/bingo - line down: flower, sentiment, more than 2 layers
Papertake: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Creative fingers 35: anything goes
Sister Act 56: anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

Sweet pea stampers Kraft challenge

It's time for a new challenge on the Sweet pea stampers blog and the theme is 'kraft'. Please click on the link to see the beautiful crafting of the rest of the design team and join in with our challenge.

For my design card I used a piece of Happy Birthday wrapping paper (have had this for ages and used  very little of it) matting this on to two matching colours of Creata mirror card and then on to a kraft card blank.

! printed the peachy pink fairy ©ching chou kuik digi and coloured with spectrum noir pens, adding some Art Institute lilac glitter. The image was cut with one of the Spellbinders 'marvellous' squares. Then flowers and brads from stash were added.

This is also for:

One sweet challenge May: flowers
Lacy sunshine 32: use your favourite coolour combination - purple/lilac
Sparkles 55: favourite colour combo
Order of the opus gluei 182: flowers for all
Love to create 114: say it with flowers
Pause dream enjoy 9: flowers
4 crafty chicks 193: flowers
Delightful: petal power
Spectrum noir May: flowers
Seize the birthday: May flowers
Eclectic ellapu: birthday
Stamps & fun = creativity 201: birthday
CRAFT 258: birthday
My mums craft shop 17: lots of layers
Fitztown 33: lots of layers
DL.ART 132: anything feminine
Addicted to stamps 81: things with wings
Digi choosday 17: wings and things
Dies R us 1: anything goes with die cuts
The east wind 6: die cuts or punches
Sparkle n sprinkle May: anything goes (with loose glitter)
Perfectly rustics 22: bling, shine and sparkle
613 avenue create 70: anything goes (option: bling)
Dream valley 81: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 17: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Paper makeup 139: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Sister Act 56: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 85: use embossing powder - second week

This is the second week of the Cheerful stamp pad challenge 85: use embossing powder - please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and click here to join in the challenge, which is being sponsored by Stamp on it.

I used one of my favourite stamps 'gracious lady' by Hero Arts, inking with memento tuxedo black and colouring with spectrum noir alcohol pens. I then swiped the whole stamped image with versamark and using clear embossing powder I triple embossed it. It is much glossier than it looks in the photos. I matted the image on to a feather and then on to the spotted paper to go inside the 'box' piece of the card. The box folds flat for postage as seen in the third picture (paperclips just to hold it for the photo). All papers were from my offcuts box. The box card blank was from Creata.

I was commissioned to make this card for a friend to give to his wife.

This is also for:

Corrosive 198: head gear
Oldie but a goodie: hats - I've had this stamp for a few years now and still love it
Creative fingers 34: embossing heat or dry
Crafters corner 16: something special
Crafty catz 229: anything but square
Sparkle n sprinkle May: anything goes - used embossing powder
Card mania 46: emboss it (hot embossing)
Alphabet: F for feathers
Sunflowerfield May: vinttage/shabby/chic/rustic
Fitztown 34: shabby chic
Sentimental Sundays 205: shabby chic
Whoopsi Daisy: fancy folds
It's all about the vintage and beauty 67: flower power
Pause dream enjoy 9: flowers
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 210: flowers
A little bit crafty May: flower power
Bearly mine May: flowers
Love to create 114: say it with flowers
Eclectic ellapu: birthday
Aud sentiments 105: use a birthday sentiment
Di's digi designs: birthday
Stamps & fun = creativity 201: birthday
Baffies creative 31: for the woman
Feeling crafty 28: one for the girls/ladies
Crafting for all seasons 76: lots of layers
We do doobadoo 5: lots of layers
Order of the opus gluei 182: flowers for all
Crafts4eternity R174: stamp it
Natalie and Amy 20: rubber stamping
Stamping sensations May: anything goes
One crazy stamper May: anything goes and an embellishment (flowers)
Spectrum noir May: flowers
Simon says Monday: five - I chose to use 5 things: papers, heat embossing, flowers, feather, spectrum noir pens
Craftitue 64: anything goes/easy as 1-2-3 - 1 image, 2 designer papers, 3 embellies (flowers)
Cards galore May: all your crafting be merry - anything goes
Dream valley 81: anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody 41: anything goes
613 avenue create 70: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 17: anything goes
Inky impressions 157: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Penny Black and more at allsorts May: anything goes
Sister Act 55: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

Poinsettias card

It was Karen B's turn to choose the theme for the Christmas Card Club challenge and she asked us to include poinsettias on our cards. Having made five cards featuring poinsettias for CCAYR's challenge last month, I wondered what I could do that was a bit different. In the process of using other papers rom the Echo Park very merry Christmas pad I saw that there was a paper in there covered with poinsettias, so I knew that would form the background of my card. I matted that with some scrap pieces from the same paper pad (the green piece wasn't wide enough for what I wanted,, so I cut it in two to tuck under the other papers), a striped piece of washi tape, an Anna Griffin sentiment and a poinsettia that had been stamped on to red paper and covered in parts with spectrum noirs with some gold gems added.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 17
Crafting for all seasons 76: lots of layers
We do doobadoo 5: lots of layers
Little red wagon 236: DIY flower
It's all about the vintage and beauty 67: flower power
Pause dream enjoy 9: flowers
A little bit crafty May: flower power
Bearly mine May: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 182: flowers for all
Natalie and Amy 20: rubber stamping
Spectrum noir May: flowers
The cupboard trilogy 22: flowers
Stampin with the dragon: flowers
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafty girls 17: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
Just keep on crafting May: anything goes
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

CHNC challenge 175: something beginning with B

Can you believe that we are into May already? It really is a good idea to get a head start on Christmas cards if you haven't yet started and what better way than entering my CHNC challenge 175, using something beginning with B. Please click on the link for the details.

My card is very simple, using Hunkydory supplies and B for blue:

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Fab n funky 214: Christmas
Fitztown 32:  anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafty girls 17: anything goes
Sister Act 55: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Suzy Bee's bloomin' challenge 27: anything goes

This is my design card for Suzy Bee's bloomin' challenge 27: anything goes - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and to take part in the challenge, which is being sponsored by The stamping boutique, who kindly provided the 'if the shoe fits' image that I've used for my card, coloured with spectrum noir pens - isn't it a sweet image?! The background paper is an offcut left over from using some 12 x 12 Best Creation paper and the spotted card and backing from other scraps  Flowers, lace and sentiment circle from stash.

I based the card on the sketch given for Sketch n stash 138:

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 122
Eclectic ellapu: birthday
Aud sentiments 105: use a birthday sentiment
Creative card crew 60: girly
Baffies creative 31: for the woman
Feeling crafty 28: one for the girls/ladies
Just for fun May: ribbon or lace
Emerald faeries 55: flowers, ribbon and/or lace
Animal friends 14:  happy birthday (with an animal)
The crafting cafe May: creatures
Use your stuff 133: flowers
Pause dream enjoy 9: flowers
Catch the bug: May anything goes
Jo's scrap friends funday 48: anything goes
One stitch at a time 210: anything goes
Inky impressions 157: anything goes
Craftitude 64: anything goes
Fitztown 32:  anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Crafty girls 17: anything goes
Cards galore May: anything goes
Kort o mania 107: anything goes
Sister Act 55: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Completely Christmas challenge 10

This is my design card for Completely Christmas 10. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in with our challenge. This is being sponsored by Lacy Sunshine, who kindly supplied the 'angel boo' winter Lizabeth' image that I've used. I coloured the image with spectrum noir pens and highlighted the fur and flowers on her headband etc with a quickie pen and Art Institute glitter. Papers are all Hunkydory offcuts.

I based the card on Sunday sketch and stamp 204:

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets 122
The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Fab n funky 214: Christmas
Christmas fun: all that glitters/anything goes
Christmas stampin all year long 9: anything goes
Creative card crew 60: girly
Baffies creative 31: for the woman
Feeling crafty 28: one for the girls/ladies
Hobbycutz 45: glitter
Catch the bug: May anything goes
Jo's scrap friends funday 48: anything goes
One stitch at a time 210: anything goes
Inky impressions 157: anything goes
Craftitude 64: anything goes
Sparkle n sprinkle May: anything goes
Fitztown 32:  anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Crafty girls 17: anything goes
Cards galore May: anything goes
Kort o mania 107: anything goes
Crafting at the weekend 1: anything goes
Sister Act 55: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

Re-purposing a carrd

I made a card in May last year using acrylic paint with my gelli plate - you can see it here. I originally used some mint green card to start with. I didn't have any purple or pink acrylic paint, but mixed reds, blue and white in different shades. I used sequin waste as a stencil. The ric rac and rib bons are Papermania.The Tim Holtz stampers anonymous stamp was inked with memento grape jelly. The sentiment was originally white so I used a couple of copics to colour to match..

This card remained in a box unused and I wasn't sure that I would send it to anyone or be able to sell it for charity, so I decided to give it a new lease of life and re-purpose it. This is the new version. I cut some of the original card, mounting it on to a pearlescent card blank, adding some more ribbon, a ribbon flower and the sentiment panel. I like this version much better than the original.

So here is the new card which is for my friend, Diane:

This is for:

Eclectic ellapu: birthday
Aud sentiments 105: use a birthday sentiment
Seize the birthday: anything goes birthday
As you like it: favourite item to recycle and why - sometimes I find a card that I made a while ago and re-purpose it into something I like better
Clear it out: purple + purple things - these are all items that needed 'clearing out'
Make something Monday 16: paint
Glitter and sparkle 82: add some ribbon
Crafty ribbons 87: anything goes with ribbon
Just for fun May: ribbon or lace
Jo's scrap friends funday 48: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 17: anything goes
Fitztown 32:  anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Going grey with Scrap-creations: anything goes
Creative moments 40: anything goes/spring
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Crafty girls 17: anything goes
Cards galore May: anything goes
Kort o mania 107: anything goes
Crafting at the weekend 1: anything goes
Sister Act 55: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
Inky linky 52
DL.ART May
Just B creative crazy May

Xmas boy and girl for CCAYR May challenge

This is my third design card for Christmas cards all year round May challenge. The challenge this month is to create a card featuring something associated with Santa...so that would be Jolly Old St Nick himself, elves, Santa hats, reindeer etc. This month our sponsor is Chi Chi Memories and the prize is any digi of you choice to the value of $3.99 and a single use 15% discount coupon. Do stop by their online shop and have a look at their designs, there are so many cute images! And please click on the challenge link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team.

The team were given some lovely cute images to use and for my card I've used Xmas girl and Xmas boy, combining them digitally.

The background card is from a recycled gift bag. I coloured the image digital using Microsoft Paint and matted on to a piece of scrap paper. There's a piece of ribbon behind this, but there's very little visible.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Christmas card challenges 22: anything goes
Fab n funky 214: Christmas
Sister Act 54: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Chi Chi Xmas girl for CCAYR May challenge

This is my second design card for Christmas cards all year round May challenge. The challenge this month is to create a card featuring something associated with Santa...so that would be Jolly Old St Nick himself, elves, Santa hats, reindeer etc. This month our sponsor is Chi Chi Memories and the prize is any digi of you choice to the value of $3.99 and a single use 15% discount coupon. Do stop by their online shop and have a look at their designs, there are so many cute images! And please click on the challenge link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team.

The team were given some lovely cute images to use and for my card I've used Xmas girl - 'Here is Candace with her Mrs. Santa outfit! Happy Holidays everyone!'

The background card is from a recycled gift bag. I coloured the image digital using Microsoft Paint and matted on to a piece of scrap paper. Glittered ribbon  from Create & Craft.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Christmas card challenges 22: anything goes
Fab n funky 214: Christmas
Crafty ribbons 87: anything goes with ribbon
Glitter and sparkle 82: add some ribbon
Sister Act 54: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Christmas cards all year round May challenge

This is my first design card for Christmas cards all year round May challenge. The challenge this month is to create a card featuring something associated with Santa...so that would be Jolly Old St Nick himself, elves, Santa hats, reindeer etc. This month our sponsor is Chi Chi Memories and the prize is any digi of you choice to the value of $3.99 and a single use 15% discount coupon. Do stop by their online shop and have a look at their designs, there are so many cute images! And please click on the challenge link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team.

The team were given some lovely cute images to use and for this first card I've used Xmas boy - Jordy is going to be Santa Claus this year! What is he giving out for x'mas presents?

The background paper is some that came with a magazine. I coloured the image digital using Microsoft Paint and matted on to a piece of Echo park very merry Christmas paper. Ribbon was from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Christmas card challenges 22: anything goes
Fab n funky 214: Christmas
Crafty ribbons 87: anything goes with ribbon
Glitter and sparkle 82: add some ribbon
Sister Act 54: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper May challenge

It's already time for a new challenge on my Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge blog - please click here to enter my May challenge - anything goes as long as you cover your creation with patterned paper (not plain cardstock/paper) - you can leave a bit of a border if you wish.

So this is my first card for Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper May challenge. Some years ago now, I was given a Far East stack of printed textureed paper by DCWV (I had put this on my Christmas list because I loved the look of it) and I used a fair bit of it, but there's quite a lot left and it's been in a box for some time now, so I thought it was about time I got it out and used some.

I found a sketch that I wanted to play along with this week - originally I'd thought it would be a good one for using up scraps, but as I decided to use up some of my Far East stack I actually cut into new sheets for each part of the card.

So this is the sketch I used: Sketch Saturday 307:

The sentiment is a DCWV chipboard piece that I purchased long ago to use with the Far East stack (I still have lots of these chipboard pieces). I decided to stamp some Eastern symbols on to the ends of the strips because it looked too plain without them. In order starting from the left they mean Patience, Dream, Awesome, True and Beautiful (I only know that because the words are on the wooden part of the stamps) - I inked these with memento rich cocoa.

I thought I would show the card on top of the Far East stack:

This is also for:

Allsorts 256: oriental
Sentimental Sundays 204: clean and simple
613 avenue create 69: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Scribble and scrap 17: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 16: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Going grey with Scrap-creations: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 130: anything goes
Sister Act 54: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
Inky linky 52
DL.ART May

CHNC challenge extra for May

I can't quite believe how quickly the months are going by already this year - it definitely seems true that the older you get the faster the time seems to go. As it's 1 May, it's time for CHNC challenge extra for May - please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and our guest designer.

Here is my design card using Bugaboo Stamps snowman bells. As ever, the challenge is being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps and anything goes as long as it's Christmas. I coloured the image with spectrum noir pens.

Background card and the strips are from my offcuts box (Hunkydory) and the large snowflake consisting of die cuts using nesties was rescued from a card received.

I based the card on the sketch given for Through the purple haze 39:

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Christmas card challenges 22: anything goes
Fab n funky 214: Christmas
That craft place: anything goes
Sister Act 54: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
Inky linky 52

Christmas robins

These two cards each feature a robin, but they have something else in common - they both have elements recycled from old cards received. For the first card I used a greyscale picture and just added colour to the robin's breast.

The backkground papers are Echo park 'very merry Christmas' - the papers are double sided, so there's more choice from the pad. On the first card I added some lace and a greeting. The second card has a gingham ribbon bow and the addition of the sentiment.

These are for:

Sarn's Rudolph day (just scraping in at almost the last minute!)
The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 16
Christmas card challenges 22: anything goes
Sentimental Sundays 204: clean and simple
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
Sister Act 54: anything goes
Crafting by designs May anything goes
DL.ART April: anything goes

Happy purple birthday

The background is an offcut originally created with an Embossalicious folder purchased on Crafter's Companion with pearlescent card that was llightly brushed with dusty concord distress ink. The torn piece of vellum across the middle was left over from making a previous card (generated from the computer and printed). Flowers are from Hobbycraft.

This is for:

Pixie's snippets week 122
Eclectic ellapu: birthday
Aud sentiments 105: use a birthday sentiment
Seize the birthday: anything goes birthday
Bunny Zoe April: distress
Come and get it: spring flowers
Use your stuff 133: flowers
Fan-tastic Tuesday 33: floral
Pause dream enjoy 9: flowers
Crafters companion April: floral (Embossalicious folder purchased from CC)
4 crafty chicks 191: embossing
Hanna and friends 195: favourite colours - lilac/purple
Cards galore April: creating with colour - include your favourite colour - lilac/purple
Clear it out: purple + stash: purple things
Creative moments 40: anything goes/spring
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 17: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
613 avenue create 69: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 16: anything goes
Crafting at the weekend 1: anything goes
Dazzling divas 22: radiant orchid or anything goes
Fitztown 32: anything goes
Sister Act 54: anything goes
DL.ART April: anything goes
Just B linky party April

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 85: use embossing powder

This is my design card for today's Cheerful stamp pad 85: use embossing powder. Please click on the challenge link to see the lovely embossed creations of the rest of the team. This is being sponsored by Stamp on it.

I was asked to make a sympathy card using  one of my favourite stamps -  this Penny Black sparklers one. I inked with Brilliance pearlescent purple, randomly stamping around the edge with just parts of the stamp, then using the whole stamp off centre. The sentiment stamp was from Hobbycraft. I used clear embossing powder to heat everywhere, then brushng in from the edges of the card and lightly over the main image with dusty concord distress ink.

This is also for:

Red carpet studio 68: the heat - inspired by the movie - heat embossing
4 crafty chicks 191: embossing
Sweet stamps monthly technique: embossing
Simon says Wednesday challenge: clean and simple
Hanna and friends 195: favourite colours - lilac/purple
Cards galore April: creating with colour - include your favourite colour
Lacy sunshine 32: use your favourite colour combination - lilac/purple
Aurora wings 2: monochromatic
613 avenue create 69: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Crafting from the heart 16: anything goes
Dazzling divas 22: radiant orchid or anything goes
Word art Wednesday 129: anything goes
Fitztown 32: anything goes
Sister Act 54: anything goes
DL.ART April: anything goes
Just B linky party April