CHNC challenge 294: colour: brown

This is my card for my CHNC challenge 294: colour: brown ... a little or a lot. Please click on the link to see what this is all about and I would love to see your entries.

I used some elements from Beccy Muir's gingerbread set, kindly supplied by Beccy from Beccy's Place as one of the sponsors this week, My Mind's Eye lost & found Christmas papers and some lovely grosgrain ribbon from Crafty Ribbons.

This is also for:

Beccy's place August: anything goes with a Beccy image
The 12 months of Christmas link up 20 + option: Christmas confectionery
Beat the Christmas rush July
Fab n funky 315: Christmas
Noor! 21: Christmas
613 avenue create 188: anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 39: anything goes
Craft your passion 324: anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Digi choosday 32: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 243: anything goes
CRAFT 376: anything goes
Crafty girls creations 24: anything goes
Polka doodles 32: anything goes
Cute as a button 25: anything goes
Great impressions August: anything goes
Pattie's creations 125: anything goes
Scrappers delights 58: anything goes
Inspiration destination 98: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes
Not just cards 35 August challenge: anything goes
DL.ART August linky

Penny's challenge 290: anything goes

This is my design card for Penny's Paper-crafty challenge 290: anything goes.  Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and we would love to see your entries there.

I used the lovely 'wait a minute' digital image by Little Blue Button (one of the sponsors of the challenge) colouring with copics (have been using spectrum noir pens so much that copics had got a bit neglected, so thought it was about time to use some again). All shapes were die cut with Todo cross hatch dies. I love that quote! The background papers, the matt gold foiled card and the white card were all offcuts. The little epoxy hearts are actually ligher than this irl.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets 241
Try it on Tuesday (Tuesday taggers): use your left overs and scraps
Crafty sentiments: use dies
The paper shelter 259: punches and dies
Sasayaki glitter August: use a die cut
Happy little stampers: anything goes with dies
Art at stampz by star: add a sentiment
Aud sentiments 161: for a child
Oddball art: little child
Crafting with dragonflies 63: something humorous
Allsorts 375: spots and stripes
Morgan's ArtWorld 16: add 3 of something (die cuts)
Lacy sunshine: anything goes (coloured in)
Colour crazy 19: anything goes (coloured in)
The pencil cases 25: anything goes
Colouring in scrapland 14: anything goes
Let's color linky party 11
613 avenue create 188: anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 39: anything goes
Craft your passion 324: anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Digi choosday 32: anything goes
Lemon shortbread 21: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 243: anything goes
Creative fingers 114: anything goes
Cute as a button 25: anything goes
Sunsational August: anything goes
Great impressions August: anything goes
Crafting with an attitude 18: anything goes
Pattie's creations 125: anything goes
Scrappers delights 58: anything goes
Card and scrap 122: anything goes
Creative craft cottage digi 54: anything goes
Inspiration destination 98: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes
DL.ART August linky

Second card for CHNC challenge 293

This is my second card for my CHNC challenge 293: vintage or anything goes as long as it's Christmas. Please click on the link to join in with the challenge - I'd love to see your festive entries.

I used a piece of the same paper from Bo Bunny silver and gold collection, making the card very similar to the previous one, this time using a lovely image kindly provided by Lunagirl images, another of this week's sponsors. I added felt flowers with button (from Poundland a long time ago) and a couple of Hobbycraft flowers.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas link up 20
Beat the Christmas rush July
Crimbo crackers 112: anything goes
Fab n funky 315: Christmas
PDE 131: Christmas in July
Noor! 21: Christmas
Morgan's ArtWorld 16: add 3 of something (flowers)
Julia Spiri 23: anything goes with a twist of vintage
Incy wincy: anything goes
Crafting by designs: August anything goes
Word art Wednesday 242: anything goes
Creative fingers 114: anything goes
Polka doodles 31: anything goes
Broken fairy 8: anything goes with a twist: use your stash (all old supplies)
Lunagirl August: anything goes
Sunsational August: anything goes
Crafting with an attitude 18: anything goes
Inspiration destination 97: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes

CHNC challenge 293: vintage or anything goes as long as it's Christmas

This is my first card for my CHNC challenge 293: vintage or anything goes as long as it's Christmas. Please click on the link to join in with the challenge - I'd love to see your festive entries.

I used a lovely image kindly provided by Dazzling Ace Designs, one of this week's sponsors.

The papers are from the Bo Bunny silver and gold collection, simply tearing a piece to wrap with some cream lace and adding a sprig of holly from an Anna Griffin Christmas collection.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas link up 20
Beat the Christmas rush July
Crimbo crackers 112: anything goes
Fab n funky 315: Christmas
PDE 131: Christmas in July
Noor! 21: Christmas
Julia Spiri 23: anything goes with a twist of vintage
Incy wincy: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Lemon shortbread 21: anything goes
Crafting by designs: August anything goes
Word art Wednesday 242: anything goes
Creative fingers 114: anything goes
Polka doodles 31: anything goes
Broken fairy 8: anything goes with a twist: use your stash (all old supplied)
Lunagirl August: anything goes
Sunsational August: anything goes
Crafting with an attitude 18: anything goes
Inspiration destination 97: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes
DL.ART August linky

Let's craft and create challenge 116: wedding/wedding anniversary

This is my design card for Let's craft and create challenge 116: wedding/wedding anniversary. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and we would love you to join in our challenge.

It so happens that recently I've been commissioned to make quite a few wedding or anniversary cards - in fact I have four more to make.

For this card I decided to make an easel. The frame at the top was from Kanban long ago. I printed the greeting and then used a todo letterpress to give the embossed effect, adding the flowers.

I covered the fancy edge with versamark and heat embossed with silver powder, then added the unknown paper (had it for ages and can't remember where it came from) with the added ribbon with sparkly rhinestones. A piece of ribbon wrapped and tied across the middle of the base and the hearts formed a stopper.

I added an identical frame at the back to neaten the card:

This is also for:

Simon says Monday: celebrate
Card mania 83: let's party/let's celebrate
Crafty gals corner 83: birthdays/celebrations
Nordsalten hobbyklubb 143: love is in the air
Alphabet: L for love
Imagine that creative playground 6: fancy folds
The crafty addicts 21: anything goes + option: emboss it
Sparkle n sprinkle August: anything goes (used embossing powder)
Ooh-la-la 210: ribbons and bows
Crafty ribbons 163: anything goes with ribbon
Craft-Dee-BowZ August: anything goes with a handmade bow
Incy wincy: anything goes
Inspiration destination 97: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes
DL.ART August linky

Penny's challenge 289: anything goes

This is my design card for Penny's challenge 289: anything goes, using Bugaboo Stamps AKV too wedding - cut cake (Bugaboo are sponsoring the challenge). Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the DT and join in with your entries.

The background was created using an Embossalicious folder called floral vine and the image was matted on to a piece of another Embossalicious folder, using the debossed side. Ribbon and sentiment from stash. I coloured the image digitally using Microsoft paint.

This is also for:

Simon says Monday: celebrate
Nordsalten hobbyklubb 143: love is in the air
Ooh-la-la 210: ribbons and bows
Crafts galore encore August: use a digi or stamp
Broken fairy designs 7: anything goes with a twist: embossing
The crafty addicts 21: anything goes + option: emboss it
613 avenue create 187: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 162: anything goes
Craft your passion 323: anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Digi Choosday 31: anything goes
Lemon shortbread 21: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafting by designs: August anything goes
Word art Wednesday 242: anything goes
Creative ladybirds 18: anything goes
Sisters of craft August: anything goes
The paper nest dolls 8: anything goes
Card and scrap 122: anything goes
Creative craft cottage digi creations 54: anything goes
Kort o mania 157: anything goes
Petal Lu 19: anything goes
Inspiration destination 97: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes
DL.ART August linky

Crafting musketeers challenge 40: anything but a card

This is my design for Crafting musketeers challenge 40: anything but a card. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and we would love to see your entries for the challenge.

I decided to alter a hanging heart, printing out and colouring the lovely Sunsational Stamps bear hugs image and sentiment, kindly supplied by them as sponsors - I coloured with spectrum noir pens and also edged the heart with one. Flowers from Hobbycraft and the little shaker circles from Paperchase.

Don't know why the ribbon looks red on here because irl it's a deep pink that matches everything else.

This is also for:

Pile it on 113: shaker
Crafter's cafe 154: flowers
Crafts galore encore August: use a digi or stamp
Incy wincy: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Digi Choosday 31: anything goes
Lemon shortbread 21: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
The paper nest dolls 8: anything goes
Card and scrap 122: anything goes
Creative craft cottage digi creations 54: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears 8: anything goes
DL.ART August linky

Love to craft challenge 1

I am so excited and privileged to be part of the Design Team for the new challenge blog: Love to craft challenge 1: anything goes. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs by the rest of the team and we look forward to seeing your entries for our challenge.

I decided to alter this plain bag:

The background repeated greetings card was from Kanban, pleated white card from Create & Craft and black gems from Tiger, The pink piece of card with the pink flower with black glittered centre and repeated birthday sentiment was upcycled from a card received and the surround of the image at the bottom cut on Scan n Cut. Ribbons upcycled (given to me by a friend in case they could be of use).

This is also for:

Come and get it: lovely in pink
Ooh-la-la 210: ribbons and bows
Fresh brewed: birthdays
Simon says Monday: celebrate
Unstampabelles 60: anything but a card
One stitch at a time 267: anything goes with dies
Creative craft cottage 68: anything goes
Card and scrap 122: anything goes
Kort o mania 157: anything goes
Crafts and me August: anything goes
613 avenue create 187: anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 38: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 162: anything goes
Craft your passion 323: anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Create and inspire 50: anything goes
The paper shelter summer break: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 241: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday 185: anything goes
Brown sugar 209: anything goes
Crafting with friends 26: anything goes
Creative fingers 113: anything goes
Jo's scrap shack funday 149: anything goes
Polka doodles 30: anything goes
Scrapping4fun 70: anything goes
Simply papercrafts 34: anything goes
Creative ladybirds 18: anything goes
Sisters of craft August: anything goes
Inspiration destination 96: anything goes

A bit more time to craft challenge 25

This is my design card for A bit more time to craft challenge 35: anything goes - please click the link to see the lovely designs by the rest of the team.

Its time for our 25th Challenge and as always its going to be "Anything Goes" with a bit extra.
We Celebrating here with this Challenge as the 1st of August last year was our very 1st Challenge.

Would like to thank our lovely amazing Design Team Ladies past and present for all their stunning DT creations and to all you amazing Crafter's out there who have supported use by entering our Challenges.
If it wasn't for all of you we wouldn't be having a Celebration Challenge today.

For this Challenge we will have 12 winners for the 12 months our challenge has been running. Yes its going to be 12 randomly chosen winners who as always can pick 3 set of my Digi Papers from the Paper Pick Tab.


I used and printed three of Lozzy's Blue Lagoon digi papers, with a Hunkydory topper (this is an 8 x 8 card because the topper is large) and some 3D stickers.

This is also for:

Creative inspirations 355: seaside, sunshine and summer holidays
Art impressions 189: sweet summertime
CRAFT 374: summer
Country view crafts August: hot summer days
Creatalicious 96: anything goes + option: sea/beach
Get creative 44: lots of blue
Eclectic ellapu August: it's a man thing
Word art Wednesday 241: anything goes
Inspiration destination 96: anything goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August challenge

This is my design card for my Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August challenge -  please click on the link to see the lovely designs of my team - and we would love you to use some of your patterned paper and show us your entries - you can enter as many times as you like during the month.

For the background of my card I used some paper from the Rose Garden Creations pad like the one I'm giving away as the prize.I mounted a vintage image from a pack from The Works on to some fake leather material, silver foiled, and mounted this on to a lovely envelope that I got in a set from TK Max. Ribbon, flowers and sentiment from stash.

This is also for:

Come and get it: lovely in pink
Ooh-la-la 210: ribbons and bows
Fresh brewed: birthdays
Simon says Monday: celebrate
Dare2Bartzy July: lots of layers
Eclectic ellapu August: floral
Crafter's cafe 154: flowers
Bunny Zoe July: summer florals
Creative craft cottage 68: anything goes
Card and scrap 122: anything goes
Kort o mania 157: anything goes
613 avenue create 187: anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 38: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 162: anything goes
Craft your passion 323: anything goes
Incy wincy: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 241: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday 185: anything goes
Brown sugar 209: anything goes
Crafting with friends 26: anything goes
Creative fingers 113: anything goes
Jo's scrap shack funday 149: anything goes
Scrapping4fun 70: anything goes
Simply papercrafts 34: anything goes
Creative ladybirds 18: anything goes
Sisters of craft August: anything goes
Inspiration destination 96: anything goes

CHNC challenge 292: anything goes as long as it's Christmas

This is my card for my CHNC challenge 292 - please click on the link to find out what it's all about - there are four prizes to be won this week and the theme is 'anything goes as long as it's Christmas' - so, it's easy peasy!

I used the lovely coloured image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Christmas bird 001'. The backing paper and the one used to mat the image is a double sided piece from a K & Co Christmas 12 x 12 (can't remember what it's called). I used a piece of Kanban striped card wrapped with some Crafty ribbons grosgrain 'stockings hanging' ribbon and a sentiment and three little 3D flowers from Crafts House.

I based the card on the sketch given for Atlantic Hearts 170:

I'm also showing this card for my CHNC challenge extra for August 2016 - please click on the link and join in the challenge.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas link up 19
Beat the Christmas rush July
Christmas card challenges 34: anything goes
Crimbo crackers 112: anything goes
Sweet stampin: Christmas in July
Melonheadz friends: Christmas in July
Fab n funky 315: Christmas
Little red wagon 352: Christmas in July
Mod squad: Christmas in July
Fairytale 147: Christmas in July
Hiding in my craft room 260: Christmas in July
Noor 21: Christmas
Hiding in my craft room 261: freestyle with a twist: Christmas
Jingle belles: three of one element - the three little 3D flowers
The ribbon girl July: any image challenge
613 avenue create 186: anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 38: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 161: anything goes
Craft your passion 322: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 122: anything goes
Digi choosday 30: anything goes
Lemon shortbread 20: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafty gals corner 82: anything goes
Create and inspire 50: anything goes
Creative moments 98: anything goes
The paper shelter summer break challenge: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 241: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday 185: anything goes
Crafting with friends 26: anything goes
Creative fingers 114: anything goes
Jo's scrap shack funday 149: anything goes
Polka doodles 30: anything goes
Scrapping4fun 70: anything goes
Simply papercrafts 34: anything goes
Crafting with an attitude 17: anything goes
Petal Lu 18: anything goes
Aud sentiments 160: anything goes
Inspiration destination 96: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

My first card as a member of Penny's team

This is my design card for Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge 288: anything goes - please click on the link to see the lovely designs by the rest of the team. I feel so privileged to be joining them.

I used an image kindly given to us by Lemon shortbread as sponsors of the challenge. I coloured the image with spectrum noir markers and die cut todo cross hatch dies, using a larger one to cut the vellum background. This was then layered on to some Centura pearl white/gold card which had been embossed on the todo with Rennie letterpress and die cut with a todo rectangle.

I used another offcut piece of the vellum down the side secured under the lace, adding the flowers from The Works and the Kanban sentiments.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 239 (vellum snippets)
Tuesday throwdown 304: happy birthday
Fresh brewed: birthdays
Card mania 82: lace and/or pearls
Creatalicious 95: anything goes + option: flowers
Bunny Zoe: summer florals
Dare2Bartzy July: lots of layers
One stitch at a time 267: anything goes with dies
Happy little stampers July: anything goes with dies
Broken fairy designs 7: anything goes with a twist: embossing
Colour crazy challenge 18: anything goes
Lacy sunshine: anything goes (digi coloured in)
613 avenue create 186: anything goes
Love to scrap 82: anything goes (digi coloured in)
Colouring in scrapland 13: anything goes (digi coloured in)
Creative craft cottage 68: anything goes
Crafting with dragonflies 62: card challenge: anything goes
Classic Design Team open challenge 4: anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 38: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 161: anything goes
Craft your passion 322: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 122: anything goes
Digi choosday 30: anything goes
Lemon shortbread 20: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafty gals corner 82: anything goes
Create and inspire 50: anything goes
Creative moments 98: anything goes
Inspiration destination 96: anything goes
The paper shelter summer break challenge: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 241: anything goes
Aud sentiments 160: anything goes
Little Miss Muffet 142: anything goes
Crafting with friends 25: anything goes
Scrapping4fun 70: anything goes
Simply papercrafts 33: anything goes
Cute as a button 24: anything goes
Crafting with an attitude 17: anything goes
Bastel-traum 43: anything goes
Petal Lu 18: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

CHNC challenge 291: use a sentiment

This is my card for my CHNC challenge 291: use a sentiment. Please click on the link to see what the challenge is all about and, hopefully, join in - this week there are six sponsors giving prizes to randomly chosen winners ... but you've got to be in it to win it!

This is my card, using snowflake grunge digital papers kindly supplied by Lozzy , one of this week's sponsors. And Lozzy is also a guest for the challenge and has made a beautiful card - please go and have a look.

I used three different papers from the snowflake grunge bundle, tearing two of them to go across the bottom of the card with the Merry Christmas ribbon wrapped around. I stamped the lovely snowy postcard inked with memento rich cocoa ink, tearing around this and brushing the edges with fired brick distress ink, also using some of the ink to emphasise some red parts on the buildings. This was then tucked into the papers at the bottom.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas link up 19
Crimbo crackers 111: anything goes
Hiding in my craft room 260: Christmas in July
Brown sugar 208: Christmas in July
Fairytale 147: Christmas in July
Melonheadz friends: Christmas in July
Crafting by designs: Christmas in July
Crafty gals corner 81: Christmas in July
Deep ocean 133: Christmas in July
CRAFT 373: Christmas
Give a crafter a cookie 48: Christmas in July
Fussy and fancy 168: Christmas in July
My time to craft 325: Christmas in July
Christmas at sweet stampin July: anything goes
Holly jolly Christmas 76: inspired by a song (I'm dreaming of a white Christmas)
Sparkles Christmas 66: snowflakes
Di's digi designs: hot/bright colours
Penny Black and more at Allsorts July: anything goes with a stamp
Stamping sensations July: anything goes with a stamp and ribbons
The ribbon girl July: any image challenge
The paper shelter 258: ribbon
A vintage journey July: monochromatic (inspired by Tim Holtz - using distress ink)
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Aud sentiments 160: anything goes
Inspiration destination 95: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Dragonfly dreams July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

I've been invited on to another DT

I've been invited to join Penny's Paper'Crafty challenge blog - I feel very privileged and exciting to be joining the other ladies there. I'll be sharing my first design there on Wednesday 27 July.

I hope I'll see you there with your entries - whether you are a regular or perhaps you will visit for the first time and take part in the challenge.

The glory of Christmas challenge 89: punched/die cut, not stamped

This is my design card for The glory of Christmas challenge 89: punched/die cut, not stamped. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of others in the team and join in the challenge.

I used scrap pieces of glittered card to cut out the presents, cutting the tattered lace 'presents' from USB 3: typically tattered lace on the scan n cut. They were then mounted on to silver mirror card - unfortunately, most of this looks gold in the picture, but it was difficult to take a picture without my reflection! I added the sentiments and mounted on to the red card blank.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets 238
The 12 months of Christmas link up 19
ABC Christmas: N for no rules
Crimbo crackers 111: anything goes
Deep ocean 133: Christmas in July
Ike's world 67: Christmas in July
Give a crafter a cookie 48: Christmas in July
Fussy and fancy 168: Christmas in July
My time to craft 325: Christmas in July
Come and get it: checks or stripes
Crafty friends 36: to use your dies
Happy little stampers: anything goes with dies
Di's digi designs: hot/bright colours
Inspiration destination 94: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Dragonfly dreams July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

CHNC challenge 290: cute or anything goes as long as it's Christmas

This is my card for my CHNC challenge 290: cute or anything goes as long as it's Christmas. Please click on the link to find out what the challenge is all about and I'd love to see your entries there.

For the background of the card I used a piece of the cover of K & Co secret Santa 12 x 12 paper pad with a strip of sentiment card taken from a gift bag. The die cuts were created using todo cross hatch dies with the todo. The image is Robyn's Fetish snow cone, kindly supplied by them as one of the sponsors of  CHNC challenge 290 (there are four other sponsors, so plenty of prizes to be won by randomly chosen winners), coloured with spectrum noir pens. This is an A5 tent style card.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas link up 19
ABC Christmas: N for no rules
Crimbo crackers 111: anything goes
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Deep ocean 133: Christmas in July
Ike's world 67: Christmas in July
Give a crafter a cookie 48: Christmas in July
Fussy and fancy 168: Christmas in July
Sparkles 82: Christmas in July
Aloha Friday 76: Christmas in July
My time to craft 325: Christmas in July
Ooh-la-la 208: something beginning with f - frame
Allsorts 372: frame it
Crafty friends 36: to use your dies
Happy little stampers: anything goes with dies
Di's digi designs: hot/bright colours
My Sheri 186: just a chillin'
Cute as a button 24: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 238: anything goes
Inspiration destination 94: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Dragonfly dreams July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

Love to craft - new challenge blog

I feel privileged and excited to have been chosen to join the Design Team for Love to Craft, a new challenge blog starting on 1 August.

Come play with us! We are an all-crafts challenge blog and welcome any and all kinds of handmade creations - from cards, tags, ATCs and scrapbook layouts - to 3-D projects, mixed media canvases and altered projects - and even knitting, crocheting, quilting and jewelry-making! Whatever you're working on, we want to see it! :)

Our challenges are monthly - they go live at 6:00 AM EST on the first day of every month and run until 6:00 PM EST on the last day of the month - and are always Anything Goes!

More information on the blog - please visit to meet the team and to find out more about how to play in the challenges.

Christmas cards all year round July challenge: anything goes

I am so glad that the Christmas cards all year round challenge blog has started up again and I am in the group that posts mid-month. So this is my design card using the Imagine That by Kris 'hanging kitty' image (supplied by them as sponsor of the challenge). This was pre-coloured. Please click on the challenge link here to see the lovely designs by the rest of the Christmas Belles and click here to see the designs by the Gingerbread Gals and join in the challenge - the theme is 'anything goes' as long as it is Christmas or festive related.

Prize: $10 gift certificate

I die cut the image using the outline die from the Todo henna frame set, distressing around the image with squeezed lemonade ink, using spiced marmalade distress ink on the edges. The background paper and the cutting across the bottom are from the Bo Bunny silver and gold collection papers. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons, the sentiment tag from an old Anna Griffin set and the two burlap flowers from Poundland.

This is also for:

Crafty ribbons 160: Christmas
The 12 months of Christmas link up 19
Beat the Christmas rush
ABC Christmas: N for no rules
Crimbo crackers 111: anything goes
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Deep ocean 133: Christmas in July
Ike's world 67: Christmas in July
Inky chicks 69: Christmas in summer
Stamp ink paper 56: Christmas in July
Give a crafter a cookie 48: Christmas in July
Fussy and fancy 168: Christmas in July
Sparkles 82: Christmas in July
Aloha Friday 76: Christmas in July
Ribbon girl: July card challenge
Creative moments 97: anything goes + optional twist ribbons
Animal friends 40: animal with dies/punches
Crafty calendar July: punches and/or dies
Digistamps4Joy 126: anything goes + option dies and/or punches
Cute as a button 24: anything goes
Craft your passion 320: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 120: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Penny's 286: anything goes
Crafty girls creations 23: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 238: anything goes
Inspiration destination 94: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Dragonfly dreams July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

CHNC challenge extra for July mid-month inspiration

This is my card for CHNC challenge extra for mid-month - please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of some of the lovely DT ladies and we hope that you will join in our challenge here.

I used the lovely Stampendous 'snowy postcard rubber stamp inked with memento rich cocoa. I tore round the edges and brushed with vintage photo distress ink.

The background paper is from DCWV, which was also brushed around the edges, with the addition of the flower and greeting.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas link up 19
Beat the Christmas rush
ABC Christmas: N for no rules
Crimbo crackers 111: anything goes
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Cardz 4 guyz 128: Christmas in July
Deep ocean 133: Christmas in July
Ike's world 67: Christmas in July
Inky chicks 69: Christmas in summer
Stamp ink paper 56: Christmas in July
Give a crafter a cookie 48: Christmas in July
Fussy and fancy 168: Christmas in July
Sparkles 82: Christmas in July
Broken fairy designs 6: anything goes with a twist Christmas in July
Di's digi designs: Christmas in July
One crazy stamper July: Christmas in July
Holly jolly Christmas 76: inspired by a song - I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Christmas at sweet stampin July: anything goes
Stamps & fun - creativity 282: anything goes
Sweet stamps July: anything goes
Penny Black and more at Allsorts July: anything goes with a stamp
A vintage journey July: monochromatic (inspired by Tim Holtz - using distress inks)
Craft your passion 320: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 120: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Penny's 286: anything goes
Crafty girls creations 23: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 238: anything goes
Inspiration destination 94: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Dragonfly dreams July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes

Commissioned 50th birthday card

A friend asked me to make a card for a man's 50th birthday, telling me that he liked mountain scenes and he goes skiing - I found the picture here (it was free to use). The surrounding area around the picture was silver foiled on the todo using one of the rennie hot foil press. The piece of blue behind the picture has Happy Birthday embossed randomly, but it can't really be seen here - this and the background were from Kanban. The background and the foiling around the picture are bright silver, but, unfortunately, this doesn't show on the picture. I had to take the card to my friend, so didn't have any opportunity to take another photo.

This is for:

Get creative 43: celebrations
Fresh brewed: birthdays
Stampz by Star: celebrations
Scrapping4fun 69: birthday
Crafty gals corner 80 monochromatic
Simply create too 113: red, white or blue
Craft your passion 320: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 120: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Penny's 286: anything goes
Crafty girls creations 23: anything goes
Jo's scrap shack funday 146: anything goes
613 avenue create 184: anything goes
Little Claire 71: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 238: anything goes
Inspiration destination 94: anything goes
Not just cards 34: anything goes
Card and scrap 121: anything goes
Eclectic Ellapu July: anything goes
Dragonfly dreams July: anything goes
Leinzlove tear bears July 7: anything goes