A quick and simple card

This was a quick card to make - the centre piece is cut with a nestie using my cuttlebug. The red and green papers were free with a magazine. I'm linking for the following challenges:

No time to stamp 115: 'mass production' - create a card that is easy to mass produce (in fact, if you look at other posts on here - and some still to come in the next day or two - there are other cards that have the same kind of format)
365 cards 228: 'same but different' - 'Your challenge is to use at least 2 papers that have the same pattern but are different in color.'
Fab's big Christmas 48: 'free papers theme' (the green and red papers were free with a magazine - you'll be thinking that I buy a lot of magazines!)
Secret crafter Saturday 60: 'Christmas trees'
Corrosive 40: 'green and red ... let's get ready for Christmas'
Rosie-Dee 59: 'red, green and a bit of bling!' (choir boys round the tree is glittered)
Cupcake 68: 'red and green'
Incy wincy 20: 'red and green'
Tuesday taggers: 'a Christmas carol' - these choristers are singing a carol - perhaps 'O come, all ye faithful'
Play date cafe 07: 'green, white and red'

Why is it that the sentiment looks very different to the red of the paper, but irl they look much the same?



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

Clean and simple blue

This card is for Clean and simple FTL70:


This is also good for:

Fun with shapes and more 31: 'monochrome blue' - this has to include something cut: the chipboard in the middle and the die cut snowman
Paperminutes 90: 'snowmen'
Another Chirper 'Christmas gifts'
Another Stampin' sisters in Christ 15: ' a card with a gift placed on it somewhere'
Creative Belli 79: 'chipboard' - the rectangles in the middle on which the snowman stands
Artful inkables: 'use chipboard' (as above)
Gingersnap color challenge 31: 'monochromatic'
Whimsy 30: 'monochromatic'
Paper cutz 19: 'anything goes'

The background paper is (I think) English paper company, the chipboard rectangles with snowflakes are Brenda Pinnick, the blue silver foiled card is Kanban (a lot more shiny and foiled irl).




Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

White Christmas

The new challenge will be up tomorrow for Daring Cardmakers, so, yet again, this is almost late - every week I think I'll do it sooner! The dare is 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas' - Jozza said: 'I want to see Christmas cards that are mainly white with just a hint of colouring on your embellishments or stamped image.'

I've used sketch 144 on CPS card sketches:

I used a white card base, some white vellum with light blue snowflakes here and there and some white card embossed with cuttlebug swiss dots and cut with a nestie.

I think one of the hardest parts of this challenge is getting a picture of the card to put on here - no chance of a photo in artificial light, so this is a scan, but it's so hard to show the layers of white.

365 cards 256 was: 'simply put' - 'One piece of patterned paper, One embellishment, and One sentiment - that's it.' - the white vellum piece of paper was cut to get the two squares. The embellishment is the added snowflakes.

For Frosted designs: 'same shape different size' there are two different sized squares of the snowflake vellum.

It's also good for:

Kaboodle 19: 'snowflakes'
Sophisticat 13: 'snowfalkes and sparkle' (and, yes, there is sparkle on the large snowflake embellishments)
Design dollies element challenge: 'let it snow, let it snow, let it snow' (snowflakes)
Tuesday taggers: 'Christmas carol' - 'See amid the winter snow ...'
Stampavie and more: 'Christmas'
Paperplay 44: 'Christmas without red or green'
Stamp, scrap and doodle 17: 'Christmas'
2 red bananas: 'Christmas/winter card'
Sparkle creations 52: 'any Christmas card'
Fab's big Christmas 48: 'use free papers from magazine' (the vellum was with an old Making Cards magazine)
Gingersnap 33 chestnut theme: 'winter wonderland'
Paper cutz 19: 'anything goes'
Creative card crew 39: 'Christmas'
Hope eternal cupcake 35 (an photo is given that is mainly white)
Crafty Calendar 3 'winter' with option of sparkle and bling (on the added snowflakes)
Creatalicious 4: ' snowflakes and sparkle/glitter'
Cuttlebug be inspired 59: 'glitter' - the circle was embossed with cuttlebug swiss dots and there is glitter on the added snowflakes
All that scraps: 'anything Christmas'


Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

Salt: thoughts for Advent

It was my turn this week to post a mid-challenge thought on Salt - you can read what I wrote here.

Christmas angel

Challenge 10 on Crafty catz this week is 'angel and fairies', so this card has an angel on it and Flutter by Wednesday 86 is 'any creation with a butterfly, fairy or angel'.

I think I'm a bit late for this one, but am linking for Tanda Teaser 125: 'musical Christmas' (there's music on the background of the sentiment, but no stamping, I'm afraid).

Day 276 on 365 was: 'you're an angel' so this is just right for that.

PaperPlay 44 calls for 'Christmas without red or green' (I admit there's a tiny bit of green on here, but I hope this card still qualifies), another one too for Spoon full of sugar 80: 'non-traditional Christmas colours. And another for Creative card crew 39: 'Christmas'.

The background paper is BG wassail and the picture is from some Dovecraft paper. The surrounds and 'Christmas Wishes' look black, but irl they are silver.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! As I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

Black and dufex bright

This card is for

Crafty Ann 2 'black and white and one other colour'

The picture is a dufex one so it is much brighter irl and changes a bit dependent on the light shining on it, so it is right also for Ildi Co 6: 'black and bright'.

This is also another one for Creative card crew 39: 'Christmas'.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

Another blog award

Tracy kindly gave me this award:

Now the rules of this award are to thank the person for the award and pass it on to at least 7 people who deserve it and then list 10 honest things about myself ...

Oh gosh, this is hard (I did a list of five things the other day for another ward - and that was hard enough) - anyway here goes:

1. I can't swim
2. I can't ride a bike (I've never tried!)
3. I won a school prize for a competition about cycling, even though I couldn't ride a bike (it was naming all the parts on a bike)
4. One of the Manfred Man group lived in the street where my nan lived, so we used to play out in the street along with other children
5. I sang a solo in the Royal Albert Hall
6. I don't like mince pies
7. I love Marmite sandwiches with salad cream
8. I love watching Casualty and Holby (you'd think I'd had enough of hospitals, wouldn't you?!)
9. I wear contact lenses, but now have to use reading glasses as well
10. I can't believe I'm 62

I know that I'm supposed to pass this on to 7 others - and there are many more than 7 who I think deserve this - please feel free to take this award if you are a regular to my blog and I visit yours - all my friends on BF and CBC, for instance, and many more besides.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

Christmas gifts

These cards are for C.R.A.F.T. 27: 'Christmas gifts'; 'a gift placed somewhere on your card' is challenge 15 on Stampin' sisters in Christ and 'Christmas gifts' is the subject of the current Chirper challenge.

The first card is also good for Kelly Jo color chef 31: 'aqua, red and white', There she goes 31 colour challenge: 'red, green, blue plus neutrals' (all on this card) and Spoon full of sugar 80: 'non-traditional Christmas colours'.

This second card meets the criteria on Color throwdown 71: 'olive, red, brown/cream (which I didn't use), pink' (we could use three of them - so mine is olive, red and pink). Secret crafter Saturday 60 is 'Christmas trees' - plenty on this card! The papers used for this second card came with a magazine, so it's just right for Fab's 48: 'use magazine free papers'.

This third card is also good for 'red and green' on 365 cards day 275: 'tis the season', Corrosive 40: 'green and red ... let's get ready for Christmas', Colour Create 32: 'green, red and white, optional extra: Christmas', Incy wincy 20: 'red and green' and Cupcake 68: 'red and green'. Rosie-Dee 59 is 'red, green and a bit of bling!' - there's glitter and foiling on the gifts, but hard to see on the scan. This is also another one for The treehouse 25 'Christmas colours - old olive, real red, white and black'.


All of these cards are good for 2 red bananas: 'Christmas/winter card', Stamp, scrap & doodle 17: 'Christmas', Sparkle creations 52: 'any Christmas card', Pollycraft 29: 'Ria's wonderful Christmas time', Whimsy 29: 'Christms', Creative card crew 39: 'Christmas' and another one for Charisma cardz 47: 'anything Christmas'.

The papers used for the first and third card are Basic Grey.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I've just noticed that I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

WOYWW today

It's Wednesday again - and that means it's time to take a photo and show on WOYWW. If you've not joined in yet, why not do so - and go and have a nose at everyone's workspace.

My workspace lacks any crafting goodies today - I've been writing Christmas cards - hence the piles over to the right - have done just over 200 so far. On the left of the picture you'll see the two secret Santa presents that I've received - you can read about it further down on my blog.

To the extrene left is a box that contains more Christmas cards to be written ... and then I need to get on and make some more!! I haven't done much crafting in the last few days - trying to get all the cards written - but definitely need to get on - I've got some commissioned cards that need to be done first and then more Christmas cards for us - I'm glad of all the challenges around that are asking for Christmas cards because they spur me on - it's good to have a few sketches to save my brain thinking too much!



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it! I've just noticed that I now have 100 followers, so I'll be adding something more to the blog candy.

My winning streak has continued!

Amazed this morning to discover that I've won the monthly prize on Quixotic Challenges for their first draw - you can read about it here. I emailed to claim my prize and have found out that I've won a gift certificate for £20 to spend in their shop - how cool is that?! I've had a little peep and think I might get flowers etc because I do so love them.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Another bubbly surprise!

For the second day running, I was so taken aback when the post came this morning - I received another package from a BF secret santa:



I decided it would be rude not to open at least one of the presents today, so this is what was in the one I opened:



Whoever you are, secret santa - thank you so much - you have brought tears to my eyes.

And I've just opened the present that said 'first' from yesterday's BF SS and this is what's in it:



I've just made a coffee and am going to enjoy the two together. It's years since I had a chocolate coin (I'm glad the cholesterol police don't read my blog, 'cause I'm not supposed to have milk choc, but this is very special, so I'm going to savour every bit of it!)

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

BF November inchies received

These are the fab 'fireworks' inchies I received from the swap on BF forum - thanks, girls, and thanks, Leigh, for once again hosting:



The 'animal' inchie at the bottom is an addition to the October swap.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Super surprise from Santa!!

A Secret Santa swap is taking place on BF forum atm - when it was time to sign up for it (and likewise for one on CBC) I decided this year not to take part because things are still quite difficult with John making a slow recovery and I just didn't know whether I'd be able to get everything together for the deadline - and I wouldn't have wanted to let other people down.

So I was really amazed this morning when the postie came and bought me a package, containing these goodies:



with a card which read:

Dear Hazel, though you deserved a little treat for being a "good girl". from a BF Secret Santa x

Whoever you are, SS, thank you so much - you've made my day. We've been up to Guy's again today and postie came just before we went, so I was able to undo and drool then!

As you can see, I've already opened the 'now' present - some rubber stamps - not sure how long I have to keep the others, but think I should also be opening the one that says 'first' - lol!

Another win!!

I've just learned that I've won this 'that's my boy' set:

for Rumble 18 on 'in the cottage studio' - you can read about it here.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

I'm officially a 'lady with attitude' ....

I won a prize for twisted Thursday 32 on Shirley's 2 girls - you can read about it here.

My prize arrived this morning, together with a note saying: 'Congrats! You are an official ... 'lady with attitude'.


I also had 20$ to spend at Paper Popsicles because I was the winner on 365 cards for PP week - you can read about it here. I had great fun picking out lots of digi images from their range - no doubt you'll be seeing some of them soon!

And, talking of Paper Popsicles, I was also able to choose 2 templates and a digi image from their range for winning wacky Wednesday's hump day sketch 7, as you can see here.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Christmas trees

This is the sketch on Unscripted 33:

And secret crafter Saturday 60 is 'Christmas trees'.

Background paper is BG eskimo kisses.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Flower pot card for my Mum

I needed to make a card for mum's birthday on Sunday - I'm OK to blog it because she doesn't go on the internet. I like to try and do something a little special, but, having been making cards for quite some years now, I'm beginning to run out of ideas to make something different.

It so happened that challenge 16 this week on Stamp, scrap and doodle Saturday was to make a 'flower pot' card - there were links to some instructions, which I mainly followed, adapting a bit - I put a strut at the back of the card so it could stand up.

As you can see, the 'flower pot', which was made out of DCWV textured card, was run through the cuttlebug with two different embossing folders. The swiss dots part fits in well with Sunflowers and dragonflies 19: 'polka dots'.

Of course, this is another form of pocket card, so I'm also linking for Creative inspirations 21: 'we want to see a pocket'.

Day 243 on 365 cards is 243: 'beautiful bouquet' - 'Now I know many, if not all of you have put flowers on your cards, but I'm looking for more of a bouquet - you know a bunch of flowers grouped together.'

This is also for Paper maniac inspirations: 'use those flowers' and, as I've used a lot of purple flowers, this is also another one for Lily-boo too November challenge: 'purple'.

Editing to add: I forgot Etsy Inspired 63: 'sleepless imagination', for which I chose this:







Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

BF November ATCs received

Today I received my ATCs from the November swap on BF - thanks, girls, for another fab lot of ATCs and Ali for hosting yet again.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Summer card in November?

This card is for the sketch for Crazy 4 challenges week 12:


It's also for:

Play date cafe 6:


It's also for 365 cards day 266: 'Colour me with this' - asking us to use something other than markers to colour - I used inktense water colour pencils with sansador. Papers are BG mellow. And as it's a coloured stamped image I'm linking for Caardvarks: 'color it'.

I'm not quite sure why I chose a sunflower image at this time of year!



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Holly doodles

This is sketch FTL69 on Clean and Simple:


I used Tanda 'holly doodles' designed by a lovely crafting friend, Sheila Oliver. The hearts are felt raised up with foam pads.

This week's Daring Cardmakers challenge is 'I'd like you to put things on your card which begin with the first letter of your name. You can use other things too, but see if you can use at least 3 things that share their initial letter with your own name.

So, H for Hazel: holly, hearts, Happy Christmas.

Challenge 18 on Pals paper arts is K.I.S.S. - 'keep it simple, sweetie' - lots of white space, simple design, minimum time, limited layers and embellishments. Mmmm, I'm not sure about the 'limited time' - by the time I'd stamped a few rejects and then coloured in with copics, I think it perhaps took longer than it should have done, but I think it fits this challenge.

Sunday stamper 80 is asking for either holly or ivy - no ivy here, but plenty of holly.

Penny's challenge this week is asking for random stamping - 'no dp allowed'.

Another one for Colour create 32: 'green, red and white - optional extra: Christmas'

This week Fab's big Christmas 46 is 'stamped background', so it's good for that - also for Whimsy 29: 'Christmas', Everybody art 67, Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 43, Papertake weekly: 'Christmas crackers' (anything Christmas), Charisma cardz 47: 'anything Christmas', Theme Thursday: 'Christmas - holiday creations' and the treehouse 25: 'Christmas colours' - old olive, real red, white and black. There certainly are a lot of Christmas challenges around atm (I wonder why!) - these are only some of them!




Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

to all blogging friends in the US

The theme chosen by Mona for today's Salt challenge is 'giving thanks' based on the verse from Colossians 3:17: 'And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.'

As I pondered what to do for this I came across the challenge 120 this week on How much is too much?: 'With Thankgiving this week, on November 26, let's document the things that make us grateful. This week, journal 26 things you're thankful for and use 26 products on your page.' (I didn't manage though to use 26 products - although, I suppose if you count each letter sticker and each flower perhaps it would add up to 26!)

It got me thinking of the things that I wanted to include on my Salt LO - I thought it would be difficult to think of 26 things, but after I'd printed them out I started thinking of more - what a lot we have to be thankful for!

On this special day of Thanksgiving for our friends across the Atlantic, it's good for us all to reflect and be thankful - but not just today, but every day - as the verse says: 'and whatever you do ... giving thanks ...' and, of course, we give thanks for the greatest gift of all - Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

I decided on a white, black and red theme for my LO - the papers are BG cupcake and the big spiky flowers were cut on my cricut using the Accent Essentials cartridge. The big 'thankful' letters are American Crafts.

As usual, you can read the words better if you click on the picture to enlarge.

T
here are lots of challenges atm with the theme of 'thanksgiving' or 'being thankful', not surprising with the celebrations today in the States. I don't often do this, but I'm going to link my LO to some of them as part of my Christian witness to being thankful to God.

Flourishes Timeless 43
Card*a*licious 31 (which asks for flowers and black and red - didn't realise this till after I'd done it!)
Cricut cardz 2 (I used a cricut cartridge)
Nutty nutshells 4
Paper Blooms
3 clovers 41
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 12
Paper cutz 18
2 red bananas
Stampin' sisters in Christ 14 - based on Galatians 6:9
Apron strings 17
Fiskarettes Monday challenge
365 cards day 271 (today)
Stamp something

Please pop along to Salt and read what Mona has to say and see the lovely crafting - and perhaps you might join in giving thanks by making something crafty and sharing with us.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!