The Glory of Christmas 11: angels

This is my first challenge as a member of the design team for The Glory of Christmas. Challenge 11 is all about angels. Please click on the link and see what others in the team have done for this challenge and, hopefully, join in too - all you have to do is make a Christmas card that features angels - hope to see you there.

I inked the lovely Crafty Individuals stamp with memento tuxedo black and coloured with copics. The main background pape is Jillibean 'a hint of gossip' - not a Christmas paper, but I thought it went with the rest.  The circle of Graphic 45 'renaissance faire' paper was cut with a Nellie Snellen die which has holes in between the scallops, but hard to see here. The large fishtail (unknown piece of paper) and the very small one (scrap left from cutting the circle - double sided paper) were cut using the very useful Die-namic dies. The striped panel on the left is an offcut from My Mind's Eye Christmas glitter book. I then added a Craftime flower.

The card was based on the sketch for Mojo Monday 300 - a special Celebration one:

 This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
we-be hobby: everything must
Lady Anne's 4th challenge: monochrome
ABC 35: anything goes

Have an ice Christmas

I used a scalloped circle card blank and half of another to create this easel card, threading twine through a button to act as a stopper and then wrapping the twine around the card a few times. I inked the Stamps Happen polar bear Santa stamp with memento tuxedo black and coloured his hat and scarf with copics. The image was then cut with a Nellie Snellen die and mounted on to a nestie die cut scalloped circle using a piece of offcut paper. The piece of silver snowflake ribbon was wrapped around beneath the die cuts and a bow added. The snowflakes on the base were punched out of bits of the offcut paper. The sentiment was created on my dymo letratag.

This is for:

Facebook Sunday's with Santa week 26: more than one fold
Copic marker Europe 18: a shaped card
Flourishes timeless 227: going in circles - make a circle card
Joanna Sheen: don't be square
Crafty boots: anything but square
Cupcake craft 249: anything but square
Fab 'n' funky 178: anything but square
Paper-crafting journey: anything but a square card
Totally Gorjuss 191: anything goes with circles
The house that stamps built DCC72: monochrome
Cardmakin mamas 72: monochromatic
Frosted designs fabulous Friday: ribbon and twine
Going grey with scrap-creations: ribbon & bow
Scrappers delights 2: die cuts or punches
AnMaCreatief 22: punching
Paperminutes 276: die cuts
A little bit crafty July: die-ing for it - die cuts
Wags n whiskers 107: cute as a button
Divas by design: cute
Winter wonderland: easel cards
Festive Friday 12: trigger: snow
Stamp with fun 217: celebrate
Card mania 24: Christmas in July
Make my Monday: Christmas in July
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: Christmas in July
Simply create too 41: Christmas in July
The stamp spot July: Christmas in July
Allways something creative 57: Christmas in July
Always playing with paper: Christmas anything goes
Papertake: anything goes + option: animals
Tok bobok 2: animal friends
Nightshift stamping: animal stamps
One stop craft 233: anything goes
No matter which 11: anything goes
Catch the bug July anything goes
Platypus creek digitals 35: anything goes
Crafter's cafe 18: anything goes
DL.ART July: anything goes
613 avenue create 26: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 11: anything goes
Sister act 14: anything goes
Make it Monday 147
Inspire me Fridays 110
52 card pickup 2.27

CHNC challenge 132: Christmas card for a child

My challenge 132 on CHNC today is to make a Christmas card suitable to give to a child.

I've used an offcut of K & Co paper as the background, added someof my favourite ribbon and a couple of Express Yourself stickers, a sentiment circle and 'jolly ole Santa' image kindly supplied by Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, one of the sponsors. This was coloured with copics.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Pile it on 26: bling
Happy campers 19: bling
Crafty catz 190: it's child's play
Card mania 24: Christmas in July
Make my Monday: Christmas in July
Whimsical designs: Christmas in July
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: Christmas in July
Simply create too 41: Christmas in July
The stamp spot July: Christmas in July
Stamp and create July: Christmas in July
Allways something creative 57: Christmas in July
Always playing with paper: Christmas anything goes
Papertake: anything goes + option: animals - Rudolph
Tok bobok 2: animal friends
Sentimental Sundays 161: all things digital
Crazy 4 challenges 193: let's get wordy
Divas by design: cute
One stop craft 233: anything goes
No matter which 11: anything goes
Catch the bug July anything goes
Platypus creek digitals 35: anything goes
Crafter's cafe 18: anything goes
DL.ART July: anything goes
Bearly mine 93: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
613 avenue create 26: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 11: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 48: anything goes
Sister act 14: anything goes
Make it Monday 147
Inspire me Fridays 110
52 card pickup 2.27

Sweet pea stampers: for the men/boys

I'm excited to be joining the Design Team at Sweet Pea Stampers. I'm actually on Team B and today's challenge is being hosted by Team A, but I couldn't resist joining in, using Karen Middleton's 'soccer boy' digital stamp from Sweet Pea Stampers. From now on the challenges are going to be fortnightly and the challenge for this coming fortnight is 'for the men/boys'. Please go and look at the wonderful inspiration from the team and, hopefully, join in.

I based the card on the sketch given for The sweet stop sketches 217:

The papers are DCWV, ones that I've had for ages, probably eight years or more. I coloured the image with copics and tore round a perspex oval template colouring the torn edge with a red copic. I replaced the football on the image with a raised sticker one and added the other two and the football boots - stickers that came from The Works.

As I've used a Sweet pea stamps digital image and red, white and blue, this is also for One sweet challenge for July.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Totally papercrafts 174: let's hear it for the boys
Come and get it: masculine
Here come the boys 55: use a digi stamp
Cards for men 13: let's get sporty
Little Claire 34: male theme
The sisterhood of crafters: stars and/or stripes
2 sisters 150: stripes
QKR stampede 46: rock the red, white and blue
Digi haven: red, white and blue
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 184: red, white and blue
MilkCoffee: use country flag colour - red, white, blue
613 avenue create 26: anything goes + international colours of country flag - red, white, blue
Gingerloft: red, white and blue
Craft your passion 169: red, white & blue
Inspiration avenue: red, white & blue
Kaboodle 178: national day or flag colours - red, white and blue
Paper playtime 13: red, white & blue
Victorine 62: red, white & blue
Party time Tuesday 127: patriotic - red, white & blue
Crafting by designs: show us your colours - red, white & blue
Inky impressions 115: red, white and blue
Paper pretties 265: red, white & blue
Simon says: patriotic - red, white & blue
Color my heart 49: cranberry and pacifica with white daisy
Simply create too 40: use the colours of your flag - red, white & blue
Lisa B designs: blue, red and white
Mema's crafts July: paint your patriotism - anything goes or use red, white & blue
Sentimental Sundays 161: all things digital
Crafter's cafe 18: anything goes
DL.ART July: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 11: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 48: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Sister act 14: anything goes
Make it Monday 147
Inspire me Fridays 110
52 card pickup 2.27

Guest Design Team slot with Crafting Musketeers

I'm excited to say that I was offered a guest slot with Crafting Musketeers for their July challenge 3: ribbons and pearls.

The stamped image is from the Kanban Cavendish Ladies set, inked with memento tuxedo black and coloured with copics. Ribbons and pearls were from Hobbycraft and the lilac and silver card on the right is Hunkydory (sorry that the silver foiling doesn't show up on the photo). The pearlised panel beneath the image with embossed with the folder that came with my eBosser (I love that one). I added a touch of crystal ice stickles for the fur cuffs.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Lunagirl 5: the great Gatsby
Hanna and friends 174: monochrome
Stamp dreams 16: favourite colours - I love crafting with purple/lilac colours
Addicted to stamps 59: gorgeous lace
Allsorts 213: lavender and lace
Card and scrap 58: use lace or tape
Emma's crafty challenge 18: lace and pearls
Divas by design: pretty pearls
Crafty ribbons 50: anything goes with ribbon
Inspired by stamping WHW 107: ribbon
Whoopsi Daisy: let's get girly
Crafting for all seasons 55: make it girly
Crafty creations 228: fashion is my passion
Penny's 133: girl power
Oozak 16: anything goes with a girlie theme
The artistic stamper creative team July: ladies day
Happy campers 19: bling
Pile it on 26: bling
Crafty friends 5: bling
The cheerful stamp pad 63: from the past
Alota 110: vintage
Papertake: anything goes
An inky situation 1: anything goes
Simon says stamp and show: anything goes
Spark your creativity now 11: anything goes
Amusing challenges (Stamped blessings): anything goes
Artistic inspirations 48: anything goes
Bearly mine 93: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 59: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
A random Thursday 3: anything goes
613 avenue create 26: anything goes
One stitch at a time 170: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Hiding in my craftroom 104: freestyle
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Sister act 13: anything goes
Make it Monday 147
Inspire me Fridays 109
52 card pickup 2.26

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Christmas cards all year round

I'm thrilled to say that I was invited to join the team on Christmas cards all year round. Those who regular visit my blog will know that I make loads of Christmas cards throughout the year, so I'm more than happy to join the team. Please go over to Christmas cards all year round and see the lovely festive crafting done by the rest of the team - many of them, like me, are new this month, so please give them a welcome.

So these are my cards for the July challenge on CCAYR: it's all about Santa.

I've used card and elements from last year's Hunkydory Christmas kit  (yes, still using it up!) with the addition of some tartan ribbon on the first one. The card blanks are A5 opening landscape - thought they would make a change.

These are also for:

Facebook A card a day
Card mania 24: Christmas in July
Crafty ribbons 50: anything goes with ribbon (first card)
Left of center 9: use a sentiment on the front
A random Thursday 3: anything goes
One stitch at a time 170: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Hiding in my craftroom 104: freestyle
Simon says: anything goes
Creative inspirations 220: anything goes + option of ribbon (first card)

CHNC challenge extra for July

Can you believe that today is 1 July? How fast the year is going - it does seem true that the older you get, the faster time goes.

So it's time for CHNC challenge extra for July - I'd like to see any and all of the Christmas cards you make throughout the month.

And here is my first Christmas card for July, using the 'Nativity, Mary and Joseph' image kindly supplied by Bugaboo Stamps, the sponsor of CHNC challenge extra for July. I coloured the image with promarkers (the background is so pastel that it almost looks white here) and tore around a perspex oval template, inking the torn edges with a promarker.

The papers were magazine freebies. The little crocheted flowers are some that I've had for ages.

This is also for:

Merry Monday: anything goes Christmas
The squirrel and the fox 47: Christmas in July
Jingle belles: we wish you a digital Christmas
Sentimental Sundays 161: all things digital
My heart pieces: use a digi stamp
It's all about the vintage and beautiy 46: distress and tear
Passion for promarkers 204: name that tune - inspired by a song: Little donkey
Digi haven: fun with flowers
Creative moments 20: flowers
Crafty catz 189: say it with flowers
Left of center 9: use a sentiment on the front
A random Thursday 3: anything goes
613 avenue create 26: anything goes
One stitch at a time 170: anything goes
Lacy sunshine 11: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Hiding in my craftroom 104: freestyle
QKR stampede 45: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Sister act 13: anything goes
Make it Monday 147
Inspire me Fridays 109
52 card pickup 2.26

Sweet pea stampers - exciting news!

I'm delighted to say that I was invited to join the design team on Sweet pea stampers - you can read about it here. There are changes ahead for Sweet pea stampers - there will now be two teams of designers, moving from a monthly challenge to fortnightly.

Decoupaged Christmas scenes

It was Lorraine's turn to choose the topic for the Christmas Card Club's challenge for today and she asked us to create a Christmas scene.

I've gone for the easy option once again and have used card and elements from last year's Hunkydory Christmas kit to make two cards featuring decoupaged scenes. Tbh I'm trying to use up some more of the kit, so any opportunity is good.

This photo makes the lampost look as if one layer isn't directly on top of the other, but it really is, it's just that the photo was taken at a bit of an angle to avoid too much glare from the flash.

This shows the build up of layers:

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Pixie's crafty snippets week 79 (one card background was made with the offcut from the other)
Holly jolly Christmas: dashing through the snow
Pink by design: vintage
Sugar creek hollow vintage 64: your flag colours - red, white, blue
Sparkles 45: steampunk or vintage
Perfect sentiments 85: red, white & blue
Left of center 9: use a sentiment on the front
The squirrel and the fox 47: Christmas in July

CHNC challenge 131: all wrapped up

CHNC challenge 131 starting today is 'all wrapped up' - this can be interpreted in many ways.

I've chosen to use the lovely ' bundled owl' image kindly supplied by one of the sponsors, Cedar Chest Designs. I've coloured with copics. Background papers were free from a magazine, mounted on to a red card blank, with the addition of three strips of washi tape that I got recently from Paperchase.

The card is based on the sketch for Merry Monday 68 on Always playing with paper:

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Jingle belles: we wish you a digital Christmas
Artistic inspirations 47: fur or feathers
Cute card Thursday 275: fly like a bird
Soartful June: owls
Bunny Zoe June: wings
Little tangles 15: washi it up
2 sisters 150: stripes
Red carpet studio 42: going digital
Hiding in my craftroom 104: freestyle
Hobby home: anything goes
QKR stampede 45: anything goes
Lacy sunshine 11: anything goes
Inky chicks 7: anything goes
Pause dream enjoy 13: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Crafts and me 138: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Sister act 13: anything goes
DL.ART June: anything goes
Inky linky 20
Make it Monday 146
Inspire me Fridays 109
52 card pickup 2.26

Simply roses

A quick card using a piece cut from a left over of Hunkydory card layered with a couple of oval toppers.

This is for:

Cards and scrap 173: tone on tone
Creative moments 20: flowers
Crafty catz 189: say it with flowers
Alphabet: J for jiffy (CAS)
Hobby home: anything goes
QKR stampede 45: anything goes
Pause dream enjoy 13: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Sister act 13: anything goes
DL.ART June: anything goes
Make it Monday 146
Inspire me Fridays 109
52 card pickup 2.26

Sporting argyle

This CAS card is for Beyond grey 33: argyle, using a piece of left over Guy's Life argyle orange (can't remember when I used the first part of the paper - a long time ago) and the strip across the bottom is an old offcut from The English Paper Co, with the addition of a sentiment panel.

It's the photo that's crooked, not the card!

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Cards for men 13: let's get sporty
Pink gem 85: male birthday with sentiment
PumpkinSpice 25: anything to do with a sport
Lisa B designs: those magnificent men
Little Claire 34: male theme
Fashionista 17: wedding or birthday
Card crafters circle 81: happy birthday
Totally Gorjuss 189: happy birthday

I do love to be beside the seaside ...

... I think that's what this little chappie is singing!

This card is based on sketch 225 on Sketch Saturday, which this week for sketch 264 was asking us to choose any sketch from 216 onwards:

I've used a mixture of offcuts of spots and striped papers and a blue wood print behind the image, which is from the Nutcrafter sailor boy digital stamp set (I cut and paste the two images to go side by side)  which I chose as my prize for winning Nutcrafters 44. I coloured the image with a mixture of copics and Marvy le plume alcohol pens.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Nutcrafters 46: show us texture (the woodgrain paper)
Red carpet studio 42: going digital
My heart pieces: use a digi stamp
Bloggers challenge: at the beach
Mark's finest papers speedy fox & friends 165: beach
Corrosive 177: summertime
Eureka 45: summertime fun
Lexi 93: summer  holidays
Take time for you 95: sun, sea, vacation
Make my Monday: create a summer scene
Melonheadz friends: it's a summer challlenge
Deep ocean 54: welcome summer
Paperminutes 275: summer, sun, sunshine
Aud sentiments 83: summer
The house that stamps built DCC619: summer
MilkCoffeee: summer fun
Brown sugar: summer
Little scrap pieces fun Friday: summer
Pattie's 70: summertime fun
QKR stampede 44: summer fun
2 sisters: summer fun
Di's digi: show us summer fun
Mema's crafts June: father's day, graduation or summer/vacation
Scrappy frogs June: summer vacation
Stamp and Create June: summer fun
Designed to color 14: summertime
Creatalicious 52: all about summer
Dream valley 59: father's day/male theme
Joanna Sheen: father's day or male card
Little Claire 34: male theme
Here come the boys 54: let's go dotty
Crafts 4 eternity R129: spots and stripes
My time to craft 227: spots & stripes
Simon says stamp and show: stripes
The sisterhood of crafters: stars and/or stripes
Get inky 7: red, white and blue
Delightful: red, white and blue
Paper playtime 13: red, white and blue
Going grey with scrap-creations: patriotic - red, white, blue
Perfect sentiments 85: red, white & blue
Whimsical: getting patriotic - red, white, blue
Clearlyistamp: colour: red, white & blue
Simply create too 40: use the colours in your country's flag - red, white, blue
Pink gem challenge 85: male birthday with sentiment
Fashionista 17: wedding or birthday
Fairytale 70: happy birthday
Totally Gorjuss 189: happy birthday
A and T 25: happy birthday
My Sheri 113: birthday
Lacy sunshine 11: anything goes
Inky chicks 7: anything goes
Pause dream enjoy 13: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Party time 126: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafting by designs: anything goes
Crafts and me 138: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Sister act 12: anything goes
DL.ART June: anything goes
Inky linky 20
Make it Monday 146
Inspire me Fridays 108
52 card pickup 2.25

Summer surfing

For this card I've used the colours for Annaeblle 165:

The orange paper is Basic Grey offbeat and the main paper is Basic Grey obscure.

Both of the sentiment stamps were inked with memento rich cocoa.

This is also for:

Flourishes timeless 226: make a splash
Bastel-traum: water
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): water fun
A gem of a challenge 85: male birthday with sentiment
Pumpkin spice 25: anything to do with a sport(s)
Cards for men 13: let's get sporty

Pink and green should be seen

This is for the 'pink and green' Charisma challenge 24.

The spotty background paper was a magazine freebie. The white panel was splattered with a spray of shabby shutters distress ink, water and perfect pearls powder. The green ribbons are part of a Docrafts tea house set, green silk flowers from Create & Craft, butterflies from Poundland and sentiment 'it's your birthday' from Craftwork cards.

This is also for:

Crafty ribbons 49: flowers galore
In the pink 22: pink with flowers
That craft place: flowers
Polka doodles 25: summer birthday
Creative inspirations 220: anything goes + option: ribbon
Dutch dare 222: things that begin with the letter B - butterflies, birthday
Desert island 56: I chose: patterned paper, gemstones, ribbon, spray mists, sentiment

Have bicycle, will travel ...

This one layer CAS card is for the colours for CAS colours and sketches 30:

Also for CAS(e) this sketch 33 (I flipped the sketch to stamp on the left instead of right)
:

I masked off part of the scalloped edged card blank, swiped with shabby shutters distress ink and stamped part of the Debbi Moore's Travel stamp inked with memento rich cocoa. The sentiment stamp is from a free magazine set, inked with fired brick distress ink.

This is also for:

CCEE 1325: CAS masculine
CASology 50: free (free to travel wherever your dream takes you)

Christmas stocking

Yet another Christmas card - just realised that we are exactly six months away from Christmas - in fact at this time in six months' time, Christmas Day will be almost over!

Once again, this was made with elements from Hunkydory kits from last year - a bit of mix and match - and the panel with the rounded corners is an offcut from an earlier card, as is the main background card.

This is for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 78
Sarn's Rudolph Day
Crimbo crackers 44: you've had it how long? (last year's Hunkydory kit)
Crafting by designs: anything goes + twist: show your season: winter/Christmas
Pile it on 25: vintage or shabby chic
Christmas cards all year round June: vintage Christmas

A time for celebration

I can't believe that I've reached 200,000 visits on this blog - that's thanks to all those who take the time to visit and leave me comments. I'm so grateful to all who support me and for the blogging friendships that I've built up since I started this blog in March 2007.

I will be offering some candy to celebrate this milestone, but it's not ready to show yet - waiting for postie to arrive soon - and I might be getting some more goodies to put together.

Watch this space!

Flutter by apertures

This card is based on the sketch for Flutter by Wednesday 245:

I've used a card blank with three circle apertures (had a whole load of these years ago and still have a few that come out from time to time).

I lined the inside of the card with an unknown piece of beige paper and stamped behind the apertures with an unknown stamp and the Inca one in the middle called 'queen of Spain' inked with memento rich cocoa.

The pieces of 'lace' are Craftime rub ons .

I used the paper clips to hold the card reasonable closed for the photo.

This is also for:

Everybody art 242: butterfly
Oldie but a goodie: buttefflies (both stamps are old)
Animal friends 3: butterflies and/or bugs
Bunny Zoe June: wings
Order of the opus gluei 159: give me wings
Addicted to stamps 59: gorgeous lace
Cupcake craft 248: not  for flowers - CAS with no flowers
Alphabet: J for jiffy (CAS)
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 182: clean and simple
Fashionista 17: wedding or birthday
Fairytale 70: happy birthday
Totally Gorjuss 189: happy birthday
A and T 25: happy birthday
My Sheri 113: birthday
Inky chicks 7: anything goes
Pause dream enjoy 13: anything goes
Platypus creek 35: anything goes
Party time 126: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Inky impressions 113: anything goes
Sister act 12: anything goes
DL.ART June: anything goes
Inky linky 19
Make it Monday 146
Inspire me Fridays 108
52 card pickup 2.25

No designer paper

This is a CAS sympathy card swiping across the middle of the white card blank with old paper distress ink (using masking tape above and below) and stamping with fired brick - using one of my favourite Penny Black stamps, 'sparklers', with the bottom of the stamp masked off. Sentiment is a Hobbycraft stamp.

The card is white - always difficult to get a good photo.

This is for:

Facebook A card a day
Little red wagon 190: cardstock capers - no patterned paper
Creative card crew 39: no designer paper
CAS on Sunday 11: one layer wonder
Crafting when we can 47: KIS - keep it simple