Christmas Card Club - "North Star"

Good morning all.

Spending the weekend gutting and sorting my craft room... finally - we've only been here 6 months! Having worked in it for 6 months though it needed more thought regarding layout and organisation, I'm also being ruthless with stuff that doesn't get used and using up stash instead of buying new stuff...we'll see how long that lasts🙄

Maureen has asked to see the "North Star" today in our little Christmas Card Club. I had a set of dies lying on my desk which were a magazine freebie last year which were perfect for the job.

The dies were by Crafter's Companion and it was a two part die...I wasn't quite sure how they were meant to be used as there a solid outline and the filigree one isn't edged (which I hadn't realised before using it).

The first card is simply matted and layered in gold and ivory with the filigree being cut and embossed into the top layer. Sentiment from Clearly Besotted is heat embossed with detail gold EP.

Using the leftover bits from the first card I cut the filigree from the solid die and layered two together. Loving these Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle nesting dies from STAMPlorations, I used two for my mats, embossing the smaller one with a stars EF from Crafts Too (I think). Sentiment is from Clearly Besotted and dies are from Spellbinders.

If you'd like to see what the other girls have done you'll find the list in my sidebar.

HLS Christmas Challenge October "Poinsettia"

Good evening all.

My third post for today...you can find my Stencil Sunday post here and my Christmas Card Club post here.

Another month has passed and it's time once again for a new Christmas challenge at Happy Little Stampers. The theme this month is:

Here is my card:

Stamp is a magazine freebie from Penny Black. I stamped and heat embossed with white EP three times and layered with foam pads. Sentiment from HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments set. Dies from Spellbinders. Embossing folder from Crafts Too. I finished the centre of the poinsettia with gold stickles. 

Love red, green and white for Christmas!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

52 {Christmas Card} Throwdown - sketch

Christmas Stampin' all Year Round - favourite Christmas combo or lots of layers

Christmas at Sweet Stampin - festive decor

Penny Black Saturday - embossing

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - anything goes with embossing

Alphabet Challenge - Q is for quick and simple

Addicted to Stamps and More - CAS

Christmas Card Club "Snow Covered Trees"

Good morning all.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all...I expect you're all knee deep in red roses, heart shaped chocolates and the like....just like me not!! I expect I'll get something before the day ends!

Another fine day yesterday after a very stormy night! I got lots of household chores out of the way and had an hour or two crafting before tea. Today I get to choosing :)

Another two weeks have passed and it's time once again for our little Christmas Card Club to showcase our makes. I'm a day early as I have a DT post due tomorrow. Mary picked the theme this time and she asked to see "Snow Covered Trees".

I had originally intended using a stamp for this card but decided instead to use the Tattered Lace dies I got free with a magazine last weekend...there were three dies - the line of trees, line of buildings and the single tree. I cut each die twice and layered them up as I wanted them to be quite sturdy, then painted them with white Sparkle Medium from Imagination Crafts. Embossing folder is from Crafts Too.  Landscape dies are from Lawn Fawn, large snowflake is from Spellbinders, the other snowflakes are from Paper Smooches, sentiment is from Cottage Cutz. Sparkle Medium has then been brushed onto the snowflakes, letters and dots.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Craft your Passion - anything goes

Christmas Card Challenges - white on white

Simply Create Too - anything goes

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Penny's Paper Crafty - embossing

Allsorts - anything but birthday

Crafting for all Seasons #84 "Monochromatic"

Good morning all.

I'm off down home today...hopefully I'll get to see my niece's wedding photos, I can't believe it's already six weeks since the wedding!

Today it's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Monochromatic". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. Our sponsor this time Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet who gave the DT images to work with.

A very simple card from me today to let the image do the talking. The image is from Audition by Stitchy Stamps which I've printed onto Kraft card. The sentiment is computer generated using Rubber Stamp font. The background has been embossed with a star folder from Crafts Too which I've inked with DI. Card is finished with a bow and some gems.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:
Creative Card Crew - embossing wet/dry
Sweet Stamps - anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - anything goes
Crafting From the Heart - anything goes
Love to Scrap - anything goes
My Craft Creations - anything goes
Sentimental Sunday - monochromatic

Crafting for all Seasons #59 "Tag It"

Good morning all. Well it's back to school today here after 7 and a half weeks off!
I've had a busy couple of days making the final samples for the first wedding, hopefully I'm seeing my nephew and his intended on Monday to get everything finalised.

Younger son is off backpacking for ten days on Friday...him and his friend are flying to Krakow, staying there 3 nights then catching an overnight train to Prague. After 3 nights there they'll catch a daytime bus to Berlin where they'll have a final 3 nights before flying home again. All their accommodation in hostels and travel tickets are pre-booked so hopefully all will go well!!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Tag It". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by A Day for Daisies who gave the DT images to work with. 

I choose to work with Christmas Tree Fairy and coloured with promarkers before die-cutting with a Spellbinder tag. Tag has been put through a Crafts Too embossing folder which I'd inked up with various DI. Large snowflake is a Spellbinder die set, fastened with a small button brad. Ribbon, raffia, sentiments and gold snowflake are from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Creative Craft Challenges - not a square

Deep Ocean Challenge - odd shapes

Sweet Stamps - anything goes

Crafty Boots - Christmas

Come and Get it Challenge - things with wings

Gingerloft - bright sunshine yellow

Glitter and Sparkle - anything but square

Joanna Sheen - embossing

The Hobby House - Christmas

Card Crafter's Circle - winged things

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #66

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Janneke has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Carmen.

This is a real use it up card, most of the items (including the card blank) came from my bit box. The backing paper and ribbon are from my stash . The stamp is a very old one from QVC and I've stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with silver detail EP. Embossing folders are from Cuttlebug and Crafts Too.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Sweet Stampin Christmas - no red or green
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - monochrome
Sunday Stamper - shiny
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - ribbons and bows
Sweet Stampin - lots of layers
Crafty Catz - sparkle with a bow
Creative Corner - layer it up
Jingle Belles - neutral Noel
Polka Doodles - embossing

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Fairy Magic

 It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week it's team A's turn to share their inspiration with you. The theme this week is Fairy Magic. I've used an image from sheet #199.

Image is coloured with promarkers and cut with an oval nestie and layered onto a scalloped nestie. PATP from Martha Stewart, die cuts from Spellbinders, embossing folder from Crafts Too. Card is finished with some ribbon and punch waste hearts. Everything has been distressed with Victorian Velvet DI.

All the white card came from my bit box.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team and remember if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image you could win 2 image sheets, 1 sheet will be awarded to a winner using any other image.

Challenges entered:

Lawnscaping - embossing

Sweet Stamps - anything goes (C10)

House that Stamp Built - recipe

Sundays with Chrissy -things with wings

I Love Promarkers - die cuts

Pixie Crafty Snippets - #22

Carol x

White Christmas

Hi everyone, been somewhat awol this week from blogland but I've been trying to get ahead with some DT work and getting organised to have our bedroom and ensuite redecorated.

Here's one I made for Whoopsi Daisy before realising Linnie had discontinued the sheet the image came from! I'd even managed to use snippets for all my layers (albeit some them were big snippets lol) in anticipation of my weekly visit to the snippet playground - guess I'll just have to sneak in again this week and have another shot on the swings!

I've coloured the image with promarkers and highlighted with glamour dust before die cutting with a Spellbinders fancy rectangle. Base card is 8x8 pearlised card stock  topped with a nestie square which I've distressed with my tool and DI. Next layer is a mat edged with a Martha Stewart snowflake PATP which has been distressed with faded jeans DI. Another nestie square is matted with a square of the pearl card which has been embossed with a Cuttlebug snowflakes folder. Lace border die is from Spellbinders. White seam binding and poinsettia are from my stash and the sentiment is from a Crafts too folder. I've used lots of  stickles and glamour dust on the snowflakes and edges of some of the mats for added sparkle.

Inside I've added a simple insert with punched corners.

Challenges entered:

CHNC - white Christmas

Pixie Crafty Snippets - #15

Deep Ocean Challenge - inspired by a song (Frosty the Snowman)

Passion for Promarkers - white on white

Shopping our Stash - masculine (C13)

The Stamping Boutique - distress

Digistamps for Joy - glitter and bling (celebration)

My Mum's Craft Shop - it's a celebration

Digi Doodle Shops Best - paper lace

Pixie Dust Studio - ribbons

Sparkles Forum Christmas - colour me happy (WOW)

Bunny Zoes - ribbon or twine

Joanna Sheen - it's a man's world

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #15

Just over two weeks until the big day, are we all ready? My Christmas cards are all sorted but I'm still madly trying to get the presents bought! Time for a new challenge at CCWS and this week it was Betina's turn to provide the sketch, we also have an added extra this time of incorporating twine and a charm into your design. We are being sponsored by Stempelstudio.

Image is called Fairy Little and is from Prairie Fairy she is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles. Pink card is embossed with various embossing folders by Cuttlebug and Crafts Too (snowflakes, stars and swiss dots). Flowers are a Marianne Design die. Card is finished with Bakers Twine, a snowflake charm, pearl star and DI.

You'll need to visit the challenge blog to find the sketch and see how my team mates used it.

Challenges entered:

CCEE - snowflakes and bling

Rainbow Lady's - Christmas Carol (Oh Holy Night, the stars are shining brightly)

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - celebrate

CHNC - monochrome

Drunken Stampers - monochromatic

OSAAT - be square

Dasiy Doodles - something sweet

Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas, non traditional colours

Paper Creations Ink - bling it up

The Crazy Challenge - anything goes

Bearly Mine - untraditional Christmas

Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas, no green

The Stamping Boutique - non-traditional Christmas

Craft Room Challenge - make own flowers

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Yipee

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #9

Another fortnight flown in so it's time for another challenge over at CCWS. We're loving seeing your takes on the sketch each week but please ensure you're following the rules to be in with a chance of winning the prize. This week we're being sponsored by Inky Impressions Rubber Stamps and it was the lovely Marion's turn to design the sketch. Here is my card:

I've combined two digi images (star string from Meljens and dog from Sliejke's Stamps) and coloured them with promarkers and a gold gel pen. Swirly backing card is from  Kanban and red paper is from Papermania. Embossing folder is Stars from Crafts Too. Card is finished with a bow, sentiment and stars from my stash.

Pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself and enjoy the delightful cards my team mates have produced.

Challenges entered:

Cutie Sunday - Christmas Card

Daisy Doodles - raise it up (embossing)

Stamps and Fun = Creativity - animals

Pile it On - lots of layers

CBGM - cute as a cupcake

Digital Tuesday - celebrate the season

CHNC - swirls

Creative Inspirations - anything goes

Simon says Stamp - song/film (How much is that Doggie in the window)

Carol x