Christmas Card Club - "Poinsettia or Christmas Greenery"

Good morning all.

It's Christmas Card Club time once more and this week Mary has asked us to show her our "Poinsettias or Christmas Greenery". I managed a quick card last night as it's been a busy week birthday card wise with my Mum 85 and a great niece one today and my son in law later in the week!

Using a cute stamp from Wild Rose Studio coloured with promarkers...it's so long since I coloured anything I've forgotten how! Dies are from Wplus9.

If you'd like to see what the other girls have produced you'll find their links on my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club - "Animals at Christmas"

Good morning all.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter and hoping the weather isn't dampening the holiday weekend too much for you. The light evenings this last week have been lovely and it's certainly starting to feel more like spring, especially in the garden.

"Animals at Christmas" is the theme set by the lovely Kate this week over at our little Christmas Card Club.

I managed to make a quick couple of simple ones last night. Spent the week getting the house cleaned thinking we were going to have visitors today but found they'd gone home early yesterday due to the weather!

Card and topper from The Works, die from WPlus9.

Card and decoupage topper from The Works, tag die from Die-namics, tree and bow from my stash.

As always if you want to see what the other girls have made you'll find their links on my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club - "Christmas Flowers"

Good morning all.

"Christmas Flowers" has been set as the theme for our little Christmas Card Club this week by the lovely Rachel. One quick decoupage card from me this time as I have my Mum staying and didn't get myself organised before she came.

Decoupage from Joanna Sheen which has been in my stash for many a year! Dies from Wplus9 and Spellbinders.

If you'd like to see what the other girls made you'll find their links in my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club - "Angels or Fairies"

Good morning all.

Margaret has set us the theme of "Angels or Fairies" this week at the Christmas Card Club. Four very quick cards from me...I'm doing a couple of photography workshops this weekend and having been ill last weekend these are very last minute on Friday evening!

Update...workshop was postponed due to rain, thick cloud and generally lousy weather, hopefully today is going to turn out better.

Using stamps from La Blanche...the first design is one layer.

This second design uses a die from Wplus9, stamp is also from La Blanche. I do love these stamps, although they're quite large they always stamp perfectly.

If you'd like to see what the other girls have made you'll find their links in my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club - "Sentiment as Focus"

Good morning all.

Less than two months until the big day...must get my skates on and get some more cards made! Sylvie has challenged us to use the "Sentiment as Focus" this week at the Christmas Card Club, here is my effort!

I've gone White on White - better picture taken during daylight hours.

Dies are from Spellbinders, WPlus9 and STAMPlorations; embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

If you'd like to see what the other girls have made you'll find their links in my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club - "Non Traditional Colours"

Good morning all. I can't believe how quick the nights have come in this year and will be glad when the clocks change at the end of the month!

Finally got my computer up and running again so touch wood it stays that way! I've also started a new blog for photography....I've recently started a year long online course to learn how to use the controls on my camera (amongst other things), so this will chart my progress and I'll also be posting my holiday photographs too. My first post goes live this morning if you'd care to take a look.

I'm playing catch up at the Christmas Card Club again...sorry ladies and promise I'll get round you all in the next day or so to leave my comments,

Two weeks ago Val (aka Mrs A) asked us to "Make it Round", here is my card.

Don't know why navy always looks black in a photo! Using a new die from Crafters Companion, a nesties die from Spellbinders and a sentiment from Clearly Besotted. Not sure about these new dies from CC, they're a bit fiddly to use and line up although they do make nice cards.

This week it was my turn to set the theme and I asked for "Non Traditional Colours".

Kraft and white is one of my favourite non traditional colour combos. Using dies from Wplus9 and Spellbinders and a Typografia Christmas stamp from STAMPlorations...a quick and easy card ready for posting! Think I need a new pot of  white EP...mine is looking a bit yellow!

If you'd like to see what the other girls have made you'll find their links on my sidebar.

TYPOGRAFIA Motivate Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

I'm Guest Designing over at STAMPlorations today, we have a blog hop going on and you won't want to miss it. You'll find all the details in this post.

Using the new TYPOGRAFIA Motivate stamps (you're going to love these!) here is my inspiration.

Using Persistence, I thought this stamp was the perfect addition to this canvas I created with a photo taken last year on our trip to New Zealand. I've had the kit to create the canvas for some time and now I know how easy it is I must do some more....although note to self - heat embossing on plastic canvas was not the best idea I've ever had!

My second project uses What You Get, this stamp reminded me of the WW11 posters Your Country Needs You so I wanted to create something simple and to the point. Using black card, gold mirri card and gold embossing and a few dies and I was happy with the result. This may be used for a card topper, or to decorate a notebook but would also make a good fridge magnet.

My final project is a small canvas which I coloured with gelatos to try to resemble a sunrise, then added features from the Clouds stencil with textured paste. The saying was stamped onto tissue and heat embossed then attached with medium gel.

Commenting closes on Monday, October 16.

Prize: One commenter will win her choice of 3 Typografia Motivate stamps. The winner will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers' blogs.

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 17.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount (in addition to the 5% discount already offered on these stamps) on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Christmas Card Club - "Christmas/Snowy Scene"

Good morning all.

What a gorgeous day we had yesterday, some more of the same would be very nice!

I can't believe two weeks have passed since our last Christmas Card Club outing...I'm sure someone pinched one of my weeks! Shaz has set us the theme of  "Christmas/Snowy Scene" this time, I've managed two cards.

My first is a Joanna Sheen decoupaged image...a real oldie from my stash! Dies from Spellbinders and Wplus9.

My second uses a recent purchase from the Works....cheap diecut decoupage, sadly in this case "you gets what you pay for"! Whilst the layers match up okay they've been cut to the left of the main image so the white border around the image isn't equal. Dies from Spellbinders.

If you'd like to see what the other girls have produced you'll find their links in my sidebar.

Card Chain Challenge - March Reveal

Good morning all.

Yesterday saw the reveal of the March Card Chain Challenge. Click on the link to find out more information and to see all the cards which were exchanged last month.

This is the card I sent Gail in Norway and I received one from Dawn in New Zealand.

Made using the results of my first DI Oxide play. Dies are from Spellbinders, Wplus9 and Memory Box. Stencil and stamps from STAMPlorations. Sequins and twine from my stash.

TIME OUT Challenges 3rd Birthday

Good morning all.

I'm early on parade this morning! (Well I would have been, only we got the date wrong so I'm late for a very important date!).
 Shery from STAMPlorations is one of the sponsors over at TIME OUT Challenges, where they are celebrating their 3rd birthday. A few of us DT girls are joining in with their theme of Love/Friendship with the optional twist of Spotlight Stamping.

I've used the new STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms stamp set...adding my spotlight stamping using a waste piece from my first play with my new DI Oxide ink pads. The XOXO die is also from STAMPlorations. Mat dies are from Spellbinders and Wplus9.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Card Chain Challenge - February Reveal

Good morning all. 

Already into March...this year is stomping by at an alarming rate!! Our first daffodils are blooming and there is already lots of colour in the garden.

Today sees the reveal of the February Card Chain Challenge...I didn't manage to join in last year so was determined to make an effort for this year. Click on the link to find out more information and to see all the cards which were exchanged last month.

This is the card I sent to Betty in Nebraska, I in return received one from Jo in England.

I loosely followed the sketch and given colour scheme with the theme of friendship.

Dies are from Wplus9, STAMPlorations and Memory Box. Stencils are from STAMPlorations...used with DI. Sequins from my stash.

Cupcakes Inspirations Challenge Guest Designer

Good morning all.

This is my second post today, you'll find my  Love TAGplorations day 4 post here.

Shery from STAMPlorations is sponsoring the Cupcake Inspirations challenge today, so a few of the DT are guest designing to showcase some of her products.

Inspired by the colours and the scalloped edges I've produced an anniversary card.

Mat dies from Wplus9 and Spellbinders. Love and Clustered Hearts CUTploration dies are recent releases from STAMPlorations.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Stencil Blog Hop - Day One

Good afternoon all.

Throat is feeling much better today...think the champers a friend and I quaffed yesterday when out for Christmas lunch made a great lubricant!

We're having a week long Stencil Hop over at STAMPlorations starting today...we'd love you to join us! There will be lots of prizes and plenty of inspiration from all the teams.

Today's project is a card made using a piece of leftover background from my tutorial last week which used the Snowflakes all Over stencil. Simply matted and layered with dies from WPlus9 and Spellbinders, then I added a snowflake and a label for the sentiment from Holiday Artsy.

Trendy Leaves 2 Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

We have a special new stamp release over at STAMPlorations today (with matching dies!) so we're having a mini blog hop...I do hope you can join us! Commenting closes September 9, Friday, 11:55 p.m. Pacific
Winner announced Sunday, September 11

Prize
1 commenter will be randomly drawn to win the Trendy Leaves 2 stamp set.

I have a few autumn birthdays coming up so these stamps were perfect.

I started by making a mood board using the new Trendy Leaves 2 (available at 10% off until September 13th!) stamps which I stamped in versamark ink and heat embossed with white EP, colour was added with various distress inks. I then stamped and embossed two more leaves and die cut them with the corresponding dies then coloured with DI. Sentiment is from the Party Time stamp set.

Christmas Card Club "Snowmen"

Good morning all.

Busy, busy, busy here....on the final leg as we're moving on Tuesday! (It's only taken us four months!). Going to be giving my kitchen a once over today and cleaning the oven ready for use. Getting excited now!!

Can't believe another fortnight has flown by though and it's time once more to share my little make for the Christmas Card Club. Lorraine has asked for "Snowmen"....one of my favourite themes :)

Image and sentiment stamps from Joanna Sheen...one of my all time favourites! Dies from Spellbinders and Wplus9. Still working with minimum supplies so I dived into the bit box to see what I had in the way of coloured card and since there were two pieces the same I made two cards....then I took another look to see what I could find...

and made two more! A third delve resulted in another two!!

So that's boosted my card tally somewhat...I don't usually make even two the same but needs must and it is cute...quick, easy and flat for posting...ticks all the boxes!! Will probably add some stickles later when I get up to the new craft room. I'll finally get to use my Christmas present which is still in it's box!

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

To my blog candy winners...all parcels were posted first class on Wednesday afternoon. I hope you all enjoy your goodies finally!

Christmas Card Club "Cute"

Good morning all. Hope everyone is well and sending hugs to those who need them.

Still packing here, managed to finish most of the china yesterday and lots of it is unpacked, washed and put away in the new house. So one house is filling up nicely and the other has appeared again from under the piles of boxes and packing materials!

From under the chaos of packing boxes I have managed to get to my blog candy goodies...and with huge apologies to the ladies who won, I can now say your prizes have been packaged and are now ready to be taken to the post office.

Another two weeks have flown past and it's Sylvie's turn to host our Christmas Card Club challenge and she asked for "Cute". As is usual at the moment my card was a last minute one and this decoupage was the nearest thing I had to hand which vaguely resembled cute!

Another of my Joanna Sheen decoupage sheets used up...so like this snowman! Die from Wplus9.

You'll find a list of the other ladies in my sidebar if you'd like to see how they interpreted the challenge.

Christmas Card Club "Star of Wonder"

Good morning all. Hope you're well.
(Note to self when scheduling posts...get the date right!!!)

Had a very busy week cleaning up behind all the workmen, ironing and hanging curtains etc. The house is now beginning to look like a home...thank goodness! Planning a little me time this week to catch up with everyone and relax a little before the final move takes place.

Don't know where the last fortnight went to but it's time once again for the Christmas Card Club to strut their stuff. Zoe has given us the theme of "Star of Wonder".

I remembered about 8pm last night that this was due, so it was a mad scramble through what little stash I have at home to come up with something relevant. Luckily this stamp from The Artistic Stamper was lurking in my box and the greeting came from Clearly Besotted. Dies from Wplus9. Finished with a wee gem from my stash. The mat is actually plum coloured to match the ink but looks rather black!

If you'd like to check out how the rest of the girls did you'll find their links on my sidebar.

Bloghop - Big Bloom Factory

Good afternoon all.

It's stamp release day at STAMPlorations and we're having a blog hop...come on over and join in the fun for a chance to win a set of the new stamps Big Bloom Factory - now in the shop with 10% discount!

I started with a mood board...embossing the Big Bloom Factory large stencil then over stamping the corresponding stamps from the newly released Big Bloom Factory set. These were heat embossed with white EP. I then inked the whole piece using a variety of colours of DI.

After die cutting the piece I wanted for my project I fussy cut one of the flowers and added it with a foam pad. The whole piece was matted onto another die and I added some pearls.

This is the back...I used the piece on my Auntie's funeral flowers last month.

For a chance to win a set of stamps, please leave comments on the STAMPlorations blog and designers' blogs for an entry to the random drawing.