Deer In Skates

Today's card features an old Penny Black Christmas stamp called 'Deer In Skates'. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with snippets of papers from the 'Christmas Stack by DCWV...distressing the edges, before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the layers onto some festive red card, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Christmas
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Run, Run Rudolph
• Christmas Kickstart - Add Antlers
• Crafty Gals Corner - 'Tis the Season
• Creatalicious - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

'H is for Ho Ho Ho!'

(Santa)

&

'I is for Ice'

This is the prize for the lucky winner:

For my 'Ho Ho Ho!' card, I used stamps from the 'St. Nick' set by Jane's Doodles. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Santa's Delivery' set from the 'Christmas in Moonbeam Meadow' collection by Crafter's Companion, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Multistack' by DCWV...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

For my 'I is for Ice' card, I selected an ice skating bear stamp from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, drew a line for icy ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I stamped my 'Falling Snow' background stamp by Simon Says Stamp onto a kraft card blank using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I carefully trimmed around the top of the bear image, then added it over the top of the stamped background.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge - Z is for Zoom (Second card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Deer in Skates

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring an old Penny Black stamp called 'Deer in Skates'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Stack' by DCWV, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Rudolph/Reindeer
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guys - S is for ? (Skates)
• Little Red Wagon - It's a Fake (My stitching is faux)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Critters
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Gift Exchange

Today's card features stamps from a set that I picked up from Simon Says Stamp with a prize I won recently on one of their challenges...called 'Gift Exchange' by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped the images on to watercolour paper, added one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I used a piece of patterned paper from the 'Christmas Multistack' by DCWV for the background...distressing the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Cardz for Guys - Animal Magic
• Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment
• Crafty Catz - Make It Cute
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas in July
• The Male Room - Animals

A Wish & a Kiss

Today's card is a simple Christmas card, that features a Penny Black stamp called 'A Wish & a Kiss'. I stamped it on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Wintertime Messages' set by Hero Arts, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a snippet of checked paper from the 'Christmas Wishes' multistack by DCWV along one edge...using one of my Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside' border dies to cut the curve.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Kickstart - Plaid/Checks
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Fur or Feathers
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Festive Friends

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring an old Sugar Nellie stamp called 'Festive Friends'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from a couple of old psper pads...'The Christmas Wishes' multistack by DCWV and 'The Christmas Collection' from Poundland. I used a black gel pen to doodle a simple black border to mirror that of the one on the stamped image.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Santa/Gnomes/Elves
• Christmas Kickstart - Santa & his Sidekicks
• Jingle Belles - Santa Claus
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Skiing Bunny

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one features a recent charity shop find 'Skiing Bunny' by Uptown Rubber Stamps, Holly Town Hill. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from the 'Joy to the World' stamp set by Penny Black. I paired it with a snippet of paper from 'The Christmas Multi Stack' by DCWV...it's an old pad, and was another charity shop find. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - Quick & Easy
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Christmas')
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Baby, it's Cold Outside
• Penny Black & More - Christmas
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

I have a 'Mid-way Reminder' card today, for the current ABC Christmas Challenge, which is:

'K is for Kids & Kraft'

(Optional extra to make a giftcard holder)

Here's a reminder of the prizes on offer:

Digital Delights

Winner will receive 3 digital stamps of their choice.

and

Karen's doodles

Winner will receive 3 digital stamps of their choice.

On my card last week, I used an image from Digital Delights, so this time I've used one from our other sponsor, Karen's Doodles...it's called 'Bigsby Swinging Lights'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the light bulbs. I found some DCWV 'Christmas Wishes' paper with strings of ornaments on, which I thought matched the string of lights, so used that along with a sheet of text paper from the same stack. I inked the edges a little, and rounded a couple of the corners with my Woodware corner rounder punch...which had not seen daylight in such a long time! The 'kraft' card blank is by Papermania, I cut some snowflakes from some more kraft card using Marianne Designs Creatables and Cuttlebug dies, and the sparkly brad is by American Crafts.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch

You can find more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies over on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog.

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge, and this time it's Lacey's turn to host. The theme for the challenge is:

'K is for Kids & Kraft'

With an optional extra to make a giftcard/holder.

We have not one, but two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Digital Delights

Winner will receive 3 digital stamps of their choice.

and

Karen's doodles

Winner will receive 3 digital stamps of their choice.

Ok, so on to my card...I made an ordinary card, but if you fancy trying a giftcard/holder, Lacey has made a fabulous tutorial showing how she made her project, which you can find on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog. The adorable image I used is 'Stuck up the chimney Santa' by Digital Delights, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are both by DCWV, from the 'Christmas Wishes' and 'Christmas' stacks. I distressed the edges a little (using my scissors again, as I still can't find my distressing tool!), then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Scallops
• Crafty Sentiments - Kid's Cards
• Creative Inspirations (Wednesdays) - Christmas in May
• My Time To Craft - Use a Die Cut
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch
• Wags N' Whiskers - Circles

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and our fabulous Guest Designers, and of course for Lacey's fabulous tutorial, please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Fluffy

When I went to print out some other digis yesterday, I discovered this cute 'lil monster called 'Fluffy' (from Pollycraft). I won him as part of a challenge prize yonks ago, but have never used him...so I just had to print him too. Paula is having a 'Colour your Critter' challenge this week, so I used my favourite colours (turquoise/aqua) to colour Fluffy...which makes him look like a bit like Sulley from Monsters Inc! lol
The papers are some scraps of DCWV 'Retro' papers I found lurking in my paper stash. The sentiment stamp is from alittle set by Studio G, and the little stamped stars are from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Tales from Pollycraft - Colour your Critter
• Sketchy Colours - Sketch
• Cards for Men - 1 image, 2 papers & 3 embellishments
• Creative Stamp Friends - Checks
• Delightful - Use your scraps
• Digi Doodles - Spots & Dots
• Totally Gorjuss - Check it out

Just Cute Bears & Friends - Black, White & One Other Colour

This week's Just Cute Bears & Friends Challenge is a colour combo:

'Black, White & One Other Colour'

I've used pink as my extra colour...inspired by the funky papers from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' pad by DCWV. As I also wanted to try and keep my image mainly those three colours too, I've not used a bear this week, but a cute Penny Black cow stamp called 'Bedecked Antlers'. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the scalloped border, and myCuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die for the snowflakes, which I then coated with Glamour Dust.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Sketchy Thursday - Sketch
• Crafty Ann's - Non-traditional Christmas colours
• Penny Black @ Allsorts - It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous cards by my lovely Just Cute Bears & Friends Challenge DT buddies.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Oriental

It's Tracie's turn to choose the theme of this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Oriental'

I've used one of the Secret Crafter's own Manga stamps...'Samurai Boy' (available as both a clear polymer stamp, and as a digital download). The papers are from the 'Far East' stack by DCWV, and I used my Cuttlebug 'Forest Branches' folder to emboss the middle panel....I though it sort of looked like bamboo! lol 

I inked around all of the edges using chalk inkpads, and added a sentiment using a stamp from the CCSR set by Papermania.

I'm also going to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Midnight Madness - Sketch (I've used the simple version, which I 've rotated)
• Cards for Men - Happy Birthday
• Digi Doodles - My Peeps

For more inspiration, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge to see the fabulous samples by my lovely DT buddies.

Present Pile!

I've got another clean & simple Christmas card to show you today...I do love this style of card, but it's never going to help make a dent in my patterned paper stash! lol
I've used 'Present Pile' by Lili of the Valley...I just love these bears! The paper is from an old DCWV 'Christmas' stack, and I used my EK Success 'Diamond Scallop' punch along the edges of the red card that I've matted it on to. To finish off, I added some card candy, and a couple of snowflakes cut using a Cuttlebug die.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Patterns - Sketch
• Create4Fun - Red, White & Blue
• DCD Christmas Club - Children's Christmas
• Lili of the Valley - One for the boys

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find all of the details on this post.

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for...

I'm back! Had a fabulous weekend...the wedding was lovely...and it was great to meet up with crafty friends again :0)

This week's ABC Christmas Challenge has been set by the lovely Jayne, and the theme is:

'P is for Presents'

with the 'optional extra' of lace

In keeping with the presents theme...we have not one, but two sponsors this week!

Beary Scrap prize - $20 voucher

AND

Stitchy Bear Stamps prize - 3 items from the Stitchy Bears Stamps Collection

How fabulous is that?!

I've used one of Stitchy's images on my card...it's called 'Joy'...and although there are no presents in the image...you just know that by morning those stockings will be stuffed full of goodies! :0)

The papers are from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV, the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die and the lace is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm also going to enter this card into a few other challenges:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Stamptacular Sunday - Christmas in July
• Prairie Fairy - Lace It Up
• Wild Orchid - Lovely Lace

For more inspiration, please stop by the ABC Christmas Challenge and check out my DT buddies gorgeous cards.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Aperture Cards

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has been set by Cathy, and she has chosen the theme of:

'Aperture Cards'

I decided to make a tent card, using one of the Manga stamps exclusive to the Secret Crafter ('Poor Boy' available here at the Secret Crafter). I used one of my Nesties to cut the aperture (available here at the Secret Crafter). The papers are from the 'Retro' stack by DCWV, and the sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly.

Here's a side view:

We have three lovely new design team members joining us this week...Carol, Renate and Suzie ...so please stop by the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and help us to give them a warm welcome.

Presents for 2...and one for me too! :0)

Today's card is a Christmas one...I've combined the Sweet Sunday Sketch with Bah! Humbug!'s 'Child's Christmas' theme.The adorable bear is called 'Presents for 2' by Lili of the Valley, and the colourful papers are from the DCWV 'Christmas' stack...I know they don't look very Christmassy...but one is covered with 'Ho Ho Ho's!' lol The big snowflake was cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die.

And the present for me??? Well, look what arrived in the post yesterday:

This little lot is my fabulous 'secret' prize that I won on the Stampavie Challenge a few months ago...I'd completely forgotten about it...so really was surprised when I opened the box. Just look at all those lovely Stampavie stamps...and gorgeous papers..and the cute little tote...I love it all...thank you!!!

Secret Crafter Manga Stamp Release...Day Five

Today sees the release of the last of the new manga stamps exclusive to the Secret Crafter...this one is called 'Samurai Boy'.

I've watercoloured him to match these papers from the 'Far East' stack by DCWV. I embossed the central strip using the Cuttlebug 'Forest Branches' folder...I thought it sort of looked like bamboo! lol

I couldn't find any suitable matching embellishments, so I coloured some white pieces of card candy using the inkpad I'd inked all of the edges with.

I followed the fab sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch for my card.

My Secret Crafter team mates have created some fab cards with this image...you can see them here on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Secret Crafter Manga Stamp Release...Day Four

The stamp released today, from the new range of Secret Crafter manga stamps is called 'Rockability Couple'...perfect for retro-themed cards.

I coloured the image in shades of black and grey, to match the sparkly DCWV 'Glitter Stack' papers. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

 

I followed the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp,  and I'm also going to enter this card into A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Celebrations' challenge.

For more ideas of how to use this image, see the fabuous cards by my team mates on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Snow Bunny Bella

I've gone all 'pink' again on this card...although this time it has a Christmas feel. I followed the sketch from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long...and used Bah! Humbug!'s 'Shades of Pink' colour scheme...not a colour I use all that much...but this is my second mainly pink card this week! The image is 'snowbunnybella' by Stamping Bella...which I coloured with watercolour pencils...I added some sparkle to the fur trim on her coat and boots with a Sakura stardust pen...which you can just about see in the photo. The papers are all from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV, and the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die.