ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

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

'L is for Lights'

&

'M is for Music'

Please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge for details of this month's prize.

For my 'L is for Lights' card, I used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Brightest Xmas'...stamping it directly onto a kraft card blank. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. Finally, I added some Glossy Accents to the light bulbs.

For my 'M is for Music' card, I used stamps from an old set by Lili of the Valley called 'Carol Singers'. With a bit of masking, I managed to squeeze in all of the critters, then filled in the gaps in the snowy ground, and any missing details using a black gel pen. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Caroling Chicks' set by Stamping Bella. I lightly distressed the edges, then added it to a kraft DL card blank.

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

• Christmas Kickstart - Christmas Critters (Second card only)
• Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment (Second card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Add the Word Merry (First card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Our Furry Friends (Second card only)
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity (Second card only)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)

For more inspiration, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

The Lost Balloon

Today's card features another recent charity shop find...a set of 'cloud' edge dies...brand unknown as they were not in their original packaging. I started by stamping an old Lili of the Valley bunny stamp called 'The Lost Balloon' on to a kraft card blank. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added some Glossy Accents to their balloons. I stamped a sentiment (from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company) on to a snippet of white card, then used one of the cloud egde dies to cut the bottom edge, before adding it to the top of the card.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• AAA Cards - CAS Birthday
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Die Cuts/Punches/Stencils
• Creative Moments - CAS
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Somthing Beginning with B (Bunnies & Balloons)
• Stamping Sensations - Animals/Birds/Creatures
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Cute

Time to Paw-ty!

Today's card features one of the dogs from a Katzelkraft stamp set called 'Les Chiens'. I stamped him on to a kraft card blank, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I doodled a balloon, then added some Glossy Accents to make it shine. The sentiment is from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for Colorado Crafts.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - Four-legged Friends
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sweet Stampin' - Masculine

The Lost Balloon

I have a simple one layer card to share today, featuring an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'The Lost Balloon'. I stamped it on to a kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment (from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for Colorado Craft), then covered the balloons with Glossy Accents.

They're super shiny in real life!

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Balloons
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - CAS
• Seize the Birthday - Optional 'Balloons'
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - No Patterned Papers

Brightest Xmas

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today...featuring the 'Brightest Christmas' stamp by Penny Black. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the lights.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Trio of Something')
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Three of Something
• Christmas Craft Creations - One Layer
• Dream Valley - Things with Wings
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Sparkles Forum - CAS
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Stamped (Optional 'Wings & Tails')

Birthday Wishing

Today's card features one of the cute critters from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for Colorado Crafts. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from another Anita Jerum set called 'Watch This', then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added some Glossy Accents to the balloon, and doodled a simple boder using a black gel pen, before adding the panel to a matching aqua card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Balloons')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Birthday) - Anything Birthday Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes

Rainbow Trees

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring a couple of Christmas tree stamps by Woodware (called 'Mini Tall Twiggy Tree' and 'Mini Wide Twiggy Tree') that I picked up in a post-Christmas sale. Despite the trees being labelled as 'mini', I've made quite a 'maxi' sized card (this is A5), by using the two stamps combined, and repeat stamped to make a 'rainbow' of trees. I used Distress Inks (Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Lucky Clover, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire and Wilted Violet) to ink up the trees, alternating the two styles, and overlapping them slightly so that they would fit on my panel of watercolour paper. Once dry, I stamped the sentiment (from the 'Letter It - Christmas' set by Ranger) over the trees using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it in 'Metallic Gold Rich' embossing powder from WOW. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, befre matting on to some gold mirror card, and adding to a kraft card blank.

Here's a better look at the colours of the trees...and although you can't read the sentiment terribly well, you can see the shine from this angle!

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Birthday Cupcakes

Today's card features a stamp from a Stampendous' set called 'Birthday Cupcake' that I picked up in a charity shop. I stamped the image directly on to a card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added some 'Diamond' Stickles to the frosting for a touch of sparkle.

Challenge for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Monochrome
• AAA Cards - Small & Few + Baked Goods
• Creative Inspirations - Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle
• Little Red Wagon - Let's Eat!
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Fabiola is the host, and the themes are:

'S is for Snow'

&

'T is for Trees'

There is a surprise gift from Fabiola on offer for the lucky winner:

On my 'S is for Snow' card, I started by making a 'snowy' sky background. I smooshed some Distress Inks (Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China, Uncharted Mariner & Chipped Sapphire) on to watercolour paper, then once dry, stamped my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp on to it using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Diamond White' embossing glitter from WOW. I stamped a little Penny Black snowman (from the 'Jolly Friends' set) on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils then carefully cut around the top of the image. I trimmed the background down, matted it on to a snippet of red card, then added the snowman on top, before adding it to my card blank. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Winter Blessings' set by Crafter's Companion.

For my 'T is for Tree' card, I decided, rather than using one of my (many!) plush evergreen Christmas tree stamps, that I would use stamps from another Penny Black set...'Snowfield Friends'...which includes a rather bare tree! I combined a few stamps from the set, masking so that the fox would be behind his sack of gifts, stamping them directly on to a kraft card blank. I added a sentiment (from the same set), then coloured the image using watercolour pencils...adding some Glossy Accents to the baubles on the tree.

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

• Christmas with the Cuties - Snowmen (First card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• The Male Room - Song Title ('Baby It's Cold Outside' - First card only)
• We Love Stamping - Anything Stamped

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

Brightest Xmas

I have another Christmas card to share today, this time featuring a Penny Black stamp called 'Brightest Xmas'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour paints, adding some Glossy Accents to the baubles. I added a  sentiment from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then pierced around the edges of the panel before adding it to my card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Christmas Craft Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

I want to ride my bicycle...

Today's card features a Penny Black image called 'Hedgie Delivery', which I stamped on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour paints...adding some Glossy Accents to his balloon. I paired it with papers from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges a little, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee bug and a black gel pen. The sentment stamp is also by Penny Black, from the 'Birthday Bears' set.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday

Brightest Xmas

I have an ultra simple one layer Christmas card to share today, featuring another 'new to me' Penny Black stamp called 'Brightest Xmas'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added some Glossy Accents to the baubles and a sentiment from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz (for Stampers Anonymous).

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stamper (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings

PBSC March - Anything Goes (Optional 'Flowers')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or
'Flowers'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used a stamp simply called 'Amaryllis' to make a Christmas card. I inked up the stamp using Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Crackling Campfire & Fired Brick for the petals, and Forest Moss & Rustic Wilderness for the stem & leaves), spritzed it with a little water, then stamped it on to watercolour paper. Once dry, I inked around the image using 'Old Paper' Distress Ink, and embossed a sentiment (from the 'Letter It - Christmas' set by Ranger) in 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder by WOW over the top. I doodled a simple border using a gold gel pen, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

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

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Beautiful Blossoms
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Chocolate Cake!

Today's card was meant to be for the 'Chocolate' themed Less is More challenge...but once I'd finished & photographed it, it looked a bit 'much' to be properly CAS, so I made this chocolate mice card for that instead! It feature's another of the stamps from the 'It's Your Day' set by Penny Black...I love this teddy protecting his cake! I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, adding some Glossy Accents to the chocolate icing on his cake, before carefully cutting it out. I used a piece of spotty glittery paper from the 'Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels for the background...distressing the edges a little, and adding some faux stitching using CutterBee Bug and ablack gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Always Fun - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

PBSC January - Anything Goes (Optional 'Something New')...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or
'Something New'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used stamps from a new set called 'Snowfield Friends' that I received for Christmas. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, with a little masking, to create a wintry scene, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added some Glossy Accents to the baubles on the tree, and a sentiment that came in the set. I distressed the edges a little, before matting it on to some aqua card, and then on to a kraft card blank.

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

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
• Crafty Calendar - Make it Cute
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Winter/Snow
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Guest Designer - Christmas Craft Creations Challenge

I was picked as the DT Favourite over at the Christmas Craft Creations Challenge for their October challenge, and asked to guest design for this month's challenge. Today, I'm excited to be sharing my card their new challenge the theme is:

'Winter Blues'

Blue is my favourite colour...so I really enjoyed making my card. I gathered together lots of Distress Inks in varying shades of blue (Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Blueprint Sketch, Broken China, Salty Ocean & Tumbled Glass), and a set of snowflake stamps by Stampendous called 'Delicate Snowflakes'. I started by stamping my sentiment (from the 'Letter It - Christmas' set by Ranger) in the deepest blue shade (Chipped Sapphire) several times to get a really crisp image, then heat embossing it using clear embossing powder. I then stamped the snowflakes randomly over the watercolour paper...each in a different blue ink, then heat embossed those too, so that the ink wouldn't smudge when I blended over the top of them. I then blended Tumbled Glass ink over the whole panel, Stormy Sky ink around the edges, and finally a little Chipped Shapphire ink just on the very edges. I then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a navy DL card blank.

Thanks very much ladies for inviting me to guest design - I really enjoyed the theme!

For more inspiration from the fabulous design team, please pop over to the Christmas Craft Creations Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - W & X are for?

It's the first Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Lynda is the host, and the themes are:

'W is for Winter Wonderland'

&

'X is for Xtra Special'

There's a fab prize on offer from Lynda for the lucky winner of this challenge:

Thirsty Brush & Co 'Home for Christmas' stamp & die set!

I got out one of my old Lili of the Valley stamps, 'Winter Bunnies' to create a clean & simple wintry card for the 'Winter Wonderland' theme. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the snow with some Stickles. I die cut a Chrstmas tree from a snippet of watercolour paper (using a Marianne Designs Creatable die), adding some Stickles to the branches of that too, then placed it along the edge of the card using 3D foam pads. I added a sentiment (form the Woodware 'Foxy Christmas' set), then distressed the edges a little, before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

I used to think that 'Xtra Speacial' cards needed to have lots of 'stuff'' on them, but that's never really been my thing, and particularly thinking about postage for my Christmas cards (and I imagine that many more will be posted, rather than hand-delivered this year!), my style has become more minimal - especially with regards to layers & embellishments! So, for my 'Xtra Special' cards, I put more time and effort in to make them 'Xtra Special'. For this one, I created an embossed, inky background by stamping my 'Outline Snowflakes' background stamp (by Simon Says Stamp) on to smooth watercolour paper using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder by WOW. I then blended Distress Inks over the top (Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Stormy Sky, Broken China & Weathered Wood). I then splattered some clean water over the top, and allowed it to remove some of the ink, to create a sort of 'snowy' effect. I loved the result so much, that I decided that I didn't want to cover it up, so stamped my sentiment (from the 'Letter It - Christmas' set by Ranger), again using Versamark Ink and heat embossing it using the same gold powder, on to a snippet of vellum. I carefully tore along the edges of the vellum, then wrapped it around my background, fixing it in place behind, before mounting everything on to some very 'Xtra' gold glitter card.

It's always to difficult to capture in a photo anything shiny or sparkly, but here's another try:

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes (just the first card)
• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (snippets used on both cards)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• We Love Chocolate Baroque - Christmas

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