Second and ....

.... last Christmas card.  I made another one, my daughter was dropping a box of Roses around to the place she worked last summer, and she wanted a card to go with it.  So I had to pull out all the stops (hee hee!) and make one.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructing Sketches, and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes"), Totally Gorjuss ("Easy Does It"), Sentimental Sundays ("Focus on the Sentiment") and Card Crafters' Circle ("It's Christmas").

I bought some jingle bells (all the way from Hong Kong!) to use on a few hand-crafted presents (will post after the big day, when all have received them) and then last week was picking up some stuff in the local hardware store when what did I see but some discounted jingle bell ornaments.  So I got them and now they are being used everywhere, including on this card (makes it a bit hard to fit in the envelope, though!).  Here's a side shot:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Nordic Holiday"

Other: Ribbon from stash, red mesh from bouquet of flowers, baker's twine, jingle bells!

So are we all ready for Christmas?  I was very late getting started this year, but a few highly focused shopping sessions the week before last sorted almost everything.  I cycled down to the shopping centre early this morning to pick up a couple of final items and the place was mobbed - it was like the day before the Apocalypse or something.  Don't you love being one of the ones who's not in a panic in the midst of all that - it's a lovely smug feeling!!!

Best wishes to one and all for a lovely and peaceful holiday!

Too close to ....

.... Christmas for non-Christmas crafting!  My friend's son has his 6th birthday today, and I am ashamed to say that today is only the second time I've managed to make a birthday card for him (last year being the first!).  Most of his relatives combine birthday and Christmas pressies, so I was determined to make a separate birthday fuss of him!!  Here's what I made:

I do think some red stitching around the outside of that lovely teal spotty paper would have been lovely, but no time.   I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructing Sketches and I'm also entering this into Totally Gorjuss ("For someone special").

Here's a side view of the layers - see the googly eyes I added to the orange sticker?  I love googly eyes!

Recipe:

Papers and sticker: Cosmo Cricket "Lil Man"

Number: Pink Paislee

Other: American Crafts eyelet, googly eyes, baker's twine

Thanks for looking!

Ahem, 'tis me ....

.... slinking back after yet another long break!!  Grim ongoing family stuff, no crafting, what can I say.  Not sure that I'll be doing much over the next few weeks either, but in the meantime, today is PaperPlay day!!  Our challenge this week is called "You're a Star", and we're sponsored by Stamp Fairy. 

I haven't made Christmas cards this year, first time in 7 years.  I was trying to get organised over Hallowe'en to order stuff, when I had a lucky escape.  The PTA at my son's school declared that the children would be designing their own cards and having them printed.  So our Christmas cards this year feature my son's 10-year old boy sense of humour (i.e. odd!), but have been printed all nice and glossy and his name is on the back which is the most important thing!! 

When it came to doing a gift for his teacher, though, I thought she might appreciate a different card, so this is the sole Christmas card I have made this year, and it's my DT entry for PaperPlay too:

I used last week's Mojo Monday sketch, too late to enter, though.  But I'm entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"), The Shabby Tea Room ("Shabby Chic" with colour scheme: pink, aqua, silver + glitter), Creative Card Crew ("Star"), My Time to Craft ("Non-Traditional Christmas colours"), Simon Says Stamp ("What's your Favourite" - mine is paper, always!) and Creative Inspirations ("Contemporary Christmas Colours").

I used a Hero Arts snowflakes/star background stamp and heat embossed in white on the plain background paper.  I've stayed away from the stitching and images again this time, but added lots of layering and distressing - still really enjoying this style.  Here's a side view of the layering:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Jovial" and "Marrakech"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Stunning Snowflakes"

Dies and Punches: Nestabilities "Labels 4" and MS "Aspen Snowflake"

Other: Bakers Twine, Hero Arts gems, Stickles glitter glue.

Thanks for looking!