Waiting for Santa

 

Our challenge at Crafty Creations is a picture inspiration one this time:

The picture made me think of a window rather than a mirror so I used an image from Mo's Digital Pencil called Jack Waiting and added the falling snow in the window as I thought he'd be waiting for Santa :o) I used My Mind's Eye papers (again!), coloured the image with Promarkers and added a digital sentiment which came from Crafty Sentiments, a bit of red grosgrain ribbon and a glittered snowflake to add some balance. What will the image inspire for you?

Challenges entered:

365 Cards - Winter Theme

City Crafter Challenge - Santa Claus Is Coming  
Everybody-Art-Challenge - Santa Claus 
Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - Christmas
Craft Your Passion - Tis the Season...  
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Christmas 
Hooked on Crafts - Winter Wonderland
My Craft Spot - Christmas through the Window
Paper Creations Ink - Christmas
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Distressing
Squigglefly - Winter Wonderland
The Crazy Challenge - Stars and/or Snowflakes

Baubles!

The challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers is to use heat embossing on your project - something I've not done for a little while so it was a nice change for me! For my dt card I started by covering my cardstock with My Mind's Eye Jolly Holly designer paper then I die cut the bauble shapes from 3 different patterned papers and inked them with a Versamark (clear) embossing pad and added ultra thick embossing powder and heated it, repeating the process 3 times until I had a good thick covering. I then inked up some flourish stamps with gold ink and while the embossing powder was still in a liquid state stamped the flourishes, waiting until it cooled a little before removing the stamp. I added ribbon and threads and a stamped greeting to complete the card.

 

Entering it for the following:

Addicted to Stamps - Christmas card 

Gingerloft - Winter or Christmas

Sparkles Forum - Vintage Christmas  

Stamptacular Sunday - Anything Christmas

2 Sisters - Holiday

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Vintage and/or Distressed

Hiding in my Craft Room - Holiday

My Sheri Crafts  - Decorate for Christmas

Fairy Tale - Christmas

Patties Creations - Christmas

Poodles Parlour - Christmas

Simply Create Too - All About Christmas

Stampin With The Dragon - Anything Goes for Christmas

Totally Papercrafts - Christmas

Winter Wonderland

Our new challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days is Winter Wonderland, I have used my Sweet Snowbaby digi stamp available from Cardmadfairy's Creations  (where I'm having a Buy one, Get one Free offer this weekend), along with the gorgeous Christmas papers from Kars, some die cut swirls and punched snowflakes and a sentiment which was part of a set free with Homemade magazine. We are sponsored this time by Meljens and some of the team have been using a couple of their gorgeous new images - go and check them out over at the challenge blog and enter the challenge for your chance to win some!

House That Stamps Built - Christmas card+snowflake

I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Little Red Wagon - Christmas
Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas
Whimsical Wednesdays - Texture
Digistamps 4 Joy -  Color tic tac toe (red hot, natural neutral, cool blue)
Creative Craft Challenges - Free for all week 
Digital Tuesday - Sparkle & shine
Oldie But Goodie Challenge - Let it snow
Passion For Promarkers Challenge - Swirls & sparkles 
4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes
 

Snowflakes

Our new challenge this week at Charisma Cardz is about Snowflakes - fortunately the only ones we've seen so far have been on cards, let's hope that continues to be the case for the next few weeks!! 

I have used one of my new Nellie Snellen stamps on today's card, so pretty! I coloured it with Promarkers and distress inks then added a liberal sprinkling of two different glitters - one for the snow and another for the fur on her hat. The snowflakes are punched and die cut from glitter card and the papers I have used are by My Mind's Eye.

Entering these challenges:
Everybody-Art-Challenge - Christmas card
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Winter blues
Paper Take Weekly - Christmas crackers!
Partytime Tuesdays - Snow us what you’ve got
Passion For Promarkers Challenge - Swirls & sparkles
Shopping Our Stash - Christmas or winter related
Forever Friends - Christmas is coming
Kaboodle Doodles - “Baby it’s cold outside”
Paper Creations Ink - Christmas 
Pollycraft - Christmas fun
Whoopsi Daisy  - Anything goes at Christmas

Be thankful

Our American teamie Jaime has chosen the theme this week at Crafty Creations and it is about being thankful because tomorrow is Thanksgiving day in the US. We all need to thank somebody sometime so it's great to have a stock of Thank You cards around. I have used a Teddy Bea digi stamp and coloured it with Promarkers, Basic Grey papers, flowers from Wild Orchid and a sentiment from Stampin Up.

 

Entering the following challenges:

Die Cut Dreams - "Thank You" with circles 

Heart Song Inspirations - Circle shaped or "Thank You" card
Hooked on Crafts - Punches and /or diecuts  
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Bears
The Pink Elephant - Giving thanks
Victorine Originals - Thanksgiving, thank you 
Addicted to Stamps - Pearls and lace  
Corrosive Challenges - Give thanks 
Creative Inspirations Paint - Thanks
Catch The Bug - Give thanks/Thanksgiving
My Sheri Crafts - Be thankful
Card Makin' Mamas - Thankful   

Ok so this is the last!

Of the boy cards at least - off to do something much more feminine now!! My elder son Owen has a birthday this week but is away on holiday in Egypt (yikes!!) at the moment and I need to make a card for him - was thinking of this one but as he sold his PS3 and games to partly fund the holiday I don't think this particular card will be suitable! The image is a fab Mo Manning one - just great for teen boys and I coloured it with my Letraset Tria markers for a change, I love the brush tip and will be investing in some of the new Flexmarkers as soon as I can afford some :o) The papers are Basic Grey again - they do masculine so well, and I've distressed the edges and doodled some faux stitching then added some embellishments - the cog shapes are die-cut,  finishing it off with a sentiment from Studio G.

 

Entering the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft - Teenage Boys

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Stitching

Dream Valley Challenges - Stitching 

Pile It On - Anything with a "P" (playing) 

Stamptacular Sunday - Boy/Man 

The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan - Birthday Card

Bloggers Challenge -  for the boys

Fabulous Friday - die cuts

Fun with Shapes & More - use something three times (brads)

and another one...

...for the boys! I'm trying to top up my supply of boy cards so there will be a few more to come over the next week or two - this one I put together very quickly before starting work this morning - I had already coloured the Dustin Pike image and decided which papers to use so it didn't take too long to finish. The papers are Basic Grey - a mix from 2 6x6 pads - Lime Rickey and ...Oh dear I've forgotten the name of the other - will fill in the blank later!! ...., the sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.

Entering it for the following:
Crafty Purple Frog - Use Orange
Bearly Mine - One for the boys
Paperminutes - Children's Birthday
Tuesday Throwdown - Lot's Of Circles 
Paper Sundaes - Digital Images
The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan - Birthday Card 
Basic Grey - Basic Grey Mix and Match

It's a boy thing

One of my customers at last Saturday's craft fair pointed out - quite rightly- that the vast majority of my cards were girly ones so I'm on a drive to create some more cards suitable for boys and men. This is the first one I've managed this week - working too many overtime hours at the library, have to take them when I get them!
I have used a Kenny K image along with Basic Grey backing papers, Papermania cardstock, some punched circles, recycled buttons and some metallic fibres. The sentiment is from

Entering the following:
CCEE Stampers - 2 Diecuts or 2 Punches  
Sarah Hurley Challenges - Buttons  
Shelly's Images - Anything goes
Alota Rubber Stamps - Dots 
Bearly Mine - One for the boys
Paperminutes - Children's Birthday
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Anything goes with a Digi  
Squigglefly - Happy Birthday

More recycling

I've another project with the theme of recycling to share today, the new challenge at Crafty Creations asks for recycled elements on your project and for mine I have used wrapping paper from a birthday present my husband gave me as the backing paper, a raffia bow from an old project I was given by a friend and a fancy button from a charity shop. The digi image I have used is one of my teamie Deena's and is available from her Etsy shop, I coloured it with Promarkers and added some dimensional paint which puffs up with heat from a heat gun. I used distess ink on the cardstock and to stamp in the background and finished it off with a spritz of Glimmer Mist.

Challenges entered:
Cards For Men - Christmas Card
Critter Sketch - Monochrome
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Anything goes with a Digi
House of Gilli - Monochromatic
Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Use Any Freebie
(or use something that you got for free, won, or is recycled from your home)
Dream Valley Challenges - Stitching 
Pile It On - Traditional Christmas
Creations by Gill M - Men's Monochrome
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - Make it Masculine
Totally Gorjuss - Christmas Traditions

Thanks

With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the USA there are a great deal of challenges around this month with Thank you as the theme so I looked up a few of them and made a card to join in! I used a Sugar Nellie stamp - Coffee Time and coloured the image with Promarkers, to work with the gorgeous backing from Crate Paper Restoration Collection - love it! I added some fab lace which I bought as part of a mixed bag on Ebay and a ribbon which has been kicking around for a while and just seemed to fit nicely, then finished things off with some die cut pennants, a sentiment from Stampin Up and some brads and pearls from my stash.

Joining in with these challenges:
Make it Monday - Always anything goes
Paper Pretties - Giving thanks
Victorine Originals - Thanksgiving, thank you
Addicted to Stamps - Pearls and lace
Corrosive Challenges - Give thanks
Gingerloft - Lace, fabric or felt 
Sentimental Sundays - Thanksgiving/ thank you
Di's Digis Designs - Ribbons and bows
My Sheri Crafts - Be thankful
One Stop Craft - Ribbons and lace
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Thank you
Card Makin' Mamas - Thankful
 

A box to die for :o)

It's time for a new challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this time the theme is Recycle.
So I decided to recycle an old presentation box which I found lying about behind the scenes at the library, I thought it might  make a good storage box for my thin dies such as Nesties and Marianne's Creatables. Many of them are on magnetic sheets which fit perfectly into the box - and best of all there is plenty of room for more!!

I covered the box with K&Co papers and distressed the edges with my emery board, added faux stitching to the panel on top then used die cut chipboard letters as well as a die cut bird and flourish to decorate.

Entering it for the following challenges:
Dream Valley Challenges - Stitching   
2 Sisters - Anything Goes 
Inspire Me Fridays - Always anything goes   
Crafty Ribbons - Anything BUT a Card 
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Punches and Dies 
Hanna & Friends - Pimp Something
Stampavie and More - Anything Goes 
Hooked on Crafts - Punches and /or Diecuts

Texture

Our new challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days has Texture as the theme for the next fortnight - we want to see any kind of texture on your project - embossing, fabric, mesh (like mine :o), ribbon - anything which adds a bit of texture is fine! 

I have used my Skating Josie image for this card which is available as a digi stamp on my other blog Cardmadfairy's Creations but I also have this one (and a few select others) available as a clear polymer stamp - just let me know if you are interested and I'll tell you how to buy :o)

We are also looking for a new design team member so if you would be interested in joining our happy gang just pop DT after your name when you enter your project for this week's challenge.

Entering my card for the following challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge - Winter Sports
Crafting for all Seasons - Texture
Divas by Design - Metal
Inky Impressions - Glitter
Anything Goes Challenge - Stitches Real or Faux
Partytime Tuesdays - Bling It On
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Stitching
Ooh La La Creations - Stitching
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Winter
Crimbo Crackers - Make It Sparkle 
Delightful Challenges - Snowflakes

Peanut butter & jelly (jam) sandwich

Yes that really is the theme of the challenge at Crafty Creations this week! What we're looking for is a project made with Kraft/Brown, white/cream and only one other color

The images the team has used this week are from our very own Claire and our winner will recieve

any 3 images of their choice from her Etsy shop Doodles by Hope Jacare also as a special offer if you use the coupon code CC25DEAL you can purchase any of her gorgeous images with a 25% discount.

I knew as soon as I saw this digi image that I wanted to keep it simple so I added the sentiment before printing the image out, then coloured it with promarkers, die cut the circle shapes then added some linen thread to the hearts. I embossed the kraft paper before sticking it to the cardstock and added some red paper ribbon to complete the card - the quickest one I've made for a while!

These are the challenges I want to enter my card for:
Creative Craft Challenges - Minamalistic
Digital Tuesday - Anything Goes 
Passion For Promarkers Challenge - Kraft + 1 Other Colour 
TCP Tuesday - Holiday Colours
Bows 'n Berries - CAS
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Anything goes with a Digi 
There She Goes - Holiday Projects
Christmas Inspirations - Bows  
I Did It Creations - Christmas/Winter 
One Stitch At A Time - Use a Digi

A quickie

Just a quick card to share this cold, grey, dreich (good old Scottish word) - 

dreich (dre·ech) Dialect, chiefly Scot -adj.
1. (intr.) drab.
2. (tr.) dreary (referring to weather or a sermon).
3. often leads to a state of being drookit; grey.!)

- November morning - still have umpteen things to do before going off to work in a couple of hours so got to get on .....

Entering it for the following:
Crafty Boots - Young at heart 
Heart Song Inspirations - Anything goes
Make it Monday - Always anything goes
Nettie G's Digital Gems - Recipe: 1image, 2 flowers, 3 flat back gems or pearls
Corrosive Challenges - With a Flourish 
Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
The Squirrel & the Fox - Hats or Flowers
2 Sisters - Ribbon
Di's Digis Designs - Ribbons and Bows 

On a roll.......

.....with the Christmas cards now! Here is another one using one of my own digi stamps, this one is Christmas Kitty and is available at Cardmadfairy's Creations for only 99p

This time I've used My Mind's Eye papers which were free with Cardmaking and Papercrafts mag recently - in fact almost all of my cards so far this year have been made with My Mind's Eye papers - I'm loving all of their seasonal papers at the moment! I have also used a new border die from Cheery Lynn Designs, it's called Border Carnivale - love it too! The buttons are also die cuts from a Nellie Snellen set.

I'm entering my card for these challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Bright colours and/or sparkle
A Gem of a Challenge - Cold and frosty
Little Claire's  - Christmas
Marks Finest Papers - Fall or Winter theme 
Fun with Shapes & More - Animal Christmas
Our Craft Lounge - Distressed and stressed  
Sweet n' Sassy Digi Challenge - Christmas/holiday theme
Winter Wonderland - Make your card sparkle
Crafty Purple Frog - Sparkle
Paper Play - Button up
Deconstructed Sketch - Sketch

Winter Wardrobe

It's time for our new monthly challenge at Crafty Calendar and this time it was my turn to set the challenge so given that it is now November and the weather should be growing progressively colder,  I have chosen Winter Wardrobe as the theme for this month - that covers just about any image as long as it's warmly dressed!

I have used one of my own digi stamps - Winter Jessica and coloured the image with Promarkers adding ultra fine glitter to her collar and hat for a bit of Christmas sparkle! The papers are from My Mind's Eye and the die cuts are Nellie Snellen and Marriane's. 

Pop on over to see some inspiration from the rest of the Crafty Calendar design team, some of them are also using my digi stamps which are all available from Cardmadfairy's Creations.

I'm entering this card for my first Crimbo Crackers challenge this week but I'm sure it won't be the last - still have plenty of Christmas cards to make :o)

4 Crafty Chicks - Die Cuts

Crafty Purple Frog - Sparkle 

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes 

Delightful Challenges - A Very Sparkly Christmas

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Winter

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Digi 

Pixie Cottage - Sketch* and/or Christmas Card

Card Makin' Mamas - Die cuts

Floweret - Christmas

Glitter Geeks - Snuggle up

Mami Doodles - Christmas

So cute!

This week the new challenge at Charisma Cardz is Cutesy so I inked up one of my cutest LOTV stamps - James Bear - wrapped in tinsel and coloured it with my Tria markers from Letraset adding a substantial amount of ultra fine glitter in green and gold on the tinsel! I also used some glossy accents on the baubles to give a bit of extra dimesion. I die cut the frame and distressed it with my handy nail file (for acrylic nails - they're rougher than the average emery board and perfect for distressing). I combined the image with papers from My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly set and added a sentiment from Stampin Up.

Entering the challenges at:
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Non Traditional &/Or Distressed Christmas
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes (+ a bit of bling if you like)
Ribbon Carousel Challenge - Anything Goes
Allways Something Creative - It must sparkle
Card and Scrap - Christmas
Cupcake Craftroom - Sweet Christmas
Christmas Inspirations - Die Cuts or Punches 
Corrosive Challenges - With a Flourish
Little Claire's  - Christmas
Bah Humbug - Die cuts
Floweret - Christmas
I Love Promarkers - Glitter and Glitz
Lili of the Valley - Bright and sparkly
Paper Shelter Challenge - Christmas fun

Another colour challenge

It's Wednesday again and it's back to the Crafty Creations challenge where this week we have a great colour combo going on - we'd like you to use the colours GREEN, PURPLE & SILVER - and include snow in any way shape or form, ie, flower soft, fun flock, snow writer, crystal fine. We are sponsored this week by Stretch and Bubbles who provided a couple of fun images for the team to play with.

The image I chose to work with is called Feed the Birds - it's a really fun digi stamp which I coloured with Promarkers then added some doodled details with a silver gel pen, I edged the die cut circle with some Stickles for a bit of sparkle. I added a handwritten sentiment also with the silver pen and finished the design off with some ribbon (from Tesco!), a chipboard snowflake and a snowman charm. Off to work now so see you all later - have a great Wednesday!

Entering it for these challenges:

Make it Monday - Always anything goes
Squigglefly - "Tickle my fancy"
Die Cut Dreams - So charming
Dream Valley Challenges - Anything goes 
One Stitch At A Time - Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Something that flies
The Ribbon Girls - Jingle all the way to Christmas  
A Gem of a Challenge - Cold and frosty
Cutie Pie Challenge - Use a charm 
Lexi's Creations - Use charm 
Little Claire's  - Christmas 
Ellephantastic - October recipe: 
3 embellishments, purple & green & 1 image