Christmas Wishes

Good morning all.

Yesterday I got the house tidied, beds changed, washing done and marzipan on the cake...today I'm off out for lunch with a friend.

A cute Christmas card for 2015 to show today!

Stamps from Wild Rose Studio, part paper pieced and part coloured with promarkers. Die from Wplus9.

Challenges entered:

Addicted to Stamps - Christmas

Amusing - happy holidays

Great Impressions - anything goes

OSAAT - anything goes with red

Christmas Cards all Year Round - keep it simple

Through the Purple Haze - Christmas

Cardz for Galz - cute Christmas

Addicted to Stamps & More - CAS

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Christmas

Good morning all.

We had a lovely afternoon yesterday with some of the family...14 of us for lunch! Today I'm hoping to put the marzipan on my Christmas cake and get the last of my Christmas cards in the post.

My final few Christmas cards to share with you this week...I'm already making next years!!

Stamp and sentiment from Crafty Impressions, heat embossed with white detail EP then inked with DI. Die from Wplus9.

Challenges entered:

Craft Stamper - take it make it sharing the season

A Gem of a Challenge - anything Christmas

Crafting with Dragonflies - anything Christmas

Crafty Calendar - let it snow

CHNC - anything Christmas

My Time to Craft - Christmas animals

The Glory of Christmas - anything goes

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Father Christmas

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas

Addicted to Stamps - Christmas

Christmas Card Club "Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

My baby is 18 years old today...I can't believe they're all grown up now! Some of the family are coming around for lunch so I'd best get my skates on and get organised. If I don't see you all later I'll catch up tomorrow.

Our final challenge for the year at the Christmas Card Club...EEEK! Zoe has given us an "Anything Goes" to end the year.

I needed a card for a swap with the theme of "Wreathed in Smiles" and when I came across this decoupage sheet from Joanna Sheen I thought it fitted the bill perfectly. I decided to make a stepper card using my die from Cheery Lynn Designs. Fancy rectangular die from Spellbinders, embossing folders from Cuttlebug and gems from my stash.

You'll find the links for the other girls on my side bar if you'd like to see what they've made. Many thanks to all the girls for the great themes they've provided and their friendship throughout the year....here's to getting our 2016 Christmas cards made in a timely fashion too!

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

CHNC -anything Christmas goes

Winter Wonderland - snow people

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - previous challenge July snowman

Holly Jolly Christmas - anything goes

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day five

Good afternoon all.

A reminder! We're on day five of the blog hop, our final day...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13:

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to today's projects here.

I've got a card to share today.

I used the ARTploration Christmas Reindeer stencil with transparent texture paste then covered it with gold metal magic and heat embossed once dry.....I love the testured finish you get.  Simply matted and layered with Spellbinder dies. Sentiment from STAMPloration Holiday Artsy set, stamped on vellum and heat embossed. Brads from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Card Challenge - celebration opt vellum

Creative Artiste - anything mixed media

Anything but Cute Mixed Media - happy mail

Allsorts - golden days

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day four

Good evening all.

My turn today to show a tutorial over on the ARTplorations blog, this month I'm showing how you can extend your stencils to cover a larger area.

I've recycled a box, I hope you like the results.

A reminder! We're on day four of the blog hop...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to today's projects here.

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

A busy day ahead, still lots to do before I'm organised for Sunday's lunch party! Busy gutting the kitchen, got the oven to do today...oh joy of joys

I'm off to join Erika to share an oldie, this week I'm sharing a card/keepsake made for my friend on the birth of her grandson in 2009...I was off work for 3 months following my brain surgery and luckily was able to craft. His little brother arrived last month, hopefully you'll see his keepsake very soon.

I can't for the life of me remember what this fold is called.... is it a Joy fold? I'm sure one of you will remind me :)

Paper pricking on the front, computer generated sentiment and Spellbinders die. Photo of the new born and a floral arrangement made by moi!

Clothes embellishments were from Joanna Sheen.

....and of course my friend decided she needed one to give to the proud parents so voila mark II.

Cuttlebug EF, computer generated sentiment and Spellbinder dies.

Decoupaged image from a Create and Craft kit, below which I've stamped a sentiment using a stamp called Rosebud Baby.

Have a fab weekend.

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day three

Good afternoon all.

Had a lovely trip to Edinburgh yesterday with my niece and a couple of my sisters albeit it was a tad breezy. We had a leisurely stroll around the markets sampling the Gluwein (just to keep us warm!), then headed down to George Street for a late lunch. At this point the weather became wet and windy, so we enjoyed a leisurely lunch before heading back to the station. 

My train was stranded at the station on the way home....we had no driver as he was delayed trying to get over from Fife!!

A reminder! We're on day three of the blog hop...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to today's projects here.

Using a smooshed distress paint background I stencilled one of the trees from the ARTploration Christmas Trees stencil with sparkle medium from Imagination Crafts. Sentiment is from STAMPlorations Vignette: Christmas Block set. Scalloped die from Wplu9, smaller stitched die from Spellbinders.

Challenges entered:

Anything but Cute Mixed Media - happy mail

Crafty Creations - happy holiday

Creative Card Crew - holiday season

Holly Jolly Christmas - anything Christmas

That Craft Place - Christmas

Virginia's View - all about glitter

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day two

Good afternoon all.

A reminder! We're on day two of the blog hop...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13:

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to todays projects here.

Background was created using Silk Acrylic paints from ColourArte and my gelli plate....I won't be using them again with the gelli plate as I've had better results with other paints. I then ran the ARTplorations Holly Background stencil through the GC and inked with a green DI, I then carefully inked the berries with red DI. Sentiments are from STAMPlorations Vignette: Christmas Block set and were stamped onto tissue before being applied with gel medium. Ribbon from my stash.

Challenges entered:

613 Avenue Create - bags, tags and boxes

Come and Get it - anything Christmas goes

Pile it On - anything goes Christmas

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

Spent the morning at the hairdressers and this afternoon it's waxing and nails...off to Edinburgh tomorrow to meet up with my sisters and niece and see the Christmas market.

ARTplorations are holding a stencil blog hop and project linky this week starting today, we'd love to see you over there.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13:

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Another distress paint smooshed tag. I've used embossing paste through the Christmas Reindeer stencil, then added gold EP and heat embossed. I've used a stamp from Mixed Media Elements around the edges. Sentiment from the Vignette: Christmas Block set. The bell is recycled from some well known chocolate! Ribbon, fibres, gem and stickles from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Stamps and Stencils - grungy Christmas

A Gem of a Challenge - anything goes

My Time to Craft - Christmas animals

Animal Friends - Christmas/New Year

Anything but Cute Mixed Media - happy mail

Sparkle Forum - anything but a card

Where the HeART is - anything goes

HLS Mixed Media Challenge December "Anything Goes"

Good evening all.

This is my second post tonight if you'd like to see my make for Stencil Sunday click here.

Time for our second mixed media challenge at Happy Little Stampers, we've loved seeing all your entries last month. Our theme this month gives you plenty of scope, but please remember mixed media projects only.

We're being sponsored by Happy Little Stampers

and the winner will receive one set of stamps.

Here is my project:

Background started as a piece of smooshing with distress paints. I then used a Memory Box stencil and embossed it through the GC before inking with broken china DI, after removing the stencil I inked again with shaded lilac DI. The penguin, snow and tree dies are all from Lawn Fawn. Snowflake from Spellbinders. Sentiment from Mixed Christmas Sentiments. 

Gems, cord and brad from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the other girls, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Craft Stamper - take it make it sharing the season

A Gem of a Challenge - anything Christmas goes

Sparkles Forum Christmas - die cuts

Through the Purple Haze - Christmas

CHNC extra -  anything Christmas goes

Artistic Stampers - Christmas

That Craft Place - Christmas

Stencil Sunday December Challenge

Good evening all.

Time once again for a new Stencil Sunday challenge STAMPlorations. We loved seeing your projects last month and hope you'll join us again this month.

I've got an 8 x 10 canvas to share with you today using some of the new larger stencils which have recently appeared in the shop.

I started with a layered gelli plate background printed onto light weight card using this tutorial from Barbara Grey. I used  Leaf Bliss and Gridlocked stencils with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paints and some scrim tape. This is how it looked:

I then stencilled the large Happy flowers (if you love the little one you'll love this one even more!) with bead gel and once dry I used Silk Acrylic Paint from ColourArte to paint. I painted my canvas board using the same blue paint as on the first layer of the gelli print and once dry adhered the print (which was cut to size) with glue and seal. I applied more of the blue paint around the edges with my finger to blend everything together.

I then used a matching ink to stamp around the edges with one of the Mixed Media Elements stamps and added a sentiment from Bold Sentiments: Believe.

A close up showing the background and gorgeous shimmer on the flowers.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what the other girls have produced...you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Sparkles Forum - anything but a card

Altered Eclectics - anything MM goes

Mixed Media World - anything goes

Creative Artiste - anything goes

We Love to Create - MM anything goes

HLS Christmas Challenge December "Stars"

Good evening all. It's blowing an absolute hoolie outside tonight, glad I'm inside! All ready for the Christmas tree in the morning then hubby can shampoo the rest of the sitting room carpet. Christmas cards all written and overseas ones posted...I must have forgotten something very important - I can't be this organised!!!

Another month has passed and it's time once again for a new Christmas challenge at Happy Little Stampers. The theme this month is:

This challenge is sponsored by



Winner will receive this stamp set



Here is my card:

I love the script stamp from the Thinking of You set, it's perfect for any type of card....I've stamped it twice here and heat embossed with silver EP. The greeting from Mixed Christmas Sentiments is also heat embossed. The star die is a Signature Die from Joanna Sheen. Mat dies are from Spellbinders. Gem from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

Challenges entered:

Addicted to Stamps & More - holiday

Christmas Cards all Year Round - keep it simple

Creative Corner - sparkle and shine

That's Crafty - season's greetings

Creative Knockouts - tis the season

Christmas at Sweet Stampin - stars

Holly Jolly Christmas - embossing (I used heat)

Sweet Stamps - anything goes

Sparkles Christmas - die cuts

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Only three weeks until the big day! Christmas cleaning this week as we're having the family around next weekend for Lora's 18th birthday. Got the dining room, utility and downstairs loo done...need to empty the sitting room today so hubby can shampoo the carpet and we can get the decorations up at the weekend. Boy it didn't half rain yesterday, I felt so sorry for all the delivery drivers who kept ringing the bell, think most of my shopping arrived yesterday!

I'm off to join Erika to share an oldie, this week I'm sharing a Golden Wedding card which was commissioned for a customer.

I always loved the Bookatrix cards but hated all the fussy cutting so when Spellbinders brought out these dies I knew immediately that I needed them! They were the perfect size to add to an A5 blank. Parchment, peel offs a plenty and mirri board all put to good use...and a box to match.

Have a great weekend whatever your plans.

Let it Snow

Good morning all.

Managed to make a Christmas cake yesterday, my first for many a year and first gluten free one. The proof as they say will be in the eating...is it Christmas yet?

Christmas card again today :)

Stamp was a magazine freebie, stamped and heat embossed. Background is stamped with a EF from Cuttlebug and heat embossed. Dies from Spellbinders. A great one for the guys methinks!

Challenges entered:

Artistic Stamper - Christmas

Cardz 4 Guyz - Christmas CAS

Creative Card Crew - cold outside

Simon Says Stamp - gentlemen

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - winter tones

Where the HeART is - winter blues

My Time to Craft - let it snow

Simon Says Stamp - let it snow

For You

Good morning all.

So on Monday night the recaptcha nightmare set in whilst doing my DT commenting and continued all day yesterday...I'd never had a problem before and it was fine when I started commenting all I can think that triggered it was the volume of comments I was making! After several hours tearing my hair out looking for a solution I've managed to reduce it to ticking the "I'm not a robot box" and no longer have to verify the pictures....who in the name of all that's holy dreamt up that one!!!

In Chrome tools menu I went to Settings, scrolled to bottom and clicked Advanced Setting then selected Content Settings and under Cookies made sure Allow Local Data to be set was ticked. Then go into Manage exceptions and set one up using a Hostname pattern shown below and leave the behaviour as allow.

[*.]bigcommerce.com

I hope this helps anyone else having problems and if anyone has any alternate fixes please share :)

So whilst I managed to sort my Christmas cards out and printed my address labels none of them got written...I guess today's another day!

Sharing with you today my November make for the Card Chain Challenge card swap which was sent to Christy in California.

Poppy stamp and die from Sheena Douglas....a recent RAK from a card swap partner, simply matted and layered.

Challenges entered:

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Retarte - anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - everything goes

AAA - anything CAS goes

Amusing - anything goes

Come and Get It - anything goes

Pile it On - use red and green

Eclectic Ellapu "The 12 Days of Christmas"

Good morning all.

I managed to tackle the ironing mountain yesterday....a mammoth task which had to be done in three parts as my back just couldn't stand up to it. I really need to make a resolution to do it more often in smaller batches in future! Hoping to get the cards written today and get them in the post this week, then it's onto the Christmas cleaning...urgggh.

Another new month and December already, so it must be time for a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu! The Pink Team were set the challenge of "The 12 Days of Christmas" by Asha. This challenge will last for two months and our next new challenge will begin on the 1st February next year.

I've had these images on my computer for several years from my days as a Cub leader. I printed them out on sticky back canvas. Dies used are from Spellbinders.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team, you won't be disappointed. Alternatively the purple team have a challenge of "Cards to Die For" (so use your dies).

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Card Challenges - anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - anything goes twist Christmas

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - inspired by Christmas song

Crazy 4 Challenges - square cards or elements