Let it Snow....

Good morning all and welcome to my new followers...I hope you enjoy what you see here.

Well Black Friday was definitely black weatherwise! I did some Christmas shopping and bought some bits to go to New Zealand and enjoyed spending my voucher at Simon Says Stamp which I won this week but certainly didn't manage any bargains of the century.

Another Christmas card to share today, one of the ones I made last weekend.

Image and sentiment from Imagination Crafts. Image is heat embossed with white EP and shaded with a white pencil. Die'sire EF folder from Crafter's Companion used on the base layer. Gem from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Holly Jolly - embossing

A Snowflakes Promise - anything Christmas

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas

Fairy Tale - Christmas, no red or green

Polkadoodles - white + one

CRAFT - winter

Crafting by Design - getting ready for Christmas

Sisterhood of Crafters - snowman

Sister

Good morning all.

Yesterday was mostly wild and wicked, although quite mild...today is forecast rain and more rain, then rain again!! Hubby is away today so hoping I have the house to myself so I can have a messy play this afternoon.

Sharing today the card I made for my little sister.

Decoupaged image is a Meadow Cottage Bears from Crafter's Companion. Background is a Die'sire Create a Card die. Sister die is from Clearly Besotted. All other dies are from Spellbinders. Sentiment was computer generated. Bows and dotty paper from my stash.

Challenges entered:

The Corrosive Challenge - add a sentiment

The Ribbon Girls - anything goes

Allsorts - ribbons and bows

Bloggers - Happy Birthday

Simply Papercraft - anything goes

Seize the Birthday - anything birthday

Unstampabelles - anything goes, twist use flowers

Artistic Inspirations - anything goes feminine

Get Creative - birthdays

Where the HeART is - anything goes

Christmas Card Club "Embossing"

Good morning all.

What a beautiful day we had yesterday, hubby managed a good deal of tidying up in the garden! I think we've all but bottomed the loft if the boys would go through their stuff and get rid of the rubbish. I need to go through the Christmas stuff and get rid of what I don't use anymore but we still don't know whether we're moving before Christmas yet.

Madly trying to get ahead with some crafting as younger son has asked me to accompany him to Italy this week...we booked everything yesterday and leave on Wednesday for Naples (staying in Pompeii) for 3 nights, then taking the train to Rome for 3 nights before flying to Venice for 3 nights. He was supposed to be driving himself around France but car trouble meant he had to abandon his plans at the last minute. Looking forward to some mother and son bonding (and no doubt a little arguing lol) and some sunshine.

Onto today's make...another two weeks have flown by and it's time for the Christmas Card Club girls to show what we've been up to. Margaret set us the challenge of "Embossing" this time.

Another of my specials out of the way...I'm using the same basic layout for all of them this year. Papers are from Papermania; dies from Spellbinders; image from Penny Black, coloured with promarkers...I think this is my favourite Christmas stamp and one of the first I ever bought; sentiment from LOTV. I heat embossed the image and embossed the circular die cut with the I Believe folder from Die'sire. Card is finished with some stickles, a bow and some gems from my stash.

If you'd like to see what the rest of the girls made you'll find their links in my side bar.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

CHNC - something beginning with P (penguins)

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - for a man (this is for my nephew)

Christmas Stampin' all Year Round - texture/layers

Jingle Belles - stashing through the snow (papers are at least two years old)

A Snowflakes Promise - anything goes
Alphabet Challenge - P is for pelican, peacock or other bird
Penny Black Saturday - 3 or more papers

I'll be back this evening with a blog hop for HLS.

Christmas Card Club "Christmas Carols"

Good morning all.

Men....what is it with them! Hubby has an appointment this Wednesday at the Ariel Motors factory, so why did he tell me it was on Tuesday!! I've had hotels and everything booked around him and found out on Friday night that he'd given me the wrong date grrr. We left home yesterday and spent the night at Trentham and will be heading to Dorset today for two nights...then to hubby's Aunty for two nights before heading up to Tetbury on Thursday for our trip round Highgrove on Friday.

It's that time again! Us girls from the Christmas Card Club are back to show our wares. Rita gave us the theme of "Christmas Carols" this time.

I opted to use my "Oh Holy Night" die by Die'Sire from Crafter's Companion as this is my favourite Carol. I used navy blue card and layered it up on to white card and finished off with some stickles to give some sparkle.

You'll find a list of the girls on my sidebar if you'd like to see their interpretation of the theme...I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Allsorts - lots of layers

CHNC - 'twas the night before Christmas

Simply Papercraft - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - Christmas

Imagination Crafts - March Challenge "Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

It can't be March already! Hopefully we'll see some spring very soon...I'm definitely ready for some.

It's time once again for a new challenge at Imagination Crafts.

Our theme is always anything goes and the winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend in the Imagination Crafts Shop.

Image is from the Hanging Basket decoupage stamp set - stamped with versamark and heat embossed, coloured with distress pens and die cut with a circle nestie. Background has been embossed with a Die'sire brick wall EF to which I added some Vintage Photo DI. I've used the Arch of Flowers stencil upside down with Sparkle Medium in Sage Green and Antique Pink.

Happy Birthday dies are from Spellbinders. Ribbon from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Art Impressions - tie it up 

Add a Little Dazzle - texture

Mod Squad Challenge - spring forward

Penny's Paper Crafty - lots of layers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Work it Wednesday  (SSS) - spring

The Color Throwdown - #331

Loves Rubber Stamps - ribbon or lace

Top Tip Tuesday - rubber stamps only

Eureka Stamps - birthday cards

Get Creative - embossing

WOW - spring

Virginia's View - all things embossed

Sending Love

Good morning all.

A quiet day yesterday...more washing and ironing but at least the basket is now empty and the wardrobes are full!

An 8x8 card to share today which I'll use for my Mum either on Mother's Day or her birthday.

Image from Penny Black coloured with promarkers. Dies from Spellbinders. Embossing folder from Die'Sire. Sentiment tags from LOTV and ribbon from my stash. My little bow has been tied on a dinner fork.

Challenges entered:

Penny Black - simplicity challenge

Penny Black at Allsorts - anything goes

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a hand tied bow

Simon Says Stamp - h is for ...hedgehog

Happy Stampers CAS - embossing

Christmas Card Club "The Real Reason for the Season"

Good morning all.

Another cold frosty one last night but at least it's nice and bright during the day afterwards.

Two weeks gone already and it's time for our second Christmas Card Club challenge. Christine picked the theme this time and she set "The Real Reason for the Season".

Die'sire die from Crafter's Companion cut from Stardream card. Glitter card found in my stash when sorting out. Not too sure about the colours on this one but it's done now!

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Cards all Year Round - anything Christmas goes

Crimbo Crackers - use kraft

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

ABC Christmas - anything goes

Imagination Crafts "January Challenge - Anything Goes"

Good morning all.  I would like to wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous  New Year.

It's time once again for a new challenge at Imagination Crafts.

Our theme is always anything goes and the winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend in the Imagination Crafts Shop.

I've used another of the gorgeous Decoupage Stamp Sets - Snowman for this card which was made for my Mum. I do love this cheeky chap and this time he's all layered up...or should that be she?

 Image and sentiment have been stamped in versamark and heat embossed with silver detail EP (image three times). The background of the base image was washed over with silver aquatints and allowed to dry. Meanwhile I coloured up the layers with promarkers. Base was trimmed to fit a Spellbinder mat which I's cut from silver mirri card, then layers were cut out and added with foam pads. The hat was trimmed with Candy Floss Sparkle Medium.

I've die cut, embossed and inked the Falling Softly Die'Sire Create a Card die and layered onto silver mirri card. Dies are all from Spellbinders. Glittered snowflake is from Asda, ribbons, gems and pearls are from my stash. Apologies for the red snowflakes above the image...that's just my jumper reflected in the mirri card!!!

Here you can see all the layers popped up on foam and a peek at the finish inside. Definitely one for hand delivering.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a hand tied bow
Dream Valley - Christmas
Pile it On - anything Christmas goes
The Glory of Christmas - anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge - Christmas
CHNC - anything Christmas goes
Fussy and Fancy - snowflakes and ribbon
QKR STampede - santa or snowman
Winter Wonderland - fussy and fancy

Imagination Crafts "December Mid Way Inspiration"

Good morning all.

We had  a lovely night on Saturday...lots of alcohol was consumed but not by me so apart from being tired yesterday I was perfectly well! I've now got to make 41 place name tags and a table plan for Wednesday...I did volunteer for my sins!

Eek half way through December already and only 9 chocolates left to eat...where are the days  going to! Here is my second inspiration post for Imagination Crafts.

Our theme is always anything goes and the winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend in the Imagination Crafts Shop.

I've used another of the Decoupage Stamp Sets - Snowman.

Image is stamped with versamark and heat embossed with silver EP, then I've washed the background with silver aquatint, die cut and layered onto a teal mat. Image is coloured with promarkers and I've used stickles on his hat, Background is a Die'Sire Create a Card die from Crafter's Companion which I've embossed then inked with Peacock Feathers DI. Sentiment is from the stamp set. Card is finished with a few gemstones from my stash.

Challenges entered:

A Gem of a Challenge - anything Christmas

Fairytale - colour combo light blue white + ? (I've added teal)

Patties Creations - Christmas cards

Wags n Whiskers - Merry Christmas

Delightful Challenges - bundle up

Dream it Up - quick and/or cute

Fashionable Stamping - heat it up

Congratulations

Good morning all.

Gary is off to Bulgaria today, all being well he should be on a bus from Edinburgh to Manchester as we speak. They're staying in a little town east of Sofia called Elin Pelin with the orphanage being about 15 minutes drive away from their hotel. I've already got his bed stripped and the washer going!

Sharing the card I made for my sister's engagement today. Guess which wally used her craft knife when working on her heat resistant mat...yes that would be me!!!

Embossed backing is a create a card die from Die'sire. Backing paper and image are from Cuddly Buddly, I've layered the image to give dimension. Flowers from Petal Lu and bow from my stash.

 

Challenges entered:

A Creative Romance - pink

Anything Goes with a Twist - twist pink

The Stamping Boutique - congratulatory

4 Krafty Girlz - anything goes

Die Cuttin Divas - think pink

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - flowers

Dragonfly Dreams - mainly pink

Christmas Wishes

Good morning all.

Apologies if I didn't get round to you yesterday commenting....Chrome was making life very difficult, IE doesn't like blogger very much so in the end I admitted defeat and picked up a magazine I'd bought whilst shopping!! I'll try again today!

Another Christmas card to share today.

Stamp and sentiment from Wild Rose Studio, coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles before being fussy cut. Background is a Creat a Card from Die'sire - Starry Night. Lacy seambinding from Crafty Ribbon and pearls from my stash.

All finished inside too.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra  - anything Christmas goes

Merry Monday - bingo (red, die cut, sparkle)

Papertake Weekly - oh how cute

Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in September

Deep Ocean Challenge - at least one flower

Love to Create - fussy cut

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - ribbon or lace

Merry Christmas

Good morning all.

A very quiet weekend had here, managed to get into the craft room and make some headway with the Christmas cards which I'm way behind on!!

A very quick one to share today.

A cream hammer embossed base card; Die'sire Create a Card die "Christmas Eve" cut with kraft card and inked with DI whilst still in the die; Merry Christmas stamp from Anita's stamps; gems from my stash.

Simples!!

And of course finished inside too!

Challenges entered:

CHNC - 20 minute or less

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

ABC Christmas - anything festive

Stampotique Designers Challenge - one stamp

Christmas Cards all Year Round - kraft and cream

Live Laugh Love

Good morning all.

Feeling a bit more human today thank goodness...just in time to do the washing, ironing and housework lol!!

Today I'm sharing the card I made for my niece for her wedding day.

Made to match the wedding stationery (which I will show you tomorrow). Paper is from Nitwits. Die cut is from Die'sire, smaller dies from Spellbinders. Sentiment die is a magazine freebie. Wooden heart I found in a local shop. Pearls from my stash.

Inside was decorated to match.

Challenges entered:

4 Krafty Girlz - anything goes

Aud Sentiments - any sentiment but birthday

Creative Knockouts - tic tac toe (stamps, embossing, dies/punches)

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Digistamps 4 Joy - celebration

Simon says Stamp - stamp

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

50 and Fabulous

Good morning all.

I've been going through my photo files and found a few cards I didn't have time to blog when I was up to my eyes with wedding stationery. This one was made for my sister's 50th earlier this year.

Image was a magazine freebie (I think), stamped onto kraft card with the flowers coloured with promarkers. Dies from Spellbinders. Embossing folder was a magazine freebie. Backing paper from DCWV Linen Closet. Hanging tag from East India Company. Ribbons, gems and flowers from my stash. 

Decorated inside to match.

Challenges entered:

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything  goes with a handmade bow

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Crafty Bloggers Network - anything goes

My Craft Creations - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - three of a kind

Timbroscrapmania Stamp - special occasions

Sweet Stampin - embossing

Diamond Wedding

Good morning all. Gosh, I can't believe it's September already!

Off to the hairdressers this morning so hope it stays dry as I like to walk there and back.

A diamond anniversary card to share today, commissioned by my Mum a little while ago.

Image is a LOTV topper. Square dies all Spellbinders, heart die from Tattered Lace. Embossing folder from Die'Sire. Sentiment computer generated. Ribbon and gems from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

Aud Sentiments - any sentiment but birthday

Charismas Cardz - wedding anniversary

Southern Girls - all about texture

Crafty Cardmakers - make an impression

Cutie Pie Challenge - two's company

Christmas Card Club "Trees somewhere on your Card"

Good morning all.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Sylvie's turn to choose the theme this week and she's asked us for a "Tree somewhere on your Card". 

This was a very quick card made in less than 15 minutes before I left home!

Topper is from Wild Rose Studio, layered with various card and overlaid with a Die'sire template which was lying in the bits box. Card is finished with stickles, pearls, ribbon and a button from my stash.

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafting for all Seasons #82 "Christmas in July"

Good morning all.

Having a lovely relaxing holiday, weather has been great although a little muggy at times....although Saturday night we had the mother of all storms which cleared the air slightly.

It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Christmas in July". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Meljens who gave the DT images to work with. 

I've used "Frosty Face" and coloured with promarkers before die cutting. Dies from Spellbinders. Background is Diesire "Softly Falling" template from Crafter's Companion. Card is finished with some stickles and a tag from my stash.

Flat for posting and finished inside too!

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

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Card Club "Nativity Scene"

Good morning all. A quick post before I disappear on my jollies. 

Several weeks ago I went to the memory stick I store all my Craft Artist layouts on and found it was blank...cue panic!! Hunted through my EHD and they weren't saved on there either...by this time I was totally gutted - I did have Jpegs of all the pages I had shown on my blog but these all have my signature on them. Last week when passing the local computer shop I popped in to ask whether there was any chance of recovering data from the stick and they said they would try...this morning I popped back to see how they'd got on and they'd managed to recover all my files....it was such a relief. Guess who'll be keeping backups of everything from now on!!!

I've finally got around to making my card for the Christmas Card Challenge which was due on the 1st June!! It was Sue J's turn to pick the theme and she asked us for a "Nativity Scene".

I treated myself to some of the Die'sire Christmas templates from Crafter's Companion...layered up with an added sentiment et voila a very quick card!

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes