Christmas Challenge (with sketches) #5

I can't believe we're up to our fifth challenge at CCWS - we're so pleased to see so many of you joining us each challenge and those Christmas boxes must be starting to fill up now! We are being sponsored by Krea Teja. This time it was my turn to design the sketch and this is my card:

The image is another newly downloaded from Inger Harding (if you haven't done so already do go and check out her blog) which I've coloured with promarkers. The backing papers are from an old download called Christmas from around the World. Gold doiley is a die from Cheery Lynn Design, embossed corners are from Spellbinders and the die cut strip is from a Martha Stewart punch. Card is finished with a ribbon and gold berries rescued from a cracker, a sentiment, some pearls and glitter highlights on the stars.

Please pop over to CCWS to see the sketch and the delightful creations that my fellow design team girls have produced.

Challenges entered:

Stamp Something - Christmas in July

Craft us Crazy - Christmas in July

Paper Creations Ink - Christmas in July

Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Crafty Emma's - Christmas

Simply Create - Christmas

Winter Wonderland - wet/ dry embossing

Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - Christmas in July

Paper Sundaes - Christmas in July

I love Promarkers - Christmas in July

Carol x

Football

One final card before I disappear for the week, bags are all packed - just need to check the train times before I log off for an early night.

A quick card I made for my nephew who will be 10 on Friday. Using decoupage featuring Onion with matching backing paper and a stamped sentiment. Took one look at the sentiment and thought not another one doesn't stamp straight - then I realised it's supposed to be like this!!

Challenges entered:

Less is More - circles

Crafter's Companion - one for the boys

Here come the boys - sporty

Cute Thursday - going round in circles

A Gem of a Challenge - lets hear it for the boys

Carol x

Nautical

Using an image from Joanna Sheen's Thomas Kinkade CD which was in my bit box, I've layered it onto gunmetal mirri card before mounting with foam pads onto an 8x8 card. Finished with a length of black ribbon and sentiment and a life belt badge.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - nautical

Crafter's Companion - one for the boys

Allsorts - free and easy

Creative Inspirations - no flowers allowed

Unstampabelles - celebration

Heidi's Hobbystuggu - card for a man

Paperminutes - homes/houses

Sentimental Sundays - for the men

Carol x

Things with wings

Digi stamp and background are from Stitchy Bears. The image is coloured with promarkers. The sentiment was a free digi from somewhere (don't know where though).

Challenges entered:

Little Claires - things with wings

Stamptacular Sunday - animal antics

By the Cute and Girly - things with wings

My Time to Craft - bird watcher

Paper Play Challenges - things with wings

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Poodles Parlour - anything to do with birds

Stampin' for the Weekend - wings and things

Art Impressions - show me the bird

Clear it out - wings

The Craft Garden - use a bird

Tiffany Doodles - all creatures great and small

Carol x

Christmas Card Club

This time it was Pinky's turn to choose the theme and she asked for a Teddy Bear. Here is my card:

A very simple decoupage card from Create and Craft, finished with a peel off sentiment and a tartan bow. The base card was ready printed with the lovely glittery holly border.

If you'd like to join us making Christmas cards once a fortnight get in touch with one of us (list on my sidebar), it's just for fun but helps us fill that box for December!

Challenges entered:

CHNC - seeing stars

Unstampabelles - celebration

CES - Christmas

Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Sparkles Forum - glitter

ABC Christmas - N for no nonsense

Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - Christmas in July

Paper Sundaes - Christmas in July

Carol x

Pink and Blue

Backing paper from DCWV and image from LOTV both layered onto pink mirri card. I've done some faux stitching around the edge of the backing paper and I could swear the sewing machine positively glowered at me whilst I was doing it lol. Die cut is a Martha Stewart punch. Flowers, button, gems and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Sentiments - stitching

DYSU - sew

Rainbow Lady - a stitch in time

Shelley's Image Blog - what's cooking

LOTV - pink and blue

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Fussy and Fancy - summer

Cutie Sunday - summer

Carol x

Shaped card

I don't often make anything other than square or rectangular so this was a challenge.

The pre-coloured digi was a freebie from Pink Gem. I've printed direct to card then layered up his towel, head and nose. Sentiment is computer generated in Santa's Sleigh font. Card is finished with a bow from which Rudolph is hanging his bell for the night and some white gems in the centre of the snowflakes.

Challenges entered:

Bah! Humbug! - shaped card

Jingle Belles - reindeers

Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Christmas cards all year round - white plus bling

Christmas Card Challenge - Christmas in July

ABC Christmas - N for no nonsense

Carol x

Love you

A little something for hubby while I'm away. The rose stencil circle image is a freebie from Fred She Said, I've used a pre-coloured one printed direct to card and added a circular sentiment on foam pads to the centre.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - circles

Allsorts - free and easy

Creative Craft Challenge - pretty blossoms

Stamp n Doodle - love or romance

Carol x

Running round in circles..

chasing my tail all day so it's very apt that the theme at Less is More this week is Circles. Got all the washing and ironing done, beds changed, and house spruced up ready to pack my bags tomorrow for my holidays on Monday. Really looking forward to spending a few days with my Mum and sister in the Peak District - Mum still doesn't know we're going so it should be fun on Monday when we show up out of the blue.

Back to circles:

I made this digitally then layered up the elements with foam pads to give some dimension. All the background papers are from Crafty Ann's digi shop, browns and blues from the Mottled Stone collection and yellow from the Funky collection. The digi stamps are from Daisie and have been coloured with promarkers. The sun and boats are shapes in Publisher, the birds are made using V's. The sentiment was created with Wordart.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - circles

Polka Doodle - summer

Cute Card Thursday - going round in circles

Bunny Zoes - fun in the sun

Secret Crafter - holidays

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #45 Embossing and/or de-bossing

Time for a new challenge at CACB and this week we want to see embossing and /or de-bossing on your cards. Here is my card:

Using one of the images from the Love is all around sheet I've put the topper together in Publisher using the pink Embossed Hearts backing paper (available from Crafty Ann). I've used Mutlu font for the monograms. The card base is ivory stardream and this has been embossed with a Glitter Girls board. Card is finished with peel off flowers, pearls, hearts and a flower bow.

Do pop over and see what the other Design Team girls have created this week, I'm sure they'll delight you.

Challenges entered:
Allsorts - free and easy
Cupcake Challenges - 129. I ♥ You: To include a heart
Hooked on Craft - with love
Stamp N Doodle - love/romance
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes
Bee Crafty - Wedding wishes
Ellephantastic - celebrations
Paper Creators Crafts - special occasions
Divas by Design - pastels
Aud Sentiments - at least two words
My Mum's Craft Shop - pearls and swirls

Carol x

ATC

I decided to make an ATC today, the backing paper is from Joanna Sheens ATC CD, the stamp is from a large box bought from QVC ages ago and has been stamped with versamark and embossed with a glittery embossing powder then coloured with promarkers. Finished with a length of raffia tied in a knot.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - handbags

ATC Challenge Blog - anything goes

Carol x

N is for no nonsense

Stamps from Joanna Sheen, stamped with versamark and embossed with silver detail embossing powder, then coloured with promarkers. Cuttlebug swiss dots border used along the bottom edge. Card is finished with a bow and a peel off sentiment.

Challenges entered:

ABC Christmas - no backing papers

Bah! Humbug! - mice

Winter Wonderland - no red or green

CHNC - dots

My Creative Moments - Christmas/Winter

Craft us Crazy - Christmas in July

The House that Stamp built - Christmas

Simon says Stamp - anything goes

Carol x

CFAS Challenge #5 Furry Friends

Well we are up to our fifth challenge at CFAS and this fortnight we want to see Furry Friends on your creations. We are being sponsored by Di's Digis this week and the Design Team are all working with one of Di's images. I choose Painting Fun.

The image is coloured with promarkers and cut with a nestie and mounted on a red mirri card scalloped nestie. The background has been created from mirri card with a Martha Stewart PATP and this has been layered up with paper from a DCWV adhesive stack, a scalloped square nestie and another paper from the same stack. Card is finished with a variety of buttons tied with rainbow thread.

I hope you will pop over and see the delightful creations of the other Design Team members and leave them some comments. Thanks for stopping by today.

Challenges I'm entering:
Cards for men - wild west
Simon says Stamp - anything goes
Creative Inspirations - no flowers allowed
Bling it on - anything goes
Fresh Brewed - 2 papers, 2 shapes, 2 embellishments
Your next stamp - buttons
Crafty Creations - Boyz to Men
Scrapalicious USA - use a bear
Paper Pretties - animals

Carol x

Lighthouse

It's my Father in law's birthday tomorrow and this is the card I made. Using a freebie digi from My Grafico and a backing paper I had stored on my computer, I've recoloured both in Publisher. The brown ribbon is rescued from a chocolate box.

Challenges entered:

CCEE Stampers - monochromatic/Chocolate

Cupcake - 134 monochromatic

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Card Cupids - monochromatic

A Gem of a Challenge - lets hear it for the boys

Carol x

Berry Blue

Using a digi image and sentiment from the Waxfruit Company (June prize from Less is More challenge) printed on pearlised card and coloured with promarkers. Simples!!

Challenges entered:

Paper Play Challenges - fruity

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Saturday Challenge - get well soon

Allsorts - free and easy

Crafty Cardmakers - one layer card

Cupcakes - no 26 one layer card

Catch the Bug - CAS

I Love Promarkers - CAS

My Time to Craft - food

Shopping our Stash - use something you got in a swap/RAK/won, or a kit of some kind

Carol x

Windmill

Image is from the Waxfruit Company, printed direct to card and coloured with promarkers. Sentiment is computer generated using Chopin Script font.

Challenges entered:

Rainbow Lady - in the country

Allsorts - free and easy

One Stitch at a Time - anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Lets hear it for the boys

Wags and Whiskers - birthday

Delightful Challenges - on the farm

I Love Promarkers - CAS

Ladybug Crafts - summer birthday

Craft your Passion - anything goes

Carol x

Ladybugs

This was part of my wonderful prize from the Waxfruit Company and I thought it fitted the bill splendidly for the legs challenge at LIM this week. Image is coloured with promarkers.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - things with legs

Saturday Challenge - get well soon

I Love Promarkers - CAS

Stamp Something - bugs and butterflies

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Carol x

Left Overs

All the components of this card came out of my bit box except the base card. The image and backing paper are from Joanna Sheen's Pam West CD. The snowflakes are "waste" from the border punch and the ribbon and bell came off a chocolate reindeer. Even the glitter came out of the sweepings up box!

Challenges entered:

Jingle Belles - leftovers

Moving along with the Times - Christmas in July

Craft us Crazy - Christmas in July

Wordplay Weekend - Christmas/Winter

Sassy Studio Design - red, white and blue

Little Red Wagon - Christmas in July

The Paper Variety - Christmas in July

Tuesday Throwdown - Christmas in July

Unstampabelles - celebrations

Sparkles Forum - glitter

Fabs big Christmas - tree

Carol x

Things with Legs

Well it's back to business after the holidays. A big welcome to my new followers, I'm working my way round to see you all so if I haven't visited yet I'll be there soon.

 I need to get some crafting done this week - 1 to catch up with DT work and challenges and 2 to feed my addiction lol. I'm going away again  a week on Monday for a four night break with my sister to the Peak District - Mum is going there on a coach trip and we're going by train to meet her there as a surprise - at least I think it's still a surprise, must check that one out with my sister before one of my lot put a clod hopping size 9 in it!!

On to cards - the lovely ladies at LIM are looking for things with legs so here is a very simple one layer card using a coloured download from Daisie's Buttons and Bows collection. I've used  the frame, Betty Bowsele (I'm presuming she has legs under her frock!) and a butterfly. Sentiment is computer generated. Note I have resisted the temptation to embellish it with some real bows!

Challenges entered:

Less is More - things with legs

Cupcake - OLC

Catch the Bug - CAS

Incy Wincy Designs - sugar and sweets

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Thanks for stopping by today and if you leave a comment I'll be able to pop by to see you.

Carol x

Shades of Blue

Got here by the skin of my teeth lol  Had a relaxing trip back today although it was torrential rain from Stirling to Edinburgh and arrived home about 4pm. The second load is in the washing machine and the unpacking is done, mail is sorted and fridge is tidied out (two sons home alone!!!) so thought I just had time to print out the cards I'd designed whilst away............and do you think I could find where they were saved........a very BIG resounding NO is the answer to that. So I started again and here is what I ended up with:

Apologies for the photography and the size of the cards - they should be twice the size but the printer decided to have a mind of it's own.

The first is using a digi flourish from Daisie, sentiment is computer generated. Finished with a ribbon flower and some gems.

The second is a free digi image from Kwed which has been coloured with promarkers. Sentiment is computer generated in Santas Sleigh font.

I think I've come down off the ceiling now after finding out I was the June winner. Many thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments you take the time to leave me and all the hints and tips you give out so freely on your own blogs. I can see you've all been busy this week so hopefully I'll get around a few blogs this weekend to see what you've all been up to.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - shades of blue

Carol x

Rain stops play

We're having a lovely relaxing holiday up in the Highlands and have had fantastic weather up until today - it has poured down for most of the day - it was so wet we didn't even bother going out! We should have been out this evening at the Kenmore Highland games but rain has stopped play so we're watching TV instead. Hoping it's fair in the morning so we can enjoy a last day out somewhere before returning home on Friday.

I did get the chance to put together a quick card with some pieces I brought with me though:

Image is from Joanna Sheen's Dancing with Shadows Cd and is printed on acetate, this is attached to white glitter card with brads and matted onto silver glitter card. Card is finished with ribbon, snowflake button and some snowflakes punched from white glitter card.

Challenges entered:

Bah! Humbug! - acetate

Allsorts - free and easy

Christmas Card Challenge - twas the night before Christmas

CD Sunday - Christmas in July

St Lukes Charity - black, white plus one (silver)

Sparkles Forum - glitter

Fabs big Christmas - oh Christmas tree

ABC Christmas - N is for no nonsense

The Paper Variety - Christmas in July

Carol x

Christmas Challenge (with sketches) #4

Another fortnight past so it's time for a new sketch over at CCWS. This time it was Renata's turn to design the sketch and our sponsor is Whiff of Joy. Please pop over to CCWS to view the sketch yourself. Here is my card:

I've used a free digi from Inger Harding and coloured her with promarkers. Backing papers are all from my stash. Card is finished with some poinsettias (bought years ago in a sale), a raffia bow (recycled from a bouquet), holly punchouts, sentiment (from a very old QVC kit), pearls and some raffia lace  (bought for me by a forum friend several years ago).

Do visit the rest of the Design Team to see their take on the sketch and remember you'll be thanking us come December when all your cards are made on time :)

Challenges entered:

Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in June

Digi Doodle Shop - anything goes

DYSU - squares

One Stitch at a Time - use a digi

Craft your Passion - anything goes

Kaboodle Doodles - celebrations

Tuesday Throwdown - Christmas in July

Sweet Stamps - Christmas in July

Party Time Tuesdays - square card

Shopping our Stash - Candy, kits, RAKS and swags

Carol x

Christmas Card Club

Crikey where did those two weeks go?? It's time again for us girls to display our Christmas cards for the club - see my sidebar for all the participants and get in touch with one of us if you'd like to join in. This is just for fun and we make a card once a fortnight, this time it was it was Lizzie's turn to set the challenge and she said no backing papers. This is my card:

Image is a freebie from Inger Harding and the frame is a freebie from SansDesign both have been coloured with promarkers. Base card is peach stardream, ivory stardream has been out through a Marianne Design snowflake diecut folder, then matted onto copper mirri card - the waste snowflakes have been used around the outside along with some gemstones. The image is mounted onto a Marianne Design doiley diecut from copper mirri card. The gorgeous ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges entered:

DYSU - squares

Divas by Design - diecuts and punches

ABC Christmas - monochromatic
Stamp Something - digi day
Bling it on - anything goes
Allsorts - free and easy
Winter Wonderland - Christmas buffet ( ribbon, snowflakes and gemstones)
Catch the bug - anything goes
Our Creative Corner - Christmas in July
Desert Island Crafts - Betty's Itinery (ribbon, promarkers and foam pads)
Ladybug Crafts Inks - Christmas in June
Jingle Belles - stars or stripes

By the time this posts I should be up north on my holidays for a week but I should have internet access to pop over and see everyone else's work.

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #44 Get Well/Thinking of you/Just because

It's time again for another challenge over at Crafty Ann's and this time the theme is Get Well/Thinking of you/Just because. I choose to do a Get Well card:

I used this gorgeous pre-coloured daffodil image from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop along with two of her backing papers from the mottled stone collection. I've mounted everything onto gold textured mirri card and used a Martha Stewart border punch on the second BP. Card is finished with a ribbon, gold peel offs and a sentiment.

Challenges entered:
A Spoonful of Sugar - get well soon
Anything goes - Letter D (daffodils)

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #4 card 2

Yesterday we were given an extra image from 2 Cute Stamps to work with and this is what I came up with for the CFAS challenge which is red, white and blue:

The backdrop has been created digitally in Publisher and Gimp using papers and an image from Crafty Ann's. The main images are coloured with promarkers, the penguin has been printed a second time and layered up. Card is finished with some ribbon and a bow.

Many thanks for looking today and do please pop over to the rest of the Design Teams blogs to see what delights they have in store for you.

Delightful Challenges - fun in the sun

Catch the Bug - red, white and blue plus ribbon

Polka Doodle - red, white and blue 

My Time to Craft - here comes summer

Ribbon Carousel - Happy Birthday America

Incy Wincy Designs - summertime blues

My Partner in Crafting Crime - let's hit the beach

Paper Creation Ink - beach
Creative Inspirations - summer
Sparkles Forum - at the beach

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #4 card 1

Where are the weeks going to! It's another new challenge at Crafting for all Seasons today and the theme is red, white and blue - we love to see your creations so what are you waiting for lol. Many thanks to all those who created such wonderful projects for our summer challenge - you didn't make it easy for us to choose a Top Three!

We are sponsored by 2 cute stamps and all the design team got to choose a stamp to work with, I chose Original Cowboy Kid and this is my card:

Image is coloured with promarkers then mounted onto a scalloped nestie square cut from the back of an old file. Backing paper is from a DCWV adhesive stack. Card is finished with a raffia bow (off a present), a star  and a sentiment (both of which I've had forever).

Many thanks for looking today and do please pop over to the rest of the Design Teams blogs to see what delights they have in store for you.

Challenges entered :

Cards for Men - stars 

Rainbow Lady - digi day 

Paper Play Challenges - stars and stripes 

Shelly's Image Blog - patriotic 

Stamp Something - red, white and blue 

Stamptacular Sunday - stars and stripes

Paper Playtime - red, white and blue
Sentimental Sunday - patriotic
Celebrate the Occasion - red, white and blue
Tuesday Throwdown - red, white and blue
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - stars and stripes
Die Cut Dreams - red, white and blue
Craft us Crazy - red, white and blue/summertime
Use it Tuesday - red, white and blue
Birthday Sundaes - stars and stripes birthday
2 Cute Rubber Stamps - red, white and blue

Carol x

Vintage Christmas

All images and papers from a free digi download called Christmas from around the World. Background has been printed direct to card, two round images are mounted onto scalloped nesties and mounted onto foam pads. Main image is mounted onto foam pads and a gold pearl has been added. Sentiment is computer generated using Santa's Sleigh font.

Challenges entered:

Christmas Card Challenge - die cuts

Clear it out - CAS

Moving along with the Times - CAS

Craft your days Away - vintage

Christmas Cards all year Round - anything goes

CHNC - anything goes

Carol x

Just for You

Made in Publisher and printed direct to card, backing papers from Crafty Ann's digi shop, font is Special Type. Card is finished with some clear gems.

Challenges entered:

Kaboodle Doodles - circles or dots

Less is More - sketch

Dutch Dare  Thursday - CAS

Carol x

Lemon and Lime

It's those pesky penguins again - heeding Chrissie's invaluable advice I've cleaned up the background and I have to agree she was right.

Stamp from Penny Black coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gelly roll pen. Embossed background is a cuttlebug snowflake folder, mounted onto lemon and lime card from my bit box. Finished with a peel off sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - sketch

Allsorts - lemon and lime

Saturday Challenge - embossing
Creative Craft World - Christmas in June
CHNC - anything goes

Carol x

Mixed Bouquet

Using an image and matching backing paper from Joanna Sheens Victorian Companion CD the backing strip and sentiment are printed direct to card and the floral image is layered up on foam pads to give dimension. I've been neglecting my CD's lately since getting to grips with stamping and colouring so thought I'd remedy the matter.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - mixed bouquet

Less is More - sketch

(enjoying this sketch - although it's not necessarily as easy as it first looks)

CYDA - vintage

Shopping our Stash - tools of the trade (CD)

Carol x

Pink and Brown

Made using bits from my scrap box, buttons, some jewellers twine, Martha Stewart punch and a stamped sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - sketch 

Little Claire's - pink and brown

Carol x

Ho Ho Ho

I've had a relaxing afternoon in the craft room, had a play with my surprise buttons and ribbons and finished my projects to send back to Crafty Ribbons. Going to do some DT projects tonight to get ahead as we're off up north next Friday for a weeks holiday, I only booked it yesterday and haven't told anyone else where we're going yet!

Another Christmas card today:

Following the lovely sketch at Less is More, the card has been designed in Publisher and printed direct to card, I printed the Ho Ho Ho's twice and layered them up. Backing paper is from Bearly Mine. H's are from alphabet hats and sentiment is Santa's Sleigh font. Card is finished with some pearls. I've also made a little tag to co-ordinate.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - sketch 

(Chrissie, on reflection you're right about the papers on my other cards!)

Jingle Belles - anything goes plus a tag

Crafty Sentiments - monochromatic

Christmas Cards all Year Round - anything goes

Fabs big Christmas - sentiment

Carol x

Two of a kind

I was going to say Good Morning but looking at the clock I can see it's well into the afternoon lol.

Lady and Diva Lim have given us a sketch to work with this week and as I had this Penny Black stamp sitting on my desk ready to use I thought it was ideal to cut up to follow the sketch.

The topper really doesn't look straight in the photo but I went back and measured just to check it was irl - and it is! Penguins are coloured with promarkers and a gel pen and highlighted with a gelly roll pen. Backing paper is from a DCWV adhesive stack, matted on gold textured mirri card. Card is finished with a ribbon saved from a cracker and a peel off sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - sketch

Christmas Stampin all Year Round - photo inspired

Bah! Humbug! - penguins

Christmas Cards all Year Round - anything goes

Fabs Big Christmas - sentiment

Now where does the Two of a Kind come in I hear you ask - well I did it all again in pink!

Challenges entered:

Winter Wonderland - pink
CCEE Stampers - pink

Carol x

Christmas

A quick one I made last night - I've spent all week wondering how to use fabric on a card when I remembered I had some of these fabric toppers tucked away in a box. So a very simple card using corrugated card, backing paper from my stash, a tag from Crafty Ann and some pearls.

Challenges entered:

CHNC - anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge - use fabric

Christmas Cards all Year Round - anything goes

Sparkles Forum - snowmen

Fabs Big Christmas - sentiment

Carol x

Surprise package

Got these in the post this morning from Crafty Ribbons after entering their challenge #24 Colour Create on Sunday.

They were offering packs of ribbons and buttons in different colours to the first 15 people to email them, you got to choose which colour you wanted - I chose peach. I didn't know I'd been successful until the postie arrived this morning! I now have to send them a couple of projects (or more) using the ribbons and buttons, so I had a couple of hours in the craft room tonight and made an ATC and a Christmas card but you'll have to wait to see them lol. 

Think it's time for bed now - see you all tomorrow!

Carol x