Chocolate Wreath

Every Christmas since 2012, I have made a Quality Street chocolate wreath for my family - still using the original polystyrene ring! This year, due to the ever decreasing number of chocolates in a tub (barely enough to cover the ring anymore), and the sad-looking, dull paper wrappers, I decided to switch to a selection box from M&S...they're in lovely shiny papers (devoid of any branding). As always, I used a hot glue gun to attach the chocolates to the wreath, and added some silver glittery ribbon to hang it with.

Challenges for this wreath:

• Crafty Calendar - Winter/Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Anything Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Sparkle & Shine

Christmas Boxes

Every year, I make some little gift boxes for family members using a We R Memory Keepers punch board that I picked up in TKMaxx. This year, I used 12x12 papers from a Make & Create pad from The Works (I really wish that they'd name these!) to make the largest size (4x4x4). They don't require any glue/tape and simply fold together - so quick to make! I cut some simple gift tags using an old Sizzix Bigz die from some snippets of silver glitter card, then added a snowflake (cut from matching plain card using dies from a Tim Holtz/Sizzix set called 'Paper Snowflakes Mini'), and attached them to the boxes using some white organza ribbon.

Challenges for these boxes:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Alphabet Challenge - R is for Ribbon
• As You Like It - Anything Festive
• Creative Moments - It's a Wrap!
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Wrap It Up
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas

Signs of the Season

Today's card was made using the other elements of the prize I won over at the Allsorts Challenge recently...a set of clear stamps and matching dies set from Oakwood Archer called 'Signs of the Season'. I started by stamping the large star onto some teal card using Versamark ink, then heat embossing it using metallic silver embossing powder from WOW before using the coordinating die to cut it out. I then used the edge dies to cut the side panels from some more teal card, adding an embossed sentiment using a stamp from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then layered all the elements over some silver mirror card. 

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y & Z are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Helene is the host, and the themes are:

'Y is for Yummy'

&

'Z is for Zebra'

(Stripes and/or Black & White)

The prize for the lucky winner is these Chocolate Baroque and Woodware stamps:

For my 'Y is for Yummy' card, I used a Christmas Pudding stamp from Personal Impressions, stamping it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of pudding-covered paper from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad by Craftwork Cards, trimming them into squares. I distressed all of the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, then matted the pudding image onto a snippet of kraft card, then the paper squares onto some pink card before adding it to a kraft card blank.

For my 'Z is for Zebra' card, I went with the 'Stripes' option, choosing a piece of silver stripey paper from the 'Silent Night' pad by First Edition for my background, and matted it onto some silver mirror card. I took one of the 'plainish' pieces of paper from the same pad, and stamped the largest snowflake from a Stampendous set called 'Delicate Snowflakes' onto it using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic silver embossing powder from WOW. Using the matching die, I cut out the snowflake, then added it onto the stripey background using some 3D foam pads.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Addicted to CAS - Metallic (Second card only)
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• CAS on Friday - (Second card only)
• Christmas Kickstart - Anything Christmassy (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Creative Inspirations - 'Tis the Season (First card only)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Dies (Second card only)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Poinsettia Panel

Today's card features part of a prize that I won recently over at the Allsorts Challenge...a lovely sentiment die by Tonic Studios. I started by stamping my 'Poinsettia Panel' stamp (from Stamps by Chloe) onto some black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW, then watercoloured it using Cosmic Shimmers mica pigments mixed with a little water. I cut the sentiment from a snippet of gold mirror card, then layered it over the stamped and coloured panel. I matted it all onto some more gold mirror card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Gold, Silver or Glitter (I love using gold on Christmas cards (especially on a dark background) to give a really luxurious feel)
• Flower Challenge - Christmas Florals
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Dies
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Poinsettia
• We Love Stamping - Red & Green

PBSC December - Anything Goes (Optional 'Snow/Snowmen')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Snow/Snowmen'

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I have a fairly 'healthy' collection of Penny Black snowman stamps, and picked 'What a Snow!' to make a large 8x8 square card. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Joy to the World' set, also by Penny Black, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with some pastel coloured papers from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut some snowflakes from matching pastel card snippets using dies from the 'Paper Snowflakes Mini' set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix, then added those to the card with some little gems in their centres.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Aud Sentiments - Non-traditional Christmas and/or Winter + Sentiment
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas
• Jingle Belles - Anything Christmassy
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Use Dies
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Dies

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Little Snowy Gift Tag

I have a little gift tag to share today...featuring a Penny Black snowman stamp from the 'Holly Jolly' set. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I stamped my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp onto a kraft tag using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I added the snowman to the tag, then carefully trimmed the excess before adding some pink baker's twine to attach it to the gift.

Here it is on the present:

Challenges for this tag:

• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something Festive for Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

December Desk Calendar

As it's the first day of the month, I'm sharing the December page of my desk calendar. I picked one of the stamps from the 'Christmas Critters' set by Penny Black, stamping it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut it out. For the background, I used a snippet of patterned paper from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad by Craftwork Cards, and layered a snippet of white card, with a torn edge, over the top. I matted it all onto a snippet of kraft card, then added it to my calendar.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Ups & Downs

Today's card features a cute Penny Black stamp that I picked up from a charity shop a few weeks ago, called 'Ups & Downs'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesdays - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Jingle Bells

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one is inspired by the Banner over at the Jingle Belles Challenge, which looks like this:

I started by stamping a large 'Jingle Bells' sentiment (using a stamp from a Colorado Craft Company set) in the centre of a piece of aqua coloured card, using a white pigment ink, then heat embossed it using 'Diamond White' embossing glitter from WOW. I then stamped snowflakes around the edges using stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp using 'Speckled Egg' Distress Ink. Once dry, I stamped some more of the snowflakes over the top using white pigment ink, and embossing them with more 'Diamond White' embossing glitter. I distressed the edges, then matted it onto some teal card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Stamps
• Allsorts - Focal Sentiment
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Knockouts - Snow Much Fun
• Creative Moments - Add Some Sparkle
• Everybody Art - Glitter
• Fab 'N' Funky - Glitter
• Jingle Belles - Banner Inspired
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Christmas Hat

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today...featuring one of the cute critters from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped it directly onto a kraft card blank, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Festive Wear
• Stampin Sensations - Christmas
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• We Love Stamping - Christmas

Jazzy Cats Birthday

Today's card features stamps from the 'Jazzy Cats' set by Penny Black. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, along with some music notes from the 'Critter Concert' set by Lawn Fawn, and a sentiment using part of an unbranded stamp. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges. For the background, I used papers with more music on, from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper...I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Music
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine
• Sweet Stampin' - Birthdays

Doggie Delights

I have a simple birthday card to share today, featuring an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Doggie Delights'. I stamped it onto some smooth white card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then distressed the edges before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - I chose Birthday & Cake
• Addicted to CAS - Sweet
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday

 

Deer In Skates

Today's card features an old Penny Black Christmas stamp called 'Deer In Skates'. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with snippets of papers from the 'Christmas Stack by DCWV...distressing the edges, before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the layers onto some festive red card, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Christmas
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Run, Run Rudolph
• Christmas Kickstart - Add Antlers
• Crafty Gals Corner - 'Tis the Season
• Creatalicious - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

Floral Edges Thank You Notecards

I have a set of simple Thank You notecards to share today, made using border stamps from a Chocolate Baroque set called 'Floral Edges', that I won recently over at the Allsorts Challenge. I stamped the floral edge stamp along the bottom of kraft card blanks using Versark ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder, then added a matching white embossed sentiment using a stamp from the 'Go To' words set by Visible Image.

I made a couple of each design:

Challenges for these cards:

• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Thank You
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Thank You
• Sparkles Forum - Thank You Cards

PBSC November - Anything Goes (Optional 'Music')...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Music'

We're currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

For my card, I used an unbranded music background stamp, and inked up a portion of it using 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, then stamped it onto some smooth white card. Once dry, I stamped one of the butterflies from the 'Social Butterfly' set over the top using 'Uncharted Mariner' Distress Ink, then heat embossed it with a little 'Vintage Peacock' embossing glitter from WOW. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set, matted it onto a piece of teal card, distressing all of the edges before adding it to a card blank.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Thank You')
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Thank You
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Thanks

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Merry & Bright

I have another Christmas card to share today...made using a large sentiment from a Colorado Craft Company set that I got recently from a charity shop. I stamped it onto watercolour paper using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. I stamped some foliage and berries around the edge using stamps from the 'Sketchy Pure Branch' set by Woodware Stamps, and Distress Inks...'Rustic Wilderness' for the greenery, and 'Festive Berries' for the berries. I matted it onto some red card before adding it to a DL card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Christmas
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Knockouts - Time to be Merry
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - W & X for for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Fabiola is the host, and the themes are:

'W is for Wings'

&

'X is for X-Stitch'

(Any kind of stitching will do)

This is the prize for the lucky winner:

A $30 Gift Card for your favourite craft store!

For my 'Wings' card, I picked a Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Carolers'. I stamped it directly onto a white card blank, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

For my 'X-Stitch' card, I used a Stampavie stamp called 'Xmas Puppies'. I stamped it onto some watercolour paper, added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils...this card is destined for a friend with two Cockapoos, so I've coloured the pups to match her two dogs. I used a piece of patterned paper from the 'Merry & Bright' pad by Craft Sensations for the background, and added two different types of stitching using my CutterBee Bugs and a black gel pen. I matted the layers onto some red card, then added it all to a white card blank.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - Christmas (Second card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Glitter and/or Christmas and a Sentiment (First card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas (First card only)
• Time Out - Favourite Holiday - Christmas! (Second card only)
• We Love Stamping - Christmas (Second card only)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Expressive Poppies

Today's card features a poppy stamp from Penny Black called 'Expressive'. I stamped it onto black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder form WOW. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, embossing it in gold to match, then painted the flowers using Cosmic Shimmers mica pigments mixed with a little water. I matted it onto some gold mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Clean & Simple
• Just Us Girls - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Thinking of You
• Sweet Stampin' - Red for Remembrance