Wishes for Kisses

I love this Penny Black stamp ('Wishes for Kisses')...in fact I think it's one of my favourite Christmas stamps. I've managed to squeeze in quite a few challenges on this card: I used the fab Sketch Saturday sketch; the 'Non-traditional Christmas Colours - NO Red or Green' theme of the Papertake Weekly and Creative Inspirations challenges; the 'Girly Christmas' theme of the Penny Black Saturday Challenge; Simon Says Stamp's 'Let it Snow' theme; and the Cupcake Craft Challenge theme of 'Christmas Carols'...in my case 'Let it Snow'. I've used papers from the 'Rose-Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV, stamping my Penny Black sentiment directly on to the paper. I used some 'Polar White' Flowersoft for snow underneath the hedgie & robin. The snowflake (which has been coated with Glamour Dust) was cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, but I cut the tips off, as it was too big for the card! lol

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Orange +

It's Cathy's turn to set the theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge...and she has chosen:

'Orange...plus one other colour'

Eeek! Orange is not a colour I feel entirely comfortable with...although I have used it a couple of times recently...and it is beginning to grow on me. I've teamed it with turquoise to make a boy's birthday card. The image is 'Birthday Monkeys' (by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie), and the DCWV cardstock has been embossed using the 'Swiss Dots', 'Stars' and 'Happy Birthday' Cuttlebug folders, then sanded to reveal the white core.

Really looking forward to seeing what colour combinations you come up with...and don't forget to check out the fabulous cards by the other DT members on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Beary Christmas!

This card uses the Carol's Sketch Fun Challenge sketch...and the
Lili of the Valley Challenge 'Child's Christmas Card' theme. I love this little bear...he just looks sooooo cuddly!
I've kept the card quite simple, as it's for a child...didn't want to add anything that could fall, or be pulled off! The paper is from the DCWV 'Text' stack, the gold panel was embossed with the Cuttlebug 'Snow Dots' folder, and the sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug.

Christmas Bunnies

This is another of the Lili of the Valley stamps ('Christmas Bunnies - Stocking') I treated myself to when I completed my first stash diet...I'm just over halfway through my second batch of 30 cards...so I'm beginning to think about what new stash to get at the end of that one now! lol
So, I just had to enter the Lili of the Valley Challenge as they have a fab sketch...it's my first time. I'm also entering this card for the Stampavie & More Challenge where the theme this week is 'Animals'. The paper is from the 'Christmas' stack by DCWV, the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and the buttons are from my stash.

Little Star

Last month I embarked on a 'stash diet'...I had to make 30 cards before I could buy any stash (other than essentials like DST and card)...well I made my target in record time (just over two weeks...aided by my mass production invitations)...and bought a few Lili of the Valley Christmas stamps...they arrived last Monday...and I've been waiting all week to have time to play! :0)
I followed this week's Midnight Madness sketch...and used 'Christmas Ted - Little Star'...isn't he adorable?! The paper is by DCWV (from the 'Christmas' stack), and the star was cut using a Nestie die...I think I may have overdone it with the stickles! lol So considering the bling...I'm also going to enter this card for the Creative Card Crew's 'All that Sparkles' challenge.

Guest Designer - Winter Wonderland Challenge

I'm sure that by now you all know I love making Christmas cards...so I've been looking forward to today for ages. I was delighted to be asked to a guest designer for the Winter Wonderland Challenge back in July...and finally the first of my two weeks is here! :0)

The theme for this week's challenge is:

'Sleigh Bells Ring'

I just had to use this cute Penny Black stamp (from the 'Christmas Critters' set)...as the little hedgies look like they're having so much fun! Then, buried under a mountain of papers, I found an old DCWV Christmas stack that had some papers that were just perfect for the theme. The sentiment stamp is from a Studio G set...and I couldn't resist adding a few 'jingle bells' on a jump ring to the piece of ribbon (I've had them ages...but I think they came from Hobbycraft). The snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die...and I added some doodled dots and faux stitching to finish off.

Make sure you stop by the Winter Wonderland Challenge to see the gorgeous creations by the design team...thanks girls for having me...looking forward to joining you next week too! :0)

Merry & Bright!

Yet another Christmas card from me today...I really am building up a nice stash now! :0) This one fits a few challenges: Stamp Something's 'Favourite Sketch/Layout'...this isn't from a sketch challenge...but after a quick look through my cards, found that this is the sort of layout I find myself using when I'm out of other ideas...lol; the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Die-cuts' theme; and the 'Christmas' theme of this week's Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge. The image is from the 'Holly-Jolly' set by Penny Black and the papers are from the 'Christmas Wishes' stack by DCWV. I cut the snowflakes using a Cuttlebug die, and embossed the white panel with my 'Snow Dots' folder. The polkadot ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

Par Avion...

I didn't have much time to craft at the weekend...had some music arrangements to finish off for classes and rehearsals this week...but I did reward myself with a little play time...and made a few quick cards...mainly Christmas ones I'm afraid...using some images I had already coloured...saves a lot of time...but I do still colour with with particular papers in mind, so that things will match. The first uses this week's Friday Sketcher's Challenge sketch...I rotated it to fit my image - 'Par Avion' by Penny Black...and I'm afraid I didn't manage the 'extra challenge' to include 'Distressing'...totally didn't see it until I went back to add the sketch image to this post! lol
I'm also entering this card for the Secret Crafter 'Animal Antics' challenge. The papers are by DCWV (from the 'Christmas Wishes' stack), the ribbon is from Poppicrafts, the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and the card candy in the corners is by Craftwork Cards.

Welcome Party!

There's another of Dawny's fab sketches for this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge...and I've combined it with the 'Non-Traditional Colours' challenge of Christmas Stampin' All Year Long. The image is 'Welcome Party' by Penny Black, and the wonderfully bright papers are from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV. I embossed the blue strip of card with my 'Snow Dots' folder, the sentiment is a stamp by Three Bugs in a Rug, and I added a few snowflakes cut using a Cuttlebug die, decorated with clear adhesive gems in the corners.

Bedecked Antlers

I love this Penny Black stamp ('Bedecked Antlers')...it always makes me smile :0) I followed the Sunday Sketch & Stamp sketch, and used the 'Pink, Black & White' colour combo of the Creative Card Crew Challenge. The papers are from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV, the brads are by Dovecraft, the ribbon is from Poppicrafts, and the snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes #2' die.


I have candy on offer (to celebrate my first blogoversary)...so if you haven't already entered...click here to find out what you could win :0)

Night Before Xmas

It was my last day of school yesterday, so what have I made on the first day of my summer holiday? A Christmas card of course! lol
I used the Midnight Madness sketch for the layout, and have managed to combine it with a few other challenge themes too: Cute Card Thursday's 'Christmas in July'; Our Creative Corner's 'Pets' theme; and the 'Furry Things' One Stop Craft Challenge. The image is 'Night Before Christmas' by Penny Black, and the papers are from the 'Christmas Wishes' stack by DCWV. The 'furry' snowball trim is from Tescos, and the buttons (which I coated with clear nail varnish, then sprinkled with glamour dust) are from Poppicrafts.

I love Christmas!

I know it seems mad to be making Christmas cards in this heat...but I did promise myself that I would make at least one every week! lol
I've used the sketch from this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge, and a rather non-traditional colour combo of Black, White & Pink. The image is 'Bedecked Antlers', and the papers are by DCWV (from thee 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack). The sentiment stamp is also by Penny Black, the ribbon is from Poppicrafts, and the snowflakes were cut from pink mirror card using one of the Cuttlebug 'Winter' dies.

ABC Challenge - U is for...

It's our first anniversary over on the ABC Challenge this week...and if you're wondering how that's possible when we've not made it through the alphabet twice yet...it's because the challenge went fortnightly over the summer last year, to give everyone a little break! lol

To celebrate, each member of the design team will be choosing their favourite entry to receive a small prize. We will also be choosing a new permanent member to join our design team from the entrants to this week's challenge, so if you fancy joining us, here's your theme for this week's challenge:

U is for U.S.A.

Now I bet you weren't expecting that! We thought that we'd celebrate the fact that it's Independence Day this weekend, so we'd like to see your U.S.A. themed creations...

I chose to use the American flag as my inspiration, and have used the colours 'Red, White & Blue' together with lots of 'Stars & Stripes'.

I've made a sort of asymmetrical gate-fold card (not sure of the proper name! lol), where the shorter flap overlaps, and is held in place by the point of the larger star...I intend to tuck some goodies inside to send to my winner from this week's entries ;0)

The papers are form the 'Christmas' stack by DCWV, and the stars were cut using Nesties. I used the Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' and 'Swiss Dots' folders to emboss the stars.


I added some simple decoration to the inside of the card....not something I usually do, but because of the type of fold, the inside is partly visible when the card stands up. The paper is from the same DCWV stack, and I added a sentiment cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet to another star.

I do hope that you will join us this week and help to celebrate our first anniversary....and maybe win yourself a little prize too! ;0)

As ever, make sure you stop by the rest of the design team's blogs for more inspiration.

Hunny Bunny

This is my card for Ann's Summer Time Blog Candy, where she has challenged us to make a card for a Post Pals child, which is also the theme of this week's Daring Cardmakers and Simon Says Stamp challenges. I followed the fab Sketch & Stash Challenge sketch, and even managed their additional challenge of 'Animals', by using my new 'Hunny Bunny' stamp (by Whipper Snapper Designs). The papers are from the 'Christmas' stack by DCWV, the flowers and brads are from Poppicrafts, the dragonfly brad is by Dovecraft, and the card candy is by Craftwork Cards. I'm also entering this for the 'Embellished Somethings' challenge on the Stamp Something Challenge - I've used flowers, brads and card candy as my three different embellishments.

Blue Christmas

I've combined the fab Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge sketch with the 'Blue Christmas' theme of the Winter Wonderland Challenge. I love using blue on my Christmas cards, so this was a nice and easy challenge. I've used 'Snowy' by Penny Black, and papers from the 'Christmas' stack by DCWV. The sentiment is from a set by Studio G, the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and I doodled the border with a white gel pen.

Happy Bee-Day!

I'm combining four challenges on this card: the fab Sketch Saturday sketch; the Penny Black Saturday Challenge theme of 'Embossing'; Allsorts Challenge's 'Wings' theme; and the Everybody Art Challenge to make a 'Birthday Card'. The image is 'Bee Costume' by Penny Black...coloured with watercolour pencils, then I added 'Kaleidoscope' embossing powder to all of the wings. The patterned paper (just seen behind the image) is from the 'Pocket Full of Posies' stack by DCWV, and the sentiment stamp is by Stampendous. I embossed the yellow background card with the Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder, and added a few brads from Poppicrafts.

Happy Birthday PBSC!

My favourite challenge blog...Penny Black Saturday Challenge...is celebrating it's first birthday this week...Happy Birthday ladies! I love the PBSC...I've entered every challenge...and I hold it (and it's fantastic design team) wholly responsible for my addiction to blogging and blog challenges! ;0)

The theme of their challenge this week, is 'Celebrations'...so I inked up one of my favourite Penny Black stamps ('Birthday Dog') to make a birthday card. I've combined him with papers from the 'Cupcakes' pad by BasicGrey and 'Pocket Full of Posies' stack by DCWV. The sentiment stamps are by Hero Arts, the stars were all cut using Nesties, and I used the 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' embossing folders.


Congrats PBSC on a fantastic first year of challenges...and thank you for all of the inspiration from your wonderful design team cards...long may it continue! :0)

Our Creative Corner meets the Cupcake Craft Challenge

There's a fab colour combination for this week's Cupcake Craft Challenge, with the added twist of making a card for a child. I followed this week's Our Creative Corner sketch for my wallet card. I've used a Gorjuss Girl image (sent to me by my lovely ABC DT mate Vicky), combined with slightly softer shades of the colours, to make a 'girly' card. The paper is from the 'Pocket Full of Posies' mat stack, by DCWV. I did intend to stick to the sketch, but I had a little accident with some DST...got it stuck to the front of the card, and it pulled off some of the patterned paper when I tried to remove it...so I had to add the flowers (from Poppicrafts) to cover it up...and then it looked unbalanced, so I added some card candy to the opposite corner...I think I'd have put them the other way around if I'd had a choice! lol