Christmas Candlelight

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using one of the stamps from the Penny Black 'Candlelight' set that I got for Christmas. I stamped it onto a snippet of black card using Versamark ink, along with a sentiment using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set, then heat embossed them using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I coloured the image using Cosmic Shimmers watercolour paints, then matted it onto a snippet of gold mirror card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas/First Christmas
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Something Old, Something New (Old - sentiment stamp, New - bauble stamp)
• Little Red Wagon - Keep It Simple
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Stamping Sensations - Something Beginning with B (Branch & Bauble)

Favourite Five Cards 2025

As has become traditional on New Year's Eve, I'm sharing my favourite five cards of this year. As I look back through my blog posts, I always find it interesting to see if any themes have emerged in my cardmaking over the course of the year. Whilst there are still plenty of cute critter cards, I used more die cuts this year, and my cards have become increasingly clean and simple.

All of the photos are linked to the original blog post, so please click through for more information.

My first card is from February, and features (unusually for me) die cuts as the main focus. I love the modern shape of these floral dies...and they're great for using up little snippets of card & paper!

My second card is from May, and features several things that I love (and usually make it onto at least one of my favourite cards each year) - Distress inks, gold embossing and the big butterfly stamp!

My next card is actually a bookmark...I'm an avid reader, and always like to have plenty of bookmarks handy...and they're a great way to use up offcuts of card! This one features a favourite floral stamp, and Cosmic Shimmers that I've used many times this year.

Of course, there's a Penny Black image amongst my favourites, and the next card, from August, features a 'new to me' stamp called 'Surprise!' I also love the colour in these floral papers.

My final card is from November, and although I've made a lot of one layer cards this year, I love the effect the added layer gives on this CAS card.

I'm going to link up this post over at Ellie's I Spy With My Little Eye - Favourite Creations of the Year.

I posted my Favourite Five Christmas Cards here last week, if you'd like to take a look.

Finally, thanks to everyone who has visited and taken the time to comment on my blog this year - I wish you all the very best for the New Year!

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

 

Sending Christmas Cheer

I have a Christmas card to share today, that features an old Anita's stamp. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment (using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set), then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, then matted it onto some red card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Fab 'N' Funky - Cute as a Button

Present Pile

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Present Pile'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from an unnamed pad from The Works, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Animals
• As You Like It - Favourite Season (Winter...I much prefer cold weather to hot, and Christmas cards are my favourite type of card to make)
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Royal Mail

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp that I picked up in a charity shop last week, called 'Royal Mail'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I cut it out using one of my circle Nesties, then cut a mat using the matching scalloped circle Nestie. The background papers are a mixture from the 'Christmas Basics' pad by Dovecraft (the spotty & floral ones), and 'the Love Lives Here' pad by Raspberry Road Designs (the stripey one). I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, then matted it all onto some more red card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Animals
• Crafter's Cafe - Christmas in July
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

I Baked a Cake!

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'I Baked a Cake!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Bumblebee's Dance' pad by The Paper Boutique, distressing the edges before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted all the layers onto some lilac card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - F is for Food
• My Time to Craft - Two or More Designer Papers

Deckchair Dreaming

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Deckchair Dreaming'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then matted it onto some yellow card, distressing the edges a little, before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Sunshine
• CAS on Friday - Animal
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• We Love Stamping - Sun, Sea & Sand

Par Avion

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring a cute Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Par Avion'. I stamped it directly onto a kraft DL card blank, along with a sentiment from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - F is for Feathers
• Creative Knockouts - Christmas in July
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas in July
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

PBSC June - 'Anything Goes' (Optional 'Stitching')...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

'Stitching'

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

I picked one of the images from the 'Snow Much Fun' set to use on my card. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Back to Basics Christmas' pad by Dovecraft. I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

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

'L is for Lights'

&

'M is for Music'

Please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge for details of this month's prize.

For my 'L is for Lights' card, I used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Brightest Xmas'...stamping it directly onto a kraft card blank. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. Finally, I added some Glossy Accents to the light bulbs.

For my 'M is for Music' card, I used stamps from an old set by Lili of the Valley called 'Carol Singers'. With a bit of masking, I managed to squeeze in all of the critters, then filled in the gaps in the snowy ground, and any missing details using a black gel pen. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Caroling Chicks' set by Stamping Bella. I lightly distressed the edges, then added it to a kraft DL card blank.

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

• Christmas Kickstart - Christmas Critters (Second card only)
• Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment (Second card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Add the Word Merry (First card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Our Furry Friends (Second card only)
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity (Second card only)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)

For more inspiration, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Ice Christmas

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Ice Christmas'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, drew a line for the horizon, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over a piece of snowy paper from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware, then matted it onto some navy card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Christmas Bunnies - Stocking

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Christmas Bunnies - Stocking'. I stamped it onto a white card blank, along with a sentiment, using a stamp from an old C. C. Designs/Pollycraft set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I found a snippet of patterned paper the exact width of the card blank (from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye), then used one of my Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside Borders' dies to cut the curve, then added it along the top edge of the card.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Stcokings
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Clean & Simple
• We Love Stamping - Four-legged Friends

Pile of Presents

Today's card features another stamp that I picked up in a charity shop over the Easter break. It's by Molly Blooms, and is called 'Pile of Presents'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used a piece of paper from the 'Back to Basics Christmas' pad by Dovecraft...distressing the edges a little before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Make It Sew
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Gift Wrapped

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Gift Wrapped'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The floral paper is from the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Spring is in the Air
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')

Deer in Skates

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring an old Penny Black stamp called 'Deer in Skates'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Stack' by DCWV, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Rudolph/Reindeer
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guys - S is for ? (Skates)
• Little Red Wagon - It's a Fake (My stitching is faux)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Critters
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Spring Bunny with Daffs

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Spring Bunny with Daffs'. I stamped it on to a piece of watercolour paper, along wiith a sentiment from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image', then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The yellow gingham paper is from a pad from The Works, and the green floral paper is from a Raspberry Road pad called 'Love Lives Here' that was a magazine freebie years ago. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Easter/Spring')
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - A Bit O' Green
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')

Good Luck Cats

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Good Luck Cats'. I stamped it, along with a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual', on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper, distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Glitter & Bling or St Patrick's/Green & a Sentiment
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls - Green
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - A Bit O' Green
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesdays) - A Bit O' Green
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Shades of Green

ABC Christmas Challenge - E, F & G are for?

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

'E is for Embossing'

'F is for Focal Sentiments'

&

'G is for Girls'

The prize for the lucky winner is a gift certificate to the winner's favourite online store!

For my 'E is for Embossing' card, I used stamps from the 'Festive Flurries - Baubles & Bows' set by Creative Expressions. I stamped them on to navy card using Versamark ink, theen heat embossed them using white embossing powder. I distressed the edges a little, then added the embossed panel to a white card blank.

For my 'Focal Sentiments' card, I used my large 'Joy' die from Penny Black, cutting it from some purple mirror card. I layered it over a piece of purple snowflake covered paper from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware, then stamped a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Winter Blessings' set by Crafter's Companion in the centre of the 'O'. I distressed the edges a little, added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, matted it on to some purple card, before adding it to a white card blank.

For my 'G is for Girls' card, I inked up an old Lili of the Valley stamp from a set called 'Skating Along', stamping it on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the same set, before colouring it using watercolour pencils and matting it on to some silver mirror card. I paired it with papers from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad by Crafter's Companion and the 'Silver Bells' pad by Kaisercraft...lightly distressing all of the edges before assembling the card.

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

• Christmas Kickstart - Not the Norm (Second card only)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Seasons/Weather (Second card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Add a Sentiment') (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (Third card only)
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes (Third card only)
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stitching (Second card only)

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

Doggo & Mousy Winter Walk

Today's card features a new (to me) stamp by Purple Onion called 'Doggo & Mousy Winter Walk'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut it out. I used a snippet of snowy sky paper (from the 'Christmas' pad by Craft Sensations) for the background, adding a snippet of white card, torn along its top edge, for the snowy ground, before matting it on to some grey card and adding it to a card blank. The sentiment stamp is from an old Lili of the Valley set.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guys - CAS
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes