Skiing Henry

My lovely friend Samantha and I swapped some images and papers last week...and this adorable 'Skiing Henry' (by Whiff of Joy) was amongst them. I decided I'd use him to make a 'male' Christmas card...nice and simple, no fuss...or glitter! I used three different Cuttlebug folders for the background: 'Snowflakes', 'Snow Dots' and 'Ice Crystals'. I did ink around the edges of the layers, but it's not showing up very well in the photo. The large snowflake was cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, and the spotty ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

Challenges for this card:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Papertake Weekly - Pick your favourite challenge (Mine's 'Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!')
• Winter Wonderland - Male Christmas Card

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Easel Cards

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has been set by Renate, and she has chosen:

'Easel Cards'

I made my card to give to my Nan for Grandparent's Day, which is tomorrow here in the UK. The image is one of the adorable Lili of the Valley bears, 'Teddy with Bouquet'. I coloured him with watercolour pencils to match the bright colours of the 'Ooh La La (for Her)' papers by My Mind's Eye. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching, and some Stickles glitter glue (available here at the Secret Crafter) to the flowers on the image. On the bottom part of the card, I used a similar layout, adding a sentiment printed on my computer, and then cut out using my oval Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter).

Here's a view from the front:

I'm also entering this card into the this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge, which has a fab sketch to follow.

For more inspiration from my fabulous DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Get Well Bunny

I made this card for my Nan, who had an operation on her hand earlier this week. The image is 'Get Well Bunny' by Lili of the Valley, and the paper is from the 'Ooh La La (For Him)' collection by My Mind's Eye. I distressed the edges, and added some faux stitching. The flowers are Prima, and the rose and pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Challenges for this card:

• Simon Says Stamp - Sketch (which I've rotated)
• Papertake Weekly - Animal Magic
• Pollycraft - Cute & Cuddly
• Totally Gorjuss - Animals

Winter Pals

Another Christmas card from me today...I just don't seem to be able to get enough of them at the moment! lol
This one uses a House Mouse image (called 'Winter Pals'), that was sent to me in a RAK ages ago...I think by Kaz...but I could be wrong. I coloured with watercolours, and added some Glossy Accents to the berries, and a touch of glitter to the snow. The papers are from the 'Figgy Pudding' collection by BasicGrey, and I used my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystals' folder on the gold panel.

Challenges for this card:

• Papertake Weekly - Sketch
• Colour Create - Red, Gold & White/Cream
• Crafty Cardmakers - Clean & Simple
• Sweet Stampin' - Winter Wonderland

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find all of the details on this post.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!

It's another Christmas card today...this one uses the adorable 'Presents for 2' stamp by Lili of the Valley. I created the background using my 'Swiss Dots', 'Snowflakes' and 'Ice Crystals' Cuttlebug folders...and used my new Papermania 'Christmas Borders' folder for the snowflake strip across the bottom. I cut out the image using one of my Nesties, and used my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die for the snowflake...I cut off the ends before coating it with Galamour Dust.

Challenges for this card:

• A Spoon Full of Sugar - Sketch 
• Double Dutch - The Easy Challenge (choose your favourite challenge...I've chosen #47 - Movie Madness...and the film title...'White Christmas')
• Papertake Weekly - Just the One (I've used just one colour)
• Pink Elephant - Mostly White

Just Cute Bears - Pink & Brown

The theme of the Just Cute Bears Challenge this week, is a yummy colour combo:

'Pink & Brown'

We are sponsored this week by Wild Rose Studio...who are very generously offering the winner of this challenge two stamps of their choice!

I've used one of the Lili of the Valley 'Busy Bears' on my card...'I Baked a Cake'. The pink paper is from the My Mind's Eye 'Quite Contrary' freebie pad, the sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts, and the ribbon and flowers are from Poppicrafts.

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

• Papertake Weekly - sketch
• Paperplay - Pink to Make the Boys Wink
• Wild Orchid - One for the Girls

Do pop over and check out the creations by my lovely teamies on the Just Cute Bears Challenge.

White & Bright

It's another Christmas card today I'm afraid...but I thought that the Papertake Weekly Challenge theme of 'White & Bright' would be just perfect for a Christmas card. I followed the sketch from the Lili of the Valley Challenge...using these adorable 'Bunnies in Stocking'. I've used several Cuttlebug folders for the background: 'Swiss Dots', 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots'. The snowflake was cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, which I then coated with lots of Glamour Dust, and the sentiment stamp is from Cuddly Buddly. I'm also going to enter this card into Christmas Cards All Year Round August Challenge, where the theme is 'Snowflakes'

Not 'Til Christmas

While I was away last weekend, I took a few images to colour...well...I go couldn't go completely cold turkey now...could I?
Anyway, I've used one of them on this card...it's called 'Not 'Til Christmas' by Penny Black. I watercoloured it to match these papers by Bo Bunny ('Tis the Season') which I bought last weekend at Penrith Crafts from the lovely Sandra...well it would have been rude not to buy anything! lol
There's not much else to it...I just inked all the edges, and added a large snowflake cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die.

Of course there are some challenges:

• Papertake Weekly - 'Sketch'
• Penny Black Saturday - 'Christmas in July'
• Charisma Cardz - 'Something with a tail'
• Little Red Wagon - 'Christmas in July'
• Stamptacular Sunday - 'Christmas in July' (second entry)

Bear & Butterflies

This cards combines a few challenges: the sketch from Papertake Weekly; Crafty Creations 'We want to see you shine'; Crazy4Challenges 'Paper Flowers'; and Teddy Stampers 'Summer'. The adorable image is by Lili of the Valley ('Bear & Butterflies', and the gorgeous sparkly papers are from the 'Penny Lane' glitter stack by My Mind's Eye. The flowers are a mixture of Prima and Petaloo, and the brads are Papermania.

 

Party Princess

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday...crafting away...and this is one of the cards I made. I followed the sketch from the Sugar Bowl Challenge, and went with their optional extra of 'Girly & Feminine'. I used 'Party Princess', watercolouring her to match the yummy BasicGrey 'Bittersweet' papers. I used my 'Perfect Paisley' Cuttlebug folder to emboss the pink strip across the centre, then sanded the raised areas. I distressed the edges with inks, used an EK Sucess punch for the scalloped edge, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

 

Since we're now allowed to combine our Sugar Bowl Challenge cards with others, I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Creative Stamp Friends - Pink & Brown 
• Papertake Weekly - Ice Cream Flavours (I don't actually like ice cream, but I am partial to raspberry & chocolate frozen yoghurt...I hope that counts! lol)
• Paper Sundaes - Pretty as a Princess 
• Totally Gorguss - Sugar & Spice

Dream a Dream...

I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps ('Dream a Dream') on this card. I followed the sketch from Friday Sketchers...and it combines quite a few other challenges...so I'll list them at the end. The papers are all from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye...another of my favourite things, and I used my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' and 'Swiss Dots' folders for the embossing. The flowers are by Making Memories, and I used an EK Success punch for the scalloped border.

Other challenges entered:

• Colour Create: Light Green & Soft Aqua
• Papertake Weekly: Say it with Flowers
• Stampavie & More: Flower Power
• Teddy Stampers: Bedtime Bears

On Tiptoe

This is another of the gorgeous Lili of the Valley images my lovely friend Pauline sent to me a few weeks ago...I'm not really a 'fairy' kind of girl...but this one ('On Tiptoe') is adorable! I followed the sketch from the Creative Card Crew Challenge, and am also entering this card into the Papertake Weekly's 'Shiny, Sparkly & Special' and Creative Inspirations (Wednesdays) 'Fairies' challenges. The sparkly papers are from the 'Penny Lane' stack by My Mind's Eye, and the flowers are a mixture of Prima and Making Memories.

Very Pink!

Hmmm...I'm not sure I like this card...and I don't think it's because it's pink...it looks really plain to me...but I tried adding various embellishments...and it just didn't look 'right'...so I decided to leave it alone. I followed the Papertake Weekly sketch, and used the 'Pink & Brown' colour combo of the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge, to make a card for the Fussy & Fancy Challenge of 'Birthday with Something Sweet'. The image is from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black...I added some gloss to the chocolate icing on the cupcake...although it doesn't show up too well in the photo. The pink papers are from the 'Colourful Christmas' collection by My Mind's Eye, and they've been matted onto brown card. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

Embrace

This card uses the same papers as one of the cards I uploaded yesterday...although they were made a week apart. I've used the sketch from the Papertake Weekly Challenge, and the colour combination of 'Lilac, Grey & White' from Colour Create. The image is 'Embrace' by Penny Black, and the papers are all from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts, I used my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder for the embossing, and distressed all of the edges...for the Totally Papercrafts 'Distressing' challenge.

Wishes for Kisses

I spent ages fiddling with various combinations of papers for this week's Card Patterns Sketch...but just couldn't get it to look right...so in the end decided to keep it simple...not very 'me'...I'm usually scared of leaving white spaces! lol
The image is 'Wishes for Kisses'...which is of course by Penny Black, and the paper is from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye, the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.


I'm also going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Animal Magic
Papertake Weekly - Open Theme

Birthday Dog

After my guest designer stint at Papertake Weekly...how could I not join in with their challenge...especially when it's another of Dawny's fab sketches! It's a lovely simple sketch...which I've used for the 'Make it Manly' challenge from My Time to Craft. The image is 'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black, and the papers are by Prima Marketing. I used my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder on the light blue panel, and the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set).

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Guest Designer Card

This is my last card as a Guest Designer for the Papertake Weekly Challenge, where the challenge this week is a colour combo:

'Lemon & Lilac'

Now these aren't colours I use very often...and I was a bit worried about how they'd work...but I love the way they look together on this card. I couldn't find any suitable papers...so I decided to use plain card, and emboss with my Cuttlebug to create some texture. I used the 'Swiss Dots' and 'Victoria' folders on the lemon card, which I matted on to lilac. The image is 'Lavender Dreams', the flower (split in two, and added behind the image) is from Poppicrafts, and the pearls are from the Quixotic Paperie.

Make sure you go and check out the fabulous cards by the regular design team - thanks for having me girls, I've really loved being a part of your team! :0)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Guest Designer Card

It's time for another of my guest designer cards for the Papertake Weekly Challenge...and another of Dawny's fab sketches. I found this adorable Penny Black image ('Friendly Surprise') in amongst my box of images...and after a quick rummage through my papers...I found some scraps of this BasicGrey 'Phoebe' paper...the little bird on the image is the spitting image of the birdies on the paper...how fab is that!? I distressed the edges of all the layers of papers, and added some faux stitching with my Cutter Bee Bug, and a white gel pen. I wanted to make the paper as much of a feature as the image, so kept the embellishing to a minimum, adding just a few pearls in the corners. The sentiment stamp is by Whiff of Joy.


As always, there's more inspiration from the awesome design team over on the Papertake Weekly Challenge blog.

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Guest Designer Card

Here's the second of my four guest designer cards for the Papertake Weekly Challenge...where the theme this week is:

'Buttons, Bows, Brads & Bling!'

You can use any combination of these...or all four if you're feeling brave, like I was! lol

I decided to make a Christmas card...still managing to get at least one a week done...and went with an image from the 'Holly-Jolly' set by Penny Black. I added a star shaped brad (from Tecsos) to the top of the tree, and some Flowersoft 'snow' with some Glamour Dust mixed in for extra sparkle underneath the tree. The sparkly papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' collection by My Mind's Eye, the sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly, the buttons are from my stash, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.


For more inspiration there are some fabulous cards by the regular design team over on the Papertake Weekly Challenge...and details of this week's prize.