Christmas Bells

I have another couple of Christmas cards to share today...both made using a Docrafts stamp called 'Christmas Bell'. I stamped on to black card using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed one using 'Metallic Silver Sparkle' and the other using 'Metallic Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter by WOW. I added some 'greenery' using one of the small stamps in the set and some 'Emerald City' embossing glitter (also by WOW)...and a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous), before matting the panels on to coordinating silver and gold glitter card.

Challenges for these cards:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Less is More - Metallics
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

O' Christmas Tree

I have a Christmas card to share today using another stamp found in a charity shop last weekend...it's a simple line of trees by Whispers/Docrafts. It's rather large, so I stamped it directly on to a DL card blank, then simply coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Christmas + a Sentiment
• CAS on Friday - Christmas in July
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Christmas in July

Christmas Tags

I have a set of simple Christmas tags to share today...using a set of stamps from Papermania. I simply stamped them on to kraft tags using black ink, then added some highlights using a white gel pen, and a Wink of Stella pen. Then I replaced the string on the tags with some red and white baker's twine. These were really quick and simple to make...there are twenty in total.

Challenges for these tags:

• Allsorts - All Sentimental
• Christmas Stampin' - Set of Tags
• Inky Impressions - Tags
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Wrap It up

Pile It On! Challenge - For a Princess

This week at Pile It On!, our challenge theme is:

'For a Princess'

Our sponsor this week is:

A Day for Daisies (will add prize info later).

I've used a Gorjuss Girl image on my card...it was an image sent to me ages ago in a swap, and I can't find her at Funky Kits, so I can't tell you what her name is unfortunately. I coloured her using watercolour pencils to match the bright Bo Bunny 'Love Bandit' papers I've used. I distressed the edges of the papers, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut a couple of flowers from the papers using my Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Tattered Florals' die, and attached them with a sparkly brad from Craft Obsessions. The sentiment was a freebie stamp (came with a Docrafts magazine)...and is perfect for a Birthday Princess with it's little crowns, and I added some extra sparkle with some pink adhesive gems.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - For a Princess
• Card Makin' Mamas - Hearts (On her dress & the papers)
• Crafts & Me - Birthdays
• Crafty Catz - 3 Embellishments (Flower, Brad & Gems), 2 Papers & 1 Image
• Crafty Sentiments - Sparkles
• Cupcake Crafts - Flowers
• Cute Card Thursday - Stitching
• Love to Create - Handmade Flowers
• Stamping Boutique - Anything Birthday

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

Aqua Flowers

You may (or not) remember me saying that I'd won a prize in the Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine's 'Cardmaker of the Year' competition...you can see my winning card on this post....well...my prize arrived yesterday:

Such a lot of lovely Penny Black stamps....I think I'm in heaven! lol

I couldn't resist having a little play, and got a little inky making a card for this week's Less is More challenge using a couple of my new stamps. I blended some 'Tumbled Glass' Distress Ink on some plain white card, then stamped the background stamp ('Circular Design') over it using the same ink. I stamped the flower ('Sundial') a couple of times in black ink, adding a little extra shading to the petals using the ink and a waterbrush, then cut them out and layered up some of the petals. To echo the line drawing style of the flower, I added a doodled border with a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp was a freebie with a Docrafts magazine.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Free & Easy
• Challenge Up Your Life - Monochrome
• Crazy Challenge - Flowers
• Less is More - Aqua
• Totally Stampalicious - Clean & Simple

Quick & Simple Christmas

I've made another Christmas card...well...one of my New Year's resoltions is to make my Christmas cards all year round again...so I'm afraid that (hopefully) you'll be seeing lots more unseasonal cards fom me! This was a really quick and simple card to make...I'd been working on new music arrangements all day, but just had to squeeze in some crafting in the evening. The ornament stamp is from the Forever Friends 'A Winter's Tale' set...and when I first saw it I thought it would look good simply stamped with a ribbon bow tied over the top, to make it look like they're hanging from the ribbon, so that's what I did! I coloured the baubles using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle with a Sakura Stardust pen. The gingham ribbon is from Hobbycraft, and the sentiment is from a 'Me to You' set that came free with a DoCrafts mag.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Craft - Resolutions (One of my crafting ones is to make Christmas cards all year round)
• Cute Card Thursday - What's New? (The image & sentiment stamps are both new)
• Incy Wincy - Anything Goes
• My Mum's Craft Shop - Something New (New stamps)
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes & Optional New (The stamps are both new)
• Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Something New (New stamps)
• Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

First Christmas Card of 2012!

Guess what I did yesterday? Yep that's right...made a start on this year's Christmas cards! Well, it's never too early...I plan to make them all year round again...and besides, I got some new stash for Christmas! The image I've used is from the Forever Friends 'A Christmas Tale' set...which was a Christmas present...I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the My Mind's Eye 'Countdown to Christmas' papers. I added the faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug & a white gel pen. The snowflakes were cut from kraft using Marianne Designs & Cuttlebug dies, and the sentiment is from a 'Me to You' set that came free with a Docrafts mag. The spotty buttons (also a Christmas gift) are from a 'Neighbourwood' set by Helz Cuppleditch, and the baker's twine is from the Ribbon Girls.

Challenges for this card:

• Forever Friends - Sketch
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non-traditional Colours (Teal)
• Crafty Catz - Santa's Hat (On the dog)
• Creative Friday's - It's Cold Outside
• Crimbo Crackers - Snowflakes
• My Time to Craft - Winter Pals
• Paper Sundaes - Some Old (The MME papers) & Something New (The FF stamp & buttons)
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Some Old (The MME papers) & Something New (The FF stamp & buttons)
• Squirrel & the Fox - Something New (The FF stamp & buttons)
• Totally Gorjuss - Happy

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Make a Tag

Today's challenge is the last one for the year over at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and our theme is:

'Make a Tag'

The prize for the lucky winner...from the PSBC DT is this lovely bundle of stash:

I used the stamp 'Holly & Globe' on my tag...stamping it with Distress Inks using the watercolour technique...stamping some of the sprays of holly over the edges of the tag too. I blended 'Tumbled Glass'  ink around the images, theen inked around the edges of the tag with 'Brushed Corduroy'. The string is from Ikea, and the sentiment stamp is from a set that came free with a Docrafts magazine.

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

• Anything Goes - Anything but a card (with optional tags for Christmas)
• Charisma Cardz - Last Minute Xmas
• Crafts & Me - Christmas
• Creative Stamp Friends - Christmas
• PaperPlay - Christmas
• Paper Sundaes - Anything Christmas
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas
• Stamp with Fun - Gift Wrapping

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

Twinkle, Twinkle

I have another all white card today...I love how quick these are to make...no faffing about choosing papers...or matching patterns & colours! lol The image is from the 'Holly-Jolly' set...which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the stars and snow. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Snowflakes' & 'Ice Crystals' folders, and the little starry border one is by Papermania for the embossing.

Challenges for this card:

• Bah! Humbug! - Cute Christmas Critters 
• Crafts & Me - Winter (Snow/Snowflakes)
• Creative Inspirations - Snow/Snowflakes
• Forever Friends - White & Sparkles
• For Fun - Christmas Sparkle
• Simon Says Stamp - Christmas Photomontage Inspiration
• Stamp with Fun - Sketch

ABC Christmas Challenge - U is for...

I'm back with some more inspiration or our current ABC Christmas Challenge:

'U is for Unused Stash'

We want to you use something that you haven't used before on your projects this time...it can be something you've been saving for a special card...you know...only taking it out occasionally to admire/stroke...or something you've just bought...there are lots of lovely new Christmas collections being released at the moment...or maybe there's something in your stash that you have for absolutely ages but have never got around to using...now is your chance!

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge...as it's our first challenge of the month, we have Simon Says Stamp:

The prize is a $15 gift certificate to spend in the amazing Simon Says Stamp store!

And...if that's not enough...we are excited to welcome a new sponsor to our challenges...Bugaboo Stamps!

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis of the winner's choice...wowee!!!

Ok...so I had another rummage through my stash, and found this cute little stamp set:

It came free with a craft mag about a year ago...and until recently, it was still attached to the front on the magazine...so I thought it was about time I actually used it! I chose the pile of presents stamp...which I coloured using watercolour pencils, then added the sentiment from the set underneath. I'm not sure what brand the papers are...they were a gift from my lovely friend Samantha...but I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and added a snowflake cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, topped with a button threaded with some twine.

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

• Sketch & Stash - Sketch (The image & sentiment stamps are my much neglected stash)
• Top Tip Tuesday - Layer It Up

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

Roses for you

This is my card for this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge (a fab sketch), and as my image (from the 'Hugs' set) has roses on it, I'm also entering this for this week's One Stop Craft's 'Roses' challenge. The papers are a mixture of BasicGrey 'Blush' (top piece), and My Mind's Eye 'Adore' (bottom piece). I used my 'Perfect Paisley' Cuttlebug folder on a piece of Core'dinations card, then lightly sanded it to reveal some of the core. The sentiment is from a set that came free with Docrafts Creativity mag, the swirl is a Whiff of Joy stamp, and the flowers and ribbon are from Poppicrafts.

I've been published!

A couple of months ago, a card of mine was 'spotted' by Clare Curd in my Docrafts Gallery...and she asked me if I'd like to take part in her 'Talent Spot' feature in the Docrafts Creativity magazine...I was extremely flattered to be asked, and of course I said yes! A few days later, a package arrived filled with Docrafts goodies...Papermania papers, trims and brads, Core'dinations card, Anita's ribbons and glitter stickers, and some card blanks...with the brief to make 3 cards using only those products. Eeeek! I rarely make a card without some form of stamping, so this was a real challenge! lol

I did eventually manage to make three cards...although they've only shown two of them in the magazine feature (I'm quite pleased that they didn't show them all, as I didn't really like the other one! lol).

Well, the magazine is out now...and here's the feature (I'm in the middle of the page):


Here's a close up of my cards (and me!):


I took my own photos of the cards before I sent them off, so here are a couple of better views. The first one uses a selection of papers from the 'Jesse Edwards Boutique' range for Papermania. I made a 'gift box' out of a couple of pieces, mounted on 3D foam pads, with some of the Anita's satin ribbon tied in a bow. For the background, I used more of the papers layered up on a scalloped card blank, with some brads in the corners and some doodled faux stitching around the edge.


I used some more of the papers on the second card, together with some Coredinations card to make a 'lollipop' flower - I drew circles onto the reverse of the paper/card then tore around the lines, then I screwed them up and creased them to create a distressed look. I used a deckled edge card blank, and tore all of the edges of the card and paper layered up behind the flower which was attached using a brad. To finish, I added a length of one of the sparkly trims, and a greeting made from the glitter stickers.


The other card in the feature is the one that was 'spotted' by Clare in the Docrafts gallery...it did make an appearance on my blog a couple of months ago...so here's a link if you want any details.


Thanks Clare and Docrafts for asking me to take part...I had great fun creating the cards...and I still have some goodies left to play with! ;0)

Docrafts Card Kit Swap...Part 2

I made this card with the lovely kit sent to me by my Docrafts Card Kit Swap partner...Alison13...a fabby Penny Black image, some of the new 'Blueberry Hill' papers by Papermania, some paper flowers, and some gems. I kept the layout quite simple, as this is a smaller card (5inch square), than I'm used to making. I inked the edges of all the papers with fluid chalks, and added a bit of faux stitching around the edges of the papers.

...and here's the card Alison made for me with the same items...

This swap is so much fun...it's great seeing what other crafters do with exactly the same items.

Docrafts Card Kit Swap meets the Secret Crafter

There's a new(ish) swap over on the Docrafts forum, where you make a card, then send the card (sealed in an envelope), along with an identical set of 'bits'n'pieces' that you used to make your card, to your partner, and they do the same. You then make a card with the 'bits' you're sent, open the card your partner made, and then compare. I took part for the first time this month, as I thought it sounded like fun, and this is the result:

As I've added some faux-stitching, I'm entering this card for this week's Secret Crafter Challenge.

The card on the right is the card my partner made with the same items - I think it's really interesting to see how people can use the same items and get really different end results!

And this is the card that I sent to her:

The papers are by K&Co ('Roam'), the image is Penny Black (from the 'Hugs' set), the flowers are from Poppicrafts, the sentiment is a Whiff of Joy stamp, and the raffia lace is from Hobbycraft.

Elegant card for Julie's Blog Candy

Julie has challenged us all to make an elegant card featuring a flower that we've made ourselves, in order to be in with a chance of winning the fabulous candy she's offering to celebrate her first blogoversary. I've been a fan of Julie's cards, since I discovered her gallery on the Docrafts forum, and have taken inspiration for this card from her simple yet elegant style. I've tried something different with my Cuttlebug, embossing the top and bottom of the white panel with the 'Swiss Dots' folder, then scored lines across to mark a channel to tie the ribbon around (from Hobbycraft), and another for the sentiment (free stamp with the latest Docrafts 'Creativity Life' magazine).

I made my flower using the three smallest scalloped circle Nesties, cutting out segments to make the petals, then embossing with the 'Swiss Dots' folder, and the shaping with my fingers, before layering them up and attaching with a brad (I didn't have any black ones, so I changed the colour using ink and embossing powder). Here's a close up showing the flower in more detail:

You still have time to make your card for Julie's candy, as the deadline is this Saturday.