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

Indian Summer

Today's card is something a little different for me...no cute image...shock horror! lol

I recieved this gorgeous stamp ('Irises' by Penny Black) in the post at the weekend...it was a prize I won on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge a while back - thanks girls! I have quite a few lot of Penny Black stamps in my collection, but they are nearly all 'cuties' and there's only one floral stamp amongst them...and not any of the 'brushstroke' type ones, so I was eager to have a play with this one straight away!

I've made this card for the 'Indian Summer' themed Penny Black Staurday Challenge. I took my inspiration from the gorgeous BasicGrey paper...from the rather appropriately named 'Indian Summer' collection. I stamped the image using Versamark on to some red paper, then embossed it with opaque white powder, to imitate the pattern on the backing paper. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamond punch for the border across the centre of the card, and along the bottom of the image, and added a sentiment from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Other challenges for this card:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Allsorts - Plain & Simple

Par Avion!

 This card combines the sketch from Friday Sketchers, and the 'Spots & Stripes' theme of the Charisma Cardz Challenge. The image is a Penny Black stamp called 'Par Avion'...I love those chooks! lol The sparkly papers are all from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye, and the sentiment was done on computer.

I'll be back with another Christmas card tomorrow for the ABC Christmas Challenge...where we have something really exciting for you...but I'm not allowed to tell...it's a secret! ;0)

Presents for 2

I'm still managing to make at least one Christmas card a week...got a lovely big box full already! lolI followed the sketch from Friday Sketchers for this one...using an adorable Lili of the Valley bear ('Presents for 2'). The papers are from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye...the plain colours have been embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders...perfect for Susie & Vikki's Christmas Club 'Snowflakes' challenge. I sanded the raised areas to bring out the detail, and then distressed the edges with my distressing tool...so I'm also going to enter this card into the Crazy Challenge, where the theme is 'Distress It!'. The snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die.

 

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

Gorjuss Wisteria

I've had these BasicGrey 'Wisteria' papers for ages...since my birthday last August...but they're sooooo gorgeous, it's taken me this long to cut into them! lol
But when I saw the fab photo inspiration on the Paper Sundaes Challenge...I thought they'd be perfect. I followed the Friday Sketchers sketch...although I did miss off the sentiment...I hope that's ok? The image is 'Bumble Bee' by Sugar Nellie, the flowers are by Prima...and I added a touch of sparkle with a Sakura Stardust pen (on her wings) and some Stickles glitter glue (flowers). I'm also going to enter this card into the Totally Gorjuss 'Hearts' challenge - there are some on her dress....if you look closely! lol

Easter Bunnies

I think I can just about see a patch of blue sky out of the window this morning...perhaps Spring is finally on it's way! lol
I've used the sketch from Friday Sketchers to make another Easter card...the image is part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp by Penny Black...I just love the way these two are looking at each other! :0)
The papers are from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye...and I embossed the green one with my 'Swiss Dots' folder. The organza ribbon (from Poppicrafts) is 'spotty' too...although it doesn't show up too well in the photo...so I'm also entering this card into the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Spots & Dots' challenge...and I hope that my pink & green colour combo is 'Springy' enough for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge too. The flowers are a mixture of Prima & Poppicrafts, the brads are BasicGrey, and the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts.

Hope all you Mum's out there are enjoying Mother's Day! :0)

Long Stem Cuties

I've had this image ('Long Stem Cuties' by Penny Black) in my box of stamped images for absolutely ages...so long, in fact that I can't remember who sent it me...but thank you whoever you are, as it was just perfect for this card! I followed the Friday Sketchers sketch, and took inspiration from the gorgeous photo of the rose on Simon Says Stamp Challenge. I've made this card for my parents wedding anniversary...it's not 'til May, but I do like to be organised! lol Anyway, if I put it on my blog now, my Mum will have forgotten that she's already seen it by the time I give it to them! So I'm also entering it for: the Penny Black Saturday Challenge to make a card for 'Someone Special'; the One Stop Craft Challenge to personalise our projects (if you look closely, you'll see that I've hand written 'Mum & Dad' on the label on the rose); and the Papertake Weekly Challenge, where the theme this week is 'Love'.
The papers are by Mind's Eye ('Adore'), the sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly, and the lace is from Hobbycraft.

Christmas Bunnies

I love this Lili of the Valley stamp ('Christmas Bunnies - Stocking')...and with their cosy woolly hats, these bunnies are perfect for this week's Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential Challenge where the theme is 'Hats On!'. I followed the Friday Sketchers Challenge sketch, using yet more BasicGrey 'Eskimo Kisses' papers, and some Cuttlebug snowflakes (which have been coated with Glamour Dust) in place of the circles on the sketch.

Jingle Bells

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge is having a 'Countdown to Christmas' blog hop this week...so naturally I had to join in the fun and make a card for their 'Winter Wonderland' themed challenge. I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge, and also managed to squeeze in a few other challenge themes on to my card: the Allsorts Challenge to use a 'Christmas Song Title' (in my case 'Jingle Bells'); the Creative Inspirations 'Sparkle' challenge (I covered the snowflakes have been coated with glamour dust, and I used Stickles on the hedgie's hats and snow); and the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Snowflakes' theme. The sledging hedgies image is from the 'Christmas Critters' set (of course by Penny Black), and the paper is by Pebbles Inc. I embossed the blue card using my Cuttlebug 'Snow Dots' folder, then highlighted the detail with a white chalk inkpad. The snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, the sentiment stamp is by Studio G, pearl brad is Papermania, and the ribbon, and 'jingle bells' are from Hobbycraft.

White Christmas

I love this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge sketch...I'm sure it will be one I'll use again and again. I combined it with the Colour Create Challenge to make an 'All White' card...although we are allowed to use colour on the image. I've used a Lili of the Valley stamp ('Christmas Bunnies - Robin')...coloured with watercolour pencils...with a touch of glitter on the fur and snow. For the background, I've used my 'Swiss Dots', 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' Cuttlebug folders on plain white card, distressing the edges to add definition to the layers. Because of all of the embossed snowflakes, I'm also going to enter his card for the Creative Card Crew's 'Snowflakes' challenge. The ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Stocking Full of Bunnies

When I saw the 'Christmas Stocking' theme for this week's Winter Wonderland challenge...I knew straight away that I just had to use this cute Lili of the Valley stamp. I followed the Friday Sketchers sketch, and used the BasicGrey Challenge colour combination of 'Green, Red & Blue'. The papers, and the diecut star are all from the BasicGrey 'Figgy Pudding' collection pack.

Ornamental Mouse

I've used one of my favourite Christmas colour combinations of teal & silver on this card...together with this adorable little mouse ('Xmouse Ornament' by Penny Black). I followed the Friday Sketchers sketch...keeping to the DL shape. I've combined it with the 'Buttons & Bows' theme of the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...well, in my case it's actually 'Buttons & Bow'! lol
The gorgeous snowflake paper is by My Mind's Eye ('Festive Frost'), and the lighter turquoise paper is the reverse of one of the 'Figgy Pudding' sheets by BasicGrey, which I've embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder, then sanded to reveal the white core. The little silver snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and the buttons are by Papermania - they were clear, but I coated them with some clear nail varnish, before sprinkling them with glamour dust for a touch of sparkle.

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.

XMouse Ornament

This is one of the cards I made during my crafting marathon yesterday...it fits three challenges: I used the Friday Sketchers sketch; the 'Lace & Pearls' theme of the Penny Black Saturday Challenge; and the 'Snowflakes in September' theme of the Allsorts Challenge. The cute little mouse is 'XMouse Ornament' by Penny Black and the snowflakes paper is by My Mind's Eye (from the 'Festive Frost' pack). I embossed the silver card using my 'Snowflakes' folder, the lace is from Hobbycraft, I cut the snowflakes using a Cuttlebug die, and the adhesive pearls are from my stash.

Friday Sketchers #66

There's a fab sketch for this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge...which I've used to make another Christmas card. The image is from the 'Holly-Jolly' set by Penny Black...I just love their cute snowmen ;0) The papers are by Pebbles Inc, and the snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes #2' die...and I couldn't resist adding a little bit of sparkle to the centre of each one. There's a touch of Woodware 'Fluffy Stuff' on the bobble on his hat, and underneath where he's standing.

Bunny Friends

I've used this week's Friday Sketcher's sketch to make my 'Summery' Penny Black Challenge card. I used part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp for the image, and papers by My Mind's Eye ('29th Street Market'). The flowers are from Poppicarfts, the brads are Papermania, and the sentiment was cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet.