ABC Christmas challenge - P, Q & R are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...I'm the host, and the themes are:

'P is for Penguins'

'Q is for Quartet' (Four of Something)

&

'R is for Rectangles'

The prize for the lucky winner is this Sheena Douglas 'Baubles Baby' festive embossing folder:

For my 'P is for Penguins' card, I used an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Penguin Pals'. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, added a sentiment from the 'It's Penguinning' set by Crafter's Companion, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used papers from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad from Craftwork Cards for the background...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug.

For my 'Q is for Quartet' card, I combined four robin stamps from Penny Black sets - 'Christmas Hugs', 'Snow Much Fun' and 'Jolly Friends'. I stamped them onto a piece of watercolour paper, used a black fine liner to draw draw the 'ground', then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

For my 'R is for Rectangles' card, I started by stamping one of the images from the Penny Black 'Candlelight' set onto a rectangle of black card using Versamark ink, then I heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the Funky Fossil 'Festive Phrases' set, embossing that in gold to match, then I watercoloured the image using Cosmic Shimmers watercolours. I matted the panel onto a rectangle of gold mirror card, before adding it to a DL card blank.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Third card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - P & Q (P is for Penguins) (First card only)
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something with Wings (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Clean & Simple (Third card only)

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

Outline Snowflakes

Today's card features a Simon Says Stamp background stamp called 'Outline Snowflakes'. I stamped it onto a piece of black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic silver embossing powder from WOW, the coloured it using Cosmic Shimmers watercolours. I heat embossed a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Festive Phrases' set from Funky Fossil, on some more black card, then used one of my Circle Nesties to cut it out. I cut a mat from some silver mirror card using the matching scalloped circle die, then added it onto the background, matting that onto some more silver mirror card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Cut It Up - Emboss It
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make Your Own Background
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - J & K are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...I'm the host, and the themes are:

'J is for Just Enough' (CAS)

&

'K is for Knitwear'

The prize for the lucky winner is this 'Doe A Deer' A6 stamp set from Creative Expressions:

For my 'J is for Just Enough' card, I made a really simple one-layer card. I stamped an unbranded bauble stamp directly onto a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it in white. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Bubble Mini Baubles' set by Wooware, heat embossing it in white to match.

For my 'K is for Knitwear' card, I used three of the cute bears from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped them onto snippets of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I stamped a sentiment using one of the stamps from the same set onto a kraft card blank, then added the bears popped up on 3D foam pads.

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

• Allsorts - Monochrome (First card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Embossing (Wet or Dry) and/or Flowers + Sentiment (First card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Cute Creatures (Second card only)

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

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

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

'E is for Elves'

'F is for Foliage'

&

'G is for Gems'

The prize for the lucky winner is these two stamp sets:

For my 'E is for Elves' card, I used a sweet Penny Black stamp called 'Bauble Balance'. I stamped it, along with the matching sentiment from the set, onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

For my 'F is for Foliage' card, I started by stamping a lovely background stamp by Julie Hickey called 'Holly Jolly Christmas' onto a snippet of black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment, from the 'Festive Phrases' set by Funky Fossil, in gold, on another snippet of black card to match, then coloured all of the leaves and berries using Cosmic Shimmers mica pigments mixed with a little water. I distressed the edges, then layered the sentiment on top, before adding it to a white card blank.

For my 'G is for Gems' card, I went all out with the bling! I used a Woodware stamp called 'Trio of Trees', stamping it onto some smooth white card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils (although I didn't use any water). I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Wintertime Messages' set by Hero Arts, then carefully placed adhesive gems onto the trees - there were little 'circles' representing trim or lights strung around each tree. I matted it onto some green card, then added it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Glitter/Bling and/or St. Patrick's Green + Sentiment (Third card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - E & F are for (Elf & Foliage - First & Second cards only)
• Fab 'N' Funky - Shades of Green (Third card only)
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - A Bit O'Green (Third card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make It Cute (First card only)

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

PBSC February - Anything Goes (Optional 'Romance')...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

'Romance'

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

I picked a cute pup from the 'Critter Party' set (an oldie, but a goodie), and stamped him directly onto a kraft card blank. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Furry Friends' set by Funky Fossil.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Cute or Elegant (Cute for me...especially Penny Black critters - they were what got me into cardmaking)
• CAS on Friday - Cute
• Crafty Calendar - Love is in the Air
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Something You Love (Penny Black critters, CAS one layer cards, kraft card)
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - No Designer Papers
• The Male Room - CAS

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

Pink Christmas

I have a very pink Christmas card to share today...that features one of the cute bears from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it onto a piece of pink snowy paper from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware, then added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the same set. I matted it onto a piece of pink card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Addicted to CAS - Sweater
• As You Like It - Favourite Card Shape, Square or Not? (Square for me...often with another square on top! There's plenty of space for larger images, and they also look good when used for a more empty CAS style)
• Crafty Chicks - Christmas
• Creative Knockouts - Outside Fun
• Inkspirational - Seasonal
• Jingle Belles - Pink Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Think Pink
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Bright & Colourful
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - P, Q & R are for?

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

'P is for Pastels'

'Q is for Quick'

&

'R is for Robins'

There are some lovely Newton's Nook goodies for the lucky winner:

For my 'P is for Pastels' card, I used a Forever Friends bear and snowman stamp. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad from Crafter's Companion, and the 'Snowscape' pad from Woodware (the green one). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

For my 'Quick is for Quick' card, I used a Christmas tree stamp from Stamps by Chloe called 'Snowflake Tree' that I picked up in a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it directly onto a kraft card blank, along with the sentiment that came with it, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it all using white embossing powder.

It was so quick to do that I made a second matching card!

Finally, for my 'R is for Robins' card, I used a cute Woodware stamp called 'Robin Stack'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. I matted it onto red card, distressing the edges, then added it toa white DL card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Animals (Third card only)
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Creative Moments - Embossing (Second card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Include a Tree (Second card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Birds, Bees & Butterflies (Third card only)

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - J & K are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...I'm the host, and the themes are:

'J is for Jingle Bells'

&

'K is for Kraft'

The prize for the lucky winner is these Woodware stamp sets:

For my 'J is for Jingle Bells' card. I used an unbranded bell stamp...heat embossing it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW on plain black card. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, heat embossing it in gold to match, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut it out. For the background, I heat embossed a 'Holly Background' stamp from Kirtsy Wiseman using more gold embossing powder on black card. I matted that onto some gold mirror card, added  it to a white card blank then popped the 'Jingle Bells' on top.

For my 'K is for Kraft' card, I picked one of the bears from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil, and stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Second card)
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Embossing') (First card)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (First card)
• Jingle Belles - Jingle Bells (First card)
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card)
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The holly background on the first card is much neglected - this is only the second time I've used it since I got it in January 2020!)

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I are for?

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

'H is for Ho Ho Ho!'

(Santa)

&

'I is for Ice'

This is the prize for the lucky winner:

For my 'Ho Ho Ho!' card, I used stamps from the 'St. Nick' set by Jane's Doodles. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Santa's Delivery' set from the 'Christmas in Moonbeam Meadow' collection by Crafter's Companion, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Multistack' by DCWV...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

For my 'I is for Ice' card, I selected an ice skating bear stamp from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, drew a line for icy ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I stamped my 'Falling Snow' background stamp by Simon Says Stamp onto a kraft card blank using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I carefully trimmed around the top of the bear image, then added it over the top of the stamped background.

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

• Alphabet Challenge - Z is for Zoom (Second card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)

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

Snowflake Edges

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today, made using one of the stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped it along the folded edge of a smooth white card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I blended 'Broken China' Distress Ink over the top of the embossed area, then once dry added a stamped sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Festive Phrases' set by Funky Fossil.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Gals Corner - Fill in the Blank 'Snow.....' (Snowflakes)
• Little Red Wagon - A is for Anything Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Snowflakes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')

Sweater Weather

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring a cute polar bear in his Christmas jumper from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I added some strips of washi tape to a kraft card blank for a simple background, then added the bear on top using 3D foam pads. The sentiment is from the same stamp set as the bear.

Challenges for this card:

• Cutie Pie - Pink & Pretty
• Everybody Art - Sweater Weather
• Jingle Belles - Pink Christmas
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Have a Tweet Day

Today's card features one of the cute bird stamps from 'The Tweets' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped it directly on to a card blank, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured the birds using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Pun
• As You Like It - Layers or Not (Despite by fairly substantial patterned paper collection, I find myself making more one layer cards at the moment...nice & cheap to post!)
• CAS on Friday - Feathered Friends
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Animal Magic')

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Guest Designer

A little while ago I was picked as the winner of a 52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge, and as a result, I'm joining them as a Guest Designer for this week's challenge, where the theme is:

I'm rather partial to a snowman (in fact there was another snowman card in my previous blog post), and picked this adorable Penny Black one called 'Sweet Snowman' to use from my collection. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then added a sentiment using a combination of stamps from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil, and the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then matted it on to a couple of layers of coordinating card, distressing the edges a little, before adding it to a card blank.

For more inspiration from the lovely Design Team, please pop over to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Thanks for having me!

Beary Merry Christmas

I have a couple of Christmas cards to share today, made using a couple of the bear stamps from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set BY Funky Fossil and lots of paper snippets! I started by making the backgrounds...sticking snippets of watercolour effect paper (from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations, and the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works) to snippets of plain white card. I then trimmed them down to square of the edges, before running them through my Cuttlebug, embossing them with snowflakes and Christmas trees. I stamped the bears on to snippets of watercolour paper, coloured them to match their backgrounds using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I heat embossed one of the sentiments from the stamp set in white on snippets of black card, then added those and the bears on to the backgrounds using 3D foam pads. I matted both on to more black card before adding them to white card blanks.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

Challenges for these cards:

• As You Like It - Bugs, Feathers or Fur (Fur for me - I'm not fussing what sort of furry critter, but I'd sooner have something furry, than creepy-crawly or anything that flies!)
• Christmas With the Cuties - CAS
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Ellibelles Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Leftovers (I save every off-cut of pretty paper...no matter how small...I can always find some use for them!)
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Just the panda card)

Stay Curious!

Today's card features a cute little dog stamp by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company called 'Stay Curious!'. I stamped it, along with it's matching sentiment, on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I used a fun 'Bones' stencil from Funky Fossil for the background, inking directly on to a kraft card blank using 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Favourite Cats or Dogs (Dogs for me - growing up we always had a dog or dogs...mostly Golden Retrievers, which is why I nearly always colour dog images this way)
• Cutie Pie - Something Beginning with B (Bones (and Bottom!))
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sparkles Forum - One for the Boys

Polar Pair

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Polar Pair'. I stamped it directly on to a white card blank, added a sentiment from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - Holidays (I went with Christmas)
• Christmas with the Cuties - Festive Bears
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Little Red Wagon - Something You Love (CAS Christmas cards - cheap to post!)
• My Time to Craft - CAS Style Layout
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas in July