ABC Christmas Challenge - N & O are for?

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so we have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Samantha is the host, and we have two lovely themes:

'N is for No Peeking!'

and

'O is for Ornaments'

Samantha has a special birthday later this month...and she is celebrating with us and is very generously offering eight(!!!) prizes for eight(!!!) lucky winners:

I couldn't resist using this adorable Penny Black hedgie image for my 'No peeking!' card...he's called 'Hide-out'...and it's a good job there's not a gift underneath that box! I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then doodled a simple border using a black gel pen. The paper is from the 'Ho Ho Ho Christmas' pad by Polkadoodles, and the sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

For my 'O is for Ornaments' card, I used an Indigo Blu stamp called 'Connor's Crown Jewels. I stamped it on to a piece of teal card using Versamark Ink, then used 'Sparkling Snow' embossing glitter by WOW around the edge, and 'Metallic Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter (also by WOW) over the centre portion of the image. I trimmed the panel down, then matted it on to a piece of gold glitter card, and then on to a card blank made from the same teal card.

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

• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

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

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host, and we have three wonderful themes this month:

'E is for Embellishments'

'F is for Fabric'

&

'G is for Glitz'

Carol has donated these two awesome Hunkydory card kits as prizes for two lucky winners:

I know that I probably could have combined all three of the themes on one card, but I couldn't resist making a separate card for each one...so that's three more Christmas cards for the box!

I tend not to embellish my cards too much (especially Christmas ones that I may ending up paying to post!), but I found some simple little adhesive gemstones that I used on my first card. The image is 'Xmouse Ornament' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut it out and added the gemstones to his snowflake. I made a simple background by embossing a piece of white card using my Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Snowfall' embossing folder, adding a Lili of the Valley sentiment along the bottom. I popped the little mouse on top using some 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Fluffy 
• Allsorts - Your Favourite Season (Winter!) 
• Crafty Friends - Gemstones/Pearls 
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Whatever the Weather 
• Winter Wonderland - Fuzzy Wuzzy 

I'm also not one for using fabric on my cards...despite having quite the collection of ribbon, lace and other trims! I picked a snippet of cream coloured lace, and found a vintage-looking Lili of the Valley image (from a really old sheet of pre-coloured die cut images), and some vintage-looking papers (from the 'Mistletoe' pad by Craftwork Cards...picked up as a total bargain in a charity shop recently) to go with it. I inked around the edge of the image using 'Old Paper' Distress Ink, to take the edge off the whiteness of it and make it blend in better with the papers, then distressed all of the edges and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Layers...One or Many (Ooh, this is tough, but I'm going to go with many...more opportunity to use up those pretty papers!)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes (Optional Vintage) 
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes 
• Creative Knockouts - Lots of Layers
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Vintage 
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Red

The 'G for Glitz' theme is right up my street! I have a fairly sizable collection of the embossing glitters by WOW...and love how sparkly they are, and can make a really simple stamped image look really pretty (and impressive!). I sued a new stamp on this card...it's called 'Connor's Crown Jewels' by Indiglo Blu and I found it in the 'Bargain Bin' of a lovely 'Aladdin's Cave' of a craft shop a couple of weeks ago. There are two elements combined in the stamp...some beautiful hanging baubles and a snowy border, so I decided to try to use two different embossing glitters. I stamped the image on to a piece of black card using Versamark Ink, then carefully poured 'Sparkling Snow' embossing powder on to the snowy border part of the image, removed the excess, then covered the middle portion of the stamp with 'Metallic Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

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

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Butterfly Gift Bag

I'm taking a little break from blogging Christmas cards to share a decorated gift bag and tag that I made to match this card. I stamped the 'Big Butterfly' stamp (by IndigoBlu) several times on to a plain kraft bag using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them with 'Midnight Dream' embossing glitter by WOW. I did the same on a plain kraft tag, adding a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set).

Challenges for this bag & tag:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Happy Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Take Flight
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so that means that we have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today! I'm the host, and we have two themes:

'S is for Snow'

&

'T is for Teal'

Our sponsors this month are Wild Rose Studio



Prize - Winter Cottages A5 Stamp set


AND

Crafty Ribbons


Prize - a £10 Gift Voucher for Crafty Ribbons!

There's also a little prize from me:

On my 'S is for Snow' card, I combined snowmen from three different Penny Black stamp sets ('Snow Much Fun', 'Jolly Friends' and 'Holly-Jolly Christmas')...doodling some extra snowy ground to join them together. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added a Lili of the Valley sentiment.

For my 'T is for Teal' card, I started by stamping a sentiment (from the 'Everyday Messages' set by Happy Little Stampers) on to a piece of teal card using a white pigment ink, then heat embossing it using Sparkling Snow' embossing glitter by WOW. I then stamped and embossed snowflakes (an IndigoBlu stamp called 'Snowflake Lace') around the edges in the same way.

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

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Three of Something (Three Snowmen on the first card)
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It On
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Think Big!

We have a fun new Pile It On! Challenge starting today...and the theme is:

'Think BIG!'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Angie's Digital Stamps:

Prize - 2 Digital Images of the winner's choice!

I picked one the largest single image stamps from my collection...the rather appropriately named 'Big Butterfly' by IndigloBlu. I stamped it on to some watercolour paper using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Midnight Dream' embossing glitter from WOW. I then added a large sentiment (from the 'Everyday Messages' set by Happy Little Stampers....stamped in 'Onyx Black' Versafine Ink, and then heat embossed with some clear embossing powder. I watercoloured the butterfly image using 'Black Soot' and 'Chipped Sapphire' Distress Inks, then once it was dry splattered some of the same inks watered down over the top. I distressed the edges a little, then added the panel to a kraft card blank.

The embossing is so sparkly and pretty in real life...so difficult to photograph though, but you might just be able to see if you click to enlarge the photo below:

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Think Big
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Things with Wings
• Always Happy Birthday - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes (Optional Butterfly)
• Shopping Our Stash - Bugs
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - I Spy Something Beginning with 'B' (Big Blue Butterfly)

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

PS - this is my second post today...I'm a guest designer this month for the Penny Black & More Challenge...scroll down, or click here if you missed that post.

Big Butterflies

I've been meaning to play along with Darnell's Twofer Challenge since it started at the beginning of the year...but I keep on getting too distracted by my other stash to make two different cards using the same stamp/die to enter! Anyway, this month's 'Butterfly' prompt drew me in, so I've got a couple of cards made using my Indiglo Blu 'Big Butterfly' stamp to share today.

On the first card, I heat embossed the butterfly on vellum using white embossing powder, then carefully cut it out. I made a simple background from a piece of paper (from the 'Paper Hearts' pad by Crate Paper), distressing the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a sentiment (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, then matted it on to a piece of grey card. I added the butterfly off centre, then trimmed it to meet the edge of the card. 

I used one of my favourite techniques on the second card...watercolour stamping. I used several shades of blue Distress Inks...Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Salty Ocean & Tumbled Glass...inking the same butterfly stamp, then spritzing it with water before stamping it on to watercolour paper. I added a sentiment (from the 'Everyday Sentiments' set), then trimmed the panel down to fit a DL card blank. Once again, I distressed the edges and added some faux stitching.

Challenges for these cards:

• Allsorts - In the Pink (Just the first card) 
• As You Like It - Favourite Pink or Blue (Although I've made one of here in the post...it's the blue one that's most 'me'...I love all shades of blue)
• Fussy & Fancy - Blues (Just the second card)
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes (Just the second card)
• Stamping Sensations - Close to Nature
• Twofer - Butterflies

Kaleidoscopic Butterflies

Today I have a simple birthday card, with matching gift bag and tag to share. I used my IndigoBlu 'Big Butterfly' stamp, stamped in white pigment ink on kraft, then heat embossed using Stampendous 'Kaleidoscope' embossing powder on all three items. On the card I added a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set), and lightly distressed the edges.

The embossing powder gives a really pretty multi-coloured sparkle...virtually impossible to photograph, but lovely in real life! 

And the matching bag & tag (sentiment stamp from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual):

Challenges for these items:

• Aud Sentiments - Add a Birthday Sentiment
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Bag or Box with Matching Tag
• Stamping Sensations - One for the Girls

Snowflake Lace

I have a Christmas card to share today that I found recently in the 'bargain bin' of a lovely little craft shop...it's called 'Snowflake Lace' by Indigo Blu. I stamped it using Versamark Ink, then added a few different shades of blue WOW embossing glitter to create an ombre effect...starting from the top: Vintage Peacock, Midnight Dream & Silent Night. I added a stamped sentiment (from the 'Merriest Wishes' set by Hero Arts), heat embossed it using clear embossing powder, and lightly distressed the edges.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - Your Favourite Colour (Blue)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Big Butterflies

I have another couple of cards using my (fairly) new 'Big Butterfly' stamp by Stampendous to share today. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to use a white or a kraft card base...so I made one of each! I started by stamping a music background stamp (by Hero Arts/BasicGrey) in 'Old Paper' (on the white) and 'Pumice Stone' (on the kraft) Distress Inks. I then stamped the butterfly over the top, using Versamark Ink, before heat embossing them using embossing glitters from WOW...I used 'Vintage Amethyst' on the white, and 'Vintage Peacock' on the kraft. Finally, I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set by Hero Arts.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

Challenges for these cards:

• Allsorts - Something Beginning with B (Butterfly)
• As You Like It - Favourite Way to Add a Sentiment (I like to stamp mine directly on the card base...this has definitely become less stressful since I got my Tim Holtz stamp platform!)
• Clean & Simple on Friday - One Layer Wonder
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Birthdays)
• Dream Valley - Things with Wings
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make Your Own Background
• Stamps +Fun = Creativity - Glitter
• Sweet Stampers - Things with Wings

Sparkly Dragonflies

I have a couple of simple thank you cards to share today...featuring another new stamp...the 'Dragonfly Dinkie' by Indigo Blu. I was using it to test another new WOW embossing glitter...called 'Sensational Sage'...so I stamped it on to white and black card to see how the colour showed up. I inked around the edges of the panels, then embossed those too. I stamped and embossed the sentiments too...they're from the 'Heartfelt Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Pile It On! Challenge - Thank You and/or Black & White

It's the third Sunday of the month, so that means we have some more inspiration and an additional theme for this month's Pile It On! Challenge where the themes are:

'Thank You'
and/or
'Black, White & a Pop of Colour'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Sasayaki Glitter

Prize - 1 Digital Image

I heat embossed my 'Floral Dream' background stamp by Stampendous using  'Coral Reef' embossing glitter by WOW...it's so sparkly in real life! I trimmed it down, then matted the panel on to some black card. I stamped a sentiment (from a set that came free with a magazine) in white pigment ink on a snippet of black card, then heat embossed it using white powder. I popped the sentiment up using some 3D foam pads, then added everything to my white card base.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Thank You and/or Black, White & a Pop of Colour
• Daring Cardmakers - Black, White & a Pop of Colour
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sparkles Forum - Thank You

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Thank You!

It's the first Sunday of the month, so that means that we have a fun new Pile It On! Challenge starting today...the theme is:

'Thank You'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Sasayaki Glitter

Prize - 1 Digital Image

I used my new 'Big Butterfly' stamp from Stampendous again on my card...in fact I made it at the same time as these ones I blogged last week...but used a different technique. I started by stamping the butterfly on to watercolour paper using Versafine 'Smokey Gray' ink. I then used Distress Inks (Wild Honey, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Broken China and Mermaid Lagoon) to watercolour the image. I added a sentiment (from the 'Heartfelt Wishes' set by Hero Arts), also stamped in 'Smokey Gray' ink, and distressed the edges of the watercolour paper a little before mounting it on to my card blank.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Thank You
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Artistic Stamper - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

Sparkly Big Butterflies

I've been playing with some lovely new crafty goodies...and made a trio of cards using the 'Big Butterfly' stamp from Stampendous. I had a quick 'Google' for inspiration, and found this beautiful card by Chrissie...which I totally had to CASE! I stamped the butterfly on to some watercolour paper in Versamark Ink, using my Tim Holtz stamping platform and new 'Creative Corners' from Misti. I then heat embossed in various embossing glitters from WOW. I watercoloured each butterfly using complimentary colours of Distress Ink, then added a sentiment stamp from a magazine freebie set, using Memento 'Smokey Gray' ink. (I've listed the embossing powders & Distress Ink colours used underneath each card).

Embossing glitter: 'Under the Sea' by WOW

Distress Inks: Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Gathered Twigs & Black Soot

Embossing Glitter: 'Gold Metallic Sparkle' by WOW

Distress Inks: Wild Honey, Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye & Gathered Twigs

Embossing Glitter: 'Vintage Peacock' by WOW

Distress Inks: Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Gathered Twigs & Black Soot

Challenges for these cards:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Glitter
• AAA Cards - Sparkle
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes