Skating Snowy

I have a scenic Christmas card to share today, featuring a Penny Black image called 'Skating Snowy'. I made him a snowy background using a mixture of stamping and die cutting. For the sky, I smooshed 'Broken China, Salty Ocean, Stormy Sky & Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks on to some watercolour paper, then stamped and heat embossed my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp using 'Sparkling Snow' embossing powder from WOW. I used a mixture of Taylored Expressions 'Mountain Tops' and Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside Border' dies on snippets of white card...distressing the top edges a little to add some definition. I used more smooshed Distress Inks for the trees (Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss & Peeled Paint), then cut them using a Marianne Designs die. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...this month Lisa is the host and we have two fun themes for you:

'S is for Sketch'

(Use a sketch from a current challenge)

&
'T is for Trio'

(Feature three of something)

Our sponsors this month are:

Bugaboo Stamps

Prize - 4 Images of the Winner's Choice!

&

Crafty Ribbons

Prize - £10 Voucher!

I followed the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday challenge on my first card:

I decided to make an all white card, adding some texture with some embossing folders (Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Feather Illusion' (border) and Sizzix 'Snowflakes'). I cut the snowflakes using Marianne Designs dies, and the sentiment was made using stamps from the 'Graffiti' alphabet set by Paper Smooches.

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

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Cardmakers - Monochrome
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch #479

My second card features a 'trio' of chickens...it's a stamp by Penny Black called 'Par Avion' which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from a Christmas with Barkley set by Crafter's Companion.

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

• AAA Cards - All Creatures Great & Small
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Clean & Simple
• Gem of a Challenge - Use Kraft
• Penny Black & More - Get Ready for Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies...including our lovely new member Sharon...please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Xmas Crafts

I have a Christmas card to share today featuring another stamp that I picked up in a charity shop last week...it's called 'Xmas Crafts' by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and paired it with some glittery papers from the 'Recollections - Simply Stated' pad by Michaels (found at TK Maxx). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Cuttlebug and Marianne Designs dies, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Lots of Layers
• Incy Wincy - So, So Cute!
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Cute Christmas

Let it Snow!

I have a Christmas card to share today that I made over the Christmas/New Year break. I re-discovered an embossing powder in my stash...'Peppermint Stick' by Sparkle N Sprinkle...and tried it out stamping and heat embossing some snowflakes (a Hero Arts stamp) on to some watercolour paper ('smooshed' with various blue Distress Inks). I die cut some snowflakes from snippets of white card using Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies...then gave them a generous coating of the embossing powder too...it's a really pretty mixture of super sparkly pink, red and green glitter...but of course trying to get that to show in a photo is virtually impossible! The sentiment stamp is from a Penny Black set.

You can just about see the colours in the embossing powder on the white snowflakes on this close-up:

Challenges for these cards:

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Come & Get It - Good Ol Winter
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Cut it Up - It's Snow Fun
• Cute Card Thursday - Cool Colours
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Chill
• Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Loose Glitter/Embossing Powder
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Inky Christmas

I have a set of Christmas cards to share today...inspired by these cards by Sandy Allnock. I started by smooshing three different combinations of Distress Inks on to watercolour paper...adding a few layers of ink, allowing each one to dry before adding the next. I cut panels of plain white card just a little smaller than my A6 card blanks, then used various Christmas dies to cut an aperture. I mounted the white panels over the inked paper on 3D foam pads, then attached them to my card blanks. The sentiment stamps are from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

I made a couple of each design:

Challenges for these cards:

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Christmas Cards - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Use a Sentiment
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday

Pile It On! Challenge - Use Red & Green

We have another fun Pile It On! Challenge starting today...the theme is:

'Use Red & Green'

Our sponsor this week is Dr Digi's House of Stamps:

Prize - 2 Digi's of the Winner's Choice!

Although it's not one I use very often, the red and green colour combination screamed 'Christmas' at me...so I picked a cute Penny Black image called 'Wishes for Kisses' to use on my card. The papers are a mixture of My Mind's Eye (the reds - 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Bright') and a magazine freebie set (the green). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut some snowflakes from some Core'dinations glitter card using Cuttlebug and Marianne Designs dies...adding adhesive gems to their centres. For more sparkle and bling, I added some Stickles glitter glue to the 'snowy' ground, and some adhesive pearls. The sentiment is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Use Red & Green
• Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favourite Season (Winter - I just love cold, frosty mornings!)
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Artistic Impressions - Anything Goes (Twist of Pearls)
• Clear It Out - Christmas & Glitter
• Come & Get It - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
• C.R.A.F.T. - Winter
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Dies/Punches
• Crafting for All Seasons - Brr...it's Cold Outside!
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crazy Challenge - Everything Goes
• Creative Card Crew - Cold Outside
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes (Bling it up)
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday (Christmas)
• Incy Wincy - Bingo (Pearls - Free - Use a Die)
• Inky Impressions - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick (Red & Green)
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Something from Your Stash (The glitter card is ancient!)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Sparkle & Shine
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Sparkle & Bling

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - R is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...Dorte is the host, and the theme is:

'R is for...well, you choose...anything beginning with R!'

Our sponsor for this challenge is The East Wind:

Prize - Three Digital Images!

I combined a few 'R's on my card...Red, Reindeer, Ribbon & Robins. The image is 'Santa' by Lili of the Valley, which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to the snow using a Wink of Stella clear pen. The papers are from the 'Maddison' pad by Penny Black...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs dies...and were also given a coating of Wink of Stella sparkles...and the ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

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

• Addicted to Stamps - Die Cuts
• Christmas Cards - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Monochrome
• Incy Wincy - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stampavie & More - Bows
• Sketch Saturday - Pick a Previous Sketch (I used #300)

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

Guest Designer - Rudolph Days Challenge

I have another guest designer card to share today...this time for the Rudolph Days Challenge hosted by Maureen. I was the lucky winner of last month's challenge, and have used the fantastic Memory Box 'Merry Christmas Script' die I received as my prize on my card:

I cut the 'Merry Christmas' die from a piece of white card...then used a craft knife to create the slope (the die cuts it straight across) to create a 'snowy' scene. For the background, I stamped my Hero Arts 'Snowflake' background stamp on to a blue card blank using Versamark Ink for a subtle snowy sky, before attaching the Merry Christmas panel and a Christmas tree (cut using a Marianne Designs die). This was such a quick and simple card to make that I made two!

The idea of the Rudolph Days Challenge is simple...make a Christmas card and blog it between now and the end of the month, then link it up over on Maureen's Rudolph Days post (with a link to the challenge to help spread the word)...that's it! The fabulous prize on offer for this this months lucky winner is this memory Box die:

Cupcake Birthday

I have another card using some little 'snippets' of paper today, from my Pebbles Inc 'Yours Truly' and My Mind's Eye 'Now & Then' pads. This time I using the scraps to cut out some die cut shapes...the cupcake 's  Marianne Designs die, and the ric-rac borders and speech bubble are by Sizzix for Craft Asylum. The sentiment stamp is from the Hero Arts 'Cupcakes' set.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Use Patterned Papers
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Happy 
• Paper Creator Crafts - Dies or Punches
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Snippets
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday

Pile It On! Challenge - Flag Colours

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

'Flag Colours'

(Use the colours of your national flag on your project)

Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies

Prize - 3 Images of the winner's choice!

I'm from the UK, so my flag colours are red, white & blue. I picked some papers from an older pad in my stash...'Madison' by Penny Black, and a cute Christmas stamp by Lili of the Valley called 'Christmas Bunnies - Stocking' - that's an older one too, and sadly no longer available. I coloured the image to match the papers, using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges, and added some faux stitching to the papers using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs and Cuttelbug dies...I layered them up and added a little adhesive pearl to the centre.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Flag Colours (United Kingdom - Red, White & Blue)
• Bunny Zoes - Furry Friends
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Stockings
• Clear It Out - Your Style (Cute & Distressed) & Your Favourite Stash (Pretty papers...I have so many!)
• Crafty Creations - Red, White & Blue
• Fab 'N Funky - Christmas
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday (Christmas)
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Use a Die Cut
• Moving Along with the Times - Sewing & Stitching
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Dies & Punches
• Time Out - Photo Inspiration (Chevrons)

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Samantha is the host, and the theme is:

'D is for Die Cuts'

We are sponsored for this challenge by All Dressed Up:

Prize - 2 Digi Images!

I used to dies to create my card...a tree by Marianne Designs, and a reindeer by Die'sires from Crafter's Companion. I created a forest using the trees, adding the reindeer to make it look like he was peeking out from behind one of them. I embossed the background with my 'Swiss Dots' folder...to look like a snowy sky...and simply tore strips of card for the snowy ground. I couldn't resist adding a little red pearl for Rudolph's nose!

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

• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - White with a Splash of Colour
• My Craft Creations - 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.

Peace, Love & Joy Penguins

I have a Christmas card to share today...using a cute digi image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Peace, Love & Joy Penguins', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept the rest of the card really simple, embossing some plain white card with snowflakes using a Sixxiz folder, adding some doodled borders, and some snowflakes cut using a Marianne Designs die.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - CAS or Fussy (Definitely CAS...especially for Christmas cards - makes them cheaper to post!)
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Christmas Cards - White on White
• Completely Christmas - Add a Snowflake
• Corrosive - A Splash of Colour
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Embossing
• Sinon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - All Creatures Great & Small
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - KISS

ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...we're starting our sixth run through the alphabet! It's my turn to host, and we have a nice & easy theme for you (with an optional extra if you fancy a tougher challenge!):

'A is for Anything Goes'

(Optional Extra - Antlers)

We are sponsored for this challenge by Zlatoena's Designs:

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

I used a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Reindeer Antlers'....which I coloured using watercolour pencils. For the background, I embossed some blue paper using a Sizzix folder...sanding over the raised areas to reveal the white core...and cut a few trees using a Marianne Designs die. I layered a white one behind the stripey green one (paper from the 'Merry Little Christmas' pad by My Mind's Eye) to look like snow on the branches...and a kraft one at the back to give the tree a brown trunk. The sentiment is a Lili of the Valley stamp.

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
• Love to Create - Anything Goes
• Stamp & Create - Winter Wonderland

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

Winter Wonderland

I have a winter wonderland themed card to share today, made using lots of die cuts. I used lots of plain-ish papers from a mixture of BasicGrey pads (the browns, greens & white) and and Echo Park (the blue one). The trees are a Marianne Designs die, the fence is by Die-namics, and the reindeer is by Die-sires. I embossed the blue background using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder to look like a snowy sky, and inked over the edges of everything using 'Picket Fence' Distress Ink. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Bubble Tree' set by Woodware, and I couldn't resist adding a red pearl for Rudolph's red nose!

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Inspirations - Christmas or New Year
• Inky Chicks - Winter Wonderland
• Inky Impressions - Winter Wonderland
• Love to Create - Create a Scene
• Merry Monday - Winter
• Papertake Weekly - Christmas
• Pink Elephant - Photo Inspiration
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Winter Inspiration

...and Little Snowy

I couldn't resist inking up another of my Penny Black snowmen stamps...this one is from the 'Jolly Friends' set. For the background I used papers from the 'Merry Little Christmas' pad by My Mind's Eye, and some Papermania Washi tape. The tree is a Marianne Designs die cut...cut from some of the paper, and layered on to another cut from kraft for the trunk. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Merriest Wishes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Die Cuts
• Addicted to CAS - Dots
• Crafting for All Seasons - 'Tis the Season
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Seasons Greetings
• Fab 'N Funky - Die Cuts
• Little Red Wagon - Washi Tape
• My Time to Craft - Snowmen
• Sweet Stampin' - Let it Snow
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #247

ABC Christmas Challenge - W is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Dorte is the host, and the theme is:

'W is for All White'

We are sponsored for this challenge by our very own Lacey's Stamp & Create store:

Prize - $20 Gift Certificate!

I used dies to create a wintery scene for my card...the trees are a Marianne Designs die, the fence is a die by Die-namics, and the reindeer is a Die'sires die from Crafter's Companion. I embossed the background to look like a snowy sky (using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder), and tore some strips of card for the snowy ground.

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

• Bunny Zoe's - Snow
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - No Patterned Papers
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Christmas
• Jingle Belles - The Great Outdoors
• Love to Create - Anything Goes
• My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place - Anything Goes

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