Guest Designer - 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer card for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge, where the theme is:

I started by cutting out three large circles from snippets of white card using one of my Nestie dies. I embossed the first one, using a Sizzix embossing folder called 'Snowfall'. I used a Clearly Besotted die called 'Tree Landscape' to cut one of the circles, and one of the 'Scenic Border' dies from the Contemporary Christmas collection by Crafter's Companion to cut the other. I added a sentiment to the layer with the houses, using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, heat embossing it using metallic silver embossing powder. I distressed the edges of the circles, then layered them up, before matting them onto a scalloped circle, cut from another snippet of white card. I added a square of white card (with distressed edges) to a card blank, then popped the circle scene on top using 3D foam pads.

For more inspiration from the fabulous DT, please pop over to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

ABC Christmas Challenge - U & V 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:

'U is for Unused Stash'

&

'V is for Violet'

The prize for the lucky winner is:

For my 'U is for Unused Stash' card, I combined an unused stamp, from the 'Bundled Snowman' set by Penny Black, and a sheet of patterned paper from the 'Contemporary Christmas' pad from Crafter's Companion. I stamped the snowman onto a piece of watercolour paper, extended the line for the ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over the snowflake paper, then matted it onto some pale blue card before adding it to a white card blank.

For my 'V is for Violet' card, I used a bauble stamp from Marianne Designs (it doesn't have a name, but is one of the 'Tiny Borders' stamps), and stamped it onto a piece of black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using silver embossing powder. I added a sentiment using another of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, embossing it in silver to match, then watercoloured the baubles in violet using a Cosmic Shimmers mica pigment mixed with a little water. I matted it onto a piece of violet mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Kickstart - Gothic Christmas (Second card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (First card only)
• NBUS - Use Unused Stash (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Patterned Paper (First card only)
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute Creations (First card only)

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

Festive Foliage

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring a background stamp I got from a charity shop at the weekend. It's by Chloe Creative Stamps, and is called 'Festive Foliage Background'. I stamped it onto teal card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Platinum Sparkle' embossing glitter from WOW. I stamped a sentiment, using a stamp from a Colorado Craft Company set, onto a strip of vellum using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using silver embossing powder. I tore the edges of the vellum, then added it over the top of the embossed background, matting it all onto a piece of silver mirror card before adding it to a DL card blank.

It's not very easy to see, but the background is super sparkly in real life!

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Optional 'Things with Wings')

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

'Things with Wings'

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

I picked stamps from the 'Social Butterfly' set to use on my card, and started by watercolouring a simple background using 'Uncharted Mariner' and 'Forest Moss' Distress Inks on some watercolour paper. Once dry, I stamped the butterflies and a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Brushstroke Expressions' set from My Favorite Things, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. I matted it onto a piece of teal card, distressing the edges a little, then added it to a white card blank.

Here's a better angle showing the shine on the gold embossing:

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

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes (Optional 'Summer Vibes')
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Summer Blues

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

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.

Woodland Sprigs

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware set called 'Woodland Sprigs'. I started by stamping a Hero Arts 'Music Background' stamp onto a snippet of kraft card using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. Once dry, I stamped the 'sprigs' over the top using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using 'Gold Pearl' embossing powder from WOW. I used an old die from my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet set to cut the sentiment from gold mirror card, then added it over the top. I matted the panel onto a piece of gold mirror card, distressing the edges, before adding it to a kraft DL card blank.

This angle shows the gold embossing a little better:

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up - Make Your Own Background
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - N & O are for?

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

'N is for No Stamping'

&

'O is for Once in Royal David's City (Buildings)'

The prize for the lucky winner is the matching stamp & die from Your Next Stamp

For my 'No Stamping' card, I started by cutting a couple of baubles from snippets of watercolour effect papers (from the 'Pastel Watercolours' pad from The Works) using my Memory Box 'Classic Ornament' die, then cut the 'Snowflake Ornament' die from snippets of silver mirror card to layer over the top. I embossed another piece of the watercolour paper using an old Cuttlebug folder and matted it onto some more silver mirror card. I cut a sentiment from silver mirror card using my Poppy Stamps 'Folk Merry Christmas' die, then added it all to the embossed background using a couple of little strips of mirror card to 'hang' the ornaments.

For my 'Once in Royal David's City (Buildings)' card, I picked another Christmas Carol themed stamp - 'Bethlehem Nights' by Stampendous. I stamped it onto smooth white card using a Versafine pigment ink in dark blue called 'Twilight'. I stamped it several times to get a really clear image, then heat embossed it using 'Midnight Dream' embossing glitter from WOW. I matted it onto a snippet of navy card, then added it to a white card blank.

The card is really sparkly, and a gorgeous mix of colours, but a real pain to photograph!

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

• A Cut Above - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - M, N & O (O is for Ornaments) (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Creative Knockouts - Christmas in July (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Monochrome (Second card only)
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July (Second card only)

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

Golden Holly

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using a Woodware stamp called 'Holly Spray'. I stamped it onto a piece of kraft card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Christmas' Letter It set by Ranger, heat embossing it in gold to match. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - E is for Embossing
• CAS on Friday - Christmas in July
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

Falling Sparkles

Today's card features a background stamp from Stamps by Chloe called 'Falling Sparkles' that I got from a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it onto purple card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Magical Mauve' embossing glitter from WOW. I matted it onto some purple mirror card, then added a sentiment cut using a Tonic Studios die from more of the purple mirror card. This is so sparkly and shiny in real life, but a real pain to photograph!

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Something Monochrome
• Little Red Wagon - Make Your Own Background
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Burst into Bloom

I have a simple sympathy card to share today, made using a lovely floral stamp from Woodware called 'Burst into Bloom. I stamped it onto a piece of navy card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic silver embossing powder from WOW. I heat embossed a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, in silver to match, then coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils. I matted it onto some silver mirror card, distressing all of the edges, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• CAS on Friday - Sympathy
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Cheerful Flowers

I have a bright & cheerful birthday card to share today, which features a lovely floral stamp that I picked up from a charity shop...it's an unmounted grey rubber stamp, and it was not in its original packaging, so I have no idea what it is! I stamped it, along with a sentiment from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, onto watercolour paper using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it all using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils, then matted it onto some gold mirror card, distressing all of the edges, before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Brights or Pastels (Bright colours for me - I love how cheerful they look)
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Feminine
• We Love Stamping - Spring

Snow Scroll

Today's card features a Penny Black Christmas stamp called 'Snow Scroll' that I picked up in charity shop over Easter. I stamped it a couple of times onto some navy blue card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Fairy Dust' embossing glitter from WOW. I added a sentiment, heat embossed to match, using one of the stamps from the 'Winter Blessings' set from Crafter's Companion, then matted it onto some silver glitter card, distressing the edges a little, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Snowflake Edges

I have a pair of simple Christmas cards to share today, made using stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped the borders, with one of the sentiments in between, onto smooth white card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it all using metallic silver embossing powder. I coloured the snowflakes using mica pigments mixed with a little bit of water, then distressed the edges before adding them to card blanks.

The snowflakes are really shiny in real life, but terrible to photograph:

Challenges for these cards:

• As You Like It - Simple or Fussy (Simple for me - especially Christmas cards so that they are cheaper to post!)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Clean & Simple
• Krafty Chicks - CAS

Floral Garden

Today's card features a lovely stamp from Simon Says Stamp called 'Floral Garden'. I stamped it, and a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, onto smooth white card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it all using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. The floral stamp is huge - there's quite a large portion below the section shown on my card. I coloured the image using a mixture of mica pigments and Cosmic Shimmers watercolour paints. I distressed the edges a little before adding it to a card blank.

It's super shiny - this is what it looks like when the light hits it:

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - In the Garden
• Creative Knockouts - Embossing Delight
• Seize the Birthday - Make a Spring Garden
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Bright & Cheerful
• Stamping Sensations - Inspired by Nature

Bringing Gifts

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware set called 'Bringing Gifts' that I won a little while ago over at the Snippets Playground. I stamped them onto a piece of marble effect paper from a pad from The Range using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them all using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I inked around the edges of the paper using 'Dusty Concord' and 'Chipped Sapphire' Distress Inks, then matted it onto some gold mirror card, distressing all of the edges, before adding it to an A5 white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Jingle Belles - We Three Kings (I know that my three of a kind didn't need to actually be 'Kings' , but I couldn't resist!)
• Just Us Girls - Emboss
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

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.

Poppy Border

Today's card features a stamp that my Mum found in a charity shop, called 'Poppy Border' by Stamps by Chloe. I stamped it onto smooth white card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, embossing that in gold to match. I coloured the poppies using a red Cosmic Shimmers pigment mixed with a little water, then matted the panel onto some gold mirror card, distressing the edges a little, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Embossing
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Feminine
• Moving Along with the Times - Floral
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes