ABC Christmas Challenge - Z is for...

It's my turn to host the final ABC Christmas Challenge of 2011...where our theme is:

'Z is for Zingy Colours!'

And I found this funny photo for some inspiration:

Lol...rainbow coloured turkeys!

We have two wonderful sposors for this challenge...firstly our lovely Lacey & her store, Stamp & Create:

The prize from Lacey is a $20 voucher to spend at Stamp & Create!

Our other sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps:

Bugaboo Challenge Blog 

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 of their fabulous digis!

I don't mean to boast...but I finished all my Christmas cards a few weeks ago...and even had some left over! But, I've not been quite so well prepared with all my tags...or even some of the gifs themselves! lol So I've made some much needed tags for this challenge. I took some 'zingy' coloured papers (from the 'Fancy Christmas' pack by Dovecraft and one from the 'Colourful Christmas' collection by My Mind's Eye) and used it to cover some plain tags...scuffing up the egdes a little with my distressing tool. I then made some of the papers double sided, by folding them back on themselves and sticking with glue, so that when I cut out the trees (using a Marianne Designs die) they'd be patterned on both sides. I then added some 'zingy' coloured ribbons for attaching them to their gifts.

I used two trees on each tag, cutting half-way up from the bottom on one, and half-way down from the top on the other, so that they would link together to make a 3D tree:

And another view for good measure:

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

• Crazy Challenge - Christmas
• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes 
• Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas

For more inspiration from my fabulous DT buddies, and a couple of the Bugaboo Stamps DT girls...please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

All Wrapped Up?

Well...these gifts are, but I still have lots to do! Most of it I won't be showing on here...don't want people to get a sneak peek...but I do have a couple of posts planned for later this week. Today, I'm sharing some gift wrapping...well a couple of little tags...they're really very simple...I covered the tags (bought from a little stationers) with some white card embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder, then added a tree cut from silver card, using a die from my Sizzix/Hero Arts 'Reindeer' combo set, then embossed with my 'Swiss Dots' folder. The 'tinsel-ly' twine is from Ikea.

See, I told you they were simple...here's a photo of them attached to their gifts:

I always like to wrap everything in kraft parcel paper...and just use different ribbons (the ribbon on these was from Tescos last Christmas) to 'pretty' them up.

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Guest Designer

This is my final week as guest designer for the Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge...where we have this wonderful sketch for you to use:

I inked up 'Toot my Flute' by Penny Black...and coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Wild Asparagus' collection by My Mind's Eye...they're not double sided...I added a piece of  the other paper to the back before I folded back the corner, so it wouldn't be so plain. I distress all of the edges, adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, and a few adhesive pearls to the cut out corners.

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

• Allsorts - Blue & Brown
• Moving Along with the Times - Cats & Dogs
• Scrapbook Sisters - Two Colours (Blue & Brown)

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous design team samples over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Happy New Year/Celebrations

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT post

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This week it's Tracie's turn to set the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Happy New Year or Celebrations'

The stamp I've used on my card is called 'Champagne Thomas' by Lili of the Valley...coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers....I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment is from the 'Anytimme Messages' set by Hero Arts, and I used my Nesties to cut out the stars.

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

• CES - Party, Party, Party
• Digital Delights - Anything Goes
• Squiggles & Giggles - Let's Celebrate!
• Totally Papercrafts - Time to Party
• Totally Stampalicious - Food & Drink

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Make a Tag

Today's challenge is the last one for the year over at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and our theme is:

'Make a Tag'

The prize for the lucky winner...from the PSBC DT is this lovely bundle of stash:

I used the stamp 'Holly & Globe' on my tag...stamping it with Distress Inks using the watercolour technique...stamping some of the sprays of holly over the edges of the tag too. I blended 'Tumbled Glass'  ink around the images, theen inked around the edges of the tag with 'Brushed Corduroy'. The string is from Ikea, and the sentiment stamp is from a set that came free with a Docrafts magazine.

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

• Anything Goes - Anything but a card (with optional tags for Christmas)
• Charisma Cardz - Last Minute Xmas
• Crafts & Me - Christmas
• Creative Stamp Friends - Christmas
• PaperPlay - Christmas
• Paper Sundaes - Anything Christmas
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas
• Stamp with Fun - Gift Wrapping

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for...

I have a little something for a mid-way reminder of our current ABC Christmas Challenge, where our theme this time is:

'Yippee - it's almost Christmas!'

(Anything Christmas goes!)

I've decorated some wooden tree ornaments (bought from Matalan), that I'm sending as a little gift with Christmas cards this year. I started by giving them all a couple of coats of metallic acrylic paint (gold, silver and bronze)...then varnished them with some glittery sparkly varninsh, and added some simple button twine to hang them with:

Here's a better view of the different designs:

The glitter doesn't show up very well in the photos...but they're lovely and twinkly in real life :0)

I'm also entering these into the following challenges:

• Charisma Cardz - No cards
• Dream Valley - Christmas
• Hooked on Craft - Christmas
• Top Tip Tuesday - Gifts (I've made these to send with Christmas cards this year)

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

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Santa Baby

This fortnight's challenge theme over at the Cuttlebug Spot is:

'Santa Baby'

We want to Father Christmas on your creations

I've used a digi stamp from The Crafty Pad called 'Santa Ho Ho Ho', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept the rest of the card really plain (it's another little A6 card), using traditional Christmas red and green card with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Swiss Dots' folders. I distressed the edges a little, and added a border punched using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch.

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

• CES - Traditional Christmas
• Christmas Crafting - Santa Claus
• Crazy4Challenges - Santa
• Lollipop Crafts - Happy Holidays
• One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
• One Stop Craft - Traditional Christmas Colours

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Cuttlebug Spot.

Floral Notepads

I'm into Christmas gift making mode at the moment...and today have a few quick & easy notepads to share today. I got the blank kraft notepads from Paperchase (they're A7 in size, with elastic to keep them closed), and simply stamped using the watercolour technique with various colours of Distress Inks.

Stamps used (L-R): 'Agapanthus Clusters (Stampendous); 'Blooming Meadows' (Hero Arts); and 'Irises' (Penny Black).

Challenges for these items:

• Corrosive - Anything, except Christmas
• Digi Doodles - Nature
• Just Some Lines - Homemade Gift
• Totally Papercrafts - Anything, but Christmas

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Guest Designer

I have another card for my Guest Designer spot over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp for you today, where we have this wonderful sketch to work with:

I used it to make...surprise, surprise...a Christmas card...although I'm not sure I actually need to make any more! The image is from the Penny Black 'Christmas Critters' set, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers and die cut accents are all by My Mind's Eye, mostly from a gift that came free with a craft mag a couple of months ago, but the paper with the larger design is from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad. I distressed the edges of everything, then inked with 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The ribbon came from Poppicrafts...I think!

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

• 2 Sisters - Christmas
• Allsorts - It Takes Two (Green & Brown)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Traditional Christmas (Carolling)
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Christmas

For more inspiration, please pop over to the Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - All Creatures Great & Small

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT post

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This week, it's Linda's turn to set the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'All Creatures Great & Small'

(Including aliens!)

I've used a Penny Black stamp called 'Joy Filled Stockings', which I coloured using watercolour pencils to match the bright and sparkly 'Countdown to Christmas' papers by My Mind's Eye. I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The ribbon and bells are from Hobbycraft.

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Craft - Stitching
• Forever Friends (Monthly) - Christmas
• Inspirational Card Sketches - Sketch
• Paper Sundaes - Sundae Bar (I chose Red, Stripes & Stitching)
• Papercrafting Journey - Christmas

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Domi's Sketch

It's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this week we have a fabulous sketch designed by Domi:

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

and the prize is a $20 voucher to spend in their online store!

I've used 'Reindeer Pup' on my card...and a blue & brown colour combo. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' folders for the embossing...sanding the surface on the blue Core'Dinations card, and inking over the design on the kraft card to make the embossing stans out a little better. I used Marianne Designs Creatables and Cuttlebug dies to cut the snowflakes.

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

• Card Makin' Mamas - Christmas
• Crimbo Crackers - Embossing
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Last Minute Christmas
• Simply Create - Embossing
• Totally Stampalicious - Snow
• Winter Wonderland - Let it Snow

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

Twinkle, Twinkle

I have another all white card today...I love how quick these are to make...no faffing about choosing papers...or matching patterns & colours! lol The image is from the 'Holly-Jolly' set...which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the stars and snow. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Snowflakes' & 'Ice Crystals' folders, and the little starry border one is by Papermania for the embossing.

Challenges for this card:

• Bah! Humbug! - Cute Christmas Critters 
• Crafts & Me - Winter (Snow/Snowflakes)
• Creative Inspirations - Snow/Snowflakes
• Forever Friends - White & Sparkles
• For Fun - Christmas Sparkle
• Simon Says Stamp - Christmas Photomontage Inspiration
• Stamp with Fun - Sketch

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for...

Today over at the ABC Christmas Challenge, Lols is hosting our penultimate challenge of the year, where the theme is:

'Yippee - it's almost Christmas'

We know you're all busy getting everything ready, so this time anything Christmas goes!

We have not one, not two, but three fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

From Simon Says Stamp...a $15 voucher to spend in their amazing store!




From Dustin Pike...3 of his wonderful digital images!

And from Karen's Doodles...3 of her adorable digital images!

I chose to use a Whiff of Joy stamp...'Wee with Reindeer'...which you can get from Simon Says Stamp...as I can't remember using this stamp at all yet this year! I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges with 'Old Paper' and 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Inks and my distressing tool. I embossed a couple of pieces of CoreDinations card using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folder...sanding over the surfaces a little before inking with more 'Brushed Corduroy'. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch along one edge of the brown piece, cut the snowflake using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, adding a button threaded with some twine to it's centre.

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

• Craft Your Days Away - Buttons or Bows
• Crafty Sentiments - Snowflakes
• Creative Card Crew - 'Tis the Season
• Incy Wincy - Non-traditional Christmas Colours
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Stamptacular Sunday - Christmas Colour Challenge (Blue, Black or Brown & Tan)
• Top Tip Tuesday - Snow/Snowflakes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and some of the Karen's Doodles girls, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Green Trees

Today's card is another A6 sized one...been making a few of these recently...and they're starting to feel not quite so small any more! The trees are stamps & dies from the 'Reindeer' set by Hero Arts/Sizzix...which I stamped in 'Bundled Sage' Distress Ink. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Carsd All Year Round (December) - Anything Goes (Card 5)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Mainly Monochrome 
• Crazy Challenge - Anything Christmas
• Less is More - Green

I baked a cake!

Shock horror...today's card is not a Christmas card! I've used 'I baked a cake!' by Lili of the Valley...coloured with watercolour pencils to match the turquoise & purple card. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder for the embossing, the sentiment is from the 'Wonderful' set by Penny Black, and the seam binding ribbon is from the Ribbon Girls.

Challenges for this card:

• Charisma Cardz - Spots 
• CES - Bears
• Creative Inspirations - Turquoise, Purple & White
• Lili of the Valley - Anything but a Christmas card
• Ready Teddy Go - Anything Goes