An early Christmas card

I was a bit bored today and wanted to make another card. I had printed off a lot of Christmas digi images before Christmas and so thought I would make a start on next years cards by using up the images I have. This image was a freebie from Pollycraft and is called 'Penguin love'. I have coloured it with PMs and glitter, added some distressed Hugs and Honey Christmas backing paper and a bow. (In really life the colours on the card are not so pale, but for some reason they seem very insipid in the photo :(.) The sketch is from this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I willl also enter the card into the Passion for Promarkers Mega challenge and Pollycraft Monday challenge (white Christmas- snow-y scene take on the challenge, rather than white-on-white).

Trevor's 60th card

2011 is going to be a year of many special cards. Me and my friends are 30 this year and my parents and their friends are 60. This is the second 60th card I have made recently (the other for Dad is not being posted here in case he sees it) and it is for my uncle. His birthday is not until February, but I thought I would make head start on this year's cards.I have used a Stampfairy image (meant for New Year, but I thought would also suit a special birthday) and will enter the card into this weeks Stampfairy challenge (celebrations) and the Passion for Promarkers Mega challenge. Of course my new toy (Cuttlebug) got another outing for the embossed squares.

Thankyou cards

Having another play with my new toy (a Cuttlebug) I thought I would make some simple thankyou cards for my Christmas presents. I have embossed the base card and added a stamped greeting, some raffia and inked round the edge. On 4 cards I have sprayed with gold 'Spray and Sparkle' over the top of everything. (I would have done the other 4 cards but for the smell and I don't want to be breathing it in all night!)

From Dad to Mum

Why is it that Dad waits until Christmas Eve each year to ask for a card for Mum? I know it is going to happen I guess and so can prepare in advance. This time though I wanted to make a card anyway today using my new Cuttlebug, so it was a good excuse. I have attempted a 'white on white' theme which I have done in the past for challenges and found very hard because I didn't have a diecutter to do lots of fancy embossing- so now I have one I want to make the most of it!!!! After embossing I sprayed the paper in Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle silver which I won from having my cards published in the letters pages of Cardmaking and Papercraft a few issues ago. I had never used it before (or anything similar) and am impressed by the results. It puts a fine glittery mist on the paper in a vanish so it can't come off. I sprayed into a box with the paper in the base so that I wouldn't go everywhere on the carpet. However, I would warn anyone who has not used it that it really, really smells! I think it should be done in a ventilated room as it smells like car paint and made me cough and so I had to open the window for a while a get chilly to be able to breathe! (Maybe somthing to use more in the summer when it is OK to have the window open.)

I will enter the card into the following challenges:

Pollycraft Monday- white Christmas (image is from Pollycraft and isn't it great?)

I love Promarkers- anything goes (image coloured with PMs)

Passion for Promarkers- anything goes (image coloured with PMs)

Stampfairy Challenge- anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday- sketch

Box of cards #3

A third (and final) box of cards (this one is for my Grandparents):

Box of cards #2

Another box of cards:I will enter this into the following anything goes challenges (image coloured with Promarkers):

Passion for Promarkers

I love Promarkers

Box of cards #1

I thought that I would make some boxes and put cards which I have made during the year in them as gifts for a few people this Christmas. Here's my first one amde with a Pollycraft image on top. The embossed '4U' present stamp is one of the first things I have done with my new Cuttlebug!!! The image is coloured with PMs (of course).I will enter this into the followign 'anything goes' challenges:

I love Promarkers

Passion for Promarkers

CES

Festive Thanks

I got back to my parents home tody and there was a large pile of mail waiting for me containing some amazing cards from my crafty friends. I just want to thank everyone who has sent me a card. Here are the ones I opened today (22nd Dec):And here are a few more that I got this morning (23rd Dec.):
And one more card today (24th Dec):

E is for Elf

Another card for the 'Z is for zero time left' ABC Christmas challenge. This time I have decided to enter one of the letters I didn't manage to do earlier in the year: 'E is for Elf'. I didn't have any elf images but thought I would check out Stampfairy after seeing what wodnerful cards the DT had made with their images.I will also enter the card into the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch)

Passion for Promarkers- anything goes

Stampfairy challenge- glitter or stickles

D is for decorations

As part of the 'Z is for zero time left' ABC Christmas challenge you can replay one of the previous challenges or do a challenge which you missed. This is my second entry and I have choosen to replay 'D is for Decorations' since I had this really fun image and wanted to use it. I have used the sketch from this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge and have decided to try a simple and modern look to the card- alot more white space than I usually do. Have I pulled it off, or does it just look as if it is missing something, I wonder...

I will also enter the card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers- anything goes

Pear Tree designs- anything goes Christmas

CES- anything goes

Santa

This weeks sketchie on CMLI was set by Karen and the theme was 'Keep it Simple'. I have used minimal layering on this card and only a few star brads and a ribbon for embellishments, to go with the theme. The image is 'Santa 2' from Pollycraft (a recent purchase of mine). I will enter the card into the following challenges:

ABC Christmas- 'Z is for zero time'... a replay of 'S is for Santa'

Pollycraft Monday- White Christmas

Pear Tree Designs- Anything goes Christmas

Passion for Promarkers- anything goes

CES- anything goes

I love Promarkers- Santa

A second sketchie

I have made a second sketchie for this weeks CMLI challenge! This time I have used another of my new Pollycraft images (Cuthbert skiing), along with blue papers. I will also enter the card into the Passion for Promarkers Mega Christmas challenge.

Pink, Blue and Brown

This weeks Pollycraft Challenge is to make a card using the colours pink, blue and brown. I have made this card with the latest Pollycraft freebie image- decorations. The sketch is this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I will also enter the card into the Passion for Promarkers Mega challenge.

Christmas Carols

This weeks sketchie for CMLI was set by Lauren and the theme was open to allow people to make Christmas cards if they wanted or something else, if not. I got this image last week in the half price Pollycraft promotion and couldn't wait to use it- I have been admiring it on other people's cards for ages. This is my first attempt.

The sketch is from CMLI, but I will enter the card into a number of challenges this week:

PTD - winter wonderland

Passion for Promarkers - anything goes mega Christmas challenge

I love Promarkers- Christmas Carols/Songs

ABC Christmas - Y is for Yuletide (red and green or holly and berries or candles).

DCD Christmas challenge- Christmas carol

A special thanks to the Passion for Promarkers team for the candy I won in their last challenge and blog hop.

black and blue

This weeks cketchie on CMLI was set by Kathy and the them was only to use black and one other colour. I think I have stretched this a bit too far by using grey on my image as well as blue and black (and there is a hint of green in the backing papers- but then I wasn't sure if the black and one colour applied to the whole card or just the image). However, I will share the card with you since I am quite pleased with the result, even if it doesn't quite fit the challenge it was made for. (The black was a problem too since I didn't have any black paper with me and so used white paper coloured with a black PM for matting.)I will also enter the card into this weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge (feeling blue- the image i have used is Maurice with Christmas socks from Pollycraft and I just love him!), I love Promarkers (anything goes with a bit of sparkle if you wish) and Passion for Promarkers (old- senitment, Christmas tree and snowflake stickers, new- image and papers).

Colourful

This weeks Pear Tree Designs challenge is colourful. I had some fun making this card with some new Hugs and Honey Christmas papers which are very colourful (bright greens, reds and pinks). I have used the sketch from this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday Challenge. I will also enter the card into this weeks I love Promarkers challenge (anything goes) and Passion for Promarkers (old- PMs and image, new- papers and silver gel pen). Check out the special challnge on Passion for Promarkers, if you haven't already done so- they have some amazing prizes up for grabs!

Candle #3

Here's the third candle. This time I have used another Digistamp boutique image and coloured with PMs.I will enter this into the following challenges:

DCD (anything but a card)

Passion for Promarkers (old- image and papers, new- candle and technique)

Digistamp Boutique monthly competition

Candle #2

This is my second candle. I have used a santa image from Digistamp Boutique and coloured it with PMs. I will enter this into the following challenges:

DCD (anything goes but not a card)

Digistamp Boutique monthly competition

I love Promarkers (anything goes with a bit of sparkle if you wish)

Passion for Promarkers (old (image and papers), new (candle and techinique- candle decorating)).

Candle #1

I have seen many people make decorations for candles this year and I thought I would give it a go. Hence, when I was in Ikea yesterday, I picked up a pack of 3 red candles. This is my first attempt, using a sentiment from Pollycraft, which was a frrebie a few weeks ago.I will enter this into this weeks DCD challenge (anything but a card).

X is for Xmas

I have made this card for the following challenges this week:
ABC Christmas- X is for Xmas (plus optional extra of flowers- oops I forgot about the extra until now and so have not added any flowers- hope this is OK).
Pollycraft Monday- Glittery Christmas
Passion for Promarkers- stitching and distressing
Sweet Sketch Wednesday- sketch
Digistamp Boutique- monthy competition.

The image on the card is Milly singing carols from Digistamp Boutique (coloured with PMs) and the papers are from a recent magazine. The snowflake is a chipboard one I bought and painted and made glittery with embossing powder (still haven't got the hangof heat embossing and hence the reason why so much of the snowflake is not embossed since it all flies off when I heat it!) I have added faux stitching and distressed the base card with a black ink pad and blue glitter glue.

Pink Christmas

This weeks CES challenge is 'think pink'. Since it is Christmas card making season, I have made a pink Christmas card! I made the card for this weeks CMLI challenge, but now I relook at the sketch, I think I have left off one of the bp layers-oops. The theme was lots of sparkle and at least I think I got that right!

black and white

This weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge is the colours of old photos. I have gone for a black and white theme using some digi papers printed out in greyscale (they are colour papers originally). The image is a freebie digi image from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine, which I haven't used before. I have used the sketch from this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge.

Penguin Love

I just loved this Pollycraft Friday freebie image from a few weeks ago. It has taken me a while to get round to using it since I have only recently been reunited with my craft stash. I made this card for this weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge (doodling- I have doodled in glitter gel pens around the bps), Pear Tree Designs (sketch) and I Love Promarkers (icy colours) challenges. I did make a bit of a mistake when colouring the image by putting blush on the male penguin's cheeks, but hopefully it isn't too bad and the recipient doesn't notice that the male penguin is 'wearing make up'!

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #2

This is my second attempt at this weeks SSW challenge using the same stamp as before.

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #1

Since I got some crafting time today I thought I would join in with this weeks SSW since I enjoyed the times I have done this challenge in the past. This is my first entry using a stamp I recently got in a charity stamp sale on CB. I just love Penny Black stamps but have never owned one before now. What makes it even better is that it is a cat stamp and I love cats!

Fake it #2

Another sketchie for this weeks CMLI challenge, this time with a fake torn layer. I have also made the card for this weeks CES challenge (forever autumn). It is a Christmas card, but I have used autumnal colours- brown, gold, copper and red. I thought with the theme 'forever' autumn this could incorporate the transition from autumn to winter and so hence a more autumnal coloured Christmas card!

Christmas gift bag

I love the free papers which came with papercraft essentials and thought I would have a go making the little gift bag. The image is a Digi Stamp Boutique one from last year. I will enter this into the following challenges:Pollycraft Monday (chill time)

ABC Christmas (Winter Wonderland)

DigiStamp Boutique monthly competition

Winter Wonderland

This weeks sketchie on CMLI was set by Rosie and the theme was 'fake it'. It is the first crafty day I have had in a while and I was determined that today nothing was going to come in the way of me crafting! What better way to get going than by returning to the group I first joined to do their challenge? I have also combined the card with a few other of my old favourite weekly challenges:

Pollycraft Monday (chill time)

I love Promarkers (snowflakes)

ABC Christmas (Winter Wonderland)

Sorry it has been so long...

since I last blogged. Thankyou for all your messages. Uni is good but ALOT of work. I have missed my crafting and went back to my parents last weekend to collect some stuff so that I can have a 'play' occassionally whilst I am here.

I made it into the current copy of Cardmaking and Papercraft!!!! I was very happy when I spotted this last Sunday. These are the cards I made with the free fairy stamps a few issues ago.

They are great stamps to work with and I would recomend having a go with them if you have this copy of the magazine and not used the stamps yet.

I'm off for a while

I'm off to university tomorrow morning and so won't be posting any crafty projects for a while. Maybe when I have settled and have some free time to kill I will get back into cardmaking- just I can't take all my stash with me until I know how much room I have (that and it might prove a big distraction from studying!).
I have very much enjoyed blogging my cards, reading people's kind comments and looking at everyone elses work for inspiration. I have to say a special thankyou to people on LGS and CMLI (CB) for introducing me to the world of blogging and cardmaking challenges. I will try my best to keep up the occasional commenting on and viewing of all your blogs, to see your stunnign master pieces.

Untraditional Christmas

I thought I would try a new challenge blog and so had a look at the LOTV challenge. This week it is 'untraditional Christmas' and so I have used one of their Christmas bear images and made a purple and pink Christmas card.I have also made this card for this weeks MAWTT challenge, which is a 'to do list'. You have to cross off at least three items off the list. The three items I am crossing off are 1)button, 2)embossing (silver embossing powder on the snowflake), and 3)glitter. (I almost made a fourth, since I hand stitched round all the backing papers- this is not a new technique for me, but I haven't done it for about 6 months (I have been lazy and done faux stitching lately!) and so it is a change at least.)

200th post!!!

Well my first and 100th posts were for the I love Promarkers challenge and so my 200th post had to be as well didn't it? Not an easy week to make two lost of cards for this challenge either- the dreaded 'white on white'! I'm not so happy with this one as the angel cards I made a few days ago. Anyone know the best way of going round an image with a dark coloured PM to make it 'pop' for a snow scene at night? I ended up going round in a very dark blue and then running it in to the white a bit by blending with a very light blue.

This is only the second time I have tried to make a step card too- I think next time I will fiddle with the dimensions to get the side steps a bit taller, if you know what I mean.

Warmest Christmas wishes

Made another Christmas card to add to my collection! I have used one of Pink Petticoats penguins again- I just think they are ace! This time I have use the sketch from this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I have just got into their blog challenge and enjoy it. Pity that I will be taking a break at the end of this week from crafting, while I go to uni. I can recommend the challenge to any other crafter though.

T is for tree

This weeks challenge on ABC Christmas is 'T is for Tree' with the optional extra of buttons. I have made this card using an image sent to me by Cherry from CB (Thankyou!). The papers are from my favourite Christmas pack which I won in hte half-way there blog hop, and have little pictures of trees on them. I have stamped a snowflake in light blue ink in the background of the white parts, but it doesn't show up very well in the photo.

angels

This weeks I love Promarkers Challenge is 'white on white'- a challenge which is VERY difficult and even more difficult if you don't have a diecutter/embossing machine! I managed to do the challenge a few weeks ago on CMLI and so wasn't going to be beaten this time either. I have heat embossed snowflakes on the base card, used some star embossed wrappping paper (torn), some vellum, a piece of acetate (on one card only) and pearly white paper as my layers. The image is by Elyzbells and I couldn't resist making two at the same time- easy way to increase the number of Christmas cards I have! The snowflake is a diecut chipboard I bought, painted white and then heat embossed with sparkly white powder.

I will also enter the card into this weeks DCD challenge (vellum).

LOTV Christmas bunny rabbit

This weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge is to make your own flowers. I have made the poinsetta on this card by hand using some templates which I drew freehand (the same ones I used on the Popcorn card on which I made my own flower too). The image is a cutey by LTOV.

Christmas Hugs

I have used a non Christmas Pollycraft image (Cuthbert holding flowers - I just love this image, it is one of my favourites) to make this Christmas card by colouring in the image in Christmas colours- I hope it works OK! The card follows the sketch from Pear Tree Designs and the twist (gems- two massive ones!!).
I will also enter the card into this weeks Pollycraft Monday Challenge (cute and cuddl) and Just cute bears (punch- I have used a border punch on one of the papers)

A second Popcorn card

WOW I can't believe that I actually made the top 5 in last weeks Passion for Promarkers Challenge!!!! I have gone with the flow and have made a second card using the same Popcorn stamp. It is my favourite stamp at the moment and just sooooo sute and really versatile to use with a number of techniques. This time I have stamped him, coloured just with Promarkers (no paper piecing this week) and decoupaged up parts. I stamped the base layer on the scalloped oval and then used masking to stamp the snow flakes, sentiment and for the faux tearing. (The sentiment came from the same stamp set but the snowflake didn't.)
I have made the poinsetta flower just be drawing some templates freehand and them cutting out the layers in green and red and adding details with a fineliner. I will enter the card into this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge (make your own flowers) and Pollycraft challenge (cute and cuddly).

Spiral Birthday

This weeks themed challenge on CMLI (CB) is 'just words'- a challenge which I always shy away from, since I don't have many words stamps. However I recently bought this stamp from Elyzbells and so thought I would use it. I have made the vellum butterfly embellishment to go to the right hand corner of the sentiment. I will enter the card into this weeks DCD challenge (vellum).

A new home card

One of my friends is hopefully going to be moving into her new house in the next few months (I hope so much she doesn't read this!) and so I thought I would make her a card in advance. I have used a cute Penny Black image given to me in an image swap on CB a while ago. I just love their hedgehogs! The card follows the sketch set by Wynneth for this weeks I love Promarkers challenge. The optional extra of the twist 'rip it up' is covered by the ripped up flower I have added.

Bob the frog

I decided to make a birthday card for my Grandad really early (his birthday is in December) because I won't have so much time soon. I used this 'Bob the frog' image from DigiStamp Boutique. It was meant to be a quick card, but when I finished it 2 hours later, I realised that it wasn't quick and had taken about the same time as every other card- lol!

Pengiun Christmas

I just love these pengiun digis which I got from Pink Petticoat last year! Here's a card I made last night using one of the images. I ahve followed the sketch from this weeks Sketch Saturday and will also enter the card into this weeks MAWTT challenge (Christmas).

Milly Singing Carols

I have made a second card following this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch, this time using a DigiStamp Boutique image ('Milly singing carols'). I will also enter the card into the DigiStamp Boutique September competition and this weeks MAWTT challenge (Christmas).

Acorns

This week on Digi Doodle Shop Best the challenge is 'anything goes' provided that you use one of the three ace digi stamps they are providing for free and link your challenge post to as many other challenges as possible. I loved the acorn digi, since it is a step away from my comfort zone of cute images and so seasonal at the same time. I was a little scared about colouring it, but in the end I am pleased with the result.

Unfortuanly I haven't found that many other challenges to enter this into. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. But I will enter it into this weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge (autumn colours) and I have used the sketch from this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday (first time I have entered this challenge).
I have also entered:
Incywincy Designs #59 - autumn colours
A spoon full of sugar #121-Fall to Autumn colour challenge
Creative Card Crew - Autumnn or Fall
Stamp Something - September digi day challenge
Craft Your Days Away #4 - Autumnn doodles
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #101- Anything goes

non-red Santa

This weeks challenge on CMLI is to follow Karen's sketch and use the theme 'Santa'. I have made this card. When I had arranged all the blue and silver backing papers I thought I didn't want a red Santa and so have coloured him purple and blue. What do you think???I will enter this card into this weeks ABC Christmas challenge which is 'S is for Santa' with the optional extra of not using red!