It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Woke up this morning to discover that the snow which had fallen elsewhere had decided to move out to the west and deliver a dusting here!It is only a dusting though and even though I LOVE looking at it, I have to go out today so am thankful it's not as bad as the poor old east of the country.

Sat and made a few cards yesterday - some quite simple, others like this one a wee bit loaded with embellies!

This gorgeous Sarah Kay image was given to me by Maureen - she said it was 'spare' (so undoubtedly she is soooo organised she's made all her cards - lol) - Maureen had already coloured it too - there's friends for you!!!!

I layered it onto some dark red card and used two lots of backing paper from the Xmas drawer and I have no idea who's paper it is - but it's luverly!!!

A chipboard flourish duly coloured with a promarker and a wee bit of glitter, lots of promarker coloured flowers sprinkled with some glitter and a sparkly gem middle for each finished the card. The greeting was lurking in the xmas stash drawer. I like this card - so might send it to myself! LOL

Lots of Challenges-

Crafty Catz - Christmas

Crafty Creations - Christmas

Pollycraft - Use chipboard

Wild Orchid - Old Fashioned Christmas

Incy Wincy - 3 flowers, 2 papers, 1 image (OK I know I used four flowers... but...)

Paper Cupcakes - Anything Goes

Sew Many Challenges - Red and Green

Altered

The final challenge of 2010 over at Art N Soul was to alter a matchbox and include 'something' inside as a surprise for your swap partners. Looking at the photostream everyone has shown what's inside their boxes so no surprise there then!!! LOL

Here's my matchbox. I used Crafty Individual angel themed papers and embossed the edges of the box in silver. A dab of Stickles on the stars on the front of the box and some glossy accents to highlight the two angels. I lined the inside of the box with the same themed papers and put some grey organza fabric inside. The silver bell is from my stash.

Inside the box is a tiny Christmas Card made with the same papers and I again embossed the edges, also added a row of clear beads.

Some time ago, I made several necklaces from glass tiles so I popped one inside a silver coloured tin, (which the recipient can alter for another project if they want to). The silver star snowflake was from my stash.

Mixed Media Monday - Boxing Clever

Lots to Do - Embossing

One Powerful Hour - Stars

Winter weather

The snow cut short my day with Maureen today - I didn't want to be driving back in mega sub zero temperatures so I left earlier than usual.... which meant I DIDN'T make too much of a mess in her newly tidied craft room!! The drive home was uneventful thank goodness but the temperature showed minus 5, even at 5.30pm!

Thought I would put this on to share with you even though I have had several attempts at taking this pic and I wasn't happy with any of them! I know it's all to do with the glitter and I've tried everything to reduce the glare but in the end gave up and decided to post it anyway.

I have wanted this Dreamweaver stencil since my very first visit to the NEC - I know it's an old one but I love it. So this year I treated myself to it - and then instead of using embossing paste,(which I didn't buy) just used the double sided sticky stuff and some soap!

This card looks so much better in real life - the colour turned out as well as I could have hoped for.

I used Craft Creations Lilac foil for the backing paper, and then mounted the glittered stencil and greeting on mirri card (again something I don't use a lot of - but needed it to pick out the foil effect of the background paper). The soap technique works well in stopping the stencil from sticking onto your project - and I only had two failed attempts when I first tried it - you just have to remember to make sure the stencil is stuck onto the sticky stuff - I did this by rubbing over it with the discarded backing from the sticky stuff! If it's not stuck down properly then the glitter merges onto the parts you don't want it to!

I finished the card with a suitably glittered and ribboned fabric poinsetta and a couple of card candy buttons coloured with an Amethyst promarker.

Challenges - Creative Cottage, Totally Papercrafts and 2 Sisters all have themes of 'Non Traditional colours', Stampin Vacation's theme is 'Snowy Christmas Wishes' , Allsorts' challenge is Monochrome and Thoughtful Thursday is the letter 'M' (so M for Monochrome!).

Made a few Christmas cards yesterday - weather here is so cold! (Good excuse to hole myself up in the craft room with the heaters on!)

Here's the first one for today -

Messed about with my Nesties - I used dark brown cardstock for the octagonal scallop and I quite like it.

I wasn't sure about using this reindeer laden paper - at first glance I thought it might be too overpowering and maybe I should just use it as a strip to contrast but in for a penny etc etc! The reindeer image was stamped straight onto the co-ordinating Basic Grey paper. I used Timber Brown stazon, but the colour turned out a bit wishy-washy so I went over it with a Cocoa coloured promarker! Used another promarker (Cardinal Red) to give poor old reindeer a small red nose!

I coloured the card candy with a 'Pear Green' promarker and added a piece of brown ribbon.

Think this would be quite a good man's card - even with the ribbon!

Lots of Xmas Challenges today - Cards for Men, Crafty Sentiments, Crafty Creations, Fresh Brewed Designs all have Christmas themes, Little Red Wagon's challenge is to use Basic Grey paper, and Oo La La's challenge is 'Rudolph'.

Had a go!

I have been a busy bee the last couple of days. A couple of things done but can't reveal as in case you hadn't noticed ...... Christmas is coming!!! LOL (As if you couldn't notice - I cringe every time I see the Christmas trees in the shop windows..... for goodness sake- it ain't even DECMBER yet!)

Anyway I'll stop my rambling - here is a commissioned card for a lady at the Club who's daughter is about to celebrate the BIG FIVE O........... shhhhhhh!!!!

As I was getting left behind by the creative abilities of my blogging buddies (Anne and Maureen) who have both tried this technique thought I'd better give it a try (anything so as not to be out done! lol)

I was forced (with my arm up my back) to purchase some odd looking things which looked like red handled men's shaving brushes - I was a bit concerned as I began to think my 'friends' were not telling me something..... have I developed facial hair? I peered in the mirror - no facial hair. (well none to speak of anyway....). Had the leg waxing worn off already?? (A quick roll up of the trouser leg showed this not to be the case).

Imagine my relief when I was treated to a quick demo of the intended use of these brushes - you apply INK with them... (so no need to rush out for a ton of shaving foam then....)

So here's my attempt! This is a slightly larger card than I usually make, I used Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar Distress Inks and I have to say I am feeling a little smug 'cos I also did the insert the same and I actually LIKE this card!

The bird cage and tree branch stamps are from Elusive Images and I 3d'd the bird cage after colouring with a petrol blue promarker to give some depth to the focal point of the card. Sentiment PC printed and cut out with my Nestie die and some paper flowers (which look really dark on the pic but are actually the same colour as the birdie house) with some sparkly centres to finish.

Hope the recipent likes it!

Challenges -

Spoonful of Sugar - Anything Goes

I Dit It Creations - Wings

One Stitch at a Time - Season or event

Pear Tree Designs - Colourful

Rainbows

Looking at the sentiment on this card I really need to heed it's content. I feel in limbo at the moment as the house move isn't progressing quick enough for my liking. I am trying very hard to be patient and optimistic but am really bothered that our buyer is going to pull out at the last minute - consequently have not been feeling particularly creative due to my pessimistic mood.

This card wasn't made for any purpose really - other than that I liked the image! The stripey glitter paper background is from DCWV and I've had it for eons. The image was a digi download and I coloured it with promarkers... think I was drawn to it 'cos I've been demanding lots of hugs this week - again due to the 'glass half empty' feeling.

The card candy used on the left side were all coloured with promarkers too and the sentiment is by Alyssa Knight Age 12 and is on an Inkadinkadoo stamp set.

Just two challenges for this card - Crazy 4 Challenges - Circles (and i hope my card candy qualifies) and Thoughtful Thursday which has a challenge of the letter 'L'... and I think this little boy's Love for the little girl is plain to see.

Have a good day whatever you're doing. x

Weather has been soooooo bad here today - lots of rain and strong winds - good job I was holed up in the work room all day! Unfortunately though I've been doing some paperwork today but thought I'd pop this card on (one I made earlier - LOL) as it seems such a long time since I was here!

Another lovely image from the fab Mo Manning of Bronson Stargazing! Paper from the Basic Grey Jovial pack - (talk about getting my money's worth!!!)Coloured with promarkers, some Stickles thrown about, Liquid Pearls and glitter! Oh and 3 little sparkly fabric gold stars!

Challenges -

Magic in the Air - Glitter, Ribbon and a Xmas Card

Simon Says - Sparkle

Bee Crafty - Christmas with a Digi

Stamp Something - Use a Digi

Am off to get messy with some embossing powder - have a nice evening whatever you're doing. x

I really do need to tidy up! There's no room at all on the desk and I just keep piling stuff on top of each other........ I played a really good game this morning ------ called 'pick up nine million sheets of paper from the floor' - well maybe nine million sheets is a bit of an exaggeration but I was really quite shocked when I saw the amount of Christmas backing papers I possess and I am now trying to understand why I purchsed 3 more books of papers at the NEC recently! I don't make THAT many Christmas cards!!

But here's one I did make for an order - in a traditional red and green colour scheme, image is coloured with promarkers and suitably glittered as Santa should be!

Challenges -

Totally Gorjuss - Traditional Christmas Colours

Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas

2 Sisters - Christmas

Am off to find the drawer of stamps which is under the paper.............. I may be some time.............. lol

'nother one!

Second one for today - know it's not long since I posted a card using this image, but the other one was part of an order and this is one I have made for a friend to sell at a charity event.

I know I'm boring you when I say I really really like this image but it's true!!!!!

I decided to give Kai a different colour scheme as I had some poinsettias (a bargain from a 'Maureen and Jan shopping trip'), in a yummy peachy colour complete with little specks of glitter. So Kai was coloured in a aqua shade to tone in with those!

The ribbon was also a present from Petra and it co-ordinated beautifully (well I think so anyway.....LOL). Label nesties, another snowflake embossed frame, some glitter, a few punched out snowflakes tucked behind the flowers, a sentiment printed on the PC and a little bit of love to bring it all together!

Challenges -

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges - Square Cards

Spoonful of Sugar - Snow/snowflakes

Bee Crafty - All About Christmas

Paper Sundaes - Let it Snow

More cards

The weather here cannot make up it's mind - we have had torrential downpours to bright sunshine accompanied by a gale force wind which blew the lid off the outdoor recycling bin! Typically, I tried to take photos this morning whilst raining instead of waiting for the grey skies to disappear!

First card today is one done with a LOTV stamp bought at the NEC - I wanted all of them but was very good and bought only 3!!!

This is another card made for a great grand-daughter of a lady at the Club.

She's coloured with promarkers and I added some Liquid Pearls and glitter glue for the snow around her feet and Frosted Lace stickles for the fur around her hat. Out came the swiss dots cuttlebug folder and then the panel was coloured using Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. The same colour was also used around the main image.The flowers were also coloured with promarkers and Cotton Candy and Fruit Punch stickles for some more glitter! The background paper is from my stash and I have no idea who makes it!

Challenges -

LOTV - Anything Goes

Delightful Challenges - Glitter It Up

Crafts and Me - Glitter

Creative Inspiration - Pink Christmas

Creative Cottage - For someone special at Christmas

Sir Stampalot - Christmas

Snowflakes!

I have been asked to make a few personalised cards for children - their ages range from 3 years to 4 months. This is the second one of the order.

Here's the one for the baby! I loved this image from Mo Manning called Kai in the Snow as soon as I saw it - I think the expression on the baby's face is simply wonderful! (I have always loved snow so maybe that's what attracted me to the image)

I coloured Kai with promarkers and added some stickles for the snow.

The embosssed frame is from Craftwork Cards and I used some Pearlescent Blue ink round the edges of the scallops before mounting it onto some blue card. I dusted over some of the snowflakes with blue glitter, the two single snowflakes were done using a Martha Stewart punch and the greeting was printed on the PC.

There's lots of challanges relating to Winter this week -

Sunday Stampers - Winter

Bee Crafty - Christmas (and a Digi image)

Paper Sundaes - Let It Snow

One Stitch at a Time - Winter Wonderland

Stamping Vacation - Paper with Snowflakes

Raise the Bar - Curves or Scallops

Jovial.

Am trying very hard to keep my feet firmly on the ground and steer my thoughts towards Christmas as opposed to nice new sofas and light fittings.

So last night I put away my newly purchased copy of 'Ideal Homes' (lol) and made a couple of cards!

I bought a lovely Basic Grey paper pack called 'Jovial' whilst at the NEC and the paper on this card is from that.

This was really a 'basic' card too! I thought the paper was far too pretty to cover it with anything so I just matted it onto green card, added a couple of silk poinsettias suitably dusted with some fine glitter, a small red greetings tag (and a peel off - can't remember the last time I used peel offs!), and a green and gold organza ribbon to hold it all together, secured with a black brad.

Wild Orchid - Classic Christmas

One Stitch at A Time - Christmas

Craft your Passion - Anything Goes

Reindeer

Just a quickie post from me this morning - off to look at what we hope will be our new place. (Shhhhh........... keeping everything crossed still....)

But I thought I'd better pop something on here as I have been away for a while again.

This is part of an order for 6 children's cards. Molly is only a toddler so hope the reindeer is OK!

He's made from felt and I think he's got a cute expression on his face!

I resisted using any backing papers and just watercoloured the sky behind him, adding some stickles for a wee bit of sparkle to both the sky and to the snow covered ground.

Had a lovely day yesterday with Maureen at the NEC, met Anne and spent a bit on some (small) bits and pieces - I am hoping to have a wee dabble later today with the goodies!

That's all for now - OH has just said we'll go out for lunch first so am off to get my coat!! Have a nice day whatever you're doing. x