Card Chain Challenge December reveal

 For the final chain of 2023 I sent my card to Ellie in Illinois and received a lovely card from Imke in Germany.
This challenge was another mega head scratcher as the Tic Tac Board had the annual 25 squares!
This time my five squares were chosen from the diagonal from bottom left to top right.

I confess to a little creative licence with regards to the card I made!

Blue - an ink blended Chipped Sapphire D.I

Bauble -  the ones on the tree - all highlighted with Nuvo drops so they really do shine

Buddy - Rory and Darcy are definitely good buddies! Exploring everything together - and poking at Christmas tree baubles!

Bling - why is sparkle so hard to photograph???
I added lots of Diamond Stickles to Rory and Darcy's wings and a liberal helping along the ground.
I also used a gold glitter Posca pen  and added lots of dots with it on the tree so it does have a shimmer in real life.

Burgundy - well I am hoping that the ink blended Seedless Preserve D.I used for the ground will pass!

It's been a lovely year receiving cards from all over the world.
A huge thank you to those who administer the Challenge too.

It's such a lot of hard work and when you think we've exchanged over 4,000 card in 33 countries it's mind boggling!

Still time to sign up for the first challenge of 2024 too!

Friends

We still have a little snow lying here, but the sun is out and the sky is a clear blue so no doubt it will all be gone by the end of the day even though it is still really cold.

As I was confined to the house because of the snow (!!😀😀) I made quite a few cards.
The sky might be blue but I had a terrible job taking this pic!
The butterfly stamp is an old one. Part of a set with flowers but no idea whose it is. I embossed it in white and then used my DOx Shaded Lilac.
Confess I am really like the oxides... need to get some more!

This is a really simple and quick card - I made another using a different butterfly and another colour.

The sequins are actually an incredible exact match to the lilac in real life although they do have a pinky tinge to them on here. But when all said and done - bling is bling!!

The sentiment is from SU - and I stamped it in Wilted Violet DI. Often when I use DI's to stamp sentiments they don't give a good impression but this time it worked perfectly.

Sharing over at -
CAS on Sunday - Sequins
Allsorts - Bling
TSOT (March Technique)- Embossing
Crafty Catz- A/Goes

Thanks for taking the time to visit - I hope you are all warm and well wherever you are in blogland! x

Blogger Blues.

Have been travelling since my last post and so tired at the end of the day even when I could get internet connection I couldn't stay awake long enough to post anything! A lovely week though (even if cold and (Tuesday) very very wet in the South ( so much so on Tuesday we had to abandon ship and play indoors!!), but the week was spolit a little by two things -
1.  The 6 and a half hour drive home last night - entry slip onto M6 shut so stayed on M1, then the M1 closed at the junction with the M62. NIGHTMARE.
2.  Mr Blogger didn't publish my GDT post for CAS on Sunday. NOT HAPPY!

So I am posting it now and I apologise to the lovely people at CAS on Sunday on behalf of Mr Nasty Blogger for it not being shown on the day their challenge went live.

The theme for the challenge is SPARKLE. So we had to add some bling!
This card is definitely another quick one but I was quite happy with the result.

I used a stamp I have had for a while and simply gold embossed. Some little sparklies added and a torn strip of vellum also gold embossed with a greeting. Finished!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes with Bling

Thanks for looking. Will be back later to catch up with you all - but right now the washing needs to be done! x

No ink!

No stamping here as I decided I'd better keep my fingers ink free as I am at another Prize Presentation tomorrow - looks bad doesn't it handing out shiny Silverware and sparkling Crystal with dreadful ink stained fingers!!!

A little bit of recycling done - I love this image which I rescued a couple of years ago from the 'saved pics box'. It started out it's life on a pale blue winter themed card.
It was soft and ethereal.... I hope I've made it bold and 'stand out'!!!!

The background card does actually have sparkly spots on it - (bad light AGAIN so I had to use the flash)- and I layered it onto some red card.
I embossed a frame onto a scrap of card and placed the image on it, before rounding off the top corner and layering onto the same red.

The bling is from my stash and I added even more with the buckle for the ribbon - not satisfied with that I then splattered some glitter glue onto it by flicking a paintbrush!

A few punched snowflakes and a Christmas sentiment (also recycled) finishes it off.
(Definitely not one for the post box - have to be hand delivered!)

Challenges -
Crafting By Designs - Get ready for Christmas
Crafty Gals - Ribbon and a flourish
A Snowflakes promise - Anything Goes
CCAYR - No stamping
Crafting Musketeers - Christmas with a Ribbon
Card and Scrap - Vintage


Thanks for calling in - appreciate you taking the time as always. x

It's been a strange week!
Lots of places to book for overnight stays during May to September, trying to juggle a few home commitments amongst all the travelling and visiting across the country and generally just trying to get my head round the enormity of what is actually happening to me!

I spent a quiet day yesterday making a few Christmas cards for my own stash -
Made a couple like this - (had terrible bother taking a decent photo!) and just used up some odd leftovers for the die cuts and the embossed background. So I will be paying a visit to the much missed Playground this week.

I was going to put the birdie on the branch but changed my mind at the last minute and popped him on what was intended to be a snowy floor - not sure it works but hey ho - too late now!!

Snow embossing folder used then an oddment of white card just randomly cut with sharp scissors, sentiment stamped with Versafine Crimson Ink and layered over background with 3d pads. Teeny bit of sparkle on the edge.

Some sparkle added to the branches and a few tiny red gems (note to self  a great idea if you have loads of time to chase the tiniest sparkly bits round the craft table..... not so good if you're in a hurry!) 

Birdie stuck where his feet will get cold and a tiny red gem on the 'i' of the sentiment.

Layered the whole lot on white base card.

Challenges -
4 Crafty Chicks - Make it Sparkle
As You Like It - fave Christmas Style - Modern and CAS - cos I love White on White and think it's perfect for Christmas!
Aud Sentiments - Sentiment for December Holiday
Divas by Design - Snow
Delightful Challenges - You're a gem (Bling)
Crafting by Design - Christmas

I suspect I shall be getting a lot of practice at making a lot of CAS cards during the summer months over the next four years as crafting time will be at a premium!
Thanks for visiting and if you've left a comment I appreciate it. I am going to spend this evening trawling through blogland and catching up with all I have missed this last week! x

Man card!

Am still toiling away with Christmas Cards! It is so unusual for me to be organised I am beginning to get a bit worried!!
Today's share was made with a man in mind, inspired by something I saw last year on Pinterest
and uses a stamp I won in a challenge.

Blue base card layered with white linen textured card which had been given the treatment with a snowflake embossing folder!
Blue snowy patterned  paper at the bottom and a strip of punched snowflakes over the join.

The 'Old Truck' stamp comes with flowers and grass so this posed a bit of a problem - not a lot of floral greenery here in the Winter!
I used some tinselly twinkly white embossing powder  - and held my breath as I wasn't sure it would cover all the floral fancy round the base and in the back.... but it did!
Then put some more onto the body of the truck in an attempt to make it look like it had been snowed in for some time - was quite pleased with the result.

Added some glossy accents on the windscreen and headlamps which doesn't show up very well inj the pic.
Cut it out with a nestie and popped it onto a blue scalloped nestie oval. Finished off with my fave snowflake die and some blingy gems.

Challenges -
Nat and Amy's - For the Boys
2 Sisters - Christmas (no red or Green)
Crafting Cafe - Winter Blues
WOW - Christmas
Tok Bobok - Christmas
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's #149 - Christmas
CRAFT - One for the Boys
Christmas @Sweet Stamping - Card for a Male

Thanks for taking the time to call in today - and if you've been able to leave me a comment I really appreciate it. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Most Popular?

A quick share today before I go out and get wet!

Another Christmas card too - and likely a stamp that the world and his wife have been using since it was released - I bought it a while back and spent yesterday stamping it in different colours to make into cards - only wish I could have got my hands on the Train postcard one at the same time too - but it's as elusive as Santa's reindeer at the mo!! On order and promised so I will just have to be patient.... NOT one of my best traits!

Opted for an aqua blue theme on this one - in a fit of madness about 5 years ago (!!!) I bought a pad of ridiculously expensive 12"x12" K and Co Winter Wonderland papers - as with so many papers they were strokable and viewable but too nice to be usable.......LOL
Last Christmas I made a start into cutting into them and have continued this year...'cos if I don't I'll be selling them as antiques!
Distressed the "vintage" papers, matted onto aqua blue card then layered onto the white base card.
Snowy Postcard stamped with Smokey Grey Versafine ink, edges distressed and coloured the sky with Tumbled Glass DI. Matted onto the same aqua blue.
Script embossing folder used onto Coredinations and sanded and placed behind the stamped image. A stamped word, some glittered die cut snowflakes and a scrap of white organza ribbon.
Once made up I decided to colour the holly leaves and berries in the corner of the stamp which I had originally left - oh and of course HAD to add lots of glittery stuff for snow!

Challenges -
Allsorts - Christmas
Gem of a Challenge - Christmas
C2CU - Vintage Christmas with a mono twist
Crafty Hands - Anything Goes
Scrapping 4 Fun - Christmas/Holiday
Winter Wonderland - Blue/White (and am hoping that my little touch of green for the holly leaves is ok!)
ALBC - Sparkle & Shine
2 Sisters - Christmas - no red or green

Thanks for visiting today - am away out for the afternoon but will be visiting everyone later.  Enjoy your day whatever you're doing.x  

Can't believe that my last post was Sunday! I've had a busy week - doing paperwork - and not the crafting kind of paperwork either more's the pity!
But I received a request for a wedding card so set to yesterday to rustle one up -
I don't know the intended recipients but hope that they (and the person who ordered it) like it!

 The whole card is made using Centura Pearl White.
I embossed the background using 'Budding Vine' embossing folder (which is one of my favourites), then layered it onto silver mirri card. I confess to not liking mirri card very much but think that for weddings and other glitzy occasions if you don't use too much it's fine as it gives a bit of shine to your projects......
I printed out the sentiment, then cut with the oval from the Radiant Rectangles nestie set and again matted it onto the silver.
I popped on a tiny rhinestone to make the 'diamond ring'!

The large corner die cuts I simply love and they always seem to be perfect for wedding creations.

The flowers were made using nestie blossom dies and once assembled I brushed on a wee bit of Stickles Diamond to give them some sparkle. The white leaves were done with an embossing punch and the silver ones are another punch which was one of the very first I ever bought.

The two tiny silver goblets are secured with a ribbon which is being 'carried' by the butterfly!
I have continued the theme on the inside.

Challenges -
Lexis - Sparkle and Shine
OLLCB - Inspired by a Song - ('I Do' by Westlife)
Crafters Cafe - Embossing
CRAFT- Congratulations
Delightful Challenges - Make the Cut
Cuttlebug Mania - Die Cuts
Delicious Doodles -  Anything Floral
Natalie & Amy - Embossing

Thanks for taking the time to look at my share for today - have a great weekend! x

Special

Am vainly searching for my mojo lately as far as card making is concerned - really as far as a lot of things are concerned!

This is another one of those - 'I think it's not toooo bad but could have done it better' efforts. Trouble is don't know what I could have done better... perhaps the sewing machine should have been stamped onto a frame or decoupaged to make it stand out a bit more?

I did consider this but when I set out to make the card I wanted it to be somewhere between CAS and 'frilly and fancy' and a bit more 'flat' than my usual multi layered efforts!

The papers are called 'For the Record' by Raspberry Road. Some digi papers I find really bright and not my cup of tea but I really like these - they all co-ordinate beautifully and the set is such a pretty one.

Used Kraft card as a base, layered the papers onto black card after distressing and sponging with Antique Linen DI then stitched (not very well I might add).

The stamps were a free set with a crafting magazine - I don't normally buy crafting mags  but paid for this one 'cos I wanted the stamps!!

Black satin edged organza ribbon tied round and a huge bit of blingy stuck in the centre of the bow - the blingy was in fact an old ring and I just used a pair of pliers to remove the front from the back! Happily too I found a single black 'dew drop' in my stash so popped that onto the bottom corner.

Used more of the papers on the inside to tie it all together.

All in all don't suppose it's too bad - might do another similar and swap the placement of sentiment and sewing machine..... 

If you, like me, are experiencing freezing weather conditions I wish you all a warm and snuggly day in your crafty spaces! x

Challenges -
1 Stop Craft - 1 image, 2 embellies, 3 DP's
Crafty Catz - Sparkle with a Bow
Emma's Cards UK - Vintage
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Stitching
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Match for the Linen Closet

Have made rather a mess of my fingers with some inks and paints today - I have been fiddling about with a project for what seems like forever and it still doesn't look right so once again the sand paper etc will be out tomorrow and I'll strip it back to the bare bones and start again!
I thought I would just pop on and share this card with you.

I have had the 'Linen Closet' papers for EVER and never used them - mainly because they;re not square and the majority of cards I make are square ones!

This yummy image was sent to me by a fellow blogger and after having found the tiniest scrap of velvet ribbon in my ribbon drawer I teamed her with the Linen Closet papers as the papers matched the ribbon! Waste not want not..........

She was cut out with a nestie  - (been a long time since I went 'over the edge' LOL) then layered onto another scalloped nestie cut from some co-ordinating cardstock and a couple of flourish die cuts in the same card added.

The cotton lace was also a scrap left over from a present from the lovely Alessandra and I was really happy to see that it matched the colours perfectly!

Some suitable bling in the shape of a large square buckle showed off the aqua velvet ribbon much better than my original idea of  just knotting it (trying to knot a tiny scrap of wide velvet ribbon was such a silly idea but my brain cells still insisted I try..........)

Added some glamour dust to her wings and decided against adding any sentiment on the front as I thought there was enough to look at!

Challenges -
Flutterby Wednesday - Winged Things
Penny's paper Crafty - Ribbons and Die Cuts
Crafts and Me - Ribbons and Lace
Creative Card Crew - Ribbon
Cutie Pie - Magical
LEJ - Things with Wings

We've had the full round of weather again today! Gorgeous sunshine this morning, (not warm tho'), then grey skies, a bit of rain, some hail stones then more sunshine!! Weird!!
Have spent a little while blog hopping tonight after the disaster with the altered piece and think I will now call it a night and go watch a bit of TV before my eyes shut...catch you all soon. xxx

Blingy Big Birthday!

Had a busy couple of days but sat last night and finished a commissioned card.

Asked to make an easel card for a 30th Birthday, girly, pinky/bluey and blingy! Hope this fits the bill.

But what an absolute sod it was to photograph this morning - grey skies now after a couple of hours of sunshine - it was dry but very cold when we went for the walk earlier but now it's snowing!
And apart from anything else it does NOT make for taking decent pics -
But I think you'll get the general idea..

Pink Petticoat papers layered and stitched  onto pink bazzil.
The card had to be 'modern' and this image from Mo seemed to be the most suitable I had to use.

'Party Girl' was coloured with a mix of my favourite pastels and promarkers and cut out with a Nellie Snellen Die. I layered more pink behind it and stitched together.
 
The lace was from my stash as was the scrummy pink velvet ribbon and I threaded a little extra piece through a blingy buckle then added all the crystals and a couple of sparkly pins.

Finished with a PC generated sentiment, a few more blingy bits and some die cut corners.

Challenges -
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Bronte & Bella's - Anything Goes with a Mo image
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Birthdays
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Corrosive Challenges - All that Glitters
2 Sisters - Pastels
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Pan Pastel - Girly 
Robyn's Fetish - Birthdays 
Fashionista - Pink 
Bunny Zoes - Girly

Whilst I've been typing this the snow has stopped and the sun has come out again! Weird weather...........
Stay warm and dry wherever you are! x

Spring is on it's way?

Certainly feels like it here today! We had a hard frost overnight but during the morning the sun came out and is still here at 4pm! Unheard of! Not only that but it was warm enough to dispense with the 'North Face' body warmer under the jacket this morning on my walk too! The crocus and snowdrops are all flowering and the daffs have just started to poke their heads through the soil - so is Spring on it's way? I hope so!

I realised today it has been almost a week since I last posted....... I have been trying to visit all my blogging buddies but life has overtaken me this week! My head has been full of other stuff- but I was asked to make a wedding card and I managed to concentrate for long enough to put this together.

Not too difficult but was a bit fiddly and to be honest it doesn't look like I spent hours on it - which I did - because my concentration level was virtually non existent during the assembly process!!

I used white hammered cardstock throughout.
The punched edges are done with a MS punch - not the one I wanted to use (which was my doily lace one - but it decided to give up the ghost and won't punch through anything!) but think it looks OK.

On top of the punched layers I cut another piece of card and wrapped three strips of broad satin ribbon round it by mounting it onto foam tape to raise it from the square piece.

Another piece of white ribbon and some lace onto a piece of card which was then placed on top of the 3 ribbon piece and then the two pieces were matted onto the punched edged layer.

I printed out the sentiment in varying fonts using a grey colour and cut with a fancy tag nestie and added two little sparklies!
The butterflies were punched out and stamped with an Elusive Images flourish stamp in Smokey Grey ink and liberal helping of glamour dust applied! Couple more sparklies on the bodies.

The large pearl and crystal heart is of course from Imagine (where else! LOL) and I popped a scrap of lace under it to hang down - tried ribbon but it looked too 'heavy' so stuck with the lace.

Overall I'm reasonably happy with it and who knows if my new punch arrives later this week I may well re-do in a cream colour and let the lady choose which one she wants then the other can go in my stash!

Challenges -
Created with Love - Things that Fly
Love to Create - All that Glitter
OLLCB - Sparkle and Shine
Dream valley - Ribbon and Bling
2 Sisters - Love
Crafty Ann's - Love Actually
Daring Cardmakers - Fly Fly Butterfly
Pretty Little Ribbon - Anything Goes

I hope that you all have had the same sunny day as me! x

Shabby Frock!

We've got rain here now - all the snow has disappeared too. We managed the walk this morning without getting wet though - just as we walked back in through the gate it started to rain - so that was good timing!
In a complete contrast from the last couple of posts  I sat yesterday and fiddled about with the distressing tool and sewing machine.
The Fifth Avenue pad  paper pack has about a third left in it and in trying to keep my promise to myself to 'use up before you buy more' I decided to use a few more sheets and some of the odd half pieces which were too big to throw away.

The light here is seriously bad so the photo is not the best.

The dress form was slightly larger than the card so I chopped off the bottom,and simply positioned it a bit higher at the back and glued it!

I used Antique Linen on the shape then covered it with an off cut of the paper.

The lace skirt is a very old scrap from my stash but I thought it looked good with the circular shape. After glueing it I put some cream seam binding ribbon around the middle, tied it and stuck on a blingy pearl and crystal embellishment.

The flower was made using cut out nestie shapes, then sprayed with a little water scrunched up  and assembled together with a brad. I dusted a little bit of Diamond stickles over it for a wee bit of sparkle.

The 'Beautiful' was a free stamp from a crafting magazine.

The papers and the cotton scalloped edging stitched,and some leaves, a die cut corner and a flourish again cut from scraps added. 

Finished with a few pearls and decorated the inside with some more of the papers.

Challenges -
Sugar Creek Hollow - Lots of Layers
Inky Chicks - Bingo Board and I chose - Flowers, Lace and Pearls
Sweet Stamps - Pearls and Lace
Incy Wincy - Pearls and Lace
Cards Galore - Anything Goes
613 Avenue - Anything Goes

I'm off for a little walk through blogland - have a great day whatever you're doing. x