Winter Wonderland gift card and candy winner

Wow what a fantastic response we had to last week's Winter Wonderland challenge. This week Danielle has challenged us to make a Christmas gift card holder. This week's fab prize from The Stamp Barn is

Now I have never made a gift card holder before but there are several tutorials out there, which are listed in this week's WW post. I decided to go with my own idea for this one inspired by the fab sketch at Truly Scrumptious with the option to make the tag a hidden message. Instead of a tag I used foam pads at the top and bottom of my lovely Whiff of Joy image leaving a space in the middle to insert my gift card. I added some glitter and faux stitching. Papers are DCWV Rose tinted Christmas, snowflakes are from an MS punch and the sentiment is from Alissa's Paper Town.

Other challenges
Whiff of Joy Money or gift card holder
Bah Humbug Snowflakes
Magical Crafts Something for the girls
Papertake Do something different
Crafty Cardmakers Imagine you are on a desert island and can only take your fave cardmaking things (Promarkers, glitter, WOJ stamp, papers, MS punch and snowflakes are some of mine).

The winner of my Christmas candy is

That's you Lisa. Congratulations. I'll get your prize off in the post to you.

Christmas candy

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I am offering some Christmas candy to celebrate the relaunch of Winter Wonderland on Friday 23 April. If you haven't seen the new look challenge then hop over there and enter.

My candy consists of a set of clear stamps, some Smirk ribbons, Smirk glitter chipboard tags and some Christmas tree brads.

To be in with the chance of winning my candy here is what you need to do:

1. Follow my blog
2. Follow Winter Wonderland blog
3. Post a picture of my candy on your sidebar
4. Post a card for the challenge beginning on 23 April - Anything goes for Christmas
5. Leave me a link to your creation.
   

Candy will be drawn on Friday 30 April.

There are 2 great prizes up for grabs this week plus some of the other DT girls are offering candy so what are you waiting for? Get out that Christmas stash and start making something wonderful.

Two bright cards

A couple of really bright cards from me today. I coloured the images last night and made the cards this afternoon. I had forgotten that a friend had given me this cute Penny Black image so it's the first time I have used it. I followed the sketch at Sketch and Stash. I love this MS border punch which I bought at the Ally Pally show. I have used it a couple of times but both times the image almost covered it so this sketch was a good chance to show it off. I also used my new glossy accents on the top of the umbrella and I couldn't resist adding an umbrella charm.
Other challenges
Teddy Stampers Red and white
A Spoon full of Sugar 3D
Creative Card Crew April showers bring May flowers
Creative Craft Blooming marvellous
My Partner in Crafting Crime (A new challenge) Anything Goes
Everybody Art Song title (Flowers in the Rain by The Move)

Sophisticat want a card for a child and Fussy and Fancy a birthday card with a sweet treat so this new digi image from Pollycraft is perfect for a boy's card with a difference. Papers are K&Co Hopscotch. I couldn't get the MS zigzag border punch at Ally Pally and they seem to be sold out in most places. Luckily I found one at The Glitter Pot where a couple of other yummy goodies popped into my basket ready for my next candy.

A bear and a Gorjuss girl

I decided to make a real girly card tonight and isn't she just gorjuss. She is of course a SN image. The pink papers are FF pink parfait. Butterfly strip is from Paper Cellar and pearls and charm from the Hobbyhouse. Flower is Prima.
Challenges
Sketch Saturday sketch
CRAFT Pink and brown
Stamp something Charmed
Crafty Angels Summer
Allsorts Photo inspiration (butterflies)
One Stop Craft Metallic
Totally Gorjuss Use a Gorjuss girl
Paper Sundaes 3 patterned papers, 2 cardstock and 1 flower

The second card is yet another male card but this new LOTV image was so lovely to colour. I coloured it a few nights ago and added some glossy accents to the water, glasses and windscreen. It was one of those cards which came together really quickly once I had decided to use the fab sketch at Just Cute Bears. I added some faux stitching for the challenge atStamptacular. Papers are Dovecraft, sentiment is Craftwork Cards. Pearls from the Hobbyhouse again and the swirls are diecuts from an Autumn set I bought in the US.

Lazy Sunday

I had a lovely girly morning yesterday as I met up with my good friend Lynsey. I used to see Lynsey more or less on a weekly basis but since I have moved offices I don't see her at work anymore. We had arranged to meet up with Lisa as we all live in Norfolk. Lynsey and I have been following and e-mailing Lisa for some time and t was so lovely to meet her at last. We got along so well just like old friends and a visit to the local craft shop after coffee and scones to pick up a few much needed goodies by us all was a great finish to our visit.

I have had a lovely lazy Sunday, playing with my stash and on the laptop. We went out for lunch so I didn't even have to cook today. Back to reality tomorrow.

The first card I made today is quite a different one for me. The challenge atPaperplay is no DPs. I followed the lovely sketch at Moving along with the times and the theme of make a splash at Quixotic. The image is CC designs and I added glossy accents to her tail. It is the first time I have used this product and I shall certainly be using it again. The circle is cut with nesties and embossed with Cuttlebug bubbles folder and distressed for the challenge at Secret Crafter. The embellishments are a K&Co chipboard set I bought in America and they are just perfect for this card.

The second card is yet another male card for an order. The image is Little Claire, papers are DCWV and K&Co Hopscotch. The stars are a Cuttlebug die. I bought some star ribbon bards yesterday and just had to try one out here. Sentiment is Craftwork cards. I thought the ribbon looked manly enough. Really must use some flowers soon.
There is a great sketch as always at Friday Sketchers and A Spoon full of sugar have a Happy Birthday theme.

Winter Wonderland relaunches on Fridays

Yay, it is an exciting day for us over at Winter Wonderland as today is the day we change from a Sunday to a Friday challenge. Not only do we have 2 fantastic prizes on offer from Pink Gem and Simon Says but some of the DT are also offering candy to participants. See post above for my Christmas candy. We couldn't have made this challenge any simpler as it is Anything goes for Christmas. I am really enjoying making my Christmas cards during the year this time rather than having to make them all at once. There are so many cute Christmas images it is lovely to play with them for a change. You can combine your challenge with other challenges and this doesn't just mean sticking to Christmas challenges either as my DT card demonstrates. I won this Peachy Keen stamps a while ago. The circles were cut using Nesties and the set of 3 Nellie die cuts and the snowflakes are an MS punch.

I am entering my DT card into the following challenges: Create4fun Use only circles Stamptacular Penguins Secret Crafter A day out Incy Wincy Black, white plus one colour Stamp with fun Animals ABC Christmas I is for Ice plus snowflakes I love Promarkers Black, white plus one colour

Two cards for the boys

Two men's cards today. Two more to make by Sunday. I'm missing my pretty flowers. As Norwich's colours are yellow and green I used them for this Charmed cards footballer image to which I added a 3D football. Papers are DCWV and Dovecraft. Image is Craftwork cards. I bought some football card about 3 years ago and used a strip here behind the image. I added another 3D card sticker from some old stash and a Sizzix cut swirl.
Challenges
Inspirational Card Sketches Fab sketch
Allsorts In stitches (faux stitching around the image and on the paper
The Crafty Pad Stitching (as above)

It's that little LOTV bear relaxing in the garden again. Papers are DCWV. I tore and inked the edges and used my MS simple scallop punch. Thank goodness for buttons to use in place of flowers.
Challenges
Lili of the Valley Bev's lovely sketch
Just cute bears One for the boys
Cupcake Red and white
Die Cut Dreams Tearing
Passion for Promarkers In the garden
Crafty Creations Distressing

Check back here tomorrow morning for my card for the relaunch of Winter Wonderland.

Pickin' apples and a snowman!

Two really contrasting cards tonight. The first is for The Sugar Bowl. The image is Sugar Nellie's pickin' apples, papers are BG Euphoria and flowers are Prima. I also used a new Cuttlebug embossing folder.


When I saw the challenge at Crafty Catz was red, green and use a punch I immediately thought of Christmas. This is another of my new WOJ stamps. I added lots of glitter and used a Fiskar embossing corner punch. Holly leaves are a Sizzix die cut with a Hero Arts poinsettia and Prima crystals. I had decided not to add a sentiment when I found some little epoxy stickers in my stash and this one fitted perfectly. The fab sketch at Moving along with the times fitted a tall card perfectly and the challenge at ABC Christmas is holly and touchy feely is for Cute Card Thursday.

On the road

It's time for another challenge at Kaboodle Doodles ad this is Jill's first time of hosting a challenge and she has chosen embossing. So, a nice easy challenge for you and you could win a £10 voucher to spend at Joanna Sheen. For my DT card I chose to use the Happy Birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder with another of my new LOTV stamps. The blue card has a white core so I distressed the embossing. Papers are DCWV and Clare Curd and I added some card candy. Tis is my last DT card for Kaboodle Doodles as I have decided to step down from the DT.

WOJ angel

What beautiful weather we are having here in Norwich. Hope the sun is shining where you are. I want to get this card posted before I go outside to do some gardening and enjoy the sun.

Don't forget the Winter Wonderland challenge of embossing is till open until 5pm Thursday 22nd as we are having an exciting relaunch on Friday 23rd April. We have a good response so far and hope to see more of you playing along for the chance to win one of 2 fab prizes.

When I saw the colour challenge of yellow, green plus one other colour at Whiff of Joy I wasn't sure I would enter but then I thought I could combine it with yellow, green and blossom at Lily-boo too. I remembered how much I liked this soft colour scheme on some of my Easter cards and I'm really pleased I tried it now.

This beautiful WOJ angel is coloured with PMs with glitter on her wings and flowers. Other challenges are
Friday Sketchers Fantastic sketch
One Stop Craft Things with wings
Creatalicious Flowers and wings
Totally Papercrafts Spring

Baking a cake

I had great fun playing with some of my new stash for this card. The image is one of the new LOTV bears which I cut out with a blossom Nestie. The gorgeous papers are all BG Euphoria. I used my new MS deep punch and a sentiment handbag from Craftwork Cards. I found some little cupcake stickers which I added just for fun. Flowers are Wild Orchid with punched leaves .

The sun is shining but the wind is still cold. Hoping for some nice weather this weekend as the garden needs some attention. Have a good weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate all your lovely comments.

Challenges
Just Cute Bears Flowers
Tuesday Taggers Cakes and balloons (I know there are no balloons but I checked the DT cards and some of them just had cakes.)
Polka Doodles Animal magic
Stamp Something Layer something

Whiff of Joy

I've been playing with 2 of my new Whiff of Joy stamps I bought on Sunday. I just love this cute couple. The corners are punched and embossed but the embossing is very subtle. I followed the fab sketch at Sketch Saturday and the colour scheme of pink and brown plus either yellow or green at Pollycraft. I used some scraps of Honey and Hugs paper. The peeping owls echo Mrs Foxglove peeping out from behind Mr Foxglove. I decided to punch some flowers from patterned papers for a change from Primas and Wild Orchid flowers an add some flatbacked pearls. Think I should have bought more than 3 packs of these last Sunday. Get well is the challenge at Secret Crafter. I bought these lovely scallop cards last week too and doodled some bright pink dots in each scallop.

I needed a fairly simple and subdued card so went with the colour scheme of lilac, grey and white for Colour Create. I used the lovely sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday for this one, and yes, it is a WOJ stamp. Papers are Papermania Amethyst Infusion.

Card for Grace

It was my friend's Lynsey's little girl's second Birthday on Monday and this is the card I made for her. The fairy is a Stamping Bella called Eloise Greengrass. She is coloured with PMs and of course I added glitter to her wings. Flowers are Primas with flatbacked pearls and the little chipboard fairies are Dovecraft. The sentiment is from Allisa's Paper Town.

Challenges
By the cute and girly Fairytales
Sir Stampalot Fantasy
Paperplay Shiny happy people
Totally Gorjuss Texture
ABC S is for Sparkle
Flutter By Wednesday Open them with a butterfly, angel or fairy
Papertake Cutie pie

In the garden

I've been playing with some more of my new stash. The image is called in the garden and is from Little Claire. I was asked to make an 80th birthday card for a lady who likes birds and butterflies. When I saw the fab sketch with so many layers at A spoon full of sugar today I knew it would be perfect for an A5 card . One of the new MS punches I bought was the flower one I used on the horizontal paper. I hope you can see it as unfortunately a lot of it is now covered up.

Other challenges
Stamp something stitch (faux stitching around image)
Allsorts Petals and pearls
Penny Black Buttons galore
Stamptacular Spots and dots
The Crafty Pad Some colours of the rainbow (I've been singing red and yellow and pink and green, orange and purple and blue. Think most of them are on this card!)
Creative Card Crew Happy Birthday

Medium - Letraset Promarkers, Sakura goldstar and shimmer chalks
Papers - DCWV, Dovecraft
Tools - MS border punches and fern punch
Flowers -Prima
Flat backed pearls and brad from the Hobby House
Other – ribbon, buttons and spacer from stash
Sentiment -Craftwork cards
Number - Penny Black stamp

Relaxing in the garden

SECOND POST FOR TODAY. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY YUMMY NEW STASH.
This is one of the LOTV stamps I bought yesterday. I was so pleased to be able to buy some of these new stamps which won't be on sale on the website until later this month. The brown paper is from a new pack of Dovecraft I picked up for £1 for 48 8"x8" papers. They are all abstract brown, red and yellow which are perfect for men's cards and colours I am always short of as I would rather buy pinks and purples. I also used one of my new MS punches called simple scallop. The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and pearls from the Hobby House.

Challenges
Crafty Catz Sketch
A Spoonful of Sugar One for the boys
Creative Inspirations Green, brown and blue
Teddy Stampers Spring
CRAFT Buttons

Ally Pally

Just a quick post to say what a fab time I had yesterday at Ally Pally. My first stop was the LOTV stand where they had all their new stamps for sale. I bought 6 of those plus 2 others. My second stop was Whiff of Joy. It was so exciting to see all their beautiful stamps for sale at a show and to meet Katherina. If you bought 4 stamps you got a small stamp free so that was 5 more stamps in the bag. I said hello to Jacqui on the WOJ stand but each time I went to talk to her she had disappeared, which was a shame. I found Debby buying papers and we had a lovely chat and met Bev on the Hobby House stand. It was so nice to meet people whose work is so inspirational.

Last year everyone was trying to outdo each other on price with Nesties but this year it was MS punches, which was good news. Debby will be pleased to know that that some PB mice found their way ino my bag. The pic at the top is all my lovely new stash. Time to go and play.

Excitement at Winter Wonderland

If you are reading this on Sunday then it means my scheduled post has worked and I am happily browsing and buying at the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show.

Regular followers of Winter Wonderland will know that some of the original team have sadly left but the DT are determined to keep this great challenge going. This week we have an easy challenge for you, embossing. (Don't blame me for the last challenge, I inherited it, and a great challenge it was too. Many of you wanted to join in but didn't have any Christmas bunnies.) We want as many of you as possible to join in so no excuses this week. Think how grateful you will be nearer Christmas. My stack of Christmas cards is growing nicely.

This week's challenge will run until Thursday 22nd April and there will be 2 prizes of digi images. From 23rd April Winter Wonderland will change to a Friday challenge. There will some great prizes so make sure you hop over on 23rd April. 2 of the DT currently have blog candy on offer if you enter a Winter Wonderland challenge so make sure you visit Kate and Janet's blogs once you have entered the challenge.

I used one of the Whiff of Joy Henry stamps for my card. I punched the corners and inked the edges. He is coloured with PMs and I added glitter to his hat and scarf. The paper was a freebie from a mag. I love the way the pattern is the same in 4 different colours so I kept the embellishments fairly simple. The red card is embossed with my Cuttlebug snowflake folder and I added some snowflakes and gems.

Love shoes

When I saw the challenges was boots and shoes at Die Cut Dreams this week with a fab freebie digi image I just had to enter. I decided to combine it with the rather difficult challenge of no DPs at Allsorts. I coloured the shoe with PMs, cut it out and mounted it onto textured card with punched corners. I stamped some white card with blue ink and my field of sky stamp. The red card is embossed with Cuttlebug D'vine swirls and I added some red sticky ribbon. The leaves were cut with a Sizzix die and glittered and the flowers were a candy win with added gems and pearls.
Other challenges
ABC R is for red
Digital Tuesday Blue, white plus one
Paper Sundaes Sketch
Stamptacular Sunday Sugar and spice and everything nice

Spring is here

The weather is definitely getting a bit warmer and the flowers are blooming so it does feel more like Spring. The first card today is this sweet bunny from LOTV. I followed the lovely sketch at Moving along with the times and their theme of pink, brown and ribbon. Flowers are Prima, pearls from the Hobby House and bows and pearls from Wild Orchid. Other challenges:
The Craft Garden pastel colours
Polka Doodles Birthday
Stampin' for the Weekend ribbons and bows
Magical Crafts Animal antics
One stitch at a time Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers The young ones
I love Promarkers Animals
Simon Says Card for a child


The second card, in my fave purple, was made using an image and sentiment from my blogger friend Jo. I coloured them with PMS and Sakura clearstar pen. Papers , all 7 of them, are all Papermania Heather capsule collection. This fab sketch from Sketch Saturday was a great way to use some strips of paper. I used 6 different strips all edged with my MS doily lace punch. Flowers are a mix of Wild Orchid and some oddments from my stash. Punched leaves with glitter and a sentiment cut using a nestie complete the card. Spring always makes me think of flowers so I am also entering this into the challenge of the joys of Spring at Quixotic.

Don't forget to enter this week's Winter Wonderland challenge. There are not many entries at this time of the year so you have more chance of winning.

In the garden

Happy Easter Monday everyone. It is pouring with rain here so I shall have to satisfy myself with looking at these girls in the garden as I shan't be getting out there today. I had hoped for more cardmaking and blogging time this weekend but I have had time to relax with friends.

We had a lovely day yesterday with some very dear friends. She is in her late 60s and he is 71 and they have just bought their first computer. They had it set up and knew how to use google and that was it so we spent time with them showing them how to use e-mail, the internet and access the games. It was really fun but exhausting. I slept well last night and off to do some shopping this morning. Must change out of my PJs first! I'll try to visit some of you later, time permitting.

As well as hosting my first ever Winter Wonderland challenge (see post below) I am also hosting my first ever Kaboodle Doodles challenge today so hop over as we have a very easy theme this fortnight of digi girl and a fab prize from Pollycraft of 5 digi images. The team have all used Pollycraft images. I just love the 2 little Twiddly Wing girls. I layered the image with patterned paper for a change. Papers are my fave Papermania capsule heather and pink. Flowers are Prima with added brads and spacer.

Other challenges
Peachy Keen sketch
I love digi 3 papers, 2 brads, 1 embellishment
Totally Papercrafts Let's go digital
Pollycraft Anything goes
The Pink Elephant Nature


The second card was made with a Sugar Nellie stamp and the colour scheme of purple and turquoise for the challenge at CRAFT. The theme of fly away and the sketch are for Truly Scrumptious. I punched the fern leaves and butterfly from some of the background papers. Flowers are Prima again with card candy. Other challenges are it's a bug's life at Tuesday Taggers where the sponsor is The Craft Barn, spring garden at Sassy Designs and how does your garden grow at Secret Crafter.

Christmas Bunny

I am hosting the challenge over at Winter Wonderland this week. Sadly we said goodbye to some of the DT but I am very pleased that my good friend Lynsey has joined the team. It is a great challenge this week, of a sketch which must include a bunny. I'd love to see more of you joining in this week. Don't forget you can combine the challenge with other challenges so you are not restricted to making a Christmas card just for our challenge.

I used a LOTV stamp and my favourite DCWV rose tinted Christmas papers. I backed the image onto a Cuttlebug embossed square and added a strip of double sided tape to make glitter line. I made the flowers using a poinsettia spellbinders die with some star gems and punched fern leaves. I am entering this card into these other challenges:
Charisma Animal magic
Bah Humbug Embossing
Stamp Something Pink

At last a card

I have had a lovely afternoon cardmaking and actually got 3 cards made. I coloured the images last Sunday and have only now had time to make the cards. I can only share one with you today as the other 2 are my DT cards.

This is a really simple image from Little Claire which was just perfect for the lovely sketch from Friday Sketchers. The colour challenge of black, white plus one other colour is for Die Cut Dreams . Papers, sentiment and flower are Papermania Touch of Pink and Capsule collection.

I had 323 followers and now I have 322. I guess that is because they didn't win my candy. Oh well, obviously not a proper follower.

Candy Winner

It's that moment you've all been waiting for. Thanks to so many for you for entering my Easter candy. I hope all my new followers will remain and will come back to comment from time to time. I am so glad I added Mr Linky as it made it so easy to find out the number of the winner.

It's my blogaversary on June 6th so watch out for more candy coming for that. I'm off to the Ally Pally on April 11th so will be looking for some yummy goodies to give away.

Well, without further ado here is the winner.......

That's you thread-bare. Well done. I'm so pleased as I Clare is one of the driving forces behind the Moving along with the Times challenge. I have been lucky enough to be a GDT there a while ago and have won a couple of their challenges. Please e-mail me your address Clare and I'll get your prize off in the post to you.

A sad week

What a week I have had, leaving my lovely job after working for the Careers Service and then Connexions for the last 22 years. I had my leaving lunch on Monday and managed to stay dry eyed throughout my boss's speech and my speech. I have been overwhelmed with the cards, pressies and good wishes I have received. Yesterday was very upsetting saying goodbye to people, some of whom I have known a short time and some I have known for the 22 years, and everything in between and the tears flowed freely.

My house smells like a florist's. I had an enormous bouquet, Winnie the Pooh socks, apron, teatowels and ovengloves, and a £75 mock cheque to be spent at the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show. (I did get the cash for this later and who am I to argue with how I must spend the money!) These were from the collection and I also had some lovely individual presents including one of the new LOTV rubber stamps from my very good friend Lynsey.

I've had very little time for cardmaking or blogging this week as I've felt so tired with all the emotion.

I started my secondment at County Hall today for the next 7 months. It is a very different environment and means another 40-60 minutes a day's travelling.

I'm hoping for a relaxing Easter with plenty of me time which of course means some cardmaking and blogging and getting back to being my normal happy self. Happy Easter all.

Easter candy

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I have put together some candy for one lucky follower. If you would like the chance to win then you only have to:

• add a picture of my candy to your sidebar with a link to my candy post
  
• become a follower, if you are not one already
  
• enter via Mr Linky (I'm feeling very pleased with myself in having worked out how to add this) If Mr Linky goes walkabout please hop back later.

Candy consists of:

50 sheets of mixed 6" x 6" paper
Pack of Woodware brads
2 Pink Gem stamps, cat and dog
2 small clear acrylic blocks
Pack of alphabet sparkly stickers
Prima flowers
Marks and Spencer speckled chocolate eggs

Draw will take place on Good Friday, April 2nd.