We Three Kings

This is one of the second set of cards published in Making Cards magazine. I wanted to use the traditional images in a non traditional way.

Image - LOTV Nativity trio

Medium - Copics

Papers - Studio Light Scandinavian

Dies - Lawn fawn stitched circle

Sentiment - LOTV

Stars - Hobbycraft

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes

Live and Love Crafts(J) Smorgasbord - J

I think we will be having a cosy movie night in with a nice meal and a bottle of Prosecco. Enjoy your New Year's Eve whatever you have planned.

Santa Penguin

The new edition of Making Cards is published today so I can start sharing the projects I had published in the last magazine. I had two sets of cards and this is one of the cute Lawn Fawn cards. I love these little stamps and dies as you can make up so many scenes with them.

Stamps and Dies - Lawn Fawn Tobogganing Together

Medium - Copics

Papers - Nitwits Festive Trimmings

Dies Lawn Fawn stitched circle and puffy clouds

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes

Dreaming of Spring

I used another of the new LOTV elephant digis for this card coloured with Copics. The papers are Anna Marie Blissful Pink and the lovely lace is from Crafty Ribbons. I used a Lawn Fawn stitched circle die and MFT stitched scalloped edger dies. The butterflies were made with a Crafts Too die which I love masking from the papers and inking the edges.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl any image 

The Paper Shelter anything goes

Simon Says anything goes

A girl and her dogs

Unfortunately after the cough getting a lot better it got worse over Christmas so yesterday went to the Walk In centre and have another week of antibiotics. After three months of coughing I really hope these work. This is the last of my commissioned cards for the same family as a few of my previous posts over the last few days. This one was for the youngest sister and it had to be blue and have 2 dogs. I reduced the dog digi and merged two of them with Chloe out in the snow.   I used the precoloured Pink Gem digis and added some fun flock on her boots and Stickles for snow. The dies are Memory Box stitched snowflakes and Doohickey slender firs.

Challenges

Crafty Purple Frog blue 

The Cutie Pie a day in the snow 

Noor! Design UK sparkle 

The Ribbon Girl any image
Simon Says make it sparkle

Trim the Tree

Another Christmas card and another commission. This one was for the same person for one of her sisters. The brief was something to do with the theatre or London if possible as she is currently living in London and loves the theatre. The three sisters all act, sing and dance and the girl this card was for has actually appeared as the young girl in Mary Poppins on the west End stage. So I found this quite a challenge to know what to make then I remembered that she had played Clara in The Nutcracker a while ago and this image reminded me of that role.

Image - LOTV Victorian Christmas

Medium - Copics

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - MFT scalloped edger, Joy snowflake om glitter card

Flower and sentiment - Hobbycraft

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl any image 

Winter Wonderland for someone special 

Little Miss Muffet anything goes
Simon Says make it sparkle

All the family

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas Day and will be enjoying Boxing Day today. This was a commissioned card for a friend for her parents. I was asked to include 3 girls and 2 dogs. I had a few ideas about it but once I bought the Card-io stamps I knew I could actually fit in the whole family.

So there are Mum and dad on the bench, the 3 girls and the 2 dogs plus the oldest daughter's partner. If you saw my post on 23rd this is the same young couple. Lots of glitter for snow, not a very realistic scene for a British Christmas I know.

Challenges

Simon Says make it sparkle

We are going to have breakfast at The Premier Inn with Mum this morning then take her for a ride to the coast if the weather is nice before taking her home this afternoon.

Nativity

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you have a lovely time.

Marianne xx

Dreaming of a White Christmas

This seemed an appropriate card to share with you on Christmas Eve. I love Christmas Eve, it always has a magical feel to it. As usual I'm sure we won't have a white Christmas but a sharp frost later tonight and in the morning would be lovely, however it looks like being mild which isn't Christmassy at all. It is the first time I have tried colouring skin grey, really liking the colour combo.

Image - LOTV Edwardian Christmas

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV Nitwits Snow Princess

Sentiment - LOTV grunge Christmas

Dies - MFT wonky stitched rectangles, MFT stitched scalloped edger

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Crisply ribbon - Live and Love Crafts

Other - pearl pen

Challenges

Penny Black and More at Allsorts Black, white plus one
The Ribbon Girl any image

We will be visiting my Mum this afternoon and then bringing her back to Norwich for a meal and settling her into a nearby Premier Inn for a couple of nights. In the morning hubby will be collecting her to spend the day at our house. It is the first time we have spent Christmas Day together since I got married so really looking forward to it.

Christmas in their first home together

Hope you are all organised for Christmas. Off early to get the last of the food shopping this morning. Everything else all ready. This was a commissioned card for a friend to give to her partner. I created a little scene using a LOTV precoloured image from one of their art pads. The tress are Joy and Dee's dies and the fence is Doohickey. I used white and clear Wink of Stella pens, added some fun flock to her hat and some wooden hearts from The Works. 

Challenges

The Cutie Pie a day in the snow

Winter Wonderland for someone special

Ooh not long now until the big day. Housework today so we are nice and clean for Christmas.

Kraft and red

I still have lots of Christmas cards to share with you. I hope you are all ready for Christmas. We are doing the final food shop tomorrow, collecting our turkey breast today and no doubt enjoying a coffee out as well.

Image - Inkylicious

Papers - Nitwits 'Twas the Night

Dies - Sweet Dixie Victorian lamppost, Spellbinders labels 10

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Berries - The Ribbon Girl

Raffia lace from stash

More pleats

This is the second of the pleated cards I made for the latest Papercrafter magazine. I really like this fold and must remember to make more like this. The backing paper is Craftwork Cards and the pleated paper is Tim Holtz. The sentiment is Craftwork Cards and I used a set of Joy dies for the flowers and a Memory Box bunting die.

We are going to the coast today and have tickets for the Christmas pier show this afternoon. There is a very good fish and chip restaurant nearby so I think that will be our lunch today.

Picked for you

I love the LOTV trios and of course having the digi stamps means you can make them as small or as large as you like. I wanted just one image as the focus of my card which I diecut with a Lawn Fwn stitched circle die and layered onto a doily. The paper is Anna Marie Blissful Pink, flowers from Wild Orchid and the sentiment is LOTV.

I would like to enter this into the any image challenge at The Ribbon Girl.

We are out visiting friends tonight and will be enjoying a festive buffet and catch up.

Mistletoe Fairy

I bought this new image a while ago from Wee Stamps and had been saving it to use on Lynsey's Christmas card as both she and her daughter love fairies.  I used a clear Wink of Stella on her wings for sparkle. We had a lovely day yesterday visiting Lynsey and her family and went out for a delicious roast then popped in to see my Mum on the way back. I am still coughing but it is getting less each day thankfully and that rattle in my chest from the infection is gone.

Image - Wee Stamps Mistletoe Fairy

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV Frosty Christmas

Die - Sizzix snow flurries

Challenges

Crafty Purple Frog Blue 

 Noor! Design UK Sparkle

Winter Wonderland for someone special

Pleated Dress

I have two cards featured in the latest Papercrafter magazine both using pleats. It is the first time I have tried making pleated cards and had fun playing around with a few ideas. This is the first one I am sharing with you. I used a Crafter's Companion embossing folder and a Joy butterfly die. I made the dress from a doily. The piece I trimmed off was perfect for making the bodice. I added a tiny piece of lace  and some sentiment ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, twine and pearls.

Cute pigs

I was delighted to be asked by Gill at LC Designs if I would make a card using the new cute pigs irresistible images. So here is my card. 

Image - LC Design cute piggies precoloured toppers

Papers - LOTV bonnets and bowties

Sentiment - LC Designs

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Die - Whimsy fence

More deer

This is one of my favourite of the Card-io cards I made. Such a tranquil scene. I really love the way you can build up a wreath with the little stamps. Using the small ink pads to add just a touch of colour is so effective.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK Sparkle

Graham's card

This is the card I made for hubby. I bought this stamp when it came out in July and have resisted using it for anyone else as it is perfect for him.  Our car is kept in the garage but if it was outside and it snowed he would soon be out there clearing away the snow.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics, Sakura pens on the lights

Papers - LOTV Festive Trimmings

Dies - Sweet Dixie fairy lights, MFT wonky stitched rectangles, Doohickey slender firs, Dee's tree, Simon Says Kate snowflake

Challenges

The Cutie Pie a day in the snow 

Allsorts Christmas lights 

Winter Wonderland frame it 

The Ribbon Girl a card

Well I didn't get my planned day out yesterday. I have had a persistent cough since the end of September. I went to the Doctor then and he said it is a nasty virus which can last up to 100 days!  At the beginning of this week it got worse and I started to hear a rattle in my throat and upper chest. Back to the Doctor Tuesday afternoon and I now have a chest infection so have some antibiotics.  I am hoping it will now clear up as I am really fed up with coughing. 

Second sneak peek

Another sneak peek of some of the new stamps launching on Friday from LOTV. These are two of the elephant trio stamps which will be available in both digi and rubber.

Images - LOTv elephant trio

Medium - Copics

Papers - Nitwits bonnets and bowties

Dies - Spellbinders circles, Joy flowers

Sentiment - LOTV

Other - enamel dots

Challenges

Sweet Stampin' animals 

The Ribbon Girl a card

Taking a trip into Norwich today, hoping it won't be too busy. A couple of Christmas cards to hand deliver and a little shopping and no doubt lunch.

Pre launch sneak peek

As promised here is the full card made with one of the very cute new images launching on Friday from LOTV. They will be released in both rubber and digi. The sentiment is one of a new range too.

Image - LOTV Big Bouquet

Sentiment - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition New Bloom

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Die - MFT stitched inside and out rounded corner

Punch - X cut rounded corner

Other - cheesecloth, baker's twine, flower charm

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Sweet Stampin' animals 

Live and Love Crafts Smorgasbord (E)

Let it snow

Our Lili of the Valley challenge on Facebook for December is Winter and this is my inspiration card. I love this sweet penguin stamp and it's the first time he has been out this year. So many stamps, so little time!

Image and sentiment - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Bo Bunny Altitude

Dies - MFT inside and out rounded corner square, Marianne snowflakes

Other - pearl pen

Challenges

Simon Says ice inspiration 

Christmas with the cuties anything goes 

The Ribbon Girl a card

Crafty Purple Frog Blue

We are out with friends for a Christmas meal tonight at Cosmo's so homemade soup for lunch today I think as the choice at Cosmo's is huge.

Poppy

Although not a Christmas image Poppy in her onesie and fluffy slippers is perfect for a little girl's Christmas card. I had previously used her for a Birthday card and when a friend saw that card asked if I would make a Christmas card for her niece as she looks so like the image.

Image - Pink Gem Poppy in Onesie

Medium - Copics

Papers - Wild Rose

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment - LC Designs

Die - Memory Box stocking banner

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Paper Creators Christmas
Crafty Purple Frog Blue

Christmas present wrapping today I think. Cards are all written and either posted or ready for posting. Just two more special cards to make. That's me all organised.

Penguin Kisses

Our last challenge this year at A Gem of a Challenge is simply Christmas. The challenge will last for a month so get those Christmas entries in. 

Image - Pink Gem Penguin Kisses

Medium - Copics

Dies - Go Kreate frilly squares 10 and frilly squares 3

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Papers - various

Diecut and sentiment - Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Other - Stickles and fun flock

Challenges

Christmas with the cuties anything goes 

Dies R Us Christmas 

Little Miss Muffet anything goes 

Winter Wonderland frame it 

Noor! Design UK sparkle 

The Ribbon Girl a card

We have some friends coming round tonight for a seaside themed evening. We discovered they like board games, something we used to play a lot with other friends. We will be playing the boad game Seaside Frolics and having fish and chips and icecream.

Sneak Peek number two

As promised here is sneak peek number two of the new stamps from Lili of the Valley launching next Friday. This is one of the new mouse stamps. Check out my earlier post for a sneak peek of one of the new trio stamps. All the new stamps are in digi and rubber. There are also some lovely new sentiments, one of which I have used on my card but you will have to wait until 13th December to see the whole card.

Sneak peek number one

Next Friday Lili of the Valley are launching some new trio stamps and some very cute new stamps in both digi and rubber.  The team will be sharing some cards with you but today we are just teasing you with sneak peeks. This is one of the elephant trio and this afternoon I will be showing you on the new cute mice. You can see the whole of my elephant card on 14th December.

Oops!

Our challenge this week at Crafty Ribbons is very simple, Christmas with ribbon. I used one of the cute new Hobby House toppers teamed with sentiment ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, Kaisercraft papers and Joy diecut trees coloured with white Wink of Stella. I also used my favourite pearl pen and Stickles.

Challenges

Dies R Us Christmas 

Paper Creators Christmas 

Noor! Design UK Sparkle 

The Ribbon Girl a card

I have my last craft fair today from 4-8 at the hospital. It is a lovely festive fair with Santa, cookery demo, choirs etc. Set up is from 1.30 so need to do a few jobs at home this morning before loading the car and heading off to set up.

Cute tags

I bought Papercraft Essentials magazine as I really wanted the cute stamps and dies which were included. I love the little accessories which come with the animals. I used up some scarps of Echo Park Winter Wishes paper. The tags were diecut with Spellbinder dies and I also used my Lawn Fawn forest border die. The sentiment is also Lawn Fawn.

These ones are similar to some I shared a while ago sing the skating penguin. Same dies as above but these stamps and dies are from the Lawn Fawn tobogganing together set.

Challenges 

Simon Says Anything goes

Christmas with the cuties anything goes 

Dies R Us Christmas 

Sweet Stampin' Let it snow

Another plaque

I started on writing the Christmas cards yesterday but had a lot of stuff to do on the laptop too including printing off more inserts for them so I need to get them finished today. We are off to visit my Mum this afternoon.

I thought I would share another of my plaques with you. The plaque is from MDF craft supplies and is 150mm across. I used some lovely ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, First Edition glittery paper, Inkylicious sentiment, Gorjuss lace bow, flowers from Wild Orchid and a butterfly from The Works.

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes 

Live and Love Crafts Smorgasbord challenge C

Lovely lanterns

Well we didn' get nearly as much done at the weekend as we had planned. The decorations are all done and it looks very festive now. I need to get the cards sorted and written today and maybe make some more tags. I would like to get the presents wrapped this week then we are all sorted. I have hubby's card to make this week too, his is usually the last one I make.

I do love lampposts and lanterns and the Card-io set will be useful for more than just Christmas cards. I used 2 from the branch set and hung my lanterns. I used a Copic for the inside of the lantern and a yellow stamp pad for added glow outside them. The sentiment is Lawn Fawn.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Simon Says anything goes 

Allsorts CAS 

Winter Wonderland frame it or night scene 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts black, white plus one

We are off out for a meal tonight with some friends we haven't sen for ages. Trying somewhere new so hope we all like it.

Butterflies, hearts, owls and penguins

I am really enjoying my felt sewing and decided to make some hearts with butterflies. I used Memory Box dies and chain stitch for the butterfly bodies. I bought the Crafts Too sewing owl dies at Peterborough. I sold several of the Christmas owls I made and I thought as owls are so popular it would be good to have a die to make them all year round.

I would love a sewing penguin die as I loved making these. They were made from a kit I bought in Hobbycraft and I was selling them as soon as I made them.

Two cards, four snowmen

I had my best day's sales this year yesterday. Looking forward to getting the Christmas decs up today and writing the Christmas cards. Might get the pressies wrapped this weekend too. Just have to go and collect a parcel and do some food shopping today and I am sure a coffee shop will figure in that trip too. These new Card-io stamps certainly helped me complete my Christmas cards this year. I could go on and on using them and will be making several of these to sell next year. I love experimenting with the different combinations. For this one I tried a blue/purple sky but I do prefer the sunset colours. I love the way repeat stamping gives a feeling of depth to the forest.

I would like to enter this into the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.

I stamped the foliage in greens and brown for this one and used green for the trees too. I like it but I prefer the black and white, what do you think?

Wee Snowman

I still have lots of the gorgeous pre coloured Hobby House toppers to use, well there is always next Christmas. I love this cute Wee Snowman and robins. I used some lovely ribbon and gorgeous sparkly new lace from Crafty Ribbons. The fence was made with a Doohickey die and white Wink of Stella pen. The sentiment toppers are Kaisercraft. I added my fave fun flock to his hat and Stickles for snow.

Challenges

Paper Creators Christmas 

Simon Says anything goes 

Paper Shelter a Christmas card

Noor! Design UK Sparkle

I am selling at the hospital today, my last one in the shop unit this year but I am back for my last craft fair of the year at their Christmas craft fair next Thursday.

Post it holder and bag

These are the last of the items I made with the free Docrafts papers for Papercrafter magazine. I was asked to make 2 papercrafted items. The first is a post it holder. I make a lot of these for my craft stall. I added a couple of punched holly leaves and a flower from Hobbycraft.

Secondly I made a gift bag. Everything is from the paper pack except the robin ribbon which is from Crafty Ribbons and I used my new favourite edging die from MFT.

A very busy day today. I am at the local council staff Christmas Fair  at lunchtime, set up is from 10am. Then will be popping home before going to meet Lynsey for a meal about 4.30 before her college course. We will then be heading of to set up the hospital shop unit for trading tomorrow. Then it will be home, hot chocolate and The Apprentice before bedtime ready for an early start tomorrow.