WOW

This is my second post for today and it's a WOW card (white on white). I love these cards as they really make the image stand out but I don't make them often enough so when I saw the challenge of total whiteout at Penny Black I resolved to get out a Penny Black image and have a go. Not using patterned papers really makes you think about what to use on your card. I've coloured the image with Spectrum Noirs for a change from Promarkers and edged it with DI Worn Lipstick. I've used Nesties labels fourteen and the matting was made with Centura Pearl and a Tim Holtz embossing folder. I've used some textured card and a CB snowflakes embossing folder and white ribbon. I've added some faux stitching, MS punched snowflakes and Crealie die cut swirls.

Other Challenges:

Forever Friends fortnightly challenge White and sparkles

Forever Friends monthly challenge It's all Christmas

DYSU Ribbon

Bah Humbug Cute Christmas Critters

ABC E is for Embossing

Joanna Sheen Christmas Wishes

I only managed to get a little bloghopping done this morning but had a lovely surprise as I found out I had won some gorgeous stamps on Kath's blog. Kath has been featuring Tim Holtz tags and her own take on them, which are all fabulous. I'm planning some more commenting this evening whilst hubby watches TV.

Mistletoe and snowflakes

A nice early start for me this morning. Up at 6.30, washing done, just a few jobs to do and than a crafty day planned. Lots to make today. I've used one of my fave colour combos for this card, using Wild Rose Wintry Christmas papers. The image is Tatty Button, coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers with added glitter. I haven't used raffia lace for ages, don't know why as I love it. I've used glitter card and 3 MS snowflake punches and added a snowflake charm.

Challenges:

Passion for Promarkers Fab sketch

The Ribbon Girl Jingle all the way to Christmas

Bling it On Christmas

Charisma Seeing spots

Creative InspirationsTurquoise, purple and white

Scrapbook Sisters Anything goes

Simon Says Anything goes

Feed the Birds

Welcome to my new followers, thanks so much for following and thanks to all my regular commenters too for your lovely comments. A quick post from me before getting ready to go out so will catch up with you tomorrow.

I still have 16 Christmas cards to make so these LOTV die cuts come in very handy. Mind you the boy was only half coloured so out came the Promarkers to finish off the colouring. I've used HOTP Forever Christmas papers, some glittery ribbon which I won in a mini candy from Mandy Fox, red card candi and Woodware punched holly leaves. I like to use a fine embossing tool on the leaves to add some definition. Sentiment is from Crafty Bitz.

Challenges:

Papertake Great sketch from Dawny P

Delightful Let it Snow

Crafty Catz Colours of Christmas

Aqua fairy

Well I'm feeling a bit better about my Christmas cards as I spent yesterday afternoon sorting out who was having which card, printing inserts, addressing the envelopes and getting the cards written. I have a nice pile all ready for posting. Hubby went to the PO to get a few of them checked as I would hate to put the wrong stamp on them. Most of them I know will need large stamps. I'm not a less is more person as you know. He also posted one to go abroad for me. Unfortunately the list shows I still have several more to make. What a good job I love making Christmas cards so much.

My card today is my DT card for Totally Gorjuss where Net has given us one of her lovely sketches to follow. I've used a gorgeous Pollycraft fairy with Papermania Enchanted papers. I've used my MS snowflake border punch again and Marianne poinsettia dies with a fabric spotted brad. I've sprayed the poinsettia with Spray and Sparkle, added glitter to the fairy and the papers are glittered too so this is a really sparkly card. Lace, seam binding and a Crafty Bitz sentiment to finish.

There are obviously so many Christmas challenges out there that I could link this to but I don't like linking too many to one card so my challenges today are:

Marianne Designs Sparkle and shine

Paper Sundaes Winter Wonderland

Hooked on Craft Winter Wonderland

Pollycraft Christmas fun

Simon Says Anything Goes

Wags n Whiskers Snow angels (or fairies)

Crafty Hazelnut Mainly monochromatic

Finally I'd like to remind you of my sketch challenge over at Squiggle Stamps. The challenge was a little late going up last week due to Tracy's internet problems so you may have missed it. You can use any image and you could win £20 to spend at Squiggle stamps where there is also a 20% sale on at the moment.

Have a good weekend everyone. Mine's another busy one, shopping, ironing, visiting my Mum this afternoon, out for lunch and a show tomorrow afternoon and evening. Hopefully time for a bit of crafting too.

Winter Birthday

It's a lovely bright but cold day here today. Hope the weather is good where you are. I know from one of my blogging buddies, Christine in Canada that they have snow already. Brrrr. Welcome to my lovely new followers. If you haven't entered my candy yet then check out my candy page.

We had a lovely day shopping yesterday. The one hour free course on getting started with your I Pad was excellent and we decided not to wait but bought one. It is amazingly fast and so light and portable. So much better than our little netbook which we take away with us. It's fine for using Office but unbearably slow on the Internet. While I finished my coffee this morning I got out the I Pad and did some commenting. It was even faster than using the laptop. Still lots to learn on it though.

My card today is my DT card for Winter Wonderland where the challenge is to make a Winter Birthday cards preferably using Christmas scraps of paper. I used some DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas left over from last year and coloured this cute Nellie Snellen image with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. My image was a little large for the labels Nestie so I cut out the squirrel's tail. I really like this method of using Nesties. I distressed and inked the edges and added lots of glitter, lace, pins, flowers, pearls and rose leaves. The corner was cut with a Sizzix die, sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Scrapbook Sisters Anything Goes

Quixotic Paperie Great sketch

Simon Says Anything Goes

Divas by Design Anything Goes

Fab 'n' Funky Anything Goes

Hotshot Crafts Promarkers (New challenge, good luck with it Sarah)

First Christmas

This post is scheduled as I am out shopping today and booked on a one hour course learning about I Pads as we are hoping to buy one soon.

I just love this sweet stamp from Humphrey's Corner which I have coloured with Spectrum Noirs and teamed with papers from the Humphrey's Christmas CDs. It's my DT card for Crafter’s Companion where our challenge this month is New Beginnings. I've used label Nesties, MS zigzag punch, seam binding and Kars wooden snowflakes. The sentiment is also from the stamp set.

Eek, 1st December and still busy getting cards made. Haven't bought hubby anything yet and haven't wrapped any pressies either. I am normally much further ahead but being away for most of November had put me all behind this year. How are you doing with your Christmas preparations?

Challenges:

Card Makin Mamas Sentiments

The Cutie Pie Pastel Christmas

Simon Says Anything Goes

I had a lovely surprise yesterday. 

I have won a £10 voucher for Lili of the Valley.

Let's cuddle up

This is my second post this morning. Please scroll down for a review of my new Daylight Lamp.

I'm still working on getting my Christmas cards finished. Checking out some of your blogs it's good to know that I am not alone in this. I've used a free Fizzy Moon stamp which was given away as a Sainsbury's special extra gift with Quick Cards a little while ago. I've used some free papers as I wanted to use the bunting which I cut out of one of the papers. The card is Kraft and the green and red are Core'dinations. I used the MS holly corner and border punches, The image is edged with DI Forest Moss and coloured with Promarkers. Lots of glitter for the bobbles and snows. Punched Woodware holly leaves and a poinsettia and a Craftwork Cards sentiment to finish.

Challenges:

Kaboodle Doodles Bundle up for Winter

My Mum's Craft Shop Keeping warm

Stampin' for the Weekend Friends

2 Sisters Holiday

Allsorts Pennants or bunting

Daylight Lamp

Now this is something you will want to put on your Christmas list. It's the new Foldi lamp from the Daylight Lamp Company and you can view all the details here. I was asked it I would like to review this lamp and post on my blog about it and I am delighted to be writing about it. The lamp has 30 daylight LEDs. This picture shows the strength of the light along with the cloth case. As the name suggests it folds into the case making it an ideal lamp for taking out and about with you when crafting away from home. It's also ideal for crafting in hotel rooms where the light is usually from lamps.

The lamp gives up to 8 hours of bright white light on batteries and unlimited light once the USB is connected to your laptop. You can also buy an adaptor to use it on the mains.

Now that it is getting darker earlier and some days can be quite gloomy in the Winter I am finding this lamp invaluable, particularly for colouring fine detail. When not in use I can easily fold it away.

So if you would like to know more please check out their website here. The price is normally £69.99 but there is an offer of £7 off at the moment.

Starry, starry night

Here's another Christmas card to cross of the list. Still plenty more to make. I know I have been making them all year but I have sold several and ave some for sale in some local shops too. The problem this year has been the fact that I have been away for most of November too when I would have been making the final cards normally. I have used very little purple for my Christmas cards this year so thought it was time for a purple one. Speaking of purple, which you know I love, I found some purple potatoes in Sainsbury's so just had to buy a pack to try. They are supposed to make very good roast potatoes and amazing purple mash.

Right, onto my card which has been made using one of the last Christmas LOTV stamps. She has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and has some lovely glass glitter added to the fur. Papers are Wild Rose Wintry Christmas edged with chalk ink. I used my new MS holly border punch and some organza ribbon. The card is Core'dinations embossed and sanded. The star was cut using a Sizzix die and glitter card. The star buttons are from Walmart in the USA.

Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Great sketch

Lili of the Valley Anything Goes

Moving along with the times Ribbons and bows

Totally Papercrafts Christmas

Craft your days away Buttons or bows

Dutch Dare Use at least 3 of ribbon, image, patterned papers, layers, rhinestones, brads, buttons

There's a new challenge starting soon, Hotshot Crafts and they also have some follower's candy to give away when they reach 50 followers. Currently they are at 49 so head over there and start following them.

Green and gold snowman

I'm back with a second post for today. Please scroll down for my Christmas decoration. I've used a very unusual colour scheme for a change based on the SN FB challenge this week and I must say I am liking it. The image is SN of course die cut with my new Nestie, labels fourteen and coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Papers are Dovecraft Christmas Fancy and Forever Friends. The snowflakes are Kars wooden ones coloured with a Sakura gold star pen with my 2 new MS snowflake punches and gold glitter card. Glittery gold ribbon and pearls from The Hobby House to finish.

Challenges:

The Sugar Bowl Gayle's fab sketch

I love Promarkers Anything Goes

Charisma Snowflakes

Sweet Stampin' Punches and dies

Crafting when we can Borrow a sketch

Dream Valley Sparkle

Paint fusion decoration

Good morning everyone, and what a cold and frosty start to the day. After being away for most of November, with my holiday to Florida and then Craftaganza, (3 day Crafter's Companion workshop in Darlington), I feel out of touch with everyone so I'll be catching up on some blogging later today. I'm still playing catch up with the ironing and want to get some cards made today too.

This is my first ever Christmas decoration and my first attempt at paint fusion. We had a wonderful class with Sheena Douglass at Craftaganza. We made the 3 circles in class using Sheena's stamps and paint fusion. I haven't painted since school and I was never very good at it then but I am really pleased with this for a first attempt. I finished it off this morning by distressing the edges and spraying with Spray and Sparkle and attaching the ribbon and circles at the back.

Challenges:

Cafts 4 eternity Christmas decoration

CRAFT Unusual Christmas

Incy Wincy Trees

Fairy Sparkle

This week at Totally Gorjuss we have a lovely new sponsor. Yes it is the very talented Sylvia Zet from Wee Stamps. I love these stamps and the DT were so lucky to be given an image to use. Mine is Winter Fairy and she was a joy to colour. I used Promarkers and Flexmarkers and added a touch of Sakura Gold Star pen and lots of glitter.

I haven't made an easel card for ages. I used a Kraft card blank and Marianne Merry Little Christmas papers, lace, gold holly leaves from stash and Marianne die cut poinsettias with pearls. If you would like to win some of Sylvia's gorgeous digis then come and play.

You may have noticed I haven't been around again. As you read this I will be back from a 3 day crafting workshop run by Crafter's Companion in Darlington. I'll be back to normal blogging again as soon as I have recovered from my 2 trips. I hope you have entered my candy. Please see my candy page.

My Squiggle sketch

Time for a sketch challenge at Squiggle Stamps, designed by me.

I used another of the cute penguin images, which has been coloured with Promarkers. I added lots of glitter and glossy accents to the custard on the pudding. I hope you'll come and play with my sketch this fortnight. Remember you can use any image though using a Squiggle image means you get 2 entries.

Nativity

This week should have been my challenge at Winter Wonderland but as I am  having fun at Craftaganza I swapped places with the lovely Squirrel who has taken over hosting our challenge this week of Nativity. I chose this cute LOTV image which I coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I used a Sakura gold star pen on her wings as a change from glitter. I used my MS star border punch, Woodware star punch and a star gem. The sentiment is Crafty Bitz I think. I'm looking forward to seeing all your Nativity cards this week.

Look what I made!!!

Here I am in the hotel at Craftaganza. What a lovely time we are having. We are divided into 6 groups, each having a different tutor. We had 3 workshops today. In the first one we made a book and in the last one we made a Christmas decoration using paint fusion. In my photo you can see the lovely necklace and bracelet I made. I've never made any jewellery before but am really pleased with the results.  I just have to finish off the other 2 items at home as we ran out of time in the classes. The book and the paint fusion were also new techniques and great fun. Looking forward to 3 more workshops tomorrow and then some fun tomorrow night with a a quiz and some other entertainment.

Help - I'm stuck

Yes, I had time to make another card last night. Only about another 24 Christmas cards still to make! I didn't have too much time so used one of the cute LOTV die cuts for this one, adding Sakura Rose Star to the cat's hat for some added sparkle. This is such a cute image and not available as a stamp I don't think. I used my new Sew Easy tool and floss and it took me back to my embroidery days. I shall definitely be trying this out again. The papers are last year's Dovecraft, sparkly snowflakes from America as is the Doodlebug cupcake twine. I found the stamped sentiment in my stash, think it is a Crafter's Companion one. Talking of which, my case is packed but I'm still in my PJs so need to have a shower and pop the last few items in the bag and off to Darlington we go. We're taking the laptop so I may have a little time for blogging tonight. Then it's a packed 3 days and evenings at Crafter's Companion Craftaganza. I'm looking forward to meeting up with Lynsey, Lisa and Jacqui and also meeting other crafters who I only know through blogging and Facebook.

Challenges:

Forever Friends Christmas is Coming

Kaboodle Doodles Baby it's cold outside

Whoopsi Daisy Christmas

Pollycraft Christmas Fun (As this is a 4 week challenge I hope to enter again with a Pollycraft image)

At last, I made a card!

Yes, last night I finally had some crafting time and managed to make a start on this card which I finished off today. It felt so good to be back in my craftroom again after my holiday. I've used one of the new LOTV stamps teamed with Forever Friends papers. I've used some of my new goodies on this card, Tim Holtz distressing tool, Wonky Square Nesties and MS snowflake punches. I coloured the image with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, added some punched ivy and holly leaves and red roses to the snowflakes.

Sorry I haven't got round to much blogging yet. The holiday ironing is almost finished and the house is nice and clean again. I'm packing again to head off to the Crafter's Companion workshop tomorrow but things will be back to normal next week when I will be making Christmas cards like mad as I have 3 orders plus my own to get finished. In the meantime I hope you will enter my candy which can be found on My Candy page.

Challenges:

ABC DT A Christmas card

By the cute and girly Christmas girls

Crafty Calendar Winter Wardrobe

Sparkles Christmas Angels

Fab n Funky Baby it's Cold Outside

Lili of the Valley A Christmas Card for Someone Special

Moving along with the times Let it Snow

Wags n Whiskers Christmas themed

CES Snowflakes

The Crafty Pad Festive cheer-red and green

Lisa's Birthday card

Whew, another busy day, catching up after my holiday. I spent the morning cleaning and ironing and all afternoon on paperwork, finances and e-mails. Can you believe I got home from hol last Friday afternoon and still haven't had time for crafting yet. I have managed a little blogging time but feel out of touch with what's going on. I thought I would share this card with you which I recently made for my crafting buddy, Lisa's Birthday. The image is Whiff of Joy, coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I added some narrow ribbon to the trellis punched paper, Wild Orchid flowers, leaves from Crafty Emma's. The metal flower is from The Works.

Challenges:

Craft Your Days Away Embellishment bingo (ribbon, flowers, pearls)

2 Sisters Let it Sparkle!!

Flutterby Wednesday Open

The Ribbon Girl Pink and white

Love cars

Hi everyone. If you missed my post with my holiday news and stash please scroll down to yesterday's post. I have managed to find somewhere for all my lovely new goodies. I just need some time to use them. I spent about 2.5 hours ironing until I couldn't bear to iron another thing so thought I would share this layout with you which I created just before I went on holiday. The photos were taken on previous visits to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. I used the MS PATP cherish set and made some wheels with the large fan punch. The cogs were made with a Tim Holtz embossing folder and Kraft Core'dinations. The ones on the left were heat embossed and the others were sanded and distressed. The flag charm is from The Works. I would like to enter this into the Anything Goes scrapbook challenge at Scrapbook Sisters and Make a Gift/Anything But a Card challenge at Fussy and Fancy.

I'm back from my hols with some new stash and candy

Thanks to all those of you who left me comments over the last 2 weeks whilst I have been away on holiday. I hope you enjoyed my daily posts which I had scheduled. The above is some of the crafty stash I bought. Here's the punches I bought.

And here's the scrapbook stash I bought.

We had a great holiday in Florida. We spent the first night in Orlando and then travelled to Key West for 3 nights before coming back to Orlando for 10 nights. We had a suite in Key West which was fabulous and was opposite the beach where we walked one evening and watched the sunset. We did some Christmas shopping in Orlando, hubby bought 2 pairs of shoes and several clothes. I only bought 3 tops and a pair of jeans, spending my money on crafting bargains instead as you can see.  I just have to find somewhere to put it all now, lol!

We did a behind the scenes tour at Disney's Magic Kingdom, which was  a 2 mile walking tour and fascinating. We also spent time at all the Disney theme parks. The weather was gorgeous. Now I'm back to lots of washing and ironing. You know you're back when you have to go food shopping at Sainsburys, which we did this afternoon. I've missed visiting you all and obviously 4 of my followers weren't happy as they have left me but the important thing is my faithful followers are still here.

I'm off again on Wednesday until Saturday for a Crafter's Companion workshop in Darlington so please bear with me until normal service is resumed. I couldn't go away and buy myself some lovely goodies without bringing some back for one of my followers so if you would like the chance to win this.........

then check out my candy page where I shall shortly be posting this candy.

Mmm, glass of wine, don't mind if I do

My card for this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss was made for a male friend's Birthday. The images and sentiment are from a Fiskars set of stamps. It took a little while to get the arrangement just right but I really like the result. As our challenge is Swirly Whirly I thought the swirly grapes and leaves were just perfect. I coloured the images with Promarkers and used a Sakura Green Star pen for some shimmer. For a change I used an MS corner punch I hardly ever use these on their own which is a shame as they are effective. The swirls were made with a Crealie die. The leaves were made with an X cut ivy leaf embossing punch but I thought they look like vine leaves. We are sponsored this week by Simon Says so hope you will be able to join in the challenge.

On my way home

I'm sure many of you will have realised by now that I have been away on holiday. If you are reading this on Friday 18th November then I will be back on British soil after (I hope) a lovely holiday in Florida. I hope you have enjoyed my daily posts that I spent ages scheduling before I went away. What a good job I had lots of Crafter's Companion sample cards which I hadn't shared before. My card today is the lovely Lottie, Humphrey's sister. This is such a sweet stamp, which I coloured with Spectrum Noirs. I used Core'dinatins which I embossed with Swiss Dots and then sanded. I added some Sizzix die cut swirly corners. The card shape was made with a Grand Nestie.

I hope that Mr Blogger has been good by publishing all my scheduled posts. I have another scheduled tomorrow for my Totally Gorjuss DT card.

I am going to be busy sorting out all that lovely washing and ironing, surely the worst part of any holiday, before heading off to Darlington on Wednesday for Crafter's Companion Craftaganza. I'm really looking forward to the 3 day workshops and meeting up with some of the DT and other CC crafters. As you can see it is going to take me a while to catch up with all your lovely blogs so please bear with me.

Flower Shop

Something different today. An 8" card made using the Tulip decoupage set from Papermania. Stamping is by far my favourite method for making cards but decoupage is very popular so I do make some of these to sell. I used an MS border punch and an X cut butterfly punch. The hydrangea is from K&Co.

Snowman Baubles

Another sample but this time using The Snowman Walking in the Air CD. I cut out the baubles and added Spray and Sparkle before hanging them from this fold back card. I used the MS zigzag border and snowflake punches.

Bedtime story

You my have seen this card on TV as it was another sample for Crafter's Companion. This is such a cute image. Backing paper is from Humphrey's Corner CD and for a change I made a base card from coloured Centura Pearl. I kept the design simple just adding some Sizzix die cut corners.

A flower from Humphrey

I thought I would share a decoupage Humphrey card with you today. The papers are some old Papermania ones. I used the MS cherish PATP set and another MS border punch, ribbon and some Wild Orchid flowers.

Christmas Traditions

This week at Totally Gorjuss we have a wonderful challenge of Christmas Traditions. I had so many ideas for this but in the end went with Father Christmas. I used one of the Humphrey's Corner stamps coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Isn't this such a cute image? Papers are HOTP, as is the sentiment. I kept this fairy simple and just added some star pearls from The Works and a bow. We are sponsored by Crafter's Companion this week so hope you'll join in the fun.

Anything but a card

Time for another challenge at Squiggle Stamps and this time it is anything but a card. I used 2 of the new digis which I resized small enough to fit on gift tags. The tags are from Hobbycraft, images coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers with some Sakura blue star on the pressie. The holly was made with a Woodware punch and card candi. These tags are a great way of using scraps of paper. I hope you'll come and join in the fun for a chance of winning a great Squiggle prize.

A Christmas Mouse

It's my good friend Lynsey's challenge this week at Winter Wonderland and she has challenged us to use a Christmas Mouse on our projects. I love this sweet Gillian Roberts mouse and haven't used him/her yet this Christmas so it was time for an outing. I teamed him with Wild Rose papers and some sanded Core'dinations. The image is coloured with Promarkers. Holly made with a Woodware punch and some card candi. I bought the gorgeous organza ribbon at Ally Pally.

Fuschias and butterflies

I hope you are enjoying seeing these Crafter's Companion samples, some of which you may have already seen on TV. This is quite a simple card using some Reddy Decoupage, a Nellie die and a butterfly embossing folder on Centura Pearl card. A couple of X Cut punched butterflies to finish.