In the snow

I made this for a good friend of mine whose Birthday was two days ago. She is the friend who doesn't like cute cards but she loves horses. When I saw this image on a card on Chrissy's blog I asked her where it was from. She found it online as a free image and sent me the link so I was able to print it out. I wanted a wintery feel to the card without it looking like a Christmas card. The papers are Carta Belle Bundled Up, sentiment Craftwork Cards. I used a MS cherish border punch, Joy vintage flourish die and flowers from Wild Orchid. I also added some Stickles to the snow.

Challenges

Deep Ocean anything goes 

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

Simon Says Make it sparkle 

Winter Wonderland Bingo (animal, glitter, flowers)

Cute Card Thursday anything goes

My favourtite five LC cards

Have you seen the posts on the LC blog where the DT have been showcasing their favourite five LC cards?  Today is my turn to share my favourites with you.

I had to choose this as it is my favourite Christmas LC image. I love snowmen and bunting and the two together are perfect. 

This is such a fun image and I love the colour combo of aqua and pink. A really pretty card this one.

This year I have embraced the clean and simple look which is much harder than it looks. I love images with brollies, no idea why as I am not keen on the rain. This is such a cute image and concentrates on the colouring rather than the embellishments.

I love cats and this is such a fun image. I love red and blue and the clean lines.

Another Christmas cad I know but they are some of my favourites to make. This one is one of three I made for a magazine feature. The image is another cute one and I love the banners and snowflakes.

Skating in NYC

A commissioned card for a friend to give to her boyfriend. They went to New York at the beginning of December so this card represents him skating there. They left that until their last day just in case of accidents which was very sensible. I used a Marianne Designs stamp with a variety of dies and card to create the scene.

Challenges

Country View Create a scene 

Live and Love Crafts Sparkle 

Noor! Design UK Winter Wonderland 

Scrap and Craft Anything Christmas 

Whimsy Winter 

Little Miss Muffet Holiday cheer 

Di's Digis anything Christmas

Simon Says Make it sparkle 

Simon Says Monday Winter Wonderland 

Papertake anything goes

Let's roll

I made some calendars as a thank you for my regular customers at the hospital shop and craft fairs. I made them to suit their individual likes and this one was made for a lady who actually has a motorhome but the MME all things chalk papers and Hobby House topper were just what I wanted especially as I know she loves bunting too. I added some flowers from my stash and she was delighted with it.

Challenges

Allsorts anything but Christmas 

Deep Ocean anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

Papertake anything goes 

Creative Inspirations anything goes

Favourite 5 Christmas Cards 2015

I am joining in Debby's 5 favourite Christmas cards of the year as I always do. It is good to look back at them but always hard to choose my favourites.I made about 140 Christmas cards this year so that is a lot to choose from. I have tried to choose a variety.

So here they are in no particular order.

I love LOTV James, the kraft and white and all the delicate layering.

This is such a fun Pink Gem image and as I had so many card to make this year the pre coloured digis have been invaluable. I love the colour combo and the cute diecuts.

I have enjoyed trying more CAS cards this year and this Little Miss Muffet card is one of my favourites. I love using banners.

I have made more white on white cards this year and this is one of my favourites and the most recent card of my choices. 

Another Penny Black card. The colours are so gorgeous and I spent a long time on this one, using paint, glitter and frantage.

Have a wonderful Christmas xx

Hubby's card

The last Christmas card I usually make is hubby's and this year was no exception. I love this Tim Holtz stamp and matching dies. You can't see the depth very well in the photo but I stamped the image 3 times so that I could die cut different pieces to colour and layer. The papers are LOTV 'Twas the Season, sentiment comes with the stamp and die set. I kept it simple just adding a woden snowman and heart from Hobbycraft. I really like the clean lines of this card.

Challenges

CCAYR keep it simple 

Without Words feeling festive 

Sweet Stampin' Merry Christmas

Dream Valley Christmas 

Simon Says Monday Winter Wonderland 

Papertake anything goes

Not long to go now. We are out with friends for Christmas lunch today and then we will be home for the rest of the day. There is something magical about Christmas Eve and I love spending it at home.

Festive food

It is so long since I have done any scrapbooking yet this is the least time between taking a photo and doing a layout that I have ever achieved. I took the photo last Friday, printed it that night and made the layout Saturday afternoon. It is such a lovely pic and was only taken with my iPhone.  I knew I had the perfect paper to match his jumper, Deja Views Fairisle Christmas which I bought in America a few years ago. I added some Bo Bunny diecuts, wooden gingerbread man and reindeer and some Crafty Ribbons ribbon which says have a yummy Christmas. I used my MFT stitched fishtail and MB snowflake dies.

Challenges

Stuck December 15 sketch 

Winter Wonderland Christmas bingo (Snowflakes, animal, ribbon) 

Inspiration Journal Tis the Season

Off to do the last of the food shopping this morning, mainly fruit and veg, which will involve a coffee stop at the farm shop as we have ordered our turkey breast from the butcher there. I hope you are all organised for the big day.

Steady

My second December inspiration card for LOTV and a very different colour combo today using one of my favourite LOTV stamps. A snowman and penguins, what more could you want. I used this stamp for my hubby's Christmas card last year and this time I used it for my friend Lynsey's card. With so many stamps to use it is a shame I haven't used it more.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Kaisercraft Dear Santa

Dies - MFT stitched jumbo fishtail, MB and Docrafts snowflakes

Punch - X cut corner rounder

Wooden trees - Hobbycraft

Berries - The Ribbon Girl

Other - Stickles and pearl pen

Challenges

Graph'It Gold or silver 

Bunny Zoe Sparkle 

Dies R Us Winter (use snowflakes) 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts anything goes with a stamp 

Sparkles Christmas Die cuts for Christmas

Simon says Die crazy

Whimsy Winter option snowflakes 

Penny's anything goes 

Winter Wonderland Christmas bingo (animal, glitter, flowers)
As you like it Traditional or non traditional colours for Christmas (Non traditional for me mostly as I love experimenting with colour combinations and purple is my favourite colour)

Seeing stars

Firther to yesterday's post it seems there is something funny going on with blogger as I had a lot of comments on here and Facebook from people who have also suddenly lost a number of followers. At least the number has stabilised now. I made this card for some friends. Always a challenge as she doesn't like cute images and I have to think of something different every year. I stamped an Inkylicious script stamp in brown and then used shabby white frantage. I diecut the stars using a Sizzix primitive star die and then put them through a crimper. I added some jute ribbon, a snowflake die, wooden sentiment and some enamel dots. I really like how this turned out and must make some more like this next year if I remember.

Challenges

CCAYR Keep it simple 

Inspiration Journal Tis the season

Simon Says Die crazy 

Cute Card Thursday stars

Sweet Stampin'  Merry Christmas

Wavy cats and where have my followers gone?

Has anybody else suddenly lost some followers? I have lost 24 in a day which seems very strange unless blogger have suddenly decided to delete some unused blogs. I know some people who were regular visitors no longer blog or visit. Just wondered what is going on. Anyway if you are here then I am very glad to see you thank you.

I don't know if you have spotted that Little Claire is changing its name and logo. It will be called LC Designs and the new logo will be this lovely new wavy cats stamp. I think this will be a very popular stamp and I can see me using it a few times, I stamped it with Versafine ink as it gives a stronger image to the silhouettes. I used Sakura rose star and green star pens on the tulips so they are nice and sparkly. I kept it very simple using some LC paper and adding some MB die cut kittens. The sentiment comes with the stamp.

Challenges

Allsorts anything but Christmas

 Bizzy Becs anything goes 

Deep Ocean anything goes

Looking forward to my good friend Lynsey coming over today with her husband and little girl and going out for lunch,

Vintage car

I bought some vintage car images from Whitby Crafts when we were on holiday in Yorkshire and have finally got round to using one. Hubby really liked this card and it sold on Monday on its first outing so I shall be using some of the others soon,  It's a while since I made a vintage male card, I do love making them with lots of distressed edges of course. The papers are Prima Craftsman and I added two types of jute ribbon, one from Hobbycraft and one from QD along with a Craftwork Cards sentiment and some Tim Holtz metal embellies. 

Challenges

Simon Says Monday Just a pinch (distressing, metal embellishments) 

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

Singing in the snow

The last of my commissioned Christmas cards today. This one is for my Mum from her husband.

Image - LOTV art pad

Papers - LOTV Festive Trimmings

Dies - MB stitched snowflakes, Marianne tree, Frantic stamper tall pine trees, Die-sire icicles, Go Kreate scalloped rectangle

I added my usual Stickles and pearl pen

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl any card 

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

Die Cuttin Divas Christmas 

Bunny Zoe sparkle

Dies R Us Winter (use snowflakes) 

Scrap and Craft anything Christmas
Simon Says Die crazy
As you like it Traditional or non traditional colours for Christmas (I love a twist on red and green by using aqua instead of green giving a more contemporary look)

Off out today, facial and massage, lunch then visit my Mum.

Christmas friends

I made my last Christmas card yesterday I hope but I still have several to share with you.  I really love this cute PB image and thought it deserved a second outing.

Image - Penny Black

Medium - Copics

Papers - Craftwork Cards Magic of Christmas

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Lawn Fawn stitched circle, Memory Box stitched snowflakes, IO birch trees

Other - Stickles, pearl pen, pearls

Challenges

Penny Black Christmas 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Anything goes with a stamp 

Dies R Us Winter (use snowflakes) 

Natalie and Amy Christmas 

Stamping Sensations anything goes with a stamp and ribbon 

Die Cuttin Divas Christmas 

The Craft Barn Tree

Another meal out tonight with friends. The Christmas lunch we had on Tuesday was lovely but tonight we have opted for the ordinary menu. It's a place we haven't been to before but have heard good reports so fingers crossed.

Brollies Up

A very suitable image for today's card with all the rain we have had lately. I hate gloomy damp days, much prefer cold and crisp Winter days. At least my card is lovely and bright.  I teamed the cute Hobby House topper with MME lime twist papers and ribbon from The Ribbon Girl. I added some buttons, Memory Box die cut umbrella and a Craftwork Cards Sentiment,

Challenges

Sketch Saturday 

Elisabeth Bell's World Button it up 

Crafting when we can Buttons galore 

The Ribbon Girl any card

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

ABC X is for Xtreme (bright colours)

Southern Girls a bit of what you fancy (one of my favourites is Elisabeth Bell)

Santa stop here

Another commissioned card. I was asked for a card with a snowman and reindeer on it and I thought this cute image from Pink Gem was just perfect for a first Christmas.

Image - Pink Gem precoloured digi

Paper - Dovecraft Night before Christmas

Dies - Impression Obsessions Santa and reindeer, Memory Box landscape, Frantic Stamper trees

Other - wooden reindeer, fun flock

Challenges

Dream Valley diecuts and punches

  Country View create a scene 

Inspiration Journal Tis the Season 

Noor! Design UK Winter Wonderland
The Craft Barn Tree

Looking forward to a catch up with two lots of friends and a lovely Christmas lunch today. It's a week of seeing people and eating out this week.

Little birds

I have a lot of Hobby House toppers to use and when they are as sweet and beautifully coloured as this one they are a delight to use. It was even die cut making my card come together really quickly which is just as well as I really need to build up my card stocks. Once I have all my orders out of the way I will really be concentrating on Birthday and other occasion cards. I teamed her with some new papers, Kaisercraft Miss Nelly. The sentiment is Cratwork Cards, birds on a wire Marianne die, button and bow from stash.

Challenges 

Elisabeth Bell's World Button it up 

Crafting when we can buttons galore 

The Ribbon Girl any card 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

The Craft Barn Tree

My last selling day at the hospital shop today so a very early start. No more craft stalls then until 4 January when I am back in the hospital shop.

On the sea

Another of the new Little Claire stamps, this is one of a new range of wavy stamps. This one is called wavy seascape and I love it. I made a rectangle card for a change. The paper is from Little CLaire and the sentiment is one of three that comes with the image. I added some white ric rac and used a Cheery Lynn lighthouse die along with some little birds cut with an All Occasions die.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl any card 

Dream Valley die cuts and punches 

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts anything goes with a stamp

A day at home today, some crafting no doubt and maybe watching a film later. Enjoy your Sunday x

Cosy Cats

My DT card for the new challenge at Little Claire which is a special Christmas card. We havea fabulous prize of a £10 voucher for one lucky person. I made this one for the lady who recently commissioned several cards and gifts from me and has since placed another 2 orders. She was so delighted with the first ones that she gave me a thank you card and a beautiful scarf. She loves cats so this cute image was perfect for her card. I kept it very simple as it just felt right with minimal embellishments.

Image - Little Claire We 6 cats

Sentiment - Little Claire

Medium - Copics

Paper - Carta Belle Bundled Up

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Lawn Fawn stitched squares, Memory Box star

Challenges

Without Words feeling festive

  Stamping Sensations anything goes with a stamp and ribbon 

Natalie and Amy Christmas 

CCAYR keep it simple 

Simon Says Monday Holly jolly stamping

  Papertake fun, fun, fun 

Creative Inspirations all wrapped up

Off to set up the hospital shop today ready for my final selling day of the year on Monday. Then out for lunch, food shop and home.

Pressies

I still have a few of the most recent stamps from LOTV to use and this was one of them which was all stamped just waiting to be coloured. Isn't she a cutie.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Paper - Carta Bella Bundled Up

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - MFT stitched rounded corner squares, Memory Box moon and stars

Other - wooden shapes coloured with Zig and Wink of Lunar pens, fun flock, Wink of Stella pen

Challenges

Simon Says Monday Holly jolly stamping 

Papertake fun, fun, fun 

Creative Inspirations all wrapped up 

The Craft Barn Christmas present plus red 

Bunny Zoe sparkle 

Dies R Us Christmas 

Inspiration Journal Tis the Season

Up and out early today, first stop breakfast, then a haircut and colour and a bit of shopping. 

A RAK

I had so many people visit my blog last time I used this image and of the many comments was one from a lady who said she had this stamp and would send it to me. She wouldn't take anything for it and when it arrived she had included a couple of sets of clear sets of mag freebie stamps as well. She isn't a regular commentor and I was astonished by her kindness. I am so pleased to finally have this stamp for myself and made a few Christmas cards with it.

This one is my DT card for the new challenge at Crafty Ribbons where our challenge is tradition. I chose hanging up your stocking for Santa as my tradition. I went for a distressed look using Crafter's Companion vintage Christmas papers and the gorgeous Christmas charm badges ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. The stocking bunting is a Memory Box die.

Challenges

Simon Says Monday Holly jolly stamping 

Delicious Doodles Christmas 

Dies R Us Christmas 

Whimsy holidays

Mowing the lawn

Yes it is another of the new Little Claire stamps released on Monday. This is a dinkie stamp but I made a 6x6 card.

Image - Little Claire dinkies mowing hedgehog

Medium - Copics

Papers - Little Claire

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Nellie Snellen oval, Crafts Too butterflies

Challenges

Stamping Sensations anything goes with a stamp and ribbon 

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

Dream Valley die cuts and punches

Bobble hat man

It's a bit of a Little Claire week on my blog with the new stamps issued yesterday and the new magazine out today which includes this fab stamp, bobble hat man. I used Little Claire papers and paper pieced his coat with one of the tartan papers, the rest is coloured as always with Copics. I kep it simple with a Little Claire sentiment and some enamel dots.

For the second one I used a Hexagone die, Little Claire sentiment and papers again, That's four clean and simple cards in a row on my blog. That may change tomorrow, who knows.

Challenges

Allsorts clean and simple 

The Ribbon Girl any card 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

New stamps out today

This is my second post today, coincidentally both Little Claire and both clean and simple. Little Claire have 7 new stamps out today and the DT will be sharing our sample cards with you. You can find the full range of new stamps here along with some very special offers.

Image - Little Claire dinkies welly girl

Medium - Copics

Papers - Little Claire

Die - MFT pierced rectangle

Other - turquoise pearl pen and pearls

Challenges

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

Allsorts clean and simple 

The Ribbon Girl any card

Simply sparkly

A cas snowman card again today. The image is Little Claire coloured with Copics and Sakura clear star pen on the snowflakes. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and I simply stamped the sentiment which comes with the image and added some baker's twine and a charm.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

Simon Says let it snow 

Cute Card Thursday festive colours 

CCAYR keep it simple
Allsorts Clean and simple
Sweet Stampin' Snow time

Without Words Feeling festive

No particular plans for the next four days so apart from the usual chores like housework, ironing and shopping I will be able to spend quite a bit of time crafting. I have 5 special Christmas cards still to make for myself and several orders to complete. 

Another commissioned card

I was asked to make a traditional Christmas card for somebody so I used one of my favourite non cute stamps which is from Stampendous. I stamped it in brown on kraft card and added lots of glitter. The holly is a Memory Box die and the trees are Frantic Stamper and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland Holly and/or ivy 

Simon Says Let it snow 

Papertake anything goes 

Bunny Zoe Sparkle 

Noor! Design UK Winter Wonderland 

Sparkles Christmas Die cuts for Christmas
Sweet Stampin' Snow time

We are out with friends this evening for a carvery and than to the theatre for a fun Christmas show.

Chilly knitting!

It's the last challenge of the year at A Gem of a Challenge and it is such an easy one, anything Christmas goes, so no excuse not to play along. The DT won't be commenting on this challenge but I hope you will pop over and check out the inspiration from the team.

Image - Chilly Knitting pre coloured digi

Paper - Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Punch - MS deep snowflake border

Dies - Memory Box stitched snowflakes, MFT pierced fishtail stax

Sentiment - computer generated

Other - Stickles, pearls, clear wink of Stella pen

Challenges

Simon Says let it snow 

Papertake anything goes 

Creative Inspirations anything goes

This was another commissioned order though the image is also suitable for my Mum as she has always knitted. I wasn't going to do any craft fairs this weekend but a friend told me about one at a local school and I managed to get in there so will be selling there today from 11-2. Should be fun with a children's choir and Santa not to mention hot turkey rolls, yum.

Last month's Making Cards magazine

I can now share these fun cards with you which I made for Making Cards magazine using Sassy Cheryl digis from Paper Creator. I made 3 CAS cards, yes I did say 3 CAS cards. I used Tim Holtz sentiment dies attached with Stick It, marvellous stuff for tricky intricate dies. I also used MFT stitched rectangle and Sizzix primitive star dies. A bit of faux stitching on this one too.

Challenges

Craftyhazelnut die cuts or punches

Fussy and fancy words

Dies R Us Christmas 

Papertake anything goes

Simon Says Let it snow 

Cute Card Thursday festive colours 

Scrap and Craft anything Christmas

CCAYR keep it simple

Shabby chic anniversary

A 7" Anniversary card to share with you today. It seems a while since I played around with a shabby chic card with lots of different textures. The craft fair yesterday was another really good one. I sold several cards and loads of gifts. I only have one more before Christmas but need to restock some of the gifts and build up my card stocks ready for next year.

Paper - Papermania Capsule oyster

Burlap and lace - Ebay

Crisply ribbon and pearl string - Live and Love Crafts

Punch - EK Success flower

Pearl brad, white apple blossom - The Ribbon Girl

Cabuchons and pearl hats from stash

Sentiment - Stamposaurus

Die - MFT stitched jumbo fishtail

Challenges

Papertake anything goes 

ABC W for wishes (add a sentiment)

Little Claire in Making Cards magazine

This is one of three cards I made for Making Cards magazine and have only just got round to blogging. The image and sentiment are from the Christmas Scotties stamp set, coloured with Copics. I used LOTV Woodland Wishes papers, MFT pierced rectangle and stitched fishtails and Joy snowflake dies, ribbon, pearls, Stickles and that pearl pen again. I do love using that, had you noticed!

Challenges

Sweet Stampin' Sparkle and Shine

Craftyhazelnut die cuts or punches
Papertake anything goes
Natalie and Amy Christmas
Noor! Design UK Winter Wonderland
Sparkles Christmas Die cuts for Christmas

Hospital craft fair today so another early start. Last time I did this I had my best ever sales anywhere so let's hope for a good one again today.

Not a Christmas card!

My first inspiration card as part of the LOTV Design Collective and as I need to build up my stock of occasion cards I thought we would have a change from Christmas today.

Image - LOTV art pad

Papers - LOTV always and forever

Die - MFT stitched rounded corner squares

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Other - wooden heart, gauze and bow

Challenges

Fussy and Fancy words 

Bizzy Becs anything goes