First and last

I've been promising myself that I would try making an easel card and yesterday finally got round to making one. I couldn't believe how easy it was, and how effective. This is my second and last guest DT card for the lovely girls at Moving along with the times. It's a great challenge this week, use your fave sketch from any of their past sketches. Well I couldn't possibly single out one as my fave as they are all so great so I chose my image and then found a sketch to suit.

I did turn the sketch upside down as I wanted this little cutie from Sugar Nellie to look into the flowers. I also moved some of the flowers to fit my design. I echoed the sparkly flowers on the inside. Papers are all Papermania Amethyst Infusion, one of my fave packs. Purple flowers are Prima with an added spacer and brad. The white ribbon and pearl flower is from America. Can you believe I am giving away some purple ones in my candy above, when purple is my favourite colour. Still I think you should give away things you would like to have yourself.

I hope you will find the time to join in this week's challenge. For all those of you who have never entered one of their challenges, make it one of your New Year's resolutions to stat playing along each week.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. I hope Santa is good to you all and brings some lovely crafting goodies.

I hope you enjoy the picture of 2 of my faves, Pooh bear and Eeyore. I love the irony of Eeyore carrying a bag of joy.

Guardian Angel

Graham's home from work and just had a shower so just got time for a quick post with this second card I made today for a few challenges. I tried a few different techniques on this one. The papers are Papermania Boutique. I love the vintage feel to these designs. I tore the blue one, not something I am comfortable doing but much to my surprise I really like the effect. I chalked around my new Whiff of Joy image, which has been paper pieced. The paper for her dress is some old Papermania paper, some of the first I ever bought. I then paper pieced her bolero with a scrap of spotted paper. I added Sakura clearstar pen to the trim. The wings are painted with Angels wings Shimmerz. I couldn't find any suitably coloured flowers so I coloured some white card with a burgundy Promarker and added the blue roses. The lace is some old lace my Mum gave me and the velvet ribbon is from my very untidy ribbon box.
Challenges
Lily-bootoo Paper piecing
Creatalicious Something old (paper, lace), something new (WOJ stamp), something torn (paper), something blue (lots)
Quixotic Lace
Incy Wincy Photo inspiration

Another Christmas card for 2010

Graham had to go to work today so once I had finished the housework and ironing I decided it was time to play. I made another card ready for next year. This is Winter Sophie, from Digistamp Boutique. I went for lots of detail on this card with papers, ribbon, Sizzix corner and snowflakes.
Challenges
Digital Tuesday Let it Snow
Dare u 2 digi stamp Last minute Christmas cards (or early)
Bee Crafty Circles

Christmas 2010

Inspired by the Christmas challenges still around and feeling in the Christmas spirit I made a card ready for next Christmas. That's a first for me. I'm planning to make another later today if I have time. This is my most used Anya stamp to date, I just love her. She is all glammed up with glitter on her fur, some sparkly snowflakes, snowflake brad and a gorgeous snowflake charm. Papers are DCWV and the bottom is cut with my MS doily lace border punch (not boarder, as I keep reading on some blogs,lol).

Challenges
The Pink Elephant sketch
Cupcake A time for celebration
Anyone for Anya Last Christmas

Kaboodle Sparkling Winter

Ride 'em cowgirl

A very quick post from me in my lunch break. The snow is still laying everywhere although no more has fallen today. It is very cold still and unfortunately so was our office as the heating had broken down. The heating company were doubtful of getting anyone in to fix it so we had a choice of staying in the cold, going to another office to work or taking work home if we could. Luckily I had some work I could put on a memory stick so thought I would post this card, eat my lunch and then get to work. I can't describe how lovely it is to be warm at home after freezing for 3 hours at work this morning. I'll be back later to catch up with you when I finish working.

This card is for a good friend of mine who is mad about horses. She owns a horse and also loves holidays in America so when I won this image a while ago I knew it would be perfect for her. It's a digi image but I don't know where from, sorry I can't credit anyone. Papers are DCWV, sentiment is Craftwork Cards. As her Birthday is 27 December I decided to add a touch of sparkle with some gold zigzag trim and gold fern and brad on the flower.
Challenges
Peachy Keen Sketch
Digital Tuesday Happy Birthday
Charisma Anything but Christmas
Sassy Designs A touch of Gold

Last Christmas card (probably)

SECOND POST FOR TODAY
I had scheduled a post for this morning as I have been out all day but just got time for a quick post. Here's what is probably my last Christmas card I'm posting this year, which is for a few challenges. The cute bear is from Pink Gem. I made the snowflakes using a Sizzix die, snowflake confettis and gems.
Challenges
Creative Card Crew Anything Goes
Simon Says Merry Christmas
CRAFT Free for all
Colour Create Pink, burgundy and ivory
Dutch Dare Make it happen (handmade embellies)
Polka Doodles Anything you like
Stamp Something Holiday Something

We have had lots of snow the last few days and it isn't going away so let's hope it stays for Christmas. Hope you've all had a good weekend and are ready for the big day.

I had a nice surprise today when I checked out the Allsorts challenge.

Happy New Year

That's the theme over at Winter Wonderland. This is my first guest DT card for them and my first ever Happy New year card. It was the perfect card to send somebody who has gone to Florida for 3 weeks and returns to England on Boxing Day. There was no point in sending them a Christmas card so a New Year card welcoming them back from holiday is perfect. The image is Popcorn and the first time I have used him. It was such a fun image to colour and I decided to use a combination of reds, blues and gold. It made a real change to use so many colours on one card and should be one of my new year's resolutions to try more. As it is such a big image I kept the card simple by adding some swirls from a pack of die cuts from Michaels in America and some gold gems.

I hope you will join in the fun this week and check out the rest of the DT cards. Join me again there next week.

Guest DT Moving along with the Times

Here it is, my first card as a guest DT for Moving along with the Times. The challenge is to use Nicki's sketch and a theme of teddy bears. How great a challenge is that if you love bears as much as I do. I was even given this lovely digi image called Roger from Ellephantastic to use on my card. I decided to pick up my colour scheme from the bear, who is coloured with Promarkers. I used an assortment of papers from stash, some freebies, and added a strip of glitter ribbon and used my MS valentine border punch. Sentiment, candy and spotty flower are from Craftwork Cards. Cream flower is Hero Arts and fern punch is MS.

I do hope you'll join in this week's challenge, and every other week of course.

Another Christmas card

SECOND POST FOR TODAY

I have been waiting to post this card I made for the challenge at Stamptacular Sunday but couldn't post it until I had given it to my friend today. The image is from Digital Doodling . I used one of my new Nellie die cuts for this. (You can win a set of square die cuts if you enter my candy above.) Papers are all BG Eskimo Kisses, not much of the pack left now, boo hoo.

Have you been entering the Whiff of Joy advent calendar? I just entered for today and found out I have won yesterday's gorgeous guardian angel stamp, aren't I lucky.

Let's play football

The dreaded male Birthday card but this teddy is cute, isn't he. He's one of a set from Personal Impressions. These stamps are such a bargain as you get 5 or 6 stamps for £4.99 a set. The lovely sketch is from Sketch Saturdayand the colour scheme of red, green and white is for Charisma Cardz.

Jude's birthday candy

Jude is celebrating her Birthday on 6 January by giving away some enormous candy. Here's ust some of it!
Stamps from whiff of joy,Pollycrafts and 5 stamps from Stampin up!
Heat Gun
Friskas border punch circle
K & Co 12x12Recycled Pad of Cardstock
Altered art items door hangers ,wee gift boxes ,plaques
chipboard album with jump rings
Ribbons,
Bottle assorted buttons
Prima flowers
Brads
Assorted sheets 6x6 Stampin up Design Papers
Charms
Assorted layering ,matting squares ,circles
Tags
small black flowers,
Brads
Black pack Ribbon
Paper Bags for you to make paper bag albums
Various Me & My Big Ideas 3d embellishments.

Hot chocolate time

THIRD AND FINAL POST FOR TODAY
It's been so cold today that it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. I'm sitting here drinking hot chocolate from my Christmas mug, just like the girl in this Whiff of Joy image. Although it's a birthday card I used the BG Eskimo Kisses papers as these ones don't really look like Christmas papers. I added a strip of pink glitter down both sides by using double sided tape, which means perfect straight lines of glitter.

The sketch is from Moving along with times. I rotated the strips 90 degrees and moved the image to the right.

Other challenges are
Whiff of Joy Sparkle
Basic grey Cream, pink and blue (plus any other colours)
Die Cut Dreams Glitter me silly

Daisy Crazy

SECOND POST FOR TODAY
A friend asked me to make a good luck card with bright flowers so I thought I would get out this lovely digi image from Sketch and Stamper again. Papers are all Papermania, flowers are Prima. Swirly leaves and corners are Sizzix. I added some flat backed pearls from Quixotic Paperie.
Challenges
Friday Sketchers Sketch
Allsorts Pearls and swirls

Easy Rider

The challenge at Paperplay is movies and books. I thought this retirement card I made for a friend at work who loves motorbikes was perfect for the movie Easy Rider. Digi image is from Charmed. He's also a foorball fan so this paper, from Dovecraft I think, was perfect for the colouring. A fairly simple card as he wouldn't like anything too fussy.

Merry Christmas to my Hubby

I can't believe how awful the weather is today. It is only 3.20 pm yet I have drawn the curtains as it is so dark and pouring with rain. Much prefer the snow on my blog.

I am feeling so organised as I wrapped the last Christmas pressies this afternoon. I finished my last 2 cards on Thursday and decorated the tree on Friday. I just love to see the lights on the tree, it makes the home feel so cosy. I also have several snowmen who are now all over the lounge along with the cards so I'm feeling ready for Christmas now.

Hubby and I exchanged cards yesterday. He told me his wasn't handmade but handpicked, lol! so I can now share the card I made him. I just love these new bear digi images from Pollyycraft and as I'm lucky enough that he also likes bears, I bought this digi image of Bronson and Beaker skating for his card. Papers are DCWV and I used my new MS punch on the edges. Snowflakes are Siizix and Cuttlebug die cut. Let it snow is also a Sizzix die. Lots of glitter and glitter card and some festive ribbon too. Luckily he loved it. (Thought I'd better not use my fave purple or pink!)
I may have a couple more Christmas cards to share once I know they have been received. Otherwise it will be back to birthdays etc.
Challenges
Pollycraft Sketch
Simon Says Let it Snow
Stamp Something Winter Wonderland
Kraftin' Kimmee Sparkle Baby
Magical Crafts Special Birthday or Christmas Card
Secret Crafter Snow

Word verification

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Please support this campaign and turn off word verification. If you are concerned about receiving spam, then turn on blog owner approval.

Thank you

Silent Night

THIRD POST FOR TODAY
Last post for today. Milly from Digistamp Boutique is singing her heart out here, as is the little robin. A different colour combo here from the last 2 posts. I love the multi colours on the backing paper from DCWV and picked out the red and blue as my main colours for the image, ribbon and snowflakes. The red strip is cut using a MS star border punch. The song is a Papermania stamp.
Challenges
Cupcake Sing a Christmas carol
Digital Tuesday Christmas song
Quixotic Seeing stars

Let it Snow

SECOND POST FOR TODAY
Doesn't this Whiff of Joy image look good in pink and purple. I've definitely got a thing for these colours this Christmas but better not use them on hubby's card, which I'll be making tomorrow. My favourite Christmas embellishment just has to be snowflakes and these ones really sparkle and shine. I added glitter to the snowlady and used glitter card for the purple layer. Papers are vellum and DCWV. This card is for the challenge at Stamptacular Sunday which is Let it Shine.

Purple Anya

I haven't used this sweet girl for a couple of weeks now and decided it was time for one of my last Christmas cards to have this image and the purple pens just called out to me. I used the oval Nellie and inked the edges. (If you would like to win a set of square Nellies enter my candy above.) She is coloured with PMs of course. The paper is DCWV Rose tinted Christmas as I thought I would use black and pink rather than purple. This paper is so gorgeous, I shall miss it when I have finished my Christmas cards. Only 4 more to make now. I can't believe I am still making them this late. I think I'll start next year's in January, lol! Flowers are Prima and I made some glittery holly leaves and added some flower gems and snowflake confetti.
Challenges:
Papertake red and green must not be seen
Sketch Saturday Sketch
Allsorts Purple
Anyone for Anya Anything Goes

My favourite colour

Only 9 more Christmas cards to make thank goodness. This is the lovely teddy from Lili of the Valley cut using mu faithful Nesties. Papers are a mixture of Papermania, DCWV and Debbie Moore vellum. Lots and lots of sparkle including glitter on his hat and sparkly snowflakes, with a spacer and brad.

Challenges:
Lili of the Valley Sketch
Allsorts Purple (How could I resist that challenge, lol)
Incy Wincy Snowflakes
Cute Daisy May Twinkle, twinkle
The Pink Elephant Your favourite Christmas colour combo
Whimsy Die cuts

Pink snowman

I loved that last pink snowman (or woman) so much I thought I would make another with the other snow image that Christine sent to me. Layered up on one of the square Nellies. papers are DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas (again). I sprinkled the hat with white glitter and used loads of pink glitter on the snowflake and star. A couple of star gems finish off the card.

I can't believe what a fantastic week I am having. I have won 2 more prizes this weekend and had a surprise e-mail from Georgia at Crafty Calendar Challenge inviting me to be a guest designer in January. If you haven't seen this new monthly challenge blog yet then go and check it out.

This card is for the challenge at Stamp Something who want glitzy somethings.

I still have a about a dozen Christmas cards to make so apologies that I don't have much time to visit at the moment. I really appreciate all your comments and will get round to your blogs as soon as I can.

Taking a Tumble

FIFTH AND FINAL POST TODAY. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR OTHER POSTS.
Well, haven't I been a busy girl. Only 3 weeks to Christmas and I' sure I need to make more cards. We need a challenge blog to run a Christmas card challenge every month next year, starting in January and then we might not all be rushing to finish them in December. If you've finished yours, well done you. Friends wanted me to make some for them so I sold 90 cards which is why I am still making my own as I got theirs finished first. I think that makes a total of 138 I've made so far.

This morning was awful, pouring with rain, but thank goodness the sun came out this afternoon so I could get some decent photos of my cards. This fab image was sent to me by Christine in Canada. Christine is one of my first and most loyal followers and I couldn't wait to colour up this snowman. I added some glitter on the snow, various snowflakes and a charm. Papers are all DCWV except the spots which was a freebie.

Challenges
Moving along with the times Heidi's sketch and hidden message. I loved this sketch as it has so many papers. I rotated the sketch 90 degrees and the strips and embellies 180 degrees as it fitted with the image and hidden message better. My hidden message is here.

I love Promarkers Spots and stripes. I even found a striped snowflake charm.
A spoon full of sugar non traditional Christmas colours
Crafty Calendar Challenge Winter Sparkle
Simon Says So charming
Quixotic Be charming
By the cute and girly Let's go to the movies. I really wanted to use this image for this challenge and first thought of Downhill Racer, then The Accidental Tourist but neither seemed quite right. Then I got it - Pretty in Pink. Who knows it could be a snowlady rather than a snowman.

I'm off to catch up with some of you now and then write some cards so I can see how many more I need to make. Have a great weekend and happy crafting.

Marianne x

Little Angel

FOURTH POST TODAY
Isn't this little image sweet. I thought it was time for a blue card so here he is. I added some ribbon, a bow and buttons from stash and a couple of sparkly snowflakes.
Challenges are Sassy Designs Buttons and bows and La La Land Buttons.

Forever Friends

THIRD POST FOR TODAY
A really Christmassy feel to these colours of red, green and silver for the challenge at Crafty Catz. Papers are DCWV and Dovecraft. I added some glitter to his hat, some swirly corners cut from glitter card using a Sizzix die and some gems for a symmetrical look. The scalloped circle is another Nellie die.

Back to purple

SECOND POST FOR TODAY
When I saw the challenge at Colour Create included purple I thought that's a challenge for me. They also want aqua, black and white. Papers are DCWV and BG (again!). Sophie is a Digistamp boutique image and the little snowmen are some glitter rub ons I bought in America along with the glittery snowflakes. The aqua paper is cut using my new oval Nellie multi die.

Milly and snowman

I resisted colouring Milly from Pink Gems in purple or pink and went with the traditional colours of red green and gold for the challenge at Stampin' for the weekend and swirly girly at Cute Card Thursday. Papers are BG Eskimo Kisses. I'm surprised I've got any left as I seem to use them every day at the moment. I added some glitter to the snowman's hat and some red glitter holly leaves ad snowflakes. Some gold gems and snowflake confetti finish off this simple card.

I'm so excited

SECOND POST FOR TODAY
I'm so excited that I can hardly type the right letters. I checked today's challenges and not only have I been chosen as a guest designer with the lovely girls at Moving along with the times but I also won the challenge at The Sugar Bowl so 7, yes that's right 7 fabulous Sugar Nellie stamps will be coming my way, yippee.

I bought my this Whiff of Joy stamp a little while ago and this is only the third time I have used it. I absolutely love the image but am never totally satisfied with my colouring. This is my best effort so far so hopefully they will keep improving. There is such a lot of dress on this image and there are some gorgeous colourings out there in blogland. I'll just keep practicing. As it is such a large image I decided to cut her into an oval for a change.

This is the first time I have tried weaving my papers, which of course are BG Eskimo Kisses again. I decided to keep the embellies to a few snowflakes to show off the image and papers. Weaving is the challenge at Stamptacular Sunday. I like the effect so I think I'll try that again.

Little angel

It's that little angel Henry from Whiff of Joy looking like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth on this Christmas card. Papers are all DCWV, swirl and holly are cut using glitter card and a Sizzix die. The lovely sketch is from Papertake and the challenge of angels and fairies is at Crafty Catz.

Bridget says get well soon

Say hello to Bridget, a very cute bear from Pollycraft. I just loved the Friday freebie a couple of weeks ago so much that I had to buy some of these bears. My oldest and dearest friend has had a nervous breakdown. I went to see her this afternoon and thankfully she is starting to get better. She is a big fan of my cards and my best customer so I took this card along with some flowers. I followed the sketch at One Stop Craft. The card is also for the Whimsy challenge who want one colour cards.

I'm doing much better this week for some reason in getting my cards done in good time and not leaving the challenges to the last minute.