Candy Cane Christmas - 52CCT Guest Designer

... Good Morning!!! I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be joining the Design Team at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown as Guest Designer today. We have such a fun challenge for you. The team have picked - Candy Cane - 52CCT2026-11 - and here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Elf Made, Half Baked Gingerbread Joy, Jolly Old Elf, Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Nordic Christmas

Inks: Gina K - Kelly Green, Red Hot, Lucky Clover, Lipstick, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Gold Glitter Pen

I had such fun making this card. At Christmas, I do find myself going back to some of my favourite stamp sets from Waltzingmouse Stamps (now, sadly, closed). Claire's stamps are perfect for this challenge. I made the background pattern using various candy can images and stamped them in shades of green and red directly onto the A2 note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the cute elf on white card. I removed the image from the MISTI and coloured it with Copic markers. I returned the image to the MISTI and restamped the image with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink - such a dark black. I then fussy cut the image out. I used dies to cut the mat layers, added a simple greetings and used dimensional pads to adhere the elf and his candy cane. On the inside, I cut a mat layer in black and on the white panel, I stamped candy cane in soft grey ink, coloured with Copic markers, and finished with a warm Christmas greeting.

I'm building my Christmas card stash quite nicely. I made a few more candy cane cards, and I'll be sharing those during the week. I'm entering this card to ABC Christmas Card Challenge - ABCXMAS#0326 where they have E = for Elf, and also to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#67 where it's anything Christmas goes.

I'd like to thank the 52CCT DT for inviting me to join them this week - it's always a pleasure to play along; this challenge has a very special place in my heart!!

That's all for now. I look forward to seeing all the cards for this challenge. See you soon.

Christmas Blues

... Good afternoon! Somehow I got rather recently, and I've only just managed to get this card made in time. The title of my post might be a bit misleading, not feeling sad at all, I just have a pretty blue, white and silver Christmas card to share:

Stamps: Woodware - Berry Sprays

Inks: Gina K - Blue Denim

Dies: Winnie & Walter - Noel Cutaway

Accessories: White Card; Pinkfresh Studio DP - December Days; Copic Markers; Silver Mirri Card

This card was so quick to make. I've been meaning to join in with the latest 52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge - 52CCT2026-10 all week, and only now have had the chance. So I found the perfect piece of design paper - well almost perfect. I coloured the red berries with a navy marker, to make dark blue berries. I used tape to add it to the front of the note card. Then I used an old die from Winnie & Walter to cut out a bold greeting in silver textured mirri card. I cut two white ones which I layered behind the silver die cut, and then added them to the card. Inside, I cut a piece of white card to fit, edged it with a dark blue marker, added a strip of the design paper along the bottom edge, stamped on a berry spray and greeting in blue ink. 

I'm also submitting this card to ABC Christmas Challenge - ABCXMAS#0326 where they have F for foliage, and to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#67 where it's always anything Christmas goes.

That's all for now - see you soon.

Set of Five Christmas Cards

.... Good afternoon, it's another lovely day and I've been indoors! I've made a set of five Christmas cards for my stash - they are all inspired by the current challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown to use letters and/or numbers - 52CCT2026-07. 

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas

This card is also being submitted The Neglected Stuff Challenge - NSC#0226 - it's been a very long time since I used any of my design paper pads!!

The same process was used for all the cards. I used my MISTI to stamp the image on white card, removed them from the MISTI and coloured each image with Copic markers. I returned the coloured images to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine Clair Nocture ink - it is a really dark black. I carefully cut out all the images and then added some shimmer to each image with Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel pens. I had put the images aside overnight to make sure gel ink dried completely. I used a die to cut out the front panel from design paper - to match the colours on the focal image - and adhered to an A2 notecard. I used dimensional tape to add the focal image. On the inside of each card, there is a mat layer of design paper, and on the white panel a simple greeting with a couple of stars to match the main colour.

The next card in the set is being entered into AAA Colourful - AAAC#25 -  these are such lovely colours.

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Blue Sky

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Violet Crush

Next is a card inspired by the image at Time Out Challenge - TOC#307 - I like the soft colours and the dotty pattern:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Lovely Lavender

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Silver Bells

For the next card I used the colours at The Color Hues Challenge - CH#127 - peach and teal are such a pretty combination and make for an unusual Christmas card:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Sweet Mango

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Storyteller

And the final card in this set of five, is inspired by ABC Christmas Challenge - ABCXMAS#02 where I've picked C for the colour crimson:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Date; Hero Arts - Christmas Messages, Stylized Christmas Trees

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Red Hot

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Grabie Jumbo Glitter Gel Pens; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas

Sorry there are so many photos in this post! I had fun with them and I'm building my Christmas stash nicely. See you soon.

Red Christmas

...Hello!! It's a lovely day here in North Wales - no rain, blue skies and sunshine! Just fab! I'm here to share a couple of Christmas cards for this year's stash. Here they are:

Stamps: Gina K - Holly Jolly Mini

Inks: Gina K - Petunia, Red Hot, Red Velvet, Cherry Red; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 1 #8, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White & Black Card; C&9/KW - Holiday Icons Stencils; Xmas Labels; Gems

I'm submitting these cards to the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - JB2604 - to use mostly Red - done!

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge - POE#106 - it either anything Xmas goes or the graphic

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#83 - First time I've used these fab stencils

A Cut Above - ACA#0226 - must use dies on your card - done

This is the first time (but not the last) that I've used Kristina's Christmas Icons stencils. I only used the outline stencil for these cards because I wanted a couple of quick and simple cards. I blended several shades of red ink to give a lovely ombre effect from bottom to top of the card. I used stitched edged dies to cut a mat in black and then picked my favourite bits of each side for the main image. I finished the front of each card with a simple black greeting - I've had these labels since about 2009!! And added a few gems. On the inside, I used black mat layers and on the white panels I stencilled an Xmas tree and a candy cane, and finished with a bold, black greeting.

My cards have been inspired by Kristina's cards in her holiday card series where she gave us some ink blending tips.

I'd like to thank everyone for their lovely comments on my recent cards. It's so nice to be back making cards. That's all for now. See you again soon.

Halloween Valentine

.... Hello! I found a new (to me) challenge this morning - Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge. Now, I just love Halloween and I enjoy making cards all year. I took inspiration from their graphic to make a Halloween Valentine for my hubby:

Stamps: Stampers Anonoymous - Tim Holtz Wicked Hipster, Brett Weldele Zombie Casanova

Inks: Gina K - Petunia, Cherry Red, Black Onyx; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Visible Image Stencil - Dark Hearts; Copic Markers; Clear Glitter Aquabrush

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - TOBHC#0226 - Anything Halloween goes

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#511 - Make Your Mark

The Neglected Stuff Challenge - NSC#0226 - To use the 'older' stuff from your stash

As I mentioned above, I've only just found the Two Old Bats challenge - I'll definitely play along again. I've used a lot of neglected stash on this card - the stencil, and the stamps - I think they work perfectly together. I stencilled the pattern directly onto an A2 note card using pink and red inks, I edged the card with black ink. I stamped the imaged onto white card, coloured them with Copic markers and fussy cut them out. I used dimensional pads to adhere them to the front of the card. I added a touch of sparkle to the bow tie (sadly you can't see it in the photo). For the inside, I used a piece of white card slightly smaller then the base. I edged the panel with a black Copic marker, stamped a fun greeting in black and finished by stamping the bow tie around the edge.

I really like the Neglected Stash challenge - it's making go through all my stuff and get them out to play.

That's it for now - I've got to nip out to the local shop for some milk. See you soon.

Birthday Greens

... Good afternoon! I've been playing in my craft room and made this fun masculine birthday card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th/Kristina Werner - Just Talking

Inks: Gina KCW - Just Talking

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Applemint; C&9/KW Stencils - Layering Lattice, Just Talking

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

The Card Concept - CC#224 - shades of green

Stencil Fun Challenge - SFC#0226 - to use stencils and optional to make a background - done

Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#383 - monochromatic colours

Seize the Birthday - STB#320 - I've gone for Anything Goes for a birthday

This card came together so quickly - thank you very much Kristina. I got the new Layering Lattice stencils last week and they make backgrounds so quickly. I simply picked the pattern and colours I wanted to use and inked directly onto an A2 note card. I finished the front by adding a simple message in a word bubble - I stamped the greeting on green card, die cut it and added a touch of darker ink around the edge. I layered it onto the matching shadow layer. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pale green card and added a birthday greeting on the white panel. To add emphasis to the greeting, I inked through the matching word bubble stencil in pale green ink. 

This is a much needed card for my stash - I used up most of my cards last year! 

That's all for today. I'm off to make dinner and then settle down for some more from the Winter Olympics. See you soon.

Birthday Balloons

... Morning! I was on a roll yesterday and made a fun and very bright birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko - Framed Balloons, Everyday Love Sentiments, Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments, Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Petunia; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Clear Glitter Aquabrush; Posca -White Pen

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

The Paper Players - PP#773 - Balloons and birthdays

Colorful Options - CO#0226 - Pinks and Purples

Uniko Studio 14th Birthday Party - US#14BD

I got my new stash from Bev (Uniko) yesterday and had to use it immediately. I've been waiting for this stamp to come back into stock. I love it. I used my MISTI to stamp the image, removed it and coloured the balloons and confetti with Copic markers. I returned it to the MISTI and stamped the image again with Nocturne ink, and then I cut it out and layered it on black card for a mat layer. I added some sparkle to all the balloons with a glitter brush and finished by adding the greeting and some white highlights on the balloons. On the inside, I cut a mat black layer and on the white panel simply stamped a greeting and cute birthday present. 

I can see this stamp being used lots and in lots of colours too. 

That's all for now. I'm off to have my hair cut this morning - always love to be pampered!! See you again soon. And double plus good, the sun is shining!! Yea.