O Christmas Tree ....

.... Hello again! I've ended February with an almost full week of cards - go me!! Today I'm sharing a Christmas card. It's never to early to start on your stash for this year - it makes thing so much less frantic in November!! This card is a bit out of my comfort zone.

Stamps: Visible Image - O Christmas Tree, Sentimental Christmas

Inks: Distress - Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Shaded Lilac, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters, Twisted Citron; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Lulu Lavender

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Imagine Crafts - Frost Sheer Shimmer Spritz; Tim Holtz Stencil - Stars THS115; Viva - Iridescent Glitter Paste

I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#573 - that inspiration photo is just gorgeous and inspired my ink blended background. I'm also playing along with 52Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT08-21 where they want Mixed Media on your card - done!! Finally, I'm joining in with Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#31 where it's Anything Christmas Goes.

I used a top-folding A2 card for the base. I used several shades of Distress ink to blend the background. I used Tim's water drop method to add some subtle dot texture on the background and then I spritzed the whole thing with frost shimmer spray - it's absolutely beautiful in sunshine!! Once the background was dry, I stamped the Christmas tree in black Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. To give better definition of the tree, I repeated this step (one of the great things about using a MISTI). I finished the front by applying a layer of iridescent glitter paste through a Tim Holtz star stencil. On the inside, I stamped a Christmas greeting in black and added a tiny lilac start.

I took a photo of the card in direct sunlight - you can really see all the shimmer and sparkle - so pleased with it.

Isn't it wonderful how much better everything feels when the sun shines? And getting decent photos is a real plus too! I'm very pleased how this turned out. I don't usually go full mixed media on a card, but this was fun. That's all for today. Hope to see you again soon.

C24C - Cute Animals ....

...Good morning all! We're already half-way through February, time seems to be flying by. Your red, green and gold cards were absolutely lovely last time. This time at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#28 we have a theme that's always popular. We want to see CUTE ANIMALS on your Christmas cards. I have to admit that for me this was tough. In all my vast stash I only have three "cute" animals. I think this bear is adorable:

Stamps: Docrafts - Forever Friends G Stamp; MFT - Bitty Holiday Wishes

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Summer Sky; Versafine Claire - Nocturne; Gina K - Soft Stone, Stormy Sky

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Uniko Stencil - Let It Snow; Martha Stewart - Frosty Glitter

I'm submitting this card to CASology - CAS#383 where the cue word is Envelope - my little guy is clutching his Christmas envelope and is ready to hand it over.

I stamped the bear in black Versafine ink onto white card and heat embossed the image with clear powder. I used my Copics to colour him in and then I fussy cut him out. I sponged pale blue ink through a snowflake stencil to give a wintery background. I added a simple sentiment in black along the bottom of the card and the adhered the bear on the line. I finished the front by adding some sparkly glitter to the hat. On the inside, I kept things really simple. I stamped the bear image again in pale grey and added a greeting in darker grey.

I decided to make another card for the challenge - this one features a cat, more snarky than cute, but I think he's great:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Snarky Cat Christmas CMS416

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Lawn Fawn - Stitched Hillside Borders

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Glitter

I'm submitting this card to CAS Christmas Card Challenge - CASXMAS#02 where they want us to use a Dog and/or Cat, and to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT06-21 where they have the colour pink, blue and purple.

I stamped the cat onto white card, embossed the image with clear powder and coloured him with Copic makers. I then fussy cut him out. I used a stitched edge die to cut the hillside border, stamped a sentiment on the left corner and adhered it to the card. I added the cat and some glitter. Perfectly clean and simple and just a bit snarky! On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the card. I stamped another of the cats and the matching sentiment in grey, added a touch of colour to the image, edged the panel with a blue marker and adhered it inside.

So, I had fun with our challenge of 'Cute Animals' and I'm looking forward to seeing your creations. Don't forget to visit our blog, Christmas 24 Challenge, to see lots more inspiration cards from the rest of the team.

That's all for now - see you again soon.

C24C - Christmas Ornament ....

.... Morning! It's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#18. We have a sketch for you to use. You can turn it (as I did) but we must be able to see the sketch in your card. Here's mine:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Ornate Ornaments, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Versamark; Delicata - Golden Glitz; Versafine Clair - Summertime; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - 2010 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-283) #5
Accessories: White Card; Kasiercraft DP - A Touch of Gold, Chase Rainbows; Gold Embossing Powder; Black Ribbon; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT34-20 - where they have a fun colour combination - Black, Orange and Gold (white is allowed). Also playing along with The Holly & Ivy Christmas  Challenge - H&ICC#79 where it's Anything Goes.

I started by stamping the large ornament on white card. I removed the card from the MISTI and coloured the area under the pattern with an orange marker. I repositioned the card, stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed with gold powder. Before cutting out the image with the matching die, I stamped the sentiment and little snowflake. I cut a panel of black and gold design paper to cover the front of the card and added a strip of orange patterned paper down the centre. I then added the ornament and finished the front with a little black bow. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of orange design paper and on the white panel added a Christmas greeting and some tiny snowflakes.

This card uses some of my older, much loved stamp sets from Waltzingmouse Stamps - Claire your designs are as fresh now as they were then!

Don't forget to visit our blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the design team. I hope you have fun playing with the sketch and I look forward to visiting and leaving a comment. Bye for now - have fun!

C24C - Season's Greetings ...

... Good morning! Can you believe that we're already half-way through June? Me neither!! Anyway, it being the 15th means that it's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#12. We have a sketch for to use on your Christmas cards. Here's my take:

Stamps: Altenew - Bells & Bows; MFT - Bitty Holiday Wishes
Inks: Gina K - Jet Black Amalgam, Lovely Lavender, Wild Wisteria, Innocent Pink, Dusty Rose, Passionate Pink; Stampin' Up! - Highland Heather
Dies: Altenew - Bells & Bows; Die-namics - Stitched Fishtail Flags Stax #1
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Anita's Vellum - Classic Gold Christmas

I'm submitting this card to a couple of challenges - Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#393 where the theme is Holiday, and to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT22-20 where they have these fabulous colours.

I love these cute layered bows from Altenew, they are so easy to stamp. I used cream cardstock as I think it works beautifully with these colours. I stamped the large bow using shades of purple and the two smaller one with shades of pink, and cut out the images with the matching dies. I found some gold festive vellum in my stash and cut a panel to go on the front of the card. I adhered the top bow and sentiment banner flat to the card, and used dimensional pads to add the large bow and the smaller bottom bow. On the inside, I cut another panel of vellum and on the cream card stamped a festive greeting and another little purple bow.

That's all from me for now. Do have a go at using this sketch for your Christmas cards and visit our blog to see more inspirational cards from the rest of the design team. See you soon.

52CCT GD - Merry Christmas ....

.... Morning! I was lucky enough to win the February sketch challenge and I'm thrilled to say that I'm the Guest Designer at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown this week, and it's so nice to be part of the team this week. This week we have a sketch for you, and here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Yonder Star; Uniko - Simply Said Christmas
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Fruitcake; Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Black Onyx
Dies: Die-namics - Stitched Fishtail Flag STAX # 1 and 2
Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Red Glitter Paper; SU Card - Emerald Envy

Here's the sketch for this week's challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT09-20:

As you can see I have been very faithful to the sketch. I used one of my favourite Christmas sets from Waltzingmouse Stamps (sadly closed), along with my favourite inks. This card is quite clean and simple but you have to have sparkle at Christmas so I added the glitter flag. I stamped the star on white card, then overstamped with the outline stamp which I heat embossed with clear powder. I carefully cut out the star. I used the two smaller stars in the stamp set to add the little details. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark green card and on the white panel stamped the solid star again, and overstamped with a bold greeting. I took a close-up of the star - so pretty! There's a slightly Western feel to the card.

Have fun with the sketch, I look forward to seeing your creations. Thanks again to the 52CCT Design Team for picking my card and inviting me to join them this week. See you soon.

Merry Christmas ....

... Morning!!  It's really dismal here today, so I'm spending the day inside and playing in my craft room.  I've made another Christmas card for my stash - I need over 100 cards, so I really do have to start early.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Pinstripe Background; Pink & Main - Christmas Mugs
Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Soft Stone; Stampin' Up! - Poppy Parade; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Pink & Main - Christmas Mugs
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Poppy Parade; Copic Markers; Red Glitter Card; Nuvo - Aquashimmer Brush; Clear Embossing Powder; Sakura - Clear Glaze Pen

I'm entering this card into the following challenges, Jingle Belles - JB:20:04 where they want to see a mostly RED card, and to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT07-20 where they have a Cocoa theme.

The striped background on this card is the piece I had left after making the ladybug birthday card earlier this month.  I layered the panel on bright red card and added a strip of red glitter paper.  Using my MISTI (and leaving the stamp in place) I stamped the festive mug of hot chocolate on white card, coloured it with Copic markers and then restamped using Versafine black ink, and embossed with clear powder.  I cut it out with the matching die.  I added shimmer to cream, cherry and red berries with a clear shimmer brush and also added a glaze coat to the cherry.  I stamped a simple sentiment in red and adhered the mug with dimensional pads.  On the inside, I cut a mat layer of red card and on the white panel added a greeting and another sweet mug of cocoa.

My plan for the rest of the day is to make some more cards - only this time I think I need to make some birthday cards for my stash.  I hope that wherever you are, you keep warm and safe.  That's all for now.

Season's Greetings ....

... Morning! I had a good day yesterday and made another Christmas card for my stash - I will NOT be purchasing boxed cards again this year 😁.  Here it is:

Stamps: Concord &9th - Snowflakes Turnabout, Christmas Cottage, Petals & Pallets; Stamplorations - Yuletide Deer
Inks: Gina K - Black Onyx, Soft Stone, Kraft; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to several challenges - 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT05-20, where I used their sketch, The Card Concept - CC#127, where they have a lovely inspiration photo, Jingle Belles - JB:20:03, where they wanted to see three of something, and finally to Colour Throwdown - CTD#578, such lovely colours.

I started by stamping the lovely stag head three times on white card, coloured them all with Copic markers, put them back into the MISTI, restamped with Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear poweder. I then carefully fussy cut them out.  I stamped the two log planks using a mixture of kraft and grey ink to give a softly weathered look.  I added some snowflakes to the background, and then stamped the greeting.  I finished the front by adhering the two side stag heads flat to the card, and the centrally one with dimensional pads.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of bright red card and on the white panel added a bold greeting and another gorgeous stag head.

That's all for now.  I've got a reasonably busy day ahead - part of which includes attending my local craft group.  See you soon.