CCT - Colours ....

.... Morning! I didn't get chance to make a card last for our colour challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT06, so I've done one this week. Our colours this week are CREAM, BURGUNDY AND LIME. I've made a really clean and simple card for our reminder post, in fact I CASE'd an old card of mine (see the original below):

Stamps: Woodware - Xmas Day
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Tim Holtz Water Colour Card; Zig Clean Colour Brushes; Distress Markers; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear; Clear Embossing Powder; Signo White Pen

Even though this is a really CAS card, it has a lovely warm, vintage feel as I opted for a dark burgundy and very rich cream to colour the image. I stamped the image on water colour card and embossed it with clear powder. I used Distress markers for the background and numbers. On the background I put some colour around the image and then used an aqua brush to spread the ink a little. On the numbers I added some ink and then used a clear sparkle brush to move the ink. On the leaves I used a Zig Clean Colour brush in bright lime - once again I used the sparkle to move the ink. I cut the image out, edged it with a black marker and adhered it flat to the card. The inside isn't done yet. I'm submitting this to Jingle Belles - JB:17:06 where they want to see bling - it's subtle here, but it is here!

I was having such fun with this one, that I decided to make another - this time with WHITE, BRIGHT RED AND GREEN.

Stamps: Woodware - Xmas Day
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Tim Holtz Water Colour Card; Zig Clean Colour Brushes; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear; Clear Embossing Powder; Signo White Pen

This time I've gone for a really clean, fresh look - still lots of sparkle because I used the Spectrum Noir sparkle brush to move the inks on the leaves and numbers. I added the snowflakes with a white pigment pen. The inside isn't done on this one either.

Here's the one that I made in 2015 - I used Copics on this one, full details can be found here:

You've still got plenty of time to join in with our challenge. The colorus are a bit non-traditional, but I think they are just lovely. Deadline for submission is midnight BST on Friday 31st March, that's 7.00pm EDT. Have fun!

Christmas in the pink ....

... Morning! I hope you're all enjoying your weekend. Yesterday was absolutely beautiful with bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine, sadly it was only about -1C (30F) at midday!! Today looks like it's going to be warmer, but a bit greyer! I had fun in my craft room yesterday making some more Christmas cards for my stash.

Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Silver Bells; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

I'm submitting this card to Merry Monday Challenge - MM#237 where they want to see shimmer and sparkle. I think this works. The layout is based on our sketch at Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT05. Once again there's no stamping on the card, I just used up some of the paper scraps from the Silver Bells pad. I covered the base with two pieces of pink paper covered with shimmery silver snowflakes. I added four stripes of co-ordinating paper - one of which has a greeting. I finished the front with a rectangular greeting panel that I edged with a silver pen. I attached it with dimensional tape. On the inside I used another piece of design paper for the mat layer and on the white panel added a greeting (slightly crooked!).

I won't be crafting at all for the rest of the day. Instead, we are all off to a photo shoot up in Pontiac. We go to David Birdsong's studios where we will be taking photos of the lovely Kristan Sawyer. The last time I took photos of her was back in September 2015 when she was pregnant!! Here's one of the photos I took:

This was such a fun shoot. Kristan had a lovely little girl who is now almost 1½ years old going to show how fast time goes!!

That's all for now! See you soon.

CCT - Sketch ...

... Hello! Winter has come back to Northville. Just the right atmosphere for making Christmas cards! For the next couple of weeks over at Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT05 we have a fun sketch challenge for you. I think it's perfect for using up scraps of design paper (of which I've loads). Here's my card:

Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas; Stampin' Up Punches - Circle 1" and 1¾", Scalloped Circle - 2⅜"

There is no stamping on this card at all! I used up lots of the little bits of design paper that I've saved. I covered the base with the pretty foliage paper and used three co-ordinating pieces to created the stripes. I made the sentiment panel by punching more scraps and adding a simple greeting. I used dimensional tape to adhere the sentiment panel. On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a tag shaped greeting. This was so quick and easy to make. So much so, that I plan to make several more!!

I'm submitting this card to the new challenge at Jingle Belles - JB:17:05 where the team would like to see the Holly, the Ivy and any type of Christmas foliage - done!!

Do visit Christmas Card Throwdown to see more inspirational ideas from the rest of the Design Team.

CCT - Technique .....

... Good morning! It's time for our new challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT04. For the next couple of weeks we have a technique challenge for you to use on your Christmas cards. We want to see Sunburst backgrounds (if you're not sure what this is, check out the video at the end of this post). You can do the technique with inks, but we want to see you use design papers - a great way to use up scraps! Here's the card I made:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Star of Light, Flurry of Wishes; Funstamps - Scribble Snowman
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - North Pole; Copics; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

Most of the sunburst techniques use triangular panels that are of equal size, but it is possible to vary the size of the triangles - it's just a bit more fiddly! I took the opportunity to use up lots of the scraps that I have in the North Pole design paper set. I covered the front of the card with Stick-It, a very thin and sticky double sided adhesive sheet. I then started to layer on the triangles. Once I'd finished with the background, I stamped my favourite snowman on some scrap white card, colour him with Copics taking card to use the colours from my background. I cut him out, edged him with a black marker and then added lots of sparkle to the snowman with a clear Spectrum Noir brush. I used a panel of design paper on which to stamp the sentiment and then attached it flat to the card. I used dimensional gel to attach the snowman. On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a bold Christmas greeting along with a snowman peeking in from the bottom!

I'm submitting this card to Merry Monday - MM#235 where they want to see snow folk on our cards. Don't forget to visit Christmas Card Throwdown to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the team. You've got plenty of time to join the fun - deadline is midnight GMT Friday 3rd March. Now, here's that video about the sunburst technique:

Warm Winter Wishes ....

.... Good morning! Winter's back! We had some snow yesterday - not a lot, but it was quite cold and it gave me an idea for a Christmas card:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Fresh Brew; Uniko - Simply Said Christmas, Stunning Snowflakes
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso; Distress - Tumbled Glass
Dies: Sizzix - Coffee Cup
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; SU Punch; Copics; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

I got the idea for the card from this week's Merry Monday Challenge - MM#232 where they have a fun inspiration photo. I made the base from dark brown card. I cut a panel of cream card slightly smaller and embossed it with coffee cups, rounded the corners and lightly inked the edges. I adhered it flat to the card. Next I stamped the cup coffee on a cream tag. I did two more copies - one on white card where I coloured the cup band and added a logo, and one on cream which I die cut out. I randomly stamped some snowflakes on the tag, and then adhered the cup and band. I finished the tag by edging it with a brown marker and adding a ribbon. I finished off with a fun greeting. On the inside I cut another panel of cream card, stamped a Christmas greeting and added a few more snowflakes.

We're half-way through our colour challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT#02 to use AQUA, BROWN AND CREAM. I decided that these colours worked perfectly for this card. You've still got plenty of time to join in with us - deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Friday 3rd February, that's 7.00pm EDT.

I'm also submitting the card to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - SSWC2501 where the theme is ANYTHING GOES.

That's all for now - I'm planning to spend the day in my craft room. Not sure whether it's going to be cards, art journal or, perhaps, some tidying up! Jonathan is off to a photo shoot and Kat is planning to chill - it was tough last week with her finals. Have a good weekend, see you soon!