Get Lit - 12DOC ...

.... Morning all!  We're at day 10 of 12 Days of Creepmas, you've almost made it to the end!  I've a cute Creepmas card this morning:

Stamps: Smeared Ink Digi - Occasions Grumpie
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas; Copic Markers; Glitter; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

There's absolutely no stamping on this card.  The image is a Grumpie and I got him last year as a digital download, but checking Smeared Ink's blog, it appears that he's only available as a rubber stamp now.  I had lots of fun colouring this image.  I used Copic markers, clear Wink of Stella on his hat, glitter on the band, and glossy accents on all the little Christmas lights.  Once dry I cut him out.  I used the sketch from last week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge - FMS#216; I had fun with the sketch and turned it to make a landscape card.  I used several different sheets of design paper, along with a sentiment square from the paper pack on this card.

Here's the list of those playing along with 12 Days of Creepmas - it's worth visiting to see what fun creations they've all made:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

That's all for now - see you soon.

Merry Creepmas - 12DOC ....

.... Morning.  Goodness, we've reached day 9 of 12 Days of Creepmas, sponsored by Smeared Ink. I'm having such fun making cards that combine elements of Halloween and Christmas.  I think I've only made one really scary card, most of the rest of my cards are on the quirky side, rather than scary.  Here's today's card:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Jolly Jester 2016; Paper Source - Joy & Cheer
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Perfect Plum
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Stitched Ovals - #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Violet Crush; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear, Silver; Sakura Stardust - Purple

I've used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#152 for the layout of my card.  I used some design paper that coordinates with the colours I used on the Jester.  I cut out the image using a die and added some paper flags to the back of the image (I didn't want to hide the Jester) and adhered him to the card base.  I used a shimmer pen to add little dots around the image.  I finished the front with a simple greeting that I printed on Safmat (a Letraset product) which goes on clear.  On the inside I used another piece of design paper for the mat and added a simple, bold Christmas greeting.

Here's the list of all those playing along with the 12 Days of Creepmas:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

We're almost at the end of term for Kat - she can hardly wait.  Poor girl is so tired.  High School in the States, well here in Michigan, starts really early - she's in school about 6.50am and classes start about 7.15am.  I think all her friends are really looking forward to two weeks off school.  And Jonathan finishes work on Friday too!  That's when our Christmas starts!!!  That's all for now.  Byeee!

Christmas Wishes ....

... Good Morning!  We had a really wonderful evening last night.  It was the first night of the Christmas Choir concerts at Northville High School.  The choirs at the school are superb.  Kat and a group of her friends had a small ensemble bit during Joy to the World, so proud of her.  The Chorale Choir, made up more advanced singers, sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" as they walked into the concert hall - it was magnificent.  I am now totally in the spirit of Christmas - spent all day yesterday listening to Christmas music and making more Christmas cards.  The ones I make now will be for next year's stash!!  Here's the one I made:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Tis the Season; Stampin' Up! - Endless Wishes
Inks: Memento - Lady Bug, Pear Tart; Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Waltzingmouse - Gingerbread Family
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Gingerbread; Crafter's Companion EF - Star; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to a few challenges:

• Colour Q - cQc#321
• CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#154 to use a previous 2015 sketch #139
• Merry Monday - MM#184 - where the theme is baking

When I saw that the Merry Monday theme was baking I knew that I wanted to use my little gingerbread stamps.  The colours at Colour Q are just perfect for a festive look.  I stamped three gingerbread kids in Versmark on kraft card and heat embossed them with clear powder, and then  I stamped two red and two green gingerbread kids.  I cut them all out with the coordinating dies.  In my stash I found the perfect design paper - Gingerbread, by Kaisercraft - and used a piece that reminded me of icing on gingerbread to cover the bottom of the card.  I cut a panel of white card, stamped the sentiment and then embossed it for more detail.  I finished the front by adhering the gingerbread kids.  On the inside I used another piece of design paper for the mat layer and on the white panel added a Christmas greeting, along with a couple more gingerbread kids!

On Facebook I've seen photo that my friends and family have posted of their wonderful Christmas trees.  We don't have ours up yet, so I think today I'm going into the basement to find the tree and all the decorations and make our house look festive too!  That's all for now.  See you tomorrow.

RSD - Progressive Challenge Team B ....

....  Hello! It's time for Team B to share our inspiration projects for Part II of the RSD Progressive Challenge.  In Part II of the challenge, you need to create a project using an image provided free by Rick St Dennis; if you want to play along but missed part I, then you can find the image at Rick's Zibbet shop.

We're at day 8 of this year's 12 Days of Creepmas, sponsored by Smeared Ink.  Rick has created a fabulous image - Take Yer Pick - he's really not sure whether it's Halloween or Christmas, and that's the whole point of Creepmas - it's a fun mix of the two!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Take Yer Pick; Stampin' Up - Wacky Wishes, Wonderland
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Soft Sky
Dies: Die-namics - Zig-Zag Stitched Rectangle Stax #5; SU/Sizzix - Word Bubble Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Christmas Carol; Graphic45 DP - Rare Oddities Frightfully Sweet; Copic Markers; Glossy Accents; Wink of Stella - Clear

I had lots of fun with this image.  I love the parcel monster - he looks so confused, bless!!  I coloured him with Copic markers, cut him out with a fancy edge die and added snowflakes to the background and then finished the image with Glossy Accents to the eyes.  I used Christmas and Halloween design papers to cover the card base and added the image directly on top.  I finished with a sentiment that I produced on the computer and cut out with a die.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of Christmas design paper and added a fun Christmas greeting.

Here's the full list of those taking part in the 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Hop:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

It's been a crazy weekend weather wise here in Michigan.  Saturday and Sunday both set new record high temperatures for December, with 63°F (17°C) on Saturday and 61°F (16°C) on Sunday, both so much higher than average.  Some places were even warmer.  In fact the whole month of December has been warmer than average so far - it's a wonderful start to winter :))))  There's been no snow at all so far - see me smiling!!!  Anyhow, that's all for now!  See you soon.

SNG - Journal page ...

.... Hello. I hope everyone has had a good weekend.  We've had a really fun time.  I spent yesterday afternoon in my craft room working on an art journal page.  It was actually quite nice not to make a card or anything remotely Christmassy!  It's my turn to host our post at Sparkle and Glitter, where we showcase Rick's fabulous digital art.

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Batty Bettina; Dylusions - Doodle Parts, Shrooms; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Stuff to Say; Stampers Anonymous Brett Wedele - The Presenters
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Archival - Leaf Green, Emerald Green, Carnation Red, Violet, Jet Black
Accessories: Dyan Reaveley Art Journal Page; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella; Stencils; Clear Embossing Powder

I created the background of Dylusion sprays and leaf stamping at one of the classes I took with Dyan Reaveley in October.  In my stash of Rick St Dennis images that I have printed off, I found this super fairy.  I coloured her with Copic markers and cut her out with a scalpel.  I stamped some of Dyan's fabulous mushrooms on white card, coloured and cut them out.  Then I had lots of fun planning the layout and stamping various words and images on the background.  If you look closely you'll see wings randomly stamped round, some words about those wings and a rose too.  I finished the page by stamping the main words in Versafine and heat embossing with clear powder.  I stamped the words a number of times allowing the images to get fainter and fainter.  Here's a close-up photo of Batty Battina (who you can find at Rick's Zibbet shop).  She's a very sassy girl:

Sadly you can't see the pretty shimmer on her wings and the mushroom dots, which you would, if the sun were shining!!  That's all for today.  See you tomorrow.

Creepmas Wishlist - 12DOC ....

...  Morning!  Welcome to Day 7 of the 12 Days of Creepmas sponsored by Smeared Ink.  I am having such fun making these cards that blend elements of Halloween with Christmas. If you're not sure what Creepmas is all about, it's basically a fun way to push back at retailers and the like who insist on putting out Christmas products before Halloween has even finished.  It's a case of let's spread the fun and it is in no way meant to offend!  A favourite element of mine in Christmas cards is snowmen.  The current challenge at One Layer Christmas Card Challenge - OLXCC#23 is to feature snowman, and that inspired my Creepmas card:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Creepmas Early Thaw
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Christmas Carol; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents; String

Perhaps you can guess why this card isn't exactly suitable for the snowman challenge - yes, it's not one layer!!  Silly me!  While it's not suitable for the challenge, I did feel it important to acknowledge the inspiration!

I printed the snowman on white card, coloured with Copic markers, cut him out and added lots of sparkled with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I cut some lovely festive red design paper and covered the card.  I found a Christmas wishlist tag in the paper pad, so I amended to read Creepmas Wishlist, edged it with a black marker, wrote a list and attached it to the card.  On the inside I used another piece of design paper for the mat layer.  I edged the white panel with a black pen and finished with a simple date label.

Here's the full list of those playing along with the 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Hop:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

The weather here in Michigan this weekend is amazing - really warm. In fact yesterday we reached almost record warm temperatures, and at the time of typing this post (Saturday evening at 6.10pm, it's still 14°C (that's 56°F).  Today we are expected to set a new record high for December.  I'm really enjoying it!  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Let it Snow ....

....  Good morning!  It feels really strange not having a card to post for 52 Christmas Card Throwdown today.  Our challenge this month is PICK ANY PREVIOUS 2015 CHALLENGE and the deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Friday 18th December (that's 7.00pm EDT).  That doesn't mean I don't have a Christmas card to share with you this morning, here it is:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Seasonally Scattered, Endless Wishes
Inks: Versamark; SU - Bashful Blue; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Memory Box - Postage Rectangle Layers #4; Waltzingmouse - Snowflake #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bashful Blue; Silver & Holographic Embossing Powder; SU DP - Bashful Blue; Star Gems

The inspiration for this card comes from the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge - CIC#339 photo - the soft blue, the snowflakes and the little blue gems.  I've actually picked the January 2015 colour combination at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT02-15, shades of blue.  And, as I've got little stars on this card, I'm submitting to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSDecXmas where they want to see stars.

I stamped the image in Versamark on white card and used a mixture of silver and holographic powders (see the photo at the end of the post to see the shimmer) and heat embossed the image.  I used a fancy edge die to cut out the image and adhered it flat to a pale blue card base.  Sadly, this shade of blue has been discontinued at Stampin' Up! and this is my last sheet of card (sob!).  I die cut a small snowflake from design paper, stamped a few snowflakes in pale blue and finished by added tiny little stars to the card.  I cut a panel of white card for the inside and finished the greeting as well as adding some more snowflakes.

Here's that close-up of the stamped image - I love the iridescent shimmer and play of colours that the holographic embossing powder gives:

I've actually got most of my cards posted, which is a good thing as the last day for international posting is today!  I can't believe that there are only 12 days to go before the big day.  I tend to find that Christmas always seems a long way off, and then suddenly it's here!  I hope you all have a good weekend.  See you soon.

Coffee Just for You ....

.... Hi!  I know, third post this morning!  It's a busy one today. :)))   It's time for the Winter/Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and Bev, at Uniko, is one of the sponsors.  I've made a winter themed coffee card to share here:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee, Pure Florals Cosmos, A Gift for You
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Sahara Sand
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Stax #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Sahara Sand; Silver Mirri Card; Vellum; Cuttlebug EF - Dots 'n Spots; Silver Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Signo - White Pen

I've used the sketch from The Challenge - TC#54 for the layout and the colours are from Colour Throwdown - CTD#372, so pretty.

I think this coffee set from Bev is just fab.  I stamped the cup on kraft card and cut it out.  I coloured the lid with a white pigment pen.  I added a little cup holder by stamping the flower on some scrap card and then cutting to fit the cup.  I used kraft card to make the base and adhered a strip of silver mirri card at the bottom.  I cut a panel of white card, smaller then the card which I embossed with dots and spots.  I added sparkle to some of the dots, but sadly you can't really see it in the photo!  I stamped the little flowers in Versamark on vellum, heat embossed them with silver powder and then cut them out.  I coloured the reverse with Copic markers and added lots of sparkle to the front of the flowers with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I finished the front with a simple greeting.  On the inside I cut a mat of silver mirri card and on the white panel added some coffee beans, a greeting and a small flower.

That's the last post today - promise!  If you stuck with my through all the posts today - thank you. See you tomorrow.

Creepmas Cheer - 12DOC ....

...  Hello again!  We've reached Day 6 of the 12 Days of Creepmas sponsored by Smeared Ink.  I had lots of fun making today's card:

Stamps: Smeared Ink Digi - Bottoms Up Grumpie; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Island Indigo; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Poppy Stamps - Snowflake Oval Frame
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Island Indigo; SU DP - Winter Frost; Silver Mirri Card; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

I love this little guy - he looks so cross being stuck in the champagne glass!  I printed him on white card, coloured with Copic markers and added lots of clear sparkle all over the image.  I die cut the oval frame from silver mirri card, which I adhered to the image with matte medium.  I based the layout for this card on the sketch at Sketch Saturday - SS#390 - I had lots of fun with the layers.  I used some old SU design paper - it looks very frosty!  And, as there are lots of snowflakes on this card, I'm submitting it to Inkspirational - INK#97 where the cue word is "FLAKE".  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a suitable greeting.

Here's the list of those playing along with the 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Hop - do visit and leave a comment or two:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

I've got one more post later this morning - do stop by to check it out - not Creepmas this time!!  See you soon.