Christmas 2013

Only one more sleep to go until Santa brings all of us lucky crafters some of those goodies that we need. 

I would like to thank everyone for their lovely comments they have left on my blog and hope you've all enjoyed visiting me as much as I've enjoyed visiting you.

Also, thank you to everyone who sent me a Christmas card. They are all fantastically gorgeous and proudly displayed on the wall of my living room. What better festive decorations could I wish for?

Here is a small selection of the Christmas cards I've made this year. I have tried to use a variety of techniques.

My attempt at stamping.

 Using papers and ready-made toppers. 

Images from CDs and some die-cuts.

 And some toppers I had fun designing on the computer.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmastime doing whatever you love best. Thank you again for all your support, it really is most appreciated xx

Scribble & Scrap challenge #8

Welcome to the last challenge of the year at Scribble & Scrap. Thank you to everyone who has joined in with our challenges this year, we've really enjoyed looking at all your wonderful entries and blogs. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support.  It's most appreciated and I hope you will continue to support Scribble & Scrap in 2014.
The fabulous winners of challenge #7 have been announced on the Scribble & Scrap Blog. We hope you will all be playing along with this new challenge. Don't forget to sign up as a follower to be eligible to win.
The theme for the Scribble & Scrap challenges is always "Anything Goes" The winner will be chosen by Random.org and win a generous £15 voucher to spend in the Scribble & Scrap shop. But, if the lucky winner has used a Scribble & Scrap digi they will win a £20 voucher. The Top Three will be selected by a DT vote and will earn a lovely badge to proudly display on their blog. If you'd like to be considered for a Guest Design Team slot, then add GDT after your name on your entry. A full set of all the rules can be found on the Challenge blog.

I've managed to make a different sized card for a change but it was the only way I could fit everything I wanted on the card.

I folded an A4 piece of card in half lengthwise for the card base and layered on a piece of green card. I created the XMAS in MCS and gave it a pale vintage type background. I printed out the three digis, Vintage Beauty 1, Vintage Beauty 2 and Vintage Beauty 4  and several of the Vintage Blossom in different sizes. Once coloured with Promarkers I cut all the images out and positioned on the card with foam pads. The holly die-cuts are from Marianne.

This is Vintage Beauty 1. I've trimmed away the background part of the image.

This is Vintage Beauty 2. I again cut away the background.

This is  Vintage Beauty 4. I removed the flowers from behind her. As a finishing touch I added gold gems to the flowers and dotted red gems on the letters.

Please pop over to the Scribble & Scrap Blog and Challenge to see what the other fabulously talented DT members have created for your inspiration. Also visit the Scribble & Scrap shop to see the many lovely images for sale. There are new ones being added all the time, including a new collection of characters. Once you've made your choice, you could be playing with your purchases within minutes as everything is on instant download. Please also ask to join the Scribble & Scrap Facebook group to make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun.
All that remains is for me to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/anything-christmas-challenge.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-73-anything-goes.html
http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-54-happy-holidays.html
http://digihaven.blogspot.ca/2013/12/tis-colors-of-season-red-and-green.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-38.html -Anything Goes
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/chnc-challenge-156-last-minute-cards-or.html
http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.co.uk/ #106 Deck the Halls
http://leftofcenterchallenges.blogspot.ca/2013/12/challenge-21-christmas.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.ca/2013/12/digi-choosday-wk-9-anything-goes.html
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/last-challenge-of-year-anything-goes.html
http://happycamperscc.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/happy-camper-challenge-no-25-christmas.html
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/anything-goes.html
http://thestampingchef.com/Challenges/2013/12/18/challenge-10-anything-ghttpthestampingchef-comchallengeswp-contentuploads2013121477393_10152142296680929_2051382953_n-jpgoes/
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/week-228mega-christmas-challenge.html
http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ Challenge #72 Anything Goes
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/december-challenge-christmas.html
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/chnc-challenge-extra-for-december.html

A Little Boy's Christmas Card

As promised in my last post, here is the Christmas card I made for my Grandson Bailey that matches the one I created for my Granddaughter's first Christmas. I again used the Jem's Designs CD "There's Snow Body Like a Snow Buddy". 

I kept the layout very similar to Harlow's card but I added a twist to this one. The two blue papers are from the Jem's CD and the blue snowflake paper is from Kraftyhands "12 Days of Christmas" CD. I created the sentiment on the computer. I matted all the layers onto silver mirri and wrapped two ribbons around the card front.

I used the plain snowman tag from the CD and added the text in MCS using the same font as the sentiment. I fixed a brad to the top.

The twist I added for Bailey was a secret verse hidden by the snowman tag. I fixed that in place before attaching the tag to the front of the card with the brad. When all of that was done, I stuck the card front onto an 8"x 8" card base. I finished the card with a few snowflakes made from Spellbinder and Marianne dies.

The secret verse is a well known poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein. I printed it onto a paper created from the Jem's CD. I thought the silly poem would appeal to a 6 year old boy and I was right. Bailey thought it was hilarious.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
http://rheddandrosies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/let-it-snow22nd-challenge.html
http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/albc-christmas-cheer.html
http://seemacrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/im-late-im-late-omg-i-am-sooo-late-with.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-253-anything-goes.html
http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/lej-designs-challenge-no-84-anything.html

A Little Girl's Christmas Card

I have been so busy lately and haven't had much time to blog. It's a good job that Christmas is only once a year! Today I wanted to show you the card I've made for my Granddaughter's first Christmas.

The adorable image is from a Jem's Designs CD called "There's Snow Body Like a Snow Buddy". The two pink papers are also from the CD but the snowflake paper was originally blue and I changed the colour in MCS. They were all layered onto silver mirri. I wrapped the lace around before attaching onto an 8"x 8" card blank. The sentiment was created on my computer.

I used one of the tags on the CD for the topper and mounted it onto silver mirri. I punched a hole in the top and looped three different pink ribbons through it.

The snowflakes are a mix of Spellbinders and Marianne die-cuts mounted up with foam pads.

Little Harlow is now 16 weeks old and enjoyed talking to her lovely snowman in her secret language. I made a matching card for her brother that I will show you next time.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-35-anything-goes.html
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-72-christmas.html
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-185-non-traditional-x-mas.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/new-challenge-christmas.html 2nd entry
http://www.totallygorjuss.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-214-special-christmas.html

Scribble & Scrap challenge #7

Welcome to a new challenge at Scribble & Scrap. Thank you to everyone who joined in with our previous challenge, we had a fabulous turnout of wonderful entries. The winners have been announced on the Scribble & Scrap Blog. We hope you will all be playing along with this new challenge. Don't forget to sign up as a follower to be eligible to win.
The theme for the Scribble & Scrap challenges is always "Anything Goes" The winner will be chosen by Random.org and win a generous £15 voucher to spend in the Scribble & Scrap shop. But, if the lucky winner has used a Scribble & Scrap digi they will win a £20 voucher. The Top Three will be selected by a DT vote and will earn a lovely badge to proudly display on their blog. If you'd like to be considered for a Guest Design Team slot, then add GDT after your name on your entry. A full set of all the rules can be found on the Challenge blog.

On Thursday I posted a tutorial on how I decoupaged this digi image. If you missed it, click here. Now I can reveal the finished card.

I have made this card from an 8"x 8" card base. I covered the front with gold mirri card and then layered a tartan paper from Docrafts First Noel collection. The four panels are also from the First Noel collection. The wired ribbon is from my stash and the snowflakes are a mix of Marianne and Spellbinders dies.

The fabulous vintage image is Santa 1 which I coloured with Promarkers and mounted on gold mirri. 

Please pop over to the Scribble & Scrap Blog and Challenge to see what the other fabulously talented DT members have created for your inspiration. Also visit the Scribble & Scrap shop to see the many lovely images for sale. Once you've made your choice, you could be playing with your purchases within minutes as everything is on instant download.

Please also ask to join the Scribble & Scrap Facebook group to make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun.
I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/challenge-189-must-have-bow-1282013.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/new-challenge-christmas.html
http://4kraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ Challenge #7 Anything Goes
http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/75-vintage-christmas.html
http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/2013/12/himcr-127-holiday-colors.html

Kraftyhands December Challenge

As it's the first Saturday of  December, it's the start of the last challenge of the year on the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog. Thank you for all the wonderful Christmassy entries in our last challenge. The lucky winners have been announced on the challenge blog.
This month the theme is the popular:

"Anything Goes"

This challenge will be "just for fun". Unfortunately, there will not be a Top £20 prize this month. Please remember to be a follower of the blog and we look forward to seeing your lovely creations.

I thought that instead of making a Christmas card for the month of December, I'd make a card showing how most of us are spending a lot of time this month. Not that I've ever managed to look this glamourous doing it.

The image is from Love to Shop CD available exclusively from the Kraftyhands webshop. It has lots of brilliant images, papers and projects that are perfect for anyone who "loves to shop". I used one of the 6"x 6" Card Making Sets on the CD. The sets include everything you need including the insert. The only thing I added was the bow.

The images come with decoupage, you can choose not to use it though. I cut the layers and mounted the image up with foam pads.

I cut the Love to Shop logo out from the page to use as a sentiment and punched the circular image out as a finishing touch.

Please visit the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for a full set of the challenge rules - you have to be a follower to qualify for entry - and to view the fabulous creations from the talented DT. You can also keep up to date with all the latest Kraftyhands news and see sneak peeks on the Kraftyhands Facebook page and the Kraftyhands Blog.

Santa Decoupage

Today I have a tutorial that I did for the Scribble & Scrap blog.
I love to create my own decoupage, it's really quite easy to do. Even from digi images. Here I have created a decoupaged topper from the Santa 1 digi from the Scribble & Scrap Shop.

I started by opening up my MCS program and importing the Santa image. I shrunk the image to the size I wanted then copied and pasted it so I had four identical digis. I wanted to work quickly so I used the digital stamp tool and roughly cut out a bit of the background on each image until I was left with just the lower leg closest to the front. I arranged the cropped images on the page and printed it out.

The next stage was to colour the digis. I chose traditional colours and used Promarkers. As you can see, I didn't colour the areas which wouldn't be seen once the decoupage was layered up. And I ignored the areas I hadn't cropped that wouldn't be used for the decoupage.

Once coloured, I cut all the images out, removing the pieces I didn't want. Here I have laid them onto a piece of card for the photo. They will be layered up starting with the top right image and working anti-clockwise.

Finally the decoupaged image layered up with foam pads. Decoupage is a simple but effective way to add depth to a card and can be achieved very easily.

You will have to wait until Sunday to see what I did with my decoupaged Santa where it is on my DT card for the next Scribble & Scrap challenge.

Feeling Crafty Challenge #23

Welcome to Challenge #23 at the Feeling Crafty Challenge. This challenge was formerly known as Emma's Crafty Challenge. The rules are the same, the most important one being 'to have fun'. A copy of all the rules can be found on the challenge blog. Thank you to those who took part in our previous challenge. The winners will be announced in a few days.
The theme for this challenge is

" Christmas"

Our sponsor for this challenge is the lovely Phill Martin. Please visit his Honeypot Crafts shop and Phill's Crafty Place blog. The wonderful prize Phill is offering is 2x A5 Everyday Tabbed and 2x A5 Everyday Flourish from the Sentimentally Yours  stamp collection.

My card is an A5 that I made using a backing paper, topper and sentiment from the October edition of Making Cards magazine. I just love this artwork.

I covered the card base with plain red card and layered the backing paper over. I then added a strip of lace and a length of red organza ribbon.

I mounted the gorgeous topper onto red card and used foam pads to give it dimension. I added three red gems.

For the finishing touches I tied a double bow and added a gem to the poinsettia on the pretty backing paper.

Please visit the new Feeling Crafty Challenge blog to see the fabulous creations from the other talented DT members and don't forget to sign up to follow the new challenge blog so you can enter your crafty Christmas makes.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Challenge #172 Anything Goes
http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/ho-ho-ho-christmas-challenge.html
http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/  Christmas Cheer
http://www.robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/  Challenge #188 Christmas Cards
http://laineyscraftyspace-justforfun.blogspot.co.uk/  Christmas
http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.co.uk/   #170 Christmas
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/    #195 Ho Ho Holidays