Definitely my LAST Christmas card!

Ha.  You knew my 'last' Christmas card wasn't actually going to be my last one!  I'd forgotten to make one for our 'Friday night' buddies who we get together with for a wee drinkie and a natter every week.  AND I've just realised we haven't got Ruby a pressie for under the Christmas tree.  Oops! It would never do to leave the doggy out!

Stamp TV's Free for All Friday challenge this week is to CASE Giovana from their DT ... I chose this card and changed my snowmen and embossed the BG instead of stamping.

• Papertake Weekly - last Christmas card of the year
• Stamp TV Free for All Friday - CASE the DT
• Simon Says Stamp ... Bingo - I chose twine/gems/glitter
• Little Darlings #13 - Christmas
• Critter Sketch Challenge #95 - let it snow
• Charisma Cardz #49 - last minute Xmas makes

Finished!

Hooray, that's me finished with Christmas cards for the year ... I think!  There's always one I've forgotten about!
Couldn't get a decent pic of this card, its been such a dark overcast day.  Though its turned quite mild again, apparently our weather at the minute is more suited to April!  My daffodils are all confused and are already popping up!

Added silver border peel offs and then some clear gloss and glitter to Ruby's party hat and to the ribbon on the pressie.  The sparkly turquoise snowflake was a candy win ages ago.  Coloured with copics - I used a pale grey to add some shading to my doggy, but it doesn't really show up in the photo.

• Sketch from Simon Says Stamp
• Charisma Cards #49 - last minute Xmas makes
• Crafty Creations #148 - embossing and glitter
• Little Darlings #13 - Christmas
• My Mum's craft shop #36 - cute and funky Christmas
• iCopic challenge #61 - last minute Christmas
• Do you stack Up #50 - Winter
• Speedy the Cat's Friends #86 - Xmas card

Almost there...!

I'm almost finished my Christmas cards, hurrah, just another one or two and that's me!  And I'm off work now until next year (doesn't it sound great when you say it like that LOL!) so I've plenty of time to get the last few finished.

• Sketch from Sketch Saturday #186
• ABC Xmas - Y is for Yippee Christmas is almost here
• Divas by Design #17 - Merry Christmas
• Charisma Cardz #49 - last minute Christmas makes
• Paperplay #50 - Christmas
• Daring Cardmakers - spots and stripes 
• One Stop Craft #162 - Christmas sparkle
• Speedy the Cat's Friends #86 - Christmas card

Greg's Christmas card

ET

ETA: I won at Cards for Men - 5 digis from Stamping Boutique!

I carried on with my 'snow family' theme with Greg's Christmas card and used my wee Lili of the Valley puppy along with my Paper Smooches snowdudes. Though I think the scale is slightly wrong and we ended up with a gigantic Ruby! (or else a very little me!)
It also ended up a bit pinker than it should have (how come I can't do a 'girlie' card when I'm trying to!!) but never mind, he loved it anyway!
Don't forget our Christmas challenge over at Dream Valley is ongoing until 7 Jan and there's LOADS of fabby prizes to be won.

• Totally Gorjuss #111 - for someone special
• Craft Your Days Away #35 - snowmen
• Speedy the Cat's Friends #86 Christmas card
• Paper Cutz #119 - hearts come home for Christmas
• Cards 4 Men - 2 - I've got 2 snowmen, 2 DPs and 2 hearts.
• Tuesday Throwdown #78 - for someone special
• Use it Tuesday #21 - holidays - my 'old' stash is my DP, I was a very good girl this year and didn't buy any new Christmas CP ... so I'm desperate to get it used up so I can go shopping for next year's LOL!
• ABC Xmas - Y is for Yippee Christmas is almost here
• Colour combo from Creatalicious #29 - purple, pink, green, white

Mum's Christmas card

Wowee, it's blowing an absolute gale outside today!  A bit of the Bank opposite my work fell off on top of a parked car earlier!  Thankfully no-one was in it at the time!

Anyway, I enjoyed making the snow-family card for my sister last week so much that I thought I'd make one for Mum with our immediate family.  I've put all their names on in case they don't recognise themselves ... though my uncle has no excuse as he's the only one with a moustache IRL!
I had originally thought of adding the 4 dogs in the 'family' but I ran out of room!

• Paperplay Challenges #49 - snowmen
• Cute Card Thursday #194 - anything goes
• Winter Wonderland - let it snow
• Craft Your Days Away #35 - snowmen
• Totally Gorjuss #110 - let it snow
• Paper Sundaes #99 - anything Christmas
• Little Claire's Designs December challenge - family christmas

Gift voucher holder

This is a wee gift holder for part of my brother's Christmas pressie.  Don't you think my Paper Smooches gnome its the perfect image for a gardening voucher!  Kept it nice and simple (i.e. I'm really pushed for time LOL!)
Coloured him with promarkers and decoupaged his beard after embossing it. His nose and a cloud are popped up on dimensionals and I added some sparkle to the his 'santa' hat.

• Top Tip Tuesday #64 - a gift
• Creative Card Crew - Tis the Season
• Paper Sundaes #99 - anything Christmas
• Wee Memories #79 - holidays

Xmas card #20

Same stamp, different sketch!
I added clear gloss and glitter to the ribbon on the pressie and his party hat, but it doesn't really show in the pic.
I also have a wee silver sentiment in the bottom corner, but it's kinda lost in the fancy DP, so I might peel it off and mount it up instead.

• Sketch from Mojo Monday #218
• Lili of the Valley #124 - pink, white and sliver
• Creative Card Crew - tis the season
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Paper Sundaes #99 - anything Christmas
• ABC Challenge - E is for Embossing

Xmas card #19

I've had a lovely Christmassy day today ... got my tree up and it looks lovely, even if I do say so myself!!
I also managed to get another couple of Christmas cards made, I can't believe I've made so few this year - I think I had more than this made by July last year!
Anyway, I got some more ink on my wee Lily of the Valley doggy ... and yes, Brenda, I did get totally suckered into buying this 'cause I thought it was maybe what Ruby looked like as a puppy!  (We got her from a shelter and she'd already passed the cute puppy stage)

• Paper Sundaes #99 - anything X-mas
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #164 - all creatures great and small
• Stampin for the Weekend #22 - Christmas
• Sketch from Midnight Madness MMCS134
• ABC Christmas - Y is for Yippee, Christmas is almost here
• Cute Card Thursday #194 - anything goes

My sister's snow family!

ETA: I won at One Stop Craft - $10 Gift Cert from Digi Doodles

It's another Brrr chilly day today ... we'd a flurry of snow last night and the weather men nearly went into melt-down today, they were so excited!  Maybe it's just that they're just all desperate to make some snowmen?

I had such a laugh making this card for my sister and her family with my Paper Smooches Swanky Snowdudes ... hopefully they'll all recognise themselves!  I added loads of sparkle and gems, clear gloss to the snow-mum's lipstick, and some wee snowballs to the bottom (I won these ages ago in some candy and I love them 'too' much ... I can hardly bring myself to use them!)  The blue sky is stamped with wee snowflakes, but doesn't really show up in the pic.  Coloured with promarkers.

• By the cute and girly December challenge - let it snow
• I love Promarkers #94 - snowmen and snowflakes
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Do you stack up #48 - ribbon
• Speedy the Cat's challenge #84 - use your favourite embellie ... mine's definately these little snowballs, but I really LOVE my twine too!
• One Stop Craft #160 - let it snow
• Sarah Hurleys Challenge #55 - Christmas

Snow Monkey

Ohhh BRRRR it's a cold one today.  We'd a wee flurry of sleet this morning and of course the weathermen are getting excitable!  Ah well, at least it got me in Christmas card mode ... I made 8 versions of this card today for a wee order, so there was a bit of a production line going on my kitchen table.  Don't think I've ever made so many cards in one sitting!  (Image from High Hopes, sentiment from Paper Smooches)

Update on last night's movie ... I was expecting The Way to be a murder/mystery (they usually are when Greg picks them LOL!) but it turned out to be a really lovely film and a bit of a tear jerker ... I had to do the secret 'no I'm not crying' wipe of the eyes a couple of times!

• Simon Says Stamp ... anything goes
• Paper Sundaes #98 - sundae topping choice - I used red, stitching and die cuts (my snowflake)
• Sweet Stampin - is it snowing
• Divas by Design #16 - anything goes
• Sketch from Midnight Madness #132 ...  I've just noticed that I scribbled the sketch down wrong and there should have been a different coloured panel down the side so I don't think I can enter it aarrrggghhh!
• Colour Create #85 - red, white and green with optional snowflakes
• Bling it on December challenge - Christmas

SPARKY Snowdudes

Just a quickie post tonight .... movie night again, and tonight it's The Way (Greg's choice - I've no idea what it's about!)

This wee card was inspired by the photo inspiration at Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge, though I forgot to add a splash of yellow somewhere!  I've embossed a couple of lines at the top of the white sentiment panel, but I don't think it shows on my pic.

• Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge Dec1-14
• Totally Papercrafts #95 - Let it Snow
• Joanna Sheen Challenge #1 - Christmas Wishes
• Paper Sundaes #97 - Winter Wonderland
• Kaboodle Doodles #95 - Bundle up for Winter
• My Mum's Craft Shop #34 - keeping warm
• Simon Says Stamp ... anything goes

Xmas card #15

Oh dear, I'm sooooo behind in my Christmas cards this year!  I think I might have to buy some ... gasp!

I saw a beautiful snowflake edge somewhere in blogland recently so thought I'd have a go at a DIY one!  I embossed a strip of red and then some snowflakes.  Coloured my little High Hopes monkey with promarkers and added clear gloss to his skis and flower soft for snow.  The black dots are actually little silver pearls but couldn't get them to photograph properly.  Paper Smooches sentiment.

Oh and by the way, I didn't win the Lottery ... well there's always next week!

• High Hopes #122 - snowflakes
• Sketch from Midnight Madness #130
• Oldie but a Goodie - Let it snow
• ABC Christmas W is for Winter Sports
• Sarah Hurley's challenge #54 - buttons
• Crafty Catz #109 - snowflakes
• Winter Wonderland - awww what a cutie
• JUGS #111 - red, green, white
• Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - embossing

Bug eyed snowmen!

(Ohhhh, if you find my mojo please post it back to me!!)
I had the bright idea of giving my snowmen little enamel eyes, but a little bubble in the mix popped so they ended up with BIG eyes instead LOL!  I also blinged up the tall dude's moustache (its not every day you hear that expression!) with some black stickles.  Added a fancy metal corner and some gold peel offs to finish.

• Paper Smooches Christmas challenge
• Sketch from Monday Lunchtime #200   (I've no idea how Mary Jo can even imagine that many different layouts, I've bother even making one single card without a pre-designed sketch!!)  Play along and you could win a $25 Stampin Up spending spree!
• Cards for Men #23 - it's nearly Christmas
• My Time to Craft #166 - Take 2
• Fab'n Funky #99 - Baby its cold outside

• Sweet Stampin - Going Gorgeously Gingham

Dream Valley Challenge #20

We had an amazing response to our last challenge over at Dream Valley and this fortnight it's another nice easy one ....

Stitching!

Make whatever you like, just as long as you've done some stitching.  (The prize this time is a voucher for One Stop Card Crafts)  If you're stuck for some inspiration, pop over to Dream Valley Challenges and see the gorgeous creations by my Teamies!

Unfortunately my sewing machine died a while ago ... I'm thinking of hinting to 'Santa' that I'd love a new one for Christmas (though it would probably be easier to buy it myself and then present him with the bill HaHa!)  I love the effect of sewing on cards but there just isn't enough hours in the day to be bothered hand-stitching round the entire card - I quite often use faux stitching instead and a wee bit of real sewing just for effect.

Supplies: Old DP from Papermania; image from Lili of the Valley; sentiment from Elzybells; corner rounder punch; Marianne Creatibles snowflake die; pink stickles; white flower soft; clear gloss (on party hat and his nose); copic markers; pink pearls

Other Challenges I'd like to enter this card into..

• Crazy for Challenges C4C113 - 3 DPs, 3 dies/punches, 3 embellishments
• Lili of the Valley #120 - creature comforts
• Stampavie and more #155 - anything goes
• Creative Inspirations #137 - all stitched up
• Sketch from Mojo Monday #214
• Stamp TV Mix it up Monday - Got Scraps
• House of Gilli #20 - monochrome

Bloomin' Pixies!

I had the bright idea last night that I'd knock out a couple of birthday cards and just make them the same but 'slightly' different.  So out came my Paper Smooches sentiments set and I stamped Happy Birthday on one, lifted the other card over and went to stamp it .... and the pixies had nipped in and stolen my stamp!  I've spent HOURS looking for it... in my scrap bag, in my stamp box, on the floor, on the dog, and its nowhere to be found.  I'm gutted as it was my fave font on a Birthday stamp booo hooo! 

Anyway, this wee card uses another Paper Smooches set, Swanky Snowmen.  I've used the colour combo from their current challenge ...

I embossed the lower portion of the blue bg with a cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and added some glitter and Arlenes True Snow stuff.

• Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge (Nov3-16)
• Top Tip Tuesday #59 - anything Christmas ... my top tip is to always put your clear stamps back in the packet before the pixies run off with them LOL!
• Cards for Men #23 - its nearly Christmas
• Sketch from Unscripted Sketches #131
• One Stop Craft #156 - 3 of anything (I've used 3 snowmen)
• Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 80~~Fall or Winter Theme
• Sarah Hurley Challenge #53 - use 2 or more images

Xmas card #11

Ohhh I'm way behind in my Christmas cards this year, I had more than twice as many made this time last year!  I love this little High Hopes Ski Bum Monkey from last year ... have you seen this year's new releases yet?, they're soooo cute! 

Coloured with copics and clear gloss added to his eyes and skis, stickles for a bit of sparkle and some Arlene's True Snow.  Also dotted some white enamel accents round the edge of my DP.  Sentiment from Paper Smooches.

• High Hopes #118 - Home for the Holidays
• The Corrosive Challenge #133 - punches and / or dies - I used a Marianne Designe snowflake die
• Critter challenge #83 - 1 image, 2 DPs, 3 embellies (I used a snowflake, twine and gem), 1 sentiment
• Sketch from ICS #132
• Craft Your Days Away #29 - pink, brown and blue

Xmas Card #10

Couldn't get a decent pic of this card ... its been a dull windy day and we're supposed to be bracing ourselves tonight and tomorrow for some gale force winds when the tail end of Hurricane Katia skirts by! 

This card uses another High Hopes stamp from their release for last Christmas ... Beary Good Friends.  Coloured with promarkers and some sparkle added to their hats, scarves and gloves.  I found some Arlenes True Snow stuff at the back of my cupboard and sprinkled some glitter on that too.  Silver stars and pink pearls to finish.

• I love Promarkers #82 - metal embellishment
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Sketch from Sketch Saturday #172
• Oldie but a Goodie - Christmas

Xmas Card #09

(Last post of the evening.. I promise!)
This is another wee High Hopes image ... 'South Pole Pals' and it certainly didn't use up too much ink!  Though I wish I'd used a bigger nestie for the panel behind these pals, but I'd stuck it down before I thought, and once its stuck, its stuck for good!!  No re-positionable glue for me!

Old DPs from Dovecraft and sentiment from Paper Smooches.

• Creative Inspirations #126 - text me (there's Christmassy text on my pink panel behing the pals)
• Divas by Design #09 - Christmas in August

• Sketch from Midnight Madness #118
• Stampavie and More #150 - Christmas in summer
• Crafts 4 Eternity R#34 - Christmas

Xmas card #08

Ohhh, how can it be Sunday evening already!  not fair!
I'ts been a funny old day, some very heavy showers and inbetween gorgeous sunshine.  I thought I would power hose my front driveway this morning, got a couple of feet done and then the blasted thing sprung a leak, and that was the end of that!  So back to my crafty table I went, my mojo's been MIA all week, so it was good to turn out something that I actually liked!

This one uses another fab High Hopes image ... Ski Bum Monkey - coloured him with promarkers and copics, added glitter to the trim of his hat, and white flower soft to his bauble.   Sentiment from Paper Smooches.  Tied my double bow using my Bow Easy.  Marianne Creatibles snowflake die and Taylored Expressions scalloped edge die.  Very old DP from DCWV (I think).  Purple bling from stash.

• i{heart}2stamp August sketch
• One Stitch at a Time #75 - anything goes
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #147 - Christmas

Xmas card #07: Distressed by Distressing!

Our new challenge at Dream Valley is Distressing!  I'm a total neat freak on my cards (pity that didn't extend to housework LOL!) and find it nearly impossible to distress my cards!!  I'd say it doesn't help that I probably don't have any appropriate inks to distress with, so I'll have to go shopping sometime - any recommendations on what ink pads you find most useful to distress with? 

Anyway, I managed to slightly distress round my main image and roughed it up a bit with my scissors and then kinda dabbed round it with some pale blue ink.  I guess I should have distressed my sentiment too.  Ah well!

So come and play along with us ... you can't do any worse than me!!!  And you could win some fabby prizes from Digi Doodles and One Stop Card Craft.  You've a fortnight to upload your card at Dream Valley Challenges #13 ... check out the gorgeous creations from the rest of the DT while you're there.

Other challenges:

• Layout from Sketch n Stash #67
• Simon Says ... Christmas in August
• Fussy and Fancy Friday #42 - Christmas
• Totally papercrafts #78 - Holidays