Saturday 30 December 2023

Thinking of You

A CAS 'Thinking of You' card today, featuring my favourite bunny.

The white card for the frame (made with two square dies), the patterned paper and the pink card was all snippets, so I'll be sharing my card over in The Playground.  The sentiment is a Woodware stamp, stamped with Versafine Claire 'Nocturne'.

I am joining in the following challenges:




Sunday 24 December 2023

Gnome Money Holders + Munich and Salzburg Photos

This will be my last blog post before Christmas Day.  Merry Christmas to everyone visiting my blog, wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Creative 2024.  Thank you especially to those who have taken to time to leave comments on my posts this year. 
 
As promised, there are some photos at the end of this post of our recent trip to Munich and Salzburg for the Christmas Markets.
 
I made a couple of these Gift Card/Money Holder cards yesterday.  They really are easy to make and perfect when you need to make one in a hurry.  You can find Lesley's instructions for making them HERE

The papers are from The Works.

 
Munich and Salzburg
 

 


 


The Olympic Tower in Munich.
 
View from the top of the tower.
 
The Olympic Stadium.
 
Olympic Rings
 


 
Making my Amaretto hot chocolate. 😋



 
Salzburg Castle

.....and finally, a thought-provoking quote seen in the American war museum in Munich. 





Saturday 23 December 2023

Allsorts Challenge ~ Cold as Ice

When I found out that Lorraine had chosen the theme 'Cold as Ice' for this week's Allsorts Challenge,  I immediately thought of this cute stamp set to use on a twisted easel card.  As always there is the option of Anythings Goes.  The challenge this time will last two weeks. 

The stamp set Bazoo 'Chill Out' is one I bought at least 10 years ago.  I coloured the image with a mixture of Promarkers and Polychromos coloured pencils. I used Memory Box 'Stitched Octagon Layers' dies for matting and layering the image. The patterned paper is from The Works and I added four silver, holographic Card Candi.


There are some super prizes from AALL and Create and Craft Stash, so hop over to the Allsorts Challenge to see the beautiful DT cards and link up your entry.

I am joining in the following challenges:




Friday 22 December 2023

Craftlandia Challenge ~ Penguins/Anything Goes

I was delighted to be invited by Mia to be on her DT for the Craftlandia Challenges.  The December challenge runs from today until the 30th December with the theme 'Penguins or Anything Goes'.

For my penguin card I've made a Spring Fold card.  I used a Stampin' Up owl punch and with a little creative cutting turned the owl into a penguin.  For the sea I used a Sheena Douglass 'Water Ripple' embossing folder.  I used the e/f on the blue card on the base too, but it doesn't show up very well in the photo.  I added a few clear gems to add some sparkle. 
 

There are some lovely prizes to be won from Diana and Mia.
 
1st prize: 
Flexible stencil and rub-on transfers (given by Diana)

2nd prize: 
Tote bag with handmade bow (made by Mia)

3rd prize: 
Tote bag with handmade bow (made by Mia)

4th prize:
Handmade writing book cover (made by Mia)

Please hop over to the Craftlandia Challenge #17 to see the lovely creations the DT have made and join in the challenge.
  Remember, you only have until 30th December to link up your creation.

I am joining in the following challenges:






Thursday 21 December 2023

Christmas Chocolate Boxes

I've been away for the last few days, enjoying the Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria.  I'll post some photos in a later blog post.
 
I made thirteen of these little Christmas boxes to hold a few chocolates to give out as extra little gifts for family on Christmas day. 


I used  a set of Stampin' Up 'Curvy Keepsake Box' dies, a preloved set of dies I bought recently and used for the first time.  The label dies are from the same set. The papers are from The Works.   The boxes are all the same size. Who says the camera never lies!

I am joining in the following challenges:





Saturday 16 December 2023

Allsorts Challenge ~ Christmas Flowers and Wreaths

Mervi has chosen the theme of 'Christmas Flowers and Wreaths' for the Allsorts Challenge this week.  As always, there is also the Anything Goes option. For my card I've stitched a poinsettia, a flower which always reminds me of Christmas.

I used a Marianne Design cross-stitch die in a piece of thick white card and die cut it into a square with a Memory Box stitched square die.  The die cut card is white IRL, although it looks slightly off white in the photo.  I stitched the design with red, deep yellow and white crochet cotton.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Stampin' Up 'Greatest Part of Christmas' set, stamped with Versafine 'Nocturne'.



Tuesday 12 December 2023

Beg, borrow or steal.....

I spent all day last Saturday crafting with a group of friends.... ten hours of crafting (and chatting and laughing), just stopping for lunch.  All eight of us set a challenge for everyone at the end of November to be completed by the end of December.  So that's eight different challenges. One challenge was to 'beg, borrow or steal something from the person two places on your left (on Saturday) to use on your project'.  I ‘begged’ for some snippets which included a stripy strip 2cm wide.  I cut into half lengthways and cut each piece in half again so I had four shorter pieces 1cm wide.

I die cut the sentiment circle in navy blue and layered it on two die cut Memory Box 'Stitched Squares'.   I embossed a green square of card with a dotty Spellbinders embossing folder, attached the layered sentiment in the middle and used the stripy snippets to make a frame, before layering it all on a navy blue mat.  Although they were not originally my snippets, I'm going to share it in the Playground ..... hope that's allowed. 🤞

I am joining in the following challenges:




Saturday 9 December 2023

Allsorts Challenge ~ I Spy Something beginning with B

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Brenda has chosen the theme 'I Spy Something Begining with B’.  I'm sure you can all think of something beginning with B to include on your creation, but there is always the Anything Goes option.

My first card is a Birthday card with Balloons and Bakers Twine.  I used a Sue Wilson 'Balloon' embossing folder for the background.  The red balloon was a Sizzix die cut and I tied the bakers twine around the bottom before attaching the balloon with foam pads.  The candle ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons. 

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:


My second Birthday card, has a Badger holding a Bloom.  The image was in the corner of a piece of A4 patterned paper.  The rest of the sheet was just shades of green which I used on other projects and this little piece has been hanging around on my craft desk for ages.  I decided to use a square stitched die to turn it into a  topper and use it on a card.  The patterned paper is from The Works and I added a strip of dotty ribbon, before attaching the layered image.  The sentiment is stamped with Versafine Clair 'Morning Mist'. 

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:


There are some super prizes from  Aldridge Crafts,  Stampendous, and AALL and Create to be won, so hop over to the Allsorts Challenge and link up your creation.




Thursday 7 December 2023

Floral Split Gatefold Card

A Split Gatefold Card to share today, made for a friend's 60th Birthday.

The patterned papers were from either The Works or The Range..... I can't remember which shop I picked up this paper pad in. 🙂  All the green card for the mats was in my snippets drawer, so I'll be sharing my card over in The Playground.


I am joining in the following challenges:





Saturday 2 December 2023

Crafty Calendar Challenge ~ Christmas

This is my second post today, please scroll down to see my Allsorts Challenge DT post.

The December Crafty Calendar Challenge begins today with the theme 'Christmas'.  Our generous sponsors this month are All Dressed Up .

Our sponsors kindly gave the DT images to use and I chose 'Christmas Penguins'.  I coloured the image with Promarkers.  The patterned papers are from The Works.


The challenge runs until the 28th November.  Please hop over the the Crafty Calendar Challenge blog to see the beautiful cards the DT have made for inspiration.  

I am joining in the following challenges: