Christmas Kickstart Challenge #45 - If It's Christmassy, Link it Up!

Well, we've finally reached the last Christmas Kickstart Challenge of 2020! This really has been one of the strangest and most difficult years that many of us will ever have lived through. I don't know about you but during this time I've been so glad to have the love of my family and friends, plus this crazy cardmaking hobby to keep me going!

We've a new elf on board for this challenge. I don't always introduce our elf here on my blog but this time things are a little different as this elf doesn't have her own blog or Instagram account.  For Challenge #45 I'm delighted to welcome Alice, or as I like to call her, Mom!

After much persuasion my mom has finally agreed to join the fun and inspire us with her beautiful cards at Christmas Kickstart.

Our theme is:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #45 - If it's Christmassy, Link it Up!

We'd like to see your final Christmas cards of the year or your first cards of 2021 - the choice is yours!

Here's what my mom made:

As you can see she loves to die cut and has combined dies from Creative Expressions The Holly and the Ivy  with others from the Sue Wilson Range.

And here's her second card featuring beautiful die cuts from Creative Expressions All is Calm and a sweet edger die (also from Sue Wilson) that I'm having trouble tracking down to include a link!

Here's what I made. 

Don't you just LOVE that little gnome from Jane's Doodles? I gknow I do! 

I was very lucky to win a voucher for Jane's shop during Janis W's Cat Lovers Hop (thanks, Janis) and couldn't resist this gorgeous, fun set. A little leftover paper and an embossing folder and the card was finished.

Here's Rudolph with his final Random Raffle prize of 2020. He's chosen a gorgeous die cut Santa from Creative Expressions.

Mom and I both hope you'll come and join this fun challenge. 

Keep safe and keep crafting, everyone. 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - L is for Lewd

As you can see Edna is preparing for the festive season in her own special way! And so, of course, are the Sisterhood as we play L is for Lewd!

My offering is as always rather on the tame side, but hopefully it'll make the recipient smile! I always love working with Art Impressions images.

The wording is a steal from Carmen's Veranda, which I adapted for Christmas and printed out on my PC. If you love a snarky, fun sentiment that's the place to go!

We have a fabulous Queen with us today and I know you'll love all the cards on display if you enjoy naughty and snarky in equal measure.

Let's Squash It! Challenge #3 - Use ANY Embossing Folder and Dies or Fussy Cutting

 

Hi there, it's time for another fun challenge over at Let's Squash It! 

This is a challenge that will really help you stretch those embossing folders.

Challenge #3 - Use ANY Embossing Folder and Dies or Fussy Cutting

Yes, we'd like you to use an embossing folder of your choice and pair it with the techniques of die cuttings or fussy cutting.  You can use an emboss-and-cut folder, a die cut with a matching folder, cut up something you've embossed, emboss a die cut shape, or simply add a die cut or fussy cut shape to your embossed background.  If you're not sure what to do then please take a look at Gail's excellent Inspiration Post for some great ideas.

Here's what I made for the challenge. Sadly, I needed a sympathy card for a friend who had just lost her lovely dad to Covid.

I used a beautiful embossing folder Darice's Bold Daisy for this card. It proved really difficult to photograph, and does look so much better IRL. I cut two embossed panels and fussy cut the centre of the second panel so that I could place it over the first panel. A couple of pop dots added to the dimension. I coloured with Distress Inks. 

In addition to cards by Gail and me we also have a guest designer/squasher. Intrigued by who could be joining us? Come on over and find out!

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #44 - Peace on Earth

Well, well, well, we've reached the penultimate Christmas Kickstart challenge of 2020.

I'm delighted to be joined by the one and only Shirley Bee for this challenge. 

Shirley will be a very familiar face to many of you out there in Blogland as she is a regular contributor to Craft Stamper Magazine and also designs her own range of stamps (The Bees Knees) over at Stamplorations.

Our theme for this challenge is one which seems especially apt as this strange and difficult year draws to a close:

Challenge #44 - Peace on Earth

For some reason my cards for this one just haven't gone the way I was hoping they would.

Out of the cards I made for this challenge I'm happiest with this card created by painting stripes on watercolour paper. The wording is from a WPlus9 set called Script Peace. It's lovely, and priced very reasonably too.

I'm entering this card over at Lost Coast Challenges where their current theme is Winter Blues.

My next card uses one of Shirley's Bees Knees sets: Houses. 

And finally a kraft angel, which incidentally is Rudolph's Random Raffle prize for this challenge and the current theme over at Time Out Challenges.

I hope you'll find time to come and play along in this challenge. 

Card Chain Challenge November 2020 - Reveal

The second day of the month has snuck up on me! It's hard to keep track of the days just now isn't it.

Yes, it's Reveal time again at CCC and there's a beautiful selection of cards on offer as always.

Our sketch looked like this:

 

and the colours were so pretty!

We had themes options of Animals with Hooves, Stars or Friendship and Product/Technique Options of Glitter and Aperture cards. 

I had a little MFT party with my card. Don't you just love that sweet bovine buddy? And it turns out that the swimming pool stencil makes great cow hide!

I know this card has only just reached Marianne in Greece as I had her email yesterday.

My card came from the lovely Kath this month.

There are still a few days left to play on the December Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge, so why not come and play along!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #174 - E is for Elves

 

Sister Lee just does the best graphics!

We're all about ELVES at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers for this challenge.

I broke-out two of my favourites eleves: Buddy and Jolly from Stamping Bella and got busy with my Promarkers. The background was created with a stencil and some Dreamweaver paste. I found the sentiment after a little Googling!

Stay safe this weekend, and please come join the fun at The Sisterhood!

 

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #43 - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

Hi there, card makers, welcome to the latest challenge from Christmas Kickstart. There are only a few weeks left until Christmas so it's a great time to get those Christmas and Holiday cards made if you've not already started!

There's a new elf in dah house and I'm delighted to welcome Liz McGuire from Buttons for Brains!

 Our theme for the next two weeks is:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #43 - 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas!

We're looking for anything that might happen on Christmas Eve or anything in the poem that inspires you.

Here's what I made - I couldn't resist a little festive humour with a Katzelkraft Mouse.

It took ages to fussy cut his fingers as I was determined to have it appear that he was holding the spoon.

By way of a happy accident, I'm linking this card over at The Library Challenge #73 - The Night Before Christmas. Don't you love it when that happens? Thanks, Marina, I love your card! 

My next card uses a stamp I've had for a very long time but never inked-up. I combined the stamp with a festive embossing folder and some glitter glue. Isn't this a sweet scene? It's a pity it's so tricky to photograph.

Here's Rudolph, and he's bagged a rather gorgeous die cut as the prize for his Random Raffle for this challenge

Liz and I hope you'll feel inspired and come and play along.

Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda - Festive Fun Challenge

 

I couldn't resist playing along in the latest challenge over at Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda - just to type that fabulous blog name is half the fun!

I was lucky enough to be gifted this cute gnome and knew I wanted to create a woodland scene for him. 

I don't think these winter trees are still available from Hero Arts, which is a pity as I really enjoy using this stamp. The gifts are from another Hero Arts background stamp; again I'm not sure this one is available either, but I found something similar in their store. I printed the 'sentiment' on my PC. Always love a bit of humour.

Stay safe, Peeps. 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #173 - P is for Penguin

It's time for a brand new challenge over at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and to be honest this one has proved a little tricky as it was all about P is for Penguin.

I couldn't summon any snark because, well, PENGUINS, so I went with funny and cute instead! 

Meet Pablo, who's all in a 'flap' about penguin wings!

He was a freebie with Making Cards Magazine and I always enjoy inking him up as he's such a cutie.

As always the cards on show from the sistahs are brilliant, so please come take a look and play along.

The Library Challenge #72 - Christmas Shopaholic

 Hi there, I hope that everyone is keeping safe and well out there in Blogland.

I'm delighted to have made time to play along in Marina's latest Challenge which is inspired by the cover of Sophie Kinsella's book Christmas Shopaholic. 

I was lucky enough to be gifted these two shoppers by a blogging buddy (thank you!) and knew they'd be perfect for this card. I Googled and then printed a London skyline, and the card came together very quickly and easily.

There are already some fun cards in the gallery over at The Library Challenge, so why not drop by and take a look!

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #42 - Use a Christmas Embossing Folder and a Stamp

There's double the fun on offer over at Christmas Kickstart as we join forces with Let's Squash It! That's right, because there's only one thing better than ONE Embossing Folder challenge: TWO embossing folder challenges!

The lovely Gail is our elf for this challenge and it just so happens that we've recently partnered up to start a new challenge blog where we celebrate the embossing folder in all it's craftin' glory! If you're not familiar with our new venture you can take a look here.

Our theme Challenge #42 is:

Use an Christmas Embossing Folder and a Stamp

And here's what I made:

I LOVE this Crafter's Companion embossing folder (Nordic Christmas Reindeer Parade) so much! I used some lovely, soft Bazzil Basics card to emboss the image and then swiped a gold Versacube across it. The centre panel features a very old Technique Tuesday sentiment plus an unnamed holly die and some red gems. This looks great IRL, but hasn't photographed well.

Here's my second make for the challenge:

This was such a quick and simple card to make. I stamped the sentiment and then embossed. The robins were added after the embossing from Papermania/Docrafts set Noel - which seems to be unavailable except on eBay. The folder is an oldie from CuttleBug called Christmas Snowflakes.

This challenge will run at Christmas Kickstart until Monday 23rd November, but will continue until the end of the month over at Let's Squash It! There will be winners and prizes on both blogs, so please link up on each to double your chances of winning! The rules are slightly different on each blog, so please don't forget to check them before you sign up.

Hope you'll come and join the fun!

25 Days of Christmas Tags!

 

I'm so happy to have finally found time to play along with Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags. This has become one of the key blogging events of the year and Tracey, and everyone involved, works really hard to make it 25 days of fun and inspiration!

I was especially inspired by Day #4 where Tracey and the team joined up with the Newton's Nook gang, so I broke out a very old set called Winter Tails to play along.  It doesn't look as if this set is available any longer, which is a pity as it's so cute.

It's Day #9 of the 25, so there's still plenty of time to play along!

October 2020 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 

Another new month and another fabulous reveal over at The Card Chain Challenge.

We had a sweet sketch and some lovely, Autumnal colours to play with for this challenge.

Theme Options:  Food / Spooky / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Foil / Iris Folding

I sent my card to Dee in Kenya...

and was delighted receive this beautiful celebration of the season from Suzanne in Pennsylvania.

Want to play along in the November Challenge? There's still a few days to join the chain!