ABC Christmas Challenge - W & X are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Fabiola is the host, and the themes are:

'W is for Watercolour'

&

'X is for Xylophone'

(Photo Inspiration!)

The prize for the lucky winner is this gift certificate:

For my 'W is for Watercolour' card, I used stamps from a Woodware set called 'Sketchy Pure Branch'. I inked the two branch stamps using three shades of green Distress Inks (Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles & Forest Moss), spritzed then with a little water, then stamped each several times on to watercolour paper, inking again each time before stamping. I then spritzed it all with some more water, and allowed the inks to bleed into each other to create a watercolour effect. Once dry, I mixed gold and red Cosmic Shimmers mica pigments with water, then splattered those over the branches, and added a die cut sentiment...cut from a snippet of gold mirror card using a Creative Expressions die. I matted the watercolour panel on to some more gold mirror card...distresssing the edges a little before adding it to a card blank.

For my 'X is for Xylophone card, I took inspiration from the bear shape, and picked a Little of the Valley stamp called 'James the Bear - Little Star'. I stamped him on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. For the background, I took inspiration from the multicoloured bars on the glockenspiel, and picked a piece of watercolour effect paper from the 'Pastel Watercolours' pad from The Works. I embossed it using the 'Jolly Christmas' embossing folder by Couture Creations, then matted it on to a snippet of black card before adding it to a card blank. I stamped a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous) on to a teeny snippet of black card using white pigment ink, then added that and James the Bear on to the background using 3D foam pads.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Christmas' - First card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Glitter and/or Christmas & a Sentiment (First card only)
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Incy Wincy - Anything Goes (Optional 'Christmas Card with Handmade Background' - Second card only)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (Second card only)
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Christmas' - First card only)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Pups with Present

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Pups with Present'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over the top of a snippet of snowflake covered paper from the 'Frost & Snow' pad by Craft Creations, and added a sentiment from the 'Scribby Christmas' sey by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• My Time to Craft - Does and/or Cats
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make It Cute
• Simply Create Too - Use Stamps

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Fabiola is the host, and the themes are:

'S is for Snowmen'

&

'T is for Three of a Kind'

There's a surprise package on offer for the lucky winner!

For my 'S is for Snowmen' card, I inked up an old Lili of the Valley satmp called simply 'Snowman', stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I used a piece of snowflake covered paper from the 'Frost & Snow' pad by Craft Creations for the background...distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, and matted the layers on to aqua card. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• As You Like It - Autumn or Winter (Winter for me - I love a cold, crisp winter day...and Christmas!) 
• Christmas Kickstart - Snowmen
• Christmas with the Cuties - Something Snowy
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Build me a Snowman
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

For my 'T is for Three of a Kind' card, I picked a Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Brightest Xmas'...stamping it on to a white card blank. I added a sentiment from the 'Wintertime Messages' set by Hero Arts, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Wings and/or Scales
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act 
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

PBSC December - Anything Goes (Optional 'Christmas')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or

'Christmas'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used a Penny Black snowman stamp that was a charity shop find...he's called 'Sweet Snowman', and I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired him with papers from the 'Frost & Snow' pad by Craft Creations and 'Glittering Snowflakes' collection by Crafter's Companion. I distressed the edges a little, then matted the layers on to navy blue card.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Non-traditional Christmas Colours')
• Dream Valley - Lots of Layers
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Freezing Cold
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Golden Holly Spray

I received some lovely new crafty goodies for my birthday yesterday...and today I found time to have a play. This card features a new Woodware stamp called 'Holly Spray'. I stamped it on to kraft card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder. I added a doodled border using a gold gel pen, then matted it on to a layer of gold glitter card, and a sentiment cut from more glitter card, before adding it to a kraft card blank. 

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Embossing
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Heat Embossing
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Leaves

Favourite Five Christmas Cards 2018

It seems to have become the Christmas Eve tradition in craft blogland to share our favourite five Christmas cards of the year, so that's what I'm going to do today. According to the Christmas card tracker in my sidebar, I made 99 Christmas cards this year...and I've just a had a look back through them all, and these are my favourites:

Polar Pals
This was the first Christmas card of 2018...blogged on New Year's Day! I made a few cards with a similar design...cute image, inky background, snowy sky...but picked this one for it's embossed falling snow.

Inky Snowflakes
This one is from February, along with my next pick, features a set of beautiful snowflake stamps by Stampenous and Distress Inks. This one has a 'smooshed' background with embossing over the top...and is in my favourite colour.

Watercolour Snowflakes

I'm skipping to October for my next choice...although these cards use similar supplies to the last one, I added the colour in a loose watercolour-y way over the top of the snowflakes for a more delicate effect.

Furry Christmas
My penultimate choice is from November, and although similar in layout to my first pick, uses a different technique...and features yet more snow!

Skating Critters
My final choice is from this month, and features my favourite Penny Black critters...well you knew I had to have a Penny Black in my favourites!

For full details of any of the cards, please click the photos.

One more thing before I go...I always share a picture of my Christmas cake on Christmas Eve too...so here it is:

Really simple, but with glittery sparkly snow.

Have a lovely Christmas everyone!

PBSC December - Anything Goes (Optional 'Winter or Christmas')...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so I'm back with some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or
'Winter or Christmas'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used the optional WInter/Christmas theme to make a card for my Mum to give to her Mum. I combined three skating images 'Skating Snowy'. 'Ice Dance Dog' and a cute little hedgie from the 'Cristmas Critters' set'...I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I made a scene using a piece of snowy paper from the 'Frost & Snow' pad by Craft Creations, some torn white card, and a few die cut trees (cut using Happy Little Stampers dies). The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment stamp is from the 'Merriest Wishes' set by Hero Arts, and I used my Paper Smooches 'Graffiti Alphabet' set for the personalisation.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Creative Knockouts - Winter Wonderland
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes with Dies
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Warm Winter Wishes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Create a Winter Scene

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

New Home

My parents moved house yesterday...and this is the card I made for them...I know they received it today, so it's safe to show it on here. I used stamps from the 'Family Home' set by Stampendous...stamping the houses on to snippets of patterned papers (from the 'Paper Hearts' pad by Crate Paper). I carefully cut them out, then added them to a scene made using more papers from the same pad (and one from the 'Frost & Snow' pad by Craft Creations for the sky). I distressed the edges of all of the papers, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment was made using stamps from the 'Graffiti' Alphabet set by Paper Smooches.

Challenges for this card:

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Or 'On the Move')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or
'On the Move'

(Feature some form of transport)

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with a tractor as my mode of transport...and used a cute puppy stamp from the 'Wintertime Cheer' set. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I used dies from the Taylored Expressions 'Mountain Tops' and Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside Borders' sets to make a wintry scene for him to ride through, adding a couple of trees using Happy Little Stampers dies. The snowy sky is a paper from the 'Frost & Snow' pad by Craft Creations', and the sentiment is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• As You Like It - Fur or Feathers (definitely fur, especially of the cute Penny Black kind...I have a phobia of birds...well anything that flies really...although I don't mind them in stamp form)
• CCEE Stampers - Colouring
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Merry Christmas - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Henry Mouse Skiing

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring an 'oldie but a goodie' from Whiff of Joy called 'Henry Mouse Skiing', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are form the 'Frost and Snow' pad by Crafty Creations. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and  black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Artistic Stamper - Colour it Blue
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes (Optional Winter Fun)
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Masculine
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Holidays (Christmas)
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Joy to the World

I have another simple Christmas card to share today featuring another stamp from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the snowy ground using Stickles. The papers are from the 'Frost & Snow' pack by Craft Creations...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Animal Friends - Christmas
• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Inky Chicks - Animals
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• One Crazy Stamper - Christmas or Winter
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - New Beginnings

We have a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today...the theme is:

'New Beginnings'

Our lovely Francesca is providing the prize...I don't have a photo yet, so will add it later

 I'm celebrating the beginning of the 'New Year' by showing you another one of the calendars I decorated for a Christmas gift...it's become a kind of tradition that I make a few of these for Christmas gifts (you can see the one I made for my Mum here).I get the blank calendars from the Paper Mill Shop (if you fancy making one of these for yourself...they're now half price):

I used all Penny Black stamps...but the papers are a real mixture (American Crafts, BasicGrey, Crate Paper, First Edition, My Mind's Eye, Penny Black, Pink Paislee, CRaft Creations, Raspberry Road & We R Memory Keepers!)...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a gel pen:

I'm also entering this calendat into the following challenges:

• Corrosive - New Beginnings 
• Cut It Up - New Year (I used my Nesties to out most of the images)
• Simply Create Too - Anything Goes
• Totally Papercrafts - New Beginnings

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.