Dear Santa... Define Good

This is an image I found in my box that I must have coloured last year (or the year before!)  Bugaboo images always make me smile - and this one is no exception!  I've coloured it with Promarkers and added some stickles to her hat.

Papers are Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas and they are leftovers from a pile of cards I made two years ago and have had to make a join as I didn't have an offcut big enough!  Ribbon and gems are all from my stash and the mini lights were rescued from a previous project that I decided I didn't like anymore and not wanting to waste them, I removed them!

I'd lie to enter the following challenges:

Catch The Bug:  Favourite Christmas Song  - Santa Clause is Comin' To Town (he's making a list, he's checkin' it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice....)
Sketch and Stash:  Sketch followed
365 Day Cards:  Day 351 - Recycled
Digi Haven:  Red and Green
A Little Bit Crafty:  Christmas Cheer

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 41 - Kids

I'm running a little late this morning with blog posts - I blame the Bank Holiday Monday and thinking I'm on Wednesday when it is actually Thursday!

Anyway, time for a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Kids

I've used a cute decoupage image from La Pashe which I bought as a kit - I got lots of the sheets for a bargain price but they are no longer available.  Thre are quite a few layers to the image and really quite easy to cut out - great for watching telly at night!

The papers are from Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas and are leftover strips from making a large batch of Christmas cards the year before last - if you look closely you can just about see the join!

I've added some Christmas green ribbon that I found in my stash along with some jingle bells.  So a nice and quick card to make and I have plenty more sheets to go at too!

Good luck with the challenge - there are not many rules but one is that it has to be Christmas or Festive related!

I'd like to enter the following:

Crafting By Design:  Remembering Your Childhood

Simon Says Stamp:  Things With Wings

Cutie Pie Challenge:  Lots of Layers

Make My Monday:  Anything That Flies

Image:  La Pashe decoupage

Papers:  Echo Park, All I Want For Christmas

Everything else:  My stash

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 32 - Decoupage

It's time for the first Crimbo Crackers challenge of 2013! The theme for the fortnight is:

Decoupage

I've used a rather cute image from La Pashe - I bought the complete set of Tinsel Tots some time ago and although the full set is no longer available, the individual sheets are and you can make two cards from one sheet - and all that for 59p!  This one is called Ho Ho Ho and I've used the main image and then added all the various layers using foam pads for depth.

I've layered the image and papers onto some red card I found in my stash and the patterned paper is cleverly joined offcuts from Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas - I hate to throw any bits away and know that one day it can be used for something! The ribbon is not actually ribbon but some sort of industrial trim as it came from the Scrap Store.

Good luck with the challenge - for more details, pop over to Crimbo Crackers!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  Anything Goes
Use It Tuesday:  Anything Goes (scrap papers from 2011 Christmas cards and decoupage images I bought in the summer and have only just used!)
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop:  Christmas
Songbird Challenges:  Christmas
Cutie Pie Challenge:  Cute Christmas

Image:  La Pashe decoupage Ho Ho Ho sheet
Papers:  Echo Park, All I Want For Christmas
Everything else:  My stash

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 10 - Female

Time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme this fortnight is:

Female

It does have to be Christmas or Festive related - after all, it is a Christmas Challenge! For more details and how to enter, pop over to the challenge blog.

This fortnight I am so pleased to be sponsored by Bugaboo - I am already a big fan of the images and I got one to play with!I've used Stella Calendar Months - December and coloured her with Promarkers and glitter glue (for some reason I like her with blue sparkly hair!) All the papers are Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas plus a bit of faux stitching, some red ribbon from my stash and a silver wooden snowflake that I've had for ages in my stash - the box is slowly going down and I knew I should have bought more when I saw them in Matalan!

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday: Sketch followed
Crazy Amigo: Comic Character
Creative Card Crew: Humour
Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash: Sentiment and Bugaboo Image

• Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Papers: Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas
• Everything else: My stash
  

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 9 - Make Me Laugh

It's time for challenge 9 at Crimbo Crackers and its sponsored this fortnight by Dude Time Doodles who are offering the challenge winner a $10 gift certificate to spend in the store!

The challenge theme this fortnight is:

Make Me Laugh

So as long as it is Christmas related then it can be entered! I've used Kris Jingle from Dude Time Doodles and coloured him with Promarkers plus a little glitter glue on his hat. I've used off cuts of paper from a previous project (some careful pattern matching!) which is Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas paper pack.

I've added a string of tiny fairy lights which I've had in my stash for ages and the sentiment is a Studio G acrylic stamp. A bit of faux stitching and my card is complete!

Good luck with the challenge and don't forget the rules!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Card Positioning Systems: 5th Anniversary - Day 3
Gingersnap Creations: Faux Technique (stitching)
The House That Stamps Built: Use Leftover Scraps
Creative Card Crew: Masculine

• Image: Dude Time Doodles
• Papers: Echo Park, All I Want For Christmas
• Sentiment: Studio G
• Everything else: My stash
  

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 7 - For A Child

It's time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge - up to number 7 already! I like nice and easy challenges so the theme for this fortnight is:

For A Child

Any type of project can be entered as long as your creation is Christmas or Festive related.

I'm sponsored by the very wonderful Jellypark and Claire is offering the challenge winner two digi's of their choice - thank you so much Claire!

I've used a rather Cute Christmas Fairy image that is not available in the store but you can snag it for free if you are a member of the Jellypark group on The Crafters Cafe! She's been coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue.

Papers are Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas and it uses up scraps from previous projects. The ribbon is recycled - it was around some card blanks that I've had for ages.

Good luck with the challenge - for more details please see Crimbo Crackers!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge: A is for Anything Goes
Flutterby Wednesday: Open Challenge
Celebrate the Occasion: Polka Dots
Clear It Out: Cold Outside and Use Up Your Scraps
Sassy Cheryl: Bright and Breezy To Chase The Winter Grey Away!

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Papers: Echo Park, All I Want for Christmas
• Everything else: My stash
  

Confused Santa

I think Santa is looking a little confused! Fab pre coloured digi image by Lee Jacobs and bought from here - all I've done is resized it and cut it out (plus added some glitter!)

The papers are offcuts and are from Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas digi pack. The red ribbon is from my stash and the tiny brads are fake - black Sharpie marker with glossy accents over the top! I had to join two pieces of the backing paper together as I only had strips left that were not wide enough - I think I've done it well enough so you can't see the join!

A bit of inking around the edges plus some faux stitching and the card is complete!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Seems A Little Sketchy: Sketch followed
Paper Makeup Stamps: Colour Combo
Karens Doodles: Spots and Stripes
My Time Made Easy: Colour Palette
Crazy 4 Challenges: It's Santa!

• Image: Lee Jacobs, bought from here
• Papers: Echo Park digi pack - All I Want For Christmas
• Everything else: My stash

Gingerbread

Although I've finished all my Christmas cards (not that they are written yet!) I couldn't resist this freebie image from Bows n Berries. I've coloured it with Promarkers and used the sketch from Seems A Little Sketchy with papers from an Echo Park digi pack - All I Want For Christmas. Added some faux stitching around the edges and some embroidery thread that actually matches the green in the papers.


The snowflake is a Sizzix die and because I was not concentrating, I accidentally snipped the fluffy bit off the gingerbread mans hat so he has a tiny pom pom instead!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Bows n Berries: Use Freebie and Blog Hop
Seems A Little Sketchy: Sketch followed
Hotshot Craft: Use Promarkers
Card Makin' Mama's: Christmas

• Image: Bows n Berries Freebie, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Papers: Echo Park: All I Want For Christmas
• Dies: Sizzix snowflake
• Everything else: My stash
  

Meet Me Under The Mistletoe

Here is the first of two new releases this weekend at Jellypark and isn't this a fab digi stamp? You can find it here in the store. I've coloured it with Promarkers plus a little inking around the edges.


All the papers are from the fab digi pack from Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas which again have been inked a little.

The snowflake is a Sizzix die and I've added some glitter glue to it. Sentiment is computer generated and the twisted embroidery thread is from my stash.

The second new release I'll blog tomorrow!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch and Stash: Sketch followed
Cupcake Craft Room: Christmas Traditions
Charisma Cardz: Spots
Sisterhood of Crafters: Polkadots

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas digi papers
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Dies: Sizzix Snowflake
• Everything else: My stash

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 4 - Midway Extra

Welcome to the midway extra for our fourth Fetch A Sketch challenge! Jenny is this fortnight's hostess with a rather wonderful sketch for you to work with. The winner from challenge three has been announced on the challenge blog so pop over to see you if you were the lucky entrant!

Our sponsor for this challenge is Dude Time Doodles and the prize for one lucky entrant is a $10 gift certificate to the store - Bonibleaux Designs. Always perfect for the pesky men but be warned - there are some very must have images in the store!

And the sketch that we have for you to follow is:

Remember, you can flip it, rotate it, add your sentiment and extra embellishments where ever you like, but as long as we can recognise the sketch then we are happy bunnies! You can also use what ever products you like.

For my sample card I've used The Blame Game digi stamp from Dude Time Doodles, coloured it with Promarkers. All the papers are from Funky Hand - All I Want for Xmas download and I've added some faux stitching here and there. The side panels have been cut with my largest Nestie and the sentiment is computer generated.


The five tiny (didn't quite realise just how tiny they were!) are from my stash.

The closing date is 12noon on Sunday 28 August and for more details and how to enter, please pop over to the challenge blog. Good luck!

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Christmas Card Challenges: Cheer (as in humour)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: Keep it Simple
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday: Animals
Stampin' For The Weekend: Spots and Dots
Heart Song Inspirations: Animals

• Image: The Blame Game from Dude Time Doodles
• Papers: All I Want for Xmas download from Funky Hand
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
  
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Everything else: My stash
  

Retro Christmas #2

Following on with the scraps of card that I used in my last Christmas card (I feel like I'm on a roll here!) which were from All I Want For Xmas download from Funky Hand, I've used the sketch from Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge for inspiration.


I've added a brad to hold the twine in place with the little bell on the end. I've added a dotted fine black line around the edge of the card and sentiment tile too. The inner edge of the sentiment - also from the download collection - has got a gold stickles dotted line for a bit of bling. Everything else has a running stitch around it.


The card also qualifies for:

Bah Humbug challenge: which asks for Jingle Bells
Card Makin' Mama's: Use Your Scraps
Stamp Something: Use a Sentiment

• All papers and sentiment: All I Want For Xmas download from Funky Hand


• Everything else: My stash
  

Retro Christmas

In an attempt to use up some of the scraps I already have lying around (well, actually they are in clear folders labelled with the collection / download name...!!) I've made this card for the Jingle Belles challenge which is:

Use Three Different Patterned Papers

You can just see the third paper inside the aperture - on the left and right. I've used papers from Funky Hand - All I Want For Xmas download including the sentiment.

I've inked edges and added a faux running stitch line around the red spotty card. The aperture has been cut with a Nesties die. The red suede ribbon came from a fancy gift tag that I've recycled - would seem rude not to as it was too lovely to throw away!

The card also qualifies for the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: Use Ribbon
Card Makin' Mama's: Use Your Scraps
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: Die Cuts
Stamp Something: Use a Sentiment

• Papers and Sentiment: All I Want For Christmas Download from Funky Hand
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Suede Ribbon: My stash
  

I Forgot....

Is it typical that a card maker forgets Birthdays, or is it just me?! I coloured this stamp - from the Our Betty Birthday set from Funky Hand - a while ago so it was just sitting around waiting to be used. I had a sneaky feeling that I'd missed one of my friends Birthdays so this one will be sent to her on Monday seeing as she remembered mine!

My fellow Funkette Jenny has taken the brave step of offering a little candy in return for creating a card to her layout (below). Not one to miss out on a sketch, here is my card!


The stamp and sentiment are from the Our Betty collection and I've coloured it with Promarkers. The spotty paper is from All I Want for Xmas download, again from Funky Hand and I've used my Nesties to do the shaping.

Ribbon, button, thread and eyelet all from my stash. If you fancy entering, click here to go to her blog and have a look at her lovely cards too they always make me smile!

I'm feeling rather relaxed and chilled - I've got the house to myself as the boys are at Karate and not due back for almost an hour - the patio door is open, the sun is shining and has been all day and I've got the new Elbow cd playing on the computer. Rather loud too. But who cares?! And the cd is rather fab!

• Image, sentiment and backing paper: All Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  

I'm In Simply Cards and Papercrafts!

Who-hoooo! My first time being published (in a magazine) and its a good job the pic of me is tiny as it is a very terrible one!

It's the current issue (77) of Simply Cards and Papercraft and I'm in the free Best of British booklet that comes with the magazine. Anice gave me the opportunity to write a little tutorial and to submit a card using the Funky Hand All I Want For Xmas download, and there it is in all it's glory!!

All I Want For Christmas

A brand new Christmas download has been released by Anice at Funky Hand called All I Want For Christmas. And it is a fab download too! With both traditional and contemporary papers, digital stamps and plenty of spots and stripes it is a great addition to Christmas crafting!

I've made this card with the traditional papers and have punched holes in the centre of the two papers and threaded them together. All the papers including digital stamp are from the collection.

Click here to go direct to the Funky Hand website to get the download!

I have made another card but can't show it to you yet - not telling why - you'll find out mid October!!

I've got other projects ongoing with this download so watch out for them over the coming weeks!