Crimbo Crackers Challenge 153 - Anything Goes

It's time for a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme as always is

Anything Goes

This is a Christmas / Festive only challenge.  I've made two cute treat gift boxes with a Sizzix box die - I bought a pack of A4 kraft card from ebay a while ago - its not top quality but good enough for gift boxes as its got a slight mottled pattern on it.  But its fine for what I needed!

The red discs are very glittery gift tags (I buy a lot of Christmas things in the sales that I know I can use on cards!)  And the reindeer die cuts I bought a long long time ago on ebay - I've layered them up by adding the eyes behind and colouring the antlers and ears.  I've added the glittery pom poms from my stash.

The red twine is also a previous Christmas bargain buy and I've used a Sizzix tag die to write a sentiment on.  Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

Christmas At Sweet Stampin':  Anything Goes
Watercooler Wednesday:  Christmas  WATERCOOLER ROCKER
A Snowflakes Promise:  Anything Goes
Christmas with the Cuties:  Anything Goes

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 142 - Reindeer

It's time for a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Reindeer

I've used a fairly large felt tree decoration (snipped the ribbon off that was stitched into his neck and hid it with the organza ribbon and the handwritten Sizzix tag)  The papers are Papermania - A Wonderful Christmas Time 6x6 stack and I've used beading wire from my stash (wrapped it around a pen to get the curls) along with ribbons and buttons too.

Good luck with the challenge.  I'd like to enter the following:

A Snowflakes Promise:  Anything Goes
The Holly and the Ivy:  Anything Goes
Christmas With The Cuties:  Christmas Animals
The Crazy Challenge:  Add An Animal

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 118 - Die Cuts

There is a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Die Cuts

I bought a some of these felt reindeer Christmas tree decorations a few years ago and they originally had a ribbon loop attached but I've carefully snipped that off so I could use it on a card.

The papers are Docrafts Glad Tidings 6x6 and I've distressed the edges, added some half pearls plus some cotton ribbon, button and waxed cord from my stash.  The die cuts are a mixture - the words are Clearly Besotted and the ampersand is from Tim Holtz.  I've added glossy accents to the top to give it a bit of a shine.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

Aud Sentiments:  Vintage and a Sentiment
CRAFT:  Christmas
Crafty Ribbons:  Ribbon or Lace
ABC Challenge:  R is for Red, Ribbon and Reindeer  TOP FIVE

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 101 - Die Cuts

There is a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Die Cuts

I found some of the cute reindeer die cuts in my stash which I know I've had for probably 8 or 10 years (I know, and I also remembered where I bought them from!) from Patch Corner Crafts and I've just coloured the antlers, ears and added the eyes plus a little pom pom nose.  The little bells and embroidery thread are from my stash.

The reindeer names die cut is Sizzix and I really like how they've turned out when layered onto coloured card before adding to the card blank.  I've added half pearls to the dots on the i's and glitter glue border around the edge.

Surprisingly quick and easy to make!  Good luck with the Crimbo Crackers challenge - more details and how to enter are on the blog!

I'd like to enter the following:

Aud Sentiments:  Cure and a Sentiment
Sassy Studios Designs:  Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude:  Anything Goes
Crafty Girls:  Anything Goes
Fab n Funky:  Christmas
Mod Squad:  Animal Fun

Using Scraps!

I am slowly working my way through a rather large shoe box that is full of digi paper scraps - some bits are quite large and some are tiny scraps, but all need to be used!

It's been a while since I entered a Pattie's Creation challenge and the current one is:

Animals or Insects

And you know me - as soon as I saw the word animal I knew I had a Christmas related Pattie's Creation image! I don't think this cute reindeer is available at the moment - have a look in the store here, but I've coloured it with Promarkers and added some glitter glue to the scarf and hat and glossy accents to his nose.

Both papers are from the new Christmas cds from Polkadoodles - Magical Winter and I've used a heart punch to create the scalloped edge.

I had just enough of the papers left over to make another but swopped the colours over. The stamps are from a 99p acrylic Studio G stamp set and the elastic 'ribbon' was on a gift box that my Mum got a while ago -waste not, want not! I've followed the Creative Corner sketch for inspiration.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss: Cute and Cuddly

• Papers: Magical Winter cd from Polkadoodles
• Image: Pattie's Creations, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Sentiments: Studio G acrylic stamp set
• Everything else: My stash
  

Santa and Rudolph

I've found a new challenge blog - well, new to me anyway called Bah Humbug, and the current challenge is

Rudolph / Reindeer

I've used this Lee Jacobs image bought from here, which I've coloured with Promarkers plus some glitter glue.


The papers are Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho 8x8 paper stack and I've simply inked the edges, layered the image with pale brown card and ruby red card and then added an organza ribbon and bow. It's one of those images that I've had coloured in ready for an appropriate challenge. I try and get ahead of myself by having colouring session as then it feels like the actual cards come together a lot quicker!

• Backing paper: Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho 8x8 paper stack
• Image: Lee Jacobs, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Everything else: My stash
  

Reindeer

The challenge set this week by Passion For Promarkers is a theme and it is:

Animals

I've used this cute Stamping Boutique image which I got as part of the Special 50/50 stamping group. I've coloured it with Promarkers and layered it onto red and green base card.


The printed backing paper is from an 8x8 stack from Dovecraft - Ho Ho Ho - that I've had a number of years and I'm not sure if I like it or not so it doesn't get used too often! The organza ribbon is from my stash and it actually matches the dark green layer perfectly! The jump ring and bell are also from my stash.

I'm slowly beginning to make a dent in all the Christmas cards that I need to make for the events I have coming up from late September onwards. In my opinion, you can never have enough Christmas cards anyway!

• Backing paper: Dovecraft 8x8 Ho Ho Ho paperstack
  
• Image: Stamping Boutique, coloured with Promarkers
  
• Everything else: My stash
  

Almost Wrong Way Up

Now, I have a confession to make. I'd bought a pack of two of the felt reindeer you see below and I thought it looked a little strange and couldn't work out why. But didn't really think anything of it. I glued the button eye on and added the bell to a jump ring and tied it around his neck.

I'd cut and inked the squares of paper from 'A Wonderful Christmas Time' 6x6 pad from Papermania (wisely using up some scraps).

And then I turned the reindeer over to glue it before adding it to the card and I then realised I'd had it the wrong way up! I'd been looking at the antlers thinking they were his 4 legs!!

I did have a giggle when I realised!

Anyway, I've made this for the ABC Christmas challenge which currently is:

B for Bells

And the added twist of a bit of glitter. Which, I've just about added down the sides of the red paper. And yes, that is the paper curling over as I added too much!

• Backing papers: A Wonderful Christmas Time 6x6 pad from Papermania
• Reindeer: Parcel decoration from Tescos
• Bells, Buttons and Glitter glue: My stash
  
  

Rudolph's Got A Bright New Bell!

And just as I thought that I'd finished making Christmas cards for the time being (I aim to try and make some throughout 2010 as I did this year - and the result? Not stressed! Yeah!) I saw this cute felt tree decoration (or at least it was before I snipped the cord off) from Sainsbury's and it was half price too!

So, it stayed on my craft / dining table until I saw Rosie Dee's current challenge which is:

Rudolph's Got A Bright New Bell!

So how could I resist?! And this was one quick card to make too! Backing paper is a trimmed 6 x 6 sheet from A Wonderful Christmas Time pack from Papermania, edges inked with chestnut Whispers ink and a touch of green on the corners. Rudolph came with the bell attached and I've added the silver stars (the one on the antlers hides the string hole which looked a bit macabre!)

The ribbon is from my stash and I've tied a double legged bow for a bit of fancy.

And there you go! I bought another reindeer too, so I could possibly make another one the same!

• Backing papers: A Wonderful Christmas Time 6x6 paper pack from Papermania
• Felt Reindeer: Sainsbury's tree decoration
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

Simple

Now this is going to be a really simple card based upon the current Card Positioning sketch below! I've used a 6 x 4 card blank, rounded the edges after adding the vintage feel backing paper (downloaded from Mad About Cards) and also inked them with Whispers Chestnut ink then added liquid pearls to the larger snowflake centres.

The slightly burgundy organza ribbon I found in my stash (I think I have just about everything in my ribbon bag and box!) then added a smaller panel cut from the same paper and then the little wooden reindeer.

The reindeer is from a pack of 10 for £1 at Tesco's - what a find eh?! I had to carefully trim the hanging string but you'd never know! And such a quick and easy card to make and one that I enjoyed as its not at all fussy and I think could just be one of the mass ones that I need to do!!

• Backing papers: Vintage Christmas download collection from Mad About Cards
• Ink: Whispers Chestnut
• Ribbon: My stash
• Embellishment: Tesco's
  

I Had To Flip It

This card almost never actually happened. Firstly, I printed off the image and wasn't able to cut it out as a circle. So printed it out again. And Samuel coloured in the 'wrong one'. I then faffed about for 3 nights trying to find the right papers. And then found these in my stash that the lovely Jozza gave me the first time we met up (yonks ago) and they have been lurking there ever since. So thanks Jozza!


And then I stuck the stripy bit on the wrong side of the card and the wording was all in the wrong direction, so I had to flip the sketch to make it work.

Anyway, it's for the Pollycraft challenge which is a sketch this fortnight. And I now realise that I am missing a sentiment. Ah well. Ah, but then again - the 'let it snow' bit can be it! Yeah!

I've coloured the Pollycraft image with watercolour pencils and a bit of chalking around the edges. The papers are Dovecraft 'Naughty But Nice' 6 x 6 papers, the ribbon is new to my stash (I bought 3 lovely DIY boxes from ebay to put the 3 acrylic Wedding albums in, and they just happen to come with a big piece of brown organza ribbon. Needless to say, one of the boxes doesn't have it any more but a nice orange ribbon to match the album colour scheme!)

The button (it is underneath) is from my stash and the confetti snowflakes have put in another showing.

So there you go. A bit long winded but it's been one of those weeks!

• Papers: Dovecraft 'Naughty But Nice' 6 x 6 papers from Jozza
• Image: Pollycraft, coloured with watercolour pencils
• Everything else: My stash
  

Reindeer With A Fold Flat Nose!

The Lili of the Valley challenge currently is to make:

A Christmas Card for a Child

I've drawn inspiration from last months Papercraft Inspirations magazine but used my own templates to make this reindeer complete with fold flat nose! I've used shiny red card and white card from my stash - the reindeer is cut from Bazzill basics paper and has been inked and chalked.

The white card has been run through the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder and then the edges have been inked. The reindeer's nose is made from circles of thick red vellum which I've folded and glued on the fold so it will go flat in an envelope. The bell is from my stash.

This was quite quick and easy to make, so I think I'll be making more for my Christmas box!

• Reindeer papers: Bazzill Basics
• Other papers: From my stash
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• Everything else: My stash
  

Jingle Jangle (again!)

The Pink Elephant Challenge this week is:

Brown, Turquoise and Neutral

And strangely enough, the challenge is very similar to the Cupcake challenge, so I used the same papers!

This time, I embossed the chocolate brown backing paper (if you look closely it actually has a doodle loopy swirl on it) with a Christmas snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder and then gently pressed a silver inkpad over the pattern. Also inked all the edges with silver. All the ribbon is from my stash, and if you look closely enough, the neutral element is some white ribbon in the centre (sorry the light wasn't that good early this morning!) and just in case, I've added a silver gem star too!

And obligatory glitter on the reindeer (cos its a Christmas card!) The cd will be available to buy shortly - if you can't wait either tune in to Create and Craft on Monday at 9am where Nikky will be demonstrating the cd live on telly (have a look for my cards!) or you can pre order it directly from Polkadoodles. If you can't wait that long, just keep visiting my blog and looking at the cards!

• All paper based elements: Jingle Jangle cd from Polkadoodles
• Embossing: Snowflakes folder from Cuttlebug
• Everything else: My stash
  
  
  

Jingle Jangle!

The Cupcake challenge this week is the following sketch plus to use the colour palette shown:


I've been having a play over the last day or so with the soon to be released Christmas cd Jingle Jangle from Polkadoodles, and by chance, I found just the colour palette! So not wanting to pass a challenge by, here is my card!

All the papers, including the tag are from the cd - I've added a little bit of faux stitching around the edge of the chocolate coloured card, inked the edges of all the papers, either with chestnut whispers or silver ink.

The brown organza ribbon is from my stash and I've prettied it up at the front by tying strips together and making it look a bit like a grubby snowflake! I've also added a silver gem to the front of the round tag topper.

And you've not seen the last of this colour palette either - so be warned! The cd is available to pre-order and its launch will be on Monday at 9am on Create and Craft - more details in my sidebar.

• All paperbased elements: Jingle Jangle cd by Polkadoodles
• Ribbon and gem: From my stash
  
  

Stamp Something Challenge - Embellish!

Right back to the Christmas theme! The Stamp Something challenge this week is:

...embellish something.

It can be a card, a scrapbook page or something you altered; anything goes as long as it has a little something extra on it. (or a lot of something extra!)

I've gone for the understated 'little something extra'! Apologies for the poor quality picture but the days are getting shorter and I'm at work during daylight hours so have to resort to using flash in the evening. Anyway, I've had the reindeer die cuts for a while and they've been lying around just waiting for me to do something with them!

The backing panel is left over from the other day and is from It's Funky Too cd. The edges have been lightly inked (only because the ink pad is loosing momentum!) and also the sentiment which has been stamped in gold ink and is part of Anita's Cute & Cuddly stamp set (the little robin is from the same set but he's sad and not very cuddly!)

I've used chalks on the reindeer to give some definition as it was a bit flat to start with and the lights have been cut from shiny red card and attached with fine gold wire. The nose is a tiny red sparkly pom pom.

• Backing paper: It's Funky Too from Funky Hand
• Die Cut: From my stash, embellished with chalks
• Sentiment: From Anita's Cute & Cuddly Christmas Stamp set
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Die: Lights die from Quickutz
• Other Bits: All from my stash