Naughty or Nice Challenge #34 - Reminder

There's late, a little bit late, fashionably late, and very late...

And let's face it, I'm very, very late with this post!

For some unknown reason, I was locked-out from my blog for a few days earlier this week. Everything now seems to be back to normal, so I'm finally able to post my card for the current Naughty or Nice Challenge.

The Troublemakers have created yet more great inspiration cards, so why not drop by and take a look. The current challenge runs until Sunday 25th December.

Creative with Stamps - Challenge #9 - Mid-month Inspiration

It's mid-point in December, so it's time to remind you of our current challenge over at Creative with Stamps and to offer a little more inspiration!

Isn't this little girl by Mo Manning simply adorable? She was so much fun to colour.

I'm loving my teamies creative offerings for this theme and hope that you'll drop by, leave them some love and join our final challenge for this year!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #74 - X is for XXX Xmas

Edna, what are you doing with poor Santa???

It's a triple X-rated challenge over at The Sisterhood this time and, as you can see, Edna's antics are proving to be quite shocking.

My card is a little bit cheeky rather than X-rated but I hope it makes you chuckle!

Check-out my teamies XXX cards if you dare!

November Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Welcome to the grand finale of the 2016 Card Chain Challenge. 

I cannot believe another year has dashed by and that the festive season is upon us once again. I'm convinced someone is stealing time!

Anyhooooo, let's get on with the November Reveal. I sent these happy fish to my long-term blogging buddy, Dawn in New Zealand:

And this cute kitty to the lovely Agata in Switzerland:

My card is still in the mail from my November sender but hopefully isn't too far away!

The Card Chain Challenge traditionally takes a break for December, so I'll take this opportunity to wish Deborah, Gail and all my CCC friends a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2017!

Creative with Stamps Challenge #9 - Use Christmas Stamps

The theme at Creative with Stamps is sweet and simple this month as Lillian and Monika are asking you to use a Christmas stamp or stamps on your card!

My Christmas stamp of choice is this beauty from Impression Obsession. I die cut some black card to size and stamped the image in Versamark. I dusted with gold embossing powder and heat set it. Easy peasy lemon squeazy, as the children say where I work!

For some reason I like to keep my Christmas cards simple and this one is very, very CAS. It looks lovely IRL but sadly, hasn't photographed so well.

Once again, we are fortunate to have sponsors and prizes at CWS so please visit the blog to get all the details and to see the lovely inspiration cards from my teamies.

Naughty or Nice Challenge #34 - A Christmas Carol versus Frozen

We've got a great challenge for you this month over at Naughty or Nice!

The challenge is to make a traditional OR a modern Christmas card and we're leaving the choice of which style, theme or colour combo all up to you!

I broke out an old Birdie Brown digital image for my card; what could be more traditional than Santa? I like to think that this guy is doing a bit of festive disco dancing.

My teamies have created some gorgeous cards for this challenge but we do seem to be a little light on naughtiness this month so if you think you can put that right please head on over and make some trouble!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #73 - U is for UFO

Nope, Edna isn't looking for alien spaceships this month, she's on the lookout for your UnFinished Objects!

Remember this sad and unloved box?

Here it is again in all it's revamped and finished glory!

I slathered on oodles of Gesso and added some papers from an old book and then slathered on yet more Gesso!

I knew I wanted polka dots or big spots so used my Acrylic Paint Dabbers to achieve this.

The stamps are mainly from Pinkfresh. Pinkfresh seem to have an active Blog yet have very few products in their store, so I purchased these sets from Simon Says Stamp and managed to live through the agony of the two week wait as they crossed the North Atlantic!

I meant to take more step-by-step pictures but got so involved in the process that I forgot!

My teamies have created some totally fabulous stuff for this challenge, so please drop by and take a look. 

Creative with Stamps - Challenge #8 Reminder

This month is simply flying by, which seems nicely appropriate given the theme of our current challenge over at Creative with Stamps!

Yes, it's reminder post time at Creative with Stamps and what a lovely post it is too as my teamies have worked their creative magic yet again.

I have to say that I really enjoyed making my simple little card. The bird is from another Katzelkraft set. For me, these sets are a cheaper alternative to the rather pricey Tim Holtz sets. Stamping, colouring, die-cutting and a nice end result! I'm a happy crafter!

We've already had some beautiful cards in the link-up gallery but would love it if you would come join our fun challenge too!

Naughty or Nice Challenge #33 - Reminder

It's reminder time over at Naughty or Nice!

We've had some great entries thus far but we're a greedy bunch and would love it if a few more of you played along with our current challenge which is all about punched shapes, die-cuts and the art of telling it like it is!

My card came together very quickly, which is just as well as I am nursing a really nasty throat infection and feel grotty as heck!

I punched a circle from a post-it note and stuck it to my card. Then I coloured with Distress Inks and removed the post-it to reveal a beautifully circular moon. I stamped the trees with Hero Arts stamp Winter Trees Pattern (love, love, love this stamp) and added the die-cut deer and the Lawn Fawn sentiment.

I finished the card with some layering and oodles of Wink of Stella.

If you are looking for further die-cut inspiration then take a look at this amazing round-up post from the marvelous Mel McCarthy of Mel Stampz. I'm also including this link to another inspirational post, this time by Marilyn over at Kraftin' Kimmie, for anyone who has corner punches and wants to use them to make gorgeous doilies. 

My teamies have made some really lovely cards for this challenge, so please head on over to take a look. This challenge is open until Friday 25th November. 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #72 - Z is for Zentangle

Edna's been hard at work creating a beautiful, Zentangled background for you to marvel at and enjoy!

Yes, crafters, it's time to Tangle over at SoSS!

It's also time for a confession from yours truly... I tired and tried with this challenge but found I was unable to create anything I liked. After wasting several sheets of my best card I decided a different approach was needed and went in search of the free digital image given away with the October edition of the Craft Stamper magazine. 

I printed the image on white cardstock, and then printed it again on design paper, which I'd stamped in a variety of patterns and colours. I used this to paper-piece the image and then added additional colour with my pens. I have to say that I quite like the end result!
My teamies are a talented bunch and you are going to love their creations and how they achieved their perfect patterns.

Wanna tangle with Zentangles? Come join us please...

October Card Chain Challenge Reveal

This post reminds me of one of those 'Spot the Difference' quizzes I played as a child!

Once again, Card Chain Challenge Reveal has rolled around with amazing speed. The lovely Deborah is still unwell so Gail is keeping the wheels turning over at her blog. Thanks, Gail, this challenge means so much and it's great you've taken-up the reins while Deborah has some time out.

Here's the card I sent to  my recipient, Nathalie in Quebec:

And here's the photograph I sent to Gail for the main reveal post:

Can you spot the difference?

Yes, it's that tiny alteration on the banner. After photographing the card I decided to swap the gem for a little bird as it seemed more in keeping with the Autumnal feel of this little number.

The beautiful leaves are from the set In Bloom: Renee's Leaves by Winnie and Walter. They have some beautiful inspiration cards on show alongside this set to tempt you into making a purchase!

I received this super, fun card from Gail.

If you'd like to join us for the final CCC of 2016, you can still sign-up at Gail's blog.

Creative With Stamps Challenge #8 - Use a Bird Stamp

Hello crafters, we've got a lovely challenge for you this month over at Creative with Stamps: 'Use a bird stamp!'

I am seriously in 'stamp-love' with thes images from Pinkfresh Studio. I stamped, masked and over-stamped the main image with a beautiful Hero Arts background stamp. I cut my mask really close to the images yet they still have a weird 'aura' going on... I guess I can live with it. I know the little girl is the star of this scene but isn't that sweet bird a beauty? I love listening to the birds singing in my garden each morning and this image makes me think of how happy they make me feel.

I added the sentiment, some Wink of Stella and three tiny gems and left this as a single layer card. (Mmmmm, note to self: round that top-left corner!)

My teamies have created some beautiful inspiration cards and, once again, we have some fabulous sponsors so please follow the links and join the fun!

Naughty or Nice Challenge #33 - Don't Pull Your Punches!

This month it's all about punches, dies and die-cuts over at Naughty or Nice Challenges. 

Turns out the phrase 'don't pull your punches' is a boxing term, when you pull a punch you don't hit the other fighter as hard as you can. It also means to hold back from doing or saying what you really think, not being completely honest so you won't hurt somebody's feelings. When you don't pull any punches you are frank, honest!

My card makes use of this gorgeous die cut from Happy Trio by WPlus9, which simply screamed 'shaker card' from the moment I opened the packaging! 

I smooshed some yellow, orange and pink Distress Inks on a large stamping block to create the background. The sequins are a random mixture of spares and leftovers from previous projects so I can't really give a brand name. Sadly, the card hasn't photographed well as it looks lovely IRL.

Think you can punch your weight in our latest challenge? Why not drop by at Naughty or Nice Challenges and join in all the fun!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #71 - W is for Watercolour

Welcome, welcome, welcome! For Challenge #71 my fabulous sistahs have pulled-out their watercolour paints and got busy!

I struggled a little with this challenge, making card after card but not being satisfied with any of them. I'd had the idea for a Wizard of Oz style card in my head for ages but it wasn't until I saw this card, made by Lydia at Understand Blue, that I had a 'sentiment' to match with the image. 

The background was made with Brushos. Brushos are tiny tubs of crystallized/powdered watercolour paint and believe-you-me, a little goes a very long way! The shoes are from a cute Hero Arts set that I used before to make this card.

I made this card for the lovely Shirley Brampton: hope you had a fun day, sweetie!

The Sistahs and our fabulous GDT, Lauren, have created some watercoloured wonders for your delight and delectation, so why not head on over and take a look...

Naughty or Nice Challenge #32 - Reminder

It's time for our mid-month post over at Naughty or Nice and the gang have created yet more inspiration to get you in the mood for our current, fun challenge. 

My card is focusing on wild women... And true friendship!

Head over before Tuesday 25th October to play along.

Creative With Stamps Challenge #7 - Reminder

And now for something very CAS: a simple die-cut greeting and stamped dots!

It's still all about the sentiment over at Creative With Stamps this month.

My teamies have created some truly beautiful inspiration cards for this challenge. You have until the end of October to play along with our 'Sentiment Only' Challenge.