Working on the Christmas Stash

Happy Sunday everyone :)

This weekend was busy with me with work and then our Christmas party. I've spent today doing the dreaded housework plus a little spare time was spent in the craft room.

I had previously stamped some images for me to come back to so I could colour them and finish up the cards. I'm working on extras for my Christmas stash as they will need to be posted pretty soon!

Card #1

I masked my image first so I could create the background using distress ink. I coloured Santa with my polychromo pencils and gamsol.

Card #2

Once again, I masked the images. I tore some paper to create some 'snowdrifts'. While the images were still masked, I used a stencil and distress ink to create the background. I also flicked a little white paint for interest. Polychromo pencils and gamsol were used to colour these cuties.

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges -

Card #1 - Simon Says Stamp (Starry, Starry Night), Sparkles Christmas Challenge (Santa), 12 Months of Christmas (Anything Goes)

Card #2 - Cute Card Thursday (Winter), Penny Black and More (Christmas), STAMPlorations Stencil Challenge (Anything Goes)

Thanks for popping in today, I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Merry Christmas [from all of us]

Hey! I have been busy this weekend having a Nanny sleepover with my grandson Benjamin then working in the yard. For some downtime I decided to count my Christmas card stash and realising I needed quite a few more, it was the perfect time to start creating.

I really love combining stamp sets to create new and fun sentiments. I also love the craft destash sites on FB that I am a member of :) I bought this really cute set full of adorable animals and decided to use some for a Christmas card. 

I also have a new found use for my designer paper. I really never use it.... but it is a great way to add a simple background. I have a few more cards that I will post over the next few days using paper this way.

The images and sentiments were stamped using my MISIT. Images were coloured using polychromo pencils and gamsol.

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges -

Penny Black and More (Christmas), Watercooler Wednesday Challenges (All about Occasions), Daisy Chain Challenges (Christmas), Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog (Anything Goes)

Thanks for popping in :)

Perfectly CAS #3

Hi everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Perfectly CAS. If you are unsure of how to get started with a card, there are guidelines over at the challenge blog.

It's nearly the silly season so we are making Christmas cards!

This is a set from MFT which I simply stamped using my MISTI and coloured with polychromos.

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges -

AAA Cards (One Image), Challenge up your Life (Black, White, + one colour), Sparkles Forum Christmas (Santa), The Alphabet Challenge (Q is for quick and easy), 

  

Thanks for popping in today :)

HLS November CAS Challenge

Hi everyone! This month at Happy Little Stampers CAS, it's all about Christmas!

I have made two cards -

Card #1

This crazy looking angel is from the Katzelkraft Sherlock Holmes set. I coloured him with my polychromo's. The sentiment is an oldie from HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments.

Card #2

This card was super easy to create. I embossed the sentiment with Liquid Platinum powder. That's it! This type of card would be perfect to mass produce as I used my MISTI for stamping. This sentiment is from a set from Mama Elephant called Season's Wishes

I hope you will play along over at the challenge blog :)

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges -

Card #1 - Creative Knockouts (CAS), AAA Cards (Maxi White Space)

Card #2 - The Sisterhood of Crafters (CAS), STAMPlorations CAS Challenge (Anything Goes)

Thanks for popping in today :)

Less Is More #407 - OLC Winter Flora

Happy Saturday. It's time for a new challenge over at LIM where we want you to create a ONE LAYER CARD with the theme of winter flora. Even though it's summer here in Australia at Christmas time, you can't go past good old Christmas cards using beautiful flora such as holly, mistletoe, and christmas trees (for example).

Here are my cards -

Card #1

For this card, I used a new stamp called Berry Kissed by Penny Black. I really like the watercolouring technique used with these stamps (incorporating the MISTI) but I haven't really mastered this technique. I decided to try no line colouring by stamping the image with Antique Linen ink then colouring with my polychromos. I went a little crazy with my white gel pen but the end result was okay :) The sentiment is an old one from the HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments.

Card #2

This card was created using another HLS set called Merry Kissmas. I stamped the Mistletoe and sentiment at the same time using my MISTI. I coloured the image using some glitter pens. Easy!

Card #3

This stamp is from Sugar Plum Fairy by CAS-ual Fridays.  I am embossed the image straight onto my linen card, then coloured the star with a gold sharpie. 

We have two guest designers for this challenge - Ankie (our August Winner) and our generous sponsor Bev (from Uniko).

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges -

Card #1 - Creative Sketchy Girls (Create a Christmas Card), Watercooler Wednesday Challenge (all about occasions), 

Card #2 - The Sisterhood of Crafters (CAS), The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge (Anything Goes)

Card #3 - Sweet Stampin' Christmas (Anything Goes + optional stars), Tuesday Throwdown (One Layer Wonder), CAS on Friday (Big Sentiment)

Thanks for popping in today and I hope to see you playing along at LIM :)

Perfectly CAS #2

Hi everyone, just a quick post from me today due to time constraints. I hope you are all excited about the second challenge over at Perfectly CAS!

It's an easy theme but not so easy style if you aren't used to creating CAS cards. Just follow the rules (you can find them over at the challenge blog) and you will be making the most perfect clean and simple cards in no time!

Here is my card -

I used an Avery Elle set called "All of Us". I coloured the bears with my polychromos then used the coordinating dies for both the bears and the sign. There was nearly no way I couldn't create a CAS card using these fellas :)

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges -

The Male Room (CAS), STAMPlorations CAS Challenge (Anything Goes), Dare 2B Artzy (Cute Animals), CAS on Friday (Masculine), Just Add Ink (Add H - Happy Birthday)

      

Thanks for popping in today and I hope you will join us over at Perfectly CAS :)

Less Is More #405 (Recipe)

Hi there! It's time for a new challenge over at Less Is More! We have a recipe to inspire you this fortnight.

Here are the elements you can choose from -

sparkle + gloss, 

sparkle + matte, 

sparkle + pearl, 

sparkle + chalky

I decided to go with sparkle + matte.

I used a new technique to me to create my window. I sprinkled some embossing enamel into a laminating pouch then ran it through my laminator. I saw done by Jennifer McGuire.

I created my sparkle by using embossing enamel with gold sprinkles through it. I also covered my cardinal with a touch of sparkle.

The matte element was created by using distress inks to create my background panel and the strip for the sentiment.

Our wonderful sponsor is -

Our amazing Guest Designer is Maaike, welcome!!!

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges

CAS on Friday (Animals), Cut It Up (Into the woods + dies), ABC Christmas Challenge (S is for sparkle and T is for texture), Cute 'n Crafty Christmas (Anything Christmas/Winter Goes)

Thanks for popping in today. Take care! xx

Perfectly CAS #1

Helllooooo! Every month on the 15th, there is a new challenge over at Perfectly CAS. 

Perfectly CAS? Yep, it's a new challenge blog and the designers and I are very excited to help inspire you.

Our theme for the next month is -

Here are my cards -

Card #1

Complete with a fingerprint smudge and a smidgen over the one third rule, I have still created a clean and simple card. By stamping at the bottom third and using a small sentiment, there is still plenty of 'white' space. Don't forget that 'white' space can be any colour card as long as there isn't anything stamped, glued, embossed, or embellished on that area.

Card #2

I masked off a section here with post-it tape. I quite randomly stamped my flowers within the third I was working with. I used a black pen and ruler to define that edge and stamped my sentiment above the line. Placing my sentiment above the line allowed me to 'cheat' a little but even with going over the one third rule, once again, I still have plenty of that perfect white space.

You will find heaps more inspiration over at the challenge blog. Please join us for our inaugural challenge!

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges -

Card #1 - The Flower Challenge (Anything Goes), STAMPlorations (Anything Goes), STAMPlorations (CAS)

Card #2 - Stampotique #SDC331 (Flower Power)

 

HLS September CAS Challenge

Hi everyone! Wow, it's already September and I honestly cannot believe how fast this year has gone! It's time for a new CAS challenge over at Happy Little Stampers :)

I used a new set from Avery Elle and coloured everything with my polychromo pencils. Since making this card, I've also invested in some gamsol and blending stumps. It really allows for a nice finish on coloured images. I think it would have really helped with blending my pink balloon just that little bit better :)

Here is my card -

I hope to see you over at HLS!

Have you heard about the new challenge blog I have started?

Our first challenge is on the 15th September and I hope you will play along. This is the perfect challenge if you already love creating CAS cards but it is also perfect for those of you who may just be starting out. By following the rule of thirds, you can't go wrong!!

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges -

Creations in Pink (Anything Goes), Penny Black and More (Animals), Lavinia Challenges (Anything Goes), Watercooler Wednesdays (Occasions)

Thanks for popping in today :)

Less Is More #401 - Colour Challenge

Happy Saturday everyone. It's time for a new challenge over at Less Is More!

Here is my card -

This is a new set for me from MFT. I started by creating my mask and using distress ink for the background. I coloured and die cut my bunny, stamped the sentiment, and added sequins for interest :)

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is

Our Guest Designers are - Sarah Grey (Sponsor) and Alli C (June Winner). Please make sure you pop over to say hi :)

Thanks for popping in today and I hope to catch you over at LIM using our colours!

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges -

2 Crafty Critters (Anything Goes), Pearly Sparkles Challenge (something beginning with B), Christmas at Sweet Stampin' (Anything Goes), The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge (Anything Goes), AAA Cards (see graphic below - my 2nd entry)

Inkspirational #192 - Fold

Hey there everyone! It's time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational. We have a word prompt for you - Fold

I ummmed and arrrrred about this one. I didn't really have any stamps that would even let me think outside the box. So, I went right out of my comfort zone as a one fold gal to following a couple of tutorials to create a card with more than one fold!

I used my new MFT set to create a Christmas card. I love this Santa. The sentiment is from HLS.

Then it folds down quite nicely to fit into an envelope.

Perhaps I have inspired you to make something not in your comfort zone :) See you over at Inkspirational!

Less is More #400 - Small Images

Today we start a new challenge over at Less Is More. We want you to work with small images. You can even use small images together to create a background or just stamp them like I have.

Here are my cards -

Card #1

I finally bought the MFT stamp set Jingle all the Way. I got to have a play with it a couple of years ago when I was in the UK and stayed with Sarah P. Now I have it in my collection and these small images are perfect to create a simple design or combine them to create a scene.

I coloured the images with my polychromo pencils (I love these!) and used a white gel pen to create dots and extra interest :)

Card #2

Once again I used my pencils to colour this cute dinosaur from Lawn Fawn. My grandson is into the 'rawr' word at the moment and I love how this sentiment defines its meaning :) I even bought this stamp set especially for him as he loves anything that 'rawrs' LOL

Our fabulous sponsor is

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges:

Card #1 - Crafty Gals Corner (Christmas in July), Crafty Sentiments Designs (Christmas in July), AAA Cards (Maxi White Space)

Card #2 - Unicorn Challenge (for a baby or a child), Double Trouble Challenge (Kids and babies), Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (Animals), 

Thanks for popping in today and I hope to see you over at LESS IS MORE

Inkspirational Challenge #191

Hey there everyone! We have a photo challenge for you over at Inkspirational and you have two weeks to play along!

Here is my card -

I decided to use the theme on some of the cupcakes to create my card. I used a stencil to create my background and coloured the images from Lawn Fawn with polychromo pencils.

I would like to enter my card over at the following challenges -

CAS on Friday (use a stencil), Country View Challenges (Blues and Greens), Watercooler Challenges (all about occasions), The Library Challenge (thanks for the reminder, Marina - 5 weeks in a Balloon)

      

Thanks for popping in today, see you over at the challenge blog! :)