Festive Sparkle

Hi everyone, another day, another Christmas card, at least that's how it's feeling for me at the moment but if I carry on at this rate I may get them all finished in time (fingers crossed!)
Today's card uses another of the gorgeous xmas images that I recently purchased from Mo's, this one is called 'Boughs for the Wreath' and I love the slightly vintage look of it.
I used absolutely masses of 'Diamond Dust' on this card, both for the snow and also for that snowflake embellishment, but unfortunately, it hasn't shown up very well.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - #126
I love Promarkers - Glitter & Glitz
Creative Inspirations - Lashings of Sparkle
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (plus a bit of bling)

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too 'Boughs for the Wreath'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Dovecraft 'Winter Wonderland'
* Dies - Nestabilities
* Everything else from my stash

It's highly likely that I'll be back with another card tomorrow, I hope you don't get fed up with looking at them as much as I'm getting fed up with making them! See how easily I get bored with doing the same thing, now you know why I dislike xmas cards so much, don't you?

A Vintage Christmas

Hi everyone, today's card is another one for the Xmas box and this time I've used the traditional Christmas colours of red, green and gold. I have to admit to really liking the richness of this colour palette and I think I may have to use this colour combo again.
This is another 8" x 8" 'biggy' as it's designated for my best friend and her husband.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - Sketch # 179
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Vintage
Crimbo Crackers - Challenge #1 Anything Goes

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too 'Holly Fairy'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Hot Off The Press
* Punch - MS 'Doily Lace'
* Everything else from my stash

I've used Mo's Holly Fairy again, this is probably my all time favourite image for Christmas cards, I bought her a couple of years ago and use her on some of my cards every year. I just have to try to make sure I don't send her to the same people every year ha ha!
The beautiful gold sparkly ribbon was part of a gift from my dear friend Barb last year. She had bought lots of stunning christmas ribbons and sent me a selection as she knows we don't have access to the same gorgeousness here in the UK.

A Pastel Christmas Card

Hi everyone, well here I am again with another Christmas card, that's another one for the box, thank goodness the numbers are starting to swell a bit now.
This is one of the new Teddy Bo and Bea images I purchased the other day, (I'm sure you'll be seeing the others sometime soon) isn't she so sweet?

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
The Sweet Stop - Sketch #132
Teddy Bo - Pastels
 Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Anything Goes

Card Details:
* Image - TeddyBea #162
* Colouring medium - Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens
* Sentiment Ticket - Magnolia
* Papers - An assortment from my stash (mostly K & Co)
* Punch - EK Success 'Retro Flower'
* Everything else from my stash

I decided to use an A5 card for this sketch, now it's finished I think that was probably a mistake as I've got too much blank space. It probably would have been much better on a square card......ah well, {sigh!}

Christmas Creatures

 

 Hi everyone, today's card is another Christmas one. I really, really need to catch up with making these so I've scoured the Christmas Challenges to try to gather some inspiration. Those of you who know me, will know that I don't like making cards for the festive season at all!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Bah! Humbug! - Die Cuts
Jingle Belles - Creatures
One Stop Craft Challenge - No Sentiments
Winter Wonderland - Clean and Simple (well this is about as CAS as I get!)

Card Details:
* Image - Just Some Lines freebie - 'Christmas Robin'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Naughty and Nice'
* Dies -Nestabilities 'Labels One' & Nellie's Borders 23
* Punch - EK Success Corner Punch
* Everything else from my stash

I'm hoping to catch up with some blog-hopping, commenting and making further xmas cards tomorrow so you may be seeing me again soon.

Anything Goes!

 

 Hi everyone, my card today was made for a special friend who is going through a rough time at the moment, I just wanted to let her know I was thinking of her, so I hope she likes it.

I'm entering this into 2 card challenges whose themes are 'Anything Goes'
The first is Simon Says Stamp and the second is Charisma Cardz.

Card Details:
* Image - Sandi Gore Evans 'Angel Blessings' Kit from Daisie Company
* Papers - Cuddly Buddly 'Peppy Papers'
* Die - Marianne Designs 'Creatable Labels'
* Punch - MS PATP 'Deco Fan'
* Everything else from my stash

I need to concentrate on a few more Christmas cards again now, so you may see me back with something new in a couple of days.
Take care sweeties,

A Christmas Card Challenge

 

Hi everyone, today I have a Christmas card to share with you and this will (hopefully) be the first of quite a few festive cards.
This is a large 8x8 card and is destined for a very special friend, I hope she'll like it. I'm entering it into CraftyHazelNut's Christmas Challenge where they are asking us to 'make a scene'
I'm also entering this week's DP2 challenge to use your fave Mo image. This is my fave (at the moment) 'cos it's the newest, but how anyone could have just one favourite image from Mo defeats me!

I was really starting to go into panic mode about getting my xmas cards made. I started the year off quite well by joining in with a few of the Christmas Challenges, mainly because I thought they would help me avoid my normal last minute rush but then, due to preparing to move etc. it all ground to a halt and I haven't made any since heaven knows when.
Fingers crossed, I still have time to get enough cards made before December is upon us.

Card Details:
* Image - Mo Manning 'Hanging Stockings'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Naughty & Nice' and unknown papers from a friend.
* Dies - Spellbinders 'Create A Flake'
* Sentiment - Computer generated
* Everything else from my stash

I try to avoid a visit to Mo's Digital Pencil too often as I find it nearly impossible to choose just one or two images, she is so talented that I always want everything in her shop. So this time I made a short list of about half a dozen digis in my basket and then asked DH to help me choose, the 2 images I bought were actually both his choice. Don't you just love the hopeful expression on that little dog's face, I wonder what he wants in his stocking?

Sketch N Stash DT Card #73

Hi everyone, I'm here again ready for this fortnight's Sketch N Stash Challenge.
We just can't believe all the brilliant entries submitted each challenge, choosing our Top 3 just gets harder and harder!
This time it's the lovely Gemma's turn to create a sketch, and what a fabulous one it is too. I hope you'll all manage to join in with us for her first sketch as a DT member.
 
Card Details:
* Image - Pollycraft - Sharing Sherbert 'Daydream'
* Sentiment - Gina Jane 'Friendship Post'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Hot off the Press and Joanna Sheen
* Everything else from my stash

For this challenge, we're being sponsored by the fabulous Pollycraft who are offering our lucky winner 10 digis of their choice. A fabulous prize but 'you've got to be in it to win it' so start creating!

Don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the rest of the DT cards, also see who won our last challenge and who were our Top 3.

A Sassy Sketch

Hi everyone, I did warn you I might be back again today, didn't I?

My card today is for Sassy Cheryl's challenge where they want us to use their gorgeous sketch plus pink. I'm also entering it into My Time To Craft's challenge of 'Punches and Dies'.
 
Card Details:
* Image - Sassy Cheryl's freebie - 'Bubble Blower'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Jak Heath - Candy Pink 'Spots'
* Punches - MS 'Doiley Lace' and 'Monarch Butterfly'
* Everything else from my stash

I'm sure I'll be back again soon, as I keep getting inspired by the challenge cards on my favourite blogs.
So many challenges, so little time!

A Couple Of Challenges - Oh How I've Missed Them.

Hello me lovelies, it's me again and this time with a card for a couple of challenges. I can't remember the last time I managed to enter some!
I thought I'd enter the Kenny K challenge where they wanted to see 'Autumnal Colours' and then I hunted about for a sketch I liked. When I decided on this one from Sweet Sketch Wednesday I hadn't realised how big it would turn out, so then I had to make it an A5 sized card rather than my usual square one, but it's nice to have a change.
It also had me panicking as there was rather a lot of blank space left (now you know why I can't do CAS!) but then I spotted another lovely challenge at Anything Goes asking for 'some form of lettering' (not just a sentiment) so that, plus some corners solved the problem.
Now that I'm finished and ready to post I realise that it's Wednesday, so of course, there's now a new sketch over at my sketch challenge blog. Still, two out of three ain't bad and I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things soon, ha ha!

Card Details:
* Image - Kenny K - 'Download Diva'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co and old ones from Dovecraft (can't remember their name)
* Punch - EK Success Corner Punch
* Everything else from my stash

I'm in the process of making another card for some more challenges, so you may see me again tomorrow too. I know, I know, people tell me you can have too much of a good thing, but I've never understood the concept of less is more!

Take care sweeties,

I'm Sorry That I'm Such A Terrible Person!

Hello my lovelies,
I'll bet you can't believe that I'm posting when it's not a Sketch N Stash Challenge day can you?
I'm so sorry, I know that I've been a terrible blogger lately, what can I say? There's no real excuse except that lots has been happening at 'Chez Chrissie'
(If you are bored enough to want to know more, it may be a good idea to get yourself a nice cup of coffee first as this is a long, long post!!)
The new bungalow had oil heating and after lots (and lots and lots!) of discussion we finally decided to change to gas, so we had the road dug up and gas and a new boiler installed. Then the loft was newly insulated and so we're now toasty warm.
We also had major problems with our new bedroom furniture. After 12 weeks of our money being in their bank whilst we waited for delivery and finally issuing them with a threat to cancel, the company tried to fob us off with ex-showroom units and make out it was our delivered order. Oh, and still charge us full price of course! Needless to say we were NOT happy and requested our money back PDQ! That, of course, meant starting the search again!!!!! However, I'm happy to report that I now have something a little nicer than cardboard boxes for our clothes and I'm very happy with it.
My lovely DH had been having problems with his knees for a while (and not because I make him grovel at my feet all the time!) and it's now been discovered that he's got osteoporosis and he's awaiting an op. They're not sure if they will fix one knee at a time or both together yet. He's taking it all very calmly, but I'm going into a panic at the whole thing!
Add to this all the normal problems that come with moving hundreds of miles away from friends, family and loved ones plus conservatory roof leaks, overflowing toilet cisterns, practically non-existent broadband signals etc. etc. and you start to get the idea.
Regardless of all that, we are both so happy to be living in this house, in this village, in this part of the world that we know it was the right move for us. I'll try to get some photos popped up at some point.
On a brighter note it was my birthday on the 3rd, I shan't tell you how very old I am (suffice to say I get my bus pass this time next year!) and I want to thank all my lovely friends for such gorgeous cards and prezzies. The final count was 40 cards, just unbelievable! DH took some photos although more cards arrived later and so were missed out, but here are the photos if you'd like to take a look.

I've actually managed to finally finish sorting my new craft room (she says hopefully) so I may get to do a bit more card making and blogging anytime soon. I certainly hope so as I've been getting withdrawal symptoms from chatting to all my crafting buddies. For those to whom I owe an e-mail (or two or three) I'll be in touch any day now.
Once again my apologies for losing touch with you all lately and thanks to those who managed to get this far through my posting, bless you!

 

Sketch N Stash DT Card #72

Hi everyone, time for another fabulous sketch at Sketch N Stash and this fortnight it's our Angie's turn to be a designer. A lovely, easy sketch and your choice as to where you put your sentiment and embellishments, what could be better, so please try and join in with us.
I decided this was the perfect sketch to use as my card for my best friend's hubby as it wasn't too fussy and I carried on the 'simple' theme by using a lovely image from Tiddly Inks called 'Light My Life' which I thought was perfect for a man's card.
I find it much more difficult to make a card for males, mainly because I can't use use any pretty papers or embellishments, but DH gave this one the 'thumbs up' so it must look quite masculine!
 
Card Details:
* Image - Tiddly Inks 'Light My Life'
* Sentiment - Woodware Stamps 'Circular Greetings'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co, My Mind's Eye and Hot Off The Press
* Punch - MS 'Double Scallop'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight's prize is being donated by our regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp and, as usual, they are generously offering our winner a $15 voucher to be spent in their store.
Pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the other DT cards (they're fabulous!) and don't forget to check whether you are our last fortnight's winner or one of our Top 3

Sketch N Stash DT Card #71

Hi everyone, time for another Sketch N Stash Challenge and this time our sketch has been designed by Daniele, isn't it gorgeous? (I found it quite challenging this fortnight, but then I'm not good at anything where I have to get angles right so just don't look at my card too closely!!)

I notice that I'm back to using my Promarkers again. The Spectrum Noir pens are lovely, but there's just something about my beloved Promarkers. Maybe it's that divine smell? and of course I do have an awful lot of colours, whereas I only bought a few SN pens to start. I must persevere with these though as I'm sure the fact that they are refillable will be really useful.
The other team members have done beautiful things, as always, so do pop over to the challenge blog and take a look.

Card Details:
* Image - Meljen 'Happy Panda' digi
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania and Crafty Ann's
* Sentiment - Sentiments 4 You
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight we're being sponsored by Meljen Designs again, and they are offering our lucky winner 4 images of their choice.
I just love this sweet Meljen Panda image, doesn't that expression just say 'Mmmm Yummy' to you?

It was my turn to choose the Top 3 and you certainly made it a difficult task. I always think it's nice to be able to choose your favourite sketches now and again, which is why my design week is always a free choice (that and the fact that I'm useless at designing sketches ha ha!) and judging by the amount of entries we received  you certainly seemed to agree with me!
I do hope you'll find time to join in with us again this time and don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog to see if you are our lucky winner, or one of our Top 3 from the last challenge.

Sketch N Stash DT Card #70

Hi everyone, I'm back with my latest DT card for Sketch N Stash and this fortnight we're offering a 'free choice' sketch.
Just take a look at the old sketches in the 'Sketch Catalogue' section on the challenge blog and pick which one you'd like to use (don't forget to let us know which one you've chosen though!)
I went for Sketch 55 for my card, I thought the layout would be just right as I decided to make a C5 sized card for a change.

This was a 'Thank You' card for a very special friend who recently sent me the most gorgeous 'New Home' gift, this wicker basket filled with a box of belgian choccies, a bottle of rose wine and a stunning miniature rose plant.

 If you're reading this Sheila, you already know how important you are to me sweetie and how grateful I am to be able to call you my friend.

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black 'Hitchin' A Ride'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers and Spectrum Noir Pens
* Papers - Papermania Colossal 'Spring Life'
* Punch - MS 'Eyelet Lace'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight's prize is from our wonderful regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp and they are offering our lucky winner a $15 voucher to be spent in their store so I hope you'll manage to join in with us.
If you're in need of any inspiration just pop over to the Challenge blog where the DT have come up with the most amazing creations again and while you're there see if you were lucky enough to have won or been nominated as one of our Top 3 from the last challenge.

Simon Says Stamp-tember

Hi everyone,
I'm back today with a card for the Simon Says September Blog Hop just look at this...

For the second year in a row, Simon Says Stamp and Show & The Simon Says Stamp Challenge teams are joining forces to bring you a SUPER blog hop and treasure hunt to celebrate STAMPtember! 

 To help celebrate we will be giving a BIG BASKET OF CRAFTING GOODIES to the randomly chosen winner of this hop! PLUS three $25 VOUCHERS to the Simon Says Stamp Store ! The vouchers will be the hidden treasure on 3 Design Team blogs and you have to find them. You MUST enter the challenge and link your creations with the Inlinkz on the Stamp and Show Challenge to be able to win the Grand Prize or any of the $25 vouchers :-) 

The DT creations are absolutely astonishing and have you seen the wonderful prize they are offering to the lucky winner? WOWZER!

Card Details:
* Image -  Mo Manning 'Mummu'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - All from my scraps
* Punch - EK Success medium 'Retro Flower'
* Everything else from my stash

The fabulous sketch I've used is a past Sketch N Stash one (No. 66) I didn't get to use it at the time 'cos I was in the process of moving, but I love it. 

I think I can also enter this card for the following challenges:
Craft Us Crazy 'Autumn Colours'
Charisma Cardz 'Anything Goes'
I Love ProMarkers 'Anything Goes'
Passion for ProMarkers 'Anything Goes'

I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to visit you for a while (again!) real life keeps getting in the way, but I'm hoping to spend some time blog-hopping this weekend, so look out for a visit from me at last ha ha!

Is it just me?

Hi everyone, no new card today, just a re-cap on a previous post. 
Cast your minds back to June......no? well take a look at my previous post then, ha ha.
I posted the card below and said how I'd had to buy this image as it reminded me so much of a photograph I had of my youngest son when he was at playschool (he's 32 now!) and I promised that once I'd moved and sorted out my family photos I'd let you see, so here it is.
Now, what I want to know is......can you see a resemblance or is it just a 'mother love' thing?

Answers on a postcard please.  No, seriously, I'd love to know what you think.

 

Sketch N Stash DT Card #69

Hi everyone, time for another Sketch N Stash challenge and today's lovely sketch was designed by our Julie. I've used one of my favourite KennyK images called Troublemaker (mmmm wonder if there's a connection there, surely not!! ha ha) She's certainly a pink girl isn't she?

I used one of Crafty Ann's tickets for my sentiment, I LOVE these and they are such a bargain (as are all of Ann's wonderful digis) If you haven't visited this shop yet, you're in for a treat, as well as her wonderful drawings Ann has some of the most fabulous and versatile backing papers. When I can't find anything that works with those 'tricky' images I often find myself reaching for these and they're always the perfect solution (the embossed papers are so realistic that it saves the bother of embossing them yourself!) 

Card Details:
* Image - KennyK 'Troublemaker'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - So many different collections, I can't begin to tell you.
* Sentiment Ticket - Crafty Ann's Digi Shop
* Everything else from my stash

We're being sponsored this fortnight by the fabulous KennyK who are offering our lucky winner 5 images of their choice, so definitely worth joining in with us.
The DT have made some fabulous cards again, so pop over to the challenge blog to take a look and find out who the winner and Top 3 were from the last challenge.