IT'S A LILI OF THE VALLEY FAMILY CHRISTMAS

I'm just dashing in again with a very quick multi post to enter a few more challenges. Then I'm going to certainly be hanging up my scissors and card before my cheeky niece lands here!

All my Christmas stash was safely away for next year when I realised I'd not made cards for Mr Dazzle and the mini dazzles! How could I forget them!

Anyway it's pre-coloured Lili Of the Valley Art pads all round; unbelievably I bought these as soon as they were released in the Summer and forgot all about them, so here goes:

First up for our Daughter and this one is to enter the Sketch Saturday Challenge where it's a pick your own sketch from the fabulous catalogue of sketches. I've used 237. My card is heading over to Pixies Snippet Playground too as I think I'll be missing out next week.

The papers are from Pink Petticoat and I've used sparkly glitter paper, gems and twine from my stash plus a good old dousing of glamour dust ... I mean it is Christmas so added sparkle is essential!

Next up for our Son, this time to enter the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and I've added Fluffy Stuff covered with glamour dust. I was hoping my 'banner' type elements would look like skis covered in snow but not sure it's worked. Hopefully he'll like it with our little dog running along beside him.


                           




AND last but not least for Mr Dazzle ... this reminds me of our Christmas decorating session at the weekend so the image seemed quite appropriate. Seize the Sketch Challenge is where this one is heading and I've used die-cut sparkly hearts for my 'bunting' rather than flags.

So enjoy the rest of your evening. Hopefully I'll get a minute to check out your blogs in the next few days but if not please accept my apologies in advance - nieces are such hard work!!!

MORE SNOWFLAKES!

Back again and this time it's to enter a card into the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.

Again I've used the Uniko Studio Snowflake Stamp set; certainly getting my money's worth out of this one today! The 'Joyeux Noel' sentiment is also Uniko Studio but this time from the Peace on Earth Set.

I've used my new spots and dots embossing folder for the bottom half of my panel, twine, gems and strips of card from my stash. There's all sorts of odds and ends used in making this card so I'm heading over to Pixies Playground Snippet Challenge too.

Right that's all for me today; can't promise when I'll be able to post a card this week but will keep trying to fit in visiting your blogs.

Take care and enjoy your evening.

OVERBOARD ON SNOWFLAKES TODAY!

First of all apologies for not visiting blogs, posting blogs or generally crafting this week!

The reason XMAS! Yep it's catching up with me and I'm NOT ready for it. So in between working I've been doing crazy shopping, writing cards ... until I ran out!!!! Grrrr! Wrapping up, tag making, more tag making and obviously now need just a few more Christmas cards!

So that's what I've been doing today. It's now that I realise no matter how prettily embellished my cards may be when it comes down to the good old postage rates drastic action is needed and it's really not my style but one must adapt!!!

First up is my entry to Less is More where the theme this week is Metallic and a Colour. Delving in my 'ancient' stash I found a metal snowflake, wire and brad so my colour ended up being silver. Not really sure about my wire but just wanted to have a go with it!

'Snowflakes' is the the codeword at Addicted to CAS this week so I'm going to enter my card there too.

Card Recipe:

Snowflake stamps and sentiment from Uniko Studio
Gems, Brad, Wire and Snowflake from my stash




Next up I've made two cards for the Colour Q Challenge. Although they aren't traditionally Christmas Colours I loved the combo so had to play along - just can't decide between the two cards so popping both in the 'hat'.

So for this one I've used the same snowflake stamp set from Uniko Studio, this time with a different sentiment. I've embossed the top half of the card with a new EF I couldn't resist from Cuttlebug, called spots and dots.

And for this card I've used the Signature Christmas Set from Clearly Besotted with a sentiment from the Pretty Poinsettia set. The 'swag' along the top is from Uniko Studio, Peace on Earth set.  I've raised the front panel on 3d strips for added dimension and to add a bit of sparkle some fluffy stuff covered in glamour dust to create a 'snowy' effect. Gems are from my stash and the brads are from Stampin Up.

The theme at CAS on Sunday is 'Christmas' this week and I'm going to drop this one in there too.

Ok I've got one more to sneak in before the shutters come down so I'll be back in a minute!

IT'S GINGERBREAD TIME!

Honoured and excited this morning to be posting my second GDT for A Gem of A Challenge where this week it's an 'Anything Goes' week so get those crafty mits working to come along and play. If you need added inspiration check out what the rest of the DT team have created HERE.

Being this close to ... dare I mention it??? Well lets just say the 'celebration' in a couple of weeks time it had to be another Crimbo card. This time I've used another pre-coloured image from Pink Gem Designs, called 'Ginger with Garland' and I've chosen her because she's simply too cute and cheerful for words.

Card Recipe:

Image: Ginger with Garland by Pink Gem Designs
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Twine & Pearls from my stash
Plus I've added a little touch of glamour dust and some glossy accents to highlight parts of the image
Almost forgot the embossing folder is by Cuttlebug and the little banner from MFT Die-namics

SPARKLE CHRISTMAS FUN 2

As promised here's my second card, which this time I've combined with the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge as well as Less is More, Color Throwdown and Pixies Snippets Playground (once the gates are unlocked).

Items Used:

Papers: Clearly I Stamp (Dinosaur Digi Set) & Papermania glitter card

Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Signature Christmas stamps heat embossed with silver WOW Ep.

Snowflake Dies: Marianne Creatables

Sizzix Dotty Embossing Folder

Some silver pearls and kraft coloured candy dots from my stash

That's all for me for today so hope you enjoy your Sunday and the Advent countdown begins!

DID SOMEONE SAY 'SPARKLE'?

Hello All, sorry I've been absent for a couple of days and had no time for crafting.

We've been celebrating No1 Teen's 18th birthday since Thursday and trying to get into some sort of organisation for Christmas shopping too. Yesterday I did get some crafting time but Mr Dazzle was AWOL so no piccys until today.

So without further Ado ... here's my first make which is for the Color Throwdown, Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground (when the gates open) and Less is More Challenge. The colour palate for the Color Throwdown challenge is my favourite Christmas colours and how I try to decorate my own house so I simply had to have a go. Then yesterday morning Jen & Chrissie at Less is More, with the help of one of my very talented blog buddies Gillian (Made with Sparkle) set the challenge to make a 'sparkling' card. Well you know me I can't resist a bit of glamour and sparkle so here it is:

During the week I was in our local M&S and saw this gorgeous silver tape for gift wrapping BUT when I got home I realised it was washi tape!!! Wow - couldn't wait to use it on a card and I'm not entirely sure whether it'll get to any presents! I've made the background of my panel using snippety strips of the tape. The snowflakes are cut using Marianne Creatable Dies with sparkling silver card from papermania then I've added sparkly green brads to the centres also from papermania and some metallic cord from my stash.

I was enjoying the sparkly effect so much that I made another card too so back in a moment with that one!


    

STARS AND STRIPES

Hey it's cold today and I'm not one for feeling the cold - especially at work but the old fan heater had to come out of its box today! I guess it's just a a sign of December approaching.

Anyway I've a quick double challenge post for today then I'm off to make tea.

I'm entering my card into the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge along with Uniko Studio's monthly challenge of 'Winter Holidays'. I've used a brand new stamp set, for me, (Background Builders - Christmas) from Uniko Studio which I won on a recent blog hop and I'm thrilled to bits with it. I've used Sizzix Star Framelits with gems from my stash to complete the look.

Oh almost forgot - I couldn't resist posting this over at Pixies Snippet Playground especially as there's such a superb prize this week and next week and I did delve in the snippets box to make those stars!

                                                                  

That's all for me today so enjoy your evening and catch you soon.

CHRISTMAS BIRDIES - TAKE 2

As promised here's my second card for the Less is More, Christmas Bird challenge.

I've used a pre-coloured digi stamp from Pink Gem Designs, the same snowflake border from Uniko Studio as in my previous card with a sentiment from the Stunning Snowflakes Stamp set also from Uniko.

Just for a little added dimension I've used some fluffy stuff and glamour dust to the sign post and bob hats plus some pink twine from my stash. Not exactly traditional Christmas colours but I'm actually getting a bit bored of all the red and green so nice to have a change.

May catch you later if I manage to get anything else finished in time but if not enjoy the rest of your day and have a good week.

CHRISTMAS BIRDIES

Happy Sunday

Hope you are all keeping warm and well. This month seems to be slipping away all too quickly and I'm not sure how much time I'm going to have for crafting / blogging in the next couple of weeks so apologies in advance if I don't get to commenting on your wonderful creations. I'll do my best.

So I've made 2 cards today, both with the Less is More Challenge in mind, with the theme being 'Christmas Cards - with a bird.' Here's the first one which I'm also going to combine with this weeks ColourQ Challenge.

I've raided the snippets box for this card so you know what that means! Yep I'm heading over to Pixies Snippet Playground with my card too. If you don't visit the Playground Challenge already then it's a must this week; not only is the prize made up of some wonderful Christmas dies but they are celebrating 100 weeks with some special goodies on offer over the next 2 weeks.

Finally, last but by no means least I've used the beautiful stamp set 'Peace on Earth' from Uniko Studio plus the snowflake border stamp from Christmas Background Builders so a fourth challenge with one card (don't you just love it when that happens) to enter the Winter Holidays challenge over at Uniko Studio.

The images and sentiment are both from Uniko and I couldn't resist adding some glamour dust to my beautiful doves. Then I've added pearls, gems and twine from my stash in the hope that I comply with the colour combo.

I'll be back in a minute with my second card for Less is More.


  

TOY SOLDIERS

Hello all, back again with a mega quick post as I'm off for tea in a minute and to catch up on Strictly ...

This week I treated myself to the brand new Christmas papers from Pink Petticoat and couldn't wait to put them into use. I lurvvvve this Toy Soldier paper and the other designs too but this one was first up for a play and I've used this week's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

Card Recipe:

Image: Christmas Wreath & Bow from Signature Christmas Stamp & Dies set from Clearly Besotted
Papers & Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Twine and gems from my stash



Enjoy your evening and catch you all tomorrow.

A SPARKLING GEM OF A CHALLENGE

I'm bursting with excitement this morning crafters!!! WHY? 

This is my first GDT for A Gem of A Challenge - whoopie! When Mandy asked me to guest design for the challenge I was thrilled to bits and being close to the festive season I couldn't resist using this adorable image 'Mistletoe Kisses'. Aren't they just so cute wrapped up and snug.

Now if you follow my blog regularly you'll know I'm not keen on colouring - well I don't mind colouring it's all that blending and shading that bothers me BUT the beauty of Pink Gem Designs is you don't have to. You receive their images as a black outline and also pre-coloured, so job done.

I've used a pearlised card blank overlaid with a sheet of snow-patterned acetate for extra shine and to set the scene. I've added 2 Memory Box dies: the Country Landscape and the 'Happy' script. The word Christmas is a Pink Petticoat downloaded sentiment. 

I love my glamour dust so added some to the trees and little houses to make them shimmer and sparkle in the night sky plus a little drizzle on the penguins' bob hats finishing off with a piece of ribbon and metallic cord from my stash.

Hope you like it and please pop over to the other talented designers for some more inspiration.

CRAFTY TUESDAY

That's right I don't normally get to craft on a Tuesday with working but I've swapped a day this week and working Friday instead

On the plus side it felt like I had a bonus craft session today so here's my card entry for the joint CAS-ual Fridays and Curtain Call Challenges. I've got to admit that having seen lots of the Curtain Call inspirational photos, I've never sat down and entered their competition but the crisp weather today got me in the mood for a wintery Christmas tree. AND having used Clearly Besotted stamps for my card I'm going to be cheeky and pop another entry into their Christmas Challenge too.

I'm trying out a brand new challenge, for me this week, at Merry Monday and as the theme is 'Trees with Bling' I simply couldn't resist!

The Image & Sentiment are from the Clearly Besotted range - Autumn Flowers & Pretty Poinsettias stamps. Not sure if you can see from the photo but I've smeared fluffy stuff onto the 'branches' then heat embossed it to give a snowy impression. The 'baubles are some flower sprinkles from my stash with brads in the centre. I've also added some silver gems as sparkly lights.

   



Here's a second card which I couldn't decide whether to post or not but here goes - it's another entry from me to the Less is More challenge (using DP in a CAS way).

The design paper, ribbon and gems are from my stash, the sentiment is from Uniko Studio and I've used an MFT Die-namics sentiment strip for the greeting with a Cuttlebug swirly embossing folder.

Thank you for all your get well messages - my cough and cold seem to be clearing up so it's back to work tomorrow. Enjoy your evening.

A FRIDAY DUO

I haven't been able to get into gear today with crafting hence my very late post. Think it must be the cold I'm still struggling with but I'm reasonably pleased with my little cards so thought I'd get them up here before I change my mind.

It's got to be a quick post as I've been one messy crafter since the weekend and haven't put things away or cleaned up my stamps properly! Tut Tut! So one thorough tidy-up session needed in a minute.

Onto my cards, which are both commissions and I liked this first one so much that I decided to make 2! I've used the sketch from the latest challenge at Seize the Sketch although I've switched it slightly with my poinsettia on the left.

and YIPPEE! I've finally opened the packet on my beautiful Pretty Poinsettia stamp and die set from Clearly Besotted which I've been itching to play with. I bought some white embossing powder recently; not sure why I've never used that before as I love how these flowers have turned out. I stamped the image onto red vellum before embossing, then placed a sparkling brad from Stampin Up in the centre and raised the layers on 3D foam. The leaves are the same stamp, this time on green vellum with a deep green EP. 

The sentiment is part computer generated and part from the Peace on Earth stamp set from Uniko Studio. I've added some gems and bakers twine from my stash and a Crafts Too leafy embossing folder to the white panel.

Clearly Besotted have a Christmas challenge this month so I'm going to head over there too with my card.

 



My second card is to enter the Colour Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches Challenges. I've used a digi image from Pink Gem Designs which I've shrunk, flipped, duplicated and added a sentiment before printing. I've paper pieced the image using the RGB colours from Stampin Up then coloured with sparkling gel pens (tried to match the colours as close as possible).

Finally I've added a couple of gems and pearls from my stash.

 


That's all for me - off to tidy up URGH! Hope you all enjoy your weekend and get chance to have some crafty fun!