Another Christmas card!

I made this card last night, I know another Christmas card but I need lots of them ready for October! I made it while my internet connection was playing up and I think my frustration shows in it, I am not really satisfied with the result. I do love the image though, it is so cute.

Supplies: Royal and Langnickel rub-ons, Basic Grey Dasher pack, red, white and navy cardstock, red ribbon and these little silver things that I salvaged from somewhere, I don't think they are true craft supplies but they work for me!

Tagged!

I was tagged this week by Juliet and Ying, thanks to you both for thinking of me!

4 Places I have worked:

Bingo hall
Campsite in France
Hospital
Primary School

4 Places I have lived

Northumberland
London
France (3 months only)
Scotland

4 places I have visited

Far East
Italy
USA
Switzerland

4 favourite foods

Christmas lunch
Haggis
Olives
Chocolate

4 places I would rather be

Sorry, I can't do this one as there is no place I would rather be than home with my lovely family!

Okay I have to tag 4 more people who will hopefully play too.
Jeanette
Jojo
Asia wu
Stampowl

DCM dare, Frames

This weeks DCM dare was to use a frame on your card:

This week I’d like you to use a FRAME or FRAMES on your card. You can use any type of frame you so wish. How about a die cut frame or a hand cut frame. You can frame your card with brackets or flowers or how about some doodling - the choice is yours.

The frame I used is a Style Stone. I have had these for a couple of years and not known what to do with them, now I have the perfect reason to use one! They come in a beige colour ready to ink up. I used a normal ink pad which took a long time to dry,even with a heat gun! In fact, it was still tacky when I put it on here but it is ok!

Supplies: White and dark green cardstock, Inkadinkado stamp, Karen Foster sticker (Holly), Organza ribbon, prima flowers and papermania dotty brads. Patterned paper Basic Grey from Dasher pack.

Ben Nevis card

A card made for a hill runner! The photograph (taken on Ben Nevis) was printed on linen effect white card and inked around the edges. I think it has a bit of a Celtic look to it.

Supplies: Dark green cardstock, Basic Grey patterned papers from the Dasher pack, Circular greeting made in Word, dovecraft christmas fibres, button, metal plaque I think is Scrapbook basics but got rid of the packaging a long time ago.

Vroom and CPS #32

I used the fantastic CPS sketch #32 for this weeks DCM little extra all about transport:

Vroooooooom.................

Cars, Boats, Trains & Planesis the theme for our Little Extra challenge this week. A good chance to stock up on kids cards and make a few of those poor, unloved "cards for men", maybe? How about "congratulations on Passing your Driving test" or "Got your Wings" for newly qualified pilots? - ok so we may be reaching a bit far with that one, but you never know! Basically, what we'd like you to do is put some transport on your cards this week, how you do it is up to you!

Supplies: Panduro Tilda boat stamp, Studio G boy stamp, white and navy cardstock, papermania patterned papers, Papermania designer dots brads, ribbon from Ribbon Oasis.

Rainbows

It has rained here virtually non-stop for 2 weeks so last night when the sun did eventually show itself again we were treated to the most beautiful vibrant rainbows, you can just see the second on between the trees on the right of this pic!

I couldn't believe how vibrant it became, managed to get some great shots before the sun went away and it rained again!

Saturday Stampers trees

I am hoping this one qualifies for Saturday Stamper challenge 'trees'. I did stamp onto the background paper using a Clarity stamp. The image is something I was doodling at the weekend while being kept on hold on a telephone call - the best time for doodling! Not sure about it now, I liked it more before I put it on the card.

Supplies: Light brown cardstock, Dark brown Bazzill card, DCWV old world stack paper, Crate Bounce patterned paper, K & Co. Beyond Postmarks greeting, ribbon is some I cut off a garment.

Wednesday stamper - fish

The Wednesday stamper challenge this week was to use fish to inspire you. Yikes, I don't do fish! I eventually found this little metal fish charm and decided to make it into a masculine card. I stamped the background with Rhona Farrer's big swirls and added some Basic Grey rub ons for balance. I spent most of the day pondering over this one before I was happy with it.

Supplies: DCWV old world stack, Cream and dark green cardstock, Basic grey word brad, Basic Grey rub-on, black organza ribbon from Ribbon Oasis.

My sweet little Piccolo (not her real name!) aged just 7 took her craft supplies out and created these beauties. She didn't ask for any help or ideas, she just got on quietly by herself and later I found them standing up on the sideboard where I put my newest cards once finished! I had to put them on here, I am so proud of her!

Card for Victoria

I made this card today using Beate's sketch#20 again, to send to Victoria, a young girl from Texas who has cancer. Her teacher has asked people from all over the U.S. to send a card to Victoria, the details and address are over on Courtney's blog. This is now worldwide with crafters from many countries making and sending cards to Victoria. However, on the update there weren't any from the UK, I am sure we can do something about that, can't we? Courtney also has some fabby blog candy on offer if you send a link to her blog with your card. This ends on thursday 27th September, so only a few days left. My card will be in the mail tomorrow morning!

Supplies: white and pink cardstock, Kelly Panacci Sandylion pp, Bazzill wings blossom, pearl brad, cream ribbon and half pearls - sorry I don't know where they came from.

DCM Charity begins at home revisited!

I decided I had to do this dare properly so this morning I popped into a charity shop and bought this lovely lot for only £2! I loved it, will definitely be back, those buttons are going to come in very handy for many future cards and the tiny Santa in the pack is actually a single ear-ring which I will pull apart to embellish a Christmas card sometime soon. The thing I love the most amongst my goodies is the pack of tiny pearl buttons on the blue card, very vintage. I bought the wool thinking it might knit up tiny little flowers which I can then use on cards in the future, but you might not see those for a while yet!

The item I chose to use today for the DCM dare is the baby t-shirt, the patchwork patch immediately caught my eye so I trimmed around it and mounted it for my card.

Supplies: Dark pink, light pink and white cardstock, stamps all studio G, bergundy versacolour inkpad, pink embossing powder, dark pink organza ribbon, pale pink floral ribbon, tiny safety pink, pink and clear beads, Papermania adhesive stones.

DCM Charity begins at home and Beates sketch #20 and Caardvarks chipboard

The DCM dare this week was to go to a Charity shop to see if someone elses trash could be your stash. Well, so eager was I to make a card that I compromised and used this star shaped thingy that came on a candle that I bought in a shop sale last January, sorry not a Charity shop, naughty me!!! The thing is I was busy this morning so if I used this afternoon to go into town I would have no time to make a card, and that would never do! I promise that if I can get into town tomorrow I will pop into the charity shop and find something and make another card over the weekend but for now this one will have to do!
Anyway, I thought the candle was such a bargain find, 50p for a great fat candle with this lovely thing attached to it! I bought 3 just for the the stars to put on my cards!

I used Beate's sketch #20 for this one, check out her blog she got inspiration for this sketch from one of my cards, how fantastic is that!!

I have also used chipboard on this one which means it also meets the Caardvarks criteria!

The Sale shop find!

The chipboard, it started life as a Papermania embellishment but I couldn't get the colour to match to I inked it with various shades of brown and green and clear embossed it many times which I then stamped this EK success greeting into, it kinda matches now!

Supplies: Basic Grey Dasher papers, dark green and white cardstock, green organdy ribbon, machine stitching, chipboard and stamp as above.

cps #31 Christmas Joy

A christmas card for the CPS #31 sketch.

supplies: dark green cardstock, doodlebug paper frills, Patterned paper Basic Grey Dasher pack, Studio G clear stamps, black ink, clear embossing powder, watercolour paints, dark green ribbon.

DCM Golden and Beate's sketch #19

DCM little extra this week is to use the word GOLDEN as inspiration for your card

This time we are giving you just One Word as the inspiration for your card making and that word is GOLDEN You can use the word in any way you like - the word itself doesn't even have to be on the card, for instance you could make a card in golden shades, or maybe inspired by the seasons of Spring or Autumn which both feature lots of golden colours. Or maybe you could make a card to celebrate a Golden Anniversary, and of course Gold is a great colour for Christmas cards.....It's up to you - just go for Gold.

I also used Beate's sketch #19 for this one.

Supplies: Dark brown cardstock, patterned paper is Kelly Panacci Sandylion, flowers are papermania, image is from Paperpizazz heritage papers pack, golden ribbon that I have had ages and forgot where it came from (may have been from a chocolate box), papermania pearl brad.

Bertie

Bertie was back in his favourite tree again today, got some great shots using my action setting, click on the pic to see him better, he is just gorgeous!

the cows are back in the field, look at this lovely little calf, doesn't he look like he is enjoying chewing that cud! mmmmmm yum!

In a word

The DCM dare this week was from Rhi to use a single word on your card:

This week I dare you to use a Word as the main focal point to your card. It can be a name, a greeting or just a word that inspires you. You can use other text but only one word as a main embellishment. So dig out your dictionaries, die cutters, alphabet stamps, rubons or download a funky font and show us what you can do! The design team have come up with some fabulous creations to inpsire you.

Supplies: Pale blue cardstock, acetate, alcohol inks, stazon ink, patterned paper DCWV old world, Clarity stamp, pale blue eyelets, blue ribbon and the word is a rub on from Royal and Langnickel.

Moody browns and pink love hearts

Oooh, this one has come out all dark and moody! Today I made this just because I felt like it, no sketches or challenges, just for a change and it was great having the freedom to do anything!

Supplies: Brown and white cardstock, patterned paper is Crate Hopscotch and Twig, organza ribbon from Ribbon Oasis, Prima, Papermania silk flowers, K & Co Roam fabric covered brad, Basic Grey tiny word brad, machine stitching and inking using versacolor pinecone. Metal word plaque says inspire.

At 10pm last night DS1 informed me he needed a birthday card for his girlfriend for this morning, so I came up with this, very late last night. Consequently, I haven't had enough sleep and I am getting squiffy eyed! Probably the reason for the slant on the photo. The brief for this card was to have hearts done, job done I think!
Supplies: White and pink cardstock, Panduro stamp, Bazzill blooms, heart paper Papermania, DCWV text prints paper stack, jewel hearts and heart shaped brad from multipacks bought years ago, sorry don't remember make.

Big and Little, tuesday's little extra

Tuesday's little extra is Big and Little over at DCM this week. I struggled with this one and I am still not 100% happy with it.

Supplies: White, navy cardstock, Panduro snowman stamp (big snowman, little snowman), EK Success greetings stamp, cheeky flat clip, Tartan ribbon and navy organdy from Ribbon Oasis, faux stitched border stamp from Sassafras Lass, patterned paper DCWV text prints paper stack, black ink and heat it up black sparkle embossing powder, coloured with watercolour paints.

Trying to show that sparkle on the embossing.

CPS #30 Party girl

I made this one following the CPS #30 sketch, the 3 images were meant to be circles so not sure if it counts!

Supplies: Plain blue cardstock, black cardstock, Patterned paper is DCWV pocket full of posies, Stamps are Studio G clear stamps and the shoes were freebies in January's Papercraft Inspirations, ribbon from Ribbon Oasis, Papermania adhesive stones.

Baby card for Beate's sketch #18

My take on Beate's weekend sketch #18. It just so happens that I need a baby card for December for a new niece or nephew so I have made one of each, December is too busy to be caught out not having a suitable card! I bought these stamps from Panduro a year ago, I absolutely love them, I am sure they will never lose their appeal. I don't have a scallop circle punch, yet, so had to make my scallops using a corner rounder which I then used on the card corners to follow through the theme.

Supplies: Basic white and blue cardstock, Panduro rubber stamps, patterned paper - Sue's Blue Plaid by Sue Dreamer, blue organdy ribbon, EK success corner rounder, image coloured with watercolour paints.

Mulberry for wednesday stamper

My very first card for the Wednesday Stamper challenge which was to use mulberry/handmade paper. I used a small amount just behind my image.

supplies: White and pink basic cardstock, stamps from Panduro, ribbons from Ribbon Oasis and All About Craft.

For laughs and halloween inspiration

Nothing to show just now, but I have a couple of great links. If you haven't yet read this ebay page you really must particularly if you
a.have lots of kids
b. hate supermarket shopping
c. need a laugh


I found this last night through bloghopping it is a great blog if you want some inspiration for Halloween - The witches cauldron

DCM Tearing purple holes for Christmas and CPS #29

We were promised a stinker this week and we weren't disappointed. The DCM challenge this week was to make a Christmas Card but........it had to have some Purple, some torn paper and yikes... a hole! This one had me well out of my comfort zone, pretty sure I have never made a purple Christmas card before, don't make many purple cards for that matter but after hours and hours I finally came up with this one, conveniently using the CPS sketch #29 which I have also struggled with this week!

Supplies: purple bazzill cardstock, light purple pearlescent card, pink mulberry paper, small snowflake punch, Studio G tiny clear stamps for the greeting, clear embossing powder, black ink and the very gorgeous snowflakes are from Papercraft, Midori which was a pack sent to me as a gift from my friend who lives in Malaysia, thanks Wendy!

Caardvarks Stickers

The Caardvarks challenge this week was to use stickers on your cards. I dug out my most recent stickers which I got in my fantastic Love Elsie 'Toby' kit and came up with this-

supplies: Love Elsie 'Toby' patterned papers, cardstock stickers and chipboard button. Chocolate Bazzill card, Brown and teal organdy ribbons from Ribbon Oasis, paper piercing and machine stitching.
and some details......

Cardi heaven

Would love to say, look what I just made but unfortunately it is not my creation, would love to knit something like this but I get bored when knitting anything bigger than a scarf! Been in town this morning and saw this, had to have it, how gorgeous is it? this is of course where I get my name from 'cardi-higgins' given to me by DH because of my love of cardis and all things knitted for that matter! Well, who doesn't.

Can you see a trend here, think I am in my brown phase!

And thought I would share my near perfect home made loaf. Not completely my creation either as I just tossed a load of ingredients into the bread maker and it did its thing, how fantastic are they? I don't seem to have the muscles for real hand made bread making they are always a bit disappointing so this is good enough for me, makes me think I am that much closer to being self-sufficient.

A big softy!

Tuesdays little extra is a big softy! Easy for me as I am a big softy!

"You Big Softie" We want you to use something soft on your card feathers, velvet paper, fluffy fibresall that soft, strokable stuff counts for this one and that's it, easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy!

I decided to use the Sisterhood of Scrap sketch for this week.

My softy bit is the gorgeous pink velvet rik rak, just love this stuff! This one is from Ribbon Oasis. Paper is Sandylion pink paisley, stamp is Inkadinkado, I also used a pin, mulberry flowers, pearl brads and some tiny half pearls which must have come out of a multi pack of embellis, they are in compartments in my embelli box so not sure now where they came from, on and some beads also from some multi pack I suspect. The bloom is Bazzill.

A close up of the pin.

And a close up of the ribbon to show how gorgeously soft and velvety it is!

Bee - ds for Caardvarks!

A card for Caardvarks micro challenge, one day only, to use beads on a card. I decided to use this little bee made from beads and wire, they are great fun to make if a little fiddly.

Supplies: green and white cardstock, papers were a recent freebie gift from the september issue of Quick and Crafty, Bazzill blooms, dovecraft brad, making memories cheeky flat clip, ribbon, black, yellow and white beads and a fine guage wire.

Trio of welsh barbers and fibres

Managed to get 2 in 1 this week, the dcm challenge this week was to use 3 die cuts and the Caardvarks challenge was to use fibres on your card:

Here are Lythan's "simple" rules:If you don't have access to die cuts in any shape or from, you can still play along. You can then use punches. And if you don't have punches then you can do hand cutting. See how nice I am?BUT no cheating now! No reaching for the scissors if you have a machine to hand - or even some old die cuts you bought ages ago (that would be me then!) You CAN use punches and scissors etc as well as die cuts though. See, very nice!!

I had to make a card for DD1 this week from her brothers and sister as it doesn't look like they are going to get around to making one themselves so I decided as I had this cute little cricut chihuahua I would base the card around that. Although we have a little dog she would love a chihuahua to carry around like Paris!

supplies: Cricut dog, 2 floral punches, Paper Stella ruby, copper, black and green cardstock, resist technique using clear pigment ink and chalks used on pearlescent ivory card with See D's bone stamp. Dovecraft christmas fibres, Basic Grey tiny word brad, sister greeting cut from Basic Grey sublime words .

Weekend sketch challenge #17

This card is for Beates weekend sketch challenge #17

Supplies: Pale Blue cardstock with scallop edging cut with a scallop template, navy cardstock, paper is DCWV text prints paper stack, greeting made in Word following instructions on Jo Kills blog
button, navy organdy ribbon and pale blue gingham ribbon.