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Saturday 23 December 2017

Merry Christmas!




To all my lovely blogging friends and followers -
I wish you all a  wonderful Christmas and I hope that the coming year will be a happy and healthy one for you and the ones you love.
Thank you for all your support and the lovely comments you leave, it's much appreciated!

See you in the New Year!
xx

Saturday 16 December 2017

Last minute Christmas

Good morning...only 9 more sleeps to go! Well done to all of you who have all their presents wrapped, cards made, written and posted and are just sitting smugly waiting for the big day to arrive...and good luck to all the rest of us!!! Don't get stressed, go with the flow and if all else fails there's always gin! (only joking, don't even like the stuff...give me a (huge) glass of wine any day :)))
I've just worked out that this is my last DT post for 2017,  it's my inspiration card for Sweet Stampin' the theme is 'Last Minute Christmas/ CAS'
I used a cute Stampendous stamp, which has lain untouched since I bought it a year ago. Stamped and embossed the image and sentiment with gold EP onto black card, then added the die cut stars. It looked a bit boring so I stamped the image again onto white card, coloured it quickly, fussy cut and stuck over the first image. Much happier with this and it was still quick to make as the image is small, simple and quick to colour and cut out! In fact I like it so much I made another...no cutting out this time!
Thanks for stopping by at this very busy time of year, it would be great if you had time to pop over and see what my teamies have created...some fabulous ideas for quick and easy last minute cards if you're looking for inspiration.
Have a lovely weekend
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
cutiepie  #118
cagichallenge. Christmas

Wednesday 13 December 2017

Noel

Hello...here I am again with another Christmas card! The last challenge of 2017 starts today at Christmas at Sweet Stampin', so a great chance to join in and show off your last minute Christmas creations for this year...or your first Christmas creations for this year if you're a 'leave it to the last minute' kind of person :))
I used my all-time favourite Christmas stamp to make this card, I think it's such a beautiful image. Simply stamped onto white card, cut an aperture in the gold card and then used gold glimmer paste through a MB stencil. The die cut star is covered with the same paste. I rounded the corners of the card to echo the aperture.
Thanks for looking!
Chris
x

Please scroll down if you want to look at two snowmen!
xx

Challenges entered:
sisterhoodofcrafters  -All about Christmas
merrychristmas #47
words2craftby #48
hollyandivy #21
TIOT Twinkle twinkle
dreamvalley #169
fashionablestamping #130


Two Snowmen

Good morning...well Christmas is almost upon us, in two weeks time it'll all be over and we'll be finishing up the leftovers :)) Hope everyone is enjoying the preparations and not getting too busy and rushed to enjoy it! After all it's a holiday and a celebration.
It's our last challenge of the year at Creative Moments, with an optional Christmas theme. Our lovely sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo.  I used one of their cute images to make this card, 'Two Snowmen' available here. Bugaboo images are great for creating quick cards, they need minimal colouring and always look great! I kept the design very simple, matting and layering the image and papers, just adding a bow and brad and a stamped sentiment.
Thanks for visiting today...hope you find the time to join us...just click here for the challenge blog.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
cardsundmore #199
pinspirational #205
glitternsparkle #269
sparkleschristmas  #83
cardz4galz. #62

Friday 8 December 2017

jolly Christmas


Good evening, it's the last day of the Holiday Chaos challenges over at Catch the Bug. I'm so pleased that I've managed to enter all 7 of them, really didn't think I'd have time to do it at the beginning of the week. Today it's a photo inspiration challenge...and they are even kind enough to provide a freebie to play along with if you want to use it. So here's my card, using the cute freebie!
Thaks for visiting
Happy weekend!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
Catch The Bug Holiday chaos Day 7

Brrrr...




I'm catching up!Here's my card for day 6 of Holiday Chaos challenge at Catch the Bug. I've learnt a lot this week, sometimes you just have to go for it and not over -think what you're doing! These  Bugaboo images are really quick and easy to colour which obviously helps a lot when time is an issue! This time I used Winter penguin trio... I haven't chopped this one up :))
Thanks for looking. Hopefully I'll be back later with the 7th and final card!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
catchthebug Day 6 colour challenge

Thursday 7 December 2017

Santa...I've been naughty

Back again with my 5th card for the Catch the Bug holiday chaos challenges. This is for the 'Humour me' challenge. This time I've used one of my old favourites - JJ Christmas Cheers- she tends to come out every year, this girl sure knows how to party!!  JJ is coloured with copics and a gold sparkle pen...which doesn't show up but all the gold bits do sparkle! I've covered the glass and her specs with glossy accents. The sentiment is stamped.
Thanks for visiting and your lovely comments!
Have a great evening
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
catchthebug day 5 holiday chaos-  humour me

A big red nose...


Hi, I'm still making my cards for the Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos Challenge. I'm not lagging quite so far behind now, so I might even complete the whole week of challenges!  I've two to share today so here's my entry for the bingo board challenge...plaid, Bugaboo image, ribbon.
I used another one of the  images from the Christmas Trio Blocks digi. This cutie is coloured with copics and a gold gel pen. Glossy accents on his eyes and red glitter on his nose. This card was super-quick to make!
I'll be back shortly with the next one!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
catchthebug day 4 holiday-chaos bingo

Wednesday 6 December 2017

Another late night post...


This is getting to be a habit! I'm trying to complete the holiday Chaos challenge over at Catch the Bug, which is proving to be real challenge for me! There's a new theme every day this week and I'm lagging behind! It's day 5 and this is only my 3rd card!!! I've two more half completed though so I might catch up! Anyway this is my entry for the sketch challenge. Once again I used just part of a digi -Christmas Trio Blocks- for me this is huge part of the charm of digi stamps, you can crop them and 'go large' making them so versatile and such excellent value...3 for the price of one! Thanks for looking, and good night!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
catchthebug day-two-holiday-chaos

All tied up at Fab N Funky


Good morning. there's a new challenge starting today at Fab N Funky, it's my turn to host so I picked the theme 'all tied up'...so anything you can tie...ribbon, bow, string etc...easy huh! Our lovely sponsor this time is Crafts and Me. I used a pretty image by Jeremiah Ketner, The great Bow, available here. I coloured her up with my copics. I printed her quite large so I kept my design simple just adding some die cut stars (love this die) a ribbon and some doodled stitches. Sentiment is stamped and embossed with white EP.  It would make me very happy if you play along this challenge...just click here to visit Fab N Funky challenge blog, and add your beautiful creation. You'll love the fabulous cards my lovely teamies have created this week so it's worth a visit even if you don't have time to play!
Thanks for visiting and have a great day.
Chris
x
Challenges entered:
/thepapershelter # birthday/celebration
watercooler #148
craftysentiments  atg
TIOT  Twinkle twinkle
classicdesignteam #20
crazy4challenges  #414

Tuesday 5 December 2017

Snowmen

Good evening, it's a very late post from me today, it's been one of those days where I rushed around but didn't get a lot done. I've been trying to finish wrapping presents and making/writing cards, trying so hard not to leave it all until the last minute! I needed some holders for money gifts for family and friends' children...made some quick little envelopes using an idea I saw on Pinterest (didn't pin it so sorry can't add a link), after I made a template they were very easy to make, looked a bit dull though  so I used this cute  little Bugaboo snowman to jolly them up. He's available here, I just used one of the snowmen from the block.
I kept this very simple, for speed but there are all kinds of ways you could decorate this! A gift card fits inside it too! 
Thanks for looking
Good night!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
catchthebug  Holiday Chaos-day 3 

Saturday 2 December 2017

It's Christmas at Crafty Calendar

Good morning! It's time for our last challenge of 2017 at Crafty Calendar and the theme is 'Christmas'! We have two fabulous sponsors this time...Crafty Ribbons and Bugaboo Stamps.. The DT were given some brilliant digis to play with from Bugaboo and I chose to use Reindeer Peeker...isn't he gorgeous! Just coloured him up with my copics and added some glitter to his nose, I die cut the 'merry' into the white card and then matted it onto the red spotty DP. I stamped the 'Christmas' beneath and added the green ric-rac. I was really happy with how this came out so I made some more...
                                                        using Snowman Peeker

                                                              Elf Peeker

                                                          Santa Peeker

all using Bugaboo digis, and variations on the theme! 
There's loads of inspiration from my teamies to be seen by clicking here to visit the challenge blog. We'd love it if you shared your Christmas makes with us too!
Thanks for taking the time to visit, I know it's a busy time for everyone right now.
Have a great weekend
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
MAWTT #59
cardz4guyz #183
fairytale  #181
catchthebug -Merry and Bright

Thursday 30 November 2017

Baby dragons


The theme for the current challenge at Aurora Wings is 'Metallics'. I enjoy playing along with these challenges, mainly because I love colouring the fabulous images! Here's my entry for this fortnight. My first thought was 'Steampunk' but then I remembered these cute Dragon babies and thought that gold was the perfect colour for a dragon's egg. So I coloured the dragons with copics, glitter pens and perfect pearls for shimmer on the blue/green. one, then paper pieced the egg shells with gold paper. 

 I used the same gold paper to make the background, cutting it into sections and embossing each panel. I use a lovely piece of teal coloured metallic cardstock to make the frames and die cut swirl. Sentiment is stamped and embossed with gold EP. M y photography has let me down again ...IRL this has much better metallic sheen! I've made so many Christmas cards lately so this made a very pleasant change!
Thanks for visiting!
It's snowing!!!
Chris
x

Challenges:
Aurora Wings #61
cardsundmore  #198
craftycardmakers #201


Wednesday 29 November 2017

Pretty in pink

Good morning, hope your week is going well...not much of November left now!
The new challenge starting today at Creative Moments has an optional theme of 'Pretty in pink', now I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of pink, especially for Christmas cards, but my Granddaughters are - particularly the younger two-, so here's the card I made for one of them (not sure which one yet!). I made a shaker card in the shape of a snowglobe, I diecut the circles f'rom pink DP and snowy acetate. for the globe and hand cut the card base. The cute image  is courtesy of Polkadoodles  one of our lovely sponsors this fortnight, it's Candy Cane Elf, available here. I've used copics to colour and paper-pieced her hat. I stuck it all together...then spent ages carefully prizing it apart again...I forgot the snowflake sequins for the shaker element...what a donut! If I had a brain I'd be dangerous ;), fortunately managed to make a big enough gap to insert the snowflakes one by one without damaging the card! I embellished it with a few die cut snowflakes and added a stamped sentiment.
We have two fantastic sponsors this challenge, the other one is Rick St Dennis, please visit the main challenge blog for full details of sponsors and prizes and to view the lovely creations of my talented teamies, and of course to add your own fabulous entries :))
Thanks for visiting, have a great day
Chris
x
Challenges entered;
digichoosday #48
shoppingourstash #331
crafting-with-dragonflies. #94
polkadoodle #47
hollyandivy #20

Saturday 25 November 2017

I can explain...

Good morning,  the last weekend in November has arrived it's all downhill from now until Christmas. Some of the neighbours have their decorations up already...too early for me yet! Still reeling from the news that we're no longer going to my daughter's for Christmas dinner, her building work is still going on, and much of her house is a no go area...seems I'm cooking for everyone instead...lucky me! Don't mind really, at least I'm not having to live in a building site!
My card today ios for our new challenge at Sweet Stampin', the theme this week is 'use your favourite Christmas colour combo'. I chose to use traditional red, green and white (mainly!) as although I like lots of other combinations this is what I seem to drift towards most often.  I stamped my moose onto white cardstock, then masked him to stamp the large Woodware 'Santa' stamp over the top. I coloured the moose with copics and added glossy accents to his eyes and red glitter on his nose (I know he's a moose not a reindeer, I just happen to like red  noses... well not on me of course, not a good look!) The 'Santa' is paper pieced with glitter added to the hat. Another flat card for posting!
Why not hop over  here and see which colours my teamies like to use? Then it's up to you to wow us with your own fabulous  colourful creations...just remember to stamp something!
Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
craftrocket #43
MAWTT #59
addictedtostamps #269
thepapershelter. #319
merrychristmaschallenge #44
watercooler #146
hollyandivy #19
Rudolph Day


Wednesday 22 November 2017

Enjoy this day

Running late today...and in a rush so this is going to be a really quick post! The theme for our new challenge starting today at Fab 'n' Funky is 'Inspired by a book, film or song' and  is sponsored by Dr.Digi. THis great theme was chosen by Ginny who is hosting the challenge this week.
Inspired by the film 'The Mechanic' I used a fabulous Dr Digi image, Aubery Bumblethope. He's coloured with copics, glossy accents to his specs. Various papers from my stash were distressed, torn and inked. I added a die cut corner thingy and some die cut gears which have been heat embossed, Sentiment is stamped and die cut.
Thanks for taking the time to visit, do please take the time to hop over to Fab 'n' Funky to see what my teamies have been up to this week...it would be great to have you join us this week.
Got to dash now...
Chris
x

Saturday 18 November 2017

A bit of recycling...

I'm back with a quick post to share a project I made for the current challenge at Aurora Wings, I thought that there was another week to go but just noticed the deadline is today! 
The theme is recycling. My lovely DIL is a huge fan of recycling and is always giving me boxes and containers to re-use, so here's what I did with this one! 



I cut the cereal box to size to fit over the blue outside part of the original box,  die cut an aperture then painted  with a layer of gesso and then Starlights metallic paint  in pearl, when dry I used Nuvo Glimmer Paste through a stencil, which gives a beautifully raised sparkly effect.
I framed the lovely Mistletoe Fairy,(coloured with copics)  with red glitter card and placed it in the aperture cut into painted the cereal box, then glued the whole lot over the original blue box cover (it really didn't want to stick, so I resorted to UHU glue, which I hate because it tends to go everywhere I don't want it to go...but it does stick!!! I covered the two end panels with the red glitter card and sparkly red organza ribbon and added a pearly trim...(more Uhu!!)
I'm going to put my sister's Christmas pressie in this box...she has a 'box fetish' and will keep it forever :))
Thanks for visiting, please scroll down to see my earlier post today.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
daringcardmakers -gift bag or box
thatscrafty - Stencil it!
mixitup #7
incywincy not a card

Happy Birthday Sweet Stampin'

It's birthday time at Sweet Stampin' this week...Yay!!! Happy Birthday to us!  Our theme this week is....birthdays!!!...and you're all invited to play along!
I made this card for a lovely friend of mine whose birthday was earlier this week (great timing!) This brilliant Bugaboo image really reminds me of her (except she never spills her wine!!!) and I'm not exactly sure of her age...could have been a 'big one' this year ...or it's next year, so played it safe! Image is coloured with copics, loads of sparkle added with wink of Stella and a gold Sparkle pen, glossy accents added to her specs, the glass and spillage! I sprinkled some tiny gems around the image and on the black background (which is embossed but can't make it show in the photo).
Please hop over to Sweet Stampin' and join our celebrations, my lovely teamies have made some wonderful birthday cards and we can't wait to see yours, so please do join us this week!
Have a lovely weekend
Chris
x
Challenges entered:
allsorts #442
catchthebug BINGO- (sentiment, embossing (black background), sparkle
pattiescreations  #140
Bugaboo Crafty Challenge #11
audsentiments #193
sisterhoodofcrafters - sparkle

Wednesday 15 November 2017

A time to give thanks


Good morning my friends, another fortnight has flown past and it's time for a new challenge over at Creative Moments..  We have two lovely sponsors this time...Digistamps4joy and Decosses Dynamite Doodles. The optional theme for this challenge is 'Thanksgiving'. I live in the UK and we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here so I opted to make a 'Thank you' card instead, can never have too many of these! I used my own stamp, a beautiful Lavinia fairy one, and kept the design very simple. First I stamped my fairies across a square of pretty DP that looks like a shaded inky background and  adhered it onto a black card base.Then I cut two corners off another identical piece of DP and stamped the tree on one and the sentiment on the other, matted both corners onto triangles of black cardstock, then mounted them in place using foam pads. Quick and easy ...but I really like it!
For more inspiration please check out the Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the DT have created.
Thanks for visiting
have a lovely day
Chris
x
Challenges entered:
craftingbydesigns -thankful
craftygalscorner #149
Fairytale #180
tuesdaythrowdown. TT369
addicted-to-stamps #157
cagichallenge Thank you/thankful
simplycreatetoo #133

Saturday 11 November 2017

Sweet Stampin' babies

Good morning and happy weekend. There's a new challenge starting today at Sweet Stampin' ,the theme this week is 'babies'. I'm not great at making 'baby' cards, seem to have a bit of a mental block- so I browsed the internet for inspiration. There seem to be quite a lot of bottle shaped cards so I thought i'd give it a try. I cut the card shape by hand, then covered it with DP. I added my cute baby bear, a very old wood backed Whippersnapper stamp I've had for years, still my favourite baby stamp...it's the boy version but I just colour it pink and add a  bow  when I want a girl ;). I added some ribbon and a heart shaped brad to finish.
My teamies have made some beautiful cards this week so please hop over to Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog to admire them. Then it's up to you to get creating! Please remember to add some stamping!
Have a great weeken
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
emeraldcity #5
inthepink  #127
craftycreations #354
inspirationdestination  #137
thepapershelter  #317
craftingfromtheheart #182

Wednesday 8 November 2017

November challenge at Christmas at Sweet Stampin'

Hi, I'm back as threatened  promised! This is my last-but-one DT card for Christmas at Sweet Stampin' this year! November's challenge is up and running! I used a sweet image from Mo Manning which I started to colour some time ago and then mislaid, found it the other day and decided to use it for this card. I'm trying to keep my Christmas cards flat enough to post from now on as I seem to have a few that are a bit bulky! DP from stash, a bit of red ribbon and some die cut trees to embellish. I added some frantage and a tiny bit of glitter to the image for snow, the sentiment is stamped and heat embossed. It fits in a envelope...yay!
Please click here to see what my teamies have been up to this month...and then it's up to you to get creating!
Thanks so much for visiting today, please scroll down if you would like to see my earlier post.
Have a fabulous day
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
themerrychristmaschallenge #42
hollyandivy #18
dreamvalley #167
getcreative #64
cagichallenge Winter girls
craftyfriends #70

Gorgeous gingham


Good morning, I've two cards to share today, the first is for our new challenge at Fab N Funky, the theme chosen by our lovely Wends is 'gorgeous gingham'. Our sponsor for this challenge is Whoopsidaisy, who kindly provided the DT with some sweet images to play with. I chose to use a cute image from the So Sweet CD. This image is already shaded so quick and easy to colour. I kept my layout simple and added a large pink gingham bow.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, please have a peek at the lovely creations from the rest of Team Funky and of course we'd love it if you choose to play along this week.
I'll be back later with my second card  ;)
x
Challenges entered:
/thepapershelter #317
watercooler #144
ribbongirls November Challenge
cutecardthursday #502



Saturday 4 November 2017

Colours of Autumn

Good morning, it's the first Saturday of the month which means it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Calendar. The theme this month is 'colours of autumn' and the prize is a secret :)-a lovely crafty surprise for our lucky winner.
I used my lovely Lavinia stamps to make my card, they've been sadly neglected lately so it was a real treat for me...I  have some new and unused ones waiting to be inked up, but this time I used some old favourites. The background is a dp which I diecut into 2 circles then diecut the hexagon from the middle of one circle.  I  stamped with my favourite leafy vine (looove this stamp!) in several colours of distress ink all around the edge of the hexagon frame and around the underneath circle as well so that there were layers of leaves. I stamped the fairy houses and fairy , then adhered the 'frame' with sticky tabs for a little dimension. I added some die cut leaf sprays and a little fairy charm and a few dots here and there with a gold sparkle pen.
We do hope you choose to play along with our challenge this month, remember the prize is a surprise!!  There's plenty of inspiration from my lovely teamies  to be enjoyed by clicking here, and then it's all down to you!
Thanks for visiting, have a fabulous weekend and for those of you celebrating Guy Fawkes Night...stay safe!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
MAWTT #57
craftygalscorner #147
Double D Feeling Fallish
/crazychallenge #260

Wednesday 1 November 2017

Anything goes at Creative Moments

Good morning, November has arrived,  looking forward to getting past the next week...it's firework season here, and I hate it! Wouldn't mind in the least if it was just one day, but seems to drag on for ages and the bangs and crashes are so loud it's like WW3! At least my dog's not reduced to a trembling wreck like our previous Great Dane, I used to spend a lot of time hiding under a blanket with Maisie. Mathilda leaps around and barks, which is a bit wearing but not as distressing !
Anyway, enough moaning and back to the card... at Creative Moments the theme this fortnight is 'anything goes' there's no twist, and our sponsors are My stitch back in twine and Scribbles Designs.. I got to choose an amazing image from Scribbles- Peek a Boo - available here. I had every intention of colouring this in a kaleidoscope of colours but changed my mind and left it uncoloured apart from a gold sparkle pen on the eyes. I cut around the face, removing most of the front of the card, and added gold cord 'whiskers'. The back of the card, what would be the inside if it had a front, is embossed and I added a diecut sentiment, quick and simple!

Thanks for calling by
hugs
Chris
x

Challenges



Monday 30 October 2017

Preparing for Christmas


Good morning, start of a new week and time for a new challenge at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge. This is my last week as a Guest Designer and I've had a great time designing along with the lovely and talented ladies of this friendly team, so thank you very much for having me :)
The  (optional) theme for this challenge is 'Preparing for Christmas', so a good opportunity for adding to my stash of Christmas cards. I used a cling stamp, Elf gifts, which I coloured with copics and glitter pens. Papers and matching ribbon were a gift from my sister. Die cut foliage and sentiment from Tim Holtz. I'm pleased with how this turned out, those little elf- mice are so cute!

Please take the time to check out this lovely challenge over at HMFMC, there's some wonderful inspiration from the team and the prizes are fabulous!

Thanks for visiting my blog today, have a great week.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
CCC #24
lilpatchofcraftyfriends #68
allsorts #439
HIMCR #324
abcchristmaschallenge - Unlimited
merrychristmaschallenge #40



Sunday 29 October 2017

Here be dragons

Hello my friends. I'm not liking the clock change at all...5pm and it's so dark outside...winter is coming (!) My card today is again inspired by the current challenge at Aurora Wings, I made it last week before the girls arrived but no chance to post it before today! In fact not much chance of getting in my craft room as it was occupied a lot of the time by small busy girls!
The amazing image, Dragon Lore, is coloured with copics. I built a 'window frame' from black cardstock and a fence die cut to frame it. The sentiment is stamped onto a shield shape then covered with crackle accents.

It's been very quiet in my house today! No giggling and flurries of activity and calls for 'Nanny, can you help me do this?' I have my craft room and computer all to myself...but I'd rather have the girls :)
Daughter is home safe and sound now and they're delighted to have their Mummy back.

One of the fun things we did together last week was to visit a Pumpkin farm where they got to choose and pick their own pumpkins, fortunately it was a beautiful warm day and the fields were dry, would have hated to push that wheelbarrow through mud! Here's what they did with some of the pumpkins-

...didn't they do well! Olivia (10) did the 2 larger ones on her own. I helped Ruby (8) with the carving on her little mouse pumpkin. Minion Bob is all her own work (apart from a bit of help making his specs!)
Thank you for all your kind wishes, I am feeling a bit better today (18 hours sleep helped!) and can talk more (much to hubby's disappointment).
Have a lovely evening
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
aurorawings #59
colourcrazy #43
morgansartworld #21
eclecticellapu October Challenge

Saturday 28 October 2017

Cool bear!


I'm running really late with my post today, had such a full-on busy week looking after my granddaughters, then they stayed for an extra day as Daddy had to work this morning. They've been as good as gold and I'm going to miss them now they've gone home...but I'm shattered now, so keeping this post very short. Doesn't help that I've had some kind of 'flu virus all week and can hardly talk!
My card is for our new Challenge over at Sweet Stampin', the theme this week is 'bears'...how lovely, and so much scope!
I  used a set of stamps from Hobby Art, masked and stamped my scene, added a touch of colour to the bear with a copic and to the sky with distress ink. I matted it onto silver cardstock and then onto some embossed white panels. Added a bow and a die cut snowflake.
It would be lovely if you choose to play along this week, just click here for some fabulous inspiration and to add your entry.
Hoping to feel better tomorrow...will be back then to catch up on what I've missed.
Thanks for visiting
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
allsorts #439
craftingbydesigns Get ready for Christmas
watercooler #142
paperminutes #509
2craftycrittercrazies  #7
onecrazystamper Christmas/Winter
Rudolph Day October Challenge

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Peeking mice

Good morning, it's a quick and scheduled post from me today, I'm looking after my granddaughters for a few days and am away from home when this is due.
It's the last Wednesday of the month, that means it's time for a Christmas Challenge  at Fab N Funky. Our host this week is the lovely Jools and we're sponsored by Digital Delights. 
I used this cute image, available here. Coloured with copics, papers and ribbon were a gift from my lovely sister...just noticed the bow is upside down...
Hope you can find the time to play along this week...you're going to need those Christmas cards all too soon! Just click here to see what delights my  teamies have created, then add your own fabulous festive projects!
Thanks for calling by
Chris
x

Sunday 22 October 2017

A little bit darker


Good evening, hope you've enjoyed a lovely relaxing weekend. Today I've been  indulging in some me time...tomorrow my granddaughters arrive for the week, so I'm going to be very busy! 
I've coloured up a couple of  fabulous Aurora Wings images and made some cards to enter in the current challenge...'Darkness Falls'.... I don't 'do' horror films but must admit I've always been fascinated by the darker side of fantasy and fairy tales, so I thought it would be fun to use my imagination and play along. The image I used for this card is Chrysanthemum Festival, I've cropped it a bit and tried to colour her a bit creepy! She's holding a butterfly but that didn't go with my theme so I gave her an owl instead (cropped from Sisterhood) it's attached over the image with silicone to add a little dimension. The frame around the image is a die cut circle oated with black Nuvo glimmer paste which has also been applied through a stencil to make the drips!.
Thanks for looking...hope I don't give you nightmares with this!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
pileiton #135
TIOT -Halloween
craftygirlz Spook it out
deliciousdoodles Halloween
eclecticellapu October Challenge

Saturday 21 October 2017

Midway reminder for Crafty Calendar

 Good morning and happy weekend. A brief reminder that our October Challenge challenge at Crafty Calendar only has just over a week to go. The theme for this month is 'Halloween'. I made a card for my smallest granddaughter using this sweet little witch from All Dressed Up...she's available here. Emily is only 3 so this cute non-scary image is perfect for her card...it even has a little cat, which I coloured to look like Emily's pet! I cut the front of the card into the shape of a 'spooky' house (just drew the shape on the inside first), and added the wonky windows. I covered what would have been the inside of the card but now shows on the outside (does that make sense??!) with purple paper and added a moon and stars. I don't have a die for a bat so I drew the shape on black card and gave him some wobbly eyes. Die cut sentiment is Tim Holtz.
For full details of this month's challenge and sponsors please click here to pop over to Crafty Calendar, where you will find plenty of inspiration from my lovely teamies. You still have plenty of time to join in with your own creepy (or not!) creations.
Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous weekend!
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
allsorts #438
mytimetocraft #357
craftingbydesigns Halloween
pdelinkyparty #195


Wednesday 18 October 2017

The elf is watching...

Hello, I'm a little late with my post today, been a busy morning! My card is for our new Challenge at Creative Moments, the theme this week if you want to use it is 'Purple Paradise'. We have 2 fab sponsors for this  Dr Digi and Sparkle n Sprinkle. My cute Elf-sitter image is courtesy of Sparkle n Sprinkle it comes with a coloured image as well as the uncoloured one and several sentiments too.
I coloured my elf with copics in sades of purple and olive and added glitter to the bells on his outfit, then sat him on the edge of my pop up box. He's surrounded by glittery stars and presents and you can see Santa and his reindeer in the background. I now have to decide which of my granddaughters to give it to...they love their 'Elf on the shelf' the whole family have a lot of fun with it! (you just don't want to know what that elf gets up to at night!)
Thanks for calling by today, please hop over to Creative Moments for full details of sponsors and prizes and to check out the fab creations from my teamies.
Have a good day
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
Bugaboo Crafty Challenge  #10
crafterscafe #183
sparkleschristmas #81
sendasmile4kids- Christmas
crafting-with-friends #52
hidinginmycraftroom #322 (all the stars and gifts cut from scraps)


Monday 16 October 2017

Autumn colours at HMFMC

Good morning my friends, hope the week ahead proves to be a good one for you all. My card today is my penultimate GDT creation for House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge...the theme this fortnight is 'Autumn/Fall Colours'. I am lucky enough to live less than 5 minutes walk from a small woodland area and this year the colours of the turning leaves are just amazing! We've also been very fortunate with the weather, mainly warm and sunny...with bright blue skies and I've tried to use some of these colours in my card.
The card base is a simple tent fold with rounded corners I cut out the middle section to show the beautiful blue sky inside, complete with die cut clouds. I stamped the cute mousie with his parachute leaf onto a separate piece of card, coloured with copics , then fussy cut. I stamped the tips of the leaf again onto the main body of the card then matched the cut out image to bridge the gap. The  wooden sentiment is coloured with copics.
I'm having a great time guest designing for this lovely challenge, please click here to enjoy the wonderful creations from the Mousie Girls and for details of the fantastic prizes on offer!
Thanks for calling by today, hope you have a good week.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
pattiescreations #139
4craftychicks #372
MAWTT #56
craftyaddicts #41
craftysentiments -Fall

Saturday 14 October 2017

It's great to be 8!

  The card I'm sharing today is for my little granddaughter who is excitedly anticipating her eighth birthday next week! It's a good fit for this week's challenge at Sweet Stampin' which is 'Sparkle and Shine' ...it does have lots of sparkle (promise) although it doesn't show in the photo...the card isn't lopsided either...the camera DOES lie! :))
I chose this cute image (Polkadoodles) because of  her specs...no Ruby doesn't need to wear glasses...she's just obsessed by them and wears a pair of huge 'fake' ones whenever she can get away with it, kids do have strange ways sometimes! 
There's sparkle on the edges of die cuts, added with a glitter pen (Kaisercraft) and loads of Wink of Stella everywhere (Ruby loves a bit of sparkle!), her specs have glitter on the frames and glossy accents on the lens.
The sentiment is stamped n pink and then coloured with the glitter pen.



There are loads of splendidly sparkly creations from my lovely teamies to be enjoyed by clicking here, so please do hop over and take a peek...then it's your turn to dazzle us with your own beautiful glittery makes...just remember to stamp something.
Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
fussyandfancy #198
alohafriday  #105
audsentiments #190
starstampz  lots of pink
thesisterhoodofcrafters  Pink October
watercooler #140
unicorn #26
digichoosday #41

Wednesday 11 October 2017

October Challenge...Christmas at Sweet Stampin'

It's time for our October Challenge at Christmas at Sweet Stampin'...only 2 more challenges to go this year! For my DT card I used this fantastic Snowman Selfie image from Sheepski Designs, it's available here and believe it or not...it's a freebie! I printed out the image, then reduced the size and printed it twice more. I coloured the larger image with my copics...love these jolly snowmen, they're so cute!  The film strips are die cut (think it's a Joycraft die). I cut sections from the smaller images to fit inside each frame, coloured them and stuck them behind the  diecuts...pleased with the effect! The stamped sentiment is attached with a triangular paper clip.
If you haven't made any Christmas cards yet this year NOW is a good time to start!! For more inspiration just click here to see what my lovely teamies have made...we'd love it if you play along with us this month!
Thanks for visiting
have a fabulous day
Chris
x
*Please scroll down for my earlier post today*

Challenges entered:

CHNCC October Challenge
sendasmile4kids holiday wishes



It's only words...

Good morning my friends and visitors, hope your week is going well. Our new challenge at Fab 'N' Funky has a great theme ...' Word Art' chosen by our lovely Troppostella. We're lucky to be sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo this week and were given some brilliant stamps to play with. I chose to use Noel Birds...so cute! Coloured with copics, glitter added to fairy lights, papers from stash (think they're Papermania), Embossed panel using an ef free with a magazine. Die cut fairy lights, coloured with copics and glitter added.
Apologies for bad photo, took it late in the evening and couldn't get lighting right!
As always my teamies have come up trumps and created some lovely cards to inspire! Please hop on over to Fab 'n' Funky to take a peek.

Thanks for stopping by
Chris

Sunday 8 October 2017

Japanese Beauty

Good afternoon, hope you're all enjoying a lovely peaceful sunday. I'm full of lunch (we went out to eat so no cooking and no clearing up...YAY!), and having a bit of 'me' time!
My card is inspired by the current challenge at Aurora Wings - 'Clean and Simple. I love an opportunity to colour Mizi's beautiful images. I thought I'd try something a little different this time so I printed Miyabi twice and coloured one image in greyscale. I cut a strip from the second image and coloured that ...in colours :)) then paper-pieced it over the top of the grey image  ...quite fiddly to get it exact! With hindsight I wish I'd just marked the image and coloured in the central section instead of cutting the strip...the line down her face would have blended in better- otherwise I like the effect! The stamp in the bottom right hand corner is the Japanese kanji for beauty (I hope!)
Thanks for visiting
have a lovely evening.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
aurorawings #58
craftycatz #387 CAS
watercooler #139 feminine

Saturday 7 October 2017

Spooky!!


Good morning and happy weekend! Over at Crafty Calendar there's a new challenge starting today with the theme of 'Halloween'. It seems to getting increasingly popular here in the UK and the children seem to love it...my granddaughters do anyway, after all what's not to love about free sweeties! I always make sure I have plenty of treats for the neighbours' kiddies...and my girls very kindly take charge of any 'leftovers' to save me worrying what to do with them. So thoughtful :))
Anyway, back to the card. I don't know what the fold is called, but i made the card blank from black cardstock. The gorgeous witch is courtesy of Dr Digi, one of our fabulous sponsors this month, she's
available here. Wilma is dressed in her best party gear to celebrate her favourite night of the year...just check out those tights! The skeletons and sentiments are various stamps.
We hope you're going to join the fun and play along with us this month, just click here to hop over to Crafty Calendar for all the challenge details and to see what my lovely teamies have made to scare you with!
Have a lovely weekend and thanks for taking the time to visit.
Chris
x

Challenges entered:
craftygalscorner #143 add a bat
LTSCB #102