Wedded Bliss on New Years Eve!

Hi everyone, I thought it was about time I returned to the crafting and blogging world.  I hope you all had the most fabulous Christmas.  Ours was quiet, as it's only us and the girls, we had a wonderful day - but I'm thinking ahead (quite a few years!) that I will eventually have a house full of family and grand kids and then I will be enjoying Christmas all over again.

I have a quick card to share with you today.  Andy's godson, Martin is getting married today (he recently emigrated to America to be with his American fiancee, Terri), yep New Years Eve and I made this card for them.

The patterned paper and the toppers (no colouring from me on this one) are from the new Cherryblossom Lane CD at Polka Doodles.  It really is a fabulous CD, lots of images (coloured and black/white for you to colour), toppers, sentiments, papers so many things for lots of different occasions.

The bottom layer and the lilac frame (made from a scrap piece of paper that had been used with a Spellbinders Nestabilities) were glued together and then both run through the Cuttlebug with the embossing folder from the Once Upon a Princess set.

The topper, the sentiment and edges were inked, and popped up on thin pop dots, as I didn't want to make it to thick for posting.

Added a little bit of ribbon under the sentiment layer and some teeny little bling dots.

The inside is also finished off and I used the Nestabilites Labels Eight to cut the inside sentiment layer.

The sentiment and rose stamp are from a See D's stamp set called Springtime Swirls, that I had bought in the UK many moons ago.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Years Eve - don't forget to make those New Years resolutions!

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Hello all my wonderful friends.  It's the day before Christmas Eve and this is my wish to all of you.

May you all have the most wonderful Christmas, enjoying family and friends.  I am taking a little (just a little) break from my blog and I will be back to welcome in the New Year.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments and support and encouragement - I can't thank you enough.

So this is my card to all of you.

Another image from Sliekje's Digi Stamps - Angelique is so wonderful to give us her digi's for free.

I used my Spectrum Noir markers and I loved colouring this one in, however I still need lessons for hair colouring. 

The papers are from a My Mind's Eye 6" by 6" stack called Lost & Found Christmas.  The sentiment is from When the Scrap Hits the Fun.

I added a little ribbon and  a bow under the sentiment - to finish off the card.  The image and the sentiment were both popped up on foam dots.  I used some Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye, to ink all the edges of the white layers.

And of course the inside of the card.

This card is being entered in the following challenges.

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Challenge #104: Anything Goes (closes 28 Dec)

Milk Coffee Challenge - Christmas or Winter Holiday (closes 2 Jan)

Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges - Challenge #54: Anything Goes Festive (closes 4 Jan)

Stamp n Doodle - Challenge: Anything Goes (closes 1 Jan)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Merry Christmas: Anything Christmassy (closes 26 Dec)

Challenges 4 Everybody - Challenge #10: Anything Goes (closes 4 Jan)

So, my fellow crafters - once again, have a most wonderful Christmas and see you soon.

A very Merry Christmas to you all.

On the First day of Christmas!

OK, OK I know it's technically not the first day of Christmas, but we are only 3 more sleeps away.  I am not posting a card on Christmas Day!

I can proudly say that I have officially finished my Christmas shopping and its all wrapped!!  I spent yesterday morning, whilst the girls were on their last day of school, having a wrapping frenzy!! But I am done - Yay me!

I had every intention of doing all the 12 days of Christmas of these images from Dearie Dolls but I ran out of time.  I will make it my project for next year.

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,  a partridge in a pear tree."

Now I have to say, and please don't be offended, but if my true love gave me a partridge in a pear tree for Christmas, I would probably tell him where to put said tree LOL! 

I do love this image though, I think I have to start adding some sparkle to my cards, maybe next year.

I really love using my Spectrum Noir markers and intend to get the remainder of the all the colours in the new year sometime.  I have the first 72 and then there are 168 in total.

I really didn't feel the need for a sentiment, as the quote says it all, but there is a room to put a Merry Christmas at the top there, maybe I will.

I popped up the image and added a little ribbon and here is the inside to finish off.

I really love that little snowman on the inside, he is from a Recollections Christmas stamp set.

So nearly there, the girls finished school yesterday and we might take them to the cinema today to see The Hobbit.  I truly don't see how they can make three films from such a little book, but it has been given rave reviews.

This card is being entered in the following challenges.

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #191: Layers (closes 6 Jan)

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Challenge #104: Anything Goes for Christmas (closes 28 Dec)

Catch The Bug Challenge Blog - Recipe Challenge: Use a border (closes 29 Dec)

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy crafting.

Secret Santa Reveal

Hi all, I just wanted to share some fabulous things I got recently. She's a Sassy Lady and The Bug Bytes Design teams got together and we had a Secret Santa.

We had to include bits and pieces that we thought our recipient would like, include something home made if we could. Our budget was $15 - and here in Canada it was really difficult to find good bargains, but I think my Secret Santa enjoyed what I managed to include.

Now, my Secret Santa was Pam from The Bug Bytes and Papillon Digital Designs.  And oh my goodness she sent me so many wonderful gifts.  And I'm going to share all of them with you. (If you click on the photos it will make them larger)

Firstly, the Christmas card that she sent me, and it contained the most wonderful little gift tags, all hand made.

  And it opens up like a box.

And inside were these delightful little tags.

Next up came this beautiful home made large Christmas tag - its beautiful. And some homemade soap, a bag stamped and coloured by Pam.

  

Then some fabulous ribbon, butterflies, crocheted flowers and some beautiful pins.  Along side that is a huge pile of Minds Eye die cuts - there are so many of them.

 

Next up - yes there's more!  Flower embellishments and also a beautiful bookmark and some fabulous metal embellishments.

 

Then there is a wonderful stamp set and a fabulous collections of rub-ons.

 

And still more, these lovely girly embellishments - will be perfect for a friends daughter for her birthday card.

And lastly but by no means least, were theses fabulous Mind Eyes papers and beautiful ribbon and embellishments to get me ready for Valentines Day.

 

Thank you Pam so much - you also have an eye for a bargain, because with the budget given you got so much stuff.  Thank you.

Isn't she awesome my friends.  My apologies for the long post but I had to show all these lovely goodies that I am so going to look forward to using in the new year.

Also, I wanted to share with you the item I made for my Secret Santa to receive.  It is my first ever project using Modge Podge and I can see me using it more in the future.

Here is what I made for Jen from Java Jen Creations.  I tried to include elements from her blog, so flowers, scrolls and music and of course Java Jen.  Also sent her some lovely crafty goodies and a Christmas card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting.

Snow much Fun!

Only 5 more sleeps till Christmas Day - and I still, yes still!! haven't done the wrapping.  I am going to try and do it today.

I only have a few more Christmas cards to share, at least I will be up on my stock for next year!

Here's a jolly snowman having a great time on his sled.

This is a Dearie Dolls image, and again a very generous Mary Ellen, shares here digital images for free.  She also has some lovely stories and poems on her blog too.

I coloured him with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I have also found that edging my images with IG1(Ice Grey1) it really makes them pop.

He looks like he is having snow much fun, doesn't he.

I popped up the image layer and the sentiment layer, just to add a little dimension and of course that little bit of ribbon to finish off the card.

And the inside of the card.

This card is being entered in the following challenges.

Stamp n Doodle - Challenge: Anything Goes (closes 31 Dec)

Love to Create - Challenge #46: Winter Fun (closes 23 Dec)

Digital Tuesday - Challenge #191: Layers (closes 6 Jan)

Eclectic Ellapu - Challenge #10: Anything Goes (closes 5 Jan)

Catch the Bug Challenge Blog - December Bingo at Bugaboo (closes 21 Dec)

 mine is Starts with S, Ribbon and sentiment

{PIN}spirational Challenges - Challenge #38 (closes 24 Dec)

I hope you are all counting down to the festive season and are super organised - like me!  NOT!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy crafting.

A No Horse Open Sleigh!

Hey peoples - how is everyone.  It's that time of the month for me to share a creation with everyone over at She's a Sassy Lady, and of course here with my lovely followers, so here is some last minute Christmas inspiration for you.

I have been seeing these lovely sleighs with a box incorporated all over blog land - but I have yet (notice the yet!) to get hold of a Cameo - Father Christmas do you hear the little hint!

I decided to do it the old fashion way and this is what I came up with.

I used the Circut Cartridge Winter Woodland for the sleigh (page 53) cut at 3" (actual size is 3" high by 5.25" wide),  I cut the sleigh out twice normal and then flipped the image and cut out twice again.  Here is the screen shot.

The reason that I cut four sleighs, was to glue two together to give it that extra bit of strength - I don't have the deep cut blade to be able to use thicker materials.

After gluing two sleighs together, I then glued on the sleigh layer and then I ran this through my Cuttlebug with the Divine Swirls folder; only embossing the top part of the sleigh.

Now came my awkward part - making the box to attach to the sleigh.

First you will need (for this size sleigh - any bigger and you will have to work out the size of your box) a piece of card stock that is 7.5" by 6.5".

You will score the longest side at 2" and 5.5".

Next score lines on the shorter side, score at 2" and 4.5".

Now we need to shape the box.  So we are going to measure 5/8" up from the 2"/4.5" score line as below and mark with a little dot, then draw a line as below - please note the orientation and that you are making these lines on the longer edge.

Next you are going to cut off these pieces.

The next piece to cut is as below - again 5/8".

Next to cut your flaps ready to form your box.

And now we can make up the box by securing the flaps and there you have it.  A nice shaped box to attach your sleighs.

I used silver card to make up my box - all you need to do is then secure your sleighs to your box.

I then made a small box to go inside the sleigh - it measures 3" by 2" by 3" high.  I filled this with lovely chocolates and added a lovely bit of ribbon.  The holly was cut at 1" .

And that is it, all done and a lovely gift to share.

Entering this in the following challenges.

Tuesday Alchemy - Challenge #45: Anything but a Card (closes 24 Dec)

Die Cuttin Divas - Challenge #95 - More Holiday Spirit (closes 31 Dec)

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Happy crafting.

What's up Elf!

Major count down to Christmas - I still haven't wrapped the presents !!!!   Are you all organised?  Are you ready for the fat man to hit town?  I'm not!!!

May be this little elf will help me if I wish hard enough!

My girls finish school on Friday - ahhhhh!!!  Guess I better do some wrapping today.

I used a digital stamp from Sliekje's Digi Stamps - Angelique is so generous as all her digis are free and they are awesome.

I coloured him in with my Spectrum Noir markers and added a little cotton ball to the end of his hat.

Isn't he just so cute!

My card base is 6.5" by 5.5", the sentiment stamp is a Recollections stamp from a Christmas set.  And a little bit of Christmas ribbon to finish him off.

Here is the inside too - the little tree stamp is from my old UK stash.

Well, I really am going to have to leave you there.  Best I go and get some presents wrapped - or else there'll be nothing under the tree.

This card is being entered in the following challenges.

Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog - Challenge: Oh Christmas Tree (closes 20 Dec)

Go Fish Challenge Blog - Challenge #31: Anything Goes (closes 31 Dec)

The Stampin Shack Blog - Challenge: Let the Holidays begin (closes 29 Dec)

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Challenge #185: Oh Christmas Tree (closes 21 Dec)

The Perfect Sentiment - Challenge # PSC59: Anything Goes with Christmas (closes 31 Dec)

Paper Pretties - Monday Challenge # PPMC70: Create a Christmas Creation (closes 23 Dec) 

3 Girl Jam Challenges - Challenge #8: Christmas Inspiration (closes 28 Dec)

Eureka Stamps - Challenge #19: Christmas Spirit (closes 23 Dec)

Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting or panicking or wrapping LOL!

Snow where to go!

Here we are half way through the month.  This is my last post for Pin and Tack as a DT member.  I have decided to step down at the end of my DT term (which was September to December), as I am getting really busy with other commitments and I would like to give the commitments I still have, my 100%.  Thank you Corrinne for letting me be part of your wonderful team.

Spark Your Creativity Challenge #4 is well under way and I know you are all busy getting ready for the holiday season.  However, I'm sure you all still managing to sneak in a little craft time - I certainly am :-)

Here is my little bit of half way inspiration for you.  My snowman is a digital image from the Polka Doodles CD Picknix Collection 2 - Gingerbread Twist.  I love this CD.

For this card I didn't want to over colour  my snowman in bright colours, as he is meant to look a bit tatty - so I used browns for his jacket to make him look a little worn out.

The Cuttlebug was used to emboss the lower layer with the Snow Flakes folder and also added some of those lovely snow flakes from the Winter Woodland cartridge (page 35).  The sentiment is from the Recollections Christmas stamp set and I stamped this before running the layer through the Cuttlebug.

I popped him up using some pop dots to add a little bit of dimension to the card.

The inside is the same as the one from earlier in the week.  I really like this snowman and he is from the same stamp set as the sentiment.

So, come on, one more challenge before you get swallowed up in the Christmas celebrations.

This card is being entered in the following challenges.

Red Carpet Studio - Challenge #14: Frosty the Snowman (closes 15 Dec)

Lia Stampz - Challenge #31: Winter Holidays (closes 31 Dec)

Cardz TV - DT Challenge #21: I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (closes 20 Dec)

Little Scrap Pieces - Fun  Friday Challenge: Holiday (closes 21 Dec)

Have a fabulous weekend.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy crafting.