Forest Friends

Good afternoon and Happy Halloween hope the weather is treating you better than us! It's cold and rainy here so not sure of the kids will be going trick or treating. Mollie and I have had a crafty afternoon to make up for it!

 

She was sent some gorgeous craft sets by my BFF and she's had great fun getting messy with them

 

 

She started with painting sun catchers and is now doing some glitter art!

 

Whilst she was busy with that I have been adding to my Christmas cards with a stamp I've had for a while and never used!

It is perfect for a design Team Call I'm applying for over at Stamping Smiles Design Team Challenges

 

In order to apply I have used their Tic-Tac-Toe

 

 

Using Forest friends, Leaves and Twine

 

 

These little pals are from Crafter's Companion Mulberry Wood stamp collection. This set is called Giving. I have colored them with my Spectrum Noir makers and added glossy accents to the fairy lights in the bigger moose's antlers.

 

I then matted a white card blank with green card. The design paper is from Lili of the Valley's Krafty Christmas 8x8 paper pad, I wound twine around the right hand side of this before placing fixing this in place on my card.

 

I matted the image with the same green card and affixed this in place. The holly and berries were die cuts and I glued these and the Lili of the Valley tag over the cross of the twine.

As well as apply to Stamping Smiles Designs I am entering this card in the following challenges
 

 52 Christmas card Throwdown - Pick a previous Theme - Fairy Lights
Allsorts Challenge - Christmas
 

Mollie's Enchanted Wishes

Good afternoon! We have had a wonderful weekend spent travelling up to the Upper Peninsula and going on scenic drives to see all the gorgeous fall colors. There were some stunning views including the Mackinac bridge which is the 5th longest suspension bridge in the World!!!

 

The fall colors are a reminder that winter is just around the corner and soon we'll have all the lovely snow back!!

Talking of snow leads me onto my latest card design. As everyone who know me is aware Mollie is a Frozen fanatic and so are lots of her friends. She has become a pen friend with a gorgeous little girl who she went to nursery with back in England so I decided I would make her a card to send instead of a letter.

 

What better stamps to use than Craftin Desert Diva's Enchanted Wishes collection.

 

 

These adorable little characters were a delight to color with my Spectrum Noir Markers. I also added crystal glitter to Elsa's dress although it doesn't show too well on the camera image.

 

I did color up the whole cast:

 

 

but then decided there were too many for the card so the guys will be used on another make - aren't they all just adorable!!!

 

Once colored I fussy cut them out and shaped them so that they wouldn't be flat on the card. I chose a snowflake patterned paper, some mirror card which has an iridescent finish and some blue card to mat onto my card blank.  

I used the same mirror card to die cut the snowflakes and fixed blue sparkly gems in the center of each of these.

I used Collal glue gel to adhere my characters to the card this helps maintain the shaping of them - especially as this card is going to be in the hands of international postal services!

Once everything was placed on the card I positioned the sentiment stamp which is from the same stamp set.

 

Thanks for stopping by xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Fairy

Good afternoon! Well after the snow at the weekend we are back up to warm temperatures again!

 

There is a new release over at Julia Spiri Digital Stamps as always the stamps are gorgeous. They are called The Winter Collection

 

I have loved coloring up the adorable Snow Fairy and had the perfect papers to go with her.

 

 

I have photographed her in the sunshine to try and capture the sparkle on her!

I have colored her with my Spectrum Noir Markers then added crystal glitter to the edges of her coat, dress and headband. I have then used chameleon glitter on all the snowflakes and Wink of Stella on her wings.

I found some gorgeous aqua mirror card in my stash so used this and the gorgeous Lili of the Valley paper to mat my card. I used more of the mirror card to mat the image and my sentiment onto. The sentiment is also from Lili of the Valley.

I colored some white snowflake buttons to match in with the color scheme and added this around little Miss Snow. 

 

She is available to buy today so why not add her to your collection and join our challenge with her.

Pop over to Julia's Facebook group for more inspiration by the rest of the Design Team and to see the other newly released stamps from the collection

 

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

 

 

Witching Hour Tess

Good morning! It's less than a week to Halloween, I've bought the candy, Mollie wants to dress as a rainbow fairy and it looks as though we won't have snow this year!

 

I posted the delightful Tess from  Jiggery Makery last week and I'm back with her again - This time as a more traditional witch.

 

 

I have colored her in with my Spectrum Noir Markers and digitally added bats flying along with her. I then color tinted the edges of the card with distress ink and mounted her onto orange paper. I used a white card blank and added some Authentique Halloween design paper.

 

After fixing my image to the card I added some orange hotfix gems to match in with her flame colored hair!

 

You can buy Tess over at Jiggery Makery's Etsy store along with her other pin-up pals.

 

Why not check out our Facebook page for further inspiration from my teamies and I

 

 

Snowflakes

Good afternoon, well it's coming to the end of a fab week and we are forecast our first frost tonight brrr!

 

I am sharing a cute little Christmas card with you today

 

 

This was so easy to make and looks so effective. I started with a 6x8in piece of snow white centura pearl card. I scored this at 4inches and folded in half. I then cut 3.5 inches from the front.

The die is a snowflake edge'ables by Crafter's Companion. I opened up what was left of my card and laid the die along the score line and cut and embossed it. Once eased out of the die it gives the effect as in the photo.

 

I then cut some snow flecked acetate and cut to 6x4 inches gluing this inside the top edge of the front of the card. I then cut a strip of the centura card and glued this to the bottom edge of the acetate.

I used the fabulous stamps Snowflake Trio and Winter Butterflies from So Suzy Stamps  and stamped them onto the acetate using stayzon ink.

 

 

Tess and her broomstick!!

Good afternoon! The sun is shining and the leaves are turning gorgeous fall colors. I love this time of year it's just too bad that it symbolizes the cold weather will be here soon!

 

I'm over at Jiggery Makery today flying by with the gorgeous Tess!

 

 

 

 

She is too stunning to be your usual witch so I decided not to use her for a Halloween card. I have colored her using my Spectrum Noir Markers and mounted the image onto black card. I then made an easel card and matted this with black card and purple patterned paper. The image was then fixed to the easel part of the card.

 

The sentiment is one I have seen around quite a bit and felt it fitting! If you can't read it from the photo is says:

 

All Women are angels

And when someone breaks our wings

We just continue to fly on a broom stick

We are flexible like that

 

I typed it up on my Pc and printed it out, matted it onto black card and adhered it to the base of the card using foam pads so it acts as the stopper for the easel.

A few black enamel dots just add the finishing touches.

 

 You can buy the image over at Jiggery Makery's Etsy store along with her other pin-up pals.

 

Why not check out our Facebook page for further inspiration from my teamies and I

 

 

Prowling black cats

Good morning - Fall is well under way here now. Our gorgeous maple tree has started to turn red and the mornings are definitely cooler!

 

Halloween is just a couple of weeks away and I am really enjoying all the spooky crafty goodies that are available.

Today is my day to showcase over on the So Suzy Stamps blogs and  I am loving the Halloween stamps that She has brought to us this month.

 

There are some fab ones, I just love the sentiment I have used on my showcase card today:

 

 

Black Cats Prowl!

For my card I have used black and orange card - first matting my card blank with the black. I have then used a Poppy Stamp die for the cat face and cut it into my top layer. I have stamped the wonderful sentiment in black ink and colored 2 of the mini chipboard ghosts black. positioning these around the sentiment.

I have then used a Cottage Cutz die to cut my border and added some black enamel dots.

 

Thanks for stopping by and before you leave check out the challenge at So Suzy's blog and enter our challenge. If you don't have a blog - don't worry you can enter over at our Facebook group

 

For more inspiration why not check So Suzy out on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and  Flickr so go check us out!!

 

Kathy and her Sweaters!

Good afternoon I'm here again with my second blog post of the day!

 

It's my day to showcase over at Jiggery Makery and as it's cooled off a bit today I thought I'd make another Christmas card.

 

Kathy is making her second appearance on my blog in one of her wonderful sweaters

 

 

I have used an 8x8in card blank for this card and matted it with silver mirror card and the gorgeous snowflake paper from Lili of the Valley.

Kathy has been colored using my Spectrum Noir markers and I have glittered the white on her Santa hat.

I typed up the sentiment on my laptop - don't you find that aunts buy you the most obscure gifts at times????

I matted the image with Mirror card and placed it at a jaunty angle on my card.

The flower is made from 2 die cut lacy poinsettias and a crystal gem. I have then added card candi to the opposite corner to balance the card.

 

 You can buy the image over at Jiggery Makery's Etsy store along with her other pin-up pals.

 

Why not check out our Facebook page for further inspiration from my teamies and I

 

Time flies

Good afternoon! like the title says time flies, hard to believe that we have been in the USA nearly 2 years now. So much has happened for us in them 2 years and we are all happier than we have ever been!

Back to the theme of this card time....It's New release time over at Julia Spiri stamps and this time round the theme is Fantasy Hair -what that got to do with time I hear you ask???

 

Well I had this gorgeous image to work with this week

 

 

She is called Vintage Hair and yes as there are clocks in her bouffant I decided to use these as my theme for the card.

I have colored her with my Spectrum Noir markers but have challenged myself  by using sepia colors. I then matted her onto brown and a bronze colored pearl card. I used the same card to die cut 2 Marianne clock faces. I then matted the card with the same card and a piece of Lili of the Valley design paper. I positioned the clocks under the image which I laid on an angle.

I typed up the sentiment on my pc and matted this before adding to the bottom corner.

 

Time is the most valuable thing you can spend...... I have learnt this over the last few years - nobody needs possessions from you just give them your time when they need it and it will mean more than anything to them..............

 

There are other images in this unusual but gorgeous range from Julia so why not check them out in her Etsy store.

They and others are always available for inspiration on our Facebook group and don't forget you can win some of these adorable digi-stamps by entering our challenge!!!

 

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

 

Crafting for all Seasons - Autumn hues

Creative Moments - Anything goes - Autumn Colors

Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

The Craft Addicts - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Vampire

Good afternoon - The sun is shining and the temperature definitely doesn't feel like October!!!

 

Halloween will soon be upon us and I am getting into the spirit by doing a few cards this month. I have had the image I've used today for a while but, as sending Halloween cards in the UK is not as common as here in the USA, I have never colored her up.

 

She is from Faery Ink and is fab to color

 

 

Meet Vampy Cutie!!! I have colored her with my Spectrum Noirs, I didn't want to go for the traditional vampire look of black and red as she was just too cute for that!!! I have added glitter to the top of her skirt although it doesn't show too well on the photo.

I matted my card blank with black card and some design papers from my collection. As is always my way I have kept the card CAS just adding a few orange enamel dots for embellishment.

 

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Faery Ink Facebook challenge - Halloween theme

Spectrum Noir - Orange and grey

Your Scrapbook Place - Anything goes with Faery Ink

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Snuggles

Well the holiday season is not far away now - how are you doing with your Christmas card makes? Want some inspiration? then come and join the challenge at 12 Month's of Christmas Link Up.

 

Yes challenge 10 starts today and you have a whole month to enter as many cards as you wish. The optional theme for this month is Christmas is a time for giving.

Christmas is most definitely a time of giving and who better deserving of our thoughtfulness than the children of the world.  Whether children in our own lives or those that are strangers, there is nothing better than looking upon the face of a child opening a Christmas gift.  Second to that is seeing how excited a child can be when they receive their own special card meant especially for him or her.

 

Our guest sponsor this month is Imagine That! Digis by Kris

 

 

 

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, we want to see a Christmas or other holiday card meant for a child between the ages of 0 & 12.  I can't wait to see how it turns out!  If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

 

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies.  You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10 gift certificate to the Imagine That! Digis by Kris store.

 

As always there will be an additional Sponsor Decosse's Dynamite Doodles are offering

One free digital paper to everyone who links up a minimum of two cards to the challenge.  Cards can be anything goes for this prize, they only have to follow the theme if they want a chance at the sponsor's prize.  The mini set of six digital papers called You'd Better Not Pout, will also be offered up as a prize to one random winner.

 Why not consider donating your card and maybe a few extra to your local hospital or shelter?!  Help make a child's day a special one this Christmas.

 

On to my make

 

 

 

Meet the Snowmen Trio. I have colored them with my Spectrum Noirs and added glitter to their hats. I have then punched the corners of the design and matted onto aqua card,. The design paper I have used is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Snowfest collection.

Again this has been matted onto the aqua card. I have then added red enamel dots to tie in with color theme of the image.

Now come over to the 12 Month's of Christmas Link up and enter your Christmas makes!!!

 

 

Hi Stacey

Good afternoon, It's been a busy week this week for my Hubby, he has been working long hours and putting in the work to go with them.

 

Today is my make for Jiggery Makery so I have made him a card to let him know how much I appreciate  all he does for our family. As it's from me to him I thought I'd go a bit cheeky...

 

 

 

I have used Stacey and colored her with Spectrum Noir Markers. Then typed the sentiment onto the image. I used pink card and some designer paper with hears on it to matt my card blank. I then colored ribbon and pearl heart embellishments in the same color as I used on the image. The ribbon I laid down the side of the card. positioned my image off center and added the pink hearts in a random pattern across the card.

You can buy the image over at Jiggery Makery's Etsy store along with her other pin-up pals.

 

Why not check out our Facebook page for further inspiration from my teamies and I

 

 

October brings witches and bats......

Good morning, October is upon us and it is still warm here! The leaves in the woods at the back of our yard are just starting to change color.

It's new release time over at So Suzy stamps and what better way to welcome October than with Halloween images! Yes this month's challenge is going to be Halloween.

I have used the Haunted house stamp. I stamped it onto white card stock then stamped it again onto a post-it note. I care fully cut around the stamped post-it and used this as a mask to cover the image on my card. I then stamped the moon using a clarity stamp. again I masked the moon off .

Using a brayer I then colored the sky making clouds around the moon. I lifted my masks and colored the moon in pale yellow and used a brighter yellow for the house windows.

This month brings a new product to the So Suzy Store she will be stocking Unique Laser designs chip board shapes. These are what I have used for my witch and bats. I colored all 3 black so they look like shadows in the night sky.

I matted the image onto black and navy blue card before attaching it to a white card blank.

Thanks for stopping by and before you leave check out the challenge at So Suzy's blog and enter. If you don't have a blog - don't worry you can enter over at our Facebook group

For more inspiration why not check So Suzy out on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and  Flickr so go check us out!!