Probably the last post of 2013!

The December/January topic for the UK ATC swap is 

'Winter Wonderland'.

I wanted to get mine done so that I can get them in the post some way or another -

maybe from Australia where we are off to on Saturday!

'Winter Wonderland' - I decided to go with Snowmen!

I looked through my stash to find Snowmen and Snowflake papers, Snowmen stamps, Snowmen digis, Snowmen stickers.

And I decided I needed glitter and red, green and silver Stickles .

My first is very simple...just a paper with stickers.

In my second, I have cut an circular aperture for the Bugaboo digi to peep through.

I added glitter, gems and the holly embellishment (just from my 'bit box').

    

The third is similar but this time there is a bead Snowman in the oval aperture.

The next one features the Free Dearie Doll image that I have used several times this Christmas on my cards. Coloured with Promarkers and with added gems and tiny buttons.

The last one is using a stamp that was in my 'to be finished' folder.

 To this one I added a red 'snowflake'

 

This was my 30th entry to the ATC swap UK Facebook Group!

And then - while I was crafting - I decided to make this stepper card using the same two digis and using free stamps from the 'Get Stamping' Magazine.

A snow scene!

This card will be in my final links of the year -

to

LEJ Designs Challenge 84 - anything Goes

Rhedd and Rosie's 22nd Challenge 'Let it Snow'

Pattie's Creations Challenge 82 - Snow scene

But I couldn't resist doing a bit more red and green...

I saw this sketch on Digi Sketch

And again I used another favourite digi of this Christmas - Digi Darla's 'Holly and Berries'.

The papers were from scraps of BoBunny and Papermania Christmas 6x6's.

The stamp is another from the free set from 'Get Stamping'

I am submitting this to 
Digi Sketch Challenge - ribbons-and-pearls

Happy Crafting!

More Hairy legs

This image is for this month's colouring competition on Stamping Dragon's facebook page.

I coloured it with Promarkers and glued it onto a tall cream rectangular card blank,

 matted with paper from Papermania's 12 Days of Christmas. 

I had distressed this around the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

I then added a cut out bone, also distressed around the edges, with a bow,

and the bells and bow - the bells were from my 'bit box'!

I am going to submit this to 

Delicious Doodles Challenge 66 - Hairy Legs

and also

Inky Chicks Challenge - Christmas

Merry Monday 88 - Use an Animal

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

Now for a few sketches...

This a sketch from

Sketch and Stash Challenge128

and here is my take on it

 I rotated the sketch through 90 degrees...

The image is one that had been stamped and layered for last Christmas -

 it was in my 'to finish' folder!

The papers are from a BoBunny Mistletoe 6x6 pad that I think I bought in Dubai in April.

The brads - well they have been in my stash for years!!

 I am also linking this to

Crafty Creations Challenge 253

Cards Galore Challenge - Christmas

This Sketch is 

Sketch Saturday #257

for Sketch Saturday Challenge 289 - any sketch after #215

and here is my take on it

 I scored and folded a piece of Christmas red card and cut it to fit my envelope.

I then matted and layered with Christmas green and strips of the red.

The image is Digi Darlas Holly and Berries, coloured with Promarkers and with added gems.

At this stage I thought it just needed a little more, so I added the flower (made from a KUTZ die and tiny brad) and stamped the Noel stamp directly on the right side.

I am also linking this card to

Glitter and Sparkle Challenge 63 - Red and Green

My next sketch is Sketch and Scrap December 5th card Sketch

 and here is my take on it...

Another scored and folded piece of Christmas red to make the card base.

 The paper squares are from the same BoBunny pad as above.

The banners are paper tape from Paperchase - maybe next time I will stick them on a backing card as they are a bit see-through!

I used the 'topnote' with my Big Shot to cut a surround for the image and the image itself.

The image is Digi Darlas Noel,  coloured with Promarkers.

Finally the bunting is made from felt and wool!

I am also submitting this to 

Digi Darla's Challenge 93 - use felt and wool

Catch the Bug Challenge Favourite Christmas Song

What else but The First Noel?

Yes - one more sketch!

This is Stella says Sketch #147

And I decided to go away from red and green!!

Not a brilliant picture as the glue still has to dry!

The image is Bugaboo's Winter wishes tag with a little colour from Promarkers and gems.

The papers I have used are from my scraps and the lace is from Paperchase.

Well I started with Stampin' Dragons so I will finish with them...

I am just about to set off for Australia for Christmas and we will be staying in a holiday house - so I have to pack some decorations...I started this bunting for last year but decided the bells were not enough - for this year I have added the buttons...

I am linking this as my second entry to the SDD Challenge - anything but a card

I think that may be all from me for now - see you in the New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Fresh Brewed Kitten in a Mitten

I received this digi for taking part in the Fresh Brewed Holiday Hoopla Treasure Hunt!

- and so I am now using it!

I coloured it with Promarkers, added some fine glitter

 and then used this sketch to put my card together.

I haven't done a Mojo Monday design for a while so it's nice to be back!!

I am submitting this card to Mojo Monday 324

I used Sizzix Mittens Sizzlits for the bunting, cut in DP and white - with added fine glitter on the cuffs. They are attached to some brown twine.

All the papers were from my scrap bags. 'Merry Christmas' is embossed in gold.

I am also submitting this to Fresh Brewed Designs Blog Candy Challenge

I would love to win the prize...

I was also going to submit this card to 

Rhedd and Rosies 21st challenge 'Use old Stash"
BUT I missed the deadline!

All the cards and papers were in my scraps - I can't remember how long ago I bought the orange DP's and the textured matting paper.

Even the fine glitter I have only just reclaimed from storage following my move from Abu Dhabi!

But finally I am linking it to
Delicious Doodles Challenge #66 Hairy Legs
(Well the kitten would have hairy legs...)

Happy Crafting!

Big Crafting!

I am going to share this for a second time on Elizabeth's Second on the Second - although in Australia we are now well into the 3rd...

During the last 7 or 8 years, while my husband and I lived in Abu Dhabi,
we were involved in Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society.

We did perform on stage but our main occupation for ADDS was backstage, providing props and set building...

I thought I would share some of our favourite makes!!

This year's pantomime has just been performed in Abu Dhabi - without us! -
 but that made me think about last year.
This picture shows me ironing some fabric to start making the coach for Cinderella.

And here is the finished article - a sort of stretch-limo kind of coach. Pulled of course by a camel - we WERE in Abu Dhabi! And this is where Kevin and I were involved again!!




We often needed puppets or props made from papier mache for the pantos.

But I was very pleased with this 'scissors in the back' prop that I made for one play...

...and I loved doing this 'big stamping' for the set of another!

Some of our favourite FX used dry ice - here we have 'smoking shoes'!

I wish I could find the video of our tightrope walker...a stuffed pair of pink tights wearing ballet shoes 'walked' across a tight rope! All done with fishing wire!

But this had to be our finest hour...the pantomime shark which Kevin and I both got inside and frightened the kids!!

Happy Crafting!!

Butterflies and Rosettes and gift boxes

During 2013,  these butterflies and rosettes have almost become my trademarks.

The rosettes are from a Tim Holtz die, the butterflies from Stampin Up's 'Beautiful Wings' tied together in a group of three. I tend to glue on just one wing of the butterfly to add some dimension.

I have used some of the butterflies on this butterfly shaped card, having first used papers from my scraps to cover it.
The paperclip bow I made with help from a My Chicnscratch tutorial.
The Happy Birthday I stamped into a little tablet some time ago - I found it in my 'bit box'!

At this time of year though I find myself making little gift boxes...

This was not a Christmassy one - basically the Long Triangle box from Sissix decorated with various embellishments.

But then I wanted a more festive idea - I saw an idea on Created by Bianca -

 and this is my version.

I wanted a box shaped base to put a small present in,

 but then the tree shapes tie together to close it.

On the front I added a LEJ Designs freebie - 'Surprise'!

I am submitting this to 

LEJ Challenge 83 Festive Fun

Kraftyhands December Challenge - Anything Goes

Scribble and Scrap Anything Goes

Chick-n-Scrap Holiday gifts with Ribbon

Through the craft room door - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting!!

Sunday evening crafting

We've had a pretty busy weekend so it's quite nice to relax with a bit of crafting!

In October I bought the 12 Days of Christmas embossing folder - and I have just got around to using it on a white card blank.

All I added was 'Merry Christmas' embossed in gold at the side and I highlighted the pears and birds with a gold Promarker.

I am linking this to Less is More Week 150 One Layer Card - 12 Days of Christmas

I have had this sketch in mind for a few days...

This is my take on it...

Initially I matted and layered a darker turquoise cardstock onto a turquoise card blank followed by a piece of white card stock embossed with 'Swiss dots'. I had already added a little piece of twine between the layers. I used some more of the darker turquoise and white to die cut some Sissix 'Mittens'. I glued these in place and added buttons with glue dots. I then added the banner with sparkly letters spelling 'Noel'.

I am linking this to 

Seize the Sketch #10

Merry Monday #87 - make it with Mittens

The Shabby Tea Room #196 Noel

Happy Crafting!

Less is More... then More

The current Less is More Challenge

is a metallic element plus a colour. I am linking this card to this challenge.

I embossed a tree from SU's 'Lovely as a Tree' - one of my favourite stamp sets - in gold.

I glued this on top of a red Christmas red card strip, added a red star to the top of the tree and then a simple sentiment 'Merry Christmas'.

This card is a little bit 'More'.

The tree and star are the same but the strip is cut from a piece of card with colour added using a brayer and a mask, It was then over stamped with another tree stamp from 'Lovely as a Tree'.

I then added the Freebie image from Bugaboo's Friday Dec 6th Challenge. This was coloured with Promarkers, with added glitter.

I am submitting this to

Catch The Bug Holiday Chaos Celebration 

The Feeling Crafty Challenge Christmas

LEJ Designs - Christmas is coming

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

And then I moved on to a sketch...

This is from Polkadoodles Challenge #48

and here is my take on it...

I started with a shaped white card base and chose various turquoise papers from my scraps and Papermania 12 Days of Christmas.

I cut two banners and a five pointed star from these and also mounted my stamped sentiment.

 I added silver Stickles around the star. 

I had made several snowflakes using the Tim Holtz Snowflake rosette die -

 I added three of these.

I am also linking this as my final entry to the

Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos Celebration - Anything Goes

I think this card is going to be one that will be handed someone - 

so it will be for someone special!

I am submitting it to

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 154 - for someone special

and also CHNC Challenge Extra for December

Happy Crafting!