Susie & Vikki's Christmas Club & tons of Candy

Just thought I should really share this new blog with you. I really struggled this year with last minute Christmas cards and have decided to follow Susie & Vikki's example and create a card a week (hopefully then I'll be prepared for next Christmas!)

To start off they are offering candy on their blog and their individual blogs. So if you want to read anymore about this cool site or their individual blogs (they are amazing cardmakers - have followed Susie for quite a while now.) just click on the candy pic and that should take you to their blogs.

50/50 Digitsl Stamping Group

Hi, sorry for being a bad blogger - Christmas has really taken it's toll this year and I've not had the energy to keep up with everything and as the children are the most demanding I kept up with them rather than this blog! Oh well, I'm now at my MIL's so hopefully I'll have a bit of time (and a bit of childcare!) to catch up with things.

I have recently joined the special 50/50 group. The concept of the group is a simple one where crafters pay a monthly membership fee to get access to the 50 designers who post 1 image a month. Crafters can choose which images to take, and then enter a challenge with anyone of these images. The crafter with the winning entry gets a prize along with the designer who's image was used on the winning entry.

An amazing concept I think you'll agree. If you want to join just click on the badge and see if there are any places left.

With love

Another Christmas card - do you get a theme here? This card uses a Pollycraft image - I think these Cherry kisses images are absoloutely adorable. I'm not sure I've quite got the hang of using the light blue copic to outline the snowball but hopefully I'll get there!

Mary

This is another of my 'thrown-together' Christmas cards, I used another DigiSparkle digistamps, this is from the Nativity Characters collection. I coloured with my copics and framed it with my oval nesties.

The rest of the set ...

As promised here's my other creations using the rest of the Magical Christmas set. Hope you like!

A Sprinkle of Christmas

Some hastily put together Christmas cards (since I sold most of my stash at my church fair!!). These feature some of the new digistamps from DigiSparkle. These are the reindeer and snowman from the Magical Christmas collection. These are real Christmas cutesy's, I love these two from the pack and photographed in front of the Christmas tree really makes me feel like Christmas is nearly here (although thankfully there is still time left - I still need to get some more pressies and well ... so much more to do!)

Check back soon to see the other two from this collection, the fairy and the elf.

Bookmarks

I was playin round a while ago and started making a few bookmarks which I blogged about here. I recently did a bit of a card sale at our local church and felt I needed a few more bookmarks if I was going to sell them! So here are some I knocked up the night before!

These digi stamps are from Pollycraft and Digistamp Boutique

These digistamps are from DigiSparkle
These quotes are from DigiSparkle
Here is my DH's 'arty' shot - looks quite professional!

A golden bouquet

I definitely feel a need to continue to practice my copic colouring so I thought I would enter Copic Creations challenge. This challenge was colouring gold. I was really quite inspired by Cheryl's creation (one of the DT). I was reminded of this free digi download (can't remember where i got it from and the info is on the other, dying, computer!) Hope you like!

Winter Wonderland

This is my entry for By The Cute and Girly. The challenge is Winter Wonderland and I hope I've achieved that! I've used a Popcorn Bear stamp (I got it free from a magazine) I just adore this cute little bear. I used cardstock from my stash and an peel off (i think it was Anita's) and used the negative part of a snowflake peel off to create the coloured snowflakes.

Amazing candy

Wow, this is more than just candy it's a crafter's joy! Take a look here.

Not a card

That was the challenge over at Pollycraft. I was wondering how to rise to the challenge when I saw the latest Crazy 4 Challenges challenge, to create using acetate. They gave some examples and one was this acetate box, from a tutorial on Split Coast Stampers. I'm quite pleased at how these boxes came out.

Thinking of you

This card is for Simon says Stamp challenge. The challenege was thinking of you so I created the text on the computer, embossed it with the cuttlebug divine swirls folder and then framed it with a nestie. The background paper was free from a magazine.

Nativity

Nativity is another new DigiSparkle stamp, just a shame the card doesn't show it off. I tried to create my own background paper by printing but I think the yellow is just a bit too bright! I did this card for several challenges. The sketch is Fall to Layout #67, it's a bit late though! It also fits into Stamp with Us's Christmas theme and I think it fits into Digital Tuesday's holiday wishes.

Fly me to the moon

This is my entry for the Dare U 2 Digi Challenge. I've used a Digistamp Boutique stamp, coloured with my copics and used some Summer Driggs digi papers.Sorry for the short post - late now and my smallest one wants cuddles (he should be in bed!!)

We're sponsoring ...

... Papertake Weekly Challenge.

Papertake Weekly is our first sponsored challenge, hope you can join in and win an amazing months free access to our shop (basically a month to downlaod any digistamp you like!) Not a bad prize!!

I'm a Guest Designer this week (wow!!!) and have entered this pink and sparkly card for this downloads and sparkly challenge!

The image is the ballerina from DigiSparkle. I put plenty of sparkly Sprinkles on the ballerina and the nestie scallops, shame the photo doesn't show the sparkliness (have I just made that word up?) but trust me it sparkles! I used some pink mulberry paper and sparkly pink ribbon (came free with a magazine!)

Card - Papermania scalloped card blanks

Image - Ballerina from DigiSparkle.

Other - Pink mulberry paper, Pink ribbon (free with a magazine), Penny Black Happy Birthday stamp, pink stars and pearls (free with a magazine), pink and white cardstock from stash, Derwent Coloursoft pencils and sansador, Nesties and big shot

Shout out to sheetload

Sheetload is a free eZine dedicate to helping papercrafters, it has some really cool ideas and this month there is a freebie sentiments download. Just pop along to Sheetload.

Freebie Ballerinas

Just wanted to let you know about our latest freebie over at DgiSparkle. This month's freebie is this set of ballerinas. It's only available for free this month so you need to get over there and get it soon!

Get well soon

My SIL recently had an op and I decided I wanted to do something slightly different. I was recently scrolling through Martha Stewart's Seasons of Stamping blog and decided I loved this best wishes card. I decided to have a go at recreating. I'm quite pleased with this one:

This was my first go at using my ew Scallop punch, I tried to double scallop and it didn't go well, and since I had already stuck it down I had to do a single punch - well, we learn from our mistakes!

I liked this so much that I decided the cup I had created for this I wanted to add to DigiSparkle, I just had to add to the set! It now includes, hot chocolate glass (costa style!), cappucino, tea and coffee cups. You can find it here.

Birthday card selection

I seem to have had quite a few birthdays recently so here are the cards I made! None of them are amazing but they a least they all got something handmade! I's photographed them so i figured I may as well share them.

This first one is for a neighbour and uses a Digistamp boutique image.

These are for a twin girl and boy's first birthday, I created the number one on the computer and overlayed it on the same digipaper used for the background.

This is for my DH's nephew, I used a new Digisparkle image, Arty the Dragon and coloured him with my Derwent Coloursoft pencils which I blended with Sansador.

I seem to have had quite a few birthdays recently so here are the cards I made!

Furry friends...

... for Allsorts challenge. This is a precious moments free digistamp (can't remember where I got it from but you can easily find it by doing a google search). This is one of my first copic colouring images, and I'm really pleased with the way the dog coloured in.

White card
Image - Precious moments
Other - Organza yellow ribbon, Papermania colossal paper, brown paper, whispers permenant brown marker, copics, big shot and nesties.

Orange dino

Yes, you will notice a theme, probably for quite a while knowing me! I've finally taken the plunge and purchased a set of copic ciao's. I was gutted that they were rubbish until I bought the right paper (many thanks to Amanda on splitcoaststampers) and wow they're amazing, I love the way the colours pop.

I love this dino, he's a new DigiSparkle product and was just waiting for the right way to use him. I found several challenges that just called out for him.

This card is for these challenges:
Digital Tuesday - kraft, orange and 1 other plus a digi image
Sweet sketch - sketch
Bee Crafty - Distressing (around the edges are slightly distressed)

White square card blank

Image - Dino from DigiSparkle

Sentiment - handwritten

Other - Orange, kraft, brown paper from stash, hole punch, whispers permenant brown marker.

Organisation

I don't know how many of you suffer from 'Mummy brain' but I seem to be really suffering at the moment, I seem to forget things the minute I'm told them! Doesn't help that the kids aren't particularly sleeping well at the moment! The joys of parenthood!!!

Anyway, what I was trying to say is that I saw this post from Mercy a while back and in attempt to organise myslef I had a go at creating my own challenges diary (I tried to find a cheap one but apparently they are either really expensive or the normally cheap shops haven't got any!!)

I created a little book (the way I did when I was teaching!) by putting together the cover and pages and sewing, simple but effective. The pages inside have got a basic grid layout so I can write down each days challenges. I then tick them when created and then again when I've finally posted them. This seems to be really working for me, I really like the inspiration of challenges and it helps having them there in a book instead of getting the laptop out and then trawling throuh all the challenges.

Hope you like it, I know certainly like the oranisation of it even if it isn't the most creative front cover!

More candy

It's amazing how generous some people are. This is candy from Claire aka CraftyC's Crafting Library. This is a great blog, I just love all the characters on her cards - and of course I look careully at her colouring (I must get better!!!)

I forgot ...

... to blog about these. I put them all on Splitcoaststampers in my Gallery (I call myself twinmummy!)but haven't put thum on my blog! I blame it on Mummy brain! These were all for the Christmas Card Challenge - you work out how many you need to make each month in order to get all your Christmas cards made by December! A great idea so I jumped on the bandwagon! The first pic shows all 8 of my cards and the next 2 pics are close ups of my fave (the cat!) and one that followed a Fall to layout sketch!

A new challenge

This card is for a new challenge site By the Cute and Girly. Anything crafty suits this challenge, although I have predictably gone for a card for this autumnal theme!

Blog Candy

To celebrate her 2 year Blogaversery Julie (from Julie's Japes) is giving away some great candy. This is one blog I can't live without! She always inspires me, so pop on over and have a peek!

Beer Monster

Another male card! As much as I say I find them difficult I seem to do quite a few of them!

Hope you like it, I think my favourite part is the sentiment, I'm really enjoying handwriting sentiments and exploring different types of fonts - how long it will last is anyone's guess!

I did this for the Get Sketchy challenge, I even managed the bous challenge a hand doodled sentiment! Loved this sketch especially as it appealled to my simple nature and my love of nesties!

Square white card blank
Image: Beer selection from DigiSparkle
Paper: free digi paper (can't remember where from)
Other: Nesties, funky labels die and big shot, Papermania white gel pen, Derwent Coloursoft pencils and sansador, black cardstock (WHS), Ink it up black ink

Wedding sketch

I was really inspired by Fall to Layout 63 over at Clean and Simple and I made this card straight away. The paper is a piece of wedding wrapping paper that I have kept in my stash and not known how to use, but this seemed to work!
White card blank
Other: Wrapping paper and black card from stash, black ribbon, Anita's stickers 'congratulations' peel off

Winter wishes

Don't you just love this stamp! I've seen it around recently and really liked (but not thought about it because I'm trying to be good and not buy any more stamps at the moment!). I was looking at some magazines the other day and saw it came free with Cardmaking and Papercraft, well no decision needed! I'd been struggling with Mercy's latest sketch as I didn't seem to have and rectangular stamps that I thought would work, but my new acquisition does!!!

White card blank
Image: Bentley Bear stamp free from Cardmaking and Papercraft
Other: Purple card, handmade white paper, snowflakes

I did it ...

... I got 5 S's on the card!

The challenge for Pollycraft Monday Challenge was to use at least 2 of the following S words : SNOWFLAKES, SPARKLE, SPOTS, STRIPES, SWIRLS

I have managed to get all 5 on to my card but you might hav to look closely!

The background paper has got spots, stripes and dotted swirls, there are spots on the borders, snowflakes around the edge of the nesties and sparkle on the teddy's hat and sentiment - phew!

Really enjoyed this challenge and I've ended up challenging myself by using colours that I wouldn't normally use for a christmas card. Hope you like it!

Card blank: square white
Image: Clear stamps designed by Adam Pescott free from a magazine
Other: Paper free from magazine, big shot and nesties, snowflakes, card from stash, gel pens

A Blue Christmas

My card for Mojo monday. I like this sketch but I thought I'd make it a bit clean and simple. hink it works, although it's a shame I mucked up the sentiment - got one bit wrong and went over it - you know when you just want to shout at yourself - STOP!!!

Card blank: white square
Image: Penny Black 'T for transparent' Christmas set
Other: Paper free from Quick cards made easy, ribbon from ikea, blue gel pen.

U Rock

Boys cards, inspiration always seems to be lacking! I was going for a teenage boy card, shouldn't have used the oval nestie but I'd already cut it! Must get the square and rectangle nesties soon! The image is another one from Digisparkle and I wrote the sentiment myself.

This is for a couple of challenges:
Digital Tuesday - music
Crazy 4 Challenges - stitching (I hope faux stitching counts!)

Card blank: white square
Image: Punk from DigiSparkle
Other: big shot, nestie, red ink, black gel pen, card from my stash

Lord's heart

Sorry I've not blogged in a while - things seem to be a bit hectic without a real reason! Anyway here's a card I've done for the SCS Divine Design Bible Verse Challenge. It's another digistamp from Digisparkle (you know me!) and I've continued with my black theme - I do like this black base and once I get started on one thing it takes me a while to change course!

Card base: black card from WHS
Image: bible sentiments from DigiSparkle
Other: heart punch, pink card, Pink grosgain ribbon (from the market!), big shot, nesties

Fall to Layout

This is my go at the Fall to Layout at Clean & Simple. A beautifully simple sketch and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. I used a DigiSparkle stamp from the Beer selection. I always find male cards hard but this one seemed to come together really easily. I wrote the sentiment myself as I didn't have any suitable stamps!


Square card blank
Image: Beer from DigiSparkle
Paper: Ikea
Other: Ribbon from ikea, nestie, bigshot, black gel pen

Birthday Book

I wanted to do this for this Project Tuesday Birthday Book Challenge, but I missed the date (by quite a lot - I need to be more organised!) I created this book as a traditional sewn book, I printed off the pages and trimmed them before sewing them into the black card. I then decorated the front with these free digipapers and a DigiSparkle image.

Black card from WHS

Image: Present from Digisparkle

Papers: Free digipapers from papercraft inspirations

Nesties, bigshot, red paper from ikea, black ink