Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I think we should all 'dream big'!

The background is a piece that was left over from another inky project.  The die is one I haven't used before, it's Butterfly Garden by Crafts Too.  I can't believe I have had it for ages and not used it - its so gorgeous!  The sentiment is from Hope Blooms clear set by Stamplorations, which I stamped in Versafine and embossed with white detail powder. This second card is another using a leftover piece of inky card from a previous project.  I just used a different colourway and sentiment. I am not sure who made the sentiment, sorry.  I prefer the first one but thought I would show them both.  I did the black one first before I thought of the 'Dream Big' sentiment, which would have looked better. Not to worry, I had fun making both of them!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - The backgrounds are pieces left over from other projects and the die cuts were cut using snippets of left over card.
That's Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes

Thank you so much for visiting, its wonderful to see you!  Lets hope 2016 is awesome!
Take care. Christine xxx

Merry Christmas To You!

Merry Christmas to all you fabulous people who visit, follow and/or comment on my humble little blog and to all your families too. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and have lots of fun! You are all absolute stars!

These are really easy CAS cards that used snippets from my patterned paper box.  The first two are pre printed papers and the second two are left over pieces of card I had inked myself.  I used a die that came free with a magazine to cut the star shapes.  The sentiment stamp is from a Hero Arts set then I added three clear sequins to each star for added bling using Ranger multi medium matt.  I used scalloped card bases for interest.  I made quite a few of these using different pieces of left over card and paper for the stars.  They were so quick and easy but I am very pleased how they turned out.

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

That's Crafty - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes - its their last challenge - I wish I had joined in more its such a fab challenge that will be missed lots!

Pixie's Snippets Playgound - to use Snippets (mine are the stars - all from my bits box)

CASology - Merry

These are all wonderful blogs so please take a look.

Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it!  Once again, have an awesome Christmas! Take care. Christine xxx

Brusho Christmas

Hello!  Thank you so much for popping onto my blog - its lovely to see you!  Today is Christmas again!  I have used the gorgeous Baroque Christmas Tree from IndigoBlu on a Brusho background. Sorry you can see the edge of the box I use when I take my photos - I only just noticed it!  Silly me!

I added some white opal liquid pearls sprinkled with glitter for the baubles on the tree, lots of clear sequins for added bling and the die cut word by Spellbinders.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

IndigoBlu - Winter Blues

That's Crafty - Seasons Greetings

Craft Barn - Tree

All these are fabulous blogs and are so worth a visit!

Thank you so much for visiting me - I love to know that you have been and really appreciate your wonderful comments!  If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you are on the way to being ready for the festivities!  Take care!  Christine xxx

A Vintage Journey Challenge - Baby You're A Firework!

I haven't entered a challenge at A Vintage Journey before although I have been a follower of the blog for ages!  This particular challenge has to be in the style, of or inspired by, Tim Holtz.  I am a bit close to the wire as it ends very shortly but when I saw that it was 'fireworks', I remembered an awesome stamp that I have by Inpression Obsession - Cover A Card, Fireworks, so just had to join in!  I was influenced by Mr T. by his use of Distress Inks to create my background. I am not sure if this is particularly vintage inspired so am not sure if it qualifies for this challenge but I had fun making it anyway!

I started by inking up the stamp with black Versafine and laying watercolour card on top of the stamp making sure to press over the whole of the card to get a good image.  I then embossed with clear powder (I had used an antistatic bag first).  The Distress Inks were then pressed on a white tile that I use as a pallet and spritzed with water and I also spritzed the card with water too.  I used a paint brush to drop the colours in the areas I chose then dried with my heat gun.  I then added Star Dust Stickles to the  centres of each firework and spread the Stickles outwards with my finger.  I cut two of the 'celebrate' from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets die set Celebrate.  Glued them together to make the word stand out more then adhered it to the piece.  I used a black card base which makes the colours pop.  In real life, the card is really bright and sparkly - I am really pleased with it and it can be used for all manner or occasions.  The Distress Inks used are Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry and Mustard Seed.

Please pop over to A Vintage Journey - the inspiration over there is awesome!

Thank you so much for visiting me - I appreciate it very much indeed!  Take care. Christine xxx

Little Snowy Scene

I hope all my friends who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful time!  We don't here in the uk but I know many of my blog friends do!

My Christmas card today is a little snowy scene.

I absolutely love this little snowy scene.  Its from a clear stamp set from HobbyArt called Woodland Glade.  The set is an absolute favourite of mine.  Its so useful as it has gorgeous trees, a fence, a steam and all sorts in it.  Just fabulous!  The stamping is done with Black Versafine and embossed with clear powder. I then cut it out with a Spellbinders label die along with a black one to mount it on. I used lots of 'dries white' glue sprinked with glitter for the snow - it is quite thick and really sparkles in real life and there is some on the roof of the little house too.  I inked round the top of the die to look like sky.  The sentiment is from Christmas Post clear set again from HobbyArt - another fabulous set, I coloured it with a Promarker and added a few stones for a bit of extra bling and it was done.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

HobbyArt - All Time Favourite (can be a stamp or set)  I love the versatility of this set.
RudolphDays Challenge - Anything goes as long as its Christmas.
That's Crafty - Black and white with a hint of colour.

It would be lovely if you could visit these blogs, they are all awesome!

Thank you so very much for visiting me, I am so grateful that you do!  Have a fabulous weekend. Christine xxx

Welcome Millie

In my last post here I included photos of my two Granddaughters Freya and Millie. Millie is the youngest and was born in September - here is the card I made to mark the occasion.

The image is so gorgeous and is by Lili of the Valley.  Its stamped with Versafine and embossed then coloured with distressed inks and I added lots of Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents to the balloon.  The background (sky) is also Distress Inks.  The letters are from two different sets of dies and they are cut from white card coloured with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink and the same ink was used to colour the mat and the base card.  Some shiny stones were added and two corners rounded with my corner chomper.

I would like to enter this into the Craft Barn Challenge which this time is 'something that could be a world record'.  We can interpret this any way we like so my interpretation is the 'world record' pride and excitement I have for Millie and Freya and their lovely Mum, Sarah and also the 'world record' cuteness of the girls!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I appreciate it so much and your comments are just so lovely to read!

Have a fabulous weekend and take care! Christine xxx

October Rudolph Days Challenge

Firstly I would just like to say Hello and Sorry!  I have been absent from Blogland for ages!  I have been staying with my daughter a lot this last month due to the birth of my second Granddaughter, Millie, in September, and in between times I have not been well.  I have been home since Tuesday but have spent most of the time in bed recovering.  Its worth it though, here is little Millie and Millie and Freya. Freya was two on Sunday and loves her little sister!
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I am a very proud Grandma - and had to share!

Now on to my cards!  They are basically the same - just different colourways.  The fab Christmas Tree image was free with a magazine that I won from the the very generous Liz McGuire from Buttons For Brains.  Liz also popped some other fab crafty goodies in the package including the gorgeous ribbon I used - thank you so much Liz!

I embossed the images and sentiments using Versamark ink and white detail embossing powder on Kraft card.  The sentiment is by HobbyArt.  I also edged the pieces with Versamark and the white powder.  I then added pearls to the red one and gems to the green one then popped them onto matching Kraft card blanks.  I think I will make a batch of these as I love the stamp and the white on the Kraft card.  On the next ones I think I will try adding Stickles glitter glue instead of gems or pearls.

I would like to enter this into the October Rudolph Days Challenge which is anything goes as long as its Christmas!

Thank you so much for visiting - I am so sorry I haven't been to your blogs much again lately!  Hopefully I will manage to stay around in Blogland a bit more for a while - I miss visiting you all!  Take care and have a lovely weekend. Christine xxx