Last Minute Gift

You know those clever people who make "one card, ten challenges"? This is the opposite - ten cards for a last minute gift, which fits Secret Crafter's Challenge for the next fortnight. All the images are by Elusive Images, the sentiments are Elusive Images, Hero Arts and Papermania.

I made a circle mask and sponged Distress Inks in the circle for all the cards. The first 3 images are all from the Retro Vases themeplate, left sentiment is Hero Arts, other two are Papermania.

More Retro Vases...











Then there are a few bird images from the Let Your Heart Sing themeplate.










The cards are for a friend who always give home made chocolates for Christmas and who enjoys receiving home made presents. I've made her quite a few bags and this year is time for a change.

The last couple of cards are from Retro Vases again; the last one with the teazles on the soft yellow background is my favourite. All 10 cards took just over an hour... sometimes simple is good.

Nearly there!

I finished the first Christmas card list and now I'm finishing the second list - the ones I forgot first time round or got cards from someone I didn't expect to - am I the only person disorganised enough to have two lists? LOL! This is a quickie card for our new neighbours, the stamps are Artemio clear stamps that I bought from Made by You in Swindon. Papers is DCWV and the sentiment came from Craftwork Cards, as did the scalloped card.

There are a few last minute Christmas challenges around so this is entered for:

• Stamp Something Challenge - Holiday Somethings
• My Time to Craft Challenge - Yuletide Wishes
• Simon Says - Merry Christmas
• Crafty Creations - Traditional Christmas (red green and gold)
  

Happy 18th Birthday Will!

Happy Birthday Will! All of a sudden my baby boy has grown up! All the way up to 6'3" or is it 6'4"? Anyway, while stuck for a card idea I had the mad idea of stamping 18 champagne bottles. Now these would have been ideal as a digi so I could re-size them but I don't have a digi and I do have a very good champagne bottle stamp from Elusive Images, so I cut out 18 of them, coloured them, stamped some on the card, glued some down and popped some up on 3d foam pads. The green bottles are coloured with H20 paint and the red and gold are Promarkers. With a few foam pads under corks and the number stamps from Dimension Fourth the card was finished.

I had an idea there were lots of challenges around at the moment for birthday cards but I could only find Charisma Cards anything but Christmas challenge :)

Cute Card Thursday Guest Design - Aperture card

I'm really excited that I've been picked to be on the Cute Card Thursday Design Team for two weeks as a guest. For my first week, the challenge is to make an aperture card, something I've not done very much before. I reached for one of my favourite images this Christmas, Christmas Colt, drawn by the up and coming Phindy O'Neill who I predict will be the next big thing in digi artists for 2010. Phindy has a group on Papercraft Planet, a blog and an Etsy shop so there are plenty of places to keep up with her new designs :).

I broke into one of the gorgeous Magnolia papers that I bought at the NEC for this card, it was time it got cut rather than stroked:). I added a frame to the aperture that I wanted to cut and tried to cut it with my Nesties. Disaster! I'd upset the Big Shot with too many layers and it just wouldn't play ball when I asked it to cut matting card, DP and more card. At least it had left an imprint of the oval so I cut it out with a craft knife and let the Big Shot put its feet up with a cuppa - LOL!

I made a label and added a sentiment (Papermania), gems and a ribbon to it. With a few more gems the front of the card was done.
The inside of the card showcases the colt image with that Papermania sentiment again. Isn't the colt just beautiful? The card is for a friend who looks after our horses when we are away, he'll certainly appreciate it:). Coloured with Distress Inks as well as Copics for the wreath. Stickles and tiny gems added to the wreath.

Twisted Thursday #37 - Happy Holidays!

This is the last Twisted Thursday Challenge until the New Year. Shirleys 2Girls are taking a break for the holidays and the Challenge will be back in the New Year. Sadly this is the end of my Guest Designer term too, I'm so sad it has come to an end, it really has been fun being part of the team and getting to work with one of my favourite stamp lines. I'd like to thank all of the team, and of course Deidre and Kristine but especially the lovely Debbie who has been so welcoming and kind, answering all the silly questions I come up with :). THANKS!!!! There is still time to apply to be part of the team in the New Year when S2G leaps into the new decade and becomes digi only. Check out the blog for details of how to apply - deadline is 20 December.

The last challenge for the Noughties couldn't be easier - just post a link to a holiday card (Christmas card if you're this side of the Atlantic :) ). And what's the twist? Well Shirleys2Girls know just how busy we all are at this time of year and that it really it - there is no twist! A link to your Christmas card could win you your choice of stmap set from S2G!

You are not required to use Shirley’s 2 Girls stamps, but if you've got them, we'd love to see you use them! If you don't yet have any of these wonderful stamps, they are currently having a sale - there is a MASSIVE 45% off everything other than digi stamps and those already reduced in the Turkey sale. This has to be a great reason to get shopping!

Upload your card to your favorite online gallery and/or your blog. If you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keywords S2GSC37 AND shirleys2girls. Post a direct link to your card using Mr. Linky on the Challenge Blog, here. The deadline for uploading your card is Wednesday, 23 December, 2009 at midnight PDT.The winning card will be chosen by Random.org, the lucky winner will get to choose a stamp from the Shirley’s 2 Girls product list, and their winning card or other project will be showcased on the Shirley's 2 Girls Challenge Blog Please do visit the other Ladies with Attitude, check out their amazing creations and leave them some love, we're joined this week by fabulous Guest Designer Deanne Burton. Don't forget to check out Deanne's blog, I'm looking forward to seeing her card.

Deanne

Debbie

Erin

Joy and

Justine

So here's my card, which uses the techniques I love: paper piecing, stitching, a great image - Waiting - available from the S2G shop and my favourite DP from this Christmas by Fancy Pants. You've seen the card before, I think it's worth a second look, I hope you do too :)

Owl Miss You - My Grafico Challenge #29

This is my last card for the My Grafico Design Team, we've had a great team for the last six months and I wish the new team well for the future :).

This week's Challenge at My Grafico is to either follow Mary's sketch or to make a card using red and green that isn't a Christmas card. The winner of the Challenge recieves the set Zoom Vroom from the site and the Design Team was each given an image from it to work with. I've followed Mary's sketch and used red and green for the owl balloon. Image is cut out and popped onto foam pads, it's coloured with Copics. The main DP came from Stamp Addict's sale last January, no idea who made it, the other red is Basic Grey. Computer generated sentiment, Martha Stewart punch for the borders.

Snowflakes inside and out

Well tonight it's snowing a little here, not settling but I had to make a quick snowflake card!

Last night I went to Stamp Attic's Christmas party and succumbed to Tim Holtz stamps at 10% off. Wendy tells me she also has free p&p until 18 December so if you're after Tim Holtz stamps now is the time to get them:).

This week has been real madness but I had a quick play this afternoon with the snowflake stamp and made a card following Papertake Challenge's sketch for this week. Basic Grey's Challenge is to use the colour combo of cream, pink and blue, which fits the Eskimo Kisses papers to perfection. I'm also entering Stamp Something's Winter Wonderland themed challenge with it.

Snowflakes were white embossed onto white card and Memento, Adirondack and Distress inks applied with a sponge over them. I've added some pearl gems to some of the snowflake centres. The lovely felt snowflake border comes from Stamp Attic, it stands out better in real life.

Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses papers and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards. Looking forward to playing some more with the stamps :)

Stop global warming - burn a penguin today

It's not too late to submit your name for Shirleys2Girls Design Team call - the closing date is 20 December. I decorated this candle as my altered item for the DT call. It uses the free digi that is available until the end of today on the SNR Cardiverse group for Shirleys2Girls, you can download the digi for free if you join the group by this evening (Mon 14th December).

I printed the digi several times onto printer paper, then I used 505 temporary spray adhesive to attach tissue paper. I printed the penguins out first so I knew to avoid them with the spray :). I ran it through the printer again, coloured with Copics and cut out closely around it. Then I used the standard method of wrapping the candle tightly in baking parchment with the image where I wanted it and used my heat gun until the wax melted just enough and changed colour. With so many digital designs available now it's good to know that you can still print them onto tissue paper and decorate candles.

Digi the Penguin

Shirleys2Girls had a fun Digi Day Party over at SNR Cardiverse, it's not too late to join in the fun. If you join the group there's a free digi image available until Monday night of a cute penguin. I've used him to make this quick card which I'm entering for the Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge which is SNOW this week. I'm also entering Mr Penguin into Corrosive Challenge's Walking in a Winter Wonderland Challenge.

I've printed him out once onto card and once onto Glimmer Misted paper and popped the coloured image up on foam pads. I've added Flowersoft snow to the ground and to the background as big snowflakes. The papers are Basic Grey and Craftwork cards, image coloured with Copics and cut out with Nestabilities, velvet ric rac and brads from stash.

Sparkly reindeer

Yesterday I got virtually nothing done from a long list of plans including card making. My friend had a special outing to London with her visually impaired elder daughter and, once up there well out of reach of home, got a call from school to collect her younger daughter who was unwell. So I picked up Miss Suzie and tucked her up for a short nap, from which she emerged full of beans and ready to colour :). Suzie was with me until quite late in the evening and I promised her that I'd put one of the cards she made onto my blog. So if you scroll down you will find a very nicely coloured House Mouse card :). We both had a great time but Suzie definitely won the crafting session, with a big batch of cards while I'd finished about half of one:)

I've managed to finish up a card using the adorable Whiff of Joy of Wee the gnome with reindeer, which is based on the sketch at Corrosive Challenges this week. The reindeer has black Stickles for sparkle on his hooves, a sparkly Stickles red nose and more Stickles on his antlers and on the snowflake, as Sparkle is this week's Whiff of Joy Challenge. I'm also entering the card into Cupcake Craft's Challenge of a Christmas Carol. Now I'm never sure that Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is a carol as such, but I'm hoping it will be accepted for the purposes of the challenge!

Card recipe: Whiff of Joy stamp coloured with watercolour pencils and Stickles. Background has Distress Inks sponged on. Paper from Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses and spotty DP from stash. Sttiched with sparkly rayon thread, snowflakes cut from Nestabilities dies, sentiment from Craftwork Cards.


Suzie's card:

Twisted Thursday #36

It's Twisted Thursday Challenge time again! Shirleys2Girls challenge you to follow a sketch - with a twist! Here's what you have to do: Create a card, following this week’s sketch and then “Twist” by using glitter or bling somewhere on your project - how easy is that! You are not required to use Shirley’s 2 Girls stamps, but if you've got them, we'd love to see you use them! If you don't yet have any of these wonderful stamps, they are currently having a sale - there is a MASSIVE 45% off everything other than digi stamps and those already reduced in the Turkey sale. This has to be a great reason to get shopping!

Upload your card to your favorite online gallery and/or your blog. If you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keywords S2GSC36 AND shirleys2girls. Post a direct link to your card using Mr. Linky on the Challenge Blog, here. The deadline for uploading your card is Wednesday, 16 December, 2009 at midnight PDT.The winning card will be chosen by Random.org, the lucky winner will get to choose a stamp from the Shirley’s 2 Girls product list, and their winning card or other project will be showcased on the Shirley's 2 Girls Challenge Blog Please do visit the other Ladies with Attitude, check out their amazing creations and leave them some love, we're joined this week by Guest Designer Jane. Jane creates some wonderful work, I can't wait to see what she comes up with for the Challenge!

Jane GD

Debbie

Erin

Joy and

Justine

Before I tell you about my card I have another couple of bits of S2G news to share with you:

SALE!! Don't forget that S2G has ALL their clear stamps on sale at 45% off. Grab them while they last, when they're gone they're gone. Why not head on over and do some shopping. The sale doesn't include the digis.

Sunday December 13th is our Free Digi Day over at SNR, why not come on over and join in the fun. We'll start at noon PST (that's 8pm UK time) on Sunday the 13th for about two hours. We've got a wonderful holiday game planned with soem chit chat and of course that free digi to play with. Go to SNR Shirleys2Girls Group to find out all the details and updates. You just might walk away with one of the prizes - good luck!

OK now on to my card :). I used the Snowwoman image, which is available as either Digi or clear stamp from Shirleys2Girls. She's coloured with Copics and been blinged with Glamour Dust. Image, mirri card frame and mirricard snowflake all cut with Nestabilities, silver card candy from Carftwork Cards. DPs are Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses.

Monochrome Christmas

This is a quick posting of a card for Spoonful of Sugar's monochrome challenge. I learnt how to make cards with a swinging centre a few weeks back when I went to a class at Made by You in Swindon. It's a tricky card to take a good photo of but essentially it's folded so that the centre square hangs as though it's suspended, you can decorate the front and the back of the square. I opted for a clean and simple card, using clear Hero Arts stamps for the image and the border. They are stamped in Versamark and embossed with crimson powder.

The picture below isn't for the monochrome challenge; it's another of the swing cards, this time experimenting with a circle centre. The image is a digi from Shirleys2Girls and I used Paint to change the image so my reindeer had a back view as well as a front one :).

Magical things come in tiny packages

Michelle Perkett has opened a Challenge Blog, with the first challenge to follow a sketch made by Carlie Mays. I've made a very quick and simple card with a free image that Michelle kindly made available on her PCP group.

This is a totally digi card, the background snowflake DP is from a CD by Artylicious, the stripe is from a Bearly Mine Creations cd. I originally coloured the image with Sakura Gelly Roll pens but didn't like the colours so I cut out another tiny packages, coloured with Copics and popped it on top with foam pads for dimension. Ribbon and gems are from stash.

Christmas Fjords

A couple of days ago I posted a card made with a digi image from Phindy's Place of a foal, which became a Norwegian Fjord foal with very little tweaking. Having seen how well Phindy drew the Christmas Colt, I begged her to think about drawing a horse and sleigh for Christmas, preferably drawn by a Fjord and was joined in this by Tammy, who also wanted a horse and sleigh image. Within a day, just look what Phindy came up with, listed on her blog as "by request"! This beautiful image is all that I could have wished for, how Christmassy is this!

The card is based on Jeanette's sketch from Sketch Saturday, which hasn't got too many other distractions and allows the image to be the star. I've coloured with copics and Glamour Dust, the DP is Magnolia, one of five sheets I bought at the NEC and have only stroked until now, it was waiting for a very special card and here it is :). ; Sentiment is from Craftwork Cards, snowflakes cut from Spellbinder dies, ribbons and buttons are from stash. I'm also entering it for Dare U2 Digistamp's red, green and a neutral challenge. The Christmas Colt image had my name all over it, all I can say is that this image has my name, height and shoe size on it, it really was made for me (and Tammy) and is even getter than I could dare imagine. ; Phindy is officialy a digi-genius!

Quick Christmas Flowers

I've a couple of cards to blog today, first of all this is a quick and easy card that uses a downloadable freebie image from Fred She Said, aka Tracey. I have bought some lovely images from Tracey (lost in the hard drive crash, must sort out) and she is very generous with her freebies too. The flower is ready coloured, I've layered it and used foam pads to give it depth. Once the card was assembled I added lots of blue and silver Stickles.

The flower is mounted on a circle cut from mirri, the sentiment is Hero Arts, paper from an old Dovecraft pack. The flowers make a very simple but effective card, thanks Tracey! I'm entering the card for a few challenges:

• Saturday Spotlight - Christmas Flowers
• A Spoonful of Sugar - non-traditional colours for Christmas
• Pile It On - Tinsel Town
• Stamp Something - Glitzy Somethings
• Paper Play - Christmas without red or green
• Creative Card Crew - Christmas
  

Shirleys2Girls Design Team Call

Shirley’s2Girls is having a Design Team call.
We are looking for enthusiastic, friendly and talented stampers…
who can work with Digitals…to help promote our company and provide inspiration to the stamping community…through your personal blog, online challenges and online galleries.
This S2G DT CALL is open to everyone!! Apply by 20 December, DT Team will be January-June 2010.

For the full details check out the Challenge Blog where you will find all the details of what you need to do to enter the DT call - and also what you will get from S2G if you become part of the team. Having been lucky enough to be Guest Designer for S2G for the past month or two I'm definitely trying for this one!

If you have time, there's a sketch to follow on the challenge blog, which must include paper piecing. If not, email your details anyway, with a link to your blog and your favourite work.

I've followed the sketch using the gorgeous Christmas stamp"Waiting", I've paper pieced the dog. The card is fairly simple, to highlight the image, but uses very non-traditional colours of lime and orange, which are from the DP (Fancy Pants). Image coloured with Copics, Glossy Accents added to the dog's nose, small gems are decorating the tree branch and I've zig-zag stitched the edge of the card.

I've also included a picture of my favourite card at the moment: a Tri-shutter with Happy Bark-Day and Schnapps on it. There's lots of white space surrounding the images so they take centre stage, hope you like it :). There's one further request to the DT which is to include an altered object and I haven't yet made anything I'm truly happy with, so this will have to wait! This is my weak point and I've been making boxes and bags to decorate and hope to have something worth posting soon.
One last thing: don't forget Shirleys2Girls is having a 45% off sale of all stock except digis, ready for the changeover in January.

Another to add to the flock of angels

Here's another of those beautiful angels from Michelle Perkett, this is the Holly Angel again, done in non-traditional colours this time, what do you think? Image is coloured with Copics and a silver marker pen, the background is painted with Distress Inks in Weathered Wood and Dusty Concord. Background paper is a magazine freebie, sentiment and the scalloped card are from Craftwork Cards.

I've made this card for three challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar - non-traditional Christmas card
Allsorts Challenge - Purple
Cute Card Thursday - swirly girly

Michelle Perkett Blog Hop

I've made a card for a fun blog hop using a Michelle Perkett image called Wishing Star Angel. If you arrived here from Debb's blog then you're in the right place. If you've just arrived here by chance then the start of the hop is at Michelle's blog and you might want to head back there so as not to miss any of the fun. To take part, we all had to make something using the image and also to make a wish for someone. My wish is for my family, especially my children, to have good health.
I really enjoyed using this image, I just discovered Michelle's digi-art this week, goodness this digi thing is addictive with its instant gratification :). Wish Angel is coloured with Copics on a watercolour background, matted onto gold and navy card. The two DPs in the background have wording that fits the image, the "Peace" sentiment just sneaks at the angels' left side. Stars are cut from gold card with Spellbinders dies and the sentiment is an old clear stamp I've had forever. Now it's time for you to hop on over to Crystal J's blog, you're nearly at the end of the hop :). I hope you've had fun and enjoyed seeing all the angels. Don't forget to makeyour own wish, will you?

Holly Fairy

There seem to be wonderful new digi-artists to discover each day. Another new-to-me is Michelle Perkett, who has made beautiful rubber stamps for some time that I coveted, but which weren't easily available in the UK. Michelle specialises in detailed, glamorous angels - this one is the Holly Fairy, though I think she's more of a poinsettia fairy :).

I've followed the sketch for Sketch & Stash, who want new and old stash listed: New stash is the image and the card candy (bought at the NEC). Old stash is the Stampin Up papers I've used and the watercolour paints that I used for the background.

I'm also entering this card is Stampin' for the Weekend's Challenge, which is to use the traditional Christmas colours of red, green and gold. I like the way the traditional colours still work with a less than traditional image here.

Image coloured with Copics on a watercolour background, Stickles, Glossy Accents and Flowersoft "snow" added. Papers from Stampin' Up, card candy from Craftwork Cards.

A Fjordling Christmas

This is a new digi image, Christmas Colt by Phindy O'Neill that I just may have totally fallen in love with. For those who don't know, we have a Fjord horse who has been part of our family since he arrived 16 years ago as a foal. Christmas Colt has the upright mane of a foal that is easily made to look Fjord-like.

I've used Distress Inks on a waterbrush to colour it in and a few Copics on the wreath ornaments. The papers are Fancy Pants and I've rotated the layout from Papertake Challenge, which lets the image dominate the card. I've not added any Flowersoft, Glitter, Fluffy Stuff for snow, I like it as is, what do you think?

I've gond with the traditional reds and greens, which fit several current challenges: Corrosive Challenge, Cupcake Craft Challenge and Incy Wincy Designs.

Oh and here's a photo of Barney, the dumb blonde in our life

Twisted Thursday Challenge #35

It's Twisted Thursday Challenge time again! Shirleys2Girls challenge you to follow a sketch - with a twist! Here's what you have to do: Create a card, following this week’s sketch and then “Twist” by using foil or tin somewhere on your project - great to add a bit of bling to your Christmas cards! You are not required to use Shirley’s 2 Girls stamps, but if you've got them, we'd love to see you use them! If you don't yet have any of these wonderful stamps, they are currently having a sale - there is a MASSIVE 45% off everything other than digi stamps and those already reduced in the Turkey sale. This has to be a great reason to get shopping!

Upload your card to your favorite online gallery and/or your blog. If you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keywords S2GSC35 AND shirleys2girls. Post a direct link to your card using Mr. Linky on the Challenge Blog, here. The deadline for uploading your card is Wednesday, 9 December, 2009 at midnight PDT.The winning card will be chosen by Random.org, the lucky winner will get to choose a stamp from the Shirley’s 2 Girls product list, and their winning card or other project will be showcased on the Shirley's 2 Girls Challenge Blog Please do visit the other Ladies with Attitude, check out their amazing creations and leave them some love:

Ann - GD

Debbie

Erin

Joy and

Justine

I'm joined by another Guest Designer this week: Ann who produces wonderful creations, do check out her blog but be prepared for a long stay, there's a lot to enjoy looking at there:)

Before I get to my card I have some more Shirleys2Girls news to share with you: First the 45% off sale continues; this is on everything except digi stamps, so now is the time to stock up.

Secondly Shirleys2Girls has a Design Team call out. From January they will be a digi stamp only company and they are looking for Design Team members. For all the details check out the challenge blog, you need to have your application in by 20 December. I would like to add one thing to the info on the challenge blog: I've been lucky enough to be invited to be a guest on the team for the last month or so; it has been so much fun! I've been made welcome by all the team, the challenges have been fun and the Girls are very generous with their images. If you love the images and you're thinking about joining a Design Team, don't hesitate, get your name down now!

OK now on to my card:). I've used the stylish "Greetings" stamp available from S2G here and used non-traditional colours of blue and silver. The image is coloured with Copics and lots of Stickles. I've covered some card with foil and run it through a Cuttlebug folder to add my Twist. The silver and blue paper, as well as the sentiment, are from Craftwork Cards. The image and the snowflake are cut out with Spellbinders dies and I got the darling felt snowflake border from Stamp Attic, my local shop.

Interrupting the Christmas card factory line with a birthday card

This is a shamefully late 50th birthday card for a friend. I know, I know, it doesn't have 50 on it but it's so late it should say 50-something...

Stamps are Shirleys2Girls for the cat and the dog images and most of the text. Candle is Stamps by Judith and some text is computer generated. Coloured with Copics.

My Grafico Challenge #27

It's My Grafico Challenge time again. This week the DT was given an image from Tutti Fruitti, the fun set of digi stamps that is the prize for the winner of this week's challenge. So what do you have to do to enter? You can follow the sketch or you can make a project using gingham, or you can do both!

I had some DPs from a magazine with strawberries on that I used, which gave me my colourscheme. I've printed out multiple berries and coloured them with Copics, then done some physical cut and paste onto my card:). The text is computer generated.