All Wrapped Up

Well here it is my last post before Christmas.  First of all I would to wish each of my lovely followers a Very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2016. I hope you all have a great time. 

And second here is this weeks challenge over at Daring Cardmakers.  This weeks theme is All Wrapped Up.  This could be gift boxes, wrapping paper, winter hats and scarves.

Don't forget Daring Cardmakers will return on 8th January 2016 with a brand new challenge.

My first card has a winter theme with this lovely snowman wrapped up in his festive hat and scarf.

 

This next card is made using a die cut tag from Do crafts and Xcut.  Which I have cut from pink glitter card and added some pink gingham ribbon.  I love none traditional Christmas colours.

 

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more lovely inspiration.

 

 

 

 

Elemental Inspiration

Its my turn this week over at Daring Cardmakers to host the dare and its Elemental Inspiration time.

Here is the picture I have chosen for this weeks dare to get us all in the Christmas Spirit.  Well I don't need an excuse as I just love Christmas.

 

 

Remember you need to use at least 3 elements from the picture.

 

 

I have gone with the colours, (not sure why I didn't include the green), ribbon, gingham, jingle bell and some wooden embellishments.

 

The papers are from Docrafts and I have used some snowflake dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat and the two little cups are from my stash.  I imagine that they are filled with hot chocolate just perfect for Christmas.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more lovely inspiration.

Have a great weekend.

 

 

 

Something Stenciled

This week at Daring Cardmakers we have a pre-Christmas treat for one of you - a beautiful crafty gift you could win, thanks to our lovely sponsor,

 Bubbly Funk
 

Recently celebrating 10 whole years selling crafty stash on-line, Bubbly Funk has had a slight change of direction and is now specialising in selling stencils and the paraphernalia that goes alongside.  You'll find a huge range of stencils and masks in many different sizes, plus the inks, paints, sprays, mixed media goodies and the tools you need too. 

Caroline, of Bubbly Funk has put together a special prize pack which includes

3 stencils to play with, plus chipboard mini albums and keychains,
 crystal flowers, ink and ribbon

 

 

Wouldn't it be good to find that little lot arriving at your door?  All you have to do to be in with a chance of it being yours is to join in with this week's challenge - leave a link to your card and at the end of the week we'll use a Random Picker to select our winner.  We can't make it easier than that, can we? 

The Challenge:

 

Something Stencilled

Just use a stencil in some way on your card. It's not a problem if you don't have any ready made stencils - you could use a die cut, or the die itself, a doily, or anything else that you can paint, ink or trace through.

Here is my card

 

 

I used my stencil as an embossing folder instead.  I used some lovely core'dinations card stock.  I then just lightly sanded off the top to make the embossed snowflakes stand out.

 

Don't forget to stop by the design team blogs to check out their lovely creations.

Anything but a card

Hello Crafters.  I hope you all had a lovely weekend and stayed warm.  No snow here in France but it was very wet and cold.

Its my turn to host this weeks dare at Daring Cardmakers.

Every year my daughter's school has a Christmas Fair and as parents we are always asked to contribute. So this gave me an idea!!

I Would like to see

Anything But A Card!!

 

This could be a gift box, a hanging decoration, scrapbook page, an altered item etc.....

 

Perhaps you'll make something you could see at a Christmas Fair.  We may be called the Daring Cardmakers, but we don't just make cards.

 

I made these little star hanging decoration's.  Using the Stampin Up star framlit die.

 

 

I made them into little shaker stars.  Which is something I had yet to try. 

 

I cut out at least 4 stars using two of the dies to make frames so that the little star sequins wouldn't fall out.  I then cut out a further 3 stars, one from a sheet of plastic for the front, another from a piece of decorative paper and a final one for the back of the star.

 

I then made a little frame using some glitter card and attached a piece of ribbon to hang it from your tree.

 

There are three different sizes.  All ready for the Marche de Noel for my daughters school.

 

 

 

Cuddly Creatures

Its hugs and cuddles time over at Daring Cardmakers this week and our lovely host Nat would like to see cuddly creatures on your cards.  So please include any images of hugs or cute creatures that you just want to hug.

I have gone with bear hugs!!

 

The image is from My Time Made Easy called Woodland Creatures which you can find HERE and I have coloured him with promakers.

The papers are from Pink Petticoat and I have also used a kraft card blank and added some corrugated card. 

 

The sentiment is a free download from Docrafts which I thought went with this weeks theme perfectly.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more cute and cuddly inspiration.

November Elemental Inspiration

Just where did last month go? I can't believe how quickly this month has gone and it will soon by my little boys 1st Birthday.

 

So as its now November here is the lovely inspiration picture from Daring Cardmakers.  There are lots of elements in this month picture.

 

I have gone with the colours, a heart and a light.  Remember you need to use at least three elements from the picture.

 

 

Not a Christmas card in sight this week for me and no stars!!!

 

I really wanted to include the rainbow of colours that's featured in the picture so I went with some coloured gems to decorate the chandler image.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more lovely inspiration.

 

Have a great weekend!!!

 

 

 

Non Cute Halloween

The children are back at school and Charlotte had fun at the weekend trick or treating in the village.  It was such a beautiful day and very warm for October.

The weeks challenge at Daring Cardmakers is to make a non cute Halloween card.  This was a tough challenge as all my images were of cute witches and spooks.  So I thought I would just go with a few patterned papers and some text.

 

And of course my trusty star dies which I cut out of some black glitter card.

The papers are from My Time Made Easy and the little BOO and 31 stickers are from Ruby Rock It.

(will add links later when my computer decides its going to play)

I also used some kraft card for my base and I think this is going to be something I use a lot as I love it.  It makes a change from just white as I don't normally use coloured card blanks.

 

 

Don't forget to check out the Design Team Blogs for more spooky inspiration.

Tempting Treats

This has to be one of my favourite challenges at Daring Cardmakers.   So this weeks challenge is just to tempt us with your sweet creations. I love anything sweet on a card especially cupcakes which always tempt me.

Here is my sweet creation:

 

I have used papers from Dovecraft called Cupcake boutique.  The cupcakes are from a stamp set by Kanban which I have paper pieced and coloured with promakers. 

 

The die cut bunting and teapot are from a set by Xcut called Tea Party.

 

Don't forget to pop by the Design Team Blogs for some more sweet creations.

Thank you for the Music

I am so late with this blog post but the school holidays started here on Friday and then there was my daughters Halloween party at school.  I have been busy baking for that and making spooky lollipops.

This weeks dare at Daring Cardmakers is all about music.  Your card could feature sheet music, music notes, lyrics or musical instrument.

 

I have used some sheet music vellum.  The sentiment is also from "We Three Kings of Orient Are" And yes its Christmas!!!

 

I have also used the star framelits die from Stampin Up.

 

Have a great week and don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more inspiration.

What do you do besides Crafting??

Its weekly challenge time at Daring Cardmakers.  We want to know what you do for a living besides crafting.  This could be your current job or a former job.  Show us something job related on your card.

Can you guess my former job?

 

It involved the sea and been away from home for a long time.  Any guesses?

 

This is me many years ago at my passing out parade at HMS Raleigh in Plymouth.

 

I look rather serious and very green.  I was fighting the need to be sick.  My PO behind was wishing the inspection would go quicker using some rather colourful language.  I thought I was going to faint.  In was tough standing there in the heat, perfectly still and carrying a SA80.  It was one of the proudest moments in my life.

Hope you can stop by the design team blogs and guess their jobs!!

Have a great weekend!

 

Elemental Inspiration

Where did September go?? We are having such a beautiful week here in France.  Lovely blue skies and the leaves are on the turn.  I love autumn when its like this.

Well its the first Friday of the month and that means its elemental inspiration over at Daring cardmakers.

Don't forget you need to pick at least three elements from the image.  This could be the colours, hearts, door, wheels, sentiment, vehicle or even a house as its a mobile home.

 

I have gone with the colours, hearts, home and the sentiment is one to do with a journey.

 

The papers, image and sentiment are all from Pink Petticoat.  I have coloured the image using pro markers and added some glossy accents to the windows.  I have also included a little punched heart with a heart button on top. Even the smoke coming out of the chimney is in the shape of a heart, cute!!

 

Hope you can stop by the Daring Cardmakers blog for more lovely inspiration.

Rainbow Christmas

I have made a start on my Christmas shopping.  I have to get it done early for my family in England as my Parent in Laws go for a little holiday around the end of October to the UK.  I find it very difficult as there is nothing in the shops for Christmas yet and every  year I struggle.

But I am getting there with my Christmas cards,  so here is another:

 

I have used a reindeer embossing plate for the background and inked around the edges.

 

I have then used lots of die cut stars in all sizes and styles in a rainbow of glittered card.  Also to add that festive touch I have used a little jingle bell.

 

This card is for the challenge over at Merry Monday and you have to use rainbow colours on your card.

 

 

Creative Kids

I took my 9 month old to his first toddler session on Friday and he loved it.  I loved it too!! It gave Daniel space to crawl and climb with Mummy not having to say NO a lot.  He played great with the other babies and toddlers and I got to meet some other Mums with babies of the same age. 

We are definitely going to make it a regular play date it felt like he just had complete freedom and could go where ever he wanted.  Happy baby equals one very happy Mummy.

Now this weeks challenge at Daring Cardmakers is all about creating a card with your child/children or just for a little person.

I made my card for my Nephew for his birthday.  He is a big boy now and is going to school all day.

 

I used papers from Pink Petticoat and made a little rolled paper candle.

 

I also used my favourite die of the moment my Stampin Up Star framelits.  I just love it so much and its so versatile for all occasions.  I then added a little wooden 5 to make his card extra special.

Hope you can stop by the Design Team blogs for more lovely inspiration.

Fashion Week

Its fashion week over at Daring Cardmakers. Leo our lovely host asks this week that we include an outfit on our cards as it was New York Fashion Week last week and London Fashion Week this week.

This was a real challenge for me as I had no fashion stamps or stamps of people wearing clothes.  So I attempted an origami dress.  I found loads of great tutorials on the internet but used a video tutorial from Utube.

 

The papers I used are from Do Crafts from the Spring Bellissima collection and also the little resin flower.  The sentiment is download and printed out from My Time Made Easy.

 

I have then added a little bit of lace to the bottom of the dress and also to the collar.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more lovely inspiration.

Water colours

Today is a very special day. Its my Birthday!! But the best part of it is that I share it with my gorgeous little nephew who is 5 today. 

Hopefully today my husband and I are going to go shopping and I am dragging him kicking and screaming to my local craft shop.

I am a little late with this post but its water colour week over at Daring Cardmakers.  Sharon our lovely host would like to see water colours on your cards. 

I found this a bit of a challenge as I am not really into inks, sprays etc... But I did have some twinkling H2O's so I had a go at creating a back ground using them.

 

I used three different colours and made a wash effect background.

 

I then used the set of stamps called Annabelle Stamps called gifted swirls.  Unfortunately Annabelle stamps are no longer trading but you can check out the blog HERE for inspiration.  I made my card clean and simple and of course its for Christmas!!!

 

Don't forget to stop by the design team blogs at Daring Cardmakers for more inspiration.

September Elemental Inspiration

School started on Tuesday for us here in France after a long but fun summer holiday.  My daughter has gone into big school and is all grown up.  Where has the last four years gone.  She started nursery looking so little.  I can't believe the change makes me feel very proud but a little sad at the same time that she isn't my baby anymore.

With school starting that must mean one thing autumn is just around the corner.  Love this time of year when the leaves on the trees start to change and the mornings become crisp and cool. So with this in mind I move onto the challenge this week at Daring Cardmakers.  Its September, the start of the month so its Elemental Inspiration time. 

Check out the lovely picture for inspiration and remember to pick at least three elements.

 

I have used the Colours, Leaves, Tree and I thought the corrugated card looks like the pattern in the baskets.

 

 

The papers I have used are from My Time Made Easy and the image is from Pink Petticoat.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs for more inspiration!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

Feeling Fruity

Just recently my daughter and I have been picking brambles.  There are loads of bushes near where we live and it makes a good walk out in the fresh air.  So we have been making and eating bramble crumble, yummy!!

So with fruit in mind its time for this weeks challenge at Daring Cardmakers which is all about fruit on your cards and its the lovely Jo's turn to host.  Jo asks that this week we feature fruit on our creations.

Here is mine.

 

I used strawberries.  The little receipt set came from Printable Heaven which you can find HERE.  The papers I have used are from a set available by Docrafts which is part of the Bellissima collection.

I am not sure if you can tell from the photo but the little die cut cake dome was made from a little piece of plastic to look like glass.  The die cuts are from the Tea Party set by XCut.

Hope you can stop by to play and don't forget to check out the Design Team blogs for more fruity inspiration.

Blog Hop

Hello Ruby Rock-It and Daring Cardmakers Fans!  

We are so excited to be teaming up with this fabulous group of crafters!

We have a fun blog hop that we are kicking off today!!

Yes, that’s right, you can sit, relax, and hop through the blogs of our Creative Team members as we show you what we have been creating!

Here’s your blog hop order…

Kathy

Erin

Lythan

Pattie

Jo

Christine

Nat

Alicia

Leo

Beck

Sharon

Teresa Horner

Miri

Jenifer

Beckie

Teresa Abajo

Svenja

Shannon

Dawn

Ruby Rock-It

Here’s the details:  Enjoy the hop and leave a comment for each of our fabulous designers along the way, and be sure to leave one on your last stop the Ruby Rock-It blog!  For those that follow until the end leaving your sweet sentiments along the way, will be entered to win a fabulous prize from us!  We will announce our winner the first week of September!

 

It's time now to head on over to RUBY ROCK-IT'S blog

Enjoy the hop!

Lets here it for the boys.

Only one more week until the summer holidays finish and the new term begins.  My little girl is about to go to big school so feeling a bit proud of her at the moment.  She has grown up way to fast.

 

I can't believe how quickly each week comes around and here we are with another dare at Daring Cardmakers.

 

This week is all about the boys/men in our lives and its Lythans turn to host this weeks dare and as its her Dads birthday she would like to see men's cards.

 

Here is mine.

 

 

I have used more gorgeous downloads from Pink Petticoat.  I always find men's cards the hardest.  So kept this nice and clean and no fluff, I do love my embellishments.

 

Hope you can stop by the design team blogs for more inspiration and have a great weekend.

 

Talking Texture

I am a little late with this post but today a new dare started over at Daring Cardmakers. This time its all about texture on your cards.

Kathy is this weeks host and she wants to see lots of texture on your creations.  This could be fabrics, metal, cork, leather anything to make your card interesting to touch.

This is what I came up with.  And yes its Christmas!!

 

For my touchy feely bit I have used some pom pom trim, lace, the snowflake is cut from glittered foam and my ribbon is all glittery too.

 

The papers and sentiment I have used are from Pink Petticoat.  I also just love my Stampin Up star framlits at the moment so I mounted the snowflake onto one cut from glitter card.  Which is hard to see in the photo.

 

I picked the colours of the card to match the challenge over at Merry Monday which was to use pastels.

 

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team blogs for more lovely inspiration.