Giving Thanks

Hello everyone.

 

Not long to go now and it will be Christmas and I haven't started the Christmas shopping yet.  Thank goodness for online stores.  My daughter wants aquabeads and they are so hard to get hold of here in France.  If I mange to get some I will feel like Super Mam.

 

This is the final challenge at Daring Cardmakers until the first Friday of the New Year.

 

So I would like to wish each of you a very Happy Christmas and a fantastic 2017.

 

This weeks challenge is all about saying Thank You as I think we will have a few cards to make after the Christmas holidays so here is your chance to make a start.

 

 

I used my favourite stamp set from Stampin Up called Jar of love and of course used my favourite technique.  I love adding shaker elements to cards.  I filled this one with lots of little love hearts.

 

I also made a little box to go with it but haven't decided want to fill it with yet.  Its super cute and small great for a little token of appreciation. 

 

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

 

Also I would to thank you all for taking the time to read and leave comments on my blog this last year.  Each one is greatly appreciated.  So this card is for you all.

 

See you all in 2017!!!

 

Step Away From The Cards.

Its another step away from the cards challenge this weeks at Daring Cardmakers.

 

We are mixing things up with our usual card challenges to get you in that festive party spirit.

 

So this weeks we want you to

 

Decorate It

This could be a something to decorate your home, a table decoration, a banner, Christmas cracker or something to hang on your tree.

 

And remember it doesn't have to be festive.

 

Here are my little creations.

 

 

I made a little candle holder from an old jar.

Sorry its not a good picture but I was trying to show the battery tea light glow.

 

 

 

I added a little glitter and some die cut houses and finished with a bit of trim around the top.

 

I then made a cork tree.

Again I die cut some snow flakes and added a few gems and sequins.

 

I have made a few more for my daughters school Christmas market.

 

By the way all the wine corks are not mine.

 

We cant wait to see what you come up with and don't forget to stop by the Design team blogs for more lovely inspiration.

 

Paper Sweeties Decmeber Inspiration

Hello Everyone.

 

I hope all your Christmas crafting is well under way.  I think I am just about finished with my cards but when I saw this months Inspiration photo over at Paper Sweeties I just had to make another.

 

I love non traditional Christmas colours and this was one.

 

Here is what I came up with.

 

I made a little snow globe using the Jar Of Love Stamp set from Stampin Up.

 

I added a little house to the inside and inked up some little clouds which you can just about see.

I then added the white glitter.  It kind of looks like a snow drift.

 

To make the stencil for the clouds I used a sweet cut die from Paper Sweeties called "sending sweet thoughts".  I used the cupcake frosting die and inked around the edge to look like clouds.

 

I then used the Jar of Love matching die set from Stampin Up to create the bow and the little branches for decoration.

 

Have a great week.

xXx

December Elemental Inspiration

 

Its December, woohoo.

 

Did I tell you I love Christmas?

 

What a fabulous image we have this week at Daring Cardmakers.

 

 

 

Lots of lovely frosty elements to choose from this week and remember to use at 3 from the photo.

 

 

 

I picked the colours, tree, reindeer and texture (the cushions and throw)

 

 

 

The tree is a die cut from Spellbinders which does make a 3d decoration if you use both halves.  I also added the baubles and star which is included in the set.  The reindeer is from my Cricut imagine which I cut from silver cardstock.

 

I then used a cable knit embossing folder from Stampin Up to create the background.

 

Hope you can stop by the blog and share your lovely creations with us.

 

xXx

 

Step Away From The Cards Challenge 2

Hello Everyone.

 

Its another "step away from the cards" challenge this week at Daring Cardmakers.

 

We are mixing things up with our card challenges and getting into that festive party spirit.

 

This week we want you to make a tag.

 

Just make and decorate a tag or label for a gift.

(It doesn't have to be for Christmas)

 

I made a shaker tag.

Tags are something which I don't normally make but I think I kind of like this for my tree.

 

 

I used a die to make the tag shape.  The one I have used is by Xcut

 

I then cut several more and layered them up making sure I cut the gaps in the letters for the shaker stars.  I cut a piece of plastic to fit and then ran the top layer through my Big Shot using a lovely embossing folder from Stampin Up called cable knit.  It looks like a lovely warm and cosy jumper.

 

I then added some gingham ribbon to finish my tag.

 

Don't forgot to stop by the Design Team Blogs

 

Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by.

 

xXx

 

 

 

Paper Sweeties November Inspiration

 

Good morning all.

 

Its monthly challenge time over at Paper Sweeties. 

 

Look at this gorgeous picture to help with your creativity.

 

 

 

I was inspired by the colours, chalkboard and the gingham.

 

 

I created my card using the wood grain embossing folder from Stampin up.  I then created a frame using some corrugated card.

 

I wanted to try the chalkboard technique so I used the little jar which is a stamp set from Stampin Up called Jar Of Love.

 

I then two step stamped the little flowers that are in the set onto some orange card.

 

 

I then finished my card with some gingham ribbon and a few of the lovely sequins that are available from the Paper Sweeties SHOP.

 

Have a great day.

 

xXx

 

 

 

Musical Christmas

Hello everyone.

 

This week at Daring Cardmakers is all about a musical Christmas.

 

We want to see what Christmas carol or song inspires you.

 

I went with "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow".

I love both of these songs so I wanted to created a wintery background for my card.

 

Making my own inky backgrounds is a totally out of my comfort zone when it comes to crafting cards but I really love this effect.

 

 

I masked off the moon and then created some templates for the snowdrifts and then inked around them.  I used a two shades of blue and a tiny bit of purple to create this card.

 

I then stamped some trees.  Well they are actually branches from the jar of love set by Stampin Up.

I don't own a realistic tree stamp so I think I need to invest in one.

 

I then added a little sparkle to the card to look like fallen snow and finished with a stamp greeting.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs

 

xXx

Step Away From The Cards

Good Morning Crafters.

 

 This week at Daring Cardmakers its all about gift boxes and bags.

 

So we thought we'd have a bit of a Crafting Party for the end of the year.  So for the next few weeks, we'll be mixing up our usual card challenges with some other crafting items, and we'd love to see what you make!

 

We'd just like you to make or decorate a box or gift bag - it doesn't even have to be Christmas-themed.

 

But I love Christmas so I went with a festive theme.

 

I made a little milk carton box and added some of my favourite papers from My Minds Eye called Sugar plum.

 

I was recently out shopping and I came across these giant jingle bells and pom pom trim which I just had to use on this project.

 

I then added a few die cut snowflakes and added a little tag with a peg which closes the box.

The box is a good size so can hold a good amount of chocolate which I know I like to receive at Christmas.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Design team Blogs to see some more lovely inspiration.

 

xXx

Merry Monday

I couldn't resit this challenge from Merry Monday after all I do love creating for Christmas but I think you may have noticed this.

 

The challenge this week is called "How will you decorate your door"

 

I have just had to have a new door fitted as ours sort of fell to bits as my Father In Law tried to repair it.  Now It has a lovely window which I cant wait to decorate with lights this year.

 

Here is what I came up with.

 

 

I simple card with a little wreath.

 

The wreath is made from tiny stars and snowflakes that I punched from different papers. Some glittered and some foiled.

 

I then added some gingham ribbon and this so cute red jingle bell.  I used a crackle effect paper and mounted it onto kraft card and finished with a little stamped sentiment.

 

(I am on a roll today.  Two posts in one day.)

 

November Elemental Inspiration

Good morning.

 

Can anyone else believe that we are in November? 

 

As Christmas is fast approaching we have a lovely inspiration picture for you at Daring Cardmakers this week.

 

Maybe you could make a start on those Christmas cards.

 

 

Look at all those beautiful rich colours and so many elements to choose from.  Remember you need to pick at least 3 elements to include on your card.  It doesn't have to be a Christmas card either.  Some of the Design Team created a none Christmassy card.

 

Here is mine.

 

 

The elements I picked were the colours, the tree, a frame and glitter.

 

The tree was a die cut set from Spellbinders which came with the an extra die for the baubles.  The set is actually to make a 3d Christmas tree but I haven't used it for that yet.

 

I made my card fairly simple and just used the tree as the focal point.  I do love all the rich colours mixed in with a touch of sparkle.

 

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop by the Design Team Blogs.

 

xXx

 



Sparkle and Shine

Hello everyone.

 

I am a few days late with this post as yesterday it was my daughters school Halloween party and on Friday I was busy making cakes for the school.

 

Its Nats turn to host this weeks challenge at Daring Cardmakers.

 

This has got to be my favourite challenge because its called....

 

Sparkle and Shine

 

I just love a bit of bling on a card ( or a lot ).

 

So If you still have your Christmas cards to make this is the perfect challenge for you.  But it doesn't have to be Christmas.

 

All you need to do is feature plenty of sparkle and shine on your cards.  This could be anything glitter related, gems, sequins, powder, ink etc....

 

I came up with a Christmas card as I wanted to use my favourite Christmas papers from My Minds Eye called sugar plum.  They do feature lots of papers with glitter accents but I didn't use any of those, not sure why.  But I used glitter card and a few sequins on my project.

 

 

I die cut some snowflakes in glitter card using a die from Spellbinders.

With kraft card I decided to use my wood grain embossing folder from Stampin Up just to add some more texture.

 

I then had to include one of my favourite embellishments for Christmas a little jingle bell.

 

Hope you can stop by the Design Team Blogs and get your sparkle on.

 

xXx

Card With A Tag

 I have just had a lovely morning filled with crafty Christmas fun as I had a Stampin Up party and the lovely host brought the cookie cutter set for us to play with.  I will share the card on a later post and show you all the yummy products we used.

Today is Friday which means it's challenge time at Daring Cardmakers.

This weeks challenge is to add a tag to your cards.

I made my card a Christmas card.  I think tags and Christmas go together very well.

I cut out the tag shape and then used a snowflake stencil and inked it up using a clear ink pad.  I then added some white embossing powder and heated it.  After that I ran the tag through my big shot using a woodgrain embossing folder.

I then die cut the Noel using some gorgeous coloured glitter card.  I then added a little Christmas flower, some ribbon and a jingle bell.

I love this Christmas colour combination.  I then used the woodgrain embossing folder with a piece of kraft card and rubbed the clear ink over it, sprinkled some white embossing powder and heated it to create the background.

Don't forget to stop by the Design Team blogs to see how they used a tag.

Monochromatic Cards

 

Hello Everyone.

 

Another Friday and another challenge at Daring Cardmakers.

 

This week Svenja has picked

 

True Colours - Seriously Monochromatic

 

So show us your cards using shades of the same colour or even different textures in the same shades.

 

 

 

I went a little festive with my creation and picked browns well mainly kraft and I even managed to throw a bit of brown glitter card in the there. 

 

I used my favourite star framlit die from Stampin Up.  This die has been the best die I think I have ever bought.  I have used it in so many projects.

 

I also added a little panel of embossed stars and sponge over a little ink in tea dye to tie it all in.

 

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

 

Have a great day.

 

xXx

 

Christmas is Coming

Hello All.

 

We have had some beautiful weather here in France.  I love it when the air is fresh and the sky is clear and the colours of the leaves are just beautiful.

 

So todays card is rather festive again.  I love the inspiration that Merry Monday give you each week to help with the Christmas card stash.

This weeks challenge is a vintage/retro theme.

 

I made a box frame card.  So I then made it into a huge shaker card and added loads of sequins.

The image inside I thought looked very retro, the reindeer reminded me of those sweet little 1950's style ornaments.  The picture is from a set of papers from My Minds Eye called sugar plum which I bought from Hey Little Magpie. 

 

I then created a shadow effect on the word peace by die cutting it twice and sticking it together slightly off set.

I then added a little jingle bell to the letter P with a piece of twine.

Have a lovely day

Fusion Card Challenge

Hello All

 

Sometimes I get stuck when it comes to the layout of my cards and I needed some new inspiration.

 

So I had a look for some new sketch challenge blogs to follow and I came across Fusion Card Challenge blog.

 

This site is great not only do you get a sketch but you also get an inspiration picture.  So you can either go with the sketch, inspiration or both.

 

Here is this weeks image.

 

I went with just the sketch and here is my card.

 

I made a Christmas card in some non traditional colours.  I do like pink and blue together.

 

I made a little shaker card using the Jar Of Love stamp set from Stampin Up.

I added a few stamped snowflakes to the inside of my jar and I had to add a little jingle bell around the top.

 

 

I then die cut a few snowflakes from glitter card and added gems to the centres.

 

The papers I have used are from My Minds Eye called Sugar Plum which I bought from Hey Little Magpie.  It did take me ages to decide which scrummy papers to use but I think I just didn't want to use them as they are so pretty.  A lot of them have added glitter elements.

 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.