Congratulations cards

Happy New Year!  Hope whatever you're up to this evening is a good one!   We're just having a quiet night - it's lashing rain here anyway, so I'm kinda glad I'm not heading out ;)

I got great news today that not one, but two of my colleagues received an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honors!  I'm lacking in my male stamps, so thought these really old silver peel offs would do the trick and just kept them nice and simple.  I added some sparkle to the glasses and the bottle but it didn't show up in my pic.

• CASual Fridays #164 - celebrations
• AAA Cards #80 - silver
• Pile it On #123 - celebrations
• Simon Says Stamp - party time
• CASology #229 - toast
• Tuesday Throwdown #323 - anything goes

Loved up froggy and another calendar page

Oh dear, I can't believe it's Friday evening already, where did that week go?!!  Mind you, I'd no idea what actual day of the week it was for most of the time ;)   I made it to the sales ... bought a new suitcase (just need a holiday to go with it LOL) and some swanky new curtains and cushions.  Oh, and a new doggy bed for Ruby, so bedtime tonight could be interesting!

This one uses another oldie Penny Black stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and sparkle added to the lily pad and clear gloss to the little heart.  I couldn't get a decent pic this one looks better in real life - the background on the base is splattered with green paint to match my froggy.  Silver mirror card embossed with an old XO folder, might be Sizzix I'm not sure.

• This card is based on this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoast - here's Diane's original
• AAA Cards #80 - silver
• Pile it On #123 - celebrations
• Tuesday Morning sketches #383 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

I haven't shared my last calendar page for my friend's Christmas pressie.
I bought this cute (rabbit?) from Stamping Bella recently, isn't she a cutie.  The sentiment says 'tea', but I masked it out and wrote in 'coffee' as she doesn't drink tea.  **Gasp** I couldn't get through the day without it LOL  I also added in a couple of Eat Cake Graphics stamps - Daisy Mouse and Firefly.

• Stamping Bella - anything goes

Kitties and a mouse

I didn't quite make it shopping today, I had a wee crafty day instead ;)

This one uses Kitties in the Window from Eat Cake Graphics.  Coloured with a mixture of watercolour and ordinary pencils.  Think I need to get the builders in though, my windows look a bit skew-whiff!

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Tuesday Morning Sketches #383 - anything goes
• Tuesday Throwdown #323 - anything goes
• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #268

Whooohoo, go me, I've managed to use up some ooooold DP that's been in my stash for such a long time!  

I'm also using an oldie Penny Black image so that's double bonus points for me ;)
Spellbinders sentiment panel.

• Layout from Splitcoaststampers SC625
• Creative Inspirations #265 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday November - use a die

Birthday mice

Well that's Christmas all done and dusted for another year!  We had a lovely time just chillin, but I'm thinking of braving the sales tomorrow to see if there are any bargains about and maybe work off a few of those calories ;)

I've used one of my new Penny Black cuties for this one, and some old DP from my stash.
Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss / glitter added to the ribbon.

• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #268
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - make it sparkle
• Word Art Wednesday #262/3 - anything goes
• Cute Card Thursday #457 - anything goes
• Sugar Pea Mix it Up challenge #26 - anything goes

Santa and Mrs Claus and some Tags

Merry Christmas!  My last Christmas card of the season, as always, belongs to Greg!  When I make his, I know for sure that I'm finished!

This one uses this lovely image from Eat Cake Graphics - Santa and Mrs. Claus
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Sparkle added to Santa's fur trims (though I've just noticed I forgot to do his boots!).  Simon Says sentiment die; Paper Smooches snowflakes dies.  I've no particular reason why they're standing in front of a wall - other than it was a new stencil and I was dying to use it ;)

• CASual Fridays #163 - Christmas
• As You Like It - favourite Christmas song - mine's "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus" - and isn't this stamp just perfect for it!
• AAA Cards #80 - silver
• Happy Little Stampers December - anything goes with die cuts
• Die Cuttin Divas #297 - Santa or reindeer

And here's my gift tags made with another Eat Cake Graphics stamp:

No peekin' no pokin' (text circle)

I added some clear gloss and lots of glitter to the stripy edge and to Santa's specs, so there's lots of the regulation Christmas sparkle ;)

• Tuesday Morning Sketches #383 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - make it sparkle
• Word Art Wednesday #262/3 - anything goes
• Power Poppy - sweet treats
• Crafty Creations #331 - any holiday
• Creative Knockouts #173 - Christmas delight

Not done yet!

Ha, so much for being finished with my Christmas cards.  I'd miscounted the ones I made for work, so had to knock another couple out this evening.  Mind you, they don't come much simpler than this!

I've used this fab, slightly grumpy looking moose from catsonappletrees that I bought earlier in the year after being led astray (again) by DottyJo.  Sentiment from Sugar Pea Designs.  A few gold stars from my stash and some doodled borders and job done!  That's DEFINITELY me finished now.
I even have Greg's card made and it's not yet Christmas Eve!  (I'll blog it later in the week)

• ABC Xmas - Y for Yikes and Z for Zoom
• Addicted to Stamps #224 - CAS
• CASual Fridays #163 - Christmas
• Penny Black and More December - black, white, gold
• 
  

A hug in a cup

Well not long now till the Big Day, I've been dying with the cold these past few days, so hopefully that's the sickness out of the way for Christmas!  I've just finished my Chrissy cards, hooray!! so anyone else is getting a shop bought one.  Oh actually, now I think of it I haven't made Greg's so I guess I'm not done yet!

Anyway, here's a rest from Christmas cards - I bought this cutie from Stamping Bella's recent sale.  I'd had this unloved DP in my stash for such a long time, but it was perfect for this tea drinking princess!
Coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to the 'furry' bits on her crown and robe, and clear gloss to the teacup and crown.

• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #267
• Pixie's Snippets Playground #260
• Sugar Pea Designs SPDMIU26 - anything goes
• Crafty Catz #351 - anything goes

Naughty or Nice - Modern or Traditional

We're midway through December, so it's challenge reminder time at Naughty or Nice.  This month's theme is a Christmas one (of course!!) and you can go traditional or modern - A Christmas Carol versus Frozen.  Hope you'll play along and pop over to the blog to see the other Troublemakers fab creations :)  And there's a prize of some Die-namics up for grabs this month!

I've gone for traditional for my card - and what could be more traditional than my little family of Carolers from Eat Cake Graphics again!  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss /glitter added to their hats / ear muffs.  Snowflake die from Paper Smooches.  Sentiment from Happy Little Stampers.

• As you like it - favourite Christmas song - mine's Deck the Halls, great for a singalong though I'm not sure I'd get much past the 1st or maybe 2nd verse ;)
• Creative knockouts #172 - festive fun
• Cute Card Thursday #456 - snowflakes
• ABC Xmas Yikes and Zoom - multiple makes
• Stamp Ink Paper #78 - winter holiday
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - let there be snow
• Merry Monday #226 - winter fun
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin - singing image

And just so I have a record of what I made for next year, here's more of the same in the shape of some special request teacher's cards:

A get well mouse

Everything I'm making recently is super-CAS - it will be nice to get a breather after Christmas and make something a bit more complicated!

I was very lucky recently to win a voucher from The Craft Barn and blew it on a new set from Penny Black.  I needed to make a Get Well card, so I thought this little mouse would cheer someone up.

Coloured with watercolour pencils; clear gloss added to the teacup and saucer; and sparkle to the icing on the cupcakes.

• Sweet Stampin - animals
• 613 Avenue Create #192 - anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps #224 - CAS
• Inspiration Destination #116 - anything goes

Poinsettia Christmas

Apparently today is National Poinsettia Day (according to Simon Says Stamp), who knew there was such a thing!  Maybe it's the optimal day to buy your poinsettia and still have it alive on Christmas Day (it would still be a bit dicey in my house LOL)

I needed to make a Christmas card that wasn't too jolly and didn't say 'happy Christmas', so this is what I came up with.
My poinsettia stamp is an olide from Art Gone Wild (I think).  I'm not convinced about the sentiment, it may or may not change!
Coloured with a red watercolour pencil, gold stickles added to the flower centres.

• Sweet Stampers #02 - anything goes
• Word Art Wednesday #260 - anything goes
• CRAFT #393 - winter
• Crafting when we can #134 - Christmas
• Dream Valley #146 - Christmas

Flowers and Carolers

Aww boo hoo, Sunday evening already and the last episode of David Attenborough's Plane Earth, definitely the best programme on telly!
I've been in full-steam-ahead card making mode today, I still haven't finished my Christmas cards and needed some extra non-Xmas cards as my stash is almost kaput!

This birthday one features a lovely set from Simon Says Stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils, fussy cut and then glued in layers.

• My layout was based on Kim's beautiful card over at Time Out #72 ->
• Sugar Pea Designs Mix it up challenge SPDMIU26 - anything goes
• Stamping Sensations December - floral fancies

Here's my Family of Carolers from Eat Cake Graphics again .... you're going to be seeing more of them over the next few days too probably ;)

I've added some silver snowflakes and a silver border.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch club #310
• Addicted to Stamps #223 - holiday
• Creative Inspirations #263 - Christmas creations
• Penny's Challenge #307 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday - use some dies

Cards for Emily and Will

I've a couple of special request cards this evening - hopefully that's the end of them as I still haven't finished my Christmas cards or my friend's calendar!

This first one uses Unselfishness (MMM Ice Cream) from Eat Cake Graphics.  Coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to her shirt; clear gloss and glitter to the dog's collar and the 5.  Spellbinders circles dies.  I'm not overly happy with my sentiment, the Emily is a bit lost in my snazzy DP.  Ah well, it will have to do!

• Layout flipped from Mojo Monday #477
• Inspiration Destination #115 - anything goes
• Polkadoodles #49 - anything goes

Will's card uses an olide Lili of the Valley stamp.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss/glitter added to the bicycle.  

Dienamics wonky stitched circle die; I think the star might be Dienamics too.

• Die Cuttin Divas #295 - favourite sketch plus red and green - (I used bottom left)
• Crafty Creations #330 - masculine
• Cuttlebug mania - shine
• Cute Card Thursday #455 - sparkles / stars

ETA - showcase pick at Die Cuttin Divas

Penguintastic

I couldn't decide which of my penguins I wanted to use the most, so I used them all ;)

They're from Eat Cake Graphics of course (from left to right)....
5077-D Right foot up penguin
5076-E Left foot up penguin
5075-D Sliding Penguin
5074-E Looking Up Penguin
Aren't they fab!
The two in the corner look like they've got cold feet, the dude in the middle is having a blast sliding down the hill, and the guy to the right definitely looks like the Health and Safety Officer LOL

Coloured with watercolour pencils, and clear gloss added to their beaks and feet.  I finished my card with a Simon Says Stamp Christmas die, Paper Smooches snowflake die, a little silver star and some clear bling.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

• Moving along with the Times #35 - Christmas scenes
• Sparkles challenge #86 - Christmas is coming
• 613 Avenue Create #192 - Holiday happiness
• AAA Cards #79 - Christmas
• Sweet Stampin - let it snow
• Sugar Pea Designs Mix it up challenge SPDMIU26 - anything goes

Family of Carolers

I got this stamp so I could 'personalise' my sister's Christmas card ... it couldn't be any more perfect - a boy and a girl and a labrador!   It's following on from my card for them last year which featured my nephew and niece - here's the link if you want a peek.
Anyway I liked the finished result so much, it ended up being my card to all my family and friends!  There's a bit of colouring to do, but the images do all the hard work, so there's no need to be faffing about cutting things out!

My stamps are from Eat Cake Graphics:
Family of Carolers
Lamp post
'Deck the Halls' sentiment from Happy Little Stampers.

I've coloured my little family with watercolour pencils and added glitter to their baubles, trim of Dad's Santa hat, and Mum's ear muffs.  Clear gloss added to the lantern glass and I covered the boy's hat, Dad's scarf and hat, and the little girl's skirt in my clear sparkle pen.  I masked my family and the lantern off, and splattered the background with pink watercolour to match my base.  Oh and I added some Frosted Lace stickles to the ground for my fallen snow, so there's LOTS of sparkle on this card!  Little gold stars from my stash.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics



And here's another version of the same card, but this time I used the Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow stencil, but to be honest it was a bit of a faff and I couldn't be bothered with it for mass production.

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Creative with Stamps #9 - use a Christmas stamp
• Crafty Calendar December - Christmas
• Christmas Cards all year round December - Christmas
• CASual Fridays #162 - glitter and snowflakes

Naughty or Nice - modern or traditional

It's a new month, so that means a new challenge over at Naughty or Nice.  This month's theme is a Christmas one (of course!!) and you can go traditional or modern - A Christmas Carol versus Frozen.  Hope you'll play along and pop over to the blog to see the other Troublemakers fab creations :)  And there's a prize of some Die-namics up for grabs this month!

I've gone for the 'modern' look with my card. I watercoloured my base in the Frozen movie colours - I think every little girl in the country has either an Anna or an Elsa dress and all the other stuff that goes with it!  I wouldn't be surprised at all if you could get Frozen toilet roll!!
My singing goose is an oldie from Penny Black, and the sentiment is from Happy Little Stampers.  Paper Smooches snowflake dies.

• Christmas with the Cuties #1 - anything cute and Christmassy
• Classic Design Team Open #09
• Allsorts #391 - anything Christmas
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin - anything Christmas goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes