Creative with Stamps Challenge #9 - Use Christmas Stamps

The theme at Creative with Stamps is sweet and simple this month as Lillian and Monika are asking you to use a Christmas stamp or stamps on your card!

My Christmas stamp of choice is this beauty from Impression Obsession. I die cut some black card to size and stamped the image in Versamark. I dusted with gold embossing powder and heat set it. Easy peasy lemon squeazy, as the children say where I work!

For some reason I like to keep my Christmas cards simple and this one is very, very CAS. It looks lovely IRL but sadly, hasn't photographed so well.

Once again, we are fortunate to have sponsors and prizes at CWS so please visit the blog to get all the details and to see the lovely inspiration cards from my teamies.

Naughty or Nice Challenge #34 - A Christmas Carol versus Frozen

We've got a great challenge for you this month over at Naughty or Nice!

The challenge is to make a traditional OR a modern Christmas card and we're leaving the choice of which style, theme or colour combo all up to you!

I broke out an old Birdie Brown digital image for my card; what could be more traditional than Santa? I like to think that this guy is doing a bit of festive disco dancing.

My teamies have created some gorgeous cards for this challenge but we do seem to be a little light on naughtiness this month so if you think you can put that right please head on over and make some trouble!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #73 - U is for UFO

Nope, Edna isn't looking for alien spaceships this month, she's on the lookout for your UnFinished Objects!

Remember this sad and unloved box?

Here it is again in all it's revamped and finished glory!

I slathered on oodles of Gesso and added some papers from an old book and then slathered on yet more Gesso!

I knew I wanted polka dots or big spots so used my Acrylic Paint Dabbers to achieve this.

The stamps are mainly from Pinkfresh. Pinkfresh seem to have an active Blog yet have very few products in their store, so I purchased these sets from Simon Says Stamp and managed to live through the agony of the two week wait as they crossed the North Atlantic!

I meant to take more step-by-step pictures but got so involved in the process that I forgot!

My teamies have created some totally fabulous stuff for this challenge, so please drop by and take a look. 

Creative with Stamps - Challenge #8 Reminder

This month is simply flying by, which seems nicely appropriate given the theme of our current challenge over at Creative with Stamps!

Yes, it's reminder post time at Creative with Stamps and what a lovely post it is too as my teamies have worked their creative magic yet again.

I have to say that I really enjoyed making my simple little card. The bird is from another Katzelkraft set. For me, these sets are a cheaper alternative to the rather pricey Tim Holtz sets. Stamping, colouring, die-cutting and a nice end result! I'm a happy crafter!

We've already had some beautiful cards in the link-up gallery but would love it if you would come join our fun challenge too!

Naughty or Nice Challenge #33 - Reminder

It's reminder time over at Naughty or Nice!

We've had some great entries thus far but we're a greedy bunch and would love it if a few more of you played along with our current challenge which is all about punched shapes, die-cuts and the art of telling it like it is!

My card came together very quickly, which is just as well as I am nursing a really nasty throat infection and feel grotty as heck!

I punched a circle from a post-it note and stuck it to my card. Then I coloured with Distress Inks and removed the post-it to reveal a beautifully circular moon. I stamped the trees with Hero Arts stamp Winter Trees Pattern (love, love, love this stamp) and added the die-cut deer and the Lawn Fawn sentiment.

I finished the card with some layering and oodles of Wink of Stella.

If you are looking for further die-cut inspiration then take a look at this amazing round-up post from the marvelous Mel McCarthy of Mel Stampz. I'm also including this link to another inspirational post, this time by Marilyn over at Kraftin' Kimmie, for anyone who has corner punches and wants to use them to make gorgeous doilies. 

My teamies have made some really lovely cards for this challenge, so please head on over to take a look. This challenge is open until Friday 25th November. 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #72 - Z is for Zentangle

Edna's been hard at work creating a beautiful, Zentangled background for you to marvel at and enjoy!

Yes, crafters, it's time to Tangle over at SoSS!

It's also time for a confession from yours truly... I tired and tried with this challenge but found I was unable to create anything I liked. After wasting several sheets of my best card I decided a different approach was needed and went in search of the free digital image given away with the October edition of the Craft Stamper magazine. 

I printed the image on white cardstock, and then printed it again on design paper, which I'd stamped in a variety of patterns and colours. I used this to paper-piece the image and then added additional colour with my pens. I have to say that I quite like the end result!
My teamies are a talented bunch and you are going to love their creations and how they achieved their perfect patterns.

Wanna tangle with Zentangles? Come join us please...