Gnomebody like you

 Good morning, it's the last wednesday of the month-the day we have our regular Christmas- themed challenge at Fab 'n' Funky, this week our host is Pat. 

I'm cheating a bit here because this was a card I made for last Christmas (you know- the one that wasn't!).The cute gnomes are a stamp from Polkadoodle, coloured with copic markers. The snowflakes around them are a border die from Memory Box (old but beloved!) cut twice then curved into a wreath. I die cut a couple of little tags for the sentiment and attached them with a tiny die cut bow (part of a larger die but I just wanted the bow so I cut off the little heart bit!)  also MB.

It's never too early for making a start on Christmas cards so why not play along this week- stuck for ideas? - just hop over to Fab 'n' Funky to see what the girls have produced this week.

Thanks for visiting my blog today

Chris

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Challenge entries:

christmaswiththecuties #46

hollyandivy #88

polkadoodle #8

mytimetocraftchristmas #3

In the garden...

 Good morning, it's been an eventful week for me- I had my first dose of the vaccine on Monday so impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the staff and volunteers at the centre, very professional but friendly too. We were a bit early for our appointments and expected to wait in the car for a while- but no - we were in, vaccinated , and back out before the time of our actual appointments arrived- very stress free and painless. I did have a slight reaction, felt extremely tired the next day- my legs felt like two lumps of wood but it only lasted for one day- a very small price to pay.  Yesterday I finally got my walk with my daughter, snow and ice have melted, just a bit of rain to contend with, it was  so lovely to see her and have a good old chat as we walked. 

Back to today's card- it's Friday so that means a new challenge at Crafty Catz, hosted this week by our lovely Janette , the optional twist is 'In the garden' which is lovely, I'm so looking forward to getting out in mine!Lots of lovely growth out there already, snowdrops, crocuses and grape hyacinths already out, other spring bulbs poking their leaves up, buds on the magnolia and camellia to name but a few. There are even a few hardy roses still blooming. 

Our sponsor this week is Beccy's Place

The beautiful silhouette I used, kindly given to me by our Sponsor, is part of a digital set called Garden Silhouettes. I printed it straight onto my design paper, then used a die cut archways to frame it. I stamped the branch and leaves onto the dp and over the arch. I printed the sentiment, part of the same digital set, onto another scrap of the dp, added a flower shaped brad to finish.

The Crafty Catz ladies have created some stunning card this week using some beautiful sponsor images, so do hop over and take a look, we would love to see your beautiful creations too- remember it's 'anything goes' the theme is always optional.

Thanks for stopping by today

have a great weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

audsentiments #26

addictedtostamps #399

beccyschallenges - February

craftycreations #418

Dogs are the best...

 

It's Humour Me Wednesday at Catch the Bug.

I made a card to celebrate 'Love Your Pet Day'- which is on 20th February.

The image I've used is Boy Sitter with Dog.

Yes, dogs definitely ARE the best- I miss mine so much. We have started to look for a puppy but it's proving quite challenging due to the travel restrictions and the huge demand for puppies just now, we'll just have to be patient for a while.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge Entries:

markerchallenge #579

craftyanimals #47

lovetocraft #55

incywincy animals/buttons

Birthday fairy

 Good morning, his week's challenge at Fab'n' Funky starts today, the theme is 'birthdays', picked by Ginny.

I made a card for my youngest granddaughter- it isn't her birthday for ages yet but I so wanted to colour up this gorgeous little Mo Manning fairy - this month's patreon image, so not available in the shop yet. I've coloured her with copic markers- blond hair- like Charlotte's- and sparkly wings ( no, Charlotte doesn't have wings but she does little chubby arms and legs and sometimes wears her hair in bunches!)

We all always need birthday cards so why not play along this week, hop over to Fab'n' Funky now to see what my team have created to inspire you - Ginny's card will crack you up!- and to add your own fabulous birthday makes.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

digichoosday#7

classicdesign #2

creatalicious #205

daisychain #49

dreamvalley #241

mosdigitalchallenge #300

thefairyandtheunicorn ~feb Challenge

TIOT - Cute

Crazy cool dude

This week's challenge at Catch the Bug is all about the kids

Here's the card I made featuring Lil Dude- isn't he a cutie?

I've coloured with Copic Markers, fussy cut and popped him onto card using foam pads - all the papers from 'So Rad' (Simple Stories) 6 inch pad, 2 star brads added. 

Short and sweet today :)

Thanks for looking

Chris

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Challenge entries:

craftycreations #418

digichoosday #6

classicdesign #2

cardsgalore #84

daisychain #49

 

Miss You Bunny

 Good morning- well we've reached the end of a very cold week here- it's been snowing on and off for most of it- luckily not too heavily though so I'm hoping it will disappear quickly when the temperature rises a bit. I'm hoping it's gone by Sunday as I'm planning to meet my daughter for a walk - I haven't seen her for weeks,  so it will be lovely to see her beautiful face!  I've collected a bagful of treats for my granddaughters (haven't seen them either) and this card is for them. Ruby is crazy about rabbits so I know she'll love it, as for my lovely laid-back Liv she'll enjoy the treats!!

We have a new challenge starting today over at Crafty Catz, the theme is 'add some metal' picked by Jac,  our sponsor is Digi Doodle Studios

I used a sweet sponsor image Bunnie Dew, which I've coloured with Copic Markers. I've layered it onto various scraps of DP from the ever- growing scrap box, added some die cut flowers, a bow and a little rabbit charm for my metal element.

My lovely teamies have created some beautiful cards this week using sweet sponsor images so please do check out the CHallenge Blog, remember the theme is optional if you wish to play along.

Thanks for visiting

Enjoy the weekend

Stay safe, healthy...and warm.

Chris

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 Challenge entries

Ellibelle's Feb Challenge

craftysentiments - 9/2 Challenge

lemonshortbread #139

digidoodles #35

Sending love

New Release day at Catch the Bug

 Good morning, still plenty of snow here- I'm hibernating until it's gone.

  I made this card for my two younger granddaughters a couple of weeks ago- 6 year old Emily is dog- crazy so I knew she would love this cute Bugaboo Puppy.  I coloured him with copics, cut him out and popped him onto my circular card base. I made two little envelopes from a scrap of paper and added the tiny heart buttons . 

The girls loved the card and the voucher inside it (to buy a book each) - I'm so happy that all 4 of my granddaughters love books, the three eldest are avid readers and baby Charlotte loves to cuddle up with a picture book. Peace and quiet reigns- for a while!

Thanks for visiting and have a good day.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

craftinghappiness #83

mmm #141

pathofpositivity # 88

aperfecttimetocraft #2

craftyfriends #149

creativecraftcottage #137

mytimetocraft #450

Gift bags

Anything But a Card day at Catch the Bug

 Good morning,  hope you all had a good weekend- it snowed all day yesterday, quite a rarity here in the South East. Much to my older granddaughters' disappointment there wasn't enough for sledding but I did have some lovely photos of 18 months old Charlotte's first experience of snow- she loved it! She even helped her big sister build a snowman...well more of a sort of snow mound with a carrot- but they tried!

Here are some tiny gift bags I made using 2 cute Bugaboo images, Christmas Bear and Lil Snowman, the krat bags were cheapies from the Works and a little bit wonky but didn't look too bad after I'd decorated them, the images were quick and easy to colour so they didn't take long to make either.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

MLCCB #31

CHNC #528

Winter Wonderland - Feb Challenge

fezziwigs- used ribbon/digi/snowflakes

hollyandivy #87

February Challenge at Crafty Calendar

 Good morning, our February challenge at Crafty Calendar is sponsored by 

Oddball Art

and 

Crafty Ribbons

so two chances for our entrants to win a lovely prize this month.

Our theme is

  Dies and/or punches PLUS Ribbon and/or twine.

I made a card featuring the sweet Spring Bunny on a swing, the image is coloured with copics, I stencilled a cloudy background, then placed the image behind the aperture die cut into the DP. I threaded ribbon through the holes in the border die cut , stamped the sentiment, then placed the whole lot inside the die cut, stitched frame. 

We'd love to have you play along with our challenge this month- please remember to use both parts of the theme!

Thanks for visiting,

enjoy your weekend

keep safe!

Chris

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Challenge entries:

creativefingers #201

pattiescreations #179

audsentiments #267

markerchallenge #577

thecraftingchallenge - February

Crafty Catz #537- the optional twist is 'Love'

 Good morning,  another week has sped past and it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz, this week Ginny has picked the theme of  Love- anniversaries, weddings, valentine etc and our sponsor for this is

All Dressed Up

I made an anniversary card for my crazy giraffe-loving sister using a sweet sponsor image, A kiss for Valentines. Image is coloured with Copic markers, papers from stash (some very old!) some die cut hearts and a ribbon. It's ages yet until her anniversary, not until the middle of summer, but this image is so perfect or her I decided to make it now- and I won't have that (usual) last minute panic when I realise that her anniversary is the next day and I haven't done anything about a card! 

As always the theme is just an option at Crafty Catz Challenges so there's really no excuse not to play along :) please hop over to view the beautiful cards my teamies have created and to link your own fabulous projects!

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

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Challenge entries:

CRAFT #585

MAWTT #127

digichoosday #5

shoppingourstash #438

PIP #2105

useyourstuff #415

alldressedup #113

Dang it!

 Good morning, this week's challenge theme at Fab'n' Funky is everyone's favourite- Anything Goes- chosen by our lovely N'eva..I was feeling a bit bored and fed up the other day so I cheered myself up by making a fun card with a new stamp set (Whimsy) that I treated myself to, I couldn't resist these wonky donkeys, thir silly faces make me smile! Have no idea who I'll send it to- probably whichever brother annoys me the most!

Hope you find the time to play along this week.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

colourcrazy #4

polkadoodle #5

2craftycrittercrazies #47

craftyfriends #149

worldwideopen #01

dreamvalley #240

allsorts #609

craftyanimals #47

It's a love thing at Sweet Stampin'

 Good morning, a new challenge starts today over at Sweet Stampin' . I still haven't got used to the new fortnightly regime, keep thinking I've forgotten to do something - let's face it- it wouldn't be the first time!! 

This week's theme is Valentine/Love.

I'm sharing the anniversary card I made for my son and daughter-in-law,  their anniversary is on 28th December so tends to get missed with everything going on but this year I was prepared! 

The stamp is a Katzelkraft one that I've had for years, I simply stamped it over the hearts which were stencilled through a die cut.

There's plenty of loveliness to see over at Sweet Stampin'- where the team have produced some fabulous cards for you to enjoy- hope you're inspired to join us for this challenge.

Thanks for visiting

have a lovely weekend

Chris

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Crafty Catz Challenge #536- Optional twist- Thank you

 Good morning, Friday is here once again, time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz. Dianne is our host this week, the optional theme is 'Thank You'- our sponsor this time is

Jan's Digi Stamps

The DT were generously given sponsor images to create with, I chose to use a lovely floral image from the  Friendship Flowers set. I've coloured it with Copic markers and tied a tiny stamped tag to the handle of the watering can. The papers are from Polkadoodles.

 Pay a visit to Crafty Catz to see what my lovely teamies have created using these beautiful sponsor images, we'd love to see what you create too so why not play along-the theme is optional- it's always anything goes at Crafty Catz.

Thank you for stopping by-

Chris

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Challenge entries:

Double D- flowers in containers

watercooler #306

digichoosday #4

jansdigistamps January Challenge

Opposites attract!

 

Good morning , here's my card for the HMW post at Catch the Bug, - I'm a day behind still trying to catch up from yesterday!

Opposites Day is celebrated on 25th January and my card features the lovely Stella! The image I used is HERE

it comes with a different sentiment but I chose to use a computer generated one! 

Thanks for visiting and have good and safe day.

Chris

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A Christmas challenge at Fab 'n' Funky

Good afternoon I'm running a bit late today, had a few chores to do :(, a book to finish :)) and then a face-time call with my Daughter in Law and granddaughters (aged 6 1/2 and 18 months). It is so lovely to see them and talk to the girls but I do feel really sorry for all those poor Mums struggling to cope with the demands of lively kids with no break from them to rescue their sanity, especially during these winter months when it's too cold or wet to be outside for long with little ones.

I'm counting my blessings today- yesterday we had no heating as there was some kind of problem with the boiler- fortunately our lovely gas engineer managed to fix it- he came after he should have finished for the day as he didn't want to leave us without heat and hot water. Having a day in a cold house - just a little heater in one room- has made me realise how lucky we are! 

Anyway, back to the card- this week' at Fab' n' Funky we have a Christmas theme for our challenge-anything goes as long as it's Christmas related.  

My card is the one I made for my daughter and son-in- law (last Christmas- the one that wasn't!)

The stamp is Wild Rose Studios, coloured with Copic markers, papers from a magazine and a wreath made from Tim Holts die cuts. The bottle inside was made with a freebie die from a magazine.

So if you're wanting to get ahead and prepare for this year's Christmas- which I hope is going to be a real one- now's your chance to get started, or if you have unshared creations from last year you could share those too. 

Please hop on over to Fab 'n' Funky to add your link and to enjoy the fabulous creations from my lovely teamies. 

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

hollyandivy #86

CHNCC #526

CCAYR  (A- alcohol! B -bottle, bow)

lets craft and create #167-Cheers to you

Rudolph Days -January

fezziwigs- anything festive

 

Crafty Catz Challenge #535 - Optional theme is Winter Fun

Good morning, I hope you're all safe and healthy and coping with life as it is these days, I know it's easier for some than it is for others to accept the necessary restrictions on our lives, hopefully it won't be too much longer before they can be gradually lifted and we can return to some sort of normality. In the meantime keep on crafting!

Our new challenge at Crafty Catz is hosted by our lovely Christine, her chosen theme is 'Winter Fun' (optional as always) and our sponsor is none other than the fabulous

Bugaboo Stamps

I combined two images on my card and added a stamped sentiment

Snowflake Frame  and Snowmen Fun, I went  over the lines of the frame digi with a clear sparkle pen and added some Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles here and there, it looks so pretty and sparkly IRL, you can see it a bit better in the photo below which I took under a lamp.

There's loads more to see over at Crafty Catz where my lovely teamies have been busy creating some fun inspiration for you, hope you can find the time to play along.

Thanks for stopping by

have a good and safe weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

MLCCB30

sweetstampers #52

craftygalscorner #215

cardz4guyz. #262

TIOT Winter Blues

mytimetocraft #449

Fab'n'Funky Challenges are back!

Good morning, I'm happy to tell you that Fab'n'Funky  Challenges are back after the Christmas break.

For our first challenge this year  the theme is 'thinking of you'. 

Maybe make a card or small gift for someone who is struggling at the moment, feeling lonely or just simply fed up-  many people have been isolated since the beginning of the pandemic, and it's even harder during these cold dark winter days- just to know that someone is thinking of you can make 

someone's day!

I made a couple of CAS cards, using some of my beautiful new Lavinia stamps. These are one layer cards and really quick to make. I inked up a 'splat' stamp with Distress Inks, spritzed lightly with water and laid my card blank on top of it, let dry then stamped on top- simples! I added a touch of glitter to the wing to finish.

 There is more inspiration from my lovely teamies over at Fab'n' Funky so do hop over to take a look, and of course we would love to have you join us this week.

Have a happy day

Chris

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Challenge entries:

unicorn #61

lovetocraft #54

lovetoscrap #141

laviniaworld #44

ellibelle Something old (splat stamp) Something New (fairy stamps)

Stella Says Sketch #902 at Catch the Bug

 

Good morning, it's time for a new Sketch Challenge at Catch the Bug

This is the sketch

I made this card-

- featuring Cupcake Tray

There's always more to see by visiting Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

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Fairy tag

 It's a gloomy wet, cold afternoon here in Kent, much as it's been for most of this week.  There was even some snow on the ground this morning but the rain soon put paid to that! I've spent a fair amount of time in my craft room- it's warm and dry in here and I have lots of gorgeous new Lavinia stamps and inks to play with, a birthday gift from my lovely husband! Here's a tag I made, inspired by the challenge over at Tag Tuesday- the current theme is Faery Gardens.

I die cut 2 matching tags from white cardstock, then cut an arch shaped aperture in one of them. I sponged them with  Lavinia  Elements Pine -these new ink pads are gorgeous- leaving a space on the tag without the aperture for my stamped and stencilled scene. I die cut a small round tag for the sentiment, sponged and stencilled it to match the main tags and tied them together with green string. I added some tiny die cut  flowers and leaves to finish.

I'm off now for some more inky play... those new stamps are calling! Thank you for visiting today, I hope you have a good weekend, take care and keep safe.

Chris

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Challenges entered:

tagtuesday

allsorts #607

creativefingers #199

laviniaworld #44

dragonflydreams January Challenge

thefairyandtheunicorn

11th Annual Bugaboo Birthday Bash- Day 7

 

Hello,  it's the seventh and final day of our Birthday Bash Challenges at Catch the Bug - and it's Freebie Friday!

Today we have a colour inspiration theme

I made a slimine card featuring this week's freebie- love this little fox- it's the expression on his face- just hop over to Catch the Bug for the link to grab yours.

 I coloured him with Copic markers, fussy cut and popped him up on a stencilled panel. The sentiment is stamped, I drew a speech bubble around it, cut it out and adhered to the panel.

I hope you've enjoyed our challenges this week- and if you haven't entered any yet you still have today to join in!

Thanks for visiting my blog today

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

themaleroom #146

craftyanimals #46

happylittlestampers January Stencil

creativeknockouts.#384

unicorn#61

aaabirthday

Crafty Catz Challenge #534 Optional Twist- Tie It Up

Good morning-well here we are another week closer to getting the vaccine- whoever would have thought a year ago that we would be in this position now ? We are so fortunate in  that vaccines were developed so quickly, at least we have the prospect of a return to some sort of normality if we can get through the next few months!

In the meantime I'm staying home as much as possible, food shop once a week- daily walk (sometimes to collect from the library :))  and that's it.

Thank goodness for books and crafting.

Anyway, it's Friday and a new challenge begins at Crafty Catz, it's my turn to host and I chose the theme of 'tie it up'- use ribbon, twine or something you can tie - as always the theme is optional.

our fabulous sponsor for this challenge is 

Doctor Digi

I used a fun sponsor image, Tangled Trotsky, which I've coloured with Copics, papers from stash, 3 buttons and a piece of string.

This image made laugh, thinking of our first Great Dane, Rosie. Her passion wacs chasing squirrels in the local woods. She would stand on her hind legs and gaze longingly up into the trees looking for where they had disappeared to- she never caught one but had so much fun trying! Happy Days.

As always there's loads of inspiration from my lovely teamies over at Crafty Catz , we would love to have you join us this week.

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

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Challenge entries:

LTCCB- #54

qkrstampede. #412

craftrocket #77

avenue613. #1 January

11th Annual Bugaboo Birthday Bash -day 6

Good morning, it's Day 6 of our Bugaboo Birthday Bash Challenges at Catch the Bug- we have a Photo Inspiration theme for you. 

Here's my card- inspired by the tree trunks and the deer

the image I used is last Friday' s freebie which is still available (if you're quick!) click here for the link to grab him.

Also used- a TH die cut, a tree EF (no idea of brand), dp and a stamped sentiment.

Only one more day to go- well done if you've managed to keep up with the challenges so far- there's still time to play along - you can join in at any time before the week finishes -enter as many or as few of the 7 challenges  as you wish.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

thepapershelter #452

thesisterhoodofcrafters Diecuts/embossing

getcreative #97

audsentiments #266

colourcrazy #1

aperfecttimetocraft #1

letssquashit #4

 

11th Annual Birthday Bash at Bugaboo- Day 4

 It's Day 4 of the Birthday Bash Challenges at Catch the Bug, today it's a Bingo Challenge and I have another card to share with you .

I used the first line down- ribbon die cut, sentiment.

The cute image is Birthday Hedgie 01. 

I've used Copic markers to colour, die cut the image and the layers behind him with stitched rectangle dies. The papers are from Doodlebug, the sentiments are stamped. The bunting is made from ribbon and twine.

I used this sketch from Cheerful Sketches

Thanks for visiting, check out Catch the Bug Challenge Blog for more inspiration and all the details of prizes and how to play along.- there's still time to enter!

Chris

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Challenge entries:

craftysentiments -atg

lilpatchofcraftyfriends #149

CRAFT #582

creativecraftcottage #136

cheerfulsketches January

11th Annual Bugaboo Birthday Bash- Day 1

Today  at Catch the Bug we begin our week of challenges to celebrate Bugaboo Stamps' 11th birthday.

You're all invited to join the fun by entering our daily challenges- there are as always some wonderful prizes to be won. You can enter as many of the seven challenges as you wish- just one is fine but obviously the more you enter the more chances of winning- for full details of daily themes and prizes  visit Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.

Here's my card for Day 1

the digi I used is Owl Trio, coloured with Copic markers- I sponged a cloudy sky with distress inks and stamped the sentiments.

Thanks for visiting,

have a good -and safe- weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

colourcrazy  #1

aperfecttimetocraft #1

classicdesign #1

daisychain #48

addictedtostamps #396

passion for markers #573

dayofthemonthcardclub #23