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

x

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

x

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

x

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

x

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

x

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

x

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

x

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

x

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

x

Challenge entries:

colourcrazy  #1

aperfecttimetocraft #1

classicdesign #1

daisychain #48

addictedtostamps #396

passion for markers #573

dayofthemonthcardclub #23

Crafty Catz #533 - Optional twist- Food and Drink

 Good morning, I'm pleased to tell you that Crafty Catz are back after the Christmas break with a new challenge for you. 

Our host this week is Billie, her chosen theme is 'food and drink' which is, as always, optional.

Our fabulous sponsor for this challenge is Sheepski Designs

The image I used to make my card is Wine time, coloured with Copics, a little stencilling added around the image. The die cut is Memory Box (I think) and the sentiment is part of a set from

 Creative Expressions.

There are plenty more creations using some fabulous sponsor images over at Crafty Catz, hop over and take a look, hopefully you'll b.e inspired to join the fun and play along with us this week.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

abitmoretimetocraft #131

cccdigicreations #121

craftycreations417

getcreative#97

Hi

 

Good morning, Thursday is 'Oldie but Goodie' day at Catch the Bug and it's a  quick post from me with a simple layered card  featuring a sweet little image called  Flower Hi. 

Apologies for the photo, it's been so dark and dreary here recently that it's impossible for me to get the lighting right- the main body of this card is actually bright and white.

Thanks for looking

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

creativecraftcottage #136

unicorn #61

craftyfriends #148

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Make it Cute at Crafty Calendar

 I'm back with my second post today, this time the card is for our January Challenge at Crafty Calendar, the theme is 'make it cute'

 and our lovely sponsor for January is 

All Dressed Up

There are so many cute images in this shop that the team were spoiled for choice, I decided to use Stars and Back an image I already owned and hadn't had a chance to play with yet.

I kept my card very CAS- printing onto kraft and using pencils to colour (for a change!).

As always the rest of my lovely team have been busy creating beautiful cards to inspire you- so please do hop over for a look!

Thanks for visiting today

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

polkadoodle #1

classicdesign #1

kleurenmetpotloden # December Challenge

alldressedup #112

Something new...

 

Happy New Year

I'm so pleased to put the past year behind us and am looking forward, with optimism,  to a happier healthier year for for all of us, hopefully it won't be too much longer before we can safely be with our families and friends again. 

Our new challenge at Sweet Stampin' begins today- and new for 2021 we are changing to fortnightly challenges .

The theme for this fortnight is 'new'.

My 'new' is the little fox stamp, part of a set from Lavinia stamps. The background is created on the gelli plate with inks and brushos. 

There's loads of wonderful creations from the rest of my team- click here to enjoy them.

Remember you now have two weeks to enter, hope to see your beautiful creations there!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

2craftycrittercrazies #46

craftyanimals #46

kraftychicks #540

laviniaworld #43

MAWTT #126 (New stamp)

mmmchallenge #138