New Stamps!

Good morning, last weekend I went to the Stamperama show at Detling. Before I went I told myself very firmly NOT to buy any more Christmas stamps as I have a few new Lavinia ones that haven't seen any ink yet. Unfortunately I did not listen and ended up buying some Cardio sets that caught my eye (as stamps do...) I made a few CAS cards to try them out! A one layer design using just a few stamps, torn paper and ink.

 I've added glitter to all the little stars and dots but you can only see it in the photos if you squint a bit and use your imagination! There are a couple more which I'll share another time.

Thanks for visiting

Have a good weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

First card

scscards. November Challenge

CRAFT #769

beccysplace Day 4 -One Layer

Second Card

CAS on Friday #323

daisychain #102

 

November Rudolph Day

 Good morning, I was delighted to be invited to Guest design for this month's challenge at

 Rudolph Days,

 the last one of 2025, thank you Helen.

I used my cute reindeer stamp again, (Creative Ember Design) this time he's sitting on a smooshed and stencilled background and coloured with copics. I added a few stamped, embossed snowflakes and used die cut letters from Aall & Create for the sentiment.

Not a lot of time left now for creating Christmas cards- especially if you want to post them, so a real incentive to join in this month. If you're looking for inspiration, take a look at the Rudolph Days Challenge Blog, you're sure to like what you see.

Thanks for visiting 

Chris

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Challenge entries:

girlzcreativechristmas #152

peaceonearth #100

allsorts #837

craftygalscorner #272

PFM #816

christmascardsallyearround.com/  November Ch.

beccys place R for Rudolph

Happy Birthday Sweet Stampin'

It's our birthday week at Sweet Stampin'- 16 years old! 

Our challenge theme for the next 2 weeks is BIRTHDAYS so just create a card/project with a Birthday theme, include some stamping and join the fun.

This is the card I made to celebrate a very special friend's 88th Birthday which falls just after Christmas.

I met her when I first started in the library- many moons ago - and she's been a big part of my life ever since. She's a wonderful lady, has always been there for me, through good times and bad. We've shared so much laughter, some tears and a lot of good times. Her health is not good now so time spent with her is precious.

She shares my love of books and reading- hence the card subject! I used a lovely set of digital stamps from Beccy's Place, coloured with markers. I've merged some of them together and added a stamped sentiment. On the inside there's a little pocket with a removable bookmark that I know will come in useful

 There are some beautiful creations from the rest of the Sweeties over at Sweet Stampin' so hop over and take a look, hope you'll be inspired to join our birthday celebrations.

Thanks for visiting

Have a great weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries

creative-creases #109

addictedtostamps #506

aperfecttimetocraft November Challenge

do-allkreatives #107

girlzrebelchallenge #46, Birthday, books, bookmark

LTCCB #89

dragonflydreams - feminine

Let it Snow

 Good morning. Brrr, the change in temperatures has been a bit of a shock this week, it's dropped from really mild to freezing cold in a matter of days. Winter coat, scarf and gloves have had their first airing! I really am hoping that we don't see any prolonged bad weather this year- after slipping over and banging my head last year (hurt like hell and very embarrassing!) I'm nervous of icy conditions. Snow looks pretty through a window...and on a card but that's as far as it goes for me!

This fortnight our challenge theme at FAB'N' FUNKY is 

All that Glitters, 

so we're looking for some lovely sparkle on your creations- doesn't have to be Christmas themed but that's what I went for with my card.

I printed this sweet Mo Manning digi onto white cardstock then used circular nesting dies to cut around her and make the aperture in the centre. Coloured image with markers, inked the sky with  Oxide DI then used Polkadoodle Stencil Butter frosting and a stencil for the snowflakes and snow. This is so pretty and sparkly IRL. I placed a piece of snow-printed acetate in the aperture and adhered to a slightly larger circle of silver glitter card. A stamped and embossed sentiment to finish.

There's more inspiration from my lovely teamies over at Fab'n' Funky so please do take a look- hope you find some time join in this fortnight.

Thanks for stopping by, keep warm and cosy!

Chris

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Challenge entries

addictedtostamps #506

PFM # 815

hollyandivy #196

TIOT Christmas

unicorn #115

allsorts #836

peaceonearth #100

beccy's place s for snow, snowflkes, snow globe

The dog ate it!

 Good morning, a quick post with a reminder for our November Challenge at

  Stamping Sensations, 

the theme is Christmas or Anything Goes.

I used another cute stamp from Ember Designs- just had to have this little dog!

I used my markers to colour him, the stamp is shaded so didn't take long, then used some foam to pop him onto stamped background panel. The sentiment is from the same set as the dog, the presents are from an Aall & Create set.

There's plenty of lovely inspiration to be enjoyed over at Stamping Sensations, as well as full details of how to play along and the lovely prize on offer.

I'm off on a shopping trip with one of my besties- probably won't do much shopping, but we'll do plenty of chatting on our frequent coffee breaks (that's the best bit!)

Thanks for visiting 

Challenge entries:

craftyanimals #100

critter crazy #104

daisychain #102

allsorts #836

craftygalscorner #272

PFM #815

beccyschallenges - D for Dog

Chris

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Santa's helper

 Hello, not a lot of crafting going on here at present...several abandoned projects littering up my desk- most of them probably destined for the bin, but I did manage to finish one CAS card. I used my markers to colour up this cute little elf, a Mo manning image I bought from the old shop before they all disappear...they're half price at the minute which is a bonus! The elf himself is a sweetie but I fell in love with the toy- it's just like the 'clatterpillar' my son had when he was small, he would drag it around everywhere with him, gaining particular enjoyment from the horrendous row it made on hard floors!. 

Hope everyone' s keeping safe from the storms we're having in the UK, not been too bad here- just a lot of fairly heavy rain but no real disruption or flooding so far, I see from watching the news that others haven't been so fortunate. Have a good weekend, whatever the weather.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

SImply CAS November Challenge

CRAFT #768

kraftychicks #794

craftrocket #131

ilovepromarkers #595 ATG

PFM #814

beccyschallenges E for elf

Upping my game!

 Hello, I'm starting to realise how few weeks there are left until Christmas- and how many more cards I need. Unless I want to resort to buying from a shop I need to up my game! I have a little box of images I had coloured or part coloured earlier (some of them  years ago!) and found a few Christmas ones amongst them, so decided to finally make a few cards with them. This little cutie, a part of a set from C.C. designs, is coloured with Polychromo pencils. I followed a sketch from Cheerful Sketches and used up some  papers from Trimcraft which I've had for ages. I also managed to use some little wooden stars and some brads- I remember a time when every card I made sported these! 

Well, I'd better not sit here all day waffling on- got more cards to make!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

challenge entries:

neglectedstuff, CC Designs stamp, brads, trimcraft papers, wooden stars

daisychain #102

kleurenmetpotloden November Challenge

welovestamping November Challenge

allsorts #836

Beccys November Challenges C for Colouring

cardz4galz #262

cheerfulsketches Nov. Challenge

Red for Remembrance

 Welcome to the weekend- here again already! 

The theme for this fortnight's challenge at Sweet Stampin' is 

RED FOR REMEMBRANCE.

Poppies immediately spring to mind, in honour of all those brave souls who have lost their lives fighting for peace and a better world. It's just a shame that lessons don't seem to be learned from all the loss, destruction and heartache- or if they are they're soon forgotten. 

I used a beautiful wreath stamp from Pink Ink and coloured it with my Copic markers. 

Please hop over to Sweet Stampin' for more some lovely creations from the rest of the team- I hope you'll be inspired to join us.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

creativefingers #311

cardz4galz. #262

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

inspirationstation #79

beautifulblossoms #34

craftingchallenge November Challenge

Thanksgiving/ Thank You

 Good morning, it's time for another challenge at Crafty Catz, the theme is Anything Goes with an option of Thanksgiving/Thank You.

We're playing just for fun this time- no sponsors or prizes.

I made a simple Thank You card- always useful to have a few of these ready made.

I used a Uniko stencil and applied Distress Oxide Inks in graduated shades of pink and purple. Used the same colours to stamp my sentiment (a very old wood backed stamp). Die cut daisies in various sizes added to some of the squares. It was quick and simple to make but says what I want it to.

For more inspiration pop over to Crafty Catz to see some lovely creations from the rest of the team.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

challenge entries:

stencilfun November ATG

avenue613 November

dragonflydreams November

addictedtostamps #505

CAS at Fab'n' Funky

Good morning, this fortnight's challenge at Fab'n' Funky begins today, the theme is 

CLEAN AND SIMPLE, 

chosen by our lovely Pat.

I made a Christmas card using a cute snow couple from Card-io Stamps. I stamped the image onto a square of white CS using black Versafine Clair ink- with a touch of red for noses, masked the image and card leaving just a strip to ink blend the dark blue panel. Stamped Santa and the reindeer in black, adding highlights to the reindeer with a white gel pen. I stamped and white embossed the snowflakes, then smudged a tiny amount of the blue ink around them (might have been better without this last step?). 

There's more inspiration from the rest of the team over at Fab'n' Funky- hope you can find some time to join us.

Thanks for visiting.

Chris

x

Challenge entries

MIUCB #80

pearlysparkles #113

12monthsofchristmas #128

POE #99

addictedtocas #295

abcchristmas U for uncluttered

beccys place - H for hats, hug

 

Brrr- it's chilly!

 Good morning, time for November's Challenge at Stamping Sensations. 

The theme for this month is Christmas or Anything Goes, chosen by Pinky. There are some lovely prizes of Christmas themed stamps and dies for the lucky winners.

I used another of the cute Ember stamps I bought recently, this time a little bird- all rugged up for the cold weather, stamped onto white card and fussy cut, I've coloured him with markers. The frame die is from A&C , the top mat was made on the gel plate, added some stamping and stencilling and torn paper snow, and a die cut 'BRRR'.

There's plenty more to see over at Stamping Sensations where you can check out the full details of how to join in, the prizes to be won and some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the Team.

Thanks for stopping by- enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

aplacetostart- November Challenge-(new stamp)

ConBC #16 Column I Winter/Light Blue/ snowflakes

sparklesforumchristmas #178

girlzcreativechristmas #149

POE #99

welovestamping Nov Challenge

beccysplace November Challenge Day 2 B- bird, boots Brrr

Number 14

Good morning - how can it possibly be November??? 

Today sees the start of a new challenge at Crafty Calendar , the theme for this month is 

ADD A BUTTON.

As the year is galloping on it's another Christmas card from me- as you can see I've not made many yet!

I used another cute stamp from Ember Designs, stamped directly onto a kraft card blank and coloured with pencils, a white gel pen for the falling snow. Added my button to his big shiny nose!  I stamped the sentiment that came with the set onto a small die cut tag and attached it to the card with twine and a tiny peg. Not too sure I agree with that sentiment, and I definitely would not choose to sit in snow, but the little reindeer looks very happy, I decorated the inside and envelope to match.

Inside and envelope

Head on over to Crafty calendar to see what the rest of the ladies have created this month- hope you can find some time to play along.

Thanks for visiting

Enjoy the weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

cardz4galz #262

CRAFT #767

kraftychicks #792

abcchristmas U for uncluttered

addictedtostamps #504

hollyandivy #194

crafterscafe #324

kleurenmetpotloden October Challenge

beccysplace Nov Challenge Day 1 A -antlers (I copied!)