Tall Christmas Candle

Challenges

Lili Of The Valley (78) DT - New Beginnings (New Technique)
Stampin For The Weekend (53) - Christmas
I Love Promarkers (46) - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shop (39) - Anything Goes

Here we are back again after the Christmas break for a new challenge from Lili Of The Valley. I hope you have all had a good Christmas and are now raring to go again and eager to use all your new stash. This time the challenge is 'New Beginnings' so we would like to see projects that are for a new baby, wedding, new home, using new stash etc, or like me, trying a new technique. We are kindly being sponsored by LOTV who are donating a £10.00 voucher to spend in their webshop.

As I said, I have tried a new technique as I have never tried to stamp on a candle before. I have so often admired the ones I have seen done but never had the courage to try it myself, for fear of setting the house on fire! Well, I didn't set the house on fire, but I had just fallen and cracked my head on the edge of a door about half an hour before doing the candle. Could explain the rotten photography - but hey! the door is still in one piece ha! ha! I used Promarkers to colour the images and on reflection I will use darker colours next time I have a go as the image has come out a bit too pale. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV/Anita's
Ribbon - Stash

Candlelight - Sneak Peek

Challenges

Sketch & Stash - Your Choice Of Sketch (8)
Creative Card Crew - Christmas Birthday
Papertake - Anything Goes
ABC - K is for Keep It Simple
Simon Says - Anything Goes

This is the card that I made to go with the Large Candle Jar. Again the image and sentiment are more of the new LOTV stamps being released in January. This gorgeous fairy is called 'Candlelight' and as you can see I have done her the same way as the images on the candle jar. Hope you like her as much as I do, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Papers - Pink Petticoat
Pearls - Paper cellar

Large Candle Jar & Sneak Peek

Garden Of Wishes

Let Your Light Shine Through

Gwenn

Challenges

Papertake - Christmas Birthdays
Simon Says - Silver/Blue/White
Paperplay (50) - Anything But A Card
Allsorts (83) - Anything Goes
C.E.S. (17) - Anything Goes

I don't know about you, but I think it is quite unfair to do a birthday card or gift with Christmas images for anyone who has a birthday in or around Christmas. That is why I have not used Christmas images for this gift I made for a friend who recently had her birthday. Not only that, but it means she can display it all year round.

I have used the gorgeous new fairys that will be released by LOTV on 11th January. As soon as I saw them I knew how I wanted to colour them using my Promarkers and Glamour Dust so this was the ideal opportunity to use them. I cut the first image with a label Nestie and then 3D'd another image on top using foam pads. The sentiment is also one of the new releases and I thought it was ideal for a candle. The silver leaves are punched and the paper flowers have pearl centres. On the lid I cut a silver scalloped circle with blue gingham paper on. Onto this I attached a layered up large white flower with silver leaves and a white pearl centre. A bit of ribbon around the neck finished it off. I must admit that I didn't want to part with it once it was done but my friend loves it, so I will just have to do another one just for me. Hope you like it as much as I do, thanks for looking.

Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Paper - Pink Petticoat
Pearls - Paper Cellar
Flowers/Ribbon/Brad - Stash

Amazing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnk0KjWxgMA&annotation_id=annotation_652395&feature=iv

As I don't know how to post a You Tube video I have put a link instead. Just click the link above and be amazed!

Merry Christmas to you all. Hugs Christine x

Decorating The Tree

Challenges

Creative Inspirations DT (49) - Anything Goes Christmas
Mami Doodles (16) - Anything Goes
Allsorts (82) - Last Minute Christmas Projects
Stamp With Fun (89) - Christmas

This week's challenge at Creative Inspiration is 'Anything Goes Christmas' and is being sponsored by Stamp And Create and Soft Pencil who are both kindly donating $10.00 vouchers to be spent in their stores. So if you have any last minute cards or gifts to make we would love to see them. This challenge will last until 30th December as the DT are having a Christmas break.

I am busy making my last minute cards and probably will still be doing them on Christmas Eve ha! ha! I don't know where this year has gone, it has certainly flown by. I guess it's another sign of age!!! I have coloured the image with Promarkers and Sakura Stardust pens. I thought it would be nice to have some little miniature cards hanging across the top so I made some simple ones using tiny stickers. The flowers are die cut and to finish off I added some tiny gems to the punched border. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamp - LOTV
Paper - Papermania
Stckers/Gems - Stash

Winter Daisy

Challenges

Squiggles & Giggles - Anything
Whoopsie Daisy - Ribbon & Bows
Sketch & Stash (50) - Sketch (Digi Stamp/Paper)
Digital Tuesday (88) - Baby It's Cold Outside
Fab 'N' Funky (52) - Christmas Is For The Children

Number five is a gorgeous digi stamp from Squiggles Stamps called 'Winter Daisy'. I won her a while ago but this is the first time I have used her. Really strange I haven't used her before as I think she is really gorgeous and I have had several images coloured up ready since I got her. Mind you, the craft room is in such a mess I'm suprised I find anything. Enough waffling, back to the card. As you can see it's another blue one. I have coloured the image with Promarkers and flock. I have used sparkly gems as snowflakes and tied a ribbon around the bottom. The tag has a snowflake brad in it to which I have added another of the gems. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp - Squiggles & Giggles
Paper - Jak Heath
Brad/Gems/Ribbon - Stash

Collecting The Tree

Challenges

Secret Crafter (112) - Christmas
Stamptacular (88) - Blue, Blue Christmas
A Spoonful Of Sugar (133) - Christmas
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Passion For Promarkers (80) - Anything Goes
ABC - J is for Jewels & Gems
Crafty Creations (97) - A Beary Project
I Love Promarkers (44) - A Christmas Carol/Song (Oh Christmas Tree)
Digi Doodle Shop (37) - Animals or Insects

Here's another one, I'm starting to lose count now but it makes up for last week ha! ha! This one features 'Collecting The Tree', again from LOTV with yet another of their fantastic circular sentiments, can't get enough of these... I have coloured the image with Promarkers and a touch of glitter. The snowflakes are punched and I have added pearls to the centres for a change. I have also placed some pearls in the top right corner. In case you were wondering, this one is a fold-back card. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Papers - Daisy & Dandelion
Pearls - Stash

Christmas Candle

Challenges

Allsorts (81) - Light Up The Night
Secret Crafter (112) - Christmas
A Spoonful Of Sugar (133) - Christmas Card
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Passion For Promarkers (80) - Anything Goes
M.A.W.T.T. (76) - Lots Of Spots (On The Paper)

Card number three for today is in my favourite colour - pink! The image this time is called 'Christmas Candle', again from LOTV. I have coloured it with Promarkers and glittered her hood and scarf (makes a change from flock). The snowflakes are all punched with shimmer dots in the centres. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Papers - DCWV
Shimmer Dots - Papermania

Christmas Robins

Challenges

Stampin For The Weekend (52) - 2 Circles/2 Squares/ Buttons & Bling
Secret Crafter (112) - Christmas
Cupcake Crafts (120) - Little Red Robin
A Spoonful Of Sugar (133) - Christmas Card
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Passion For Promarkers (80) - Anything Goes
ABC - J is for Jewels & Gems

Here is my second card for today. This time I have used another LOTV stamp called 'Christmas Robins', isn't it sweet? I have coloured it with Promarkers and added glitter and a little star gem on top of the tree. The gem is so small you might need a microscope to see it!!! I have also added some gems to the square panel behind the image. If you look carefully you will see that the gorgeous paper also has robins on it. I finished the card by adding some buttons at the bottom. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Papers - Papermania
Gems/Buttons - Stash

Christmas Cats

Challenges

Lili Of The Valley DT Card (77) - Sketch
Cute Card Thursday (142) - Floral Frenzy
Digi Doodle Shop (37) - Animals or Insects
Daring Cardmakers - Turquoise
Stamptacular (88) - Blue, Blue Christmas
Papertake - Red & Green Must Not Be Seen
ABC _ J is for Jewels & Gems
Simon Says - Christmas With No Red Or Green

I can't believe it is a whole week since I posted a card. Mind you, I am still not in the mindset for crafting so my cards are a bit pants at the moment. However, I have made a few and will be posting them today so watch this space...

Time for another Lili Of The Valley challenge and this week we have a great sketch for you to follow. We are again being sponsored by Lisa & Laila who have kindly donated a £10.00 voucher to spend in the LOTV Online Shop. Don't forget, to be eligble for the prize you have to use an LOTV image on your project. The DT have created some beautiful cards so why not pop on over to the blog and have a look. The challenge will run for 3 weeks to give the DT a much needed rest so you have until 29th December to enter.

The image I have used is called 'Christmas Cats' and I have coloured it with Promarkers as usual and added Flock to the hat. I have also glittered the snow and around the edge of the design paper. The poinsettias are die cut and leaves punched . A few gems finish them off. The snowflake borders were offcuts from a friend. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Paper - Jak Heath
Gems - Stash

Melinda

Challenges

Daring Cardmakers - Spotty Stripey Christmas
Totally Papercrafts (44) - Untraditional Christmas
One Stop Crafts (108) - Christmas Cuties
Magical Monday (10) - Wings
Ooh La La (68) - Christmas Song (Angels From The Realms Of Glory)
Stamp With Fun (87) - Advent
Whoopsie Daisy - Let's Get All Girlie
Whiff Of Joy (93) - Christmas (No Red Or Green)

Although I followed a sketch for this card it was for last week's WOJ challenge but I missed the deadline, however, as luck would have it, it fits this week's challenge. I stamped the image with a grey inkpad for a softer look and then coloured her with Promarkers and glamour dust. The poinsettias are die cut and the leaves punched. A bit of sparkly ribbon and a sentiment finishes it off. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamp - WOJ
Papers - Jak Heath
Sentiment - Papermania
Ribbon - Papermania

Nine Card Tote Bag

Challenges

Creative Inspirations DT (48) - Christmas Gift
C.R.A.F.T. (78) - Christmas Present
M.A.W.T.T. (74) - More Than One Fold (Tote Bag)
Mami Doodles (15) - Gift Items
Allsorts (80) - Monochrome

Over at Creative Inspirations we would like to see you make a Christmas Gift. I am sure you have lots of ideas for this challenge and we look forward to seeing what you create. We are kindly being sponsored by Paper Cupcake Stamps and Fantastic Ribbons who are donating some great prizes for one lucky winner.

For my Christmas Gift I have made a Tote Bag containing nine assorted C6 cards. I have used the theme of butterflies and flowers throughout. All the butterflies and flowers (with the exception of the flowers on the bag) are stamped and punched. The flowers on the bag are digi downloads that have been cut and layered. I have also added gems, pearls, glitter and a touch of ribbon. I love making these sets as they make ideal gifts for anyone. I hope you like them, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - Stampin Up
Digi Download - Jak Heath
Papers - Tinker & Co
Gems/Pearls/Ribbon - Stash

Snowflake Christmas

Challenges

A Gem Of A Challenge (10) - Sketch/Non Traditional Christmas
Whoopsie Daisy - Holiday
A Spoonful Of Sugar (131) - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday (86) - Let It Snow
Papertake - Cut It Out
ABC - I is for Ice & Snow
Crafty Creations (95) - Christmas
Fab 'N' Funky (50) - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Let It Snow
The Creative Cottage (28) - Untraditional Christmas Colours

To make my card I have followed the sketch and used untraditional colours of jade green, pink and silver. As soon as I saw these papers I knew I wanted to make a card with them, they are gorgeous. The digi stamp is precoloured and I have added gems to the tree. All the snowflakes are die cut and punched with gems added to the centres. A bit of ribbon and sentiment finishes it off. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp - Pink Gem
Sentiment - Papermania
Papers - Kate Knight (Magazine Freebie)
Ribbon - Recycled from Florists Gift Box
Gems - Stash

It's My Party

Challenges

Lili Of The Valley (75) - Sketch
Daring Cardmakers - Three Of Anything (Three Flowers)
C.E.S. (13) - Lovely Lace
Charisma Cardz (47) - One For The Girls
Cute Card Thursday (140) - Blast From The Past (62 - Bit O' Bling)
Delightful Challenges - Flower Power

This week at LOTV we have a great sketch by Bev for you to follow. The prize up for grabs is a £10.00 voucher to spend in the LOTV webshop but don't forget to be eligible for the prize you MUST use an LOTV image.

I think I went a bit overboard with the glitter on this card as not only is it on the paper and the image it is also all over the lace. For the lace strip I edged it with a punch and then covered it with D/S tape. I then layed the lace on top of the tape before covering with glitter and this way you get glittery lace. The image has been coloured with Promarkers and I have added tiny gems to the corners. I have also added gems to the circular sentiment and flowers. A simple bow finishes it off. Hope you like my very glittery, girly card. Thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Papers - Papermania
Flowers/Gems/Lace/Bow - Stash

Clean & Simple

Challenges

The Creative Cottage (26) - Embossing
C.R.A.F.T. (75) - Dry Embossing
Dutch Dare (31) - Clean & Simple
One Stop Crafts (105) - Embossing

Here is a couple of clean & simple ones that believe it or not has taken me two days to make, not a lot of concentration yet but getting a bit better. The image has been stamped and coloured with Promarkers. A white embossed background, punched butterfly and an organza ribbon completes the cards.

Card Recipe

Stamp - Dawn Bibby
Ribbon - Stash

Feather Boa Sneak Peek

Challenges

Truly Scrumptious (44) - Sketch + Petals/Pearls/Pins
Whoopsie Daisy - Sparkle (On The Lace)
A Passion For Promarkers (76) - Pearls/Lavender/Lace

Thank you so much to all my bloggy friends who have left such kind wishes these past few days, they have meant so much to me and my family and have been a great comfort. Although still shocked we are each trying to do some normal things and my boys have insisted I get back on here as soon as possible, so here goes...

I made this card at the beginning of the week and it has been sitting by the computer waiting for me to show it to you. It features one of the new stamps from LOTV's 'Party Girls' which is called 'Feather Boa'. Also one of the new 'Circular Sentiments'. The lace has a silver edge which makes it sparkle and the flowers are punched. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Papers - Papermania (Henbury Lane)
Ribbon/Lace/Pearls/Pins - Stash

Coffee Break - LOTV Sneek Peak

Challenges

Lili Of The Valley (72) DT Card - One For The Girls

Pollycrafts (68) - It's Chill Time

Ooh La La (66) - Remember, Remember

A Spoonful Of Sugar (128) - Relish To Embellish

Delightful Challenges - Stitching (On The Ribbons)

This time I have chosen the new stamp called 'Coffee Break' which I think is ideal for all your girly cards. Not long to wait for them now. Don't you just love the way that their hanbags are resting against their stools while they are just chillin' and remembering good times. I have coloured the image with Promarkers as usual. The strip down the left side has been punched and then I have added some lace after weaving ribbon through it. I have used a matching ribbon on the strip at the bottom as well. The flowers and leaves have been punched. A few brads and the card is finished. Hope you like my girly card, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamp - LOTV

Paper - Papermania

Brads /Ribbon - Stash

Sad news

Please accept my apologies if I don't blog much for a while as we had some terrible news last night. I won't go into details on here but a very, very close family member suddenly died yesterday and my sons and I are totally devastated. I am sure you will all understand that my family need my attention at the moment. Hugs Christine x

You Make Me Smile... Sneak Peek

Challenges

Creative Inspirations (46) DT Card - Glitter/Glamour/Girly
Pollycrafts (67) - Sketch
Papertake - Sparkly & Bright
ABC - G is for Glitter
Charisma Cardz (43) - Match Master
Stamp Something - Stamp Something With Pink
Totally Papercrafts (40) - Bling It On
One Stop Crafts (104) - Anything Goes

Time for another challenge at Creative Inspirations and this time Suzi has picked the theme 'Glitter, Glamour & Girly'. So get yourself and everything else covered in glittery sparkles this fortnight, can't wait to see what you all create. The DT have made some gorgeous creations so make sure you pop over to their blogs for a nosey. This time we have two sponsors. First we are kindly being sponsored by Paper Cupcakes who have donated two digi images. Secondly Fantastic Ribbons our monthly sponsor is donating some gorgeous ribbon to the winner. Now all that is certainly worth entering for don't you think?

Ok, onto my card, and as you can see I have used two images from the new 'Party Girls' collection from LOTV. I just love the one having a strop, don't you? I followed the great sketch which wasn't quite as difficult as I first imagined, using two images and two sentiments (and if you notice, the larger gems can be divided by two). I coloured both images with Promarkers and added glitter to the images and the edges. The sentiments are simply stamped and layered. I also added three glittery gems to the image on the right, can you spot them? A little bow finishes the card off, hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Paper - Papermania
Gems/Bow - Stash

Hello Cupcake LOTV Sneek Peak

NEW RELEASE COMING SOON!

I am sooo excited as LOTV are releasing MORE Girly stamps in November. They are also releasing some wonderful Circular Sentiments and believe me they are to die for. They are going to be so useful on ALL your projects. Anyway back to the Girly stamps which are called 'Party Girls' and 'Tea And Chat', so that gives you a bit of an idea of what's coming - are you tempted already? There will also be some new Cut Squares so keep an eye out for those as well, so useful. LOTV are launching all these wonderful new products on Thursday 4th November at the N.E.C. (form an orderly queue now, no pushing and shoving) and will be available on the website from Friday 12th November.


Challenges

Lili Of The Valley DT Card (71) - Sketch
Cupcake Crafts (113) - Sweet Treats
Creative Card Crew - Let's Punch It
Simon Says - Punch 'Em
Digi Doodle Shop (31) - Anything Goes

Time for another Lili Of The Valley challenge and this week we have a great sketch for you to follow. We are again being sponsored by Lisa & Laila who have kindly donated a £10.00 voucher to spend in the LOTV Online Shop. The DT have created some beautiful cards so why not pop on over to the blog and have a look.

I have used one of the new stamps for my card this week. This one is called 'Hello Cupcake'. Isn't she adorable? I just love all those gorgeous cupcakes she's about to tuck into. I have coloured her with Promarkers and inked and distressed the edges. I have also used one of the new circular sentiments, punched out and layered onto a Nestie. I have also used a border punch at the top and bottom of the card. The larger cupcakes have been stamped and coloured with Promarkers. This time though I heat embossed the icing with clear EP for a glossy finish. Altogether a yummy card! Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Girl/Sentiment Stamps - LOTV
Cupcake Stamp/Papers - Magazine Freebies

Across The Miles

Challenges

Just Magnolia (78) - Think Pink
One Stop Crafts (103) - Photo Inspiration
Magnolia Down Under (69) - All Aboard
Totally Tilda (8) - Pink & Pearls
Sketch & Stash (47) - Sketch (Stamp/Sentiment)

I won this stamp a little while ago and thought it was about time I inked it up as she is so gorgeous. I have coloured her with Promarkers as usual. When I looked at the photo I saw fuschia pink, green and white so that is what I have used. Quite unusual for a Christmas card I thought. Have you spotted the wonderful circular sentiment? It is one of LOTV's new release for November, I totally love these. The flowers/corners have been punched. A few pearls and gems to finish. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - Magnolia/LOTV
Papers - Summertime Designs
Pearls/Gems - Stash

Best Friends LOTV Sneak Peek

NEW RELEASE COMING SOON!

I am sooo excited as LOTV are releasing MORE Girly stamps in November. They are also releasing some wonderful Circular Sentiments and believe me they are to die for. They are going to be so useful on ALL your projects. Anyway back to the Girly stamps which are called 'Party Girls' and 'Tea And Chat', so that gives you a bit of an idea of what's coming - are you tempted already? There will also be some new Cut Squares so keep an eye out for those as well, so useful. LOTV are launching all these wonderful new products on Thursday 4th November at the N.E.C. (form an orderly queue now, no pushing and shoving) and will be available on the website from Friday 12th November.

Challenges

Cute Card Thursday (135) - Sketch
Allsorts (75) - Spots & Stripes
CES (9) - Buttons & bows
Passion For Promarkers (75) - Best Friends

I have chosen to use 'Best friends' from the new release for this card, aren't they soo cute? I have coloured the image with Promarkers. Hope you like it, thanks for looking. Don't forget to check out all the LOTV DT blogs for more sneak peeks.

Card Recipe

Stamp - LOTV
Papers - Daisy & Dandelion
Buttons & Bow - Stash

Hug In A Mug

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl (46) - Sketch
Stamptacular (82) - Orange/Lime/White/Plum
A Spoonful Of Sugar (127) - Let's Get Punchy

I couldn't resist having a go with this unusual colour combo as it is totally alien to me. I started off by colouring the image with Promarkers using the colour combo and then using chalks around the image. I also used the chalk on the little ticket. The heart, flowers, ticket and border strip have all been punched. To finish off I added a lovely spotty ribbon. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamp - Sugar nellie
Paper - Papermania (HenburyLane)
Ticket - Caz
Ribbon/Gems - Stash