A couple of Christmas Challenges

Evening Everyone,
Hope that you are well. I am coping much better with the weather today as it has been much cooler here. Much more my type of weather, not too hot, and a light breeze.

This card was made a little while ago but fits perfectly into a couple of this weeks challenges.
Weekly Christmas Card Challenges are looking for Faith.
The theme challenge this week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is to use a Christmas Carol or Hymn for inspiration. Depict the title, line or verse from any Christmassy song.
The main image on my card makes me think of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.
Finally Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge asks for a building to be included.

I have coloured my image which is a Stampendous stamp using a Watercolour technique and my Kaleidacolour ink pads.
I'm not sure which one since this was from my Christmas bits box.
I have layered it over black glossy card cut using a Nestie.
The zigzag is also a stamp but I have no idea who it is made by.
That's another card for my Christmas stock pile. It really has worked well checking out the Christmas challenges this year, I have had so much fun making them.
Wow this post is early for me, I might even get to do a little more on a DT piece before bedtime, but for the moment dinner calls.
Happy Crafting and have a great evening.
hugs Kimx

A Monochrome Christmas

Evening Everyone,
I'm afraid that we are still no nearer any sunshine in my neck of the woods, in fact I'm quite surprised that we haven't all developed webbed feet and gills!!
Maybe I can scare the sun in to putting in an appearance by posting a couple of Christmas cards.

There are a couple of Christmas challenges that are looking for Monchromatic cards so I decided that that was a good place to start when making some more Christmas cards.

Once again I have managed to use up some more pieces from my Christmas bits box.
It is looking a little less full these days, but only because I had a bit of a sort out and gave my friend Sylvie a pile of bits that she might be able to make cards with.
Once she has made them into cards she sends them to a charity shop who have been selling them and donating all of the proceeds to the charity that her son supports. He recently finished a magnificent run along the canals that took him a week to complete. Sorry I can't remember the exact details and I don't want to give incorrect info so I will have to check it out tomorrow and let you know.

This next card uses very similar ingredient, a piece of Moonshadow background paper which has been stamped over, a Hero Arts snowman, and Hobby Art greeting.

Don't forget the dye based ink and bleach that I have used to paint the snowman.
I am entering these into the following challenges
Winterwonderland - Monochrome
Weekly Christmas Card challenges - Monochrome
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Anything Goes.
Hugs Kimx

More Sparkle for 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good day. It has been very 'muggy' here, maybe we will get a storm to clear the air.
I am thrilled to see that I have hit the magic 100 followers.
Thank you all so much for stopping by and leaving all of your wonderful comments. I do try and return the favour but it does sometimes take me a while, so please be patient.

The challenge this week at 52CCTD is to bring on the Glitter.
Now I'm not a great fan of that, so the nearest that I could manage is plenty of Crystal Embossing powder.
I have it on authority that this is fine for the challenge, so I thought that I would have another go.

The central panel has been stamped and embossed using black versafine and clear embossing powder.
Dye based ink has then been sponged over the image before the dove has been painted with neat thin bleach.

Once this has been done the entire panel has been covered with crystal embossing powder.
Even though the ink used is dye based, which would normally dry very quickly, the panel accepts the embossing powder to create a wonderfully sparkly panel.
The blue card has been stamped and embossed around the edges  using Hero Arts F5042 Leaf Flourish and more crystal embossing powder.
The tiny white dots around the edge of the card have been added with a white souffle pen and the 3 large white Glitter Domes (from Woodware) complete the card.
I would like to enter the card over at Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge where she is looking for 'Inky'.
Must get some sleep now, will be back tomorrow, blogger willing lol.
hugs Kimx

Glitter at 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have all had a wonderful weekend. I can't believe that it has finished already!
I have managed to get another couple of commissioned cards finished in amongst my DT work, but I will have to wait a while before I can post those so that the recipient gets to see them first.

This week the challenge over at 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown is to add Glitter.

I'm not sure that Crystal embossing powder counts really, but it was the nearest that I could get at the moment.

It does sparkle nicely like glitter although unfortunately it doesn't show up terribly well in these photos.
I did tell you that I had several of these lovely Magenta stockings in my Christmas bits box, I can see them making several appearances over the next few months lol.
Off to bed now, it's got very late again.
hugs Kimx

Frosty the Snowman

Evening Everyone
I can't believe that another weekend is at an end, I hope that you had a good one.
I am finally on top of most of my DT work, and have even managed to catch up on some commenting!!
In fact I have even made a couple of Christmas cards.
It's a good job that I did so well with them in April since May was a terrible let down, I only managed 2. June hasn't been much better since although I have made several Christmas cards they are for something rather special, and so won't end up in my stash.
Oh well never mind.

My card tonight has been made to enter into the challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown where they are looking for Snowmen.
They are also looking for DT members so don't forget to check it out.

Once again I have used bits from my Christmas box.
The Snowman in the panel has been sponged with dye based ink, and then painted with neat thin bleach to take the colour out of the Snowman and snowflakes.

The background is the resist technique.
I think that the stamps used are from Penny Black but I wouldn't swear to it.
The panel was created on a scalloped glossy card and I added some tiny white dots with a Souffle Pen.
I would also like to enter it into the challenge at ABC Christmas challenges where L is for Lyrics (Frosty the Snowman)
Hugs Kimx

A sketch at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown

Evening everyone,
I'm back with another card made using the wonderful Decoupage stamps from Imagination Crafts.
I got wise this weekend and decided that I would try and link my sample making to a few challenges. Kill two birds with one stone so to speak :)
This card was made to enter into the challenge at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where this week they have a sketch for you to follow.

I love following this blog. It has been the major influence on my ever growing stash of Christmas cards, and I have been lucky enough to get Top Honor a couple of times and several Honourable Mentions including last week.
Thank you so much Guys I feel truly honoured.

The stamped and embossed image on this card has once again been coloured using the Watercolour technique that I will be demoing at the Happy Stampers show in Port Sunlight on Saturday.

I love colouring in this way and it works so well with the Mica Palettes. This one uses the Vintage Palette which has to be my favourite.
I have added some glossy accents to the berries on the main panel and bleach to the holly leaves on the burgundy card stock in the background.

I'm sorry if you are suffering from 'Decoupage overload' at the moment but I am just having way too much fun playing and it would seem rude not to share lol.
Hugs Kimx

Do die cut buttons count?

Evening Everyone
I've been trying very hard to get on top of my commenting today so not much has been achieved on the crafting front.
Just as well I have been quite productive with my Christmas card making over the last couple of days or it might have been a picture less post lol.

This week several of the challenges, including Woodware are looking for 'Buttons and Bows' on your cards.

This card uses a favourite Magenta stamp of mine which I have stamped and embossed and then coloured using a watercolour technique and dye based inks.

The background papers are from my stash, and I added a die cut star and button.
I would like to enter this into the challenge at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where their embellishment challenge is also looking for buttons and bow, I hope that one will count.
Over at Weekly Christmas Card Challenges they are looking for you to have used punches, and Christmas Cards All Year Round have put out a call for Design Team members.
I am not sure that I am up to taking on another DT position but I think I am up to the challenge of being a Guest Designer.
Back to commenting now I guess, or I might even give it a miss and try and get a reasonably early night.
Tomorrow, as they say, is another day.
Night night
hugs
Kimx

A Green and White Christmas

Evening Everyone.
I have just finished making my card for the new challenge which starts over at The Stamp Man on Friday midday, and I hadn't realized that it had got sooo late, so this is a really, really quick post for you tonight.

I have been trying really hard to make at least a couple of Christmas cards each week, inspired by some of the wonderful challenges that I have found.

This card was made especially for the colour challenge over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where they are looking for Green and White.
The stamped panel was in my bits box, and the background papers are from my stash, so I have been a very good girl.
Look at the time, I really must get to bed.
Hugs Kimx

A Vellum Cutie

Evening Everyone
Wow, where did that weekend go? I hope that those of you that made it to Ally Pally had a good time.

Tonight I am sharing another card which uses vellum.
This cutie comes ready coloured on a sheet of vellum along with several other images. I believe that it may actually be a Pergamano product but I'm not quite sure.

I have mounted the image onto white card to enhance the colouring and then cut it out using a nestie.

The panel on the right hand side of the card is vellum which has been embossed using an embossing folder.

The card and background papers are from my stash.

The flowers and leaves are also made from vellum using a combination of punches and floral DooHickeys.

I've managed to finish a couple more Christmas cards this weekend. Following some of the Christmas challenges is definitely paying off, and I even won another Honourable mention over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown which is a lovely added bonus.

Hugs Kimx

A Christmas Animal

Afternoon All
We have had another nice day here in Peterboro, not that I have seen the outside world for the past few days. Not that I am complaining either, I am having far too much fun playing. This truly is my kind of holiday, non stop crafting, how much better than that can it get lol.
I have even managed to fit in making a couple of Christmas cards to enter into the challenge over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where they have been asking for cards featuring Christmas Animals.

I didn’t have my bits box with me so I have actually had to stamp something out!!
I had a rummage through the Training room here at SirStampalot and came across this lovely old Penny Black 3539F Snow Hut.
I have coloured him in using my distress inks and after cutting him out I added some white liquid applique and glitter.

The circular starry background was also in the drawer and is by Hero Arts (sorry no code) I have stamped and embossed it using one of the new Frantage Embossing Enamel powders Aged Aqua.
The background paper is by KaiserCraft and I have stamped some Tilda Snowflakes around the edge using Stormy Sky distress inks.

I also made one using the Frantage Aged Gold Embossing Enamel.
I added a bit of bling, a hand stitched border and a tiny Woodware Greeting.
I would also like to enter it into the challenge at ABC Christmas challenges where F is for Furry or Feathered friends. Do you think prickles will count?
Better get back to play, the clock is ticking on my playtime, I will be back to reality in a very short while.
I have a class here in a couple of hours so I had better get organised before they start to arrive.
Hugs
Kimx

A Card for 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown

Evening Everyone,
Just a quick post tonight.
This is a card that I have made to enter into the challenge over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown, where this week they are looking for Red, Green and Blue, and of course a Christmas card.

The main stamped panel was made using a Stampin Up stamp and ink pad. The bauble has been stamped multiple times onto white card before re-inking.
I added a panel of chequered paper punched down one side using my Woodware Crafty Edger Japanese Fan cassette.

The greeting is also from Stampin Up. I have added some metallic nailheads and tiny drops of Glossy Accents   to the baubles.
Off to bed now, nite, nite.
Hugs Kimx

Christmas Stickers

Evening Everyone,
I hope you have had another lovely mild day, certainly not winter weather so I suppose my card tonight could be considered wholly inappropriate for the time of year lol.
The challenge this week over at  52(Christmas) Card Throwdown has been an Embellishment one and Jacqueline has asked for Stickers or Rub-ons.

The Snowmen on this card are Penny Black stickers and I have had them for years, so the challenge was great as it made me finally get around to doing something with them.

The background paper is from my stash and the Christmas trees have been covered in sticky embossing powder and glitter which I watched Louise demo last time I was in Peterboro. It is a lovely way to add plenty of sparkle.

I enjoyed playing with the stickers so much that I actually ended up making 3 cards with them.
This one also uses papers from my stash and some of the lovely Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel from Woodware  on the Scalloped Nestie that the Snowman is layered onto.

These stickers are great because they have clear edges and so can be attached to white card which makes them easier to cut out.

This last card also uses a Snowman sticker and a piece of background from my Christmas stash box.

The large Hero Arts background has been stamped and embossed in white and then dye based ink and glimmer mists have been used to create the coloured background.
Hope you like them.
I would also like to enter them into the challenge over at Winter Wonderland where they are looking for Glitter and Bling. (I was too late to enter this one but never mind.)
By the way my Christmas card tally for February was 10, not as good as January, but not bad.
Better get some sleep now.
hugs Kimx

Too late for the Challenge

Evening Everyone,
Oh well what's that they say about the best laid plans........
Seriously there needs to be at least 36 hours in a day if I have any chance of getting everything done that I need to do.
I keep a note book by me at work so that I can jot down any ideas I have or make lists to remind myself of things that I need to do. The trouble is the lists just seem to get longer and longer without anything ever getting crossed off lol.

With all of that in mind this card which was made using the lovely sketch over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown, just didn't get posted in time to enter the challenge. Oh well never mind, I enjoyed making it anyway.
Once again I have used pieces from my Christmas bits box. This time it is a lovely Magenta image which has been stamped and embossed and sponged with dye based inks.

There is also a bit of bleach, some crystal embossing powder and some bling.
The background papers are from my stash.

This second card is one that I made some time ago, but which never got sent so it has been added to my tally for this year. The background for the main stamped image has been made by spritzing Coffee onto white card stock.

I have also used coffee to colour the holly leaves, as well as some distress inks.

The background paper and ribbon are from my stash.

I am very behind in making any Christmas cards this month, I had better get a move on, although this weekend I have another Valentines card to make, and a birthday card for my Boss's daughter as well as a class to teach.

No rest for the wicked lol.

Hugs Kimx

Create Your Own Background for A Christmas Sketch

Evening Everyone,
Well I have been keeping in the spirit of the cold weather and have continued with my Christmas card making.
I was lucky enough to get another Honourable Mention for my Add an Extra Embellishment card at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown last week so it would be rude not to enter the challenge again this week where they have a lovely sketch for you.

Also they are asking you to Create Your Own Backgrounds at Weekly Christmas Card Challenges, so I have combined the two in the card I am sharing with you tonight.

Once again I have used a previously stamped image from my Christmas bits box.
It has been stamped and embossed onto black card and then the image has been painted with thin undiluted bleach.

The piece of brown background had been made using coffee (strong and black) which has been painted onto white card stock and then covered with a piece of cling film until it is dry. Once dry the swirly Christmas background has been stamped over it using a Sepia Versafine inkpad.

The other pieces of background paper are from my stash, and the greeting is part of a Hobby Art wooden stamp.
I wish I could say that my bits box is looking empty, but that would be very far from the truth, still at least I have added another Christmas card to my tally.
I hope it warms up a bit tomorrow, I have been chilled to the marrow all day, the thermal underwear is certainly not having the desired effect lol.
Hugs Kimx

21 and Counting!

Evening Everyone
Well I don't know how appropriate it will seem to be making Christmas cards in the beautiful Summer sunshine, but for the moment I'm going to make the most of being inspired by the bitterly cold weather and the Christmas blogs.

Both cards have been made using images from my Christmas bits box. In fact this one is so old I'm not even sure of the stamp company. I think it could be Stampendous, but I am perfectly prepared to be wrong.

The image has been stamped and embossed using cats eye pigment ink pads and crystal embossing powder, so it is very sparkly which doesn't show in the photograph.
I have gold embossed the green background card using a beautiful Christmas Swirl stamp by Inkadinkadoo.
The lace panel has been created from a DooHickey. I have added plenty of bling as I would like to enter it into the challenge over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where they want to see Rhinestones.

The second card tonight uses a lovely Magenta stamp which I have stamped and embossed onto a piece of  brayered background. I have punched the edge of the brayered panel using a Martha Stewart punch and then layered it onto silver card.

I added some spotty ribbon, a greeting and some punched poinsettias and leaves. Of course this image lends itself beautifully to more bling so I would like to enter it into the same challenge at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown.

I think the black poinsettias give the card quite a dramatic look, and not what I would consider to be a typically traditional colour combo. so I would like to enter it in to the challenge at Christmas Cards All Year Round where they have been asking for Non Traditional Colours all this month.
I have decided to add a tally to my side bar so that I can see how well I am doing with my Christmas cards each month. So to start off the New Year I made 21 in January.
Thank You to all the Christmas challenge blogs that I have found, you have certainly kept me on track
Lets see how well I get on next month.
Thanks for stopping by and for all the lovely comments I have received. I will try and get round to everyone but at the moment I'm rather busy making more Christmas cards lol.
Hugs Kimx