As I was having some issues this morning with a couple of uploads to challenges, I went through all my saved blogs to see which ones used the same linking system so I could try with another blog. In the process I came across the As You See it Challenge and decided to make a card to enter. I like these colours and I had seen a Pinterest post that I wanted to try. This is my take on the card I viewed. Almost the same except different colours and different types of snowflakes. I started out with a silver card base to which I added the white panel. I had pre-stamped some snowflakes in two corners prior to attaching. Using a square punch I cut four squares from white CS and stamped the snowflakes in as close to the challenge colours as I could get with my inks. One or two were stamped using VersaMark which I then heat embossed in silver. Once I had popped up and attached the squares I added a couple of gems to the center of the larger snowflakes. It is an easy card to make but required several different stamp sets to find snowflakes that would work. Most are GKD but one set is from LawnFawn and another from Divinity Designs.

This card was made some time ago, but I didn’t post it thinking it might work for a challenge eventually. The Sunday Stamps challenge seems to be a good one to enter it into. The circles are all fallouts from a different project and instead of throwing them away I wondered if I could use them somehow. This card is the result. The background is dry embossed but I had trouble with my Big Shot and couldn’t get a solid impression so in reality one can see texture but on the photo it doesn’t truly show up. The sentiments come from a Reminisce package of PP and I mounted everything onto a navy CS. It may not follow the sketch exactly but I think it is close enough for the challenge. Hope so anyway.

So many talented DT’s on JUGs and I am once again trying my hand at their challenge. There are several stamp sets involved with this card, the little foxes, moon and clouds come from an MFT set, the banner has been cut from an image from the Stamping Village that after stamping, I cut from the rest, as I only wanted the Hooray, the gloves come from a GKD limited edition set I got from SSS. The word ‘it’s’ was created on the computer as my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired and the Christmas came from another set that is somewhere on my desk and can’t find at the moment. I fussy cut this out and went over it with a gold pen and I also fussy cut around the banner before popping it over the bow for the gloves. I stamped the little stars with a metallic ink and added a touch of sparkle to them with a pen. I die cut several of the foxes and glued them together, so I could add dimension without foam tape. I guess these colours are more like Autumn than Christmas but I quite like the end result.

At the time I viewed the sketch, I also saw an image on Pinterest and thought it was a perfect idea to fit the challenge. Somehow what I wanted to try just didn’t work, although I’m not giving up, and will try again another time. In the meantime I really wanted to enter the challenge and I’m needing Xmas cards so this is what I came up with. Using the birch die I cut 3 of them using Metallic gold paper from Recollections. I also cut a small panel from Reminisce PP to go behind the trees. To get this looking how I thought it should I cut one of the tree pieces in half. Laying the pieces onto the pp I moved them around until sure they would fit then I glued them and cut off the excess. I added this layer to the card front and then using an Essentials die I cut the greeting from off white cs. I had the little plaid bird leftover from another project and he seemed to fit onto this card.

We had planned on going for a walk, but the heavens have opened up and the rain is pouring down, so the idea is scrapped until it eases. The rain suits my mood today. I’m feeling a bit down due to lack of sleep and the loss of a good friend earlier in the week. Her death wasn’t a surprise as she had been battling cancer for a number of years, but it is always hard to lose someone we care for. I am glad she isn’t suffering anymore as I know the last few months were not pleasant.

One colour in a challenge is actually quite a challenge but this colour is certainly perfect for a Christmas card. Mine was inspired by something seen on Pinterest, but unfortunately there wasn’t a link to follow so I cannot attribute it to anyone in particular. I used 2 types of green, the card front is from GKD and is called Fresh Asparagus, and another scrap piece that is darker in tone but one I don’t know where it came from. It looks a bit gray in the photo but it truly is a darker green and the paper is slightly textured. I also used some metallic paper from Recollections as a background for the darker green and for the tree shaped die cut words. The die is from Essentials and is in 2 parts with the outer frame looking a bit like a shadow for the rest. Once the pieces were cut it was an easy card to put together. I used another Essentials set called Mixed edge rectangle layering basics die for the panel which is a scrap piece left over from a paper pack by Reminisce. The sparkly washi tape was added underneath the main piece for some added green. The scrap pp was run through an EB folder called champagne and holly by Couture creations. Hope you like it.

This card has been created using a combination of different stamps mainly from an MFT set called Fox and Friends, but the snowman and sentiment come from a limited edition set by GKD. I also used a piece of ribbon from my stash. Firstly I took a narrow piece of card stock and stamped the background all over it. I then coloured some of the background using InkTense pencils. I cut this down to size added the ribbon and attached to the card front. The snowman was stamped, die cut and coloured before popping him up on top of the ribbon. I have the second half of the stamped background to go onto another card front. Nice to get a two for one from one piece of CS.

I’ve added it to the Peace on Earth challenge as it fits the mood board theme quite well. I do like these mood boards as it gives one a lot of choice for creativity.

Even though this background ended up being a bit busier than I expected I still quite like it. I used a technique found here but I didn’t get quite the same effect. Once it was done I couldn’t think what to do with it although the colours fit the JUG’s challenge. Then I remembered a Memory Box die called Splashing puddles and had a go at cutting it through the watercolour paper. I had to run it through a few times but it did cut nicely in the end. Using my latest SSS kit with the frogs etc. I stamped the simplest frog and fussy cut him once he was coloured. To colour him I used InkTense pencils. I added glossy accents to the splashes, raindrops and the eyes of the frog. I also used some of the fall outs to add a puddle under the frog and some splashes to the inside. I used the sentiment only on the inside as the front is too busy to add anything else. The card stock is from GKD and I made it into a square card for a change. Initially I wasn’t sure if this was going to work, but I quite like the end result and I have another piece to use for a 2nd card.

Since putting my stuff into my new craft room, still in progress actually, I’ve come across many items I had forgotten I had. The red corrugated paper is one such as is the kraft coloured handmade paper. I shall have to label my drawers and cupboards so I can find it all. Lately I pull open all the drawers looking for something that I know is there but can’t remember exactly where I put it.

I’m trying to get Christmas cards done and it is a slow process although I did manage to finish 7 this past week. Another 100 to go based on my recent count. I figured the Color Hue challenge was a perfect one for another Christmas card and this is what I came up with. The red and white letters are die cut from an Origami set of papers and I used some scrap bits for the punched foliage. Using a red glitter Sakura pen I added glitter to the foliage and to the stripes of red on the letters as well as a few tiny dots here and there. The die used is from Dee’s Distinctively.

We are experiencing what the weather people called an atmospheric river and the amount of rain coming down is immense. It is almost continuous so is very dreary outside. Our view is nothing but cloud and mist.

Sometimes we receive a store bought card that is too pretty to throw away and a challenge to cut up and use in a different way. This card is made from one of those I received last year. Initially I couldn’t decide on how to use it but found a video by Lisa Curcio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68iuUR-TmtA and that made me wonder if doing a tunnel card would work out. I’ve never done one before although always like the way they look. After reviewing the video I took the plunge and die cut the center pieces from the card front. Then I reassembled them as shown by Lisa. I used infinity dies from HeroArts to get my circles. I added everything to a new card front and think it is a good way to reuse a store bought card. I may do more of them.

And just so everyone is aware, I don’t cheat and add my name to any repurposed cards. They aren’t my creations and I won’t claim them as such even though I change them a lot. It is just a great way to recycle something which is why I do it.

Products used come from Divinity Designs, SSS and GKD. Firstly I die cut the lamp and the small embellishments using scraps. Then I dry embossed the white panel and added it to the card front. I added the lamp chain next, then the candle before adding the lamp on top. After which I added the leaves, bow and berries. I couldn’t decide on a greeting initially but found the Ho Ho one in the stamp set I had been using on another project and thought it a good choice. After stamping it I added the piece to a bit of sparkly paper to give a border. Added a bit of Sakura glitter to the words but it doesn’t show on the photo. It reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas card – the kind we used to get years ago.