Lili of the Valley Cobweb

I sound like a broken record when I am constantly saying I've had this stamp for years but I honestly have lol. I bought it to make my good friend Kay's birthday card years ago and when I was looking for something else I came across it and thought, that is perfect. The colouring of the image took a while so I decided to let this be the star of the card and to keep the rest fairly simple.

Before I waffle anymore I want to wish Kay a very happy birthday, I hope you get lots of presents and maybe even a few crafty things too.

Ingredients
Image: "Cobweb" Lili of the Valley
Sentiment: "party animal" Avery Elle
Paper: "mini heart brights" MFT
Card: "dark charcoal" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Oval and small scalloped oval stax, A2 staxs set 1 and 2 all from MFT


Copics
Hair - E59, 57, 35
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R20
Wings - N1, BG000
Top and Flowers - R89, 39, 37, 35
Leaves - YG99, 95
Skirt - T5, 4, 3, 2

Boozy Santa

I think before I order any more stamps I need to learn how to measure, I had no idea of the size of this stamp until it arrived and its huge lol. My normal A2 was a no go so I had to bust out my square cards, thank goodness I had a stash of them.

The sentiments on this set have been used on every card since it arrived, I wish I had bought it earlier as they are fab and the perfect size too, which is odd as I didn't have a clue what size they were until they arrived lol.

Ingredients
Image: "boozy santa" Wild Rose Studio
Sentiment: as above
Card: "real red" stampin Up and Green from Limetree
Dies: Crealies XXL Square stitched


Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, 93
Hair - N2, 0
Red - R59, 29, 24
Yellow - Y38, 15, 13
Green - G29, 17, 16, 14
Black - T8, 6, 5

Roberto's Rascals Reindeer

I am sorry about the light on this photo, I wish it had captured the simplicity and brightness better. I was pleased with the concept and colouring on this card but the hair could have been better.

I am a bit like Kelly Latevola in that I hate starting a card over and will do anything to avoid this but in this case I did colour the image a few times, I just couldn't decide on a hair colour that didn't melt into the costume, I tried red, black, and dark brown before deciding to go blond/moussey.

Ingredients
Image: "3 reindeer" Roberto's Rascals from CC Designs
Sentiment: "boozy santa" Wild Rose Studio
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Ink: "broken china" Distress oxide

Copics
Skin -
Reindeer Costume - E81, 84, E29, 27, 25, 23, 21, T8, 6, 5, R29, 24,

House Mouse Blue Jeans

Sometimes an idea just hits you like a freight train, this isn't one of those ideas lol. Instead it was a slow steam train meandering through the countryside, stopping at every station and getting nowhere fast. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was going to use the B90's to colour the jeans, I thought I would use all of them but in the end I only used 3, I could have taken more time and gotten better shading but sometimes quick and dirty is all that is required.

I wish I was someone who could spend hours colouring each image, improving my technique all the time but unfortunately I am not. I usually need a card in a hurry and the majority of the cards I send are to family and friends who have no idea I even coloured the image and didn't print it, not that its an excuse to be sloppy but rather that when I am pushed for time I don't beat myself up about it.

Enough waffling, the card as you can see is all about the image, there wasn't a lot of room for anything else lol.

Ingredients
Image: "hanging jeans" House Mouse
Sentiment: "keep it simple - birthday 3" Papertrey ink
Card: "enchanted evening" Papertrey ink
Background: "denim" MFT
Dies: Blueprints

Copics
Mice - R02, 01, 00, T6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Pegs - E35, 34, 31
Line - E44, 42
Socks - RV09, 06, 04
Jumper - V09, 06
Jeans - B99, 97, 95
Sky - BG11, 10

Roberto's Rascals Snowman

I have used two of the four images in this set and I was hoping to use the other two but time got away from me, oh well there is always next year lol.

Ingredients
Image: "snowman kids" Roberto's Rascals from CC Designs
Sentiment: "boozy santa" Wild Rose Studio
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Ink: "broken china" Distress oxide

Copics
Skin -
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Suit - B00, 000, T8, 6
Scarf, legs - B26, 24, 23
Hat - T8, 6, 5, B26, 24, 23

Roberto's rascals Snowmen

After using Roberto's Rascals images on the elf cards I couldn't resist buying the "snowman kids" and "3 Reindeers" in the Black Friday sale and even better they are Digital so I got to download and colour straight away.

Ingredients
Image: "snowman kids" Roberto's Rascals from CC Designs
Sentiment: "boozy santa" Wild Rose Studio
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Ink: "broken china" Distress oxide

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, 71, 93
Hair - E59, 57, 35
Hat - T8, 6, 5, YG97, 95, R39, 37, T3
Suit - B00, 000, T8, 6, R39, 37

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, 71, 93
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Hat - T8, 6, 5, YG97, 95, R39, 37, T3
Suit - B00, 000, T8, 6, R39, 37

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish all my blog readers a 

Very Merry Christmas

I have enjoyed posting this year and I hope you have enjoyed reading the posts.

Now its time to get back to the Turkey 

Thank you xx

Cottage in a Bauble Final Version

This is the final version of this card, I decided to lose the bow and snowflake stamping. The stamping barely showed and the bow was a distraction and also meant additional postage.

I was quite pleased with how this came out in the end, my "cheap chicken" version is better than I could have hoped and I even have a few panels left over which I might use to get a head start on next years cards.....omg that is too funny, that will never, ever happen.

Only one more sleep before the guy in the red suit arrives, I hope you have all been good and that you aren't expecting coal in your stockings.

Ingredients
Image: "crafts beautiful" December Issue
Ink: "sepia brown" Versafine and "sweet tooth" MFT
Sentiment: "big christmas sentiments" Amy Rysavy from CC designs (retired)
Card:"kraft" Recollections at Michaels
Dies: "bauble shaker" Papertrey ink

Cottage in a Bauble Version 1

Last year one of the playday ladies gave me a card that had used this technique and I was blown away, I decided to try to recreate this and managed to do it without buying anything. I know I am astounded too.

I cut a piece of acetate with the bauble shaker die from PTI and made my own stencil, I also made larger than normal cards (5x7) so I had to measure and cut each piece as I don't have any dies that large. I placed the stencil on the kraft card, stamped the image and then used white pigment ink to ink in from the edges of the stencil but not cover the whole image. My white pen was the final touch and bish, bash, bosh all done.

Ingredients
Image: "crafts beautiful" December Issue
Ink: "sepia brown" Versafine and "sweet tooth" MFT
Sentiment: "big christmas sentiments" Amy Rysavy from CC designs (retired)
Card:"kraft" Recollections at Michaels
Dies: "bauble shaker" Papertrey ink, Bows from MFT

Little Elves Version 3

Well today is a calmer day, all the presents are wrapped and most are delivered, the food shopping is complete and I am enjoying a glass of wine. Only a few more sleeps until the big man in a red suit arrives, I hope he brings you lots of lovely goodies, me well I think I'm getting coal lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "little elves" Roberto's Rascals for CC Designs
Ink: "parrot" Altenew
Dies: A2 stax set 1 and 2, basic edges scalloped 2 all MFT
Paper: "santa express" Doodlebug
Card: "real red" Stampin Up


Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, E71,
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Yellow - Y17, 15, 13
Green - YG67, 17, 25
Red - R39, 37, 35
White - W2

Little Elves Version 2

Yesterday I wrote an essay and never really mentioned the card so today....i'm going to say very little and instead I hope all your shopping is done and you are relaxing with your loved ones.....me I'm still running around like a headless chicken lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "little elves" Roberto's Rascals for CC Designs
Ink: "parrot" Altenew
Dies: A2 stax set 1 and 2, basic edges scalloped 2 all MFT
Paper: "santa express" Doodlebug
Card: "real red" Stampin Up


Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, E71,
Hair - E59, 57, 35
Yellow - Y17, 15, 13
Green - YG67, 17, 25
Red - R39, 37, 35
White - W2

Little Elves Version 1

Every time I turn around there are more cute stamps sets available, I have loved Roberto's Rascals since the first set I saw a few years ago, of course I own that set but I've never used it (naughty Amanda). I bought the clear stamp set of little elves last january and of course now they are available as Digi stamps which would have been better but never mind I have them now. I have just seen the new snowmen and reindeer ones though that might need to come live with me lol.

I used this design a lot last year and I thought if it ain't broke don't fix it and used it again this year. I definitely need to break out of my comfort zone next year, maybe follow sketches or challenges, whatever it is I need to do something as this time it has felt very stressful and it should be fun.

Enough waffling, if you made it this far....well done and here is a simple but I hope cheery card lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "little elves" Roberto's Rascals for CC Designs
Ink: "parrot" Altenew
Dies: A2 stax set 1 and 2, basic edges scalloped 2 all MFT
Paper: "santa express" Doodlebug
Card: "real red" Stampin Up


Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, E71,
Hair - E59, 57, 35
Yellow - Y17, 15, 13
Green - YG67, 17, 25
Red - R39, 37, 35
White - W2

Hunky-dory Snow Globe Version 2

The main difference between this one and yesterdays card is that I have added another little snowman. I had to mirror stamp the image and I thought this would be difficult but it wasn't. I used the acetate from the stamp set, stamped the image and then just turned it over onto my card and rubbed, yes it really was that simple.

Ingredients
Images: "snowy snow globe" Hunky dory
Sentiment: Creative stamping
Paper: "rustic atmosphere" The Works and "" First Edition

Copics
Lid - N3, 2, 1
Tree - G28, 46, R29, B24, Y15
Snowmen - R39, 37, YG17, 25, B26, 24, W2, B000, B01, 000, R22, 21, 20

Hunky-dory Snow globe Version 1

This year Hunky-dory have really become one of my favourite stamp companies, there designs and price point make them a firm favourite for sure. I always watch the month release on Facebook live and I knew as soon as they showed this set I would need to have it.

Before you ask, yes I am obsessed with snow globes and jars lol. Although to be fair I never seem to make cards with them just collect them so you wouldn't know how many are sitting in my craft room lol.

Ingredients
Images: "snowy snow globe" Hunky dory
Sentiment: Creative stamping
Paper: "rustic atmosphere" The Works and "" First Edition

Copics
Lid - N3, 2, 1
Tree - G28, 46, R29, B24, Y15
Snowmen - R39, 37, YG17, 25, B26, 24, W2, B000

Creative Stamping Deer

This is definitely the last of this design well until next year of course lol. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anyone but its too late now if I have.

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

Tatty Ted Christmas 3

Sometimes once you start using a stamp set you can't stop until all the images are used, ok so I have never, ever done that but I have come close and this is one set where I was tempted to use them all but was running out of time. I wish I was more organised and had the time to make each christmas card an individual maybe I should make the christmas card when I make their birthday cards lol. who am i kidding I can barely get the birthday cards made in time

Ingredients
Image: "tatty ted" christmas by Papermania
Paper: Tatty ted free papers (from last year)
Dies: Scalloped rectangle from MFT
Sentiment: Creative Stamping magazine

Happy Holidays

This is the third payday design I used, I kept them simple this year with minimal colouring, last year I went a bit all out and by the end I was so frustrated I wasn't enjoying it so this year I thought simple and easy and then everyone gets a hand coloured card that I'm happy with and no last minute rushing.

Ingredients

Image: "happy holidays" Your Next Stamp

Paper: "tatty teddy"

Die: "small scalloped rectangle" MFT stamps

Copics

Moose - E70, 71, 74, 77, 79, 49

Scarf and Present - YG17, 23, R39, 37

James Christmas Cracker

Lili of the Valley reintroduced the James bear this year and they are also now available as Digi Stamps, I bought the digi stamp version as I thought I would probably make it bigger as the stamps are quite small and fiddly to colour, so why have I printed it smaller than even the stamp lol. 

This was a quick, simple but I hope elegant card and I made more than one of this design, multiples is the only way to go near christmas, just wish I could do the same for the birthday cards lol.

Ingredients
Image: "James Christmas Cracker" Digistamp from LOTV (lili of the valley)
Sentiment: "think big favourites" Papertrey ink, embossed with "cherry cobbler" powder from Stampin Up
Dies: Blueprints 27 and circle stax both from MFT, Crealies XXL stitched circles 
Card: "Blueberry Sky" Papertrey Ink and "real red" Stampin Up

Creative Stamping Wreath

This is almost the last of this design card, all that is left now are the one off designs. I am not sure I am going to be able to post every day as I am running out of time, designs and mojo, of course I'm not running out of stamps lol. 

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

Creative Stamping Santa Boot

These cards have been so easy to produce and once I started I couldn't seem to stop so al;most all my christmas cards are the same. Hopefully next year this won't be the case.....I think I say that every year lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

Creative Stamping Star

This was the first design from this magazine and you can tell it wasn't the last lol. I am so shocked that I kept going with this design as normally I get bored but not this time, maybe it was because I was so disorganised lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

Creative Stamping Stockings

Third card in the Creative Stamping series, think this version is definitely my favourite and this image is the reason I bought the magazine in the first place. Of course then I was intending colouring each stocking but there is always next year.

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

First Christmas

We have a new addition to the family and they always get a card for themselves on their first christmas. I bought this magazine just for this image and sentiment and I am so glad I did as there are loads of other images to enjoy too.

I originally coloured the hair blond but once she was born she had beautiful dark hair so her card was changed to match, i love that you can achieve this easily with copics.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: Creative Stamping
Dies: Blueprints 29 and small scalloped circles from MFT stamps and XXL stitched circles from Crealies
Card: "pink lemonade" Mft and "smoky slate" Stampin Up
Embossing Powder: "blushing bride" Stampin Up

Copics
Skin - E11, 21, 00, 000, 93
Hair - E35, 57, 59
Babygro - R22, 21, 20, 30
Ground - W2, 1, 0

Tatty Ted Christmas 2

As I already had the Tatty Ted set from Papermania on my desk I decided to make another card, I did choose a different image but the design was exactly the same.

I have had these stamps for at least six years and I am amazed I have never coloured them before.

I am hoping that I will start my christmas cards earlier in 2018 so I can at least colour some of the stamps I already possess.

Ingredients
Image: "tatty ted" christmas by Papermania
Paper: Tatty ted free papers (from last year)
Dies: Scalloped rectangle from MFT
Sentiment: Creative Stamping magazine

Penny Black Birthday Bears Again

You might recognise this design from one I made in October, in case you were wondering yes I made them at the same time but I waited to show this one until after the recipients birthday.

It was a fairly simple card to construct and the shaker pouches are so easy and effective, I have the heart ones and now I might buy them all.

This one has more sequins, it was the second one I made and I realised you could add extra so of course I did. Nothing remains except to wish Cheryl a very happy 40th Birthday xx

Ingredients

Image:  "birthday bears" Penny Black

Sentiment: "happy birthday circle frame" MFT

Paper: "Party Patterns" MFT

Dies: Blueprints 13 and shaker pouch dies all mft

Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh

Creative Stamping Bauble

Second of the Creative Stamping cards, this time its the bauble and again I think this would look awesome white heat embossed and watercoloured. 

Not much else to say except I can't believe it is the 7th already, wow this month is flying past.

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

Creative Stamping Tree

I made several variations of this card design, all using the same set of stamps and papers. I love the look of heat embossing on Kraft card and I was pleased with how simple yet elegant they turned out.

So today I am showing the tree version, this tree would look beautiful coloured with copics or pencils and that maybe a design I use next year.

Ingredients
Image: "Creative Stamping 49"
Paper: "jingle all the way" First Edition
Dies: Blueprints 27 from MFT
Card: "Kraft" Recollections from Michaels 

Tatty Ted Christmas

This design seems to be my go to this year, I was trying to be more organised but in the end I was more disorganised than ever. In the summer I completely lost my mojo and my tradition of completing the birthday cards for the entire year by the end of August slipped away.

So because of that my christmas cards needed to be simple and quick. Over the rest of the month I will be showing these and yes they do all look very similar lol.

Ingredients
Image: "tatty ted" christmas by Papermania
Paper: Tatty ted free papers (from last year)
Dies: Scalloped rectangle from MFT
Sentiment: Creative Stamping magazine

Deer Christmas

In the January sale i bought a pack of ten christmas cards that had colour your own designs, they reminded me of the Tim Holtz hipsters and I knew exactly who I was making the cards for. The paper was a bit porous so I wasn't able to blend as normal but I think that adds to the charm. I do wish I had cut the bit behind his glasses before I added the nuvo glaze but never mind.

Ingredients
Image: "colour your own" christmas cards from The Range
Sentiment: Woodward Die
Background: Knit stamp and cornflower blue ink from MFT

Making Cards - Birthday Bears Version 5

When this magazine came out I couldn't wait to use the bears and promptly made four cards, well a few weeks later I was filing the set away and the unused bear looked so forlorn so I made another card. I knew who it was for so I decided not to show it on my blog until after their birthday. So here is version five and I hope that these bears come back out to play again soon as they are uber cute.

Ingredients
Image: Making cards magazine
Papers: Snap from Simple Stories
Dies: Blueprints 15, basic stitched edge and basic stitched scalloped edge dies all mft
Sentiment: Dovecraft die

Copics
Bear - E44. 43. 42
T-Shirt - RV14, 13, 11

Holiday Hello

You may recognise the style of this card from the one shown yesterday. Now you could be forgiven for thinking this was made at the same time but it wasn't, I was taking part in a monthly christmas card making challenge and this was February's design.

I went with the same design as last month as I was designing my payday cards and this style was my final choice.

Ingredients

Image: "holiday hello" Your Next Stamp

Paper: "tatty teddy"

Die: "small scalloped rectangle" MFT stamps

Copics

Dog - W2

Scarf and Present - G28, 46, R39, 37
Antlers - E37

Tweet Holiday Greetings

I was so behind with my christmas cards last year that when my good friend Kay suggested doing a rudolph day challenge on the 25th of each month I knew I had to take part.

This was my first card and made in January but I decided to wait until December to show any of the makes. I hope that I managed to take part each month and that it means that I am not stressed this year, who am i kidding I will still be stressed.

I am thinking that this might be my payday design this year, I have three stamps the same size that would work perfectly for these, look out for the others soon. Plus it would use up some of the mountain of patterned paper I have accumulated so I think its a winner lol.

Ingredients

Image: "tweet holiday greetings" Your Next Stamp

Die: "small scalloped rectangle" MFT stamps

Copics

Bird - E79, 77, 74, R24, 27

Scarf and Hat - YG67, 17, 03, 01