Penny Black Bear

Another image bought because of Therese Calvird - Lost in Paper, she may have made me buy another set too lol. Of course once I got it I had no idea what to do but then I just decided to colour them and see where that took me.

I have used one of the sketches from the "one sheet wonder" again, I am loving these as they are so simple yet effective and I get to use up some of my paper mountain.

I have been collecting paper pads for years and with my more simple style they have been gathering dust but no more, this has given them a new lease of life.

Before I go I do want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and to wish Kay a very happy birthday xx

Ingredients
Image: Present Bear from Penny Black
Papers: ""mft stamps
Dies: Frilly Lace Nested rectangles from Gina Marie Designs
Card: "smoky shadow" from Papertrey Ink

Copics
Bear - N6, 4, 2, R21, 20
Present - BG15, 13, 23, V28, 25, 22

Meowy Christmas

Sometimes you wish you had made a design first, this is one of those. I might have to use the other image in the set and make a card ready for next year.....who am I kidding lol

Ingredients
Image: Santa Paws from Kraftin Kimmie
Sentiment: Mama Elephant Stamptember 2019 set
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background: snowflake stencil from Memory box with twisted citroen, mowed lawn and iced spruce distress oxide inks
card: 'cranberry" recollections from Michaels

Koalaty Friend

I had to use a one sheet wonder design for the person who introduced me to this fabulous idea. I used her favourite colours and also used an image I bought especially for her. I know using an image for a specific person and the same year I bought it is unheard of but there you go its a first lol.

Ingredients

Image and Sentiment: "koalaty friends" Pink and Main

Dies: crealies xxl stitched circles and spellbinders scalloped nesties

Papers: mft and studio G

Card: black from recollections at Michaels

Piece of Cake

I coloured this image at playday as I used one of my friends stamps and we coloured together following a video and it took forever so I knew the only person who would appreciate how long it took was another crafter.

Fingers crossed it arrived and they liked it, all i could think of whilst typing this post was I really, really want a piece of chocolate cake lol.

Ingredients
Image: Piece of Cake from Neat and Tangled
Dies: Mod stitched rectangle from MFT
Papers: Studio G

Shine Bright

I am so loving the Vault releases from MFT, I have almost all the "a la modes" but when I bought them they didn't come with dies so of course now they are releasing dies I need them all lol.

I bought the die for this set recently and was so impressed that it cut the in-between bits too, I am equally impressed that MFT are making them the original size so that if you already own the stamps you can just buy the dies.

I went with two colour schemes for the ladies and tried to change the hair colour to match the ladies.

Ingredients
Image: "you Shine" a la mode from MFT
Sentiment: "lightbulb" Gina Marie Designs
Dies:Blueprints 29 and 20 both MFT
Card: "blu raspberry" from MFT and "lovely lady" from Papertrey Ink

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas to all my blog readers and friends, this blogging lark is a wild ride and I wouldn't have half the fun without you all.

I hope you all got lots of crafty presents and are sat waiting for the dinner to arrive.

once again

Merry Christmas Everyone 

Snow Globe Shaker Version 4

The final shaker card for 2019, I went with the steps I learnt along the way and even though I forgot to add the glitter snow I’m pleased with the card. The addition of the scalloped background has been my signature this Christmas and it made making the designs quick and easy.

I want to say that this years cards weren’t as stressful but that isn’t true, I did however enjoy them more and finish them quicker.

Ingredients
Image: Sweet Treats from Clearly Besotted, "ready set snow" from Lawn Fawn, Creative Stamping Sentiment
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT , snow globe from Lawn Fawn

Snow Globe Shaker Card Version 3

After making the snow globe cards with the Elf and Santa I decided to use the other stamps and see what they looked like. I learned a lot from the last set of cards and decided to add the snow globe front to the acetate and it definitely looks different. I also didn't add the sentiment plaque, this however was an oversight lol.

In our house we refer to this day as "christmas Adam" as Adam came before Eve lol.

Hope you are all ready, I am almost sorted, got the food and all the presents are packed so why am i stressing lol.

Ingredients
Image: Winter Plushies from Clearly Besotted (free with creative stamping magazine) and "ready set snow" from Lawn Fawn
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT , snow globe from Lawn Fawn
Background: Simon Says stamp falling snow stencil and cosmic shimmer glitter paste
Sequins: gens from Jillibean Soup and sparkling clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Magical Christmas Wishes

I am still using the blueprints format for my cards, it had made thinking about a layout much easier this year.

I have also used a stencil I have had for about 5 years on this card. 

I hope you are all ready for the big day I can't believe its the 22nd already...eeek....

Ingredients
Image: "sweater weather in the woods" from MFT
Sentiment: creative stamping
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT and Crealies XXL inside out circles
Stencil: Birch trees from Memory Box with faded jeans distress oxide ink
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels

Snow Globe Shaker Version 2

This is the second version of the shaker card, it is definitely an improvement as I remembered the acetate and I'm pleased with the snowy background. I do want to make more of these as they are so much fun but they have to be hand delivered as I am not paying to post them lol.

Ingredients
Image: Winter Plushies from Clearly Besotted (free with creative stamping magazine) and "ready set snow" from Lawn Fawn
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT , snow globe from Lawn Fawn
Background: Hero Arts candy stripe background stamp and pearl embossing powder from WOW
Sequins: Christmas trees shaker pack from Little Things by Lucy's Cards

Snow Globe Shaker card Version 1

Now this card isn't technically a shaker as I forgot to put the acetate window in before adding the card front to the base...doh!!!. This one I also tried inking the background and adding stamped and embossed snowflakes but it was so time consuming to mask it all I changed that on version 2.

In all I made four versions of this card and each one had a slight change each time, I do feel that by the time I had finished I could make them in my sleep lol 

Ingredients
Image: Winter Plushies from Clearly Besotted (free with creative stamping magazine) and "ready set snow" from Lawn Fawn
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT , snow globe from Lawn Fawn
Background: Hero Arts candy stripe background stamp and pearl embossing powder from WOW

Happy Pawlidays

This one might not seem like a batch one but it was, I did add a different image and use different ink colours but the style and composition is the same and that makes it quick and easy and less stressful.

I coloured the image to match the dog owned by my friends and used the same layout as my previous cards, if it ain't broke don't fix it lol.

Ingredients
Image: Happy pawlidays from MFT
Sentiment: here comes santa from MFT
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background: snowflake stencil from Memory box with tumbled glass and iced spruce distress oxide inks
card: 'red" recollections from Michaels

Making Cards Magazine Pascal Penguin

Batch making has definitely been a theme this year and not just for Christmas, I do hope it is something I continue to do throughout 2020 as I really enjoyed it and it also means the stamps get used lol.

I used a simple layout and patterned paper which I haven't used much of this year.

Ingredients
Image: Pascal Penguin from Making Cards Magazine
Paper: Making cards magazine and Doodlebug
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20, scalloped and basic edges all from MFT and Xxl circles and inside out circles from Crealies

Making Cards Cats

I was making a few penguin cards (See those tomorrow) and I already had all the stuff on my desk when I thought I should use the previous months Stamps too. The Stamps from making cards are lovely this year but I do think they were better last year. I can’t wait to see what they make next year.

Ingredients
Image: Cat from making cards magazine
Paper: making cards magazine
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20, scalloped and basic edges all from MFT, crealies Xxl circles and inside out circles

Merry Christmas Bauble Red

As has often been the case this year if I am making a design I make it in several different colour schemes or papers, this card was no exception either.

All the dies, papers and card were already on my desk so this came together really easily. I suppose that is the beauty of not clearing up lol

Ingredients
Image: Merry Christmas Bauble die from The Works
Paper: "perfect christmas" First Edition
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels, gold vellum and gold card from my stash
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT and mini bow from taylored expressions

Age is Irr-elephant

I have a friend who is obsessed with elephants, all types and kinds and I wanted to make a card to reflect her obsession lol.

Now I surprisingly only own one elephant stamp (need to remedy that lol) and it had a baby with it which didn't seem appropriate for a birthday card so my friend Donna said she had a large elephant die I could use. I cut the die from black card at her house and brought both pieces home. My original idea was to have an aperture with the sunset behind the die cut elephant but once I saw it I knew that using the negative of the die as a stencil would work perfectly and make something different from my normal style. 

Hopefully she likes the card, I do wish I hadn't stamped the sentiment on it but its done now.

Ingredients
Image: Creative Stamping
Sentiment: as above
Inks: seedless preserves, fossilised amber, carved pumpkin, candied apple distress inks
Dies: blueprints 31 from MFT and bigz die from Sizzix

Merry Christmas Bauble Green

Back in October my friends and I visited "The Works" which in the UK is a book, novelty and craft shop. Its a small shop and recently they have started carrying their own range of dies. I spied this one but wasn't sure about it so put it back and Kathleen decided to get it. As soon as this happened I regretted it but it was the last one...I had to wait about four weeks and three shops before I found it again and this time I did not hesitate lol.

Kathleen had cut hers from foil card stock and backed it with vellum so I thought why reinvent the wheel and went with a similar theme. I already had the paper pad and dies on my desk so I went with that. I couldn't find my vellum anywhere but I did find a sheet of gold vellum so I used that and I like the warm glow it gives. The bow was a last minute addition and I am so glad I did as it finishes the card nicely

Ingredients
Image: Merry Christmas Bauble Die from the Works
Paper: "perfect christmas" First Edition
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels and jellybean green from MFT, gold vellum from my stash
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT, mini bow from Taylored Expressions

Joy Version 3

Probably my favourite of this card I made, I really like the pop of gold and I wish I had made more but there is always next year....lol.

Ingredients
Image: Spellbinders Joy Die
Paper: "all that glistens" First Edition
Card: gold from my stash (wish I knew where from as I need more lol)
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT

Reveal Wheel Twila Version 4

Final card for the 6 year old birthday for 2019, now to start working out what to make for their sevenths next year lol.

I am going to try batch making them again as waiting was definitely more difficult and stressful.

Enough waffling on to the card, another reveal wheel in fact identical to the last one except the superhero is purple lol.

Ingredients

Image: Superhero Twila from CC designs

Sentiment: reveal wheel sentiments from lawn fawn

Dies: skyline from mft and clearly besotted, reveal wheel and oval add on from Lawn Fawn

Joy Version 2

The second batch made with this die, I kind of think I should have made the Joy a different colour as it doesn't show very well in the photos, its much better in real life.

I can't believe that christmas is just around the corner and that all my cards should be made by now....eeek

Ingredients
Image: Spellbinders Joy Die
Paper: "perfect christmas" First Edition
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT

Christmas Jumper

I know you aren’t supposed to have a favourite card but I do think these ones come very close. I had a blast colouring them and I hope the recipients like them as much as I do.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "christmas jumper" from Art Impressions
Dies: blueprints 20 from MFT
Inks: peacock feathers, twisted citroen and mowed lawn all distress oxides

Joy Version 1

I was struggling to find inspiration for my Aunts and Uncles cards when I saw my friend Kathleen use this die, I asked her if I could borrow it and I think I might need to purchase it now.

It made such quick and easy cards I was amazed and I made 6 in one sitting. I will show those over the next few days. For each card though I used two sheets of 6x6 and just swapped where on the card they were positioned. I love when this is possible and when it looks this good too.

Ingredients
Image: Spellbinders Joy Die
Paper: "perfect christmas " First Edition
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels
Dies: Blueprints 29 and 20 both from MFT

One Sheet Wonder Christmas Tree

The final card in this quartet, I kind of wish I had made more but there is always next year. I didn't do as much colouring this year and every year I say the same thing...next year I will colour more but I never do lol.

Ingredients
Image: "christmas Pageant" from Neat and Tangled
Sentiment: reveal wheel christmas from Lawn Fawn
Paper: from Doodlebug
Card: green from recollections at Michaels
Dies: scalloped circles from spellbinders and Xxl inside out stitched circles from Crealies

One Sheet Wonder Christmas Snowman

Now I know you aren't supposed to have favourites but I think this one is mine from this set of cards, it was the simplest to colour as well.

Ingredients
Image: "christmas Pageant" from Neat and Tangled
Sentiment: reveal wheel christmas from Lawn Fawn
Paper: from Doodlebug
Card: green from recollections at Michaels
Dies: scalloped circles from spellbinders and Xxl inside out stitched circles from Crealies

One Sheet Wonder Christmas Star

Second card in the set and I love the parcel paper, I really struggle to use doodlebug christmas, well any, paper its just so fun and bright.

Ingredients
Image: "christmas Pageant" from Neat and Tangled
Sentiment: reveal wheel christmas from Lawn Fawn
Paper: from Doodlebug
Card: red from recollections at Michaels
Dies: scalloped circles from spellbinders and Xxl inside out stitched circles from Crealies

One Sheet Wonder Christmas Bauble

This year I was definitely obsessed with the one sheet wonder idea for using up my paper mountain, I came across this paper pad which is an older doodlebug and I couldn't resist using it. I used mostly scraps and I enjoyed it so much too.

I made four same but different cards in one sitting but you will have to wait to see those otherwise there won't enough cards to do daily posts lol.

Ingredients
Image: "christmas Pageant" from Neat and Tangled
Sentiment: reveal wheel christmas from Lawn Fawn
Paper: from Doodlebug
Card: red from recollections at Michaels
Dies: scalloped circles from spellbinders and Xxl inside out stitched circles from Crealies

Gingerbread Cookies version 4

Final version of the cookies for now and one that was suggested by my friend Kathleen, she said try Hot Pink so I did lol.

If i had to chose my favourite it would be the aqua from yesterday but the one I made the most of was the red one.

Ingredients
Sentiment : “christmas pageant” neat and tangled
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background:  "jolly gingerbread" layering background stamp from crafters companion
Inks : peanut brittle, rich cocoa both from memento and razzleberry from MFT and mint macaron from Stampin Up
Card: mint macaron from Stampin Up and raspberry fizz from Papertrey ink

Gingerbread Cookies version 3

So these colours were inspired by a paper pack favourite of mine and its definitely a colour scheme I liked.

I have made more than 60 of this design in various colour schemes and as I'm writing this post I want to make more, that to me is a sign of a good stamp set.

Ingredients
Sentiment : “christmas pageant” neat and tangled
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background:  "jolly gingerbread" layering background stamp from crafters companion
Inks : peanut brittle, rich cocoa both from memento, blue raspberry and grape jelly both from MFT
Card: Grape jelly and blue raspberry both from MFT

Gingerbread Cookies version 2

After making several batches of red and green I wanted to try other colours so I went with these two, now I liked them but not as much as other colours I tried so I only made these two.

I will say that now I see them on screen I wish I had made more lol.

Ingredients
Sentiment : “christmas pageant” neat and tangled
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background:  "jolly gingerbread" layering background stamp from crafters companion
Inks : peanut brittle, rich cocoa, danube blue and bamboo leaves all from memento and
Card: Navy from Limetree crafts and sour apple from MFT

Gingerbread Cookies Version 1

I recently took a trip to the crafters companion store in Evesham, I saw this set there and fell for it instantly, however I make A2 sized cards and this was sized for UK A6 so I wasn't sure it would work. I decided against buying it and regretted it so much I ordered it once I got home lol.

I am so glad I did as well as this has been my goto design for this christmas season. Its flat enough to post and just changing the colour of the icing changes the whole look.

I started with traditional colours but I did make some other colour choices as well, which I will show on further posts.

Ingredients
Sentiment : “christmas pageant” neat and tangled
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background:  "jolly gingerbread" layering background stamp from crafters companion
Inks : peanut brittle, rich cocoa, cottage ivy, ladybug and rhubarb stalk all from memento
Card: Cranberry, red and green all from Recollections at Michaels

Picture Perfect Again

Yet another one sheet wonder inspired card, the only difference is I'm using 6x6 rather than 12x12 and I'm only making two bases at a time, however I am enjoying it and it is reducing the paper mountain lol.

I wanted this set of selfies from MFT as soon as they were released but I had to wait as they kept going out of stock, I finally managed to get them in June and I have used a few already. Now this card was made a while ago but I had to wait until the recipient had received it before posting it.

Ingredients
Image: Picture perfect from MFT
Sentiment: photobomb from Mama Elephant
Card: smoky shadow from Papertrey ink
Papers: Party patterns from MFT
Dies: polaroid die from MFT (retired version)