Inside and out!

Hi everyone Gillian here, and it's my turn to dare you all this week.
I dare you to take the design of your card to the inside as well as the outside. Add a little finishing touch to match the theme on the outside, or Surprise the receiver with a flap, fold out, decorated journal block to write on, or one of those pop-out delights....It really adds so much to a card when there is attention to detail on the insideas well as the outside. I know some of you are finished your Christmas cards already so this week it's Any theme, Christmas or not But make the inside count too :)

My card is a variation of one I saw on Rachel B's blog I had a phone call this morning from the head at a local school to see if she could place an order on behalf of some of her staff. The card above was for her sister (who is a friend of mine) Papers are K & Co, snowflake eyelet was set with the Cropodile and the gold snowflake was stamped with Versamark and embossed with a gold sparkly powder.

The next card was part of the order too.

The greeting was printed onto the card and the image was stamped with a black Brilliance inkpad onto acetate and tied to the card using silver cord.

The next two cards were part of the order too :)

Again, the papers are K & Co and the stocking is a Sizzlit die.

The greeting was printed on the pc and the image is decoupaged and glittered.

Yesterday I had some ex collegues come round at lunch time to have a look at some jewellery and I sold quite a bit, I was well chuffed!

This is what I made yesterday morning.
I now need to make two more exploding boxes, two cd clocks and 37 place cards before Monday. Dh is working all weekend so the order will keep me out of mischief :))

Tags!

Just finished another order and it fits with the Little Extra from yesterday :)

This is the last Christmas Little Extra before we let Santa's Little Helper put his feet up and have a rest.
By now you've probably finished making you cards, so for a change we thought we'd get you making some gift tags. However, if you've still got cards to make, then you can always use tags on cards instead. It's up to you, as long as there's a tag involved it's fine by us!

These were both ordered by a lovely friend. Simon is a great Doncaster Rovers fan, hence the red and white. Die cuts used are Sizzix, rest is from stash. This is the other bag for Simon's sister.

I would just like to apologise for not visiting everyone's blog but time is very precious at the moment and I am rapidly running out! I will make myself look, I promise, as I do love reading what everyone is up to (I'm just nosey).

Back to work for now. Thanks for looking.

Busy Bee!

Well, I just haven't stopped since I last posted so I thought I had better show a sample of some of the completed work. Life is just so hectic at the moment, I haven't had time to make my own Christmas cards yet. I've decided though, whatever is left in the box will be sent out from us LOL I will make special cards for my parents and DH's mum and that's it. My Christmas stuff has actually been put away twice and got back out again!!

One of my cards fitted in with the Little Extra on the DCM blog last Tuesday. I know it's late but I'm going to show it anyway.

This is what the challenge was

It's Tuesday again so we have a midweek challenge for you to play with. Santa's Little Helper this week is themed "Buttons and Bows"Just in case you're one of those super-efficient types who've made all the cards they need already, you can still join in with a non-Christmas card for this one.

The snowman and snowflake are buttons and the bow is obvious! The image is from Cornish Heritage Farms and he is just so cute. I stamped him onto acetate using a blue Stazon ink pad and glittered him from behind using irridescent glitter. The trees are Cuttlebug and the snowflake is a punch. The ric-rac is Doodlebug.

My second card is for Friday's dare

This week is my turn (Saffa) to set the dare!I love the stripey candy sticks that are around at this time of year so inspired by this I challenge you all to create a card featuring stripes of some kind, the occasion is up to you but you must use some form of stripes on your card. Maybe stamps, or paper, or ribbon...This one was made as part of the same order as the one above. This time using papers by Making Memories, stamp by Papernation. I stamped it once onto card and then onto patterned paper and cut the dress separately. The card was finished off with ribbon from the pink kit at Ribbon Oasis and a 'silver' teddy charm from stash.

Next I made a couple of pieces of jewellery which were also part of the same order!

Sorry about the lousy pictures but the light has been terrible so they were scanned as I needed to record the items and get them delivered. The bracelet below is to match the necklace.Both necklace and bracelet were made from one necklace which my client asked me to alter as she didn't like it. The beads are mostly jet with a few small glass beads added. The clasps on both are sterling silver. I also made her a pair of matching earrings and she was really pleased with the set.

Well, that's about it for now as I have more work in hand. Today I need to make two gift bags and two more exploding boxes! I was going to do them yesterday but we ended up going to the Christmas market in Lincoln. It was absolutely superb but we got sooooooooooooo wet! We had to have hot chocolate and donuts while we were walking round to try to keep warm! LOL

DCM Friday

This week its Rhi here to Dare you... and the theme is to do with our feathered friends!(Are you remembering to feed them now it's chilly out)Robins, love birds, cartoon birds, stamped birds, paper pieced birds, dingbat birds. Its up to you. I dare you to make a card with a bird or birds on, it doesn't have to be a real species, the more weird and wonderful the better!

Here is my quick card for the dare yesterday.

Papers are K & Co and DCWV Christmas pads from last year (I have finally made a dent in the DCWV one :)) Penguin stamp is from Tanda Stamps and ribbon and buttons are from stash.

I received some of the lovely Nestabilities this morning, just the rectangle set to try them out. I ordered them yesterday from Joanna Sheen and they arrived at about 8 o'clock this morning! Their service is remarkable. I know of a few businesses that could learn a lot from JS!!

Back to work now. I have completely finished my first exploding box and am on to the second one. I haven't photographed the first one yet but will post pics as soon as I do.

Beads, beads, beads

I did my jewellery party last night and it was absolutely fab, I sold loads! I also managed to catch up with three ex collegues which was lovely.

Here are some pics of what I've been making over the last couple of weeks.

Please excuse the lousy pictures. I haven't had time to set up a 'photo space' so I scanned them for my records.

I made the bottom two today as they were for an order. I also got orders last night or ten cards, three exploding boxes, three pairs of earrings and a bracelet! Guess who is going to be busy again, I'm doing a wedding at the moment too!

Thanks for looking.

Hang up your stockings!!

This week's Little Extra theme is:
"Hang Up Your Stockings"Obviously we mean the stockings we put out in the hope that Father Christmas will pay us a visit and fill them with little treats (not your fishnets and suspenders!).Maybe you're in a part of the world that has a different custom, for instance in some countries the children put their shoes on the windowsill rather than hang up stockings. Whatever you do, we'd love to hear about your traditions as well as seeing your cards, so please tell us a little about how you celebrate Christmas in your country and in your home.

Here is my card

The papers are Season of Joy by Scrapworks and they are lovely! The papers, white and burgundy card and the spotty ribbon were all part of my latest kit from Scrummy Stash Cafe brads and frame were from stash and the stocking is cut in Vivelle using a Sizzlit die.

I have also made two more wedding invitations this morning (for one of my brides who forgot to invite someone to the wedding) and a little prezzie!

I am making headway with the jewellery so I shall get back to it.

Thanks for looking in again. xx

My song was...........

.........Baby It's Cold Outside by Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews! Well done Deb, if you would like to email me with your details, I will put together a little something as you were the only one to get it right!

It is just a quick one today as I am about to take DD2 to town (I hate town at the best of times but just before Christmas........bleugh!! lol)

This was the card I made hubby for our anniversary last week.

Sorry about the wonky scan! Papers and hearts were Je T'Aime by My Minds Eye (I just love this paper) and Crate Baby Bee, the heart were cut with a large Sizzix die, velvet ric rac is from Ribbon Oasis and the greetings were done on the PC. Fonts used were Marnie Regular and Stylistic SF.

BFN xx

Musical dare!

The girls over at DCM have come up with a brilliant dare this week (not that they are not all brilliant, but this one was one of my faves!) This week it was Lythan's turn to set the dare and the instructions are

Song without words
I would like you to create a card inspired by a song or a carol - it could be for Christmas or not! (you may have got all your Christmas cards done by now...) BUT there is a twist. the words of the song are NOT to be seen on the front of the card. You could leave it to us to guess! Have fun!

DD wanted a pink a sparkly card this year and I knew vaguely what I wanted to do before the dare was published and this is what I came up with. Backing paper is from the English Paper Company, snowman was stamped using black Versafine ink and coloured with Sakura glitter pens, brrr was cut in pink pearlescent card with a Sizzlit die, ribbon is again from Ribbon Oasis and the snowflake was stamped onto clear shrink plastic using pink chalk ink pad and shrunk using my heat gun. I added a jump ring to the snowflake and attached it to the ribbon.

So what is my song? It's not Frosty the Snowman as guessed by Gillian and Hazel, so I will give you a clue! Think .............brr, hat, scarf and snowflake (oh and it isn't a traditional Christmas song!) I do have another clue if needed too!

Mr Postie has just arrived with my Seasons of Joy card making kit from Scrummy Stash Cafe and it is fab-thanks Maria. This is the seventh kit I have had and I am so pleased with them all. I suppose I really should start using some of them LOL

Thanks for visiting my blog xx

Baubles

I totally forgot that I hadn't posted this card, for the DCM Little Extra, on my blog. This is what they were looking for this week.

This week we'd love to see you making cards on the theme of Baubles, Bells & Bows See how much of a dent you can make in the "I need to make X number of Christmas cards" list with this one. Please come back and leave us a message when you've made your card(s) and we'll pop over to see what you've created.

Baubles were embossed with the Cuttlebug 'Textile' embossing folder and cut with a scalloped circle punch. The cap on the top was cut by hand and I added some gold wire for the hanger. The baubles are actually gold mirri card! Backing paper is from an old K & Co Christmas pad, sentiment is a Studio G stamp again and the ribbon was from my stash.

I am making jewellery at the moment as I have a party next Wednesday evening. I shall photograph it all together when I have finished. Will break off tomorrow morning though for the DCM challenge.

Night night xx

The Queen and I......

..........share the same wedding anniversary (and hubbys of course), so today is that day! I have just received a beautiful bouquet of flowers in lovely shades of pink.

Aren't they lovely? Congratulations to everyone else who shares a special day today!

A couple of weeks ago I made a swing card as a challenge on Just Bex but I wasn't happy with it (it is further down on the blog). Yesterday I decided to have another go as it is a friend's birthday on Friday and this time it is much better.

Front

Back

I printed one of the Pink Petticoat papers straight onto ivory hammered card. Flowers are Prima and Papermania. The large pearl brad is Papermania and the small Primas have a Liquid Pearls centre (not that they show up on here!)

I also made a couple more Christmas cards with bits that were still on my desk.

Quick and easy! Blue fibres wrapped around a piece of white pearlescent card edged with blue finished off with glittery die cut snowflakes attached with eylets using my Cropodile.Quickutz snowman sat on a background of snowflakes stamped with a Debbi Moore background stamp. Paper is the DCWV Christmas pad from last year, eyelet set with Cropodile and ribbon from stash.
I just love this Santa stamp but DD says it is spooky! She's not a small child either, she's 14. Anyway, he is stamped with a black Versafine ink pad onto white pearl card and mounted onto black pearl. Spotty paper is again from Pink Petticoat tied with a white organza ribbon. Greeting is one of the little Studio G sets finished off with an ab crystal to dot the i.

And finally for now

This card also fits last Friday's DCM dare as the angels are mounted onto gold card. These two stamps have got to be amongst my very favourites. They are just soooooooooo cute.

I now need to tidy up then carry on with some jewellery. I may be back later with the midweek 'Little Extra' from the DCM team.

And another

I think I am actually getting to grips with this Christmas card lark (sorry Kathy ;)) and also can't believe that I have done the new DCM Dare already. The brief this week is set by Keryn and here is her challenge

Going back over my cards I seem to have a liking for gold as an accent colour. So this week I'd like you to make a card for any season or occasion but must include gold somewhere. It could be a brad, metallic card, heat embossing, ribbon, anything at all as long as it's gold.
I think this one fits the bill :)

I adore this stamp, it really looks fab in any colour scheme. Here I have stamped him onto white textured card, coloured him in turquoise and gold and mounted him onto a piece of gold holographic card. I then did the same again onto shrink plastic and fastened him onto the greeting with a gold star brad. The backing paper called My North Star by Blue Cardigans Designs. Not sure where I got it, it may be an old SA Kit but I think it is lovely.

Now for the exciting bit. I have 57 cards to put inserts in and pack up....................I may be a while.

Thanks for visiting.

We wish you a merry...........

...........No I won't, not just yet!! lol

I finally found the swing card I made for Sadie's challenge on Just Bex a while ago. I made the card and somehow it was picked up and put in the Christmas drawer. Anyhow I found it yesterday and here it is (with all my mess behind it) Oh to be a tidy crafter! LOL

I bought some ready cut cards like this a couple of years ago but I don't know what happened to them and more to the point...........I didn't have a clue what to do with them.

I managed last Friday's dare and the Little Extra yesterday as well as a few other Christmas cards. I have a small break from doing wedding stationery and have a jewellery party booked for the end of the month so I thought I had better get my skates on. The dares first..........It was Jo's turn last Friday I seem to have developed a little bit of a fixation with old cardboard boxes....! My dare this week is to use some corrugated card on your card - it could be corrugated craft card or an old box etc. taken to pieces :) You could make the card blank from it or die cut shapes etc...
Papers are last years DCWV Christmas pad, corrugated tree, diamantes and ribbon were from my stash. Santa's Little Helper is still trying to motivate us into getting those Christmas cards made and this week our subject is Piles of Parcels. We'd like you to put some gorgeous, tempting, beautifully wrapped Christmas parcels on your cards this time.I love this set of stamps. I bought them from here a couple of months ago and this is the first time they have been used. Papers again are DCWV. I also used a bits from my scrap box. Puss was paper pieced. I stamped her onto cream laid card then onto red (for the hat), patterned paper for the pressie and then plain pink card for the bow on the pressie. She has been embellished with diamantes and pink glitter.

Those cards got me in the mood so I made a few more.Tree is stamped in black using one of the little Studio G stamps and coloured with the lovely pearly paints from the Works. Paper is DCWV as before and ribbon is from stash.Isn't he just adorable? He came from Cornish Heritage Stamps The service is excellent and the stamps are gogeous. He was coloured with Sakura metallic pens. Papers as before (I will get them used!) and greeting is from Studio G.Card, ribbon and charm from stash.

Papers are from the new Dovecraft Christmas Blues 6 x 6 pack. White card embossed using the Cuttlebug snowflake folder and the rest is from stash.

Papers this time are DCWV again, reindeer stamp is from Scrummy Stash Cafe and the tag was a freebie from the front of a mag.

Paper this time is Christmas Wishes from the English Paper Company. Other card, ribbon and brad from stash.

This morning I managed five cards from one of Nicky's old challenges on the Just Bex forum. Here is what she said It's time for another Friday night (well, afternoon) challenge with a Christmas theme! We like to keep you busy........... This time, we'd like you to make 5 Christmas cards using patterned paper - but NOT Christmas-themed paper............. and here are my cards

I need a big tidy up now so I can make some more mess............sorry I mean create Christmas cards. :)

Back soon. xx