Christmas In Full Bloom

It's Monday again and time for another MojoMonday show and tell. For this week's challenge I debated over the theme for all of 5 seconds before succumbing to making yet another Christmas card. I just needed an excuse to use this big bold poinsettia stamp:

The star of this show is from a stamp called Poinsettia Stamp n Stitch by Chocolate Baroque. Sadly this stamp has been discontinued. I think it's just lush and gorgeous! 

No patterned papers today. I stamped little stars from WMS A Cottage Christmas with Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink onto vanilla CS. Other embellies: lace, ribbon, button and twine.

Here's a close-up of the poinsettia. I stamped it directly on coloured CS with Memento Tuxedo Black. Then I applied TH's distress inks.  The little black dots are the stitch points. All you have to do is poke 'em and stitch 'em.  I finished it with some yellow bling in the centre. The greeting is from WMS A Cottage Christmas, heat embossed in gold.

On the inside I stamped another little sentiment from WMS A Cottage Christmas, this time in Memento Rich Cocoa.

Join me in these fun challenges...

Mojo Monday #315 - sketch

Bunny Zoes Crafts October Challenge "Ribbon"

Craft-Dee Bowz October Challenge "AG with Handmade Bow"

Created With Love #62 "Sewing Real Or Faux"

Make It Monday #162 "AG"

Addicted To Stamps #67 "Christmas Is Coming"

Use Your Stuff #105 "Bling It Up"

There She Goes #229 "Christmas"

Sparkle n Glitter October Challenge "Glitter, Embossing Powder or Flocking" - gold embossing powder
CHNC Extra "October"
CHNC #146 "Make It Square"

Thanks for stopping by today and have a a lovely day!

Beijinhos

Polka Doodles #41: Halloween

Here we are, my friends! It's Friday at last and I will end my weeklong flirtation with Halloween with a proper Halloween project with traditional Halloween colours to house some good ol' fashioned Halloween goodies.

Here's my DT offering for this week's Polka Doodles challenge, aptly named "Halloween". Everything for this project came from the Witchie Witchie 2013 Download Bundle which is jam-packed with so many ghoulishly gorgeous digis, papers, embellies and elements. Check it out at the Polka Doodles Online Store. It's a download bundle, so no postage and no waiting.


Here's my Halloween treat box:

Add captionThis is the top of the box and it measures 3"x3". The tree is a pre-coloured element from the Witchie Witchie and  I cut out a circle to make a window just under the branch to reveal a spooky message on the inside.

The box is 1-1/2" deep ... plenty of room for ghoulish treats. To spook up my box I added the grave and pumpkins... all of these are pre-coloured elements from the download bundle.

To decorate the sides I used papers and pumkins also from the bundle.

And on the inside bats fly freely. Just the think to find as you empty your Halloween treats.

Join me in these spooktacular challenges:

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #228 "Autumn / Halloween / Thanksgiving"

Craftin' Boutique Challenge #11 "Halloween"

Moving Along With The Times "Spooktastic Times"

Make It Monday #161 "Anything Goes"

2 Creative Chicks #7 "Halloween"

Animal Friends Challenge "Fall / Halloween"

Well there you have it! You've seen mine, now show me yours and make it as Halloweenie as you dare. Don't forget to stop by the rest of the DT for fabulous ideas!  Thanks for stopping by and I'll see ya soon!

Beijinhos!      

Spooky Birthday Wishes

Happy Wednesday, everyone. I hope you're having (or had) a sun-shiny day. Today I'm continuing my (rebellious) study of All Hallow's Eve by using the traditional colours on something other than a Halloween card. This "spooky" birthday card is for a blog-buddy who is kind and sweet and does not ride a broom or wear a pointy hat.... I hope! LOL.

Although still clueless about CAS cards, I'm quite chuffed with this one. Can't wait to hear what my friend Sandie of London Days has  to say.

No patterned papers, stitching or unnecessary doo-dahs. I'm keeping it simple on this 5" orange / tangerine square card. The greeting is from WMS Fancy Phrases. I inked the edges with Memento Cantaloupe  To cut out the window and black frame I used Spellbinders Labels 16.

I mounted the white panel on some foam tape. For embellies: yellow button and twine.

A close-up of the focal image. The basket is from WMS Spring Baskets and the flowers (poinsettia, actually.... gasp!) is from WMS Basket Additions. I coloured the basket in grey and the flowers in yellow and adhered 3 yellow bling in the middle.  With a little thin foam tape, there's some dimension to the flowers.

On the inside I stamped a few circles in Memento Morocco and stamped yellow dots, a little off set.
 

Here are few fun challenges for this card:
Tuesday Morning Sketches #219 - sketch
Colour Throwdown #263 - colours
Make It Monday #161 "Anything Goes"
Addicted To Stamps #66 "Anything Goes"
Simon Says Stamp "Use A Rubber / Clear Stamp - WMS clear stamps
Bearlymine Challenges #107 "Ribbon / String / Twine" - twine
Crafty Sentiments Anything Goes"

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely evening. I'll be off to the Post Office tomorrow to send this card on its way.

Beijinhos!

Be Witched

"I'm not into the trappings of Halloween"... I proudly pronounce every year, usually while unwrapping a decadently delicious chocolate. There are also days in October when I find myself incapable of any speech ... but I blame my Mum for that. She taught me never to speak with my mouth full .... and right now is one such moment.

I'll leave you with my weekly MojoMonday offering while I give myself a good telling off for emptying a modest bag of M&Ms. (They most definitely melt in my mouth! LOL)

I'm going non-trad for this Halloween card by throwing in some turquoise and lilac. It doesn't have to be all ghoulish and grey. The papers are from Fancy Pants' 31 October 6x6 pad from a couple of Halloweens ago. For the background doily I cut some vellum using Nellie Snellen's Dotted Circle die. I stamped the bats, from WMS Gracie at Halloween,  directly onto the patterned paper. The greeting is from WMS Hocus Pocus. 

Meet Gracie. She's good witch from WMS Gracie at Halloween. I coloured her with Graph'It and Promarkers, carefully avoiding orange and green! 

On the inside a stamped a greeting from WMS Gracie at Halloween. 

You'll find Gracie at these challenges:
Mojo Monday #314 - sketch
Waltzing Mouse Fanatics #3 "Halloween"
Make It Monday #161 "Anything Goes"
Curtain Call Inspiration "Spooky Scene"
Really Reasonable Ribbons #81 "Fall / Halloween + Ribbon"
Sweet Pea Stampers "Purple Power"
Graph'It Colour Challenge #15 "Halloween's A Scream"
Hobby Cutz #19 "Halloween"

That's all from me today. Thank you for stopping by and I'll see y'all in blogland!

Beijinhos!

Christmas Card Club #19: Upcycle

Hello, there! This going to be a quick post from me. Not feeling too good today. I spent most of yesterday sneezing and coughing..... feeling worse today, so I'll just crawl back into bed but not before showing my card for this fortnight's Christmas Card Club challenge. It's Maureen's  turn play hostess and she wants us to Upcycle. What a fabby way to use my carefully salvaged bits and bobs!

Here's my card:

The trees are from WMS's Nutcracker Sweet set. I stamped the large tree with Memento London Fog and the smaller one with Tuxedo Black. I coloured them with Promarkers. The grey ribbon is from  present a couple of Christmases ago.  The "raspberry" panel is from a box of cherry liqueur chocolates and the blue button is from hubby's polo shirt.... oh well, it's for a good cause! I did some embossing with the Swiss Dots EF and stamped random snowflakes from the Nutcracker Sweet set, with Memento London Fog.  

I used the a piece from my Spellbinders plastic case to make a window.... not easy to photograph because of the glare! This is the best close-up shot out of a dozen attempts. 

Inside .... we have more falling snow.

Join me in a little festive frolic:

Delightful Sketches "Holiday Spirit"
Inkspirational Challenges #40 "Colours"
Winter Wonderland "Buttons and Bows"
ABC Christmas "T For Transparent" - plastic sheet for window
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - October "Preparing for Christmas"
Holly Jolly Christmas "No Patterned Paper"
CHNCC Extra - October
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #36 "Circles"
Make It Monday #161 "Anything Goes"
Let's Get Inky - Stamp A Happy Christmas
Crafting Musketeers #6 "Christmas in October"

Thank you for stopping by. I'm going back to bed and try to sleep off this pounding headache. Have a blessed Sunday and I'll see you tomorrow.

Beijinhos!

Eclectic Ellapu #50: Celebrate Autumn

Time for another new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu, my friends. This week our hostess is the lovely Yvonne and she has invited us to "Celebrate Autumn". Now that is the perfect excuse to go to town with the seasonal colours and imagery.

I made a thanksgiving card to celebrate all the good things in life. Sure, things don't usually turn out the way we want them to, but I believe everything happens for a reason. And we truly have much to be thankful for... a lot more than  we care to admit!

I made a 5" square card with a punched border. The papers are by Basic Grey's "Pyrus" 6x6 pad - now discontinued. I distressed the edges and applied TM's Vintage Photo. The greeting by WMS,  heat embossed in black.  

I used plenty of foam tape for dimension. For embellies - some sheer orange ribbon and green bling.

The focal image is by WMS coloured with Graph'It markers. For cutting and layering I used Spellbinders Circles and Scalloped Circle dies.

On the inside I stamped a few falling leaves... it is autumn, after all!

Time for a few autumnal challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #162 "Fall / Autumn"
Addicted To Stamps #65 "Photo Inspiration"
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #64 "Anything Goes with Ribbon"
Cute Card Thursday #289 "Signs of Distress"
Sister Act Card #27 "Anything Goes"
All Sorts Challenge #227 "Autumn Colours"
Make It Monday #161 "Anything Goes"

And now it's your turn to create something to celebrate Autumn and link it up over at the Eclectic Ellapu Challenge Blog. For ideas and inspiration take a look at what the rest of the design team. You will not be disappointed!

Thanks for stopping by and I'm looking forward to seeing your work.

Beijinhos!

A Gift for You

Hello my friends. I'm popping in to show you a late evening make. This one is for a special competition over at Flourish's Timeless Tuesday.... and the theme is Paper Piecing. My Favourite!

To be honest, I was inspired to play along after visiting the über talented Jessi Fogan's blog called One Crafty Mama.  She made this lovely Lantern Card for the competition and I was especially impressed by all the work she put into the lanterns to achieve a 3D effect and the use of glitter paint to create that warm glow of light behind the lanterns. How clever is that! Make sure you check out Jessi's blog for the how-to details.

My card is nowhere near as creative as Jessi's, but I had fun making it. I'm using a stamp from Chocolate Baroque's A Gift Of Christmas set. The papers are nameless bits of scrap papers, which I have so jealously guarded  protected  hoarded until now.

This is an odd sized card measuring 7" x 4-1/2". The greeting is also from CB's A Gift Of Christmas, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.

Since the presents are very colourful and busy, I decided to go easy on embellishments and that means loads little blue bling. 

The ribbon and bows are also paper-pieced with red and yellow CS, They appear raised - just as real ribbons.  

To piece the star I used yellow CS and then smeared a generous blob of Diamond Stickels over it. That's me going "easy" on the embellies. 

On the inside, I sneaked in a sentiment from Waltzing Mouse Stamp's Compliments of the Season, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black. 

This is a special competition and entries must be created solely for Timeless Tuesday Challenge #240. As always Flourishes is offering generous prizes. If you play along, there's a risk you might win something!

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by, my friends. The husband is making some Irish Coffee... and pretty soon I won't be in any shape to string two words together ... let alone type them! Have a beautiful day!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #167: Colours of Fall

Welcome to a brand new challenge with the Tuesday Throwdown gang. This week we are celebrating autumn and the theme of our challenge is "Colours of Fall".  Our sponsor this week is none other than the fabulous Robyn's Fetish and they have so generously provided the DT with adorable digis for our first challenge in October. I say adorable, but would you believe this little guy is actually called "Scary Pumpkin"?!

I'm using papers from Fancy Pants' "October 31" 6x6 pad. For embellishments I have 4 purple eyelets, some black and white baker's twine and black bling. 

Here's a close-up of "Scary Pumpkin". I coloured him with Graph It and Promarkers.  For the buckle on his hat I used Metallic Fine Point Sharpie in Silver.  He was such a joy to colour - one of those images that you can go on fiddling and tweaking and shading and blending... it was to stop.... scarily mesmerising!

I heat embossed this greeting from WMS "Hocus Pocus" using black EP.

Halloween wouldn't be complete without a few flapping bats from WMS Gracie at Halloween!

How about some fall fun:
Graph It Markers #14 "Colours Of Autumn"
Delicious Doodles #55 "Eyelets or Brads"
Craft It & Link It Up #16 "Anything Goes with a Sentiment"
Created With Love #60 "Halloween"
Get Inky #14 "Fall Colours"
Make It Monday #160 "Anything Goes"
Through the Purple Haze "Simply Halloween"
Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge #2 Colour Combo
Craftin' Boutique Challenges #9 "Anything Halloween"

Now it's your turn to show us your fall colours. You can make any project and link it up to the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog. Check out what the rest of my DT sisters made to inspire you... I think you will be amazed. Happy crafting, my friends!

Beijinhos!