CASE-ing Christmas #3: Judy

Welcome to CASE-ing Christmas! This is a NEW weekly challenge devoted to the holiday season all year 'round and today we're starting Challenge #3.

Judy's Card

Here's how you play along. Each week you'll be given you a card to CASE and ... you CASE it! It's as easy as that. If you've never CASEd a card before, here's how you do it:

• Look at the photo of the card to CASE; 
• Be inspired by some elements of the card - the colours, layout, image, embellishments, etc 
• Make a card based on that inspiration and link it up at CASE-ing Christmas Challenge Blog by Noon (CST) on Thursday, 22 January 2015. 

And that's all there is to it. Our CASE card this week is this super cute creation by Judy VanZandt. Lots of ideas here and I can't wait to see how this project inspires you.

I've picked the tree, banners, ovals, star, framed background, three brads and traditional Christmas colours from Judy's card and made this:

Here's a close up of the tree. I heat embossed it in gold, applied distress inks and for more shine, threw in Stickles and gems. The patterned paper is from Papermania's Mistletoe Kisses.

Products used to make this card:

Challenges:
Completely Christmas #45: AG + Christmas Foliage
Sister Act Challenge #89: AG
CHNC #211: Inspired by A Song - O Christmas Tree
ABC Christmas: A is for Anything Christmas
CRAFT Challenge #294: Christmas

Now it's your turn to make a Christmas card by CASE-ing Judy's creation. Winners of Challenge #2 will be announced on, Wednesday 21 January 2015.

You'll find more ideas over at the DT's blogs: Mynn ... Donna ... Ellen ... Pat ... Steph.

Before you run off to your craft room, here's some FABULOUS news: we have BLOG CANDY to give away! You win the candy by following the CASE-in Christmas Challenge Blog either on Blog Lovin' or Email (see the sidebar) and commenting on challenge posts when you have done one of these things. If you comment AND link up with our challenge, you'll get TWO chances that week!

There will be FIVE winners of small gift packs of stamps--all holiday themed! The prizes will be SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY! The blog candy opportunity will last the entire month of January, so invite your friends! Winners will be chosen from each week of challenge post comments. To maximise your chance of winning and make sure you play along every week!

Thanks for dropping by and Happy CASE-ing. I'll be stopping by your blogs to take peek at how you've worked Judy's card .

Beijinhos!

Polka Doodles #3: CASE It

Goood morning, my crafty chums! It's time for a brand new challenge over at Polka Doodles. We have a fun theme this fortnight: "CASE It" We are required to CASE a DT's card / project from 2014. I'm channelling my inner Anjie, who is a doyen of Polka Doodle designs. Anjie made this super cute card in 26 Sept 2014 for PolkaDoodles' Wk 39 Challenge "It's a Sketch".

I've stolen Anjie's project - lock stock and barrel - and created a card featuring the super sweet Etty. It is made entirely from one of several awesome design sheets from the über adorable Winston CD. I say awesome because it has everything I needed to complete the project. And, I also tried my hand at decoupage - a technique I've never attempted before. I finished my project with some blue ribbon and few droppings of Baby Blue Liquid Pearls.

Look at the dimension! So excited and very pleased with my first decoupage. There was A LOT of fussy cutting but... definitely worth the extra effort.

A full frontal view of Etty that is safe for your Nana's viewing pleasure. Oh yes, Etty... she's is a cutie!

Products used for this project:

Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #229: Flowers
Seize The Birthday: AG Birthday + Optional Sketch 
Scrap & Craft #1: AG
Word Art Wednesday #166: AG Inspirational
Inspiration Destination #16: AG
Brown Sugar #129: Birthday For A Girl

Miss Nikky has done it again! She's released another fabulous design collection and it's called Work & Play #9: Love & Kisses. This is a bumper, super-sized XXXL perfect for all things romantic - everyday love, dating, proposal, engagement, hen & stage nights, wedding and something saucy for the wedding night! In this collection you get 16 character digis (each coloured and B&W), 50 coordinating backing papers, themed sentiments and coloured embellishments, including paper bows! There's also something new called Personalities to help you personalise your characters with specs, moustaches and beards. And if that wasn't enough, you also get design sheets, SVG cutting files and 6 card-making templates! All these at an insanely low £14,99. So get yours now before Miss Nikky comes to her senses!

Now it's over to you, my friends. Create any project - card, tag, lay-out, box, bag, etc. You have until Noon (UK Time) on Friday, 30 January 2015, to link up your entries over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog. You don't have to use Polka Doodles products to enter, but if you have it, by all means, flaunt it! One randomly selected winner will receive the  Work and Play #8 Collection on download worth £11,99! The Top 3 Design Team favourites will also win a digi each.

Time for y'all to get creative. Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see your projects. Have a fabulously crafty weekend, friends!

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Colourful Hearts

Good morning, my lovelies! We're all loved up over at Chocolate Baroque. The January release consists of two love themed stamp sheets. But they are so versatile, you'll get lots of mileage from these. So, think outside the love box.

Today I have 3 card projects to show you, featuring the Punky Hearts and Fluttering Hearts stamps.

For my first card, I matched the Punky Hearts and Words Of Comfort & Cheer to create this watercolour piece. The clouds in the background are from Seashore Scenes. I've used Caran d'Ache Watercolour pencils on Strathmore 140lb cold press paper.

This was easy to do. I just picked one colour and laid it down along the edge where I want it to be the darkest. Then I used water to push the colours out.

Products used for this project:

Challenges:
Happy Little Stampers January CAS: Watercolouring
Word Art Wednesday #166: AG Inspirational

Next up is this delicate CAS (ish) number showcasing a stamp from Fluttering Hearts set, which is coloured with Promarker and Graph'It and alcohol markers. For the background I mixed Bundled Sage TH Distress Ink to a blob of Ranger Texture Paste and spread it over TCW Four Mini Ferns stencil directly on to the card base. When dry I smeared some Crystal Stickles for a little extra shine. I cut and layered the focal image with Spellbinders Oval and Lacey Oval dies. To finish, I rounded the corners and inked the edges.

To finish the image I used Stardust Stickles and tiny gems. I also inked the edges with TH Distress Inks.

Products used for this project:

Challenges:
Addicted To Stamps and More  #127: Make Your Mark
Crafty Gals Corner #2: Sweethearts


For my third card, the spotlight is on the large heart stamp from the Punky Hearts set.  I wanted some bold, bright and but not butch. I started by stamping the background the little hearts stamp from the same set. Then I embossed a piece of white CS with the Argyle folder, inked the edges with TH Salty Ocean Distress Ink and adhered it to the card base with 4 black brads. For more texture, I added some droppings of Silver Liquid Pearls to the background before adhering the focal image to the embossed panel.

I heat embossed the heart in white EP and fussy cut it. For a final whimsical touch I added some black and white twine.

Products used for this project:

Challenges:
Fab N Funky #242: Something New
Baffies Kreativladen #40: AG

There you have it - 3 cards in different styles. I hope you've been inspired to get inky and play with your stamps. Don't forget to swing by the Chocolate Baroque DT Blog regularly for more crafty ideas from the rest of the girls. They're having so much fun with these new stamps... trust me, you don't want to miss it!

Thanks for stopping by and and have a fabulous day...oooh, you can almost smell the weekend!

Beijinhos!

Birthday Wishes

Oh my word! Is it Tuesday already?! I made this card over the weekend and was waiting for the right moment ... when the planets are perfectly aligned ... to blog it. I've also been meaning to play in the Time Out challenge that my friend Sandie co-owns with another immensely talented crafter, Nonni.

This fortnight's challenge is based on a photo inspiration. Lots of ideas - wood panel, red greeting, pillows, cream, burnt orange etc.

In my head I was making a CAS card, but clearly my hands and my brains do not speak the same language. The end result is this:

I embossed the card base with Darice checker board embossing folder. The woodgrain panel is an embossing folder by Craft Concepts and I inked it withVersaMagic Jumbo Java. Three small pale green gems complete the centre piece, which is mounted on foam tape.

Products used for this project:

Challenges:
Time Out #22: Photo Inspiration
Loves Rubber Stamp #134: Stamp In Any Colour But Black
Crafting From The Heart #42: AG

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by and I'll be seeing you in blogland. Have a lovely day, friends!

Beijinhos!

Polka Doodles #2: Tic Tac Toe

Happy Friday, friends! Time for a Polka Doodle make, so let's get straight to it. This fortnight, we'd like you to play Tic Tac Toe. You know the drill: create a project based on the grid  - working horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

I made a Valentine's card for my young nieces using the image from the Sugar Birdies CD and sweet button paper from the Bonbon Belles Double CD. The look I am going for is fun, juvenile and girlie ... What d'you think? LOL

For embellishments I'm using:

• pink polka dot ribbon gross grain ribbon and dotted flower by American Crafts;  
• peach brad by Woodware;
• Heart and Scalloped Heart dies by X-Cut to cut the hearts;  
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder to emboss the scalloped heart; and 
• buttons and stitching. 

My design follows the:
- Right Column (Diecut - Stitching - Polka Dots) or 
- Middle column (Image - Ribbon - Buttons) or
- Bottom row ( Embossing - Buttons - Polka Dots) or
- Middle row (More Than 2 Layers - Ribbon - Stitching) or
- Bottom left to top right diagonal (Embossing - Ribbon - Diecut).

Decisions ... decisions!

Here's a close-up of that adorable little owl. Isn't he (or she) just the cutest little thing!

Challenges:

Bunny Zoe Crafts December Challenge: Buttons
Creative Knockouts #71: Girly Girl
Deconstructed Sketch #183: Sketch
Creative Craft Cottage #16: Digi / Embellish
Word Art Wednesday #165: AG Inspirational
Creative Card Crew #78: For A Child



The latest, most fabulous design collection in the Work & Play series has a Music theme. It is jam packed with 10 character digis (coloured and B&W), 50 coordinating backing papers, themed sentiments and coloured embellishments, including bows! There's also something new called Personalities to help you personalise your characters with specs, moustaches and beards. And if that wasn't enough, you also get design sheets and SVG cutting files! All these come at a mind-boggling, ridiculously low £11,99. I know .... it's a steal, day-light robbery, only this time you're on the right side if the deal!

Now it's over to you, my friends. Create any project - card, tag, lay-out, box, bag, etc.  You have until Noon (UK Time) on Friday, 16 January 2015, to link up your entries over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog.  You don't have to use Polka Doodles products to enter, but if you have it, by all means, flaunt it! One randomly selected winner will receive a special prize of a Work and Play Collection of her choice worth over £10! TAnd now with 8 themed series in the collection so you will be spoilt for choice.

Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see what y'all create. Have a fabulously crafty weekend, friends!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #226: Your Favourite Embellishment

Good morning, friends! Welcome to our first Tuesday Throwdown Challenge of 2015. And we are kicking off with an easy theme "Your Favourite Embellishment", sponsored by Diane of Daydream Designs. Hop on over to Diane's blog to see her beautiful work.

I'm using this cute digi called Snowbaby Love. She's dragging in a sled full of love... perfect for anyone needing a little TLC. I'm sending it to my cousin. She's experiencing the post holiday blues... aren't we all?! LOL

 

Can you guess my favourite embellishment? Yep - RIBBON. It jazzes up any card in no time. Besides, I have a HUGE box of tangled ribbons ... yet, inexplicably, I keep getting more! :) The bg paper is from First Edition's Love Notes pad.

I coloured the image with Graph'It markers and added some punched out hearts. The sentiment is seen through a window and the whole thing is popped up on foam tape.

Challenges:
Through The Purple Haze #72: AG
Paper Nest Challenge: #1: AG
Scrapbook Stamp Society #57: AG
Craft Creations: AG
Crafting From The Heart #41: AG
Craft DeeBowz: January AG + Handmade Bow

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Your Favourite Embellishment". For ideas and inspiration, take a peek at what the rest of the DT members have made. Remember to link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog by 3pm Pacific / 11pm UK Monday, January 12th.  And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Song Thrush and Arched Landscape

Welcome to a brand new year of  crafty goodness from Chocolate Baroque. You've seen the new January release stamps (Punky Hearts and Fluttering Hearts) and must agree that they are just LOVELY.

Today I want to share with you a couple of cards featuring the new Cling Mounted Individual Stamps which were released when the new Chocolate Baroque website was launched on December 18th. You can see Glenda's original post here.

My first card showcases the beautiful Song Thrush Silhouette stamp. For the background, I stamped the small leaf from Butterfly Dreams A5 sheet with Memento Cantaloupe onto a piece of yellow card stock. The sentiment is also from Butterfly Dreams and is stamped with VersaFine Majestic Blue. To finish, I wrapped some sheer green ribbon and tied a bow.

I stamped Song Thrush Silhouette on Strathmore Watercolour Cold Press Paper with VersaFine Black Onyx and coloured it with Windsor and Newton watercolour. Here's a close-up:

The sentiment inside is from the Birthday Words A5 sheet stamped with VersaFine Majestic Blue.

Challenges:

Scribble and Scrap #35: AG

OSAT #227: AG

Lil Patch Of Friends #1: AG

Sweet Stampin': New - new stamp

My second card shows off the Arched Landscape stamp. I also did some background stamping using the little stamp from the Fleurs Nouveau A5 sheet and Tattered Rose Distress Ink.  The sentiment is from the Patchwork Landscape A4 sheet, stamped with VersaFine Black Onyx. To finish, only some sheer cream ribbon would do.

This time I coloured the image with Graph'It alcohol markers.

On the inside, I created a border using a stamp from Fleurs Nouveau and Tattered Rose Distress Ink.

Challenges:

Glitter & Sparkle #118: AG

Gem Of A Challenge #135: Something New - new stamp

My Time To Craft #273: All Things New - new stamp, "new day"

Really Reasonable Ribbon #109: Look What I Got + Ribbon - new stamp

These are the Cling Mounted Individual Stamps I've used today:

There are a total of 10 new Cling Mounted Individual Stamps, each one a thing of beauty, a work of art. I hope you've been inspired to play with yours and / or to get some more!  

Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll be seeing you soon!

Beijinhos!

CASE-ing Christmas #1: Mynn

HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends and welcome to CASE-ing Christmas!  This is a BRAND NEW weekly challenge devoted to the holiday season all year 'round and we are starting early.

So, how does this challenge work?  It's easy!  Each week you'll be given you a card to CASE and ... you CASE it! It's as easy as that. If you've never CASEd a card before, here's how you play along:

1. Look at the photo of the card to CASE;
2. Be inspired by some elements of the card - the colours, layout, image, embellishments, etc
3. Make a card based on that inspiration and link it up at CASE-ing Christmas Challenge Blog by Noon (CST) on Thursday January 8th 2015.

And that's all there is to it. Our first CASE card is this super elegant creation by Mynnette Kitchen. Lots of ideas here and I can't wait to see how this project inspires you.

I was inspired by the sumptuous gold, pearls, the bird and Mynn's sketch. My background is a rich gold vellum paisley design from Papermania's Signature Collection. Here's a tip for ya: no matter how opaque the patten is on vellum, your regular tape adhesive will show through... as you can see in the bottom half of this card. Always learning something new! LOL. Do yourself a favour and use vellum friendly adhesive :)  I've used gold ribbon for the central panel in Mynn's sketch.

The partridge on the pear branch is form Chocolate Baroque's Turtle Doves set, heat embossed in black and coloured with Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft II Metallic Gold. The greeting is from Clearly Besotted's Be Merry set. There are also gold and white Liquid Pearls and stitching with gold thread to finish the card.

Now it's your turn to make a Christmas card by CASE-ing Mynn's creation. Winners of Challenge #1 will be announced on, Wednesday 14 January 2015.

You'll find more ideas over at the DT's blogs: Mynn ... Donna ... Ellen ... Pat ... Steph.

Challenges for this card:

CHNC Extra January: AG Christmas
Sparkles Christmas #48: Christmas Critter with a Splash of Glitter
Christmas Card All Year 'Round Jan: AG Christmas
Christmas Card Challenge #4: AG Christmas
CHNC #209: AG Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbons #109: Look What I Got With Ribbon - gold ribbon 

Before you run off to your craft room, here's some FABULOUS news: we have BLOG CANDY to give away! You win the candy by following the CASE-in Christmas Challenge Blog either on Blog Lovin' or Email (see the sidebar) and commenting on challenge posts when you have done one of these things.  If you comment AND link up with our challenge, you'll get TWO chances that week!

There will be FIVE winners of small gift packs of stamps--all holiday themed!  The prizes will be SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY! The blog candy opportunity will last the entire month of January, so invite your friends!  Winners will be chosen from each week of challenge post comments. To maximise your chance of winning and make sure you play along every week!

Thanks for dropping by and Happy CASE-ing. I'll be stopping by your blogs.

Beijinhos!