Z at last & I need some ZZZZs!

Hello,

Well I got there in the end!  It was fun but a lot of work too but in the main I enjoyed it.  Would I do it again?  Yes definitely but I'd make sure I was more organised in future!

So my card for Z - Z is for Z fold card.  I had a look at a tutorial for this over on You Tube last night and scribbled down measurements.  I had to get my card made before I got a turn on the PC tonight so I wasn't able to take another peek so I'm not sure if I got it right or not, it's kind of Z shaped anyway lol!  It was a complete mare to photograph because of the holographic trim to the topper and I tried both manual and auto settings to no avail so I'm afraid this is the best I could do with it!

I used a double sided fancy paper by Best Creation, glittered on one side and polka dot on the other, trimmed and folded into a Z Fold shape.  I punched the top edge with my Fiskars Threading Water punch.  As the card is pretty small I only really had room for one topper by My Paper Stash on the front.  I added some satin ribbon and a handmade flower made from ric rac braid with a pearl in the centre and a magazine freebie sentiment.  There was just enough room for a few clear square gems.

Off to bed soon for some ZZZs of a different kind!

Shona xx

Y is for Yuletide Blessings

Good evening!

It's the second last day of the A-Z Christmas Challenge over on Docrafts!  I don't know whether to be happy or sad lol.  I've enjoyed it and it's the kick up the rear end I needed to get on with my Christmas cards but at the same time it's been very time consuming.

So Y, I automatically thought of Yule but I had no idea what to make for that, but when I used the Nitwits papers for my Q for Quilt card I spotted the ideal topper!

Everything I've used is from the Nitwits Tapestry of Christmas Collection, which was free with a recent magazine, apart from the gold textured card which has been in my stash forever, the gems and the ribbon.

I'm also using this card for the sketch challenge I'm hosting which is also over on DoCrafts.

BOGOF tonight lol!

In other words two A-Z Challenges for the price of one!

Not many days left of the challenge, here are W and X.

For W I've gone for Waiting and Watching by the Window.  I've used a Tulip topper and sentiment, red freebie paper and lilac spot paper layered with co-ordinating plain card.  I've used red satin ribbon and purple pearls to finish it off.

My second card tonight is X for X-stitch or Xmas Tree. 

The topper, sentiment and foiled floral card are all by Kanban.  The toppers are from the Nordic Scenes collection.  All I've added to this simple Scandi style card is some red and white ribbon and red pearls.  I'm also entering this one into the Noah's Ark Challenge also over at DoCrafts.

V is for Vintage & Victoriana

Good afternoon,

Hope everyone is having a nice relaxing Sunday.  I finally tore myself away from my knitting at midnight last night to make my card for V!  I decided around 10.15 last night to start knitting a scarf with Can Can wool, my aunt had bought the wool a few weeks ago but couldn't understand the instructions so I had a quick look at You Tube then got going with it!  I had intended showing her what to do but I enjoyed it so much I just carried on and had a complete scarf by bed time!  In fact I liked it so much I went and bought 4 more balls in various colours today!  I will post a photo once I finish the ends properly!

So my card - V is for Vintage and Victoriana.  I was originally planning to do a Village scene for V but forces conspired against me lol.  First of all I came across some gorgeous Vintage toppers in my fave craft shop then the new Dolly Mixtures challenge was posted and the theme was Vintage/Victoriana.  So the Village idea has been put on the back burner for now!

The topper and cream patterned paper is from a pack by My Paper Stash, the Merry Christmas paper is a magazine freebie.  The ribbon and lace are both from the HOTP Vintage Christmas collection and the doilly was part of a challenge prize.  I've finished the card off with opalescent gems and pearls for more of a vintage look.

Right, I'd better go now and cook dinner then have a think about what I'll make for W!

U is for Under The Mistletoe

Hello again,

We are back from the Christmas Fair where we had a lovely afternoon.  Iona won 2 raffles and a few bottles from the bottle stall.  I didn't win anything, she had all the luck!

I'm caught up again with the A-Z challenge, I made a quick card for U before dinner and I'll do my V card after Iona's in bed!

The papers and all the toppers as well as the Foiled dome sticker are all from the Forever Friends A Christmas Tale collection from DoCrafts.  The only other additions are some ribbon and gems.

I'm also using this card for the Bear Challenge I'm hosting over on DoCrafts where the requirement is for Festive Flowers or Foliage so the Mistletoe and Holly fits in with that!

I probably won't be back with my V card until tomorrow morning as OH has a DJing gig tonight and is taking the camera out with him!

Shona xx

T is for Tatty Teddy

Hello and Good Morning!

Sorry no post yesterday I wasn't well and didn't feel much like crafting (very unusual lol).  I'm now a little behind with the A-Z so I'll hopefully be back again later with U!

Before that I am going to the sheltered housing complex around the corner from us to run a bottle stall at their Christmas Fair.  We always have such fun when we go there and Iona loves it too!

Ok, so onto my card for the letter 'T'.  This time I have gone for Tatty Teddy.  I have used the same layout of an earlier TT Christmas card which I was really happy with, which is on my DoCrafts Gallery (before my blogging days!).  This is the first time I've used TT with anything other than pastel colours and I think the rich reds look even better!

I've used a Tatty Teddy glittered topper and sentiment (thanks again Fiona!) and matted and layered them on to deep red card.  The papers are ones I picked up in Carole's Crafts, I have no idea which brand they are.  You can't see very clearly from the photo but the underneath one has snowflakes on it.  I've added some stars die-cut with my X-cut nesting dies using off-white glitter spot card and the same red card I used for the matting and layering.  The only other embellishments are some ribbon and pearls.

Hope you all have a fantastic Saturday, catch up with you later on xx

S is for Santa Claus

Hello again,

My posts seem to be creeping later again, oopsy!  It's been a long day that started with a trip to drop off Iona at Breakfast Club.  The lady that runs the club at the school is also a keen papercrafter and we often swap bits and pieces and talk about our latest projects.  Last week I took in my Kissing Eskimo card to show her as she's not tried an easel card before and today to my amazement the class was full of Kissing Eskimo cards!  She'd found the digi image and printed out copies for all the kids to colour in with her promarkers.  They all look fantastic and they are going to sell them at the school fete next weekend!

So on to my 'S' card - as I didn't have much time to spend on it the Nitwits papers have come to my rescue again!  These ones are from the Merry & Bright collection and were kindly passed on to me by my friend Fiona.

 

 

I've used two of the papers and layered them up with bright pink card which I've also die-cut using an X-cut circle die.  I've also cut a scalloped circle in white to mount the die-cut topper from the collection.  The sentiment was trimmed down from one of the stickers and the poinsettia is another sticker.  A few capsule collection polka buttons and a large recycled ribbon bow finish off this quick make.

 

 

So glad tomorrow is Friday!  Night night xx

 



R is for Reindeer & Ric rac

Hello!

I'm glad to say that I am now reunited with my car yipee!  I've only had a car for around 5 years I do not know how I survived so long without one although I probably was much fitter back then from all the walking!

We are now on the letter 'R' of the A-Z Challenge, so not too many left to make now!  Unfortunately, I'm playing catch up just now so most of my recent cards have used toppers rather than stamping and colouring which I really enjoy.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to do some more of that over the weekend.  My 'R' card actually has a few 'R's - Reindeer, Ric Rac & Red.

The Reindeer paper and die cut topper are both by Kanban and were a purchase I made over 2 years ago and never used until now (I have no idea why as they are gorgeous) and I've layered them over red satin mirri board.  The velvet ric rac braid was a magazine freebie a while back and the sentiment and snowflakes stamps are by Paula Pascual.

I'm off now to get my thinking cap on for 'S' as there's quite a few things I could make I'm kinda spoiled for choice lol!

Shona xx

Q is for Quilt

Well a slightly earlier post tonight!  Only because I'm making myself go to bed before 11pm as I have to get up earlier than usual, reason being I don't have my car.  The garage had to order a new clutch cable and it won't be with them until tomorrow, fingers crossed I get it back sometime tomorrow.

Anyway on to my card.  It's another quickie tonight and I've been making use of those Nitwits freebie papers again!

 

 

This time I've used the Tapestry of Christmas papers.  All the papers, topper & sentiment are from the same collection.  I've used the 2nd smallest Spellbinders Swatches nesting die to make the quilt squares and added some faux stitching.  The only extra embellishments I've used are a purple ribbon bow and a couple of capsule collection buttons.

 

I'm on the clock now so night night xx

P is for Polar Bear, Penguin & Pal!

Hello!

Back to the late night posts I'm afraid.  It's been a bit of a Manic Monday with lots of running back and fore in Mum's taxi and Parent's Council this evening.

I've made a very quick card for the letter P as I had nothing ready.  Luckily I'd bought a new magazine at the weekend that had these lovely papers and cut out elements so they came in very handy!

They are by Nitwits which are always really funky, bright and cheery!  All I've added to the paper elements are some faux stitching, red pearls and some turquoise felt snowflakes from Iona's stash!

Now please everyone cross your fingers for my poor car, it is going into the garage tomorrow because there is something up with the gears and/or clutch pedal, hopefully the latter.  I hope it is not going to be mega expensive :o(

Shona xx

O is for Owl

Ok so I said I wouldn't be posting this until tomorrow but I believe someone once said never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.  It's nearly tomorrow now anyway so here it is my card for 'O'.

I've made this for one of my friends at work and her family because her daughter loves owls!

I've used a gatefold card blank and papers and a topper from the Festive Frolics paper pack.  This paper pack was in a DoCrafts goody bag some time back but I keep going back to what's left of it because it's just soooo cute!  I've inked the edges of the papers with Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink pad and the stamped sentiment is by LOTV.  It's been very simply finished off with hot pink gingham ribbon, gems, card and baker's twine from Dovecraft.

This really is the last post of the night honest!

Shona xx

N is for Noel

I'm just in time with this one!  I coloured the stamped image last night while watching Children In Need with Iona.  It is quite a small and detailed design so I needed the fine nib attachments, then I was too lazy to do much else, I also didn't have much inspiration for what to do with it once I coloured it so I slept on it!

In the end I went for a very CAS layout.  I've used a freebie stamp coloured with Promarkers, freebie paper, boofle ribbon bows, gems pearls and red card.  Not a lot to it really.

I've also made my card for 'O' but I'll save that for tomorrow.

Hope you're all having a fab weekend,
Shona xx

M is for Moments of Faith

Hello again!  Well I managed to get to bed just after midnight last night, that's a definite improvement on the last few evenings and I intend on doing the same tonight!

We are now on the letter M and day 13 of the A-Z Christmas Challenge over at DoCrafts - that's halfway woop woop!!  On the home straight now lol!

I've gone for a very quick and simple card for M using a new embossing folder and toppers from the Moments of Faith sheet that came in my goody bag.

The embossing folder is the Textured Impressions Holiday Frame from Stampin' Up, I've used a paper and gingham ribbon from the HOTP Vintage Christmas Collection and everything else is off the Moments of Faith topper sheet.

I really like this embossing folder now I've used it, I'm sure you'll see it again before all my Christmas cards are finished!

Off to bed very soon but it's Friday tomorrow yay!

Shona xx

L is for Letter Box

Well I'm a little earlier tonight!  I WILL go to bed before midnight tonight!

No crafting for me tonight but here's one I made earlier!

 

 

I've no idea where this image is from, it was part of a bundle of stash I won recently for a challenge over at Docrafts!  I love the vintage feel to it.  I've cropped it down to fit on a mat I cut using a Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles die.  I've also die cut a fancy corner with a Marianne Die, for both and some of the layering I've used copper coloured card.  The faded looking pinky red paper is by Kanban and the cream one is by Graphic 45 (again my fave brand!) I've finished off the card with a pre-cut sentiment, pearls and a ribbon bow from the HOTP Vintage Christmas collection.

 

I'm also entering this card into the Sketch Challenge (153) also over at Docrafts.

 

BTW apologies for not leaving comments on your blogs recently I've been a bit overwhelmed trying to keep up with the A-Z challenge, but hopefully starting to get back on top of it again now.

 

Shona xx



K is for Kissing...Eskimo Style!

Another card, another late night.  Straight to bed after posting on here and on Docrafts I think!  I've actually made 2 cards tonight as I'm planning a bit more Christmas shopping tomorrow evening so I need to get ahead. 

We are now on day eleven of the A-Z Christmas challenge and the letter 'K'. 

I've made another twisted easel card for this challenge and the main focus is a topper from a set by Wee Stamps which just jumped straight into my basket when I was buying the Memory Box dies!  The brown printed paper is by Kanban and the blue one is by Graphic 45.  I've used a ready diecut shape from Papermania and stamped on a sentiment using a Tim Holtz ink pad.  I've finished the card quite simply with a couple of snowflakes punched from kraft card, gingham ribbon bows and brown pearls.

Right tomrrow night I resolve to get on here before midnight, let's see if it happens!!!

Shona xx

J is for Jingle Bells

These posts are getting later and later, oh how I wish I'd got some more cards made at the weekend!

Anyway we are now on Day 10 of the A-Z Daily Christmas Challenge so by the end of this week we will be over half way - yay!  I started off really organised with several made in advance but now I'm only around a day ahead, if that.

I have to admit I struggled quite a bit to come up with something for the letter 'J'.  Then I remembered some silver bells one of the teaching assistants at Iona's school had given me (she is also a crafter and I had given her some magazines and stuff) and thought they would be ideal, I didn't have a suitable image so I did a search on Dearie Dolls Blog, it's always a great source for freebie digi's, and I wasn't disappointed.  The image I used is called Jingle Bell Boy and has been coloured with promarkers.

This time round I've used an 8x8 Kraft cardblank, I'm always a bit wary of using such large cards as I sometimes find the space hard to fill so I've gone for quite a large sentiment which is a FF clear sticker on more kraft cardstock.  All the papers are from the Papermania Boofle collection and are also matted on Kraft card.  The die I've used to mount the image on is from the Swatches nesting dies by Spellbinders.  I've finished the card with various capsule collection buttons, gems and checked bows, all from DoCrafts and red pearls from Hobbycraft.

I'd better get off to bed now, goodnight x

I is for Ice Skating

Hello again! 

More late night blogging I'm afraid but I won't have much time tomorrow evening and wanted to get my card posted over on Docrafts too.

It's been a busy day, we did manage to get over to see the Remembrance Parade set off from the British Legion, I'm pleased to say there was a really good turn out.  We also managed to put the primer on Iona's Doll's House, which I'm ashamed to say we built earlier in the year and painting it's been on our to do list ever since.  I've taken some 'before' shots so hopefully I'll post the 'after' shots up here too in due course!  As well as a spot of housework I managed to make a couple of banana loaves so all in all it's been a very productive day.

On to my card, I was struggling to think of a subject for the letter 'I' then I remembered about this cute stamp from LOTV with a little girl ice skating and carrying bags of Christmas shopping.

I've coloured in the image with promarkers and highlighted the fur on her coat and hat with star dust stickles.  I've succumbed at last to the lure of the Memory Box Frostyville die I've hankered after for ages and also bought the Snowflake corner die at the same time, I've used these to cut white pearl card.  As the dies are quite ornate I've just used one patterned paper from the Papermania Noel collection.  I've added a sentiment and some gems and that's it for 'I'.

I'm off to bed very soon as unfortunately I have work tomorrow.

Night night x

H is for Humphreys Corner

Good Morning,

It's a bit of a dull, dreary November day and also a day to reflect on all the service men and women who have given their lives serving our country in the two world wars and more recent conflicts.  I'm not sure yet if we are going out to watch the parade but if not they will still be in our thoughts.

Iona, my aunt and myself had a girly day yesterday and went out for lunch then spent the rest of the afternoon Christmas shopping.  We got on grand and the car was laden on the way home!  The flip side was I was too tired to do much cardmaking last night but I did do some colouring for my next card and also did some cross stitching - I'm working on a couple of tree decorations.  I also finished off my card for the letter H.

I've used a decoupage Humphreys Corner image and paper from a freebie kit that came with a recent magazine.  I've added gingham paper from the Papermania Cranberry & Apple Capsule Collection, which I also used to trim the top with a X-cut lacey border punch, a FF sentiment mounted on a tag.  I've finished the card off with some ribbon, card candi and some red star shaped gems.

Have a great Sunday xx

G is For Gingerbread Cookie

That's the name of the digi image I've chosen for my letter 'G' card for the A-Z Daily Challenge.  I'm glad it's Friday and definitely looking forward to having a relaxing weekend with maybe a little Christmas Shopping and a bit of crafting.  Iona and I spent some time together earlier colouring in a couple of digi images by Sugar Nellie, I think she loves crafting as much as I do and is in a craft after school club every Monday!

Onto the card, I've used a digi image by Sugar Nellie which is available from www.funkykits.co.uk which I've coloured with Promarkers, I've die-cut the image using X-cut nesting circle dies and inked it while still in the die with a Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink Pad.  The sentiment is put together using a round Paula Pascual stamp with a LOTV sentiment stamped inside, this has also been distressed with the same ink.  I've used Docrafts Boofle papers and a snowflake sticker by East of India from John Lewis trimmed to fit the red card mount for the background.  I've also used the X-cut border punch I bought last weekend to add extra detail to one of the papers.  I've finished off the card with some pearl hearts, gems and a ribbon bow.

I'm also entering this card into the A-Z Colour Challenge over at the Docrafts website.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Shona xx

F is for Forever Friends

Hi folks,

I'm a wee bit earlier tonight with my post.  We had Iona's parents evening at the school tonight and thankfully she got a glowing report so we are both very proud of her.  The bad news is the A-Z challenge has caught up with me and I don't have anything ready for G yet although I have downloaded a gorgeous Sugar Nellie digi to use (thank you to Kate for tipping me off about these) and technically I don't need it until Saturday so I'll need to get busy tomorrow evening!

So here's my card for Day Six of the A-Z Daily Challenge - F is for Forever Friends.

I've used a Forever Friends Die-cut Image and mounted it on a white scalloped circle and a red lacey circle cut using X-cut & Spellbinders dies respectively.  I've used papers from the same Forever Friends A Christmas Tale collection matted and layered with more red card.  I've finished the card with a red organza ribbon bow, gems and sentiment.  I've mounted the sentiment on more of the FF paper folded into a banner shape.

I'm also entering this card into the Bear Challenge also over at the DoCrafts website.

Shona xx

E is for Easel Card

Good Evening!

I'm here much later than planned after having to remove some rogue programs that got installed on the PC when my husband tried to install some DJ mixing software grrr! 

Anyways, We are now on the letter 'E' for the A-Z Daily Christmas Challenge over at the DoCrafts/Creativity Website.

My card for Day 5 is a Twisted Easel Card in very non-traditional colours, you might just need your sunglasses for this one!

I've used a Tulip Urban Stamp from my Goody Bag coloured with Promarkers as the main focus of the card and used co-ordinating freebie papers and sentiment.  The stars are die cut using a X-cut nesting set from odd scraps of bright card. To finish it off I've used some bright pink dotty organza ribbon (thanks to Fiona again!) and lots of multi coloured gems to pick up the colours from the image and papers.

I'm also entering this card into the Stamping/Digi Challenge which is also over on the DoCrafts website.

D is for Die Cutting

The thread has been posted for day 4 of the A-Z Daily Christmas Challenge and we are now on the letter D.  As well as objects, colours, etc the day's letter can also be a technique so I've decided to go for Die Cutting.

 

 

I've made the die cut pointsettias the main focus of the card, they were die-cut on my bigshot using Spellbinders Shapeabilities dies.  I've left the rest of the card simple with a backing paper, die cut sentiment topper and peel-offs from the Hot Off The Press Vintage Christmas pack.  The only other addition was Xmas Red Stickles glitter glue.

 

Off to bed very soon I think!  Goodnight xx

 

 



C is for Candles

Haha this title reminds me of the sketch from The Two Ronnies - showing my age now lol!

We had a lovely evening at the local bonfire and fireworks display and I didn't find it too cold although we did wrap up warm.  Iona thoroughly enjoyed herself and there were lots of oohs and ahs!  She also went out like a light which is always a bonus!

The thread is already up for day 3 of the A-Z Christmas Challenge over at DoCrafts/Creativity so I'm quite safe to post my card early!

I've gone for a style that is very unusual for me - nearly all of the card is stamped and heat embossed.  Cutting out the card around the stamped image is a brilliant idea I got from a DoCrafts demo by Nikki Smith last year.

 

 

The main stamp is by Papermania and I was lucky enough to grab it in the sale in my favourite craft shop a few months ago, although I had to buy a larger acrylic block to accommodate it so it wasn't so much of a bargain!  The sentiment stamp is by Paula Pascual for Personal Impressions.  I've used silver Papermania embossing powder and Versamark ink and heat embossed both.  The only other additions are the embossed silver card, some Stickles glitter glue and a few gems.

 

 

As well as the A-Z Christmas Daily Challenge I'm also entering this card into the A-Z Colour challenge over on DoCrafts/Creativity which is 'S' for Silver.

 

My stamping isn't the best but I really enjoyed making this card as it is not my usual style.

 

Bye for now,

Shona xx

B is for Boofle!

I'm a little early for day 2 but I see the day's thread has already been posted over at DoCrafts/Creativity so it's all good.

Today's letter is B and I've made a Boofle Card made almost entirely from the DoCrafts Goody Bag my friend Fiona gave me for my birthday.

I've used a Papermania gatefold cardblank and covered it inside and out with papers from the Boofle A4 paper pack.  I've used the X-cut Doorplate nesting dies to cut red and white cardstock as a mount for the decoupage image.  I've added a sentiment from the cardstock stickers, a Boofle bow and some Capsule Collection polka dot buttons to finish. 

I'm still around 3 days ahead with cards but that will change as I don't expect to get much done over the next couple of days.  We are planning an outing to the local Firework display tomorrow night so fingers crossed the weather will be ok.

Goodnight all xx

And we're off! Letter A

Good Morning!

I'm so excited that this is the first day of the A to Z Daily Challenge over on the DoCrafts/Creativity website!  I've had this card made for a while but I haven't been able to post it until today!  It's A for Armchair!

The digi image is from Dearie Dolls and you can find it here, I've coloured it with Promarkers then mounted it on some freebie papers and green card which I've edged using my new Fiskars Threading Water border punch.  The sentiment is also a magazine freebie.  I've finished off the card with various Papermania capsule collection polka dot buttons and a Boofle bow.

I'm also using this card for the Noah's Ark Challenge I'm hosting also over at DoCrafts/Creativity.

Oh well one down, just another 25 to go!!!

Hope you all have a great Sunday xx

Better late than never

Hi Folks,

It's been another busy week in the Hamill household, as well as all the usual running around we had Trick or Treaters on Wednesday and a Halloween School Disco on Thursday.  I haven't done much crafting this week apart from my first card for the A-Z Daily Christmas challenge which starts over at DoCrafts/Creativity tomorrow.  Here are some of the Halloween boxes I made last weekend.

The papers and toppers are a mixture of freebie downloads from www.crafting.co.uk and Graphic 45 12x12's from the Happy Haunting collection.  I've just added some ribbon, gems and cardstock alphabet stickers from Papermania to decorate.

I'm a bit nervous of taking on the Christmas Challenge it's a lot of cards to commit to but I'm going to give it my best shot so watch this space!!!