Let It Snow

I know the title of this post is let it snow - but please don't.  A few years back it did start snowing in Nov - and the ground remained white till the following March - what a nightmare so no thank you! We did have a covering of the stuff this weekend too, but luckily it hasn't hung about.

It is however acceptable to feature snow on cards, as that is what Debs is after as she picked the challenge theme of

Let it Snow

over at Ooh La La.

The image I've used this time is not off an Ooh La La CD but is infact printed from the digital download section of the Ooh La La site - there are other sheets too, so if you haven't checked them out, it's worth a visit.  Last time I used this image I just used the topper, but this time I asked at HQ if there were papers to match... so Wendy made me some! (Thanks Wendy, what a star!)

So here is my latest offering...

I printed the image twice, layered up the candle inset, then added sparkle to it by clear embossing the oval. Tags are LOTV and the twine and pearls are from a favourite of mine, The Ribbon Girl, and were infact part of a prize a month or so back, so thanks Mary & Andrea for my goodies.

Challenges;
Alphabet Challenge - t  - Tis the Season
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Shades of Blue
Papertake - Let it Snow
Creative Craft Cottage - 52 - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - 1,2,3 - 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embs - pearls
CD Sunday - Sprinkle of snowflakes
My Time To Craft - Let it snow

Finally I'd just like to say this is the last Ooh La La challenge of the year as we all take a well earned Christmas break.  Look out for us back again next year when our new challenges starts back on Mon  4th Jan.

and finally finally I just want to thank all the ladies over at Ooh La La for a great year on their DT, I really have enjoyed it, love the CD's and can't wait for the new releases next year.  Happy Christmas Teamies! Jx

Tree Trimmers

As Christmas is fast approaching I thought I better put a bit more effort into making some cards, so today I set about a batch of thin colourful CAS cards ideal for posting.

The image is a new one to me, by Sassy Cheryl - I paid full price for it a few weeks back, but if you're quick you may be able to snap up a bargain as it's on special just now!

Colouring as always is by Promarker and my sentiment added directly to the card front using Serif Draw, (thanks Colin for the lesson!)  Finally the card is finished with my festive favoutites, glossy accents and glamour dust.

Challenges;
CHCC - Red & Green
Brown Sugar - No DP's
Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs - Frosty Snowmen
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Christmas Trees
Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Decorations
Cutie Pies - CAS/Cute/Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Stars
Jx

My Favourite Things

Well this one will either sink or swim, and I'm so hoping swim, as it's Mrs Duck's theme over at MAWTT and she has really excelled in picking

My Favourite Things

as our latest challenge theme - BUT read on my friends - Mrs Duck never does things by halves - don't follow the theme literally instead think of Mary Poppins and the song...

"These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things"

the lyrics are on the MAWTT blog and they are the theme - how creative is that! (I'm lovin this one - aren't you???)

So sing along as I did till you reach your favourite thing and surprisingly... I went with... "whiskers on kittens!"

I rummaged through all my cat stamps - and quite a few are whiskerless, but then as luck would have it, a challenge win and the chance to gather more Bugaboo images and low and behold, this little Christmas number appeared!  Isn't he gorgeous - even if a tad grumpy!  He's called Crabby Cat Christmas and is available here.

So, colouring was by Promarker, papers by First Edition - Festive Treat and tags by LOTV and there we have it!

Challenges;
CHCE - Anything Goes
A Gem of a Challenge - Christmas Critters
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Kitties - Wasn't sure if this cat believed in gifting ...his face says it all!
Brown Sugar - Tag Your it - sentiment tags
ABC Christmas - W - Wild Thing - well my cat is!!!
Crafty Catz - Winter
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything goes
Come & Get It - Lots of sparkle - hat as glamour dust & glossy accents
The Glory of Christmas - Glitter or shine - glamour dust & accents
Papertake - Christmas Critters
Jx

Pearls & Lace

Morning all and welcome to the latest challenge over at Ooh La La - chosen by Avril and it's

Pearls & Lace

A lovely feminine theme and perfect for the decoration of the card I made to celebrate my son's, girlfriend's 21st!

So, in a change from the norm, I did not use an Ooh La La image, instead I used a family photo then co-ordinated it with papers off 2 Ooh La La CD's. ( The Shawn Jenkins Collection and The Paula Oakley Collection to be precise available here.)

I love making cards using old photos, but it can often be the hardest bit getting papers to match, that's why it was so handy having so many CD's to hand.

My card also encorporates lots of die cuts for the embellishments and obviously the compulsary pearls and lace.  Then to finish off the birthday set, I made a little gift bag to hold a Nomination charm.(Tutorial Link Here)

So that was my take, the DT ladies have some beauties on the main blog page so do check them out too.

Challenges;
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Die cuts and/or punches - die cuts
Papertake - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Cottage - Challenge 51 - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girls - Nov - Anything Goes - with lace

...and just for completeness, here is a photo of the birthday girl at her 21st party;