Courage ...

Good morning all ... I hope all is good with you and that you are all set for the holiday!  I've taken a little time out this morning to create this card:

I was inspired by the new challenge at TIME OUT Challenges and the arrival of the quote stamp from STAMPlorations ... the two just seemed to sit together.  It also reflects where I am at the moment ... I have just finished working (retired) and need to find my new place in the world ... it doesn't seem that easy at the moment ... I probably should have put more thought and planning into it before resigning!

I'm going to enter this in the following challenges:

Time Out Challenge #151


Penny Black and More - December Flowers

Enjoy!

STAMPLorations December Reminder ...

Half way through the month and time to remind you that you still have chance to join in with the Theme and Photo STAMPlorations challenge

If you've finished all of your cards or you've missed the last post before Christmas why not create a tag!

I used:

STAMPlorations - Yuletide Deer,  Christmas Bell Medley,  Joyful

CUTplorations - Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies

Distress Inks - Festive Berries and Peeled Paint

Distress Oxide Ink - Festive Berries

WOW White Embossing Powder

Remember this is the last challenge of 2019 ... so don't miss out on the opportunity to have a go!

Enjoy!

Happy Christmas ...

It's getting close now!!!  Have you completed all of your cards? ... I have I just need to post them!  This is the final Christmas design and it is as simple as it could possibly be:

There is not really a lot to say about the card - I simple image coloured with a Zig Real Brush Clean Colour marker plus a couple of sentiment stamps.  A design that was very easy to mass produce - important if time is short!

I am going to enter the following (new to me)challenge:

Perfectly CAS


This is likely to be my last post of the year - thank you all for visiting my blog over 2019 - I've not always posted as regularly as I would like but sometimes life just takes over!!

Happy Christmas.

Enjoy!

Holiday Leaves Take 2 ...

Another two clean and simple cards to add to the Christmas stash - once again created using the Tim Holtz Holiday greens die set.

The top holly one was die cut from a scrap of yupo paper coloured with alcohol ink and some foil.  The red one was from some gel plate printed card.

Simple designs but so easy to create.

Enjoy!

Along the edge ...

More progress today on the Christmas card front ... another six cards made, all different although all created using dies and printed card stock created on my gel plate.  The new challenge at AAA Cards gave me the inspiration for this design:

Mostly die cutting with just the sentiment stamped ... I quite enjoy monochrome cards.

I'm entering the following challenge:

AAA Cards #155


Enjoy!

Holiday Greens ...

I'm still concentrating on creating Christmas cards ... today's contribution to the pile have all been made using one die set, a couple of prints created using my gel plate and some sentiment stamps.  Result ... a mixed selection of CAS cards:

The first uses the inlaid die technique:-

The second uses the negative of the die on the front of the card and the positive on the inside.

This design is difficult to show in a photograph ...

... this photo shows how the die cut is placed on the inside immediately under the aperture

The final design uses the die cuts in a more straightforward way:

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

UNIKO Challenge #56

TIME OUT Challenge #150

Enjoy!

Paper Robin ...

Another day and another Christmas card to share ... it's quite a while since I did any paper piecing but this Woodware stamp lends itself to this technique.  The paper was created sometime ago using a gel plate and acrylic paints.

Although I love this technique it does take quite a bit of time to stamp and fussy cut the pieces - so not a technique for speedy production when you are short of time!!

I'm entering into the following challenge:

TIME OUT Challenges #149

Enjoy!

One idea, two cards ...

I'm busy playing catch up with Christmas card making ... yet again I seem to have left it very late to get enough cards created for friends and family.  At least I've finished working and now have time to create whenever the mood (or the need!) is right ... so yesterday and today I've been creating!!  These cards were created using leftovers:-

I like monochromatic cards ... not sure whether black and white is too harsh for Christmas!

I'm entering the following challenges:
Uniko Challenge  #56


Penny Black and More December Challenge

Stamping Sensations December Challenge

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations December Challenge ...

We've made it to the last month of 2019 and it's time for the final Theme and Photo STAMPlorations challenge ... if you are short of cards for the upcoming holiday then this is the challenge for you:

Today I have two cards to inspire you with:

I used:

STAMPlorations - Dee's Artsy Impressions Yuletide Deer

CUTplorations - Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Festive Berries Distress Ink

I used:

STAMPlorations - Christmas Baubles Stamp set

CUTplorations - Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies

Wow Gold Embossing Powder

Versamark Ink

Distress Inks Festive Berries and Pine Needles

Both cards are created with the theme and with a nod to the coffee pots in the photo.  Clean and Simple in style and ideal if you're a bit behind with Christmas card making!!

It would be great to see you entering the challenge, as always, there are prizes to be won.

Enjoy!