The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #16 - Christmas Card. Christmas Card.

It's time for another fun challenge over at The Christmas Kickstart and just look who has agreed to come on board as our elf for this one... Yes, it's the lovely Darnell, Queen of the Twofer and NBUS Challenges!

I'm thrilled to have Darnell 'elfing' for this fortnight. We had a great time emailing back and forth, pulling together the ideas for this challenge and decided it would be fun if everyone made 'Twofer' cards using the prompt CHRISTMAS TREE.

Challenge #16 - Christmas Card. Christmas Card. 

Theme - Christmas Tree.

To make your card a 'Twofer', you should create two different design layouts when making your cards. My cards for this challenge use the same Hero Arts Christmas Tree stamp, but in very different ways.

I wanted to make two completely different cards and opted for a traditional card and a more modern one. Darnell was very specific that a twofer is not just the same card layout repeated in a different colour combo. 

This card uses the tree as part of a scene. I love creating scenes using the Winter Trees pattern stamp from Hero Arts. I don't think this stamp is available now, but they have plenty of similar images on the site. The die cut is Deer Trio from Impression Obsession.

I'd like to add a sentiment to this card, but can't quite figure out where or how - ideas welcome, please!

My second card is very CAS. The Simon Says Stamp sentiment (Christmas) is a firm favourite. I knew I wanted a sans serif font for a modern feel to the card and this one works perfectly.

I was amazed at how many quirky Christmas tree stamps I had in my collection (I found another when I was putting them away) and spent a while contemplating which image would have the greatest potential for a Twofer; I think I picked the right stamp.

I hope that everyone will enjoy the challenge of creating TWO rather than ONE card for this fortnight's fun - just think, that's even more cards on the Christmas card pile!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #140 - S is for Sea

It's S is for Sea starting today over at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers. We may not have been quite as daring in our interpretation of this theme as Edna, but some of the team certainly put the naughty into nautical with their cards for this challenge! Don't you just love our graphic? Sistah Lee is awesome in her role as Graphics Goddess.

My offering for this challenge uses an oldie but goody stamp from VLVS which always makes me smile, plus a snarky sentiment stamp from new discovery Picket Fence.

I think I'll send this to my bestie as we often joke that we know where the bodies are buried!

I'm also linking this to Marina's Library Challenge #38 which is inspired by this book:

This is a book I'm not familiar with, but I have to say that the cover looks rather intriguing.

Please come and join the sisterhood for another fabulously fun challenge!

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #15 - Festive Things with Wings

It's time for a new challenge over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge. For this fortnight the theme is Festive Things with Wings and I'm once again joined by the lovely Gail from Crafty Nomad who will be performing her elfy duties throughout.

I made two cards for this challenge - one which I like and one which has taught me a few things!

Here's the one I like:

Two adorable AALL and Create penguins and a snowy background. I'm this card linking to CAS Christmas - July 2019 Snowflake.

Here's the card that was a learning experience:

If only I'd planned my background so that the die cut snowflake didn't have a stamped image beneath it. It just looks far too busy. I have a feeling I'll be remaking this card again as soon as I can get some crafting time! You live and you learn. The angel is an old favourite from Artistic Impressions.

I very much hope you can join Gail and myself for this fun challenge and we have a gorgeous prize on offer from our generous sponsors Lost Coast Designs.

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #139 - J is for Joke

It's Challenge #139 at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and I'm not joking when I say that we have a great challenge on offer today! Yes, it's J is for Joke.

We all had waaaaaaaaaay too much fun with this one.

Please excuse the poor photograph. I might try and re-take this later as it looks a little blurry - which is much how I feel myself thia morning after a school trip yesterday.

The chickens are from a new Picket Fence set and the background was created by repeat stamping of an image from Altenew's gorgeous Simple Flowers set. I thought the flowers complimented the slightly woodblock look of the chicken images.

We've got a fabulous new queen and I know you'll love what the sistahs have created, so why not come and join in the fun...

June Reveal - The Card Chain Challenge

Oooops, I'm two days late posting details of the June reveal - not sure how I've managed this, but they do say better late than never!

As always we had a lovely selection of options for our creations.

This lovely sketch sent me hunting for feather stamps or die cuts...

and these gorgeous colours made me think of sweet spring flowers...

however, this is what I made to send to Gail in Norway!

I have no idea why I used pink for the spots on the main panel. I had yellow in my head, but ended up using pink! Thankfully I managed to stick with the sketch. This sweet image is from Pinkfresh Studio.

My sender for this month was Helen in Ohio, USA. Isn't this a beauty? I love the vibrant colours and gorgeous stenciling.

If you'd like to see the full reveal you can click here and head on over. There are just a few days left to sign up for the July Chain, so why not make this the month that YOU play along?