More Christmas

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that the big guy in red brought you lots of crafting goodies; he dropped a few bits off at my place, now all I need is the 30 hour day so I can use them, lol.

Today I have another one of those easy Christmas cards I made, only one more to go after this, promise.  There's snow on my card again... I would love a bit of snow at the moment... it was 39C (102F) today after an overnight minimum of 24C (75F), it's forecast 42C (110F)for the next few days falling to a (what will by then seem balmy, lol) 32C or 90F by New Years Eve.

The image is one of those gorgeous pre-coloured die cuts from LOTV (what a godsend they've been) with Stickles added to the hat trim, present bow and snow. I added faux stitching around the edges of all the panels with my paper piercer and a gold gel pen.

I've used more of the lovely vintage-y paper from Kaisercraft it's either December 25th or 'Tis The Season (or quite possibly another collection, lol) matted on gold card from my stash. 
I used the sketch from Totally Papercrafts, though I have missed the deadline to enter their challenge I still wanted to credit the great sketch.
The kinda-circle shape behind the image is a lovely translucent paper embossed with gold snowflakes (it's very shimmery IRL) that came from Starfish Lane - doesn't all my "special" paper?! cut with an Mpress Antique Frames die.
The snowflake is a Martha Stewart punch backed up with a Marianne D die; the glittery flower centre is from my stash, as is the twine.
Totally Gorjuss has Easy Does It as their challenge theme,  Deep Ocean Challenge has Santa Claus is Coming To Town,  My Time to Craft has Animals in the Snow, Crafty Calendar has White Christmas, That Craft Place has Christmas, One Stop Craft Challenge has A Christmas Carol (Let it Snow) and Cutie Pie Challenge has Cute Christmas, so I'm entering there too. 
The Pink Elephant, The Paper Shelter, Divas by Design, and Paper Crafting Journey  all have Anything Goes challenges so I'll be entering those too.
I finished the inside with papers from the front... too simple to even bother taking a pic of :-)
Well that's it for today's card, I'll be back in a day or so with the last of my Christmas cards.  Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna xx 

Merry Christmas

I've had a little play with my Memories Suite and this cute image from The Paper Shelter to make a Christmas card

I'd like to wish my Followers and any other visitors a Happy Christmas - it's arrived here in Western Australia :-)

Hope you all have a lovely time with Family and Friends, and that Santa is kind to you! Donna xx

Let it Snow

Today I have another pretty simple card - just about every card I've done for Christmas this year fits that description, oh well, maybe next year I'll be able to devote a bit more time creating masterpieces, lol.  I've called it Let it Snow, bit of wishful thinking really - the forecast for Christmas Day here is 39C (102F), staying up there for at least a week!  

 I've used another one of my yummy LOTV pre-coloured images; what a godsend these have been (I would have had no handmade cards to share this year without them I think!)  I added some Liquid Pearls to the snow, but left the sparkle off  this one, keeping a more vintage feel. My Time to Craft has Animals in the Snow and Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge has Vintage Christmas as their challenge themes so I'm entering there.Totally Gorjuss has Easy Does It (a pre coloured image, can't get much easier!) and Ready Teddy Go has Clean and Simple - I'm not sure if this is "clean" enough, but I'm sure it's simple enough so I'm entering there, but do understand if it's not acceptable.

The great sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches, it seemed to lend itself to a Gatefold card, so that's what I made :-)
The papers are from Kaisercraft (December 25th collection?) textured red cardstock from my stash (Oozak has an Anything Goes + Red challenge, so I'm entering there) and Kraft from my stash too (the 2 Sisters Challenge is Krafty Christmas, so I'm entering there too)
The only embellishments on the card are a snowflake brad (Papermania I think) and some clear red Dewdrops
The stamp on the inside is one of a great Christmas set from Tickled Pink Stamps, now sadly defunct I fear :-(
The other challenges I'm going to enter my card in are listed below... there's a common theme you'll see - which means I probably should try and get my remaining Christmas cards blogged ASAP :-)

Deep Ocean Challenge Santa Claus is Coming to Town
One Stop Craft Challenge A Christmas Carol (Let it Snow)
Simon Says Challenge Merry Christmas
Stamping With The Dragon Waiting for Christmas
Di's Digi Designs Christmas
Cutie Pie Challenge Cute Christmas
Craft Us Crazy Christmas/New Year
Fashionista Challenge Winter
Whimsy Inspirations Challenge Anything Goes as long as it's Festive
The Paper Shelter Anything Goes
Divas by Design Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend Anything Goes
That's it for today's card, I'll post my other Christmas cards over the holidays; I've got a couple of Wedding cards too, which is a good thing as I'm going to have to sacrifice my craft room AGAIN in the next couple of weeks - we've decided to tile it along with the entry, study, family room, kitchen, meals and passageway - which means I won't have a spare millimetre in the house (I seriously can't see how we'll fit all the stuff from those rooms and cupboards into the bedrooms lounge and dining, along with their own furniture!)  The tiler is coming on 13th January and the rooms have to be emptied and have the existing tiles removed before then - if you've ever removed tiles, and more importantly tile glue you'll appreciate the enormity of the task.  
For some reason hubby is blithely ensuring the tiler that not only will all that be done, but that the doors (thirteen in all!!) and skirting boards will be removed too.  I think he's thinking like a 38 year old not a 58 year old, confusing his abilities with his aspirations, lol.  He thinks I'm worrying about nothing - I'm certain the truth lies somewhere in between, lol. 
Anywho, until next time Happy Crafting.  If you don't get time to visit me before Christmas, I hope yours is a happy one, and that 2013 brings all that you wish for, Donna xx

Drip Feeding Christmas Cards

I have another Christmas card today... I've made a few (seriously a "few", not being modest, lol) but I'm now struggling for the time to "blog" them, sigh.  Without further ado here's my card.

 Another really simple one, this time I've used a precoloured image from Lili of the Valley - they are gorgeous, but it really does feel like I've "cheated", oh well, needs must.

The papers are from Kaisercraft, I think it's the December 25th collection or it may be Dear Santa - can't find the cover!  The gold foil card is from my stash, the sentiment is from Craftworks Cards and the stars are cut using a MFT die.  I've added Stickles to the fur trim, circles and star.  The circles on the border (which came in the Kaisercraft pad) have Stickles on too.

The inside is finished with more of the same papers, and another border from the pad - handy!

I've used the sketch from Friday Sketch Challenge this time and (as I'm stuck for time....AGAIN... I'm listing the challenges I'm entering:

Deep Ocean Challenge Santa is Coming to Town

The Paper Shelter Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Anything with a Sentiment

Simon Says Challenge Merry Christmas

Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin' Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Craft Us Crazy Christmas/New Year

Cutie Pie Challenge Cute Christmas

Whimsy Inspirations Challenge Anything Goes as long as it's festive

Well it's nearly 1am here, and I've another busy day ahead (haven't we all at this time of year)  It's my sisters birthday tomorrow (or later today, lol) so I've got to wrap her pressie and write her card - her son was born on her birthday so it's my nephew's birthday too, so Happy Birthday to both of them :-)

I have to go, I'll be back ASAP with more of my Chrissie cards.  Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna

Oh Christmas Tree

Recently I have had next to no crafting time, and a couple of wedding card "must makes", so I've made a few very simple Christmas cards; today's card is one of them.  I quite like it even though it doesn't have ANY of the elements I usually like on my cards, like an image or colour!  

 I've relied on the lovely textured papers I've used to give the card a bit of "Wow"... unfortunately it's hard to capture in photos.  The background, or "sky" paper is a watermarked silk type paper and the snow in the foreground uses more of the yummy Pebble Quartz paper I love - all bought from Starfish Lane my "go to" for speciality papers!  Matted on gold foil card.
I have cut the hills in two layers, mounting them on foam dots - of course that doesn't show either, and frankly I give up trying to photograph it!
The gold foil tree is a Memory Box die, I just love it! I cut the shape from card then heat embossed very fine Foxfire glitter on to it - very sparkly-arkly in real life :-)  adding the die cut to the top... note to self; put the gold card onto self adhesive paper BEFORE cutting fiddly dies, gluing this sucker on was aaaahhhhh!
The sentiment is a sticker, as is the star at the top of the tree, with a red rhinestone in the centre.

I used a stamp I've had for ages in the inside, it was a gift from my sister and I have no idea of its origin! It's stamped in Stazon Brown ink.
That's it for Simple Card #1 - Simple Card #2 will be posted tomorrow-ish, hopefully I'll get a bit more time now the kitchen reno has reached the point of slow down (as in it's got as far as it's going to get until after the holidays), though we're hoping to get the last cupboard (which was incorrect, unsurprisingly as it's a very awkward shape - we built the house when angled walls were all the go!) before Christmas so we can at least get the walls tiled.
Once again I've listed the challenges I'm going to enter, here they are:

Deep Ocean Challenge So This is Christmas

Allsorts Challenges Oh Christmas Tree

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge Metallic

Aud Sentiments Anything Goes with a Christmas sentiment

Simon Says Challenge What's your favourite (tool, product etc; mine favouite embellishment is die cuts, my favourite tool is my Cuttlebug - to cut them!)

Paper Crafting Journey Christmas projects

Paper Play Challenges You're a Star (only one star here, on top of the tree, but still there IS a star!)

Craft Us Crazy Christmas makes, favourite embellishment (die cuts)

Winter Wonderland o Christmas Tree

Crafts 4 Eternity Blingtastic

Allsorts Challenges Oh Christmas Tree

Cupcake Craft Challenges Merry Little Christmas

Stamping Sensations Treemendous

Crafty Calendar White Christmas

Okay, I'll be back soon (hopefully tomorrow - hubby has finished work so MY work slows down too) Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna

Anything Goes at Here Come The Boys

Well I'm afraid I'm a little late with this post... lots going on and I just didn't get time to post yesterday which is when the latest challenge at Here Come The Boys started.  It's an Anything Goes challenge, and it runs until 4th January so it's easy peasy AND you have plenty of time to enter - don't forget your project has to be for a man or boy though :-) There's Xmas Candy too.... so don't forget to pop on over and check it all out!

I had any amount of ideas other than a card, but in the end it's a card I've got to show you.

The image is one I've had for yonks, it's "Peas On Earth" from Whimsie Doodles, and (as a lover of all things cryptic) I loved the play on words... my hubby on the other hand didn't "get" it - so I added the & Goodwill to All Men sentiment to help him out; as he still looked unconvinced I added the sentiment to the inside hinting - very broadly, I feel - that it's "Peas" on "Earth" - hopefully now EVERYONE will "get it" :-)  I coloured with Copics, using Prismacolor pencils to add shading to the very tiny details.
The papers are from Kaisercraft, Christmas Carnival, and the textured cardstock is Bazill. It's all layered up with foam dots.
The zig zag border on the inside is cut with Nestabilities Classic borders (Ric Rac?).  There's no embellies on this card at all, not a one!  I had a snowflake on one corner of the image, but it refused to stay and was a bit superfluous anyway :-)
Don't forget to check out the rest of my teamies, they've really gone all out and have some very inspiring work to show.  You've got plenty of time to enter the challenge, I do hope you do and I'll come and visit ;-) and there's that Candy too, mmmmm.
I've listed the challenges I'm entering this time around, it's the quickest way and with my kitchen renovation eating into both my crafting and Christmas shopping time, "quick" = "good"

Deep Ocean Challenge So this is Christmas

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Anything Goes with a Christmas sentiment 

Divas by Design Let it Snow

Paper Crafting Journey Christmas Projects

Cute Card Thursday Red and Green

Paper Play Challenges Christmas is Coming

Craft Us Crazy Christmas

Stampin' for the Weekend Let it Snow

Totally Papercrafts One for the Boys

Stamping With The Dragon Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge Christmas Friends

Joanna Sheen With Love at Christmas

Totally Gorjuss Oh No Snow (Christmas)

Crazy 4 Challenges Use a favourite holiday image - they're ALL my favourite!

Cupcake Craft Challenges Merry Christmas

Paper Pretties Christmas

Until next time, I do have a few more cards to show! Happy Crafting, Donna 

What You Do When You're Not Crafting...

Well as you may or may not have noticed, I've been pretty much absent from Blogland recently.  The reason is I've had hardly any time to craft as we've been renovating our kitchen.  I thought I'd share a few pictures of the progress so far.  Now, "few" may not be that accurate, lol.

Before... 

My Husband and Son pulling out the cupboards

The Tools

The Temporary Kitchen, in my Craft Room!!

The temporary Washing Up facilities, in my laundry

Kitchen All Gone!

No Kitchen... except the oversized fridge!

New Cupboards... gone for a lot of drawers, and a fridge that doesn't dominate the room! 

Granite tops done.  Display cabinet, waiting for glass doors and shelves

Tall display cabinet, also waiting for (frosted) glass doors

The oven's connected, the hotplate isn't and I still don't have a sink or dishwasher, but the plumber's coming on Monday, so yay for drainage, lol.  The electrician's coming on Thursday for the hotplate and new lights.  It's going to move a bit slower from then on as we are heading into the Summer break here; the building industry in particular pretty much shuts down over Christmas - but as we are in that industry, it means we'll have a bit of time to do prep work for the next stage which is tiling.  We're re tiling the floors in most of the house (except the formal living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms!)- we've got to chisel up 72 metres of ceramic tiles, we've done about 10 metres and the dust was UNBELIEVABLE!
We're tiling my craft room too; we were just going to change the carpet, then when I got down on my hands and knees to see what all the black flecks were I found they were spots of glue, woops! So I decided to tile it instead, which of course means emptying the whole room - 2 Expidits and 3 full height Billys from Ikea - as well as the built ins, I think I'm looking forward to that less than chiselling up tiles, lol.
Anyway that's what's been keeping me busy, I'll post some pics when it's completely finished.  I have made a few cards, I'll be blogging them over the next couple of days, until then I hope YOU at least have some Happy Crafting, Donna

Birthdays Only Challenge at Here Come The Boys

Well yesterday was one of my "boys" birthdays... my youngest son Chris turned 28 - where did the  time go??  As I'm really busy at the moment with life other than craft, it was a lucky break for me that the challenge starting today over at Here Come The Boys is "Birthdays Only", as it meant today's card could do a sort of "double duty"

I always make a "special" cake for my boys (actually all the family get one, they all have a different "favourite, lol) and over the years The Cake has taken on more and more significance, so when I saw this image over at Digi Doodle Shop (now sadly out of business) I had to have it, then when I saw the great sentiment (on the inside of my card) "Birthdays, it's all about the cake" over at TLC I could hardly believe my luck - not only was it perfect, it was one of the ever-generous Paulette's freebies BONUS!  The sentiment on the front is a die cut from Craftworks Cards.
This great sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp gives loads of room for interpretation - I love sketches like that - obviously my card is a rotated version :-)
I coloured the image with Copics, adding some extra shading with Prismacolor pencils.  The papers are from Echo Park (A Walk in the Park pad, I'm on scraps, aahhh!), and Inque Boutique (I think) I love these cheery colours - who says a man's card has to be dull?!  Without Words has Whizz Bang (use bright colours) as their theme, so I'm entering there, Moving Along With The Times has Let's Go Dotty, Craft Your Passion has Use your scraps and Divas by Design has Two or More Patterned Papers, so entering there as well :-)
I spelled out "Chris" using metal letters I got in a pack from spotlight ages ago, fixing them with brads, which is the reason I have a strip of patterned paper on the inside of the card - to cover the "legs" of the brads! 
The Paper Shelter has Birthdays as their challenge theme, My Mums Craft Shop has Inspiration From a Song (I was actually thinking Rihanna's song Birthday Cake, not the obvious, lol) and Fab'n'funky Challenges has Birthday; include 3 of something - I've got three bits of Card Candi as well as three papers, so I'm in :-)
I've used Mpress Victorian Frames dies for the image panel and mat, and my Carl Punch corner rounder on all the patterned paper panels.
Chris is going to Kuala Lumpur with a friend next weekend for a wedding, we decided to give him some spending money as his birthday gift so I made sure his card had a place for some cash :-)  
I put the sentiment on a tag, adding an eyelet with my fabby new Cropadile... sooooo much easier (and more reliable!) than the Fiskars system I was using (rarely, because of disappointment with the results) before.  I double matted the tag, meaning I could use the back of it to write our personal message, then I popped it in front of his money giving at least a tiny element of "surprise" to the whole cash-as-a-gift scenario :-)
Joanna Sheen has Anything Goes (Excluding Christmas) and the Corrosive Challenge is Anything Goes this time around too, so I'm entering there.
That's about it for my card today.  My son is a truly lovely young man (no bias here, lol) so I hope this year brings him much happiness... unfortunately his job came to an end on Thursday so he is job hunting as soon as he returns from his little holiday to KL :-(  Never easy at this time of year in Australia, as many places close for a several weeks over Christmas/ January (it's the summer holidays too), but he is very employable and has never had any trouble getting work; it's not always in his field, (he is a photographer) but he has eclectic taste and an ever increasing skill set, lol.
Don't forget to pop over to Here Come The Boys, check out the great range of Birthday projects by the team, why not have a go at the challenge too... it may be Christmas but those guys in your life still need birthday cards :-)
Until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna

Wish Upon a Star

Well I've managed to grab five minutes from my renovating to "blog" a card I made last week.

I used the gorgeous Star Bear from Sassy Cheryls.  I just LOVE this image!  I printed it on linen card, as I wanted to keep a "textured" look to the bear, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.... it was a bit hard to get even coverage but worth it as he has a distinct fabric look.

I used the sketch from the 2 Sisters Challenge, rotated 90 degrees.  I hope I can get this post done in time to enter (I just fell asleep while typing, for about 40 minutes!) 

I've used papers from Kaisercrafts December 25th Collection, red card from my stash for the mat which was cut using Nestabilities Fleur De Lis Rectangles dies, and gold card also from my stash.  Whimsy Inspirations Challenge is to use Traditional Christmas Colours, so I'm entering there, That Craft Place is to Use Red, so entering there too.

The star trim under the (computer generated) sentiment is also from my stash, as is the burgundy and gold  flower/star on the corner.  By the Cute and Girly has Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as their challenge theme, and My Mums Craft Shop has Inspired by a song - can you guess which song inspired this? lol, so I'm entering those too.

The inside of the card is finished very simply with more papers from the December 25th Collection, the patterned border is in fact one of the preprinted ones from the pad, the mats were cut freehand.
Crafty Creations has Christmas is Coming for their challenge and Crafts 4 Eternity has Midnight Magic (bedtime theme, moon, stars etc... I've used stars)  so I'll be entering there too.
That's it for today's card.  I've a very busy day tomorrow (well later today now as it's gone midnight, lol); it's my son's birthday and as well as decorating his cake and going out for his birthday dinner (which means picking up my folks ahead of time), we are finishing removal of our kitchen... we have taken out all the cupboards, knocked down the brick wall that was the "backing" for our breakfast bar and have taken up some of the floor tiles (we have to get up enough for the new kitchen "footprint".  We did that this afternoon, but I spent HOURS emptying cupboards before that... I've decided we have way too much "STUFF"!! and we'll NEVER move from here, lol.
I'll post some reno pictures soon, and I'll be back on Sunday with a card I've made (which I really like!) for the next Here Come The Boys challenge, until then Happy Crafting, Donna

Twin News

I just thought I'd post an update on "the twins"  My daughter-in-law had a scan yesterday and....

It's a Pigeon Pair

My son and DIL are very happy, though when I said to my son I thought there must be at least one boy in "the mix" because he had sounded so pleased, he said he genuinely was that happy because he had "seen my babies hearts beating", if you knew tough guy Matt, you'd know why that brought a lump to my throat.

The babies are a little smaller than the Obstetrician would like... they are at the very bottom of the "normal" range, but there could be a discrepancy of a week in their dates, which could account for it.  They will keep it closely monitored (but didn't say what could actually be done about it!)

The good news is that Twin One (now know as the Princess, lol) has caught up a lot, there is now only a couple of percent difference in size between she and The Little Lad.

Anyway, thought I'd share :-) Donna

Wedding Wishes

My hubby is feeling quite old... not just because he's working like a dog, lol, but because his Great Nephew is getting married on Saturday!  Here's the card I made for John and his lovely bride Melina, we wish them every happiness in their future together

It's an easel card... you know I love 'em, lol.  Well as you may or may not know, "life" is super busy for me at the moment (I know, I hear the cry echoing across the world, lol).   

Knowing this was going to be the case and also knowing I have a few "must make" cards coming up, I decided to cheat and purchased some of the ready coloured images from Lilli of the Valley... this one is from the Die Cuts range (DC 011 Weddings).  They are beautifully coloured and as there are four or five different images to a sheet are a good way to get an image if you don't want (as if!) or can't afford (more likely) to buy the stamps - coz face it, you (if you're anything like me) want 'em all!!  I'm entering the Catch the Bug Things With Tails challenge, I know it's a bit cheeky but horses DO have tails so I'm entering... and anyway I'm sure this groom is wearing tails on his suit :-)  I thought I'd share over at Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday challenge too.
I used one of my favourite types of paper on this card - textured pearl.  This is Pebble in a pale lavender, part of my birthday stash from Starfish Lane, the white and silver paper on the horizontal panel is also from Starfish Lane.
I used silver foil card again for the matting, I love this stuff - it's nice and neutral but still adds an element of bling.

 I used a sketch from Sketch and Stash this time around... they have a Free Sketch challenge, so as long as you use one of 'theirs' you're in. I tried having the image at an angle, but the symmetrical beast in me just wouldn't allow it, I hope it's okay.I used my new Nestabilities Labels One die to cut the image... it just fit (they come pre cut in squares), the mat is also a new-for-me die; Decorative Labels One - they were in my "surprise" Christmas box, but hey ho I "needed" them now :-)   The Pink Elephant has Punches and Dies as their theme, I'm in,  and Crafty Cardmakers wants us to use more than one punch and/or die cut... I have so I'm entering there too.
The sheer ribbon is from my stash, it has pale gold edging - I would have preferred silver but as I don't have any I figured it was pale enough to get away with.  
The gem in the centre of the bow is also from my stash - I just found them when I dragged out my Christmas papers/embellies box!  They're from Kaisercraft.  I made the little tag, printing the couples names on the computer then cutting it freehand - note to self, MEASURE, with a ruler THEN cut; suffice to say it was a bit bigger when I started, lol.  Addicted to Stamps has Tags as their theme and Crafts 4 Eternity has Terrific Tags as their challenge theme, so my terrifically small tag is going in there as well.
I added more of the die cuts "inside" (I can never decide if it is the "inside" of an easel, lol), gluing only half way up so that I could fit a gift card behind it.
I edged the silver mat with EK Success Scrolls and Hearts punch, adding a couple of pearls from my stash to act as "stoppers", a couple more pearls on the computer generated sentiment finished the card off.  Divas by Design and Paper Crafting Journey both have Anything Goes challenges running, so I'll be entering them.
That's it for today's card, it is so much more delicate IRL, but you'll just have to take my word for it :-)
I'll be back in a few days with another make, until then Happy Crafting, Donna

Here Come The Boys Favourite Film Challenge

A new challenge starts today over at Here Come The Boys... we want to see your craft projects (suitable for a man or boy, don't forget!) inspired by your Favourite Film.  One of my all time favourite movies, and one we use to herald the start of the Christmas season in our house is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, here's my card inspired by this movie.

I've kept it pretty simple, it's a DL size card which I thought that was very clever as it goes at standard postage... until I remembered the special rate that applies to Christmas cards, duh!  Oh well, it won't hurt :-)  

The image - Tropical Santa, Suntan -  is from Bugaboo; I bought a couple of these "summer" Santa digis, they work really well for my cards to overseas (Christmas being in the middle of Summer here). Craft Us Crazy has Favourite Holiday for their challenge, Christmas is by far my favourite so I'm entering there, The 2 Sisters Challenge is to use your favourite Christmas image... I love 'em all! so I'm entering there and the Winter Wonderland challenge is One for the Boys (use an image of a boy or man), so I'm in there too.

I coloured the image with Copics, The Pink Elephant wants us to use our favourite colouring medium, I love Copics, especially for strong colours, so I'm entering there.  Without Words has Whizz Bang (use bright colours), I hope my colours are bright enough to enter there!

I shaded Santa's beard, but it just looked dirty, so I painted in some texture using Jo Sonja's Titanium White... it hardly shows in the photo so I took an underexposed picture - you can sort of see how it works, much better IRL of course!  I may add some gloss to his sunglasses yet, haven't decided :-) 

I followed the sketch by Cute Card Thursday, I wanted a very "unfussy" sketch, this one delivered! I cut and embossed the image panel with Mpress Curved Rectangles dies, cutting the gold mat freehand.  The faux stitching was also done freehand with my piercing tool, but I have bought a piercing wheel that I will have a go at using soon - on straight lines!!  Stampin' for the Weekend has All Stitched Up for their challenge theme, so I'm entering there.  The sentiment is from TLC Creations.. where I get a lot of my sentiments - so many brilliant ones - and the Create With TLC blog is well worth checking out too, loads of ideas and lots of freebies; Pauline is very generous :-)  I added gold Dew Drops as the only embellishment, Crafty Creations has No Flowers for their challenge... I'm in!  I finished the inside of the card along the same lines as the front.

Creative Craft Challenges has Special Occassions, not birthday, as their challenge theme so I'm entering there, and Papertake Weekly has Anything Goes with the option of Christmas, so I'm entering there too.  

Crazy 4 Challenges has Favourite Christmas Carol for their challenge, I thought of an Australian Carol called  Upside Down Christmas, which refers to the lure of the beach (which is a very popular setting for Christmas lunch here, though not for us... it's Boxing Day for us)  Paper Crafting Journey, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, Bearly Mine Challenges, One Stop Craft Challenge and Cards for Men all have Anything Goes challenges, so I'll be entering them as well.

Anyway, that's it for today's card, do pop over to Here Come The Boys and check out my teamies work.  It's a pretty easy challenge theme this time around, and we're offering you the chance at a Guest spot on the DT, so why not have a go?  It's our DT leader's birthday today too, so I'd just like to say Happy Birthday Woo and many more :-)

I'll be back in a couple of days, though our kitchen/most of the house renovation starts in earnest this week so crafting and blogging will probably be a bit hit and miss for a couple of weeks!

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna