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