Christmas Mice

Today is the start of a new "Stella Says Sketch" challenge over at Catch the Bug and this is my GDT card, using Scene it - Christmas Mice colored with Promarkers and a gold metallic gel pen.

I've been making quite a few cards lately without using any DPs. And I've again used my favorite stencil, from Memory Box. I used embossing paste and added just a touch of glitter glue after it had dried. The border is made with a Magnolia die. I stamped a sentiment, handcut it into a banner shape and attached it with a star eyelet.

This week-end has passed so quickly! Friday evening I fell asleep on the couch before 1930 in the evening. Argh - sleeping away my favorite evening of the week... Yesterday I went to see my family as my youngest nephew turned 6. And today it's house cleaning and decorating for Christmas. I will catch up with you work (wouldn't wan't to miss out on all the inspiration out there) as from tomorrow.

I'm entering my card in these challenges as well:
1) Completely Christmas - #39 Anything Goes + use Something beginning with S (Star stencil)
2) C.R.A.F.T. - #287 Christmas Present
3) Crafty Boots - Stars

Card made of scraps

You wouldn't believe the amount of paper scraps I have in my stash, even though I think I'm rather good at using some of it all the time. If you have loads, like me, the challenge that starts today over at Catch the Bug should be perfect for you - use only paper scraps.

I picked a random selection of strips of paper and chose to color my image - Party Pig trio - based on their colors. The background I colored while keeping the image inside of the die, to get the white border. I then cut my papers into strips to make a background using the sunray technique. I stitched around the edges, added two stamped birthday greetings and 6 pink enamel dots. I think this card has a cheerful look and will be given to someone special.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Southern Girls - Celebrations
2) Penny's Paper-Crafty - #205 Anything goes
3) Brown Sugar - #122 Anything Goes

A tag with sparkle and shine

Over at the Outlawz Twisted Thursday this week's optional twist is "Winter Sparkles at Christmas".
I've used the image Angel Bear from Stitchy Bear Designs.

The bear is colored with my Inktense pencils and I added glitter glue to the wings. The background is silver mirri card sprinkled with frantage, and I used silver glitter paper and a Marianne die to make the tree. The bow is made with string and seambinding ribbon and a metallic button.

This tag is also for these challenges:
1) Top Tip Tuesday - Buttons or Bows
2) Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive Furry Friends
3) Glitter n Sparkle - #112 Tag It

 

Bland Buttons and Gorgeous Washi Tape Tutorial

Today is my turn to show you a tutorial I made for Catch the Bug, where I'm a Guest Designer through January. My stash is full of bland buttons and gorgeous washi tapes, both have been left untouched for far too long. So I thought I could turn my buttons into decorative snowflakes.

You can see from the picture how I did it - very simple indeed:
- cover the buttons with tape
- cut the tape into a round shape, leaving room for some of the tape to be attached to the backside
- make small cuts into the tape - this makes it easier to make the edges nice and smooth
- for larger buttons piece together the tape, making sure you overlap so that you don't ruin the pattern
- use a needle to makes the holes.

For my card I used a chubby snowman that you can find here in the Bugaboo store. He's colored with Promarkers. I used a tree stamp from Lawn Fawn, stamped onto kraft, heat embossed with black EP and colored with white gel pen. I used glitter for the snowy ground, and the sentiment is a piece of fabric. I placed it like you would see on a pair of jeans - I quite like how it looks. My buttons I placed on top of die cut snowflakes with a die from Marianne.

I'd also like to participate in these challenges with my card:
1) Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #63 Anything Goes with twist - Add one or more Trees
2) Come and Get It - Winter
3) A Creative Romance - Something Old (buttons and tapes)
4) Simply Create Too - #75 Snow, Snow, Snow
5) Allsorts - #286 No design papers allowed

Skating

Today I want to share a gift bag I made for Catch the Bug's "Anything but a a Card Monday" post.

I rarely do not use any DPs as I'm a DP addict, but for this bag I used plain colored papers only. I added several layers, and I used different techniques to decorate them, involving  white mist, gesso, walnut DI, white embossing powder and a paper cimper.

To make the scene for the skating beauty - you can find her here in the Bugaboo store - I heat embossed some snowflakes, used silver mirri paper to make the ice and a Marianne die to make the forest.

The metal piece says "Merry Christmas" in Norwegian, I attached it to a piece of gingham ribbon, and I also made a bow with the same ribbon, together with a piece of string.

This gift bag is also for these challenges:
1) Addicted to Stamps - #92 Lots of Layers
2) Allsorts - #286 No design papers allowed
3) The Crafting Cafe - Not a card

Snowman on Bauble

YES - finally Friday! The week-end is near and Friday also means you can pick up a new freebie in the Bugaboo store.  Today I'm sharing my GDT card showing you this week's freebie - Stocking Santa ornament.

I'm a DP addict, but this card is actually made without any DPs. I used kraft and red paper sprinkled with white mist. The kraft paper also got white frantage. I distressed the edges with walnut DI and stitched around the edges - a bit rough and randomly.
The image is colored with Promarkers and I used lots of gold glitter glue for the bauble. I used a sentiment from a stamp set from Dylusion. I cut two pieces of straw and tied a golden bow around it for a little bit of decoration.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) 4 Crafty Chicks - #221 Make it Sparkle
2) Aud Sentiments Challenge - #120 Use a Sentiment for any December Holiday
3) Make My Monday - Glitter
4) Sparkles Forum Challenges - The Big Guy (Santa)

Too much or not enough?

Over at the Outlawz Twisted Thursday this week's optional twist is to use your favorite colors at Christmas time. I love red and and white, lots og glitter, gold and silver, and I used them all on my card.

I've used an image found in store over at Stitchy Bear Designs (Floppy Latte's "Bird and Bauble Ornaments") - our sponsor for November.

The image is colored with Promakers, gold and silver gel roll pens and I used lots of glitter glue as well. For the branches I used a MS punch and glitter paper. I'm not sure about those, I've been thinking I should remove them or add more - or leave it as it is now... I think I'm going to ponder about this until the card is put in the letter box... Maybe you can help me by sharing your opinion?

I'd also like to enter this card in Without Words - Christmas Preparations challenge.

Owl on Tree Branch

I've made a simple card based on the sketch over at Addicted to CAS. To keep it clean I didn't use a DP as background, but kraft paper distressed with walnut DI.  I used my much loved star stencil from MB and embossing paste to make the starry sky. I mounted the decorated panel onto blue paper and used foam to raise it from the card base. A MB die was used to make the tree branch. The owl is part of a stamp from Marianne - the owl is actually sitting on top of a letter box, but I cut it out, paper pieced it using scrap pieces and mounted it on foam. I added glossy accent to its eyes. The Christmas sentiment is stamped.

I'd like to try my luck in these challenges with my owl card:
1) Addicted to CAS - Sketch
2) A Gem of a Challenge - #132 Paper Piecing
3) Open-Minded Challenges - #23 Fowl of Any Kind 

Howdy!

Today is the start of a new Stella Says Sketch challenge over at Catch the Bug, and this is my Guest Designer card.

My starting point was the cute image AKV 2 cowboy - howdy.
I chose a star patterned DP and chose elements I felt suited the cowboy theme.
I tied a lasso using string. The banner with the sentiment is hand cut, and I decided to add some burlap behind the paper for texture.
I added 3 star brads that have been in my stash for ages. 

I'd also like to participate in these challenges with my card:
1) Creative Knockouts - #63 Banner
2) Meljens Designs - #236 Hot Chocolate (use brown)
3) Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes 4 Kids

Happy Now?

Today is the start of a new challenge over at Catch the Bug and this time we're playing BINGO!
I'm a big fan of Stella, I love her sense of humour and many of my friends and family do to, and with the extremely hot summer we had this year this image is perfect. Now I'm just waiting for some snow to arrive...
You can find Stella here. I colored her with Promarkers, added glossy accent to her glasses, Star Dust stickles to the ice and snowflakes and I used a snow pen. The liquid of the snow pen becomes great fluffy looking snow as you heat set it.
I used the bingo squares with Bugaboo image, 2 designer papers and brads. My two papers are a snowflake patterned one from Bo Bunny and some scrap pieces of a paper from Doodlebug Design, for which I made my punched snowflakes. I decoarted them with pearl brads. I added fine lines of glitter glue around the edges of both squares.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Paper Shelter Challenge - #182 Snowflakes
2) Clear It Out Anything Goes Stash: Use 3 of The Same Thing (Brads and punched snowflakes)
3) Craft Your Passion - Something beginning with B (brads and blue papers

Purple and Silver for my Angel Bear...

Over at the Outlawz Twisted Thursday this week's optional twist is to make something with a "Thank you" theme. I've used the image Angel Bear found in store over at Stitchy Bear Designs, our sponsor for November. The bear is colored with Promakers, fussy cut and mounted on foam.

The layout is inspired by yhe sketch over at Sketch Saturday. I've only used 1 DP for this card, but I used both sides of it. I mounted the paper onto panels of kraft and added diamond stickles around the edges. I added plenty of it on the wings as well. The sentimet is stamped and heat embossed using silver EP. I used a scrap piece of silver mirri card and some silver string I found in my stash.  

I'd also like to enter my card in these challenges:
1) Papertake Weekly - 2 or 4 legs
2) Crafting By Designs - Give thanks
3) Sketch Saturday - Sketch #335

Gift Bag with a Reindeer

Monday means a new week with new possibilities!! Today I want to share a little gift bag I made for Catch the Bug's "Anything but a a Card Monday" post. You can find this cute "Plush Reindeer" here in the Bugaboo store.

The bag is made with white paper and a die from Lawn Fawn. I chose a spotted DP to decorate the front as I wanted to create a snowy scene. I used Walnut DI on the edges.
I cut out a circle, added acetate and placed the cut out circle behind it so I could add a tree scene and glitter snow for a shaker effect.
The trees are made using a die from Marianne. For the snowflakes I used a punch, and each snowflake was decorated with a pearl.
The reindeer i colored with my Promarkers and a white gel pen.

This gift bag is also for these challenges:
1) I love Promarkers - #244 Cute Christmas
2) A Crafty Mess - #1 Anything Goes
3) Completely Christmas - #37 Anything Goes with a Twist Let's see some Blue
4) QKR Stampede – #113 Let's Talk Christmas

Marshmallow Snowman

Happy Friday! Today I'm sharing my Bugaboo GDT card with a sweet marshmallow snowman - he's this week's freebie, so head over to the Bugaboo store if you want to fetch him!

For my card layout I was inspired by the sketch over at Technostamper. It allowed me to use a scrap piece of striped paper. The image is colored with Promarkers,  I used light blue chalk for the background, white frantage for the snow and 3 sequins from my stash for a little sparkle. And the candy cane has a generous amount of glossy accent added to it. I used red and white string and  a tag which I made using a LOTV stamp.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Technostamper's Monday Lunch Time Sketch Challenge - Sketch
2) C.R.A.F.T. - #284 Winter
3) Incy Wincy Designs - Inspired by a Song, Book or Movie (Frosty the Snowman)

Christmas Gift Bag in non-traditional Colors

There's a new challenge over at the Outlawz Twisted Thursday and this week's optional twist is to make something with "Button(s)".
I've used 2 digital DPs from Panda Bear Designs' "Chocolate Dreams Paper Pack 2" - you can find it in store over at Stitchy Bear Designs, our sponsor for November.

Non traditional Christmas colors is something that has grown on me this year, and I quite like the combo og beige, browns, white and gold.
I printed using Bazzil paper, I quite like the textured look it has. I decorated the bag with a die cut corrugated paper star, twine, button and a gold glitter embossed Christmas sentiment on vellum.

I'd also like to enter my gift bag in these challenges:
1) Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge) - Bingo (Glitter+2 DPs+Diecuts)
2) Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes (I used Embossing Powder)

Housewife's Day

Did you know that November 3 was Housewife's Day? This Stella image would suit the occasion perfectly! If you want her too you can find her here in the Bugaboo store.

I'm no housewife material myself, no good cook (I usually burn something), and when cleaning I start in every room, leaving a mess, but in that way I HAVE to finish what I started. I'm organized though, going through closets and drawers once a quarter, a rather good habit that I've kept from the days I needed to move a lot.

Enough embarrising details about me, let's focus on my card:
Image colored with Promarkers. DPs are from Doodlebug Design and Authentique. White gems and a leftover piece of flower ribbon found in my stash. Very simple really, I wanted Stella to be the star on this card.

I would also like to try my luck in these challenges with my card:
1) Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
2) Brown Sugar – #118 Anything Goes

Little Wizard

Today is the start of a new Stella Says Sketch challenge over at Catch the Bug, and this is my Guest Designer card.

My sister seems to be in constant need of cards for young boys as her two sons now are in school and they seem to be invited to so many birthday parties. So I decided to go with this cute wizard, you can find him in the Bugaboo store here.
As background I used a chevron patterned DP decorated with stars, I used a MB stencil and embossing paste. The border is made with a scrap piece, I used a MS border punch and decorated with twine and stamped a birthday greeting.

I'd also like to participate in these challenges with my card:
1) Top Tip Tuesday - Chevrons
2) Open-Minded Challenges - #22 Halloween or Dressing Up
3) C.R.A.F.T. - #283 Fantasy
4) Allsorts - Masculine

Christmas Mouse with Ornaments

Happy weekend everybody! Today I want to share with you my GDT card for Catch the Bug where the theme is Anything Goes.

Christmas seems to be just around the corner, so I decided to make a Christmas card with the adorable mouse that you can find in the Bugaboo store here.

I'm addicted to DPs, so it's very rare I don't use any on my card, but for this one I stuck to plain red, white and kraft paper. I used a snowpen to make the snow and the image is colored with Promarkers and a gold gel pen. I added twine and a gold metal bell, and the sentiment is a piece of fabric.

I'd also like to participate in these challenges with my card:
1) Fab 'n' Funky - #235 Christmas
2) Little Claire's -  #50 Christmas
3) Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - No patterned paper