Bah! Humbug! Challenge #6 - Snowmen

It's been another amazing week for us over at Bah! Humbug!   We've had such fun browsing your blogs admiring all the fabulous cards created for our Holly Challenge.  Thanks to everyone who took the time and made the effort to join in. 
Today's the day we announce the winner of that fabulous Papermania Christmas paper pack and also set the theme for this week's challenge, which is ...  SNOWMEN.

I used this cute Skating Snowman stamp from Serendipity and heat embossed the image with holographic embossing powder before colouring him with Promarkers.  I still haven't quite got the hang of these yet but they do say practice makes perfect so I'll keep at it.

I used a quickie glue pen to add extra holographic embossing powder to his face and body.  If you click on the image you'll see the effect.  Once set with the heat gun it gives a lovely sparkle and thankfully it stays put, unlike glitter.
An X-Cut decorative corner punch was used before matting this cutie onto purple card and layering onto complementary patterned papers. 
Adhesive gems came to the rescue to 'bling' it up a bit and the glittery letters help to add some extra sparkle.
I can't wait to see what beauties will be unveiled for this week's challenge and hope that you will find the time to play along with us and join in the fun. 
I am going to post a link at Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge because it fits in with his 'Punch It and Bling It' theme, even though I'm more than a week late.  Fortunately Fab is very forgiving.

Valentine Wishes

I decided to try something a little different this year and make my husband's Valentine card using Anna Griffin paper - probably not the most obvious choice for a man, as she is reknowned for very feminine designs. 

However as I decided on a black and white colour scheme, I think it just about works.  Fingers crossed that he likes it although he won't actually see it until 22nd Feb.  Work commitments mean he will miss the Lurrrrve Day altogether.  Shame ... but never mind.
As you can see it is yet another easel card but this time I have made the front upstand section in the shape of a scalloped heart - just to be a bit different and to save you getting bored.
The small hearts are punched from silver mirri card and adhesive gems are added for a little sparkly accent.

I used a cuttlebug embossing border on a strip of black card and then highlighted the text with silver embossing powder.  As you will see if you look closely, there were a few stray flecks that I missed but let's pretend that the spatter effect was deliberate.
The stamped sentiment across the base panel is a Docrafts stamp which was also embossed with silver and it reads ..."From My Heart To Yours".

Sheeesh ... am I a romantic or what?

Talking of romantic ... there are several love themed challenges to choose from in blogland this week, but I decided to enter just a couple ... or three ... or ... hang on ...  make that four!
Challenge #53 over at The Pink Elephant is 'Mushy Gushy Valentine' so although my effort is probably a bit lacking in both the mushy and the gushy stuff, I think it'll do.
Challenge #78 at My Time To Craft is 'Hearts and Kisses' so it definitely qualifies for that one - loads'a hearts.
Our Creative Corner have a Masculine Valentine theme and Creative Card Crew are all 'loved up' with their latest Challenge #44 being Valentines.
That'll do methinks - don't want to overdo it.
Hope you all enjoy sharing a wonderful Valentine's Day with a special someone in your life ... but if you don't have a special someone then just make sure you treat yourself.  You deserve it!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #5 - Holly

February is always a busy month for crafters in every corner of the globe because, of course, we have Valentine's Day to celebrate on the 14th.
On a personal level, it is also a month jam-packed with birthdays and celebrations for my friends and family, so I'd hoped to be much more organised than I actually am at this point.  Hmmmm ... Do you detect a recurring complaint here LOL?!
Not to worry ... I'm kick-starting my February crafting with this card for our Bah! Humbug! Christmas Challenge #5.

Irene decided on "HOLLY" as the theme and as it's the first challenge of the month, there is a lovely prize on offer for one lucky random entry!  You've got to be "innit to winnit" so get yourself over there sharpish and join in 'cos 
"... it could be YOU!"
Time restrictions has meant that my sample card is very simple this week. 

I used another of my new Cuttlebug Christmas embossing folders, (an exclusive set from Oh My Crafts), on a piece of smooth white card and then cut around the wreath with decoupage snips. 

This was then mounted with foam pads onto 2 layers of pretty white and gold holly background paper matted with gold mirri card. 
The background paper has a lovely soft pearlescent sheen which the camera is just not picking up, but trust me when I say it is quietly luxurious in real life.
A greeting is placed across the centre of the wreath and that's that! 
Job done!
No ribbons ... no gems ... no glitter ... no ink ... no colouring ... no fuss.
If you'd prefer to see something more exciting, then please check out the other samples made by my "Humbugger Buddies" Ann and Irene.  You won't be disappointed I can assure you.

Bah! Humbug! Baubles

It's Friday again - and that means it's time for another Bah! Humbug! Challenge.
It's the last one for the month of January and the theme this time is BAUBLES.

I decided to be brave and cut into some gorgeous K. & Co. double-sided papers from a collection called Blue Awning to decorate an easel card.

The baubles were created by cutting squares and following the first steps of a tutorial for making a 3D snowflake HERE ... something I had intended doing for last Christmas but never quite managed to find the time.  

Hmmm ... I think I cut my strips a smidgeon too thinly as they're a touch flimsy compared to the tutorial version, but are obviously on a smaller scale to fit the card.

After embossing snowflakes with the cuttlebug on a panel of blue cardstock, I heat embossed it with gold and adhered it as a contrasting panel. 

The greeting is a simple 'Seasons Greetings' peel off sticker mounted onto more blue cardstock embossed with gold around the edges which are layered with strips from that delicious paper and more peel offs provide the bauble chains. 
A large blue ribbon bow adds the finishing touch to the similarily layered centre panel.

If you'd like to see what the other ladies have been up to for this week's challenge then hop over to
Bah! Humbug! and take a peek.
Hopefully their super cards will encourage you to join in and we'll all have lots of cards to choose from this year - with no stress involved!!

Dotty-licious Dress

When I saw the challenge for Polka Dots, A Bow and Pink over at The Pink Elephant this week, I couldn't resist having a go with this dress template which I've had in a box for ages waiting to be used.  
Coincidently it also ties in nicely with My Graphico challenge for shaped cards so it's a 2-in-1 for me.
I covered the skirt, front and back, in pink dotty-licious paper before scallop trimming the bottom and used plain black card which had been 'cuttled' with swiss dots for the bodice. 

After tying a small bow from some pretty pink dotty ribbon, a few pink and black adhesive gems and a wee flourish of feathers are all that's needed to add the finishing touches.

Card for Andrew

This card and matching notebook was made for a brave 15 year old young man called Andrew, who has recently had major foot surgery, (one of many surgeries over the years), and is now at home recuperating - probably driving his mum daft into the bargain. 
His mum put out an appeal in the hope that we crafters would help keep his spirits up during his recovery time, which I understand is about 6-8 weeks.

To read the background and get updates on Andrew's progress CLICK HERE.
As there was a special request not to send cards showing boys being active in consideration of his condition,  I decided to dig out some junk food monster stickers ... according to his mum he's a "see food and eat it" kinda' guy! ...  and I also included some sweet treats in the parcel for him to munch on.

Hopefully my wee gesture will help to speed up his recovery and I'm sure it will boost his confidence to know that there are people out there in blogland who care.  If you would also like to help bring some sunshine into Andrew's day then pop over to Julye's blog and read her original appeal HERE
 

Gold'n'Sentiment

Following Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge again this week meant using 'Gold' - in one form or another - and a sentiment.

My take on this was to play safe and use gold mirri card - not very adventurous of me I know 'cos I use it all the time - but just so's you don't think I'm too boring, I opted to make a zig zag card.

Makes it a little bit more interesting don't you think?

The background papers are all matted onto panels of gold mirri card, leaving a narrow border and then attached to the card blank. 
I thought the Merry Christmas section made a nice contrast to the gold leafy patterned paper.

The sentiment, from Hot Off The Press Christmas Paper Stack,  was embossed with holographic embossing powder before matting onto gold mirri card tag shapes. 
It really glistens beautifully when the light catches it.

I was itching to use my new Cuttlebug Christmas tree folder which arrived the other day, so cut a strip of gold mirri card to decorate the back panel - I just love those trees and will probably wear that folder out this year.

Not much more to say really except that's another card for the 2010 Festive Stash ...  that's got to be good hasn't it?

Bah! Humbug! Challenge 3 - All That Glitters

It was Ann's turn to set the Bah! Humbug! Challenge this time and she opted for a favourite among crafters young and old - 'Glitter'

Now this is where I hold my hands up and confess that I'm really not a fan of the sparkly stuff - SHOCK!  HORROR!  I KNOW!!
Don't get me wrong!  I LOVE how it looks on finished projects, but HATE how it gets everywhere.
Puh-Lease don't pretend you don't know what I mean!

In your hair ... up your nose ... manoeuving it's way into unmentionable places where even Heineken can't reach!   
*Shudder* ... it's gritty! ... like sand - AND - what's more it stays around for months, winking at you in the lights, even though you vacuum your carpets to within an inch of their lives and scrub yourself ruthlessly each time you wash! ... *double shudder*

Anyway,  because I love my dear friend Ann, (and I'd hate to be responsible for making her cry), out came some sparkly silver gritter ... errr I mean ...glitter from a deep 'black hole' in my stash.

I clenched my teeth ... took a deep breath ... then took another one ... and managed to produce a couple of card duos.

There are 2 x DL size and 2 x 5" square size cards, decorated with some free vintage Christmas images from Dover Publications mounted onto silver mirri card and coloured cardstock.

The background paper and sentiment used on the DL cards are from HOTP Christmas Paper Pack and the smaller angel cards are backed with patterned paper, which was found in my scrap box. 

The sparkly stuff has now been banished back to it's 'black hole' where it will hopefully stay ... at least for the foreseeable future.

And as for the cards ... well it's safe to say they are not the best cards I have ever produced and would probably have looked nicer if I had used ultra-fine glitter, but they are currently sealed in cellophane bags and will stay there, in a locked vault until such time as they are tentatively released, written, placed gingerly in an envelope and delivered to some poor unsuspecting soul sometime in December. 

Ann, Irene and myself - the resident 'HumBuggers' - are all looking forward to cruising your blogs again this week to see what glittery gorgeousness you have produced.

Oh! ... Psssssstttttt ... keep your eyes peeled over at Bah! Humbug! this week 'cos there's going to be a wee treat for someone - can't say 'who' ... can't say 'what' ... and can't say 'when' - it's exciting stuff huh?

Vintage Santa

Over at Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge this week, the theme was Vintage Colours and/or Stripes, so just to make sure I'm covered, I included both.

The Santa image was free from Dover Publications and was printed onto hammered card for a textured effect before rounding the corners and inking the edges.  In hindsight I should probably have matted it onto gold mirri card as well - maybe next time!
The green patterned paper is from my scrap box and the stripey paper and sentiment are from a paper stack produced by HOTP which is filled with fabulous designs perfect for achieving the vintage look.  
A strip of gold mirri card is used to cover the join and is mounted on foam pads behind the image.
Better get this over there before he sets this week's challenge!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #2

The response to our 1st Bah! Humbug! Challenge was amazing and you can't imagine what a pleasure it was to visit your blogs, see all your wonderful recycled creations and feel the buzz of enthusiasm.

The winner of the prize draw for the Elusive Images stamp set has been announced as well as the details of our new Loyalty Scheme so hop over to Bah! Humbug! to check out the action.

Irene set the topic for our Challenge this week and is asking us to use New/Nearly New Christmas Stash.
Sooooooo 
... if you were lucky enough to receive some new crafty goodies from Santa  
OR
... if you have treated yourself to some Christmas themed Crafty bargains in the sales ...
OR
... if you have some goodies stashed away for weeks that you haven't yet used, then we want to see what they are and what you plan to do with them!
I was a very lucky girl indeed and must've been 'extra-specially good' last year because Santa brought me 2 wonderful themed kits from Fidgeon's Crafts. 

Actually, it said on the labels that one was from my husband and one from my son ... but we all know that Santa could've confiscated them if I had been too naughty!
Both the 'All Occasions' and the 'Male' kits were packed with delicious papers ... mouth-watering ribbons... eye catching embellishments ... and countless other bits of crafty-licious gorgeousness to play with and drool over.
I'm sure you can imagine the squeals of delight in our house on Xmas morning!

Shown above is the Christmas pack included as part of the "All Occasions" kit and as you can see there are plenty of scrummylicious goodies there.

I decided to do a pop-up card, (or pop-out if you prefer), and chose the presents paper from the pack, designed by KI Memories which has a lovely pearlescent sheen but unfortunately it doesn't show in the photos.

A triangle was cut from silver mirri card, (which had been 'cuttled' with Swiss Dots), to represent a pop up tree and some vibrant pink satin ribbon to match the epoxy sticker sentiment on the front face, adds a splash of pink.


I took the liberty of showing a close-up of the simple cut out section which makes the tree stand proud.

**For the benefit of anyone who is curious, the base card consists of 2  x pre-scored card blanks stuck together at right angles to ensure stability when on display.
Let's face it ... we all know how irritating it can be when a card you have lovingly created constantly topples over whenever someone walks past and this simple trick solves that problem!**

We hope that the enthusiasm shown by so many talented blog buddies is duplicated for our 2nd challenge and continues throughout the weeks to follow.
Thank you to everyone for your support, we really do appreciate it.

January Card Rush

Blimey!  January's been quite busy for cards and as you've already seen 2 of the Challenge cards for my 2010 Christmas stock,  I thought I'd show you some of the others I've made.

Today my parents celebrate their 52nd Wedding Anniversary - no mean feat by anyone's standards.  My poor dad hasn't been well for a while now and, with the added problem of the nasty weather,  was unable to get to the shops for a card for mum, so I felt quite chuffed when he phoned and asked me to make him one.
I used one of the gorgeous Kanban Art Deco ladies from a QVC kit to make a large easel card.  I think these images look so classy and seem to be quite popular at the moment at a particular well-known card shop in town, so a pretty safe bet really. 
The front panel is A4 sized and already lightly glittered so needed very little extras to make an impact, hence my only contribution was the addition of a couple of adhesive gems and some gold peeloffs.   
Rather less impressive is the card I sent from us, which was from a different Kanban kit and I must apologise for the rather blurry photo.   Should've uploaded it and checked before I sealed the envelope really, but hey ho, not to worry.
Again,  the only additions are a strip of pink ribbon, a gold peel off and some gold mirri card for matting the background card - which is beautifully foiled with musical notes.

My aunt and uncle also celebrated their Anniversary this month and I made a card for them from the same kit as above.
Despite this I'm pleased that their card has a completely different feel,  which is one of the joys of these comprehensive - and in my humble opinion - great value kits.   Although I feel it my duty to warn you that QVC are quite heavy handed with their postage charges, which has obviously got to be taken into consideration when ordering from them.  I tend to check out their Clearance section or wait for the crafty TSV's as the discounts can often compensate for the hefty postal charges.
Anyway ... again everything, including the sentiment, was part of the kit so very easy to put together with just a few foam pads to add dimension and a strip of mirri card behind the image.

Finally, this card was created using 3 Bugs in a Rug - Celebrate Words double sided paper which was part of the Fidgeon's Crafts - 'All Occasions' kit I received for Christmas from my son.
The Pink Elephant Challenge #49 asks that we make a birthday card - so I'm chuffed that I can join in again after such a long absence.

The blue panel was embossed on the Cuttlebug with Swiss Dots before mounting onto the card blank and then the patterned panel was offset to the left, after matting onto gold mirri card and adding a strip of green ribbon for decoration.  
The matching adhesive sentiment sticker was popped onto a scalloped circle, pierced with a pokey tool, before overlapping both panels.

Hopefully, my Aunt liked her birthday card when it landed.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #1

The time has come at last for Bah! Humbug! Challenges to start and we thought we'd ease you in gently for our Challenge #1 with some "recycling" ... something we're all very good at!

As crafters, we have a tendency to unabashedly strip naked all those lovely shop bought cards and gifts we receive before sending them to the paper crusher ... so I hope you have been clipping, dissecting and hoarding well because we want you to create a card using some of those bits you have salvaged.

I removed these pretty organza ribbon bows from our Christmas Crackers because they were screaming at me to save them ... and I never refuse a cry for help. 

It was obvious that they would look fabulous on a set of matching notecards, which was the original intention, but when I saw them laid out on the craft desk, I changed my mind and decided to make an organza flower instead.  So out came the silicon glue and some punched circles of silver mirri card and within minutes the layers were done.
 

While that was drying, I cut a strip from some fabulously extravagant, luxury Kanban Christmas mirri card and adhered it to a DL card blank.

Believe me when I say that the reflection on this card is positively awesome!

Then it was a simple case of adding an adhesive snowflake to the ribbon flower and popping it onto the front of the card - what could be easier than that? 
I hope you agree that this card looks quite classy enough and needs nothing else.

If you would like to join in and get ahead of the game for Christmas 2010 with our Bah! Humbug Challenges, and maybe even win a fabby set of Elusive Images stamps, then simply click on the link below and we'll look forward to seeing all your fabulous creations over the coming year.

Snowman

Incredibly, we've almost reached the end of the 1st week of the New Year ... indeed the new decade!

I have the feeling it's going to fly past even faster than 2009 and will leave me behind if I don't get a shake on.

Last year I was a late starter over at Fab's Big Christmas Cards Challenge blog and tried, unsuccessfully, to play catch up and then, sadly, fell by the wayside near the end.  
So I promised myself that this year I would join in from the beginning and hopefully the combination of Fab's Challenges and our very own Bah! Humbug! Challenges - which start tomorrow - will make doubly sure I won't be caught short this year.  That's the theory anyway!

Fab's Challenge #1 is to use a tall card and frosty colours.  I followed his lead by using a snowman as the focal point, although mine is from the cute Patchwork Pals kit from QVC.  A simple strip of silver mirri card, embossed with snowflakes adds a little extra detail.

Now ... all I need to do is make sure I keep up to speed with both Challenges every week and my 2010 Xmas Card Box should be well stocked by December.

**Welcome 2010 **

Sincere Thanks To All Who Have Visited My Wee Corner of Blogland.
Hope Good Health and Happiness Share Your Days In 2010

"Lang May Yer Lum Reek!"

Luv'n'Stuff
Max

xx

**BAH! HUMBUG!**

Don't worry - that's not how I'm feeling but the name of a new Challenge Blog that I will be involved with in 2010, along with my good blog buddies Ann and Irene.

We all have good intentions to start early making our Christmas cards and tags etc., but most of us don't.  We leave it until the last minute and end up rushing around trying to get everything finished.  Our challenge blog hopes to help you kick start your Christmas cards in January and continue throughout the year so when the mad rush of Christmas arrives you will be feeling all smug, with a fabby stash of cards ready to post.
Our first BAH! HUMBUG! challenge begins on Friday 8th January, when we hope you will join us to try to take some of the stress out of Christmas leaving more time to enjoy ourselves. 
We would love it if you would join us and take the first step to stockpiling your 2010 Christmas Cards so just click the image to hot-foot it over there.

So ... here's a little clue about our first challenge. 

"It might be a good idea when you're tearing off the wrapping paper and opening those special choccies to watch out for any rather nice ribbons or embellishments because you just might need them".

xx Merry Christmas Everyone xx

May Your Hearts and Homes Be Filled

With Love and Laughter For Christmas and Throughout 2010

Luv'n'Stuff

Holiday Wishes

Here is a selection of cute snowman cards which were made yesterday, each one slightly different so's not to be boring.

As you can see I need much more practice lining up the dots before embossing large areas in the Cuttlebug - whoops!

The "Holiday Wishes" greeting was computer generated and would be particularly appropriate for occasions when you are sending a card to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas - whether for religious reasons or 'cos they suffer from the dreaded "Bah Humbug" affliction - but they would know you are thinking of them anyway.

The papers are Dovecraft 'Christmas Blues' from last years' stash -I bought a lorry load of them 'cos I liked them so much and then didn't use them.

Madness I know!

When I got fed up playing with the snowman, I made a very simple easel card using a different paper from the same range, some silver mirri card, metallic snowflake embellishments and a small dash of ribbon.
Sometimes you simply don't need an image as a focal point.

Condolences

This simple card was sent to my Sister-in-Law's dad following the death of his second wife, Nan.

Sadly she finally lost her battle with Breast Cancer last week, after almost 5 years of treatments and surgeries.
Nan was a genuine, wonderfully kind & generous lady, who always saw the good in people, (even when no one else could), and at the young age of 53, was taken from her family and friends far too soon.

She truly will be missed by everyone who ever knew her.
RIP Nan xx

Christmas Card Frenzy

Here are a few of the cards I made this weekend ... they were orders for friends and used elements from QVC TSV (Today's Special Value) kits - and just in case you don't recognise them, they are characters from Forever Friends and Patchwork Pals.
Neither customer wanted anything too elaborate and fancy so they were quite quick to make but I confess to feeling the urge to add a ribbon or two or a wee sprinkle of glitter - how I managed to restrain myself to just 2 wee bows I'll never know!

There are more than enough left overs to make some more so I can satisfy those cravings to my hearts' content - if I can find the time, of course.