Allsorts Challenge #836

 The theme for the Allsorts Challenge this time has been chosen by Christine, who would like to see a selection of **Christmas Projects** or you could go with the *Anything Goes* option.  Prizes this time of stamps and dies - full details on the Allsorts post.

For my DT card this time I've used a Funky snowman which was stamped, coloured and fussy cut.  I started with a piece of patterned paper slightly smaller than the card blank, then die cut a red tattered circle and a smaller white one.  The white circle was stamped in grey using a lovely large snowflake stamp.  The sentiment was stamped over this in black and then I just popped the snowman in place.

Background - paper printed from a download from Buddly Crafts
Circles - unbranded dies from Amazon
Snowflake and Sentiment - stamps by Crafty Roo (sadly no longer trading)
Snowman - stamp from a set by Funky Fossil

Texture at Tag-along

 The theme for the Tag-along (and ATC) challenge this month is **Texture** which gives us lots of scope.  There is also the *anything goes* option as usual and another great prize for a lucky winner. 

I started by die cutting a large tag in cream card, which I then over stamped with some text; adding a bit of floral stamping at the bottom using Versamark and some Distress embossing powder which is years old but still gives a fairly rough texture when heated.  Next I used a stencil (again one I've had for many years) along with some gold glitter embossing paste.   A little stencilling was then added for extra interest.  The focal element is a die cut flower using scraps of card from my box of 'inky play' pieces and finally three strips of narrow border which also have embossed texture on them.  These were cut from the same inky card as the flower stem.  A scrap of gold textured ribbon and that's it - a tag for the challenge.

Tag - die set of various sizes from Tim Holtz for Sizzix
Background Text - Dictionary page stamp from Stampin' Up (long retired)
Floral Stamp - from a very old Stampers Anonymous set, Nature's Discovery
Gold Lettering - Classic Words stencil Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 (years old )
Flower - Wild Flower Stems #2 Tim Holtz for Sizzix
Border Strips - unbranded die set 

Agapanthus

 A floral card to share today and the layout is based on one of the ones which the lovely Jules has generously provided for us on her blog (Always With a Heart).  I started by smooshing some ink onto a piece of white card and, once dry, stamped the flowers onto it with a purple ink pad.  This panel was backed with a slightly larger piece of purple card.  There was enough of the inky card to cut out two butterflies which were sparkled with some Wink of Stella.  Two toning pieces of patterned paper were trimmed to size and added along with three narrow die cut scalloped strips.  The sentiment was die cut using the same colours.

Flowers - Agapanthus stamp by Stampendous (a gift from a generous friend)
Butterflies - dies from Memory Box
Sentiment - dies from Crafters Companion
Border strips - from an unbranded set of mixed borders 

Snippets Playground Challenge # 518

 I'm dashing over to the Snippets Playground to hand in my homework for the latest challenge. This card was made a little while ago when I'd been trying to  use up some stamped, coloured and die cut/fussy cut elements which had been left from previous projects.  These chicks had all been stamped onto snippets of white card.  I then used two of the sizes in the slatted square die set and cut them into snippets of kraft card, backed with squares of darker snippets.  The sentiment was also cut from another snippet of the same dark card.  Everything was then assembled onto a kraft card blank and that's it - my Snippets homework.  We certainly need our warm coats plus scarves and gloves when we go out to play and the paddling pool has been stored away for now - unless of course we get some seriously chilly conditions when it might be transformed into an ice rink, if that's permitted by 'elf and safety' 🤣🤣

Chicks and Sentiment - stamps and/or dies from long retired Stampin' Up sets
Slatted Squares - Craft Addiction UK

Rudolph Days October

 Time for another Rudolph Days card where we are encouraged to rise to the challenge for the last few days of each month (25th to the last day) - full details on the challenge blog.  I've chosen to use a set of poinsettia dies this time; die cut from some card which I'd coloured using Pixie pigment powders, spray starch and some clingfilm, all of which gives a lovely result.  I started with a square of seasonal paper to fit my card blank, followed by cutting a slatted circle into a piece of white card which was then cut with a slightly larger circular die with a tattered edge.  The poinsettia was assembled onto a small circle of scrap card - I used one of the greens which the leaves came from.  Doing it this way meant it was straightforward to just glue it in place on the almost completed card.  There are suitable words on the background paper so I decided no sentiment would be needed for this one.  

I'm sure Helen would love to see one of your Christmas card makes for this challenge so why not join in the fun.  Happy Rudolph Days!!

Slatted Circle Die - Craft Addiction UK
Tattered circle - unbranded die set
Poinsettia - Tim Holtz Sizzix die set Holiday Brush Strokes #3 - 666067

Allsorts Challenge #835

 The theme for the Allsorts Challenge this time is **Autumn** chosen by Brenda, or of course there is the usual *Anything Goes* option.  Prizes from Stamp Addicts and Simon Says - full details on the Allsorts blog post..  I've chosen to build up a scene using some of my Lavinia stamps starting with a 'smooshed' background before stamping the Acorn Dwelling, Branches and smaller acorns, adding in some Poppies and leaves.  Colouring was done using Distress Oxide inks with a little pencil work for shading.

Stamps - Autumn Abode, Berry Branch, Garden Poppy, Fairy Buttercup, Berry Leaves. Acorns

Not Just for Christmas

 A wreath isn't just for Christmas and I've made a floral birthday card to prove the point.  I started with a piece of white card slightly smaller than the card blank and used slatted circle dies to cut into the centre.   This was followed by cutting a wreath from some green card and various flowers in shades of blue.  Happily this circular sentiment fits nicely into the centre. A piece of patterned green paper was popped behind the slats.

Slatted circle - dies from Craft Addiction UK
Wreath and Flowers - dies also from CAUK
Sentiment die - from Amazon quite a while ago