Haloween Challenge

Although I don't normally do much when it comes to Halloween I am taking up the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More - as you may have guessed that is their theme for this week.  It would have been so rude not to take part this week because I was lucky enough to be chosen for the top spot last week - thanks everyone.

I was tempted recently to try the new clear stamp sets produced by Chocolate Baroque and chose the Batty Owls set, not really for the Haloween stamp particularly but for two really nice owl ones in the same set. Not used them this time but I have incorporated another owl onto the background where I've used paper printed from Essence of Nature CD and overstamped with some Nature Swirls stamps which just goes to prove how well Chocolate Baroque products can be combined using items old and new.  I made masks to produce the effect on the Batty panel using distress inks.

Make My Monday Challenge

This month on Make My Monday the theme is to be FRENCH and for this first week it is PARIS.  I decided to go for an autumnal look and yes I know that traditionally it is 'springtime in Paris' - I'm thinking outside the box here!!  Backing paper is from Prima and has been overstamped with some images from Chocolate Baroque Paris plate; the postcard was made from a scrap of kraft card and the Notre Dame image (both CB also) stamped on a scrap of watercolour paper which had been used to 'mop up' some Distress stains from a glass mat. Leaves and corn etc were cut from another piece of inky watercolour paper using a Tim Holtz Sizzix die and the sentiment was cut out using a neat die from Crealy.  There are some great French themed cards from the Design Team so well worth a look.

Vintage Travel

The theme this week on Make My Monday is VINTAGE TRAVEL and I've managed to keep up this week and actually complete a card before the time ran out.  Apologies for missing the last two weeks of this challenge but time has been flying for me.  Backing paper here is from a wonderful script pad by Prima (almost too nice to cut into) and I've overstamped with stamps from Creative Expressions; the tickets and embellishment are also CE stamps.   The main image is from a set of vintage transport stamps by Tanda - a bit of Cuttlebug embossing and some tied twine and that's it - vintage travel which could be an 'any occasion' card suitable for a man.  I almost forgot to say that apart from the piece of Prima paper everything else on the card was made using scraps from my bits boxes.

Addicted to Stamps Challenge

The challenge on the Addicted to Stamps blog is on the theme of Spring (well it is that season 'down under') even though it is autumn here.  I've gone for spring-like colours on this card and incorporated a twinchie which I'd made for a challenge using a Papermania Urban stamp - I felt had to be used rather than left lying around so I've combined it with a butterfly die cut from X-cut and I must say that poking out all those tiny butterflies took an age, but it is a pretty die so maybe worth the trouble.  The embossed panel was made using co-ordinations card in a Crafts Too folder, backing paper was a freebie from a magazine.  I added a sentiment and a scattering of butterflies cut out  using an embosslits die (Sizzix) from Stampin' Up. Take a look and see what the design team have given us for inspiration on this theme.

Christmas Angel

Before I put my quilling things away I thought I'd make this little angel which of course had to be turned into a seasonal card.  Backing paper is from my stash, the ornate oval was cut using a Sizzix die, the white oval  embossed using Cuttlebug Swiss dots.  Marianne dies were used for the poinsettia.  This card ceretainly qualifies for Judith's Forgotten Friday challenge in one respect because I dug out a box of peel-offs to find one suitable as a chain for the bauble (Stampin' Up punch shape).  When I think back at just how I used to use peel-offs pretty well all the time and now I can't really remember when I last even looked at them and believe me I have a vast collection!!

Quilled Snowflakes

I treated myself to another quilling workshop yesterday with Jill of Jills Quills and you can see pictures of the morning session on her blog, no photos of the afternoon - that's a relief!!  The theme was seasonal and we were making snowflake designs and popping them onto small cards thoughtfully provided by Jill.  I can see that with the techniques we were shown there must be an endless variety of snowflakes which could be produced using various permutations.  I managed to complete two in the class and completed the third one when I got home.

The weather has taken a turn for the worse and this morning is very dark and dreary with steady rain so a good excuse to try a few more snowflakes or maybe even some holly or a christmas tree because were were all given some extra seasonal patterns and ideas - thanks Jill.

T is for Tree

I decided to go with Trees or at least a tree as my tag for the letter T in the alphatag swap for this month.  Stamps used are from Chocolate Baroque (formerly Elusive Images) Arboretum set. Someone remarked that this challenge seems to be getting more difficult as the months go by and I'd say we have the most difficult letters yet to come.