Snowy scene

I have no shame about making Christmas cards all year round! I've had this stamp a while, but not been quite sure how to use it.

Nacho's sketch this week is deceptively simple, and it had me stumped. At the beginning of the weekend I prepped a list of open challenges that I like to follow and was mooching through my craft room thinking about what I could use. I was flicking through my files of stamps and came across this gem, suddenly a whole different take on the sketch, and a perfect tie in to Tis the Season's photo inspiration. Colour CASE'd, along with the snowflakes from Rocky's card at CASE-ing Christmas. 

Simple monochrome, with a little bit of sparkle - a nice way to join in for the first time at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Colour extended into the background with some clear embossed snowflakes for contrast.

Nacho Average #145
Tis the Season #44 - Photo Inspiration: Santa's Snowy Night
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - June Colour Challenge: Black, White and one colour
CASE-ing Christmas #44

Stencilled Bouquet

Brace yourselves, I've had an arty crafty weekend, and I'm throwing it all up in close succession. I find if I switch the computer on I lose my mojo, so I've just been pootling along creating things.

First, a bi-colour challenge from Colour Me. I've missed lots of colour challenges lately, and I like them. I've discovered they need time and attention, I can produce something quickly, but it's not usually quite developed enough.

This bouquet is the product of two Clarity Stencils, and one of their line sentiments. The first time I sponged a vase through a stencil was at last year's Clarity workshops, and I remember how tentative I was. Nine months on, a revelation, my confidence is growing. Layout from Freshly Made Sketches and image inspiration from Simon Says Monday, to top off the list.

Freshly Made Sketches #190
Colour Me #75 - Real Red and Night of Navy
Simon Says Monday - For the love of plants

Bright Stockings

Definitely not running to time today, and I'm blaming my headache on the weather and dumping a cup of tea over my cluttered workdesk - thankfully it didn't get anything vital.

On the flip side I'm running late because I've had a lovely time colouring in, getting more familiar with my Spectrum Noir pencils which haven't come out of their tins often enough yet.

Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, I thought it looked OK when I grabbed it off the camera and tweaked the levels. By the way, I'm still struggling to figure out the best way to photograph my cards. If anyone has any tips I'd welcome them.

Sketch Saturday #364  I confess I didn't add an extra sentiment, as I thought it would detract from the image
Color Throwdown #346 - Hot Pink, Limey Green, Grey and Kraft
Addicted to Stamps and More #148 - Holiday
Sweet Stampin Christmas - Christmas Stockings
Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches (Spellbinders die for main image)

Graduated Graduation

When I first saw CASology's keyword I thought it was a 'sit it out' week. My initial thought on the word was 'colour graduation', and as you can see I've worked with that as well, inspired by 'Sunset' (fab colours like this last night) over at  Less is More! I decided to put a 'girly' spin on the theme, and use a crown instead of a mortar board (which I haven't got!).

The layout at Tuesday Morning made me think of school banners, a la Hogwarts, put together with everything else bingo - a plan

Sweet Stampin was Old and New this week - this brayering technique over versamark is probably one of the first things I saw demonstrated by Barbara Gray, and the stamps (Word Chains and Postage Stamp set) are some of my most recently acquired.

CASology #150: Graduation
Tuesday Morning Sketches #304
Less is More #227 - Sunset
Missed Deadline (stupid slow computer): Sweet Stampin - Something old, Something New

Sparkly Santa

With a whole day to myself, after catching up on my chores, I retreated to my craft room. This felt like an earned treat after ironing, vacuuming and destinking the kitchen sink ;-)

However, rather than put myself under lots of pressure trying to meet challenge deadlines, I thought I'd fish out some images to play with and see what happened.

Before I came confident enough to use all the stamps I had (! - definitely still learning) I mostly used paper crafting kits and upcycled old greetings cards. Lots of that still hanging around taking up space. I guiltily flicked through and picked out half a dozen images, one of which was this die cut centre of an old Christmas card. Most of the images have now turned into cards, quite a few for Christmas, and mostly using layouts from sketch challenges for which I hadn't managed to meet the deadlines. Very satisfying.

So there I was, minding my own business, and before I know it I've got a card I'm really proud of, and what do you know, it meets a few challenges all by itself!

Friday Mashup #212 - Realised it had got unconsciously ombred! The glittery centre almost counts as an embellishment all on its own!
Jingle Belles - Shake it Santa Baby
Shopping our Stash - Red, Red Wine
Clean and Simple FTL-15: Take Two

Special Guy

Lots of similar challenges around this week, which is great for a serial masher-upper like me. It also gives me the chance to participate in more challenges, without running myself completely ragged.

Here's a little number I knocked up this morning. I used the script stamp in the corner because I was inspired by the scripty background in the Mojo sketch. Douglas is a great 'go-to' stamp for a man's card, and it was a great opportunity to take a really bold colour palette (Black and Red Geranium Archival, Meadow Adi) and use it in a subtle way.

The sentiment feels quite high, but I can see myself adding an extra word in underneath when I know exactly what I'm going to use it for - could be birthday, or Dad, I'll wait and see.

Less is More # 226: Lucky Dip (2 or 4 legs)
Sweet Stamping - Father's Day/Special Man
Simon Says Wednesday - Make it Masculine
Color Throwdown #345 - Black, White, Red, Green
Mojo Monday #400

Living the verve

I didn't expect to be away from the blog for a whole week, but I've just had to be sensible and not spend so much time in my craft room.

My other major hobby, besides crafting, is singing, and with half-term behind us rehearsals are well and truly ramping up. Something had to give, but there's been a little bit going on, and all month I've wanted to work on all five VLV sketches, so here goes with the last two.

Sorry the pictures are a bit dark, I had to recharge my camera batteries, and the light went!

I know it's rather a CAS vintage/shabby chic, but it works for me. The crochet ribbon is something that I wouldn't normally put on a card, and if that shoe isn't chic I don't know what is :-) The green is a scrap from the card below. Stamps from Clarity, inks were Adi Salmon, some yellow that was left on my blending mat, and Distress Evergreen Bough.

Quirky #11 - Put your Quirky Shoes on
Viva la Verve May #4
Allsorts #313 - Vintage
That Craft Place - Shabby Chic
CASology #149 - Vintage
Behind deadline - Color Throwdown #344 (Coral Pink, Pale Yellow, Spring Green)

This was an exercise in bright 'ink to paper' application. Distress inks (Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Evergreen Bough, Dried Marigold) applied directly to the card with a blending tool. Also attempted a bit of 'letterpressing' with some ink and a Embossability folder. Lots of mark-making with some faux stitching around the edge. It's not in the photo, but I have subsequently gone around the blue 'tails' as well to give them a bit more definition.

Viva la Verve May #5
Sunday Stamper #358 - Breaking the Law: No stamping
Addicted to Stamps and More #147: Mark your mark
Behind deadline - Colour Me #73 (Blackberry Bliss, Rich Razzleberry, Lost Lagoon, Pumpkin Pie)