The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 - Reminder

Over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge we're playing with Guest elf Chris Lawlor, and she's picked a perfect theme to start a new year of Christmas cardmaking for us.

Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Chris made this gorgeous gate-fold card for our challenge.

 

And, as always, I've created a card inspired by our guest's original card. There was so much to be 'wowed' by with Chris's card and it took me a while to decide where to head with my card, but this is how things ended-up.

I like how Chris paired the pink inked patterns with the white card. I did try it for my card, but it looked a little stark so I stamped on pink cardstock and liked the warmer look. I noticed Chris had used gold thread for her baubles (such a nice detail) so decided to add some gold to my card too. A few darker pink gems finished the clean, simple look I was trying to achieve. The Christmas tree images are from this lovely Simon Says Stamp set. 

My second card playing this theme is this one:

IRL, this card looks so full of sparkle, but just won't photograph to show the WOW glitter embossing at all. I'm sure you'll all recognise this Big and Bold Snowflake from Colorado Craft Company. It doesn't look as if this is available these days, but they do have other lovely snowflakes for sale here. 

Rudolph has picked a fabby prize for his first Random Raffle of the new year.

Santa, Baby!

Bless Lauren and Steph, AKA The Jingle Belles - they always have such fun Christmas challenges on offer over at their gorgeous blog! Congrats to them both as this will be their sixteenth year of challenges. 

Their current challenge has the prompt No Time Like the Presents and they'd like to see us use wrapping paper on our cards or tags. I had some gorgeous pieces of retro-ish Santa paper, then I began eyeing a chocolate box sleeve with a huge red snowflake and here's what happened!

I'm not sure if this will stay as a tag or become a card, so I've not punched a ribbon slot. I think either could be fun. The red hologram card is so pretty and a few snippets have found their way into my stash with a view to making a Valentines appearance. 

Here's the original paper and would you just look at that - I still have a few jolly Santa's left to play with!

Happy crafting, everyone! 

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

There's still too much snow outside to venture very far here in my part of the world. Although I live in the suburbs of Birmingham, UK, I live on a very steep hill and the only things that can make it up or down the road are children on the sledges! What a great excuse to hide in my cosy craftroom and play with ink, paper and pens.

I'm still playing with my Globeland kitties set. I really like these fun, chunky cats and decided to make a slightly belated New Year card for a fellow fan of felines. Trying saying that in a hurry!

Because of the weather the light is really poor, but hopefully you get the gist. I really like how you can position these two so that they appear to be looking at each other. Cute.

I'm playing along at Little Red Wagon as The Girlfriends play Happy New? for Challenge #840 (new stamps and new year)...

and at Fiki's fabulous Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge. 

Happy Sunday to you all!

Happiest of Birthdays...

Hi guys, I don't know about you but I often feel the need to go and hide away from the World in my craft room. Today was one of those days. Anyhoo, here's what happened while I was in retreat. 

It's my friend's birthday next week, so I made a kitty card to help her celebrate. I used this cutie from a Globeland set and a sentiment from Sunshine and Bee Designs. I can't provide links to either of these as one doesn't seem quite legit and the other has vanished. The background is one of my gel press prints. 

I'm linking my card to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More where the gang are playing Birthdays for Challenge #508.

The cat stamps are new goodies, so Darnell's place and NBUS Challenge #82 is the place to play! 

And last, but certainly by now means least, Fiki's fabulous Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge. 

So many shops and challenges are closing or have closed recently; I was delighted to be able to play at the above. Thanks so much to the blog owners and their DTs for keeping going. It's not easy right now. 

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Welcome, welcome, welcome... I hope you had a very Happy Christmas and that the New Year is being kind!

We have a very talented Elf to get 2026 started at The Christmas Kickstart as we welcome the lovely Chris Lawlor. 

Chris has chosen a wonderful theme for our first challenge of the year...

Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

And you can see her gorgeous card by heading over to Kickstart HQ.

Here's what I made for our Challenge, and let me tell you I am totally smitten with this sweet gal and her polar bear friend.  

Just before Christmas I was delighted to find a UK stockist for Sweet November Stamps, and so, naturally, I had to have a little spend. I was good, honest... Just the two stamp sets. How abstemious of you, Jo, I hear you say! 

My second card for this challenge is this one, and to be honest, I'm not sure it's floating my boat or rockin' my socks. I like the Paper Smooches Wise Dies bow and the Concord and 9th Jolly Dies, but I think I should have chosen my paper strip combination a little better and also worked on not getting gaps. Never mind, we all live and learn!

 

Rudolph has a lovely prize on offer. And, he'd like you to know that he's had a little makeover. He simply cannot wait to hear your thoughts on his new look! Come and take a peek.

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge ##270 - N is for New or Never

The Sisterhood are starting the New Year in great form as we invite you to play N is for New or Never!

I'm playing with two NEVER stamps as I've not inked-up Dorothy and Alice before. 

The girl's are from Visible Image, and you can find Alice here and Dorothy here. I enjoyed adding embossing powder to Dorothy shoes for that essential ruby slipper sparkle. 

I've had idea this in my head for a while after seeing a fun meme of this pair, but needed a little push from the sistahs to bring it to fruition. I'm glad I did as it's quite fun and I think I'll keep it on my desk to give me a chuckle from time-to-time. 

I'm linking this project over at a totally-new-to-me Challenge Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge Quest. 

I'm not 100% sure if Alice and Dorothy are quite what the Heart's Quest gals have in mind, but it's an Anything Goes Challenge for this month so I'll keep my fingers crossed. This looks like such a fun place to play and the DT inspiration is great! 

Our Queen for our challenge at SoSS is Michelle, and she's created a super-fun card to help us launch a new theme and a new year of snarky fun. I hope you'll come and play along!