Hooked on Winter #13

Over at Hooked on Craft this fortnight, we are having a Winter Wonderland challenge. Perfect for me 'cause I can use my new snowflake punches and this cute little charm and image - both from the Hooked on Craft on line store.

I am entering 'frosty' here in the following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts #47 Winter Blues

Crafty Sentiments Metal

Bearly Mine #24 All my favourite things - Dots, Stripes and Bling

4 Crafty Chicks #65 Snowflakes

Charisma Cardz #46 Snowflakes
Just Inspirational #4 Snow theme
Dream Valley #21 Sparkle

Winter Wonderland #97

Michelle's Scrapbooking and More are our sponsors this week at Paper Sundaes where we are having a 

'Winter Wonderland' theme.

I bought this so so cute Magnolia and thought that she would look perfect in her winter whites.

Living in Melbourne Australia, we have been known to have four seasons in one day. (Quite often actually). So I raked up some Autumn leaves, planted some Spring seedlings, soaked up the Summer sun and then came inside to put the heater on and make this Wintery card. And that was just this morning!  

I have used my Copics to colour in and the Echo Park Dots and Stripes 6 x 6 paper pad.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Shopping our Stash #27 Christmas or Winter

Partytime Tuesdays #43 Snow us what you got

Bearly Mine #24 All my favourite things: Dots Stripes

and Bling

Little Red Wagon #108 Winter Theme

Aud Sentiments #42 Winter Sentiments

4 Crafty Chicks #65 Snowflakes

Charisma Cardz #46 Snowflakes

Moving Along with the Times Ribbons and Bows

Simply Create Too #1 Christmas

Craft your days away #34 Ribbons or Bows

2 Sisters #67 Festive Holiday

Stamptacular #140 Anything Christmas

Dream Valley #21 Sparkle

Beautiful Bows #96

IF by some chance you are expecting a Christmas card from me this year - LOOK AWAY NOW! Cause this may be it.

I have a group of friends and we all make each other cards for Christmas and exchange them at a Christmas dinner (you know who you are).

Don't we all love that surprise of opening up the envelope to see what each of us has created for each other.

Well, if you dont look away now, then you are going to miss out on that surprise feeling.

You will just end up with a 'oh, I have seen this card before' feeling.

Dont worry, I will surprise you all with $50 cash inside each card.

Yeah right! 

If I were you, I would be looking away now :)

Beautiful Bows. That is our theme this week at Paper Sundaes. We are sponsored by Simon Says Stamps and the image I have used is from the new Magnolia Sweet Christmas Dreams 2011 collection called 'Something for you Tilda'. The green roses are courtesy of Hooked on Craft and the bow was made by ... me ... me and and my bow easy. Is there a different one for left handed people cause I think that I have a right handed one :)

I am entering this card in the following challenges: 

Incy Wincy #120 Pop it up/Sentiment/Flowers

Just Magnolia #133 Ribbons

Divas by Design #15 Monochromatic

Winter Wonderland Cute Christmas image

OLLCB #93 Ribbon/Die Cut/Sparkle

Creatalicious Challenge #28 Christmas and Sparkle

2 Sisters #66 Let it Sparkle

Hooked on punched shapes #12

Over at Hooked on Crafts challenge we are hooked on something punched or diecut.

This super cute reindeer stamp is available from the Hooked on Crafts on line store as well as many other fabulous stamps. 

The papers I have used are from Echo Park 'Seasons Greetings' range and I have punched those circles out of one of these papers. Plus, thank goodness for my square punches - would hate to be without them.

Rather than fill this sleigh with gifts, I thought that this little sentiment was more fitting and I think that Rudolphs friend here agrees.

Don't forget - you have two weeks to enter!

Off to drive to work - by myself!

Pink Cat digi #95

Pink Cat Studio are our sponsors this week over at Paper Sundaes and our theme is "Use a digi" - another easy one for you all. This little cutie is called "Betty Tree Costume".
Pink Cat Studio have very generously offered 5 digis of your choice to the random winner.

I decided to combine my love of dots and stripes by using this 6 x 6 paper pad from Echo Park called - funnily enough - 'Dots and Stripes'.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown #74 Favourite colour combo

Top Tip Tuesday #59 Anything Christmas goes

Charisma Cardz Cutesy

C.R.A.F.T. #128 Cute
Stamptacular #138 Punch It

The Secret Crafter #160 Spots and Stripes

By the way - the driving went well. We had no mishaps with other cars, there were no pedestrian injuries, no curbs were mounted and no trees came to any harm. So, maybe next time we will venture out of the vacant car park - mmmm - maybe not just yet.

Honesty is the best policy

Do you know what it is like when you just want to step out of your comfort zone .. do something a little bit different ... take a chance .... try something new?

Well that is exactly what this card is all about.

I chose a paper that I wouldn't normally work with.
I wet (under the tap - wet!) paper flowers.
I crumbled and I scrunched.
I distressed edges with my new 'Gathered Twigs' ink pad.
I added bits that I wouldn't normally add and
I chose 'rarely used' Copic markers. (Yes I do have some of those).

I did however, grant myself one luxury and that was using this adorable image from CC designs and ..... this is what I came up with.

Finished and sitting on my desk (the card - not me) I pondered whether or not my 'taking a chance' also included posting the card on my blog.

I knew that I could rely on an honest and constructive opinion from my daughter (since I asked her not to use the phrase 'euk' when critiquing).

"Oh no. I don't think so!" she said

She would really like me to take her practice driving on Saturday but,

"Oh no. I don't think so!" I said

Amazingly, since she has taken a second look at my card - all of a sudden it has some good elements to it. The bow looks good - the image is cute - that little fence is adorable.

So, we are off driving tomorrow and I cant wait to show her my next card because I really value her honest opinion. :-)

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft #167 Textalicious
Make my Monday #23 Christmas
Top Tip Tuesday #59 Anything Christmas goes
Deep Ocean #12 Vintage
Crafting for all Seasons #13 Texture

A Rectangle #94

So all you have to do is .... a rectangle. Gee, we make it so so easy for you to join in over at Paper Sundaes.

Tickled Pink are our sponsor for this week and that is where I picked up this little cutie - Party Pinkette Coraline. She looks as if her feet are not touching the ground so up in the clouds she went.

I am really loving all my twine that I purchased from the Twinery. Fabulous colours! and now everything is getting wrapped up in twine! Plus those 6 x 6 paper pads are still a favourite of mine and this one is Vanity Fair by My Minds Eye. A friends cloud punch came in handy (thanks Kerry) and .... goes without saying - Copic markers feature as always.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Allsorts #128 Anything but a square
Little Miss Muffet #21 Clouds
4 Crafty Chicks #62 Die Cuts
Tickled Pink #44 Anything Goes