ANNOUNCEMENT and a CHALLENGE!!

I'm so excited to announce that I am now a member of the ABC Christmas Challenge Design Team!  This team will definitely keep me on track with finishing my Christmas cards on time! I'd also like to congratulate the additional new members - Fiona, Chris, Emma and Angela.

My first challenge as a member of the design team is:

B for Bows or Boys.

You can choose Bows or Boys or Both as long as it is Christmas themed!

 

For my card, I chose both boy and boys!  I used Sock Monkey November/Winter digi by Bugaboo and colored him up with my Copics, added some glitter and glossy accents.  The paper is from the Powder Mountain collection by Bo Bunny, the ribbon and rhinestones are from my stash and the tag sentiment stamp is from LOTV.

Our first sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 digis of their choice!

 

Our second sponsor is The Ribbon Reel

Challenges:
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Recipe Challenge
Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Cold & Frosty

Born to be Wild

It's time for Cards for Men Challenge #2 - Transport. You will have until February 3rd to link your creation for a chance to win 4 digi images from our sponsor Meljens Designs!

 When I saw the Flaming Monster Truck digi by Meljens I knew I had to have it!  Having a two boys in the house I knew this digi will come in handy!  I colored the image with my Copics and added Glossy Accents to the window, headlight, flames and wheel nuts.  I wish I had some orange glitter for the flames!

When I cut the image out, I had to cut the flag off from the back of the truck.  I used a pin from the sewing kit to get the flag back flying high, think it worked quite well!  The sentiment is by Create with TLC.

 

 

I decided to make two cards 'cause I recently purchased the Hello Spaceboy mini paper pad by Prima Marketing and the papers were just screaming to be used. For the embellies, the cogs were made with a punch from Stampin Up, the plastic blue star and orange splotch are by Paper Crush, the round badges are by Making Memories and the rest is from my stash.

To give the truck some rock n' roll motion, I used a spring on the back - I wish you could see it in action, it's soooo cool!  Before you get started, here's a little blurb on our sponsor, Meljens.  Make sure you check them out!

Meljen's Designs (http://meljensdesigns.com) is a digital stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical, fun digital images inspired by her kids and family. The Meljen's Designs store officially launched on April 1 and it is steadily growing. The new store offers instant downloads, organized categories, and a search feature. We have new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Mondays and a monthly Guest Designer at the Meljen's Designs Blog (http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/). Please visit the store to find more of Melissa's wonderful images!

Challenges:
The Corrosive Challenge - Put  a pin in it
Here Come the Boys - Bingo (Blue, Buttons, Punch)
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything Goes

Time Heals

I was asked to make a sympathy card and the first thing that came to mind was "time".  This was an opportunity for me to use my new/old embossing forder "Workshop" by Couture Creations.  I've had the folder for months but have never used it ... like so many things in my stash, including the watch part embellies!

Challenges:

Paper Minutes - Time
Craft your Passion - Shabby Chic
The Crafty Bloggers Network - Flowers
The Pretty Little Ribbon - Flowers and Ribbon
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Embrace the Old
The Crazy Challenge - Without Design Paper
Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Lady Anne's Challenges - Sentimental Friday - Anything Goes

Men at Work Challenge

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Cards for Men is back in action after our holiday break so welcome to our first challenge of 2013! Our theme is "Men at Work" and will run until January 20th.

 I pulled out my rubber stamps and decided to use Plumber by Hambo Stamps.  I embossed the grey/silver paper with Rivets embossing folder by Tim Holtz.  The polka dot paper is from the Olive Paper Pad collection by BasicGrey.  I finished it up with a wrench brad and copper screw brads from my stash.
 
Our sponsor for this challenge is independent Stampin Up! Demonstrator, Carole Bryson Wood.  She will send the winner 2 Full Size Stampin Up Ink Pads (winner can choose from Subtles, Brights or Regals!)

I am an Independent Stampin Up! Demonstrator in Lancashire & surrounding areas. I teach large and small scrapbooking and craft classes. I can arrange parties in your home for crafting and non-crafting friends to suit your requirements, and where everyone is guaranteed to have a great time !  I also run a crop in the Rochdale area. Please contact me for more details at carole.bryson@gmail.com xx

 Challenges:

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Manly Cards
 Use your Stuff - The Circle Game

Kick up your heels

For Christmas I wanted to make my nieces something special and when I came across this digi by Mo Manning, Little Irish Dancer I  knew what I wanted to do.

Both nieces have been Irish Dancing for years and have traveled through the USA and Ireland competing, and winning competitions.

I colored the images with my Copic markers and purchased these frames from Michaels.  I visited our local craft shop, Creative Accents in Williams Lake and had Tara fill me with ideas and suggestions on how to dress up the frames.  I left the shop with goodies in hand and got to work.

I'm sorry the pictures are not the best quality as they really don't show the true, vibrant colors.  It was Christmas Eve and I was madly wrapping the gifts when I realized I hadn't taken a pic yet.

Merry Christmas Nicole and Lauren!



Challenges
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Anything but a Card
Hiding in My Craft Room - Freestyle
ATC's and Cards with Attitude - Anything Goes
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges - Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Any Sentiment
Bronte and Bella's Challenge - Fave Mo Image
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Not a Card
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Anything Goes
Little Miss Muffet Challenge - Anything Goes
Link Up for Pink - A Dash of Pink
Simply Create - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Anything but a Card
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Craft My Life - Anything Goes
The Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes
Paper Makeup Stamps/Digi Makeover - Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Holiday Wishes

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, spent with family and friends.  It all seems like such a blur, I was running around like my hair was on fire 4 day ago and now I'm just trying to recover!

This is one of my fave cards that I made this season and I love how it turned out.  My inspiration came from Tabbatha of The Zadis Project. Please check out her blog!

These adorable birds are by Tiddly inks and is called For the Birds and the subway art is a freebie from Eighteen25.

The inside sentiment is from the Christmas Sampler collection by Paper Smooches.

Challenges

ABC Christmas Challenge- Z is for Zoo Animals
Hotshot Craft Blog - Clean and Simple

It's Christmas!

Why am I still making Christmas cards ... they should have already been mailed!  I'm so far behind and just when I think I've caught up there's 2 more cards to make.  

I love this card, it's so simple and I love the papers/colors.  The image is a freebie from Stamp Fairy and the sentiment stamp is from Lily of the Valley.  The paper is from the Winter Wishes collection by Echo Park and the ribbon is from Stampin Up.

Challenges:

Belli Challenge - Christmas
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Christmas
Paper Minutes - Christmas Balls
ABC Christmas Challenge - "Y" Your fave Die/Punch

Day 12 - Last "Days of Christmas" at Cards for Men

It's Day 12 of the 'Days of Christmas' event at Cards for Men!

Today, our hostess is Kym.  Our sponsor today is Letraset and today's winner will receive 6 Flexmarkers!  All you have to do is leave Kym some love and a winner will be picked from the comments left on her blog.

ProMarkers are made by Letraset and are a twin tipped, dye based alcohol marker offering a high quality product at a great price. Avilable in 148 colours, they give incredible tonal range and can be applied to a diverse range of materials, not just paper and card. ProMarkers produce vivid, bright colours right through to the subtlest pastel shades - the translucent inks can also be overlaid and blended, even further extending the range of shades and hues on offer. ProMarker's quality nibs and inks provide flawless colour lay down with consistent coverage and no unsightly streaking.

Make sure you visit Cards for Men tomorrow to find out if you're the lucky winner!  Have fun!

Day 11 - Days of Christmas at Cards for Men

It's Day 11 of the 'Days of Christmas' event at Cards for Men!

Today, our hostess is Donna.  Our sponsor today is Stampin Up! and today's winner will receive winner will receive a £10 gift voucher!  All you have to do is leave Donna some love and a winner will be picked from the comments left on her blog.

Make sure you visit Cards for Men tomorrow to find out if you're the lucky winner!  Have fun!

Day 10 - Days of Christmas at Cards for Men

It's Day 10 of the 'Days of Christmas' event at Cards for Men!

Today, our hostess is Caz.  Our sponsor today is That Craft Place and today's winner will receive a £10 voucher to be spend in there shop!  All you have to do is leave Caz some love and a winner will be picked from the comments left on her blog.

Welcome to That Craft Place 

This is a Shop run By Lisa Horton .. I run an actual bricks and mortar shop in Eastbourne, East Sussex. We have every kind of craft for sale ... If you can't find it i will try by best to source it for you. We stock most leading Brands and have a huge collection of rubber stamp's , Saturated Canary , Kraftin Kimmie , My Craft Sentiments, Crafters companion , Indigo Blue , My Favorite Things, CC Designs to name a few . We also stock a large selection of Die's Memory Box, Sizzix, Spellbinder's , Cherrylyn , Marianne Dies. We have new deliveries arriving each day.

Make sure you visit Cards for Men tomorrow to find out if you're the lucky winner!  Have fun!