Getting His Tinsel In A Tangle

Hello.
Today I'm sharing an early Christmas card -  this cute James Bear, wrapped up in tinsel, with some baubles, and a present at his feet. One of my favourite (and oldest) stamps.

I loosely followed the sketch below, replacing the diamond shape with James Bear.
To start with I masked off a central area, stamped my bear, and then coloured everything with copic markers.

I added some extra lines in the grass for the lines on the sketch.

I intended to keep this flat, for easy postage, but as usual, I messed up the sentiment stamp!
 It was an easy fix though, to just re-stamp, cut out the circle and stick the sentiment on top.

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches

• lili of the valley - James wrapped in tinsel (now only available as a digi stamp)
• Sorry - I can't remember who makes the sentiment stamp.
• copic markers / white gel pen

Believe In Magic

Hello.
Who else is on a tight budget? I keep seeing all these gorgeous stamp and die sets everywhere, but they're out of my price range. I love the Spellbinders stitch dies, but they're £43 !!!

In order to make my money go further, I thought I would give some digi stamps a try. 
After some hit and miss with getting card through my printer, I finally made it work.
What do you think?

This little, wizard  (who looks just like my grandson) is from a Halloween bundle by Lili of the Valley  which includes wizards and witches, extras and sentiments for only £4.99

I gave him a moon to fly past, coloured him with Copics, and added a few bats from a stamp set I have. 
Now, I just have to get used to the lack of dimension - but maybe I need to practice some fussy cutting.

Challenge

Try It On Tuesday

It's All About Children

• lili of the valley digital stamp - magical halloween bundle
• copic markers - white gel pen
• bats - mft ghostly greetings
• moon - AI

Deck The Halls

 Hello. I'm continuing the 'Christmas in July' theme today, with this cute, tinsel teddy.

I stamped my teddy in the corner, and masked him, whilst blending some distress ink as a background and using a snow stencil with some white paste.
Then I coloured my teddy with copic markers and added a heat embossed sentiment.

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches

• lili of the valley tinsel bear
• distress ink - salvaged patina
• pretty pink posh - snowfall stencil
• lawn fawn white stencil paste
• mft - snow globe sentiments
• versamark ink and white heat embossing powder
• copic markers

Believe In The Magic Of Christmas

Hello.

Happiness is... getting out your Christmas stamps.

I think two thirds of the stamps I own are Christmas ones, and I'm always happy when I get them out and have a rummage. This year I'm starting early, with this old, but super cute stamp from Lili of the Valley.

This image is so cute, I don't think it needs much in the way of embellies. All I did was colour it with copics and then pop up the frame with foam tape.

Maybe, before I send it, I'll add a touch of glitter to those stars.

Challenge
ABC Christmas

N is for New, O is for Old

This was an old stamp from Lili of the Valley.
(I think you can still get it as a digi image)

Lili of the Valley - Joseph and Mary, coloured with copics
Sentiment - mft snowglobe sentiments
frame made with mft rectangle stax dies

Back Of The Net

Hello.
Last year wasn't all doom and gloom - it brought us a gorgeous, new grandson. So I really need to up my game on the masculine/male card front. 
This is an old stamp from Lili of the Valley, and is perfect for the Inkspirational Challenge word prompt - GOAL

I read a tip the other day, that said stamping images just off the edge can help to create the feeling of movement, so that's what I did here with my footballer. Does it work?
For a little extra interest, I fussy cut another football, popped it up with foam tape, and added some glossy accents to it. 

Inkspirational Challenges 

lotv footballer coloured with zigs and copics   mama elephant - labeled messages   clearly besotted striped stencil with altenew turqouise ink.

Deck The Halls

Happy Halloween everyone.

Just a quick post from me tonight,

as I wait for the witches and warlocks to come trick or treating.

I finally found some time to play along at Less is More.

This week the theme is to add some string or twine.

It's really dark here in the afternoons so,

I have been experimenting with my photos, 

using coloured paper behind my card.

I think it helps to make it stand out more.

What do you think?

For the challenge I used this lovely, whispy, red twine - 

using a little sequin in the centre of the bow.

Supplies.
Less Is More - Use String Or Twine
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Addicted To Stamps And More - Clean And Simple
Cute Card Thursday - Sparkles

Stamp - Lili of the Valley, coloureed with Copics and Glamour Dust
Stripey DP (not sure of the make)     Twine.    Sequin

We belong together

Hello there, hope those that celebrated Mother's Day this weekend had a lovely time. I managed to escape to my craft room for a while and here is one of the cards I made. It's for my Mum & Dad's Anniversary.

I am still waiting to make that 'perfect' card. I don't think it exists for me - I always make a few mistakes, but hey! I guess it all adds to the handmade look :-)

You can see here that I forgot to add the lace before stitching the card down - duh! - hence the ugly staples showing !!

I also tried a bit of embossing in the top right hand corner - it's something I rarely do and I think I over-heated it. I need more practice.
 

The House Mouse image is coloured with Copics and I decoupaged parts of the flower, adding it with foam pads - to give a little dimension.

Challenges.

Simon Says Stamp - A Bit 'O Green

Crafting for all Seasons - Green and Yellow

Do You Stack Up? - Favourite Colour (Green, of course :-) )

Sweet Stampin' - Lots of Green

Crafter's Companion - Spring

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Supplies

House Mouse Love Sunflower Stamp, coloured with Copics and Stickles glitter.

DP - Prima, Sweet Fairy.     Wild Rose Studio, Text Stamp.

LOTV Corner Stamp

Lace, Ribbon, Button, Gems from my stash.