Apologies for the lack of blog posts for the last couple of days - I've had a streaming cold (back to school sniffles passed on by James Juniors - gotta love 'em!) and I also spent all day yesterday at the wedding of my friend and neighbour Annette. I'll share the wedding card and makes another time, but today I've been feeling much better so have managed some crafting and I'm going to sneak in a last minute entry to this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge (and not a stamp in sight!). This is this week's sketch:

When I first saw this sketch, I immediately knew what I was going to do with it - I thought it would make a great Christmas present, topped off with a lovely bow; so, here's my interpretation:

I know this card will need a box rather than an envelope due to the size of the bow on the front, but I just couldn't resist - the new die cut bow provides a great focal point. I angled the ribbon 'ends' downwards rather than out to the sides, because I still wanted the four boxes and the connecting lines to be visible. These bows are so easy to make - they will be decorating lots of my festive packages this season.

I'm also going to link up with Just Add Ink where the challenge this week is 'bows' (JAI #184).

I think I've got the bug for challenges now; I was delighted that my Dasher card from last week was chosen by LeAnne Pugliese as one of the 'A Cut Above' runners up with the Paper Players - if you missed it, you can check it out here.

Back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Another Christmas card and another challenge today! I'm loving the Season of Style paper stack, which is just perfect for making lots of Christmas cards and here's one of the designs in all its glory:

I'm entering this card for the Retrosketches #82 Challenge which has this great layout sketch as inspiration:

I stayed with the square shape and orientation and made a feature of the fun 'All I want for Christmas' stamp in the Christmas Messages stamp set. It comes with a co-ordinating stamp, which I've used here on the inside of my card:

The links to the products I used for this card are included below. Back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

I'm finally catching up with my festive card making this week and today I'm very excited to be sharing a Christmas card that I've decided to enter into my first ever challenge! I often take my creative inspiration from challenge sketches or colour schemes, but have never before actually entered one of my card creations. So, here goes - this is today's card:

I'm entering my card into The Paper Players Challenge #164: Sandy's Sketch Challenge, which has the following sketch as the inspiration:

I was quite brave as whilst I kept the layout, I swapped out my scalloped circle and edging for chevrons and a more angular look, but since the sketch is for inspiration and doesn't have to be followed literally I'm hoping that's ok. I've been waiting to use Dasher's little brother on a Christmas card, as I was quite upset at the thought of not blogging about his big brother since his retirement at the end of last year, so this card gave me the perfect opportunity. The Early Espresso base is also quite a departure for me, but it seemed right given my reindeer starting point and I like the masculine feel of this card.

Welcome to any new Paper Players who are reading this! I hope you like the card; back tomorrow with another Christmas card to share. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:

Finally, my first post using some of the lovely items from this year's Autumn-Winter seasonal catalogue! This week sees us into double figures (yes, 96 days to go until the big day!!) so it's most definitely time to get organised! The Season of Style This and That Journal is just the thing to see you organised from now through to the new year: it has a 4 month day to day planner, space for jotting down ideas and plans, Christmas card lists and gift ideas, along with handy pockets to store your receipts and Christmas stamps as you go along.

The journal itself comes with a lovely embossed Crumb Cake front which would make a great cover as is, but I chose to decorate mine in colours that co-ordinated with the co-ordinating Season of Style This and That Designer Stickers and Washi Tape that I will be using on the inside just to give it a festive feel. Here's my finished cover:

I went with a fairly simple and 'flat' cover, as I wanted my journal to be practical and not have bits falling off as I put it through its paces. I covered it in Cherry Cobbler textured cardstock, with a strip of spotted Season of Style DSP. Some wide ribbon, chevron punched pieces and a decorated layered snowflake finished it off. Here's a close up of my feature embellishment:

The detail in the centre is one of the stickers from my Designer Sticker set and I included a Silver Glimmer snowflake cut with the Festive Flurry Framelits for just a hint of glitter - only because I know it won't shed sparkles over everything :-) Gotta love Glimmer Paper! I also tied some Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon to the spine to hang inside as a handy bookmark.

I have already started scribbling on the inside - I'll share my pages as they get busier! - and think this is a must-have item if you like to be organised for the festive season. Here's a short video from Stampin' Up! that takes you on a mini-tour inside the journal itself:

Back tomorrow with a fun birthday card; until then, Happy Stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: