ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Yikes! and Z for Zoom

Hi Crafters,

It is the last challenge of the year at ABC Christmas and it is also my last challenge with them too.

:o(

If you saw my post on Sunday for 613 Avenue Create you will already know that I had to make the difficult decision to step down from several of my Design Team positions. This decision was not taken lightly I can tell you as I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of each and every one of them. However, things change and priorities have to change too but I will still be blogging as often as I can and hope to enter some challenges too so I will still keep in touch with my DT buddies.

Now on to today's inspiration.

As it is also the start of a new format for the challenge, we would like to see a Christmas project using either the letter 'Y' for Yikes! or 'Z' for Zoom! 

A full explanation of the details can be found over on the blog here.

I usually give some handmade presents to family members for Christmas so this year I have created these lovely decorated glass candle holders. There are only two pictured here but I made quite a few so I am following the 'Yikes!' theme as these were rather hurriedly made when I realised time was getting away from me.

I used some lovely satin ribbon and flowers and embellishments from Wild Orchid Crafts, The Ribbon Girl and Anna Marie Designs.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Creative Inspirations - #263 Christmas Creations
Craft-Dee-Bowz - Dec ATG + Bow
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - #171 Anything BUT a Card
Come & Get It - #197 Christmas
Crafty Cardmakers - #178 Anything BUT a Card

Our sponsor for the last challenge in 2016 is

The East Wind

and their prize is 3 digital image.

Come along and join in with us, it is a great chance to get the remainder of your Christmas cards and projects finished and be in with a chance of winning a fab prize too.

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge X for Criss-Cross

Hi Crafters,

A fun challenge this week at ABC Christmas Challenge where it is up to you to interpret the meaning of 'X' is for Criss-Cross. 

It could be a cross-over card like I have created here or criss-cross papers such as the check pattern below or even criss crossing strips of papers in a woven pattern, it's up to you.

This is the first time that I have created a cross-over card. I have always admired them on others blogs so this was the perfect challenge to have a go at one.

Mine has a gusset to allow for the insert to slip in and out more easily.

...and here's a pic of the insert.

There's room to write your message on the back of the insert.

Recipe

Papers - First Edition Christmas Wishes

Wood Grain Paper

Nellie Snellen Christmas Star Pattern Frame Die

Sentiment Stamp - Magazine Freebie

Poinsettias & Lace - Wild Orchid Crafts

Tag - My Minds Eye

Stampin' Up Tab Punch

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Try It On Tuesday - Layer It Up

Holly Jolly Christmas - #85 Ribbons & lace

Creative Inspirations - #262 Frosted Florals

Winter Wonderland - Poinsettias/Snow is Falling

Crafty Catz - #347 ATG + Use Red

Fussy & Fancy - #177 Different Folds and Shaped Cards

Noor Design - #24 Winter

Craft-Dee BowZ - November Challenge

CHNC Extra - November Challenge

Our sponsor this time is

Fred, She Said

Who are offering a $10 Gift Certificate to the winner.

We'd love to see how you interpret the 'X' is for Criss-Cross theme. Take a peek at the marvelous makes from the rest of the Design Team HERE.

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge 'V' for Vertical

Hi Crafters,

It's been a lovely couple of days here in my part of Norfolk, bright, dry, a little chilly but beautiful. The Autumn leaves are turning and the squirrels in my back garden are gathering and burying nuts for the winter, it's a lovely sight.

So with that I'm here to share a Christmas card! Ha, ha!

Well you know we have to keep ahead of the game if we are to have enough made before the big day :)

Our challenge this week is 'V' for Vertical

So we'd like to see your vertical projects and cards for Christmas, take a peek at the creations from the rest of the Design Team HERE for some inspiration if you are stuck.

I have created a DL card, a very clean and simple DL card for my usual style. I had a bit of trouble leaving all that white space but managed to walk away eventually.

Recipe

Crafters Companion Nordic Christmas Embossing Folder

Clearly Besotted Sentiment Stamp

Cottage Cutz Bells Die

Britannia Holly Die

Stampin' Up Ribbon

Twine

Gems

Challenges I'd like to enter:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #386 Christmas

Crafty Catz - #343 ATG /Embossing

Rudolph Day Challenge - ATG - Christmas

CHNC Every Saturday - #304 Use a Sentiment

Crafting From The Heart - #133 ATG

Come along and join in with us, our sponsor this week is 

Drawn with Character

who are offering 3 images of the winners choice.

Well that's it from me today.

Happy Hump Day!

It's a downward ride to the weekend!

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Under The Pile

Hi Crafters,

Now I'm guessing that I'm not the only one who has unused crafty stash. That special item we just had to have at the time but that still lays unused in the drawer. I think all of you out there can relate to that.

Well, our new challenge at ABC Christmas will give you the opportunity to use that item because we would like you to create a Christmas project using something that has been 'Under the pile' for at least a year.

I am using a digital image that I've had for more than a year and also these gorgeous non-traditional Christmas papers.

Recipe

Image - Christmas Rocking Horse - Bugaboo Stamps

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Papers - Old Create & Craft Christmas Pack
Computer Generated Sentiment
Stampin' Up Punches

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Cute Card Thursday - #446 ATG
Christmas Cards All Year Round - OCT - Orange, A Little or a Lot
Crafty Girlz - #19 ATG
CHNC Challenge Extra - OCT Christmas ATG
The Ribbon Girl - October Card Challenge

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #43 ATG
Crafting When We Can - #129 Christmas Comes Early
Crafting From The Heart - #131 ATG
Deep Ocean - #139 Favourite Season (Christmas)
I Love Promarkers - #319 ATG

Our sponsor is

Bugaboo Stamps

One lucky random winner will be able to choose 7 digi's from the store.

I hope you can join in with us, it will help to increase your Christmas card pile too.

See you soon,

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - T is for TWO

Hi Crafters,

Back again today with a couple of Christmas tags as inspiration for the new challenge at ABC Christmas.

We'd like to see how you interpret the theme of 'two'.

It could be two of something , like my tags here, or two colours, two ribbons, two bows, two embellishments etc. 

Recipe

Stamps - Papermania Tag Set

Red Glitter Embossing Powder

Bells - Meiflower

Bows - Papermania

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Addicted To CAS - #97 Stitched

Rudolph Day Challenge - ATG Christmas

Come & Get It - #137 One Layer Creations

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Sweet Stamps

who are offering a $10 voucher for their store to the lucky winner.

Thanks for taking the time to pop by and comment today, it's very appreciated.

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - S for Sew What? Real or Faux

Hi Crafters,

Another challenge has started at ABC Christmas

We have reached the letter 'S' and our challenge theme is to create a Christmas project with real or faux stitching.

I have made a few Christmas Tags with faux stitching...

Recipe
Stamps - Inky Doodles 'Bring on the Jolly' Set
Memento Inks
Gems
Ribbon
Twine

Challenges I'd like to enter:

CHNC Challenge Extra - Sept. Christmas
Crafty Catz - #337 ATG / Anything But Square
Brown Sugar - #215 ATG

Our sponsor this week, Freckled Fawn is giving a $15 Gift Card to the lucky winner

So get your Christmas on and come and join us!

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - R for Rip It Up!

Hi Crafters,

We'd like you to 

Rip It Up

Well this new challenge at ABC Christmas was really out of my comfort zone, but that's also a good thing as we get to try something new. 

I usually prefer clean lines and don't often tear my edges but this was what was called for with this new challenge so here is my card.

Recipe

Image - Sketchy Holly & Mistletoe - DigiStamp Boutique

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Papers - Bo Bunny Silver & Gold Collection Pad

Sizzix Alterations Dies - Holiday Words, Script

Kraft Card

Gathered Twigs Distress Ink

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Creative Inspirations - #256 Christmas in August
CHNC Challenge Extra - August ATG Christmas
Crafting From The Heart - #125 ATG

Our sponsor is

DigiStamp Boutique

and the prize is a £10 voucher for the winner.

I look forward to seeing your projects for this Rip It Up challenge.

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - Q for Quick Layout

Hi Crafters,

Well it's the middle of another week, not long to go before the weekend now.

I'm here today because it's a new challenge at ABC Christmas.

Q for QUICK LAYOUT

We'd like to see your Christmas cards using a quick layout. Here's my card using this fun image from our sponsor Fred She Said.
Dancing Penguin

Recipe
Image - (Pre-coloured) Dancing Penguin - Fred She Said
Joy Crafts Die
Crafters Companion Snowflake Embossing Folder
LOTV Christmas Tags Stamps
Glitter

Challenges I'd like to enter:
Unicorn Challenge - #12 Animal Kingdom
Delicious Doodles - #15 All Creatures Great and Small
CHNC Christmas - August ATG
Crafting When We Can - #125 Things With Wings

Our sponsor is offering a £10 Voucher for the store so if you haven't already started making your Christmas cards for this year, now is a good time to begin.

Bye for now

Lorraine
xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - P for Paper Piecing

Hi Crafters,

Thank you for visiting.

Today I have another Christmas card to share with you, this is my DT card for the ABC Christmas Challenge using the 'Winter Romance' image from our sponsor Sami Stamps.

Recipe

Image - Winter Romance - Sami Stamps

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers & Patterned  Papers

Background Papers - First Edition Christmas Wishes

Sentiment Stamp - Creative Expressions -  John Lockwood Set

Glitter

~~~

As you can see I paper Pieced the hoodie and coat along with her boots too.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - ATG
CHNC Every Saturday - ATG Christmas

Please pop over to the blog HERE for details of the challenge and sponsors prize.

I look forward to seeing your paper pieced creations.

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - O for Overlay

Hi Crafters,

Overlay?!  I hear you cry, what does this mean?
Well we'd like to see your cards and or projects (Christmas of course) with acetate or vellum overlaid on them.
Here is my decoupaged image with a snowy acetate front to the card.

It was a bit tricky to photo but I hope you get the gist.

Recipe

Decoupage Image - Craft Creations Sheet

Snowy Acetate - Anna Marie Designs

Marianne Designs Snowflake Die

Challenges I'd like to enter:
Fussy and Fancy - #168 Christmas in July
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - #66 Snowflakes
CHNC Every Saturday - #290 Cute or ATG Christmas
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #38 ATG
Crafting From The Heart - #121 ATG
Deep Ocean Challenge - #133 Christmas in July


Our sponsor for this challenge is
All Dressed Up

The winner will receive two digi's of their choice.

~~~~~

On a completely different note, what is going on with blogger and the pictures on my blog? I usually set them at 'X Large', but all my pictures are now squashed within the central panel and distorted so I've had to change them to 'Large' to get the perspective right. Hopefully when you click on them they still open in a larger window so you can see them clearly. Is anyone else having this problem?
Maybe it's the heat - phew it's been rather hot here for the last few days. A little too hot for my liking, now I know we tend to moan whatever the weather but it goes from one extreme to another. I'm a middle of the road kinda gal and would just like a warm, dry spell if the powers that be are listening :)

Lorraine
xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - N for No Rules

Hi Crafters,

We are up to the fourteenth letter of the alphabet in our Christmas challenge at ABC Christmas.

Our theme this time is

N for No Rules

that means easy-peasy Christmas Anything Goes!

I've gone with traditional colouring, a shaker element and wooden words here on my card.

The wooden words have been painted and then glitter embossed and my papers are from First Edition 'Christmas Wishes' paper pad. I created the shaker windows using a set of dies from JustRite Dies.

Our sponsor 

Bugaboo Stamps

are offering 7 digital image to the lucky winner.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Allsorts - #368 Gingham Style

Christmas Cards All Year Round - July ATG Christmas

Crafty Calendar - Punches and or Dies

Craft-Dee Bowz - ATG + a Bow

CHNC Every Saturday - #288 Vintage or ATG

Come & Get It - #125 Christmas in July

Well that's all from me... see you again soon!

Lorraine

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge 'M' for MICE

Hi Crafters,

Well this new challenge called for some gorgeous House Mouse images to be used and I just so happened to have the wonderful Triple CD-Rom from Joanna Sheen that I haven't played with yet. There are so many cute mice to choose from to cover all occasions but this challenge is a Christmas one so what better than this ....

I went with an easel card this time and carried the colours from the papers in to my design with the sparkly pink gems in the centre of the snowflakes.

Recipe

House Mouse Triple CD Collection

Grosgrain Ribbon

Silver Metal Snowflakes

Gems

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Winter Wonderland - Add Some Sparkle

CHNC Every Saturday - #286 Cute/ ATG

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #36 ATG

House Mouse & Friends - #222 A Day Spent With Friends

Deep Ocean Challenge - #131 Metal/Wood

Our sponsor is

Lawn Fawn

who are offering a stamp set and a 6 x 6 paper pad of the winners choice.

So let's see your Christmas 'mice' cards and projects, I'm sure you all have some cuteness tucked away in your craft rooms so why not join in with us?

See you soon,

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - Something Beginning with 'L'

Hi Crafters,

I'm back today with a DT card for the new challenge at ABC Christmas.

Our theme this time is

Something Beginning with 'L'

Christmas style of course

I've chosen 'Lights' but there are lots of others like...

Lantern

List

Laughter

Love

Lamp Post

Logs

etc.

Recipe

Christmas Lights - Silhouette Cameo Cut File

Sentiment Stamp - Magazine Freebie

Papers - Dovecraft, Back To Basics Christmas

Candy

Glitter

Challenges I'd like to enter:

CHNC Challenge - June Challenge

Crafting From The Heart - #115 ATG

For more inspiration click HERE to see the wonderful makes from the rest of the DT and the details of the prize from our Sponsor

Drawn with Character

We are looking forward to seeing what you create this time!

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for Kissing

Hi Crafters,

It's time to share another Christmas creation for the new challenge at ABC Christmas.

K is for KISSING

(Christmas themed of course)

Our sponsor for this cheeky little challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts

with a £10 gift voucher for one lucky winner.

Digital crafting is such fun to do especially with the My Craft Studio program and I haven't done this for ages so I decided to create the background digitally using a couple of design collections after I had coloured my stamped image.

This makes it very flat for posting too.

Recipe

Stamped Image - Penny Black 'You're a Treasure'

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Digital Papers - Nitwit Christmas Linen Too,

Just So Scrappy - Ooh La La Comfort and Joy

I snipped around the mistletoe leaves very carefully and pushed the stamped oval underneath so it looks dimensional, it is completely flat and it's just the drop shadows that are creating the depth elsewhere on the card.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Creative Fingers - #109 ATG

One Crazy Stamper - May Challenge

Penny Black & More - ATG with a Stamp

CHNC every Saturday - #282 ATG/Cute Christmas
Rudolph Day Challenge - May Challenge

I hope you are well and enjoying a fabulous day.

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - J for Jewels

Hi Crafters,

I'm scheduling my posts for the next week or so as I will be staying with my Mum when she comes out of hospital after her hip replacement operation. So forgive me if things are a little quiet here on the commenting front but I will be back soon.

 Our challenge has reached the letter 'J' for JEWELS this week at ABC Christmas.

Here is my blinged-up image and card...

Recipe

Image - Christmas Ornament 2 - Fred She Said

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Clear Gem Stones

Spellbinders Large Floral Oval Die

Marianne Border Die CR1250

Creative Essentials Die - Season's Greetings

Papers - Papermania 'Christmas Time'

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Unicorn Challenge - #9 Spotty, Dotty

CHNC Every Saturday - Vintage or ATG Christmas

CHNC Challenge - May

Crafting From The Heart - #111 ATG

Crafty Cardmakers - #163 Pearls or Gems

Our Sponsor this week is

Fred She Said

and they are offering a £10 Voucher for their store to the winner.

Please pop over to the challenge blog to see all the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

We look forward to seeing your Jewel encrusted Christmas creations!

Well that's all from me...

See you soon,

Lorraine

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - I is for Ink

Hi Crafters,

ABC Christmas Challenge has a new challenge starting today with the letter 'I' for Ink.
We'd like to see your Christmas creations using all your inky delights in your stash.
Here I have used two colours of Distress Inks with this gorgeous Christmas stamp from Magenta.

Recipe

Magenta Stamp

Distress Inks - Barn Door & Peeled Paint - Splattered with water

Archival Black Ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Unicorn Challenge - #8 Favourite Time of Year (Christmas)
One Crazy Stamper - # ATG
Rudolph Day Challenge - ATG Christmas
CHNC Challenge - ATG - Christmas

Our sponsor this week is 

Wild Orchid Crafts

and the lucky winner will receive a £10 gift voucher.

Come and join in the fun!

Lorraine
xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - H is for Hat

Hi Crafters,

I'm back this week with the new challenge at ABC Christmas.

Thanks for all the get well messages after my wisdom teeth extraction last week, I'm glad that's behind me now.

So here is my card for the theme of

H is for HAT
We'd like to see your Christmas projects featuring a hat this time.

Recipe
Image - Woodware Stamp - Snow Buddies
Medium - Pro/flexmarkers
Papers - Create and Craft set
Flowersoft

Challenges I'd like to enter:
Brown Sugar - #193 ATG
Unicorn Challenge - #8 Favourite Time of the Year (Christmas)
One Crazy Stamper - April ATG
The Ribbon Girl - ATG Card Challenge
Come & Get It - #113 Bright Colours
Incy Wincy Designs - Use your favourite colouring medium - Promarkers
Crafting From The Heart - #107 ATG


Our sponsor for this challenge is DigiStamp Boutique


with a prize of a £10 Voucher for the winner.

Come and join in the fun and start creating some Christmas cards ahead of time too.

See you soon,

Lorraine
xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - G for Green or Gold

Hi Crafters,

More Christmas creations from me today as it's a new challenge at the ABC Christmas blog.

We'd like to see your creations in Green or Gold this time.

As you can see I went with Gold :)

Recipe

Image - Aurora Reindeer - The East Wind

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Nordic Christmas Reindeer Forest Embossing Folder

Marianne Die CR1239

Die'sire Decorative Corners Dies

Britannia Word Dies

Gold Mirri Card

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Cute Card Thursday - To Die For
Not Just Cards - #30 ATG
Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Cute Christmas
Cute as a Button - #20 Monochrome
CHNC Every Saturday - #274 Use a Sentiment
CHNC Challenge - March
The Ribbon Girl - ATG Any Image
Crafting From The Heart - #105 ATG

Please pop over to the blog for more inspiration from my talented Teamies and details of the prize from our sponsor The East Wind.

Well that's all from me,

See you soon,

Lorraine

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - E is for Embossing, Wet or Dry

Hi Crafters,

I hope your Wednesday has got off to a good start.

It is a new challenge at ABC Christmas today and here is my card for the theme of 

'E' is for Embossing - Wet or Dry.

I've used both types of embossing on my card

The background has been dry embossed and letter-pressed using a snowflake Cuttlebug EF and some Memento ink. The sentiment strip is also dry embossed and inked over to show the words.

On the Marianne Skates die I have inked through the die with Hickory Smoke DI and added clear embossing powder then heat embossed this to give a shiny effect on the heels of the skates - not that you can see it on this photo very well - why is it notoriously difficult to capture anything glittery or shiny and yet when you don't want the shine, like with mirri card it takes over your photo? Ah well you will have to imagine it's there :o)

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Crafting From The Heart - #101 ATG

Winter Wonderland - Must Use a Sentiment

Sweet Stampin Christmas - Snowflakes

Rightio! time to get your embossing folders and powders out and create a Christmas project, the prize, should you be the lucky winner is a beautiful Snow Flourish die from ...

That's it for today, 

see you soon,

Lorraine

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - D for Don't over do it. (CAS)

Hi Crafters,

At ABC Christmas Challenge this week we are up to the letter 'D' already and are asking you 'Don't over do it', ie.  a clean and simple Christmas creation.

Here's mine using an image from our sponsor - Christmas Penguins.

Recipe

Image - Christmas Penguins - All Dressed Up

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Green Glitter card

Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circles Dies

Presscut Large Plain Circle Dies

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Allsorts Challenge - #350 Circle Cards

CHNC Christmas Challenge - Feb. Challenge

The Ribbon Girl - Feb. Card Challenge

Eureka Stamps - #180 Feathers and Fur

All Dressed Up

Our sponsor is offering two free digi's to the winner.

Hop on over to the blog for more details and inspiration from the rest of the team.

Happy hump day everyone!

Lorraine

xXx