Thursday 31 December 2015

December winners


Good Morning, it's time to announce the winners of our December challenge which saw some absolutely beautiful creations, our thanks to each and every one of you not only for your December entries but also for your support throughout 2015.

It was a very close run one thing this time and the Design Team's voting was very close but we do have a winner and that is.........................

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Jane
A really beautiful pair of Christmas cards
Well done Jane, please mail me with your full name and postal addy so I can get your prize off to you.

And our Top 3.............

Coops
A super Vintage feeling Christmas card

Sunshine
A great design and attention to detail

Lorraine
All so beautifully coordinated

Huge congratulations to you all, please collect our Top 3 badge to display on your own blogs.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing all your lovely creations in 2016.

Friday 18 December 2015

Mid month inspiration


Hello everyone, it's time for our mid moth post and this time it's the turn of Dora to share another card with us and following the current theme tell us the colour she finds the most challenging to work with. 

We have had some lovely entries so far this month but the challenge runs until the last day of December so there is still plenty of time to join in. And as it will be the last post before the New Year myself and the Design Team would like to take this opportunity to wish you all....................

A Very Happy Christmas

Now it's over to Dora.................................


Hello everyone,

It is my first turn to make a mid-month post on this beautiful challenge blog.

I do not have a colour that I do not like to work with, but I do not often pick pink. But I always try to work to a theme and find ideas that will fit a colour theme that I can make a card with. But I have difficulty mixing the right colours and paper together.

This month Crafty Ribbons are our sponsor so I looked for a colour ribbon to work with from their sponsor materials. I came out with this kind of colour, it is not green or blue, but in between. I like the colour but I have so much problem to find ink and paper that matches with the bow. With the ink I work with a little paper and add some ink on it, to look if it matched with the bow colour. and 'cloudy blue' from Adirondack ink and a really little bit with 'pesto' seemed to work well together.

I stamp the foreground with Hero Arts stamp and emboss with 'vintage peacock' embossing powder. The trees are stamps from Sheena Douglas scenery stamped with Stazon ink.

I was very pleased that I made this card with this colour ribbon. I hope that you like it also.

Kind regards Dora

Many thanks Dora.

Sunday 6 December 2015

December challenge - Anything goes with a stamp and ribbon


Good morning and welcome to our December challenge which is a nice simple one as it's such a busy time of year for so many of us............................

******Anything Goes with a stamp and ribbon******

As the title suggests, the choice of theme is totally down to you, all we ask is that you use some ribbon on your creation and remember the basic rules: You can enter up to three times, combine with other challenges, use any make of stamp......but can I please remind you.........we are a stamping challenge so must see a stamped image, sentiment or quote as the focal element of your artworkIt so upsets us to see names come out in the draw who are not eligible for the prize because they have not read the rules. 


Our sponsor this month is Crafty Ribbons and this is the fabulous prize for one lucky winner


Crafty Ribbons is a ribbon emporium, we are passionate about ribbons and want to share our fantastic ribbons with others. Our range of Christmas ribbons is second to none. Remember when we only used ribbons to add a bow to our hair, or tie up a birthday parcel ? Ribbons are now a "must-have" for all types of craft. Whether your project requires satin, sheer, silk, grosgrain, gingham or polka dot ribbon we have them all! Lots and lots of different colours in a range of widths. Need a little bit of ribbon inspiration - then have a look at our projects on our blog,or visit our Inspiration blog,or maybe join in with us at our Challenge blog. Go on, have a look... It's worth it !


And A pair of tickets to February Hobbycraft show Manchester.

Avril is our Guest Designer this month and has created this real beauty to inspire us.................


Now for some inspiration from the Design Team...........................


Good luck to you all, we shall be popping round to your blogs to see your entries.


Friday 4 December 2015

November winners


Good morning to you all, after a great month with some super entries, it's time to announce our winners and I have to tell you the Design Team's voting was extremely close this month. So without further ado, the lucky winner of the hamper of crafty goodies from  'be Creative!' is..............

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Valerie
A lovely Winter's scene

Congratulations Valerie, please mail me with your full name and postal addy so I can arrange for you prize to be posted to you.

And our Top 3 are...............

Pam
Beautiful stamping and inking
Pam Sparks PB Brush Pines

Heidi
A great traditional feel

Kathy
Clean, crisp and elegant

Well done to you all, please collect our Top 3 badge to display on your own blog sidebar

I will be back Sunday with a new challenge and another great prize.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Viv getting crafty with Kraft


Good morning to you all, it's time for our mid month post.

It seems slow going this month and there were we thinking you all liked creating with flowers and making Christmas cards ? There is a fabulous prize to be won from 'be Creative!' so get out all those flower and foliage stamps and come and join in.

This month it's the turn of Viv to tell us the colours she least likes working with, although looking at her card you would never know, so I will hand you over to her.


My turn for the mid month post where all the DT have to make something in a colour that they're not comfortable with. There's not many colours I don't like - sometimes what I call the harsh colours (yellows/oranges) I think are hard to work with but the one that tops the list for me is not one of the harsh ones but one I call NONDESCRIPT! Put simply the colour is Kraft!

Don't know what it is about this buff coloured card but I find it really difficult to use.  I have tried many times to make Cards with it - some have turned out OK, (and just OK) - others have just ended up in the bin! It always seems drab and dreary and reminds me of boring cardboard boxes and packages!

So tasked with the mid month challenge I jumped in and got out the Kraft card. This is the third attempt! (others are in the Kraft cemetery).

Overall I am happy with this as I think the contrast colour 'lifts' the dreariness!

Thanks for sharing Viv.

Sunday 1 November 2015

November challenge - Festive Flowers and foliage


Good morning and welcome to our November challenge which is a seasonal one.........................

******Festive Flowers and foliage******

With so many lovely Christmas floral stamps not to mention all the lovely holly ivy and other seasonal foliage ones available you should not be lost for choice this month. And of course you can use any design papers you wish, you don't have to have those used by the design team.

Usual rules apply, you can enter up to three times, combine with other challenges, use any make of stamp......but can I please remind you.........we are a stamping challenge so must see a stamped image, sentiment or quote as the focal element of your artworkIt so upsets us to see names come out in the draw who are not eligible for the prize because they have not read the rules. 



We have a new sponsor this month 'be Creative!' who have just launched a brand new range of craft products. 'be Creative!' will be launching their new web site very soon but in the meantime you can keep up to date by following their Facebook where you will see some of the new products and you can also order from here. You can also contact Gordon and Justin by e.mail here. The products were recently well received at their launch on Hochanda and will also be available at the NEC Hobbycraft show on 5th through 8th November.

This months lucky winner will receive the wonderful hamper of goodies pictured above valued about £60 which will include be Creative! Signature tote bag, be Creative! glue wand, paper pad, tags, embellishments, self-adhesive 3D borders and Ink blending tool with refills.

We are very pleased to welcome Babs as a Guest Designer this month, she was the lucky winner or our September challenge and she has made this lovely festive card.......................


Cebelica is also joining us again, I was guilty of messing up completely when I gave her details about the October theme and instead give her the one for November, she did make a card for October but as she had made this lovely card is was such a shame not to use it.


The Design Team have been lucky enough to work with some of the new papers from 'be Creative!' and here is whathey have come up with using the excellent quality double sided 8x8 papers which are sold in pads of 24.

Brenda
Using 'be Creative!' Time Flies papers

Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Dora
Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Using 'be Creative!' Nature's portrait papers

Eret
 Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Joan
Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Lynne
Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Pinky
 Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Sally
Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers


Tracy
Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Viv
 Using 'be Creative!' Winterland papers

Now it's over to you to show us your take on this months them, good luck everyone.


Friday 30 October 2015

October winners


A very good morning to all you crafty Peeps, what a wonderful month it's been with all your fabulous Autumnal creation, they have all been a joy to see, out thanks to each and every one of you.

So now it's time to announce our winners which as you might guess was a mega difficult task for the Design Team, but the votes have been counted and I can announce that the winner of the £35 store voucher from Foil Play is..............................

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Avril
We loved the gold embossing against the rich background

Congratulations Avril, please mail me so I can arrange your prize.

And now for out Top 3........................

Maya
A great quirky take on Autumn

Anke
Stunning colours and scene

There was a tie for the third place as we just couldn't choose between them.........

Lai-Yoke
A glowing floral creation

Birgit
Lovely depth and texture

Well done to all four of you, please collect our Top 3 badge to display on your own blogs.

I will be back on Sunday with our new challenge.