My 5 favorite Christmas Cards

Not an easy task as I am not very happy with my work this year.

However here goes.

Always love my little choirboy

This gorgeous snowman came from Becc's place.

I have fallen in love with sponging backgrounds.

Again the sponging around the edges.

One must play with her new Sue Wilson dies.

Well there you have it, I hope for a few moments it 

took your mind off the shootings, the road deaths, the floods,

the bushfires and the strange weather pattern we are all experiencing.

My heart goes out to all who have suffered this year.

Let us hope and pray 2016 will be better.

Margaret M 

Christmas wishes

This is the card that I made for the staff and residents

at the Aged care facility where my husband lives.

To all my faithful followers and anyone who happens to drop in

may I wish you a very 

Happy Christmas and New Year.

May 2016 bring you all you wish for.

Margaret M 

Casing Beccy

Another Sunday and Hubby came home for lunch.

One of the family brings him home in the morning and

another comes and collects him late afternoon to take him back to the home.

Just a few weeks back we were beginning to wonder

how much longer he would be able to make the trip as he was exhausted

after a couple of hours.  But he does seem to have taken on a new lease of life

at the moment. long may it last.

Today I have cased a card of

Beccy's

She was asking us to use a stamp that had not seen daylight for a while.

The stamp I used is not that old about 3 years but 

it was one that I don't think I have ever inked up.

The background was made up some weeks ago when I madly made

masses of Bokeh but with this piece I did not 

sponge the circles as I liked it as it was.

Hope you do too.

Have edged the background with the lovely edge from 

a Sue Wilson die called Lavish Swirls.

Not leaving enough room to stamp a greeting I 

took the opportunity to use up some of my many sticker/peeloffs.

Used 3D medium on the berries and leaves and also

sprinkled on some Diamond Sprinkles.

This gives a lovely sparkle.

Beccy's Place

Crafty Hazelnut

Christmas card challenges

Lovely to see you drop in anytime.

EM

Lots of Pearls

Owing to what has been going on in my life I

  now have a lot of cards that I have never posted

so thought it was about time I

showed some of them.

I was asked for a special 50th one that had to go in an envelope.

I took the photo before I put the 50 on the banner.

Should not have used black for the greeting but couldn't find my 

Pearlescant Coral Brilliance pad.

I am making an early New Year resolution

to clean up and put every thing away in it's place when I have

finished making a card.

Wonder how long that will last.

http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.com.au/

http://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.com.au/

http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/

http://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.com.au/

Lovely to see you drop in anytime.

EM

A long time between cards.

Yes it has been along time.
I would like to thank all the people that have been browsing
my blog during the time I have been absent.
thanks for coming by and i hope that now I may be able to
keep up with a few cards for you to see.

We have had a bumpy ride this year but at the moment we are sailing in calmer waters.

Long may it last.

I have managed to make a few cards during the year

but no time to blog.

A very simple but effective card I think.

Am entering this in:

Cas-ing Christmas Challenge.

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas extra.


Thats all for now thanks for dropping in.


EM

Mid month reminder

Here I am back with a mid month reminder

for you all to get those Christmas makes into 

CHNC Extra 2

I am sorry that I am late getting this out but life hasn't been easy

I know you have heard that before but life

is throwing me bricks at the moment.

I have a really bad dose of Sinus and am on my second 

script of antibiotics and my youngest daughter has 

just had major surgery on her neck and will be in a neck brace 

for at least 13 weeks and not able to drive.

Ah well when you are down the only way is up and tomorrow is another day.

On to better things

My Card.

The background is white card and I sponged around the edges with

DI Mown lawn then stamped the holly with the same ink

and I am really happy with it.

The gold ribbon was 2 small pieces from my stash that I could use

up as they were going behind the die cut.

Always good when you can use up scraps.

Finished it off with a fussy cut Tilda and some sticker/peel offs also from my stash.

I repeated the sponging and stamping on the inside of the card and 

also on the envelope but forgot to take a photo of that.

Am entering this in:

Christmas card challenges - Anything goes

12 months of Christmas - Anything goes 

Paper creator crafts - Christmas in July

Our sweet Challenge - Christmas in July

Cute as a button - Christmas in July 

Thanks for dropping in 

Margaret M

Sun Bonnet

July 1st and look what  I have blooming in the garden.

No not the weeds....... the daffodil it doesn't seem to know 

we have another 8 weeks of winter yet.  Still a joy to see.

Also time to invite you to join us at 

CHN Christmas Extra for the month of July.

As usual our sponsor is Bugaboo stamps and I have chosen

to use Sun Bonnet with candy cane.

She has been coloured with Faber Castell pencils

and is very pastel but I smooched the candy cane added

stickles and 3D medium and some dots of perfect pearls to give her some bling.

Must say I do enjoy looking at all the cards you are making and visiting 

your personal blogs.  

Now is the time to start making those cards

to avoid the rush in October, November.

Will be entering this in:

CHNC Patterned paper - Anything goes with patterned paper

Christmas Card Challenges - Anything goes


Through the Craftroom Door - Anything goes


Thanks for dropping in


Margaret M

Snowy

Talk about cold I don't think it has got to double figures today.

At least it is not as bad as yesterday with the rain. 

Had a horrid drive home after visiting hubby just on lighting up time.

We do badly need the rain to give the ground a good soaking.

This afternoon I have been to an afternoon tea at the care home where hubby is.

This was for residents of the village to come and meet residents in the home.

So my hospitality skills were put to the test helping to make tea and coffee

for those present.  It is many a long year since I was working in the 

hospitality industry and I was finding it hard work to remember 

2 orders at a time!!!!!.

 Today I am playing with 52 CCT who have a colour challenge.

and Case-ing Christmas

Although my card doesn't look anything like theirs 

it was the snowman that inspired me.

Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

Christmas Angel

Time for the  mid month reminder at 

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas challenge extra.

We love seeing all your Christmas makes and it is good

to see so many of you are not leaving it all to the last minute.

Here is my little bit of inspiration.

Do pop over and have a look at the my other team mates have made.

Tilda is coloured with copics.

Christmas card challenges - Anything goes.

Fairytale stamper - Anything goes

CHNC patterned paper challenge - anything goes

Lovely Heangler - Use a diecut

Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

Happy 60th

Thought I would show you something a little different for me today.

This is the card I made for my daughters 60th

back in March but it never made it onto my blog until now.

The layers were made with card and shimmer paper.

The satin ribbon is laid over lace and I didn't have enough for a bow.

The number was cut freehand from white glitter paper.

 I made the small blossoms with an EK success punch

and although it doesn't look like it they were all sponged with

Worn lipstick DI.

The leaves are from Flower frenzy by Paper Artist and it is all set out on

SB Floral Ovals.

This week  Allsorts  Flower Power.

Simply paper craft Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

Coffee and Cream

How about this for a surprise another card from me.

Life is now beginning to get back to some sort of normality.

Well really it is the beginning of a new stage of life.

We have been through the resistance, the anger 

and the emotional blackmail

and now DH seems to be settling down in the aged care facility.

In fact he has made a lot of new friends and is a hit with the staff

I have been through the tears and the guilt at 

enjoying being on my own and am gradually learning to live on 

my own and am getting back to crafting again.

So here is what I have made.

52  CCT this week is choose a colour challenge 

so I chose April 2015 Coffee and cream.

With a Cuttlebug holly embossing folder and a holly leaf die

this is what I have come up with.

The inside too.

Am also going to enter it in:

12 Months of Christmas link up - Anything goes

 Christmas card challenges - Anything goes

613 Avenue create - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in:

Margaret M

   

Ava and Deacon.

June 1st and time to invite you to get the Christmas crafting

off to a good start and enter into 

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas extra 2 challenge.

Here is a little inspiration for you using one of our wonderful sponor

Bugaboo stamps  Ava-and-Deacon-Christmas--HoHo_

I have coloured this with my copics and a very simple 3D with 1mm foam.

The ribbon I have had in my stash for ever and the paper was just 

scraps.  I finished it off with dots of gold perfect pearls and glitter.

Here is a close up of this gorgeous pair.

Also managed to get my faux stitching straight for once!!!!

Am entering this in:

Christmas card challenges - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Colour it

Crimbo Crackers - Anything goes

613 Avenue create - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.



Margaret M

Merry Christmas

Hope all of you enjoyed a happy Mother's day last Sunday.

DH spent the day at home with me

and I think he enjoyed it but was quite ready to go back

to the home by late afternoon.

It is good that he is settling down but now I am 

feeling guilty because I am enjoying being on my own.

You can't win can you?

Time for the mid month reminder at 

Craftyhazelnuts  Christmas Challenge extra 2 

do hope that you are going to join in. 

A fairly ordinary photo I am afraid I took it during the evening and 

the lights and flash have reflexed on the background 

so the colour has disappeared.

Yes it is another Bokeh background.

I love this technique but promise this is the last I will inflict upon you.

Thanks for dropping in

Margaret M

Bokeh again

It is nice to have a little time in my craft room.

I needed a card for a birthday coming up this week so

as I had fun with the Bokeh last time that I did it, 

thought I would give it another try.

 House of Cards have it for their theme this month so I have entered it

in  their challenge and a few others.

Once dry I sprayed the background with Pearl glimmer mist.

It is a long time since I used it and think it is rather over done.

It is certainly glittery.

Am entering this in:

House of Cards - Bokeh

Whoopsi  Daisy - Things with wings

Mema's challenge - Anything goes

Perfectly Rustic - Use 3 of anything

Craft your passion - Anything goes

Crafty boots challenges - Things with wings


Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M   

Cold Outside

Oh boy this has been a busy couple of weeks since I last posted.

I have been back and forth to the aged care facility

where my husband is sometime 3 times a day

and have been so tired at night that all I want to do is chill out.

Fingers crossed he is beginning to settle, gets on well

with all the staff and talks to other residents.

So he really is getting more social contact than he was at home,

but of course it isn't home.  

I am hoping to have him home for a couple of hours this weekend

and if that goes well hope to work up to having him home for the

day on a Sunday when a lot of the other residents in the home

go out and the place is very quiet.

Then of course my computer decided to play up.

everything I wrote was disappearing, it wouldn't copy my photos

just told me there was an error and closed down.

Have no idea why but today it seems to have gotten over it's hissy fit.

Thanks goodness.

My card today is a DT one for

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge extra 2
Come and join in where anything goes as long as it is a Christmas make.

We are sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps and I have used

Polar-Bear

Sorry I took the photo before I added gloss to his nose and the pads on his feet

Have layered the Happy Christmas to add depth

and added glittering snowflakes.

The card blank is a blue grey and the darker blue card 

is not as bright as it looks in the photo.

Thanks for dropping by you are most welcome.

Margaret M.

Angelic

Haven't really been home very much this past week or two.

Trying to get my husband settled in the aged care facility.

Everyone in the place is so helpful and friendly

but being so new it is having teething problems.

So I am running very late again with my DT card for

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge 2 

So without more ado here it is hurriedly made last night.

I don't think I have ever made this LOTV image before and he is rather cute.

This has to be a boy angel don't you agree?

Coloured with copics and the stars were coloured with a gold gel pen.

The DP is by Maja Design covered with gold snowflakes.

The rhinestones are by Papermania.  I love the sparkle of these

and they colour so easily too.

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.

Margaret M

Bokeh background

I have been watching all those lovely tutorials on 

U Tube on this sort of background and decided

it looked my sort of thing.

So I thought I would try it out as I needed a card

for one of the men in my life.

Sorry about the terrible photo it does look better IRL.

I started with Bundled sage, Shabby shutters, and Mowed lawn.

The circles were sponged with Brilliance Moonlight white

and I did some with Shabby shutters as well as stamping the 30. 

You do need to let the background dry before you start on the circles

as I found out the hard way despite being warned.

The feather is real dropped in passing by the Pink and Grey Galahs

that visit the park behind us.

It was just so perfect that I felt I had to use it.

Do hope no 3 grandson likes his card.

Am entering this in:

Seize the Birthday - Make it birthday
Creative Knockout- Birthday wishes
Through the craft room door - Anything goes
Penny's paper crafty Challenge - Anything goes


Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.




Margaret M

Merry Santa

A very quick post today as I am late, late, late.

My Card for CHNC Christmas extra 2

and here it is.

I chose this merry looking Santa because I thought it would make 

an excellent child's card.

So I have gone to town with the glitter and glitz.

No that is not glitter on his beard it is the frosty night.

Hopefully in the next few weeks life will settled down into a 

more relaxed pattern and I will be able to get back to crafting again.

In the meantime it is an emotional roller coaster.

Life wasn't meant to be easy was it?

Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

A Round Christmas

Thank you so much to all of you who sent emails

inquiring about my health.

I am slowly making progress but life will never be the same again

with hubby being assessed this week for full time residential care.

At the moment our 3 wonderful children have their own lives on hold
doing shift work to look after us both.

This card has taken me an age to make

but I got there.

 Here it is.

This is for the mid month reminder for all your Christmas makes

{and it doesn't have to be a card}

at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas challenge 2 

The image is a Penny black and the sentiment LOTV

Just thought I would make it a round card for a change.

Now to finish off the inside and get my eldest daughters 60th birthday card made.

Am entering this in:

CASing Christmas - CASe this card

My inspiration was the circle.

Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

Health update

For those of you who may have wondered how I am getting on

the good news is I do not have to have an operation.

I am going to have to learn to live with the condition I have

and alas will no longer be able to look after my husband 24/7.

I had a spell in hospital last week and am still very weak

Luckily we have 3 wonderful children who 

have supported us well.

I am too damn stubborn to give up my craft so watch this space.

Margaret M

Mid Month reminder

The middle of the month and time to remind you 

to pop over to Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas extra and join in the fun.

Sorry about the poor photo I think you can just see that below the ribbon I have embossed

using my score board but not enough pressure. DARN

I used express card which doesn't like water

and coloured in with DI in Mowen Lawn and Barndoor and an aqua brush.

Seems to have worked OK.

Will be in hospital tomorrow for the day for more tests.

Margaret M

Golden

Oh boy over the last week I have had that many needles 

for blood tests etc I feel like a pin cushion.
Both arms have fading bruises.

My mind doesn't seem to be focused so this will be a quick post.
Here is the card I have made today.

Just adore this paper from Anna Griffin

it took a lot to actually cut into it.

My little English choir boy stamp that came from 

Hobbytex in Basildon

Sponged around with Galaxy Gold ink and mounted on
gold foil card.
Couldn't find any of my narrow gold ribbon so went for gold cord
instead.
Must say I love my gold holly.

Am entering this in:
52 CCT - Sketch
CHNC Patterned paper - Anything goes
Through the craft room door - Anything goes


Thanks for dropping in.



Margaret M

Ava Mistletoe Fairy

Feeling a tad better but have to have more tests this week.
Then DH had a fall about 4am this morning so
I have been up since then will have to give in and have a
sleep this afternoon as I want to watch the men's final
in the tennis tonight.

Time to welcome you to another month at 

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas extra challenge.

As usual we have a lovely image from Bugaboo Digi to play with

and this month I have chosen

Ava the Mistletoe fairy.

I thought she was extra cute and you know me and cute.

I coloured her with my Copics and gave her wings and her wand

the 3D treatment then fussy cut her out.

I made a frame with 

SB Decorative Labels 1 and Labels 1

and mounted Ava over this with mounting foam.

Haven't a clue where the DP came from.

Am entering this in:

CHNC Patterned Paper - Anything goes

Penny's Paper crafty - Anything goes

Completely Christmas - Make a card for a child

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Something with wings 

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.

Margaret M

3 of a kind

Haven't had a lot of time for crafting as I am not too well at the moment.

However this week I needed a few quick Birthday cards and 

I happened to take a look at Less is More and found this sketch.

This is a sketch I shall pull out when I want a quick card.

Here is what I came up with.

All very simple and made with snippets.

This last one I am going to enter into In the Pink who want Pink and Pearly

Quick post as I am not really up to blogging today.

Margaret M

Oh Christmas Tree

Well here we are over half way through January

and I am still in my winter woollies.

Hobart has had some wild and windy weather.

Last Tuesday we had nearly 4 inches of rain over night

and then it continued all day Wednesday.

Thursday wasn't too bad and Friday came the wind, and still it blows.

We have a wet patch on the ceiling in the lounge room

and the insurance man is coming in the morning.

It seems we have a broken tile which has been

fixed temporarily.

I expect we will have a wait to get it repaired now

as a lot of people are far worse off than us.

Onto todays card and I have been CAS-ing Christmas again.

The DP I used is by Maja Design, The red is paper not card but it as such

a good match.  The red stripe paper is the inside of an envelope recycled.

The Christmas tree was cut from paper by Anna Griffin. 

thought about glamming it up with stickles or pearls but

then decided no it is pretty enough with its baubles and strings of bells.

Am entering this in:

CAS-ing Christmas - CAS a card.

CHNC Christmas Challenge - Re use RE cycle etc.

52 CCT - Bells

Christmas cards all year round - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.

Margaret M

  

Happy Snowman

This is such a cute happy snowman and I
couldn't resist him when I saw him on Beccy's place
and he was a freebe too.
Beccy is very generous giving away her lovely designs.
Her January challenge is to use one of her images
so here he is.

The DP was some that had been laying around you know how it does.

I think i thought it was too pretty to cut into.

The green card blank I found nearly a whole packet full of these,

so green is now the in colour.

I am really thrilled with the border from

SB Parisian Accents I cut 2 and stuck them together with

a jewelled sticker that came off another card.

Snowy was a precoloured version that I have added

Stickles and 3D medium to.

The added pearls are from Bo Bunny.

Hope you like him.

Am entering him in:

Creative Fingers Challenges - Anything goes
CHNC Pattern Paper challenge - Anything goes
Beccy's Place Jan challenge - Use Beccy's image
Sister act card challenge - Anything goes



Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

Mid month reminder

Time to remind you CHNC Christmas extra 2

is waiting for you to show us your Christmas makes.

It is good to see that some of you are

not going to be left rushing at the last minute getting

cards made.

I have no idea how old the DP that I used on this card is

or where it came from but thought it matched the scene I was trying to

portray.

I started by cutting out the largest size SB Labels 8

which I embossed then stamped while it was still in the die,

with Winter Wonderland by Stamp It.

The Santa and his sleigh are from

PB Transparency Best Day Ever

Then I embossed a piece of white card with the Swiss dots folder

and tore it to make the snow banks.

After sticking it down I trimmed it  to match the labels die.

Finished the whole off  with lots of Stickels and tiny silver stars.



Am entering this in:
CHNC Patterned paper - Anything goes
Christmas Cards all year round - Anything goes
Stamp and Create - Winter Wonderland




Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.


Margaret M

Shades of blue

I had this card tucked away for {Ron} later on.

Sorry Ausie slang.

But then 52CCT want shades of blue

So what is a girl to do when crafting time is short.

This card is really very straight forward just matting and layering

The light blue card came from my bit box and there was just enough

to do the 2 panels.

The paper is from Wild Rose studio and the pups in the snow are so cute.

I have finished with a couple of Snowflakes cut from frosted card

but should have made the larger one the dark blue.

Snowy is coloured with copics.

His hat has been trimmed with Flower soft and glitter with liquid pearls for snow.

Am entering this in:

52CCT - Shades of Blue

Crafty Gals Corner challenge- Anything goes

Memas Challenge - Anything goes

Christmas cards all year round - Anything goes

CHNC Patterned Paper - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.

Margaret M