Christmas in July...sounds like a well known shopping channel!

Hi All

It is lovely to be back blogging again today. As I have been blogging on a weekly basis, I really missed not posting last weekend! We were at a wedding where hubby was Best Man and so we had a tiring weekend....it was beautiful and bride and groom were very happy! Will post some pictures in the week at some point, as well as some piccies of some cupcakes and cupcake boxes that I made for them as a little treat when they went back to their hotel room!

Before I start explaining my latest craftiness, can I just thank everyone who has taken part in my candy so far! I am amazed by the response and am trying to get round to each and everyone of you, just taking me a little time as there are so many! Thank you for taking part and becoming a follower...and good luck to you all! If you would like to take part then all the details are here.

Ok, to explain my post title I must explain about last night! My very best friend Becky came over and we did a bit of crafting (rather than just gossiping like we normally do!) She wanted to do some Christmas crafting so along with a Christmassy film and music we were away! I have to say she was much more productive than I was as she made six toppers and I made three tiny little cards! I have posted a picture below (please excuse my pictures today....I think the camera was set up wrong so will have a look at it before the next time I blog!) These mini cards are 3x3 inches and are new from Papermania! They are so sweet! However, it took me ages to figure out what I was going to put on them as they were so tiny! I have used some of the new Papermania Christmas range and the new Forever Friends Christmas range...both are lush! Anyway, we crowned our evening Christmas in July....not meaning to sound like a well-known shopping channel! Lol! It was a fab night, full of lots of Christmas cheer! Hehe!

So, on to today. I was much more productive! I think I get too wrapped up in the gossip when we have a crafting night! Here is my first card which is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is 'Desert Island Stamps'. The challenge is to craft with a Penny Black image that you couldn't do without. I decided on a Christmas one as I couldn't choose...this is an ode to Penny Black Christmas stamps as I definitely could not do without all of them! In the second picture you should just be able to pick out my stickles and adhesive gems...both oldies but goodies! Haven't used adhesive gems for a while so really enjoyed crafting with them again!

My second card is for the Winter Wonderland challenge which is a 'Christmas Buffet'! You have to include three things out of the following list on your card: patterned paper, ribbons, gems, buttons, brads, snowflakes or 1 charm. I chose to use patterned paper, adhesive gems and brads to embellish my very cute little Lili of the Valley image! Really enjoyed using these images and taking part in the challenge once again. It really is helping me to get on top of my Christmas card making! The papers I have used are the new ones from Papermania. I have also popped some stickles onto the image to bring out the snow a little bit...forgot to do this before I took the picture-d'oh!

My next card I found really difficult! It is for the Cute Card Thursday challenge and this week it is 'Technology'. Create a card showing some kind of technology, phones, MP3 Players, cars, computers etc. I found this great image, coloured him in to look like James Bond, and thought I'd couple it with some old car toppers that I had.....hubby assures me this is an Aston Martin, a car that Bond drives?! I have no idea....hanging my head in shame! I decided to keep to the black and silver colours and think this would be perfect for a guy who likes to think he is suave and sophisticated, just like Bond! Lol!

The next card I made was for two challenges, the Just Magnolia challenge which is 'Anything Goes' (optional of shabby chic) and the Sketch Saturday challenge with this fab sketch! I love this little image of Edwin all tangled up in the Christmas lights....I bet we can all look at him and he reminds us of someone when we are putting up the decorations each year! Really like this sketch, it works perfectly for a guys card I think....mmm will be using this again as I always struggle with cards for the boys!

My final card today is probably my favourite out of the bunch! I really enjoyed making it and am really happy with the result. I have made this card for the Papertake Weekly challenge which was this fab sketch, and the Lili of the Valley challenge which is to create a card for a celebration. I have chosen this gorgeous Lili of the Valley image and have made a birthday card. I embellished it with a few flowers and some adhesive gems to give it a bit of sparkle. I will definitely use this sketch again! Hope you like it!

Well that is it from me today! I will try and post some pictures of the wedding and my cupcake boxes during the week....this is a mammoth post as it is! Thank you for looking and please feel free to enter my blog candy if you wish! I will be announcing the winner on Friday 8th July!

Hugs

Arline

xx