An afternoon crafting...

Hi All

Back with a few cards today. Wasn't sure what to do today as just felt like snuggling up on the sofa! Think I have lost my crafting mojo at the minute, I have had a busy week so haven't had much time to craft, but even today I didn't feel like what I created was very good...hope it comes back soon :( To try and find it I decided to get some old bits and bobs out of my craft cupboards to inspire me!

My first card is using some of the gorgeous House Mouse Decoupage from Joanna Sheen. These are gorgeous little images and I am thinking of cutting some more out whilst watching The X Factor...really looking forward to that coming back tonight...that and Celeb Big Brother....in my element! Lol! Sad I know! Anyway, back to my card, I decided to use some of my large scalloped cards up by making some easel cards with them. My Mum made one out of the ones she had the other day and it looked really nice so I had a go! Loved these cards when I bought them but have struggled to use them. I have kept the bottom of the easel card quite simple, just used a little bit of lace and made a bow out of the lace too to make a stopper for the top of the card. I have also popped a quote from my favourite Christmas poem, 'Twas the night before Christmas...', as I thought it went really well with this little image of the mice in their house on Christmas Eve. I added a little bit of stickles to give it a little sparkle and have distressed the edges using 'brushed corduroy' distress ink...I was going for a 'wood' effect but not that happy with the results. I inked the edges of my quote to make that a little bit distressed too. I would like to enter this into the ABC Christmas Challenge which is 'Q for quote' where you need to include a quote from a Christmas poem or song this week, the Totally Papercrafts challenge which is 'Christmas in August' and finally into The Crazy Christmas Challenge which is 'Anything Christmas Goes' and take a look as they have started a monthly Christmas challenge as well as there original Crazy Challenge.

My next card is using one of my favourite Pollycraft images. It is of the little scamp 'Chester' eating Christmas Pudding. I think he is such a cutie and love working with him. He reminds me of a very special boy I know and think this card may be going to him for Christmas! I have again made another easel card and have used some old Christmas paper that I have had for a few years now! I have also distressed this card using my ink again around the edges (and the corner where I was going for a 'bite' out of the stamped image...not sure it worked!), I have torn the edges of the sentiment as well as sanding the background paper so it is a little faded in places, not sure the camera has picked it up very well. Apologies for the amount of pictures, I couldn't photograph this one very well and then my little Charlie cat decided to come and lie exactly where the best light was...you can spot him in one of the pictures! Lol! I have used a sentiment from Digital Delights which I love and thought went very well with cheeky Chester! I would like to enter this card into the Pollycraft challenge which is 'Distressing' this week, Cupcake Craft Challenge which is this fabulous sketch, the I Love ProMarkers challenge which is to make an easel card and finally for the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is a card for a man or a boy. The ProMarkers I have used on this image are Tan, Blush, Sandstone, Pear Green, Holly and Henna.

My final card for today is using one of my lovely new images from Digital Delights. I was lucky enough to win a few images from them and this is my fave. I was hoping to use him for the 'Light it up' challenge at WW last week but didn't get chance to make him in time :( so I just had to use him in a card when I was crafting today! He is sooo cute tangled up in his fairy lights! I have also used pink and purples for this card and really like it so think I might try this colour combination for Christmas cards again. Again, I have used some papers that I have had in my cupboard for ages and used some lace, gems and pearls to finish it off. I would like to enter this into the Papertake Challenge this week which is 'Bingo' where you need to use three things off the bingo board....I have chosen the bottom line where you needed to include lace, gems and then you had a free square so I have also included some pearls. I would also like to enter this card into the Christmas Challenge with Sketches which is this great sketch, the Bah Humbug challenge which is to use 'Something New' (my digi stamp) and finally the Christmas Stamping all year long challenge which is to use 'Non-Traditional Colours-no red or green to be seen!' A few new Christmas challenges for me this week. Was fun joining in!

That is it for now. Hoping my mojo is going to come back overnight as I am hoping to do a little more crafting tomorrow. Don't forget the current challenge over at Christmas Crafting is 'Cute Christmas', would love to see you joining in and thanks for everyone who has joined in so far!

Thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx