Friendship Swap.

These are the goodies that I sent to my partner in the Friendship Swap being hosted by Linda  of A Swap For All Seasons.  We needed to send a card and a tag  with the theme of friendship/pink for cancer awarness and some pink goodies from our own stash.  Jan has received her parcel from me so I can now show and tell.  I forgot to take a picture of the pink lace that I included but you can see it over on Jan's blog.
This is the tag that I made.

Digi image from Mo's Digital Pencil.

Martha Stewart border punch

Pink envelope made using my Envelobox Creator.

(Best buy ever, I never have to worry about having a envelope the right size anymore!)

The back of the tag showing the Sentiment that I got for free from

Saying Images.com

 

Here is the card that I made. I can at last show you some of the Joy fold cards I have been busy doing. I have used different  pinks and greys card stock from my stash. 

Image is a topper by Little Claire 'LCD06'

Spellbinders  Delicate Asters 'HCD726'

Small cat punch (unknown make)

 

Here you can see the card starting to be opened up. More of the flower die with  black embossing for the swirls and black pearls.

 

 

The card fully opened up showing the sentiment and blank space for writing in using



Spellbinders Majestic Elements die  S4-383.

 



 

Thanks Jan for being my partner in this swap and hope to do it again soon.

 

Entering into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz #138: Inside decorated.

A Gem Of A Challenge #99: Use black on your card. (Black embossed swirls & pearls)

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #92: Use up your snippets. (used scraps for the flowers)

Challenges 4 Everybody #30: Anything goes.

Melonheadz Friends: Animals.

Make It Monday  #160: Paper crafts.

Lexi's Creations #100: Use  pink on your card.

Scrappers Delights #8: Make your own embellishments. (Aster Flowers)

Brown Sugar #61: Black and bling.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Pink Swap Goodies.

I'm so pleased to be able to say that Linda from  A Swap For All Seasons  has decided to resume hosting her lovely swaps. The idea  for this yrs swap each month will be in the same format of a card, a  tag and some goodies from your own stash. . Only the theme and colour will change throughout the months. The October swap was the colour pink and the theme Friendship. These are the goodies that I have received from my swap partner Susie. 

Didn't I do well!

Thank you Susie for a lovely swap.

 

I will be back shortly to show you what I sent to my other partner Jan. (You do not send and receive from the same partner which makes it even more fun.) Thank you Linda for a fab swap.

Stamped Frugal 13.

I never promised you a Rose Garden, but I did promise a Frugal Bakers Dozen and here it is. The very last card to enter into the competition over at Nessa's blog to make a card using non Christmas orientated stash.
I have used a stamp which no one could call a Christmas stamp or even think of using except me of course!! I used it last month to make a card for Sis's Birthday. Now she was a bit perturbed that I had bought the stamp especially for her card and was worried that it would never get used again. Never fear Sis it has and as she is busy packing to go on holiday won't have time to look on my blog and see this. If you are Sis then look away now cos this is your Christmas card!!!

Penny black Stamp "Spinning a Yarn"

White card blank and red card stock not shown

Red Promarker and gold highlighter pens.



 

Here is the card I have made.

 





 

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card competition: Using non Christmas items.

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #92: Use up your snippets. (red card behind chickens)

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra #9: Anything Christmassy.

Crafty Card Makers #100: Winged things.

Simon Says Stamps: Anything goes.

Little Miss Muffet: We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Sweet Stampin: Things with wings.

Challenges 4 Everybody #30: Anything goes.

Christmas card challenge #44: Anything goes as long as Christmas themed.

 

 

 

 



Buttons For Frugal 12.

Well here we are at the last day of Nessa's Frugal Christmas card competition. There is still time to enter if you hurry. The idea is to make a card from supplies which does not use a die or stamp that is  Christmas orientated. You can use a Christmas sentiment and paper if you choose. I set myself the added challenge to see if I could come up with 12 cards from stuff within my stash . So what have I pulled out to use to today. Lets have a look and see.

 

Scor-Pal and Britannia word dies.

red card blank, scrap of silver card stock.

various green coloured pearls and red pearls.

Last but not least plain old white shirt buttons

(My MIL worked in a shirt factory and I inherited an abundance of buttons from her.)

 

Here's my card for Today.

A sparkly Christmas Tree.

 

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Competition: using non Christmas items.

Scrappers Delights #8: Make your own embellishments.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra #9: Anything goes Christmassy.

Sister Act #26: Anything goes.

2 Sisters Challenge: #163: Anything goes.

Card Mania #30: Cute as a button. Use one at least.

Fab 'n' Funky #186: Button Up.

Holly Jolly Christmas: Buttons, buttons ,buttons.

Totally Gorjuss #203: Traditional Christmas Colours.

Tuesday Throwdown #166: Clean and simple.

 

I promised a Bakers Dozen for the Frugal cards so please pop back later to see the very last card in the series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



G is for Gauntlet.

I'm only just in by the skin of my teeth. Didn't realise the time. (I blame the weeds in the garden for keeping me outside.)

The current letter to be used over at the Craft Barn challenge is the letter G. Now as I have used Alien for the beginning of my book and Zip for zipping the book up I could really only choose the one word for G and that is  "Gauntlet". After all that is what The Craft Barn did ,they threw down the gauntlet at the beginning of the year for us to create a page depicting one word for each letter of the alphabet and me not wanting to miss a challenge took up the Gaunlet (so to speak) and so here it is. Just before I do though I want to show you what The Doc found on the floor the other day and gave it to me thinking it was from my Craft Pod. It wasn't but it soon found it's way into my snippets pot. It is a tiny  clip not much more than one eight of an inch long with claws either end. Now that's a buckle in my eyes so it has been waiting for just the right moment to put in an appearance.

 

Is this the smallest snippet I have ever  utilised I wonder!

 

Couldn't find a picture of a gauntlet on the web in the size needed so had to draw one free hand. I'm not much of a hand  at drawing so I'm afraid  this is the best rendering I could do!

 

 

Entering into the following challenge:

The Craft Barn : Alpha challenge letter G.

 

 

If your looking for the last Frugal Christmas  card one will be along shortly as the competition closes in less than 24hours! tTll then Hugs Mrs A.

 

Roses all the way Frugal 11.

This  is my penultimate  card for Nessa's Frugal Christmas card competition. The idea is that you make a card using stash that is not Christmas orientated. Christmas dies and stamps are not allowed  but you can use paper and a Christmas sentiment if you choose.

So what have I pulled out of my stash today to use?

  

 

Well there is the usual blank card and blank card stock.

Cream card stock, Britannia word dies.

Xcut  Ornate frame, Sizzix swirl die, Colour Box chalks

Spellbinders flower die and a leaf die.

 

Here is my card

Christmas Roses. 

 

 Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card competition: Using non Christmas items.

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #91: Use up your snippets.(odds of white card for flowers).

Inspire Me Fridays #122: Anything goes..

Jingle Belles: Not square or rectangle.

Happy Campers #22: Show us your flowers.

Make My Monday: Flowers or trees.

Everybody Art #246: Roses.

City Crafter #178: Flower power.

Chocolate, coffee & cards: Flowers

Stampin  With The Dragon: Yellow.

 

 



 

 

 





 

 

Sparkle meets Frugal 10.

Time is cracking on for the competition over at Nessa's blog. The idea is that you make a Christmas card only using from your stash items  that are  not  Christmas orientated. Christmas stamps and dies are not allowed but you can use papers and a Christmas sentiment if you choose.
This is what I have pulled out to use today.

A plain white card, Paper 'Popcorn the Bear' free with Crafters companion magazine.

Silver embossing powder. VersaMarker pen, blue gems

and my secret ingredient the waste bits from die cuts/punches that I have been collecting up.

This is the card I made.

All those little waste pieces made up the snowflake shapes which I then embossed before adhering to  the card front. To prove that well  known scientific fact, all the snowflakes are different!

I also used my Britannia word dies for the sentiment.

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card Competition: Only using non Christmas Items.

The Christmas Challenge #16: Monochrome.

Wags and Whiskers #113: Sparkle.

Pan Pastels #38: Anything goes..

Seemacrafts : Monochromatic.

Perfect Sentiments #93: Holiday Snowflakes.

Divas By Design: Monochrome.

Southern Girls #78: The world in Monochrome.

Crafting By Designs: Anything goes. 

A.R.T. Challenge #16: Anything goes.



Zig zag Frugal 9.

The competition is nearly through its second week now over at Nessa's blog where all the details  can be found. We are making Christmas cards from out stash using non Christmas orientated items so no Christmas dies or stamps can be used but a Christmas sentiment is allowed and also paper.
Here are the items I have out to use today.

Patterend paper by Alison Butler free in a magazine.

Blank easel card, white cardstock, snippet of yellow card.

Britannia word die, oval dies and fancy round die.

Black sandwiched layer  from a chocolate box.

Here is what I made.

p .p pick up a penguin!!

I added googly eyes for his facial features.

Wings were made from cutting a smaller oval in half.

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card competition: Using non Christmas items.

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #91:  Use up your snippets. ( yellow card for beak.

Crafting For All Seasons #61: Make it funny.

The Crafty Bloggers Network #15: Things with wings.

Stamping for Pleasure: Rudolph day.

Artistic Inspirations  #60: Anything goes its bright colours. 



Numbers Frugal 8.

Nessa has a competition on her blog to see if you can make a Christmas card using your  non traditional Christmas orientated stash. . You cannot use Christmas dies or stamps but you may use a Christmas sentiment and papers if you choose.
Here is what I have pulled out of my stash to use today.

A plain red & green papers plus a matching/ toning paper from the same pack.

(Pack by Hot off the Press  came free in a magazine)

Plain and fancy circle dies, corners( a waste product from a die cut )

plain white card stock and fancy blank card.

The numbers  and month were cut and saved  from an old calendar before it was discarded last yr.

Here is the completed card.

The inside showing the folds and pivoting action.

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card competition:  Using non Christmas items.

Make It Monday #159 : Papercrafts.

Hiding In My Craft Room #116: Lots of layers.

Challenges 4 Everybody # 29: Anything goes.

Through The Craft Room Door: Anything goes.

LEJ Designs # 72: Lots Of Layers.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra #9:: Anything goes Christmassy.

Inspire Me Fridays  #121: Anything goes. 

Bearly Mine #105: Anything goes. 



Scoring Frugal 7.

There's a crafty little competition going on over at Nessa's blog to see if we can make a Christmas card using from your stash only items that are not Christmas orientated. Christmas stamps & dies are a no no  but you may use a Christmas sentiment if you wish.
This is what I pulled out to use on my card today.

A piece of Raspberry Road digi paper called 'Autumn splendor' in woodgrain effect.

The spellbinder Medallion die and the Studio punch I used  for the waste bits  only.

White card blank and also not shown my scor pal and distress pens in red and green.

Sentiment was produced in word document and printed out.

Snippet of brown card stock also  needed.

Here is my card.

The door was created using my scor pal to emboss the panels.

Wreath was created using the small flowers and leaves  as shown above.

A small bow was added and a black pearl for the door knob.

In the end I changed the card blank to a plain square.



Entering into the following challenges:
Frugal Christmas Card Competition: Using non Christmas items.
Pixies Crafty Workshop #91: Use up your snippets (brown card).
Make It Monday #159: Papercrafts.
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #32: Non - Traditional colours (brown and pink).
Inspire Me Fridays #121: Anything goes.
Brown Sugar #60: Shades of brown.
Challenges 4 Everybody #29: Anything goes.
Chocolate Coffee and Cards Challenges #48: Anything goes.
Crafty Hazelnuts Extra  #9 Anything goes Christmassy.

Circling Frugal 6.

The Frugal Christmas card  competition is still on over at Nessa's blog with still a week left to enter. The idea is to make a Christmas card using your stash that is not Christmas orientated. Christmas stamps & dies are out but you can use a Christmas sentiment if you choose.
Here is what I have pulled out of the bag to use today.

A Darice embossing folder 'Circle Interlock'

When I got this folder I was pleased to see that it matched two papers I had in my stash already.

The Burgundy I have already used on another card and this is the Green piece.

Dulux  Matchpot in 'Roasted Red', Glossy accents, scalloped card blank.

Carboard letters in Capitals & white card.

 

Here it what I made.

 



Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card Competition: Using non Christmas items.

Challenges 4 Everybody #29: Anything goes.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra #9: Anything goes Christmassy.

Top Tip Tuesday #110: Get in shape but not a rectangle.

Divas By Design: Anything goes.

Natalie & Amy's Challenge #12: Embossing.

A little  Bit Crafty #5: Clean & Simple.
613 Avenue Create #38: using colours from columns (White,red.green).
Chocolate Coffee and Cards challenges  #48: Anything goes.

 

 

 



Going Yellow Frugal 5

I'm really getting into the swing of the Frugal competition over at Nessa's blog. The idea being that you make a Christmas card from stash that it not Christmas orientated. So no Christmas stamps or dies but you can use a Christmas sentiment.
Here's what I pulled from my stash for todays card.

Xcut Circle dies, Britannia word die, swirl die Sizzix 656323

Embossing folder by Sizzix, cream card blank

Yellow shimmer card, red bows and a strip of red ribbon.

 

Got no bauble dies? Not a problem, make your own!

 

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas card competition: Using non Christmas items.

Christmas Stampin All Year Long  #34:  Christmas cheer anything goes.

Crafty Ribbons #62: Anything goes with ribbon.

Cut It Up Challenge: Going in circles.

Fussy & Fancy #98: Punches & dies.

Jo's Scrap Shack #18: Anything goes.

Sister Act #25: Anything goes.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra #9: Anything goes.

Crimbo Crackers #50: Quick & easy.

One Crazy Stamper: Christmas challenge.

 

 

 

 

 



 

Seeing Red Frugal 4.

Here is the next Frugal card in the series that I am making to enter into the competition that Nessa is currently running on her blog. The idea being that you make a Christmas card from anything in your stash that would not normally be for Christmas (so no Christmas stamps or dies). You are allowed to use a Christmas sentiment.
Here is the pile of stash for this card.

Scallop circle dies, red check paper by Alison Butler (free in Crafts Beautiful mag)

Red/black pearls, black marker pen, card blank, sentiment word dies by Britannia.

Butterfly die. Yes you heard me right!

I don't want the butterfly in this instance just the waste bits.

I put them on the red strip so that you can see them.  Little tadpoles or are they speech marks?

It is the other bits I'm interested in though. Do you see what I see?

I also needed to cut some ovals  so out came my Fiskars tool for the job.

 

Here's my card.

Now do you see what I saw!!

 Sentiment has been adhered to a small tag for the front.

A different shape for the inside

and another on the back left blank for signing..



 

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card Challenge: Using non Christmas items.

Top Tip Tuesday #110: Get in shape but not a rectangle.

Love to Create #83 Clean & simple.

One Crazy Stamper: Christmas Challenge.

4 Krafty Girlz challenges #2: Anything goes.

Art  Impressions #119: Anything goes.

Divas by Design: Anything goes.

Through the Craft Room door: Anything goes.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra: Anything goes.

Crimbo Crackers #50: Quick & Easy.

 

Back tomorrow with another one.

 

 

 

 

 



Going Spotty Frugal 3.

Nessa has a competition running on her blog to see if you can make a Christmas card from anything in your stash that you would not normally associate with Christmas. You are allowed to use a Christmas related sentiment. I have set myself the additional challenge of coming up with 12 (or even a bakers dozen) different ideas for cards that you can make without using a Christmas stamp or Christmas Die. I do so love a challenge!
I am now on card 3 and this what I have pulled from my stash to use.

No red or green colours in your pile? Not to worry these will do just as well! Christmas doesn't have to be all about  the  traditional colours.

White and Navy blue cardstock, scrap of silver crepe paper

Blue gems, Square Parenthis nesting dies

Britannia Christmas sentiment dies, Square card blank

Scor Pal (otherwise you can use a ruler and ball tool as shown.)

 

I have used my Scor Pal to create a grid pattern on the smallest nesting die which I have then embellished with the blue gems, matted onto the navy nesting die and then onto the silver as my backing paper. Sentiment cut from the navy cardstock.

 

Entering into the following challenges:
Frugal Christmas Card Competition: Using non Christmas items.
Crafty Hazelnuts  #142: Cut it out.
A Little Bit Crafty #5: Clean & simple.
One Crazy Stamper: Christmas Challenge.
Sparkles Christmas challenge #32: Non-traditional colours.
Love To Create: #83: Clean & Simple.
Artistic Inspirations #59: Anything goes or frame it.
Holly Jolly Christmas: Non traditional colours.
Top Tip Tuesday #110: Get in shape but not a rectangle.
Festive Friday #17 Colour challenge (navy, white, silver)

Being Frugal 2.

I'm on the Frugal Christmas card trail again. Nessa has thrown open a competition to see if we can make a Christmas card from our ordinary craft items not normally associated with Christmas. You can use a sentiment that is Christmas related.
I had another rootle around in my stash and these are the items I pulled out to use.

A shaped card blank, Promarker pen, versaMarker pen

red pearls/black pearls, white embossing powder

leaf die, white circle discarded from yesterdays card

Greeting sentiment discarded from a previous card which I had re done  in red on white.

Image created was mounted on cardboard and then attached with 3D foam pads.

 

Iv'e made my Christmas Pudding , have you!!

 

 

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card Competition: Using non Christmas items

Crimbo Crackers #50: Quick & easy.

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #90: Use up your snippets.

Sister Act #24: Anything goes.

Crafty Hazelnuts #142: Cut it out.

A Little Bit Crafty #5: Clean and simple.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra #9: Anything goes Christmas.

Creative Inspirations #232: Clean and Simple.

Created With Love #58: Anything goes.

Through The Craft Room Door: Anything goes.

 

 



Frugal Christmas Card 1.

My newest follower Nessa has a competition on her blog full details here.  The idea is that you make a Christmas card from anything in your stash that you would not normally associate with Christmas. You are allowed to use a sentiment that is Christmas related.
Now I do so love a challenge and I have also set myself the  added challenge of coming up with 12 ideas to make a different card each time. I might even manage a Bakers Dozen so without further ado this is what I pulled from my stash to make the first card.

Red card with a circle already cut from it in my stash.

Promarkers, Nesting dies to cut 3 circles, small black pearls

Strip of white card ,  4 corners (the waste from a die cut)

4 black/white brads and a Christmas Britannia word die.

Plus the item I have a love/hate relationship with, Acetate.

Plus the gloves needed to  stay sane with which of course I am!!

And this is what I made.

Please meet Snippy the Snowman.

I also pulled out a small piece of  raffia in red for his hat trim

and a larger piece in yellow for his scarf.

 

I used the four discarded corners from a die cut to decorate the inside of the card

(You do all keep your pieces that fall out of the die when you have cut it out don't you!!)



 

Entering into the following challenges:

Frugal Christmas Card Competition: Use non Christmas items to make your card.

Crimbo Crackers  #50: Quick and easy.

Winter Wonderland:  Frosty the snowman.

Crafty Hazelnuts #142: Cut it out.

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #190: Use up your snippets.

UnstampaBelles #27: Using scraps and old stash but no stamps, no digis.

Oldie but a Goodie: Dies and punches.

Creative Moments #26: Anything goes frame it.

One Crazy Stamper: Christmas challenge.

Crafty Hazelnuts Extra: Anything goes Christmas.