Its Sparkling over at Southern Girls Challenge

Happy New Year to all my lovely followers.  I hope 2015 brings you all lots of wonderful sunshine and smiles.

Here the sun is shining the ocean is sparkling (well it was when we were there a few days ago) and the kids are nearly back to school.  Summer holidays are coming to a close.  We have been lucky to get away a couple of times as a family and the kids have also had extra time away with friends.  Its been a great holiday.

The new challenge at Southern Girls hosted by Team Trace is Sparkle and Shine.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Heres my card using "Hooty Love Owl"  from Concetta Designs our sponsor for this challenge.

There's also a DT Call happening so take a look if you think you may be interested.

Entering into the following challenges

Through the Craft Room Door

613 Avenue Create Challenge #108

The Card Concept Challenge #27

Southern Girls DT Call

Details of the Southern Girls DT Call.  Its a great group to belong to so if you think you may be interested take a look below.

Design Team Call at SGC 

Hard to believe that 6 months has nearly passed since our last call. We are on the hunt 

for some  DT Members for our happy little group. If you think you may be interested, 

check out the following info.......... 

We are an open blog so any type of paper crafters can apply. We are a 2 weekly challenge

and the team is split into 2 groups so you are only required to do 1 project per month most 

months. We have lots of fabulous sponsors and sometimes they give us images to work 

with (YAY). So check our sponsor list and if these companies are your thing. If you are a 

scrapbooker, PLer or OTP artist you will not need to work with the images unless you want 

to. We are pretty chatty, about loads of stuff not just crafting, so be prepared to work those 

fingers in our group message center on Facebook. 

You will need a blog.
You will need to be able to use digital images if you are a card maker.
You will need to be a member of facebook as this is where we do our communicating.
The term is 6 months with an option to reapply

 If this sounds like a DT that may appeal to you please contact Lou & Trace at 

THIS EMAIL ADDRESS LINK!!!!!! (southerngirlschallenges{at}gmail{dot}com) 

with an email telling us a little about yourself, any current (if any) DTs you are on, fav 

techniques/ syles that sort of thing and attach your fave 3 projects for us to see and also add 

a link to your blog please. We are looking forward to perusing the hundreds of applicants 

emails and eagerly await all your lovely blog links :) 

Call closes 14 Feb 2015

Christmas Countdown

I don't know if you agree but my goodness Christmas comes around fast these days.  I am sure that someone is stealing months from us.

So of course the new challenge and the last one for this year at Southern Girls is XMAS so we would love to see all your festive creativity.

We have two wonderful sponsors

My card is made using the lovely digital image from Rick St. Dennis called "North Pole Sign".  It had a real vintage feel to me so I kept to a vintage style and coloured it in distress inks.

Wishing you all well with your Christmas preparations however big or small they may be.

Christmas Wishes xo

Entering into the following challenges

Paper Sweeties December Challenge

Crafty Hazelnuts December Challenge

A Crafty Mess #2

613 Avenue Create

Christmas Kisses...

Hi and thanks for stopping by.

Today I have a little christmas gift to share.

I was trying to think of something to make as a little gift to give to those people whom I don't officially buy gifts for at Christmas.  I was browsing Pinterest and saw Hershey's Kisses scattered down the centre of wedding tables as favours.  On the bottom were labels with the the names of the bridal couple and the date of the wedding.   I took this another step and thought how cute would that be as a christmas gift, with christmas images on the bottom.

I used the little mini stamps that came with Gerda's Rubber Christmas Stamps.  I stamped and coloured them, then cut circles of red card 7/8 " and punched the stamp using a 3/4" punch and layered them together.  They fit perfectly on the bottom of the Kisses.

They of course needed to go into something.  Discovering I only had 4 cellophane bags left, a quick trip to the Dollar Outlet Store was required.  I found these gorgeous red and white bags in the "new" Party Supplies section,  a pack of 6 for $3.00.  Thought they would be nicer than the cellophane bags so bought 4 packets, (not that I will use them all this year), these spots and a red and white stripe.

So now a tag to decorate the bag.  I used Gerda Steiner Designs  Snowman stamp as my main feature.  The little birdie comes as part of the set and I die cut a bird house and popped him on there.  Added lots of embellishments and there you have it !!!  A lovely little inexpensive christmas gift.

I am entering this is the following challenges

 Card Concept Challenge #24 Snowman and make a tag, Shabby/ Elegant in style

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge November

Avenue 613 Create  Challenge#99

A Crafty Mess Challenge #1

Southern Girls are Celebrating their 100th challenge

Now I haven't been with Southern Girls quite that long but it is a wonderful Design Team to be a part of.  It is a privilege to be a member of the team that Louise and Tracey founded 100 challenges ago.  Louise continues to do a marvelous job at the helm.  Its also extra special because its run from down here in little New Zealand,  Aotearoa,  Land of the Long White Cloud. Check out the latest challenge HERE, we'd love to have you celebrate with us.

So if you hadn't already guessed our theme is "Celebrations" and all DT members have created something to inspire you this round.  Our lovely sponsors are

Here is my card using Lacy Sunshine Myrtle's Flower

 who I have to say is pretty darn cute.

Thanks for stopping by xo

Christmas Tags

Christmas giving is on my mind and with that I used some of the super cute rubber christmas stamps from Gerda Steiner Designs to create a set of gift tags.

I wanted to create the look of snow on the bottom of my tags so I cut 2 strips 2.5 x 5 inches from card stock, plain white and Kaisercraft Mix & Match collection.

I simply took a small circle punch and cut away little bites until I had the shape I wanted.  I then glued both pieces together and cut the corners to form the tag shape and punched a hole for twine. (I have shown the pieces separately so you can see both cut).  Then added glitter along the cut line for some sparkle.

I added my image coloured using Derwent Pencils, on foam dots. Placed some snowflakes which were cut using iq dies mini snowflakes and a sentiment using Paper Smooches Wise Cuts, Christmas words.  Hand drew a black line around the edge and to finish added some red and white bakers twine.

 6 gorgeous little tags ready and waiting to be attached to a christmas gift.

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas at Gerda Steiner Designs

Yes indeed christmas is just around the corner...it sure has snuck up fast this year.  Gerda has been busy designing her wonderful christmas collection available in gorgeous rubber and digital stamps.  Take a look HERE.  This little card was made using the little dear digital version from Santa and Friends.  He is one of my favourites from the christmas collection. I chose to go a little shabby with my design.

Entered into the  Paper Sweeties November challenge