Elzybells Blog

Challenge 10

Today's challenge is a great sketch by Frances.

The DT and I have created some cards for inspiration. Here's my attempt below and you can see all the cards made by the DT in the challenge gallery on the right.

If you'd like to have a go at the sketch, just post a link to your creation in the comments for this post! :)

You do not have to stick strictly to the sketch, it is just a starting point for your layout. You can change elements or tweak it to be more individual, so long as it is still clear that your creation is based on this sketch. As with all our challenges, your creations must feature Elzybells stamps.

The next challenge will be in 2 week's time!

festive hugs,

Merry Christmas!

 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my customers, readers and friends around the world a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year.

 

May your homes be filled with the warmth of family and Christmas cheer,

may your bellies be full of delicious food and good wine, 

and may your hearts be overflowing with love.

 

 

With much love,

Elizabeth xx

 

Some interesting reading

I came across these articles by Julie Ebersole on her blog, Paper Trufflez regarding image use and "hot-linking" - something which I never knew about!  So I just wanted to pass the info on as it may affect you as a blogger and some of us may be doing this without realising. I hope it's useful ...

 

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2008/11/just-say-no.html

 

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2008/11/more-on-hot-linking.html

 

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2008/11/paper-trufflez-just-say-no.html

 

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2008/11/dialogue-more-on-hot-linking.html

 

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2008/11/continued-clarification-on-image-use.html

 

 

hugs,

 

 

Showcase Sunday 21 Dec 08

How's everyone's Christmas shopping going - all done yet?? I had to get a few last bits today and have spent the rest of the day wrapping :) I love wrapping lots of pretty parcels and the thought of everyone's faces when they open them!!

I have some great cards to share for today's showcase. These were made by Denise Morgans.

 

 

Denise's blog can be found here

Here's a cute card by Lazylol, I really like the layout and the mice feet inside

 

 

Also, you very much liked Elaine Burnett's simple approach in a showcase earlier this month. Here's another wonderful card in the same vain. Elaine's blog can be seen here.

 

I hope the last few days before Christmas are stress free for you. Enjoy yourselves and be sure to remember the reason for the season :)

hugs,

Fun stocking fillers

You can *never* go wrong with giving chocolate, certainly not in my house anyway, so here are some fun ideas for yummy stocking fillers.

 

 

This is my favourite, I love the ribbon handle and beads - you could hang it on your Christmas tree!

As the chocolates are small, it would be too fiddly creating stamped wrappers so I just cut strips of red paper and used a white gel pen for the dashes to match the header card (using a not too fussy designer paper would be nice too).

The clear packaging is simply a greeting card bag and the opening is neatly covered inside the header card.

 

   

 

 

This is simply a decorated chocolate bar. 

 

 

My chocolate of choice is Galaxy - - - if you're partial to galaxy, you have to try the new cookie crumble one! Mmmmm.... well, you do understand, I had to buy two bars for this project, just in case one didn't turn out right... that's what I told hubby anyways

 

 

 

 

If you have a lot to make, here are two much simpler and quicker ideas.

 

The first, again is simply a large greeting card bag as I didn't have any cellophane so made do with what I had (once tied, I snipped the ends).

The second is a cute plastic tube. I used off cuts for the top and bottom from the chocolate wrappers I made earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

And how about some stamped Christmas wrapping paper

 

 

 

 

 

and a little tag to match!

 

 

 

 

I think anyone would be delighted to receive these little goodies! They were really fun to make, I hope they've given you some ideas especially if your short on time.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Stamps used:

10-024-F  Set of 4 robins

10-012-H  Reindeer & robin

10-033-A  Tiny snowflake

03-200-D  Merry Christmas!

 

 

Are we getting stressed yet??

... with all the cards still to make and so little time left, if you're anything like me, you end up (honestly, through no fault of your own) leaving it 'til as late as possible and then get in a panic. I bow down to all those organised people who have their cards made by September!

 

I must admit, when it comes to Christmas cards, as there are just so many to make, I don't get too precious about each card being completely different to the next - otherwise I get myself into a big tizzy and I'm not happy with anything I make!

Instead, my rule of thumb is to stick to one overall theme / colour scheme / selection of stamps. Keep it simple.

 

Christmas is the biggest season we make cards for and there's no point in getting stressed about wanting each card to be completely unique and so the task will take triple the amount of time.

At the end of the day, the recipient is receiving the truly heartfelt sentiment of a beautiful handmade card which they know a lot of love has gone into. So does it really matter that your Auntie Doris across the pond receives the same card as your next door neighbour?

 

I have made a few samples bearing in mind there are also people in your life that you will want to make more of a special card for. You will see I have stuck to a limited amount of stamps. My overall theme is reindeer and robins, and the colour scheme is red and gold (with brown parcel paper).

So starting with the least complicated (this is the one I would re-create the most of):

 

 

 

 

If you know that some people will see the cards that you have made for others, there are some really simple tweaks you can make to each card to make it a little bit different, but without going back to the drawing board with your design. How about these examples:

 

 

 

 

(you can make the robin into a Christmas tree ornament and attach it to the card with velcro!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIP: Once you have your first card made and are happy with it, start on a production line to re-create it. So instead of making each card from start to finish, stamp and colour as many images as you will need in one go.... trim as many patterned paper sheets as you need in one go..... assemble cards in one go.... etc. Remember it's not any less lovingly made - just more practical!

 

 

I really like the results of colouring on parcel paper as the white looks so vivid.

It also gives a really nice effect to lightly tap a white inkpad along the edges of the parcel paper.

As a base I coloured with chalks and then used prisma pencils on top. They seem to work really well. To really make the white pop I also used a gel pen to highlight some parts and used it to quickly create dotted or dashed borders.

 

 

I really hope this post has helped some of you get out of the frame of mind that every card MUST be completely different. Every handmade card you make is a special piece of art.

 

Pop back tomorrow for some special treats to co-ordinate with these cards!

 

 

Stamps used:

10-024-F  Set of 4 robins

10-012-H  Reindeer & robin

10-008-L  Reindeer & sleigh

10-033-A  Tiny snowflake

03-203-C  Season's tweetings

 

DT challenge

Today's challenge was set by Steph and is traditional colours for Christmas; red, green & gold.

Here's my card. I actually made this for a friend last year as he had a temporary mouse infestation where he used to live... just as well he has a good sense of humour!!

Here are my favourites for this challenge from Jeanne:

There's lots of inspiration from the rest of the DT in the challenge gallery on the right.

If you'd like to have a go at this challenge, just pop a link to your creation in the comments section of this post and if we have a few I'll show them on the blog next week :)

Our next DT challenge will be set in two weeks time, on Christmas day!

  

p.s - Thanks to all the people taking part in our Christmas competition - the response is overwhelming and it's a lot of fun playing santa!!

ho ho ho!
 

Sunday Showcase 7 Dec 09

The first card for today's showcase is a minimalist and simple, one layer card by Elaine Burnett.

Sometimes simplicity is better than a lot of fuss and you can show off your great colouring skills :) Elaine use promarkers and some glitter!  Elaine's blog can be seen here.

Here are two very sweet cards by Michelle Sargent.

 

I really like the colours used on this one. 

 

The final card is by Angélique in the Netherlands, the greeting stamp is very sweet too!

Angélique's blog can be viewed here.

 

Thanks so much to Elaine, Michelle and Angélique for sharing your creations.

Have a great Sunday everyone!!

An interesting new website!

There's a great new Scandinavian online magazine for cardmakers being launched today!!

stampARTic  

It has designers from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark but all entries are also translated into English. The designers are so talented - be sure to check out their individual blogs too!

It looks to be a great resource for new techniques and inspiration with tutorials, challenges and competitions.

Elzybells Advent Calendar

We have prizes to give away every day until Christmas! To be in with a chance to win all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and a winner will be randomly picked throughout the month to win the prize for that day.

I'll be sending prizes on the Friday of each week. Please note, that the latter half of prizes, although will be posted may not arrive until the new year depending on destination.

If you find your name listed next to any of the prizes below, please email me with your address details asap!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ONLY ONE COMMENT PER PERSON PLEASE 

I use random.org to pick a winner daily from all the comments left since day one so please do not leave a comment every day. It will be deleted.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

1st - Spring blooms & Juggling eggs rubber stamps

WINNER: Ammie Sanders who wrote:

hello, i really do love your stamps and blog :) and it great to be in with a chance to win

also wanted to say thanks for the watercolour paper tutorial, im just trying to find somwhere to bye it hugs ammie

 

2nd - 2 surprise Valentine's rubber stamps (new, to be released in January!)

WINNER: Petra who wrote:

What fun this is! Thanks for making the count down till christmas even more fun :-)

 

3rd - Sheet of A4 Kling-on cushion + a clear storage case

WINNER:

Jackie who wrote:

Wow! Look at how you spoil us, thank you for giving so many things away in the celebration of Christmas! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us after the holidays.

 

4th - Cold nose, warm heart dinkie set

WINNER:

Christina Gerloff who wrote:

Great idea!  Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!  Ho Ho Ho!

 

 

5th - Free (worldwide) shipping coupon

 

WINNER:

Heather who wrote:

Merry Christmas to everyone!! Heather

  

6th - Kiss me quick rubber stamps

WINNER: Maria Matter who wrote:

Oh, what a great idea!!!  Very generous! Blessings, Maria

 

7th - 2 clear storage cases

WINNER:

Carmen who wrote:

Brilliant idea and a little bit of christmas fun! :D Thanks for doing this!

 

8th - Cat window + kitty extras

WINNER:

Lorraine who wrote:

Hi wow wonderful site. what a great way to celebrate christmas countdown. congrats to everyone whos won so far. good luck to everyone else (including me ^.^)

 

9th - £5 elzybells gift voucher

WINNER:

Susie who wrote:

So many lovely prizes on offer. Thanks for running the competition :)

 

10th - Surprise Valentine's clear set (new, to be released in January!)

WINNER:

Karyl who wrote:

I love, love, love my Elzybells stamps!  They are what I go to whenever I want something cute!!  Thanks for sharing your creativity with us on the blog!!

 

11th - Set 3 - Funky flowers rubber stamps

WINNER:

Roisin who wrote:

I think its a great way to count down to christmas. Love your stamps xx

 

12th - 2 clear storage cases

WINNER: grenadine who wrote:

j'ai mis un lien vers ce blog sur le mien !  Comment partipe-t-on à ce calendrier de l'avent ?
http://le-blog-de-grenadine.over-blog.fr/article-25325400.html

Grenadine

13th - Easter chick & Large spring wording rubber stamps

WINNER: Jennifer Robinson who wrote:

Please add my name.  I love your blog and ALL your Stamps!  Can't wait till  the New Year to see everything that is new,  Stamps, blog and so on!  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

 

14th - 2 surprise Valentine's rubber stamps (new, to be released in January!)

WINNER: Rosalien who wrote:

What a really nice idea to give gifts everyday to someone.:)) Ofcourse I wanne give it a try.:))Good luck to everyone. Rosalien

 

15th - Stardust & moonbeams clear set

WINNER: Katie who wrote:

I want to win a prize and this I know For Elizabeth is Nice to Know She helped me when I was in  a Fix For I know She had the solution. Please Pick me Elizabeth and Have a lovely Christmas and New Year Katie xxx

 

16th - Free (worldwide) shipping coupon

WINNER: katherine (beadfreak22) who wrote:

What a fun and generous giveaway!  I'd love to get my hands on some Elzybells stamps!  Thank you so much!

 

17th - A fairytale ending dinkie set

WINNER: Andrea who wrote:

Merry Christmas Elizabeth. Thanks for taking the time to host an advent competition. Good luck to everyone who is taking part.

 

18th - Surprise Valentine's clear set (new, to be released in January!)

WINNER: Kathy Brown who wrote:

I wanna play everyday...oops I missed the first day.   Pick me!!!

 

19th - Flower girl rubber stamp + floral extras

WINNER: SueF who wrote:

Wow what a fantastic competition!!
Good luck with the move, Sue

 

20th - Sheet of A4 Kling-on cushion + a clear storage case

WINNER: Jill H who wrote:

Wow! What amazing gifts! Thank you for the chance to win!

 

21st - 2 surprise Valentine's rubber stamps (new, to be released in January!)

WINNER: Audrey who wrote:

What a great idea! Thanks for getting us into the spirit of Xmas!

 

22nd - Sheep celebrations 2 clear set

WINNER: Ruth who wrote:

what lovely cards on display - there are some wonderfully talented cardmakers around.  What a kind gesture with the giveaways.  I wish you all a very Happy Christmas xxx

 

23rd - £5 elzybells gift voucher

WINNER: LK who wrote:

this has inspired me to get back into stamping!

 

24th - Surprise Valentine's clear set (to be launched in the new year!)

WINNER: Nancy Gagnon who wrote:

How sweet of you & what a fun way to countdown the days until Christmas!

 

25th - £10 elzybells gift voucher + a surprise Valentine's clear set (to be launched in the new year!)

WINNER: Teri Spoolhoff who wrote:

Wow! what fantastic gifts--thank you for the opportunity to win! Ohhhh, pick me! Pick me! ;o)

 

** Congratulations to all! **

Please check back to see if you have won anything as with so many winners I won't be able to chase anyone up. If prizes are not claimed within 3 weeks of the draw date, another person will be randomly chosen.