CHNC challenge 48: vintage and/or distressed

It's a bit scary that we're up to challenge 48 today. With only 52 weeks in the year, this really emphasises how little time there is now to get those Christmas cards done. . There weren't so many entries for last week's challenge, so perhaps you've all been so good and made most of your Christmas cards by now - or perhaps 'music' wasn't everyone's 'cuppa tea'! I very much enjoyed dipping into the blog entries and seeing all the amazing cards - such creativity and variety.

Challenge 48

So here we are at challenge 48 and for this I'm asking you to make a card with a vintage style and/or distressed. At this stage of the year the idea is to get those remaining Christmas cards done, so there's a bit of poetic licence with this challenge - please just give your card a vintage or distressed look - perhaps an image/picture that conjures up the thoughts of Christmas past.

This is my card - you can read more about it and see the challenges I've entered on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make a card with a vintage theme - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 2 December. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 3 December - and, as this will be the first Saturday in the month, there will be a prize from a new sponsor for a randomly chosen winner.

And speaking of sponsorship I'm getting excited about next year - I have quite a few new sponsors lined up and some prize gifts as well.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 47: music

What a wonderful range of Christmas cards for last week's challenge, some gorgeous 'candle' cards from those who took the theme literally and some other wonderful entries that used the 'whatever lights your candle' theme in the wider sense - they were all fantastic - thank you for sharing.

We are, of course, getting close to Christmas now - how come it creeps up on us so quickly in the end? I really must get more organised because, apart from making cards throughout the year, I've hardly done anything else towards Christmas preparations - and I probably still need to make a lot of cards for us to use because I've still got one more opportunity to sell next Saturday.

Challenge 47

So here we are at challenge 47 and for this I'm asking you to include music in some way on your card - you can interpret this however you wish - anything that has a musical connection, so, for instance, a group of carol singers would be fine. I'm sure that you can come up with several ideas for this - I look forward to seeing them.

This is my card - you can read more about it and see the challenges I've entered on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make a card with a musical theme - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 25 November. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 26 November.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 46: whatever lights your candle

Wow! What a fantastic response to last week's challenge - there were so many entries - more and more every day, so many I could hardly believe what was happening! It was lovely to see new people showing their bright colours and sparkly cards as well as many 'regulars' contributing. Christmas is certainly on its way and now is the time to seriously get on with making more cards.

It's time to announce the winner of the prize for last week, randomly drawn - unfortunately, there can only be one winner and random.org has picked:

Number 65: Cindy Pointe

with this lovely card:

Please email me with your name and full address and I'll get the packs of Eno craft toppers into the post.

Now on to this week's challenge:

Challenge 46

For this week my challenge is whatever lights your candle. Now, you can either take this literally and include a candle on your card or perhaps another form of light - a star, a lantern, a lamp post ... or you can take the phrase to mean 'whatever you like', which should give you plenty of freedom! The main thing is to get on and make those Christmas cards. I so enjoy visiting your blogs and seeing what you have created, so please keep the cards coming. Perhaps we'll have another week of a bumper number of entries.

I've made a set of five cards, using a candles stamp - you can read more about them and the challenges I've entered on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here:

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to create whatever lights your candle!

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 18 November. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 19 November.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 45: bright colours and/or sparkle - with a prize

Wow! you really did a great job of making some very special cards for last week's challenge - I love looking at all your creations and admiring the depth of talent of all the contributors to this challenge blog. Thank you so much for your participation.

Well, we're getting into November now and Christmas isn't seeming so far away now, so it's time to be a bit more serious about the festive crafting if you haven't done much so far. I know that some of you have been making Christmas cards throughout the year, but, if you haven't, it's just the right time now to start.

Apologies that linky went astray for a while last evening (because I forgot about the hour change when I did the settings last Saturday). I hope I've got it right for this week, but please bear with me if there is a hiccup.

Challenge 45

Today in the UK is 'bonfire night' when we celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. There will be lots of fireworks this evening (don't forget to keep pets in safe and snug). Thinking of fireworks made me think of bright colours and sparkle, so I'd love to see either or both of your Christmas cards this week.

This is my card - you can read more about it and see the challenges I've entered on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

Here is another card added mid-week that is for a Guest Design slot I was privileged to join in - you can read more about it here:

And here's another one - this one isn't bright colours, but it's very sparkly (more info here on my regular blog):


As it's the first Saturday in the month there will be a prize for a randomly drawn winner (using random.org) - 2 packs of Eno Craft toppers:

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make a card with bright colours and/or sparkle - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 11 November. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 12 November.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 44: for someone special

It was lovely to see all the various scenes on your cards for last week's challenge. Thank you so much for all the entries and the support for this little part of the crafting challenge world.

Challenge 44

Today has always been special for me - it was my dad's birthday. Sadly, he died nearly eight years ago (actually on mum's birthday on 29 November) - so 29 October is still a special day for me, one to reflect on memories of the past and to think particularly of my mum who still misses dad.

I think a lot of us crafters tend to leave the 'special' people to last when it comes to making cards, so my challenge to you this week is to make a Christmas card for someone special, so that it doesn't get left till the last minute. You might want to try and make more than one (I'm going to try, but not sure whether I'll succeed this week).

The card that I'm showing now is, of course, for my mum. I've made a double twisted easel card (the first time I've made one). I've kept the design simple, letting the paper do most of the work - more information on my regular crafting blog 'My crafty outlook' here.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make the card for someone special - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 4 November. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 5 November - as it will be the first Saturday in the month there will be a prize for the randomly drawn winner.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 43: make a scene

Before I tell you about today's new challenge, I want to thank you for all your fab entries for last week's challenge - it was so good to see all the different baubles and hanging things - lots of ideas and inspiration.

Challenge 43

Can you believe that we're on challenge 43? The weeks are going by so quickly and Christmas is looming. The shops are getting so geared up for the festive season. I remember when it seemed early if they started selling Christmas cards at the end of October, but now it seems to get earlier year after year.

There are many of you who have been regular contributors to these challenges and have built up quite a stash of Christmas cards over the months. However, if you've only just found this blog then it's not too late to start joining in and getting going with the festive cards - perhaps make more than one for the challenge.

So, for challenge 43 I'm asking you to make a scene! No, I don't mean that you should have a tantrum, but just make a scene on your Christmas card - it's as simple as that - it can be a 'ready' scene with a topper of stamped image or you can create your own scene with various elements - it's up to you. It can be indoors or outdoors, so I think there is plenty of scope.

My cards are very simple - I made five so they can be sold in a pack - you can read more about them on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here:

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make a scene - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 28 October. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 29 October.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 42: baubles or anything hanging

Time for another Christmas card challenge - we're getting nearer to the festive season so it's time to get a bit more serious with making those Christmas cards. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week's challenge - not quite such a popular one, but I saw some lovely home-based cards.

Challenge 42

This week I would like you to make a card that includes at least one bauble or something that hangs.

I've made two cards featuring baubles - you can see details of the supplies I've used and the challenges I've entered on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

Just adding another card - you can read about it here and see the other challenges I've entered with it:

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to include at least one bauble or something that hangs - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 21 October. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 22 October.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 41: house or home

Once again, it was lovely to see your cards for challenge 40 - so many lovely ideas - who says that cards for men are boring?! I love making them and it's obvious from the entries I enjoyed seeing that you enjoy making a variety of them too.

It's time to announce the winner of the prize for last week, randomly drawn - unfortunately, there can only be one winner and random.org has picked:

Number 37: Elizabeth

with this lovely card:

Please email me with your name and full address and I'll get the packs of core'dinations into the post.

So we are now getting well into October and less than three months until Christmas, so perhaps it's time to get making those Christmas cards if you haven't already started.

Challenge 41

This week I would like you to make a card that includes a picture of a house or home - it can be the outside or inside, it's up to you. The main reason for these challenges is to help you to gradually build up a stock of Christmas cards, so there is a bit of flexibility with the challenge theme for you to interpret as you wish - you might want to feature a window or rooftops or ... anything to do with house or home. I'm sure you will come up with something imaginative to fit the theme.

I've made five cards for this (I made them the other day so that they could be sold today for Tearfund) - you can see details of the supplies I've used and the challenges I've entered on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to include a house or home - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 14 October. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 15 October.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 40: for a male - with a prize

Here we are again with a new challenge - can you believe that we are now at week 40 and fast approaching Christmas - less than three months and it will all be over! So perhaps now is the time to start to seriously think about getting some of those cards done before the panic season! Before I tell you about challenge 40, I want to thank everyone for their super entries for last week's challenge. Every week there are some new people coming on board as well as lots of you who have been making Christmas cards since the beginning of the year.

Challenge 40

This week I would like you to make a card suitable to send to a male - man or boy, you choose.

Here is my card. You can read more about this on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

I'm adding another card that I've made for this challenge - you can read more about it here and see the other challenges I've entered:

and another here:

As it's the first Saturday in the month there will be a prize for a randomly drawn winner (using random.org) - 2 packs of 6 x 6 black magic core'dinations ColorCore cardstock (20 sheets in each) - spell caster and potion No. 9 - these are lovely for embossing and distressing to show the colour core through the black cardstock:

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make a card suitable for a male - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 7 October. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 8 October.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 39: for a child

Another week has gone past and once again there have been so many lovely cards for last week's 'glitter' challenge. The week's are going by rapidly and there aren't that many left to make those Christmas cards without panic setting in, so it would be good to see lots of entries for today's new challenge, to help you all get a step nearer to being organised for Christmas.

Challenge 39

This week I would like you to make a card suitable for a child to receive - it could even be for a 'baby's first Christmas' if you wish ... or for a teenager - the choice is yours.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to make a card suitable for a child - apart from that, anything goes.

My card is for Baby's first Christmas (more details on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here):

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 30 September. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 1 October - as this will be the first Saturday in the month, there will be a prize for a randomly picked winner - more about that next week.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 38: glitter

Another week, another challenge! It doesn't seem possible, does it?! Thank you so much for all your lovely entries for last week's 'swirls' challenge.

Challenge 38

This week I would like you to make a card with glitter - a little or a lot - the choice is yours, use some designer paper that is glittered or add some glitter glue ... whatever you fancy, as long as it's glittery.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to incorporate some glitter - apart from that, anything goes.

I took the easy route this week and used some lovely designer papers by My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas that already had lots of glitter on. As they were easy to make I ended up with four cards - more details on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 23 September. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 24 September.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 37: swirls

Before I tell you about today's challenge, I want to thank everyone for their fab entries for last week's 'no sentiment' challenge - your cards just get better and better - I so enjoy visiting your blogs and seeing your creativity. It's time to announce the winner of the prize for last week, randomly drawn - unfortunately, there can only be one winner and random.org has picked:

Number 24: Jo

with this lovely card:

Please email me and I'll arrange for you to choose your digis from our generous sponsor, Di's Digi Downloads.

I know that some of you are building up a nice stock of cards (I had a count up and found that I've made 149 so far). So here's another challenge to get you on the road to one or more for your collection. There are lots of you who have been making Christmas cards for weeks (even months), but I suspect there are some of you reading this who have yet to start them - why not begin with this challenge?

Challenge 37

This week I would like you to make a card with swirls - your swirls can be very dominant on your card or perhaps you would rather have just a small swirl somewhere - the choice is yours.

For my card I stamped randomly with a Dawn Bibby Personal Impressions stamp inked with versamark and heat embossed with red metallic powder.

The central nestie shape was cut from a piece of card rescued from a Christmas cracker a couple of years ago, topped with the stamped image 'jolly Santa' by Hero Arts with just his face and hat coloured with copics. You can read more about the card and the challenges I'm entering with it on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

(Sorry about the quality of the photo - I really should get my card made in daylight - will replace if I can get a better shot.)


As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to use at least one swirl - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 16 September. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 17 September.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

CHNC challenge 36: no sentiment - with a sponsored prize

Thank you so much everybody who played along with last week's challenge - great to see some new people entering into the festive spirit, as well as lots of 'regulars' continuing to build up stocks of Christmas cards.

Can you believe that it's September already? - time to think seriously about making those Christmas cards if you haven't started yet.

As this is the first Saturday in a new month, there will be a prize for the randomly drawn winner: Di's Digi Downloads are sponsoring me for this week's challenge 36. The winner will be able to choose 5 digital images from the fantastic range at Di's Digi Downloads - just click on the link and feast your eyes on the super images - you will not be disappointed!

This is a little bit about Di who produces such gorgeous digital images:

I have been drawing since a child and studied graphics at College many years ago, I now work as a Medical photographer part time but my love was always drawing. I started cardmaking about 4yrs ago when I bought my daughter a cardmaking kit which we did together, but I’m afraid I got the bug! My daughter preferred scrapbooking. I then started looking online at other blogs and this then became my passion and I loved sharing my cards with likeminded people.

I love stamping and loved finding images, but sometimes I could not find what I wanted so I started to draw myself.

This then has become my second addiction and I have never looked back, I love thinking of new images, and its just fabulous to see others take them and make them into beautiful works of art. Long may it continue!

Challenge 36

So this week I'd like you to make any Christmas card, but do not include a sentiment on the front of the card.

Here is my card (further details here on my regular crafting blog, including a link for the sketch I've used). I've used Di's 'Merry mice' image - isn't it lovely?! Having chosen my papers - from My mind's eye Christmas glitter book - and made my card I realised that it could look as if I'm cheating because the words 'Merry Christmas' are visible at the top of the card, but it's part of the background paper, so I'm allowing it - lol! If you want to do something similar that's fine by me, but please don't actually add a specific sentiment/greeting to your card.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember not to use a sentiment of any kind - apart from that, anything goes.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 9 September. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 10 September.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 35: build it up ... and sponsorship news

First of all, thank you for all those lovely entries for challenge 34 - some of you took advantage to get ahead with a Christmas birthday card, but most of you opted to add to your Christmas card stock, which for some must be building up nicely now.

Sponsorship

Before I get to today's challenge, I want to tell you some exciting news about a new sponsor: Di's Digi Downloads. I was fortunate enough to win some of their lovely digis as prizes for taking part in a couple of challenges and, as a result, they kindly agreed to sponsor my Christmas challenges. You can get a glipse of Di's gorgeous digis here - more information next week, as they will be sponsoring my challenge for Saturday 3 September.

Challenge 35

Now on to this week's challenge - I'm asking you, please, to 'build it up' - you may wish to include some decoupage or pyramage ... or just make sure your card has at least three layers - the choice is yours. The main reasons for this challenge blog is to help you to build up a stock of Christmas cards ahead of the 'panic' season, so I try to be as flexible as possible.

For my card I've used some Jolly Nation decoupage, a piece of DCWV backing paper and a recycled piece of card that features the star, wrapped with some fancy gold twine - more info here on my regular crafting blog.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to use at least 3 layers on your card - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 2 September. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 3 September - as this will be the first Saturday in the month, there will be a prize for a randomly picked winner - given by our new sponsor, Di's Digi Downloads.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 34: Christmas birthday or 'anything goes'

Thank you for all the entries for last week's challenge - seeing all the fantastic creations is proof that sometimes more really is less! Lovely to see some new folk beginning their Christmas cards as well as others who are now building up quite a stock.

Challenge 34

Today is a bit different. It happens to be my birthday today, so when I was thinking what to do for this week's challenge I thought it might be nice to make a card for a Christmas birthday. We have lots of family birthdays around Christmas time, so a lot of 'special' cards to make in addition to Christmas ones.

So my challenge to you today is to make a card for a Christmas time birthday, but if, by any chance, you don't have any birthdays to make cards for around the festive time, then please feel free to make any Christmas card instead - anything goes!

It really is an easy-peasy week (well, I'm in a generous mood because it's my birthday!).

Here is my card. You can read more about this and see the challenges that I've linked for on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

I've now added a Christmas card as well - you can see more about it here:

And another Christmas card - details on my regular crafting blog here:


As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is either a Christmas birthday card or any Christmas card - anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 26 August. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards and/or make some of those festive birthday cards in good time) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 27 August.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 33: simply Christmas

Thank you for all the beautiful entries for last week's challenge - it was lovely to see your choice of colour to accompany black and white. Before I tell you about today's challenge, it's time to announce the winner of the prize for last week, randomly drawn - unfortunately, there can only be one winner and random.org has picked:

Number 3: fabiola

with this lovely card:

Please email me with your name and full address and I'll get the stamps into the post.

Challenge 33

This week I would like you to make a card with just one layer - or at least keep it simple.

I usually rely quite heavily on using patterned paper on my cards, but recently I've been making quite a few 'clean and simple' cards and even 'one layer' ones.

This challenge blog is really here to help crafters get on with making their Christmas cards without a panic towards the Big Day, so I think this challenge can be a bit flexible. If you can stick to one layer that would be great, but, if not, then at least make the card 'clean and simple'.

Here is my card. You can read more about this and see the challenges that I've linked for on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

And here's another one - this time it's a CAS, not a one layer (you can read about it here):

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to use only one layer or at least keep it clean and simple - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 19 August. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 20 August.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 32: black, white and one other colour - with a prize

Thanks for all the yummy entries for the festive food challenge last week - not so many entries as usual - perhaps some of you were out enjoying the sunshine as we did manage a couple of summer days this week!

Challenge 32

This week I would like you to make a card with black, white and one other colour.

Here is my card. You can read more about this and see the challenges that I've linked for on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here. Sorry that the photo doesn't show the gold in all its glory! - much richer irl.

Thought I'd just add another card for this challenge (you can see more about it on my regular blog here:


As it's the first Saturday in the month there will be a prize for a randomly drawn winner (using random.org) - here is the prize - two sets of Christmas clear stamps by Crafthouse:

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to use black, white and one other colour - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 12 August. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 13 August.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 31: feature some festive food

Gosh, here we are already at the end of July. Thank you so much for all the entries to last week's challenge - I enjoyed seeing the various reindeer images and, once again, such a variety of creativity.

Challenge 31

This week I would like your card to feature some food - it might be Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, turkey, candy canes, cakes ... anything that is eaten at Christmas.

Here is my card. You can read more about this and see the challenges that I've linked for on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to show some food somewhere on your card - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 5 August. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 6 August - as this will be the first Saturday in the month, there will be a prize for a randomly picked winner.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 30: reindeer

I can't believe how quickly the year is going (it seems to be faster every year!) and here we are today on challenge 30! But before I tell you about that, I want to thank everyone for their fab entries for the previous challenge - still some new people coming on board as well as 'regulars' building up their stocks of Christmas cards. I certainly enjoyed visiting the blogs and seeing lots of stars!

Challenge 30

This week I would like you to see at least one reindeer on your card. Here is my card. You can read more about this and see the challenges that I've linked for on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

The photo doesn't show the card as irl - the whole card is silver embossed just like you can see in the left hand corner - such a difficult card to get a photo because of the glare of the silver mirror card. The inkadinkado reindeer stamped image is also silver embossed.


As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to use at least one reindeer somewhere on your card - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 29 July. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 30 July.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.

CHNC challenge 29: seeing stars

Once again it was lovely to see so many entries for the previous challenge - you certainly knew how to go dotty! And, while it was good to see 'regulars' playing along, it was lovely to welcome some new crafters who are starting on their Chrismas cards. Don't forget, it's never too early or too late to start - why not join in today's new challenge:

Challenge 29

This week I would like you to include stars on your card - well, at least one star! Here is my card. You can read more about this and see the challenges that I've linked for on my regular crafting blog My Crafty Outlook here.

This is what the inside (opened out full) looks like:

I've just added another card to my regular crafting blog 'My Crafty Outlook' with stars on it - here it is (if you'd like to read more details and see the challenges I entered please click here).


As usual, you can use any materials, any techniques, as long as the end result is a Christmas card - and this week please remember to use at least one star somewhere on your card - apart from that, anything goes.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge - please add a link to your blog post (not your blog, but the actual post where your card can be found) by 22:00 UK time Friday 22 July. Please mention my blog and create a link within the post for your creation.

You can enter as many times as you wish (a good way to build up your stock of Christmas cards) and also link to any other challenges that allow you to do so, but new work only, please.

A new challenge will be set on 23 July.

Please add your link to inlinkz. If by any chance it disappears, please leave a comment with the link to your blog post and I will make sure it is added.

If you haven't done so already, please become a follower and grab my bright pink button to post on your sidebar and help continue to spread the word about this challenge blog - thank you.

I look forward to seeing your creations.