The challenge at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ was to create your own cuttlebug folder. There are some fabulous examples on the blog and also a link to a very good tutorial by Betty on how to do this.

It was a real tester, but a very interesting and rewarding one. I have used a wide range of items to emboss with in the past, but I never thought about creating my own cuttlebug folder before. I must admit that before I got to the finished card I did a lot of experimenting with different thicknesses of card to make the folder and also tried out lots of different types of card and paper to do the embossing on.

Below is a picture of the folder I created to make this card. I haven't got many dies that have the caperbility of cutting through very thick card so I used a Sizzix paddle punch (five years and at last I've used it!) to cut out the hearts and as you can see in the phote both the negative and positive part of the die cut are used in making the folder.


I also did a couple of number folders and a star one, but they've not got as far as the completed card stage yet - one day!!!

Materials used:

• acetate to create folder
• thick card - I used the packing board from a Kanban pack of card.
• Sizzix Paddle punch
• pink double sided pearlescent paper and card by Kanban
• adhesive pearls from stash
• Penny Black stamp
• Hearts cuttlebug folder (not made by me!)
• pink ribbon
• silver sentiment peel off

As my card is really full of 'lurve' specifically 'hearts' it is also ideal for the challenge at http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/.

I can't seem to stop making Christmas cards and seeing as I bought a new cuttlebug set (in a sale - yeah I love sales) this week I just had to have a play with it.

The set is called 'combo tree tops' and it includes both a cutting die and an embossing folder. The trees I've used are the die cut ones. I love the spindly tree and I couldn't believe how well this cut as the branches are really quite fine.

The trees are mounted on white paper embossed using the swiss dots folder - what would we do without that one?

I'm also in the middle of another cuttlebug project for the challenge at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/. I wonder if you can guess what I'm making!!!


Hmmmmmmm you might find clues at the challenge blog and if you haven't visited there yet you must have a look. It's full of ideas for anyone who likes using their cuttlebug.

• red card and gold mirri card
• white paper
• Ornare pricking stencil
• Wizard octagonal dies
• Holly leaves punch
• gold sentiment peel offs

Yes, Chrissie and Irene you were right it is a ribbon box! I've seen them on people's blogs and for sale already full of ribbon and always thought they looked good. However, I never really had enough spools of ribbon to bother before. I usually buy my ribbon in lengths and not on a reel, but after the great sale at http://www.artymiss.co.uk/index.html and 20 spools of Dovecraft ribbon falling into my shopping basket I found I had enough to fill my box!

I used a Japanese screw punch to put the holes down the alternate sides of the box as it was big enough to have two rows of ribbon. I found after threading the first row of spools of ribbon that we had a major design fault. There was enough space for the ribbon to roll back and come unthreaded!

It might have been okay when both rows were in place but I decided to take no chances and put a card support in as shown in the photo below to hold the ribbons in place.



Just got to decide how to decorate the box now.

This card is for the challenge at http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ , where the theme is snow. It's also for my daughter, Shelley, who absolutely loves the stuff. I think I should say at this point that she is 20, but that didn't stop her jumping up and down yesterday and ringing all her friends to tell them that there were huge snowflakes falling.

I rather like snow myself as long as you don't have to get to work or travel anywhere it's pretty cute as is Messy Rabbit. I absolute love the Messy Rabbits stamps by Joanna Sheen. This character is just so lovable and is taking the country by storm. I've heard rumours that he is going to be even bigger in 2009 so watch this space or you might be better taking a look at him at http://www.joannasheen.co.uk/.



Materials used:

• white card
• blue vellum for overlay
• silver mirri card
• fiskar's snowflake border punch
• snowflake die
• gem brads from stash
• Messy Rabbit in big baggy jumper stamp
• clip art by PC Crafter
• silver sentiment and border peel offs
• white organza ribbon
• silver letter peel offs to create name
• Adirondack ink and watercolour pencil crayons for colouring
  

My friend, Irene, at http://alloccasionscards.blogspot.com/ has been doing the most beautiful cards using paper pricking stencils to decorate the corners of her cards. Seeing her beautiful work led me to dig deep into the back of the craft cupboard to find stencils that I bought years ago.

Unfortunately I didn't have any of the lovely corner ones that Irene has been using, more items to go on the wish list, but I did have quite a few large stencils.

I decided to use this snowy scene one. The challenge at http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ is to have a hole somewhere in your card and I thought this particular template would lend itself very nicely to creating an apperture card.

I used the Wizard octagonal die to cut the frame for the apperture and the text was computer generated on to white paper and then attached to the inside of the card. As a finishing touch I embellished the corners of the inner with gold corner peel offs and attached a gold organza bow to the front of the card.

There seems to be a lot of challenges this week involving snowmen, which is great cause I love snowmen and have loads of snowmen stamps to choose from. This card is a special one for my daughter who is a pink fanatic. It's also perfect for the challenge at http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ where they are 'dreaming of a WHITE (and splash of pink Christmas!)'. I think I may have got a bit more than a splash here, but as my daughter says 'you can never have too much pink'!

The card is also great for Cynthia's challenge at http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ and the challenge at http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ as both these challenges are about snowmen.


The stamp I've used is from an unmounted sheet of rubber that I bought ages ago and I really can't remember who it was by, but it contains the most fantastic snowmen. The little sign in the snowman's hand says 'S'mores' - I'm not sure what they are, but I'm guessing toasted marshmallows. If anyone can help with that or the name of the stamps I'd be very grateful.

Materials used:

• Pink glitter card (lots of!)
• white card
• silver mirri card
• Wizard standard circle die
• snowflake die and punch
• gems from stash
• silver letters and sentiment peel offs
• pearlescent water colour paints