Friday, June 10, 2011

I'm Not Thinking About It!

Jo is a great friend and a fabulous crafter, but every now and then she shows her...shall we say, "mischievous" streak - this usually seems to coincide with her turn to set the challenge for the Daring Cardmakers.  When you see Jo's name come up on the list you know there'll be a "panic" moment, or a "aaggghhh" moment or an "oh noooooo" moment.

It's the middle of June, some places here in England have already been declared as being officially "in drought" - I think if we've had 4 days in the last three months when any amount of rain (and that includes the odd 5 minute shower) has fallen then that would be all.
and then Jo says: "I was thinking about something with a Christmas theme...."
and Kathy's heart sinks right to the toes of her crocs and out of the little holes it finds there!
Yes!  this week the DCM have all been making cards with Father Christmas on them and that's what we'd like to see on your cards when we follow your links this week......
I like Christmas - I LOVE Christmas.
But I like it to happen in December
and I don't like making Christmas cards till after my birthday in September = BUT a challenge is a challenge and the challenge this week has been to overcome my "bah humbug" and make a card with Father C on it.
  Oh Jo....what a meanie you are! hehehe
It was probably the bah humbugness that made making a card soooo difficult - that and a bolshy refusal to dig out any Christmas stash.
Originally I thought I might try to do a "Father Christmas is on his Holidays" or "Wish you were here?" sort of card, but I couldn't find an image I liked.  In the end I found this cute copyright free image of Santa waving and thought it would work with a tongue-in-cheek "see you soon" sentiment.
Converting the image to a Craft Robo template was the easy bit - but once again it was creating a background that was the tricky bit and in the end I gave up trying to be clever and just made this really simple LO.  Poor Santa was beginning to look a bit tatty after being glued on and ripped off three other cards!
Funny thing is, I quite like the final result - my Christmas cards are usually quite simple in design so that I can make lots in a fairly short time so maybe something like this will work when the "right" time comes!
I used:
14cm square white card blank
red, black, beige and white card, White Flowersoft
Santa and sentiment are Craft Robo templates - email if you would like a free copy
Red Seam Binding is from Creative Treasures - I've now got a lovely big bag filled with most of the colours Tracy sells (yum yum!)


The cards the DT have made this week are great fun and definitely worth a look, we hope you'll enjoy seeing hat we've made and you'll  conquer any anti-Christmas-in-June feelings you have and rise to the challenge of putting Father Christmas on your cards this week!  You can see all the cards the team have made HERE
We have a prize on offer too, it's a gorgeous Echo Park paper pad and has been kindly donated by Crafty Emma's Store 
Check out the DCM BLOG for all the info on how you can get your sticky mitts on it!

From this month The Sketch File will have a new LO sketch going out on the first Tuesday of each month - it's about time we put it on a more organised footing, hopefully the blog will get more use if the dates are more reliable! 
I do appreicate that this is totally my fault and I promise to be better from now on hehehe
You can see the newly released June Sketch above and on The Sketch File Blog - over the next few days and weeks we'll add more photos of the things we've made using it.
I kicked off on Tuesday with this card:
There's STAMPING on it - are you shocked?  haha
The background is made with three colours of Distress Ink, I also made a second piece for stamping a couple of sets of the flower squares.  The first set of squares were arranged on the card - some have a chipboard layer beneath them.  I then cut some of the flowers from the other images and added them to the squares, also with scraps of chipboard for more dimension.
I inked up some black and white Bakers Twine with more DI to match the card and wrapped it around before pulling the strands together with a knot.
Please take a look at The Sketch File- there are lots of (what I hope are) inspiring LO ideas there - and at them moment we have some Blog Candy up for grabs too.

That's all for now, thank you for visiting, I hope you'll come again soon




17 comments:

Sharon (glitterangel) said...

Gorgeous cards Kathy - you are so clever with your Robo files - I really should use SVG files more with my Cricut, the poor thing is collecting dust! I can't believe you've done some stamping - good job I'm sitting down ha ha!

Lynda said...

Christmas aaaaaannnnd Stamping - have you gone mad lol - two abolutely brilliant cards Kathy.

Love Lynda xxx

Julia Dunnit said...

Stamping...helped me get over the shock of seeing FC on your blog in June. I understand, but I can't get my head round it!!

Karen said...

hahahaha at your comments about the 'C' word!!!! But I do love the simplicity of this card Kathy & the sentiment is very apt haha!

You? Stamping? you have done a brilliant job and you know you should do it more often :-D xxx

Kaz said...

I have had such a giggle over you and this dare Kathy. I'm very sorry, but it has tickled me today. I can just imagine the horror on your face!!
But you have made such a fab card and I love the fact it's got a lot of white with you refusing the dig out the C papers.
The second card is lovely too xxx

Janice said...

You are so funny about Christmas, Kathy! Your card works perfectly and was worth all the effort.

Creative Treasures said...

Two fab cards Kathy, stamping and christmas in one post!! I thought the C word was a swear word at this time of year :), saying that I might participate in this weeks challenge, first I need to blow the dust of the christmas stamps!!

Tracy
x

tracy said...

great c card,the sentiment is great to send to someone at the beginning of december who you will see at christmas iyswim!! love the flower card too :)

Jo said...

hehe your description of this week's dare did make me chuckle - A FAB Father Christmas card, maybe we could have a Christmas challenge next month too........

Love the stamped card - the stamping and distress ink looks wonderfully summery, probably to counteract the card above...

jo x

Dolly Mixtures said...

I couldn't agree with your setniment on that dreaded 'c' word in June more! Love the simplicity and white spave on your card and the toungue in check sentiment.

Anonymous said...

eeek xmas in June...that Jo is a one!
Love your cards!

Oscar said...

I love the simplicity of this card and the see you soon sentiment! x

Jackie said...

I think your Santa is mega cute. I really must unearth my Robo and try to learn to use it.

Your sketch card is fab too, I luurve the colours :)

Zuzana Obert said...

Those cards are gorgeous Kathy, love the elegancy and simplicity of :0)

Zuz. x x

Allison said...

two fabulous cards Kathy- hope you have a good stock of Kleenex... poor you must be awful
AllisonX

Anj said...

i think your 'C' card is fab .... very ingenious, x x x

Mik said...

Love the colors on the Birthday card