Infrequent visits

Well, It has been nearly a week since I last posted and my visits to blogland have been sporadic to say the least. That's because I've had another week of late nights as our school panto did go ahead (despite the plummeting temperatures) a week later than it was supposed to, Commitments at Meg's school and shopping for parents/inlaws/ us. Anyway, now I've explained my absence, I'll show you what I've been up to when I have eventually got home.

 This first card is a variation on the one in my last post. I used distress inks (bundled sage, Victorian velvet and wild honey and then stamped over with a Woodware clear holly stamp in versafine black. This time I embossed with kaleidoscope embossing powder. I used stickles on the berries and added a sentiment (Paula Pascual) in a nestie circle with a punched border. I'm entering this into the Stampman challenge where the theme is Take 3 colours on a Christmas theme.

Yet another variation on the same theme I used broken china, chipped sapphire and dusty concord distress inks this time. I also used silver creative colour spray (Crafty Notions) which helped to blend the colours and give it some sparkle. I'm entering this into the Lots to do challenge, where the theme is Glitz

 The finishing touch on this one was a Marianne design flourish and a paper flower made using flower creations 3 shapeabilities (and more stickles!). I do like this colour combo!

Next is my 'simple card' for this year. I used a Marianne designs poinsettia die from Sir stampalot and a Crafts too embossing folder loaned to me by Lynne. I did use a bit of distress inks around the edge of the poinsettia, but there is no stamping  - not my usual thing at all, but okay I think! As it is so simple and quick I'm entering it into this week's Allsorts challenge where the theme is last minute Christmas, which sums me up! They are being sponsored this week by the Stampman and have great goodies on offer from Kay Carley .
I'm aiming to well and truly sort Christmas this weekend, so hopefully I can start visiting some more of your lovely blogs by next week. Have a great weekend and thanks for looking!