Lisa Horton Basket of Love birthday card

 

Hello and welcome to a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. This week we’re celebrating Birthdays, and we’d love to see your creative takes on this ever‑popular theme.

For my card, I used the Lisa Horton Basket of Love set — embossing folder, stencil, and die — to build a pretty floral basket for a friend who loves pink roses. The background is simply white card spattered with yellow ink and embossed with a Cuttlebug dot folder for soft texture.

I framed the basket with a John Next Door die‑cut frame in pink, tucked a happy birthday tag into the flowers, and finished with a Celebrate sentiment from The Greetery.

We can’t wait to see your birthday creations. Come join us over on the ATSM blog and share what you make!

I'd like to play along at

Try it on Tuesday: - Make it colourful

Stencil Fun Challenge August 26 - use stencils

Triple B Challenge August 26 - Blooms

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #283 - - anything goes

Moving Along With the Times ~192 - Feminine

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs,

Carol x

John Next Door and Papertrey Ink birthday gift box

 

🎁 Anything Goes — Create for Any Occasion!

Hello everyone, and welcome to our new challenge where anything goes — any occasion, any celebration, any little moment that deserves a handmade touch. Whether you’re crafting for birthdays, thank‑yous, just‑because gifts, or those “I saw this and thought of you” surprises, we’d love to see what you create.

For my project this time, I stepped away from cards and made something a little different —

💙 A Teal & Dusky Pink Gift Box

I used my NBUS John Next Door Purse Box die, along with the coordinating Greetings Panels, to create a little gift box that works for absolutely any occasion. It could hold a gift card, some chocolates, a collection of cards... I chose a rich teal cardstock for the base and paired it with dusky pink panels for contrast.

To add some texture and interest, I embossed the pink panels with a star embossing folder — and because I couldn’t choose which side I liked best, I used both the embossed and debossed sides. It adds a bit of dimension to the box without overwhelming the design.

For the label, I reached for some favourite Papertrey Ink supplies and stamped a simple birthday sentiment. But, swap the greeting, and it becomes a thank‑you gift, a little treat box, or a “just because” surprise.

Gift boxes turn even the smallest gift into something thoughtful and personal. Plus, they’re a great excuse to play with colour and texture, and to use old and new supplies to mix things up.

I'd like to play along at

Pammies's Inky Pinkies #2623 - anything goes

Make My Monday Challenge #279 - add texture, dry or heat embossing

NBUS Challenge #87 - gift box dies

A Cut Above Crafting June Challenge - anything goes with die cuts

A Place to Start June 26 - anything but a card

Craft Rocket Challenge #137 - birthday

Now it’s over to you. Create something for any occasion — big or small — and share it with us. We can’t wait to see what you make.

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs,

Carol x

Poppystamps and John Next Door birthday cake card

 

Hello everyone, and welcome to a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.

This time we are looking for birthday cards, and I came up with this card for a friend's 80th birthday.

I used the John Next Door Leaping Stag Circle Dies for the frame, which I cut in white and laid over some silver mirri card. Next came a die-cut circle, embossed with a star embossing folder from Creative Craft. I then cut the Poppystamps cake easel card die. On this occasion, I only used the large cake, cut in brown as a chocolate cake, and cut the icing from pink glitter card. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, and the tiny banner is from my leftover box. I toyed with putting the number on the card but decided against. I know some people like to celebrate the number, while others would rather forget it, so I only use the numbers for younger people these days.

The design team has some great inspiration for you on the ATSM blog, and you can enter your card over there if you want to join in the fun.

I'd like to play along at

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - food and/or drink

Can you handle the pressure challenge - anything goes

The Alphabet Challenge - c is for circles

My Time to Craft Challenge #560 - use a square card base

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs

Carol x

My Favorite Things Box of Chocolates birthday card

 

Hello friends and welcome to the new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. 

This time we have our birthday challenge, and I came up with this card using my NBUS My Favorite Things Box of Chocolates dies.

I made this card for my daughter's birthday and, as she has a weakness for chocolates, it was perfect for her. It was fun making the individual choccies and adding the decorative elements along with the heart shapes for the box. Once I had assembled it, I used a textured base card and a brown frame cut with a John Next Door die. To finish off, I stamped and die cut the sentiment from The Greetery, shadowed it with the same die, and cut it in brown card, which I offset.

The team at Addicted to Stamps and More has lots of great inspiration for you over on the blog, and they would love to hear from you.

I'd like to play along at

NBUS Challenge #72 - dies are NBUS

Sparkles monthly challenge #185 - Love

Make My Monday challenge #247 - use a die or punch

A Cut Above Challenge March - anything goes

Hearts Quest Celebrations of Love BEWAS #3 - 

Just us Girls Challenge #765 Die week birthday

We've been having some beautiful spring weather this last week and it's so cheering to see the crocus and daffodils nodding away in the garden. Fingers crossed that it lasts a while! I hope you are getting some sunshine wherever you are.

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs

Carol x

John Next Door Christmas Card

 

Hello everyone and welcome to a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More

This time we have our Christmas theme

I came up with this card 

I found it so hard to get a good photo this time, but the small picture at the top shows the real colour of the blue mirror card - it is lighter than the subsequent photo shows.

I used my new John Next Door Circle Snowflake Frame dies, so this came together quickly. The banner die is from another JND set, and I made a layer for it by cutting the die in the mirror card, then cutting it in half along the length and adhering it to the back of the white one.

As always, the fabulous DT has lots of inspiration for you over on the ATSM blog and you can join us over there with your Christmas makes.

I'd like to play along at

CRAFT Challenge #742 - Christmas

Creative Knockouts Challenge #535 - Tis the Season

I Spy with My Little Eye #21 - something for Christmas

Try it on Tuesdays Challenge - Traditional Christmas

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs

Carol x

John Next Door Christmas card

Hello everyone and welcome to the new challenge at ABC Christmas Challenges. 

I am hosting this time and I have a prize for the randomly selected winner.

Our themes this time are 

U for Unusual Colours

and/or 

V for Velvet

I came up with these

U for unusual colours

I had some NBUS bauble Christmas Tree dies from John Next Door so I cut it from silver card and backed it with purple glitter card to give some festive sparkle. 

For the background, I die-cut a panel of white card using a Waffle Flower die and inked it with Papertrey Ink Lavender Moon ink, which tones well with the purple, although it looks a bit pinky in the photograph. The panel was embossed with a Sue Wilson snowfall die and the sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

V for Velvet

For my velvet card I found some paper in my stash with a lovely wooded snow scene that I thought looked velvety and I just sponged on some blue and purple ink to emphasise the snow line. The deer is from Penny Black and I cut it in white before inking with beige/ brown inks and added some dots with a pen. The sentiment is also from a Penny Black stamp set.

I'd like to play along with

NBUS Challenge #67 - NBUS John Next Door dies

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #91 - colour palette - I used the blues and beige

Sparkles Christmas Challenge # 165 - use the word Christmas

Christmas with the Cuties #85 - feature a critter

FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge #13 - - anything goes country Christmas

My Time to Craft Christmas Challenge #96 - Christmas Tree

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

Lisa Horton Poinsettia Christmas card and John Next Door and Papertrey Ink mistletoe Christmas card

Hello everyone and welcome to the September challenge at ABC Christmas Challenges.

This time we are hosted by the lovely Lynda of Loopyloo Cards and she has this prize for the lucky winner.

The year is flying by, and we only have four challenges left before the big day, so why not join us and get your Christmas card list out of the way early?

This time we have

S for Stencils

and/or

T for Traditional Colours 

I came up with these cards:-

S for Stencils

I used the Lisa Horton Christmas Wreath set which consists of a 3D embossing folder, stencils and a die.

I used shades of blue and pale grey ink through the stencils and cut the wreath apart for a change. The background panel was embossed with a Sue Wilson snowfall folder and the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.

T for Traditional Colours 

For this card, I cut the John Next Door Holly Circle Frame It die from white card and backed it with green card to show off the holly leaves. The mistletoe is from Papertrey Ink, and I stamped it with green ink before die-cutting it and shaping it a little. I used Nuvo Drops to create the holly berries around the circle and finished it off with a PTI bow.

I'd like to play along at

Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge with a Twist of Leaves - poinsettia leaves

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs

Carol x

 

Crafter's Companion Reindeer and snowflake Christmas cards

Hello everyone,

I hope you are well and getting some time to play over the summer. Despite the recent hot sunny weather, I've been making Christmas cards which, I admit, does feel a bit odd, but I know I will be pleased when they're ready to be posted in December. The ABC Christmas Challenge keeps me on track to grow my pile of cards and today we are starting another challenge:-

P for Pink

and/or

Q for Quarters

and/or

R for Rudolph

Our lovely Mummylade is hosting this challenge and she has this cute prize of 2 Fizzy Moon stamps for the winner

This is my R for Rudolph card

 I cut a Crafter's Companion Reindeer die in white card and coloured it with Copic Markers. Once I coloured the nose, I went over it with clear sparkle pen and then with Nuvo Crystal Glaze because Rudolph needs a shiny nose. The white frame is a cut and emboss die from John Next Door, and a simple sentiment finishes it. 

My P for Pink card

 For this card, I dipped into my patterned paper stash which doesn't get much use these days, but I was pleased to find some pink snowflake paper to form the background. I die-cut a variety of snowflakes from a darker pink card which has a nice sheen to it, and added them to the card to frame the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp. I added gems to the snowflakes for a finishing touch.

My talented teammates have lots of inspiration for you on the ABC Christmas Challenges blog and if you want to get started on your Christmas makes, we'd love to visit and see your cards.

I'd like to play along at

A Cut Above August Challenge - anything goes with die cuts

Christmas with the Cuties #83 - clean and simple

Peace on Earth Challenge #69 - anything Christmas goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #167 - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #89 - Animal Antics

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs

Carol x

John Next Door and Crafter's Companion Christmas card

 

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well and happy and have time to craft in your schedule. It has been so cold, wet and windy in my neck of the woods that I've not been tempted to be out and about as much as usual, so I've had some fun in the craft room.

We have our Christmas Challenge starting at Addicted to Stamps and More, and I created this card to squirrel away in my stash.

I used the Crafter's Companion Snowdrift Create a Card die to cut out the intricate snowflake pattern from the square card base. I then inked one of CCs embossed papers with some blue and lilac ink to provide a backing for the aperture. The bauble used the John Next Door Penny's Baubles die and I framed this with a label die from Papertrey ink. The sentiment is from the My Favorite Things Sweet Holiday Penguins stamp set and I embossed it in white on some blue card, cut it into three and matted it onto silver card. To finish off I added red pearls to the snowflakes.

My talented Teamies have some great inspiration for you over on the ATSM blog and you can join in the fun over there if you decide to join us this time.

I'd like to play along at

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge April - use a die 

Christmas Craft Creations - non-traditional colours

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,

Carol x

John Next Door and Spellbinders Christmas card

Hello everyone and welcome.

You probably heard that the fabulous Kylie Purtell has decided to have a break from running all her challenges, and I will definitely miss her. I don't know how Kylie managed to juggle everything and work full time as well, but it wouldn't surprise me if she is the secret Wonderwoman in disguise.

Luckily, my lovely teammate, Sue has taken over ATSM so we can continue to have some fun each fortnight, but do bear with us in case there are any teething problems.

 For our first challenge, we have 

and I came up with this card:-

The card consists entirely of die cuts and would be easy to mass-produce. I used my new John Next Door  Leaping Stag Circle that I cut in white and kraft card and layered up.

The sentiment uses the Spellbinders Stylish Merry Christmas die which I cut from a textured red mirror card and layered onto white.

I added a few dots of red crystal drops and called it done - I told you it was quick!

You'll find some fabulous inspiration from the Design Team over on the ATSM blog and you can enter your creations over there too.

I'd like to play along at

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #56 anything Christmas goes

Allsorts Challenge #764 - anything goes

Cut it up Challenge #295 - use a new product - both dies

Jingle Belles Challenge - something old (nuveau drops and kraft card) something new (dies)

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs

Carol x

John Next Door Bauble Frame Christmas card

 

Hello everyone, I really appreciate your visit and want to welcome you to the new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.

This time we would like to see your Christmas cards and I came up with this one:-

I find it really hard to capture shine and glitter in a photograph so the first picture shows the shine on the card, but the second one shows the colours more accurately.

I began by embossing some blue mirror card with a snow embossing folder from Sue Wilson to use as the background. I then used my new John Next Door Bauble Frame die to cut the frame from blue glitter card and raised it up on the background. The bauble outlines were cut from silver mirror card and laid over the glitter card, and I have to say they took some sticking before they finally stuck!!!

To finish off, I cut a frame from white card and the whole thing was added to an A5 card base.

You'll find lots of inspiration over on the ATSM blog and it would be great to see your entries over there if you decide to join us this time.

I'd like to play along at

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - anything Christmas goes

Time Out Challenges #221 - festive

NBUS Challenge #41

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

John Next Door Bauble Frame and Altenew Diamond Frame Christmas cards

Hello everyone and welcome to another challenge over at ABC Christmas Challenges.

Our host this time is the talented Helene from Mummylade and she has a little gift for the winner of this month's challenge

We have three themes for you this month and as we have reached P, Q, and R we have:

P for Pink

Q for Quarter

and/or

R for Reindeer

First up is my P for Pink

I took some white card and used inks to blend a pink ombre effect with Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, and Abandoned Coral Distress Oxides. I cut the Altenew Diamond Frame cover die and added this to the panel. 

The focal image was made with the Sue Wilson Festive Collection Christmas Tree Greetings die which I cut a couple of times in green and white so I could stack them and add a drop shadow.

My second card is Q for Quarters

For this one, I used the John Next Door Bauble Frame dies and just used the inner parts of the baubles to cut into the card. This provided three of the quarters and I completed the fourth one by adding a die-cut snowflake to the card. I matted the panel onto some aqua card and placed some red emelishments to add some contrast.

You'll find lots of inspiration over on the ABC Christmas Challenges blog and I'd love to see your entry in the gallery.

I'd like to play along at

The Holly and Ivy Challenge # 121 - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #64 - things not found in a Nativity scene

Happy Little Stampers August - anything Christmas goes - no twist

Peace on Earth Challenge #21 - anything Christmas goes

My Time to Craft #40 winter holiday decorations

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x