Polka Doodles - Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

Morning everyone, it's Friday again so we have another Polka Doodles challenge for you which this week has been set by teamie Jenny. Jenny wants to help us all out with the Christmas card marathon so she would like to see your Quick and Easy Christmas Cards.
I decided to do a favourite trick of mine to make cards in bulk without getting too many repeats as I always like to have different cards to give to family and the neighbours - as they're all in each others homes over the festive season, it's nice for them to have a card from me that isn't the same as everyone else's if you know what I mean!
My trick is to use the same basic layout for the cards and then vary the focal point to make the cards look more individual. I've made 4 here so that you can see what I mean:

I've used 2 of the pretty papers on the Sundae of Seasons CD to make the simple background. I then chose some of the images from the Winter collection and cut them out (there are lots more to choose from)
I made a background panel for each image from white card, cutting some with a circle and oval cutter and embossing them with the Cuttlebug snowflakes folder. If you want to be really quick, you could stop here but I decided to add some sparkle by swiping with ink and embossing with crystal powder. I used Brilliance inks in some cases which gives a gorgeous pearly effect when embossed.
I added simple greetings matted on red card to finish.
Don't forget to visit the Design Team for some more great ideas.
I'm also entering my cards into the following challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Dry Embossing
Craft Your Passion Challenges - Anything Goes

Polka Doodles Challenge - Hidden Element

Morning all, it's Friday yet again so it must be Polka Doodles time and this week's challenge has been set by teamie Claire who would like to see a hidden element in your creation.
I have to admit that I cheated slightly with mine, still being printerless and had to make my card from scraps left over from my samples for Nikky's fab new CD, Sundae of Seasons.
I made a simple gate fold card which reveals a pretty inside when opened up.

I made a floral wreath from the gorgeous flowers and leaves in the Autumn scetion of the CD and I just love the beautiful colours here (probably because I'm an Autumn girl myself lol)
I added some of the pretty papers to the front of the gatefold, cutting part out with an oval cutter to show off the wreath better.
I covered the inside with some more pretty paper and added a greeting from the large slection together with a pretty basket of flowers which match the flowers on the wreath.
How easy is that!
You have until 12 noon on Sunday 3 October to upload your creations and please don't forget our 10 challenge rule as we often have to discount the most beautiful creations because of this.

I also have some news which I forgot to tell you about in that on Monday I found out that I won last week's challenge over at Craft Your Passion and am now the proud owner of 2 lovely digital stamps from Lauretta and Corinne. Thanks ladies!

Polka Doodles Challenge - Easel Card

Another post from me today as being Friday, it's Polka Doodles challenge time again. This week's theme of EASEL CARDS has been chosen by team mate Brenda as she says she's addicted to them - I second that as I just love them too! Good wishes go out to Brenda too as she's been feeling under the weather lately - hope you feel much better soon Brenda.
My contribution is one of the samples I made for Nikky from the absolutely stunning collection of papers, images and sentiments on the brand new Polka Doodles CD, Sundae of Seasons. I have no idea how Nikky managed to fit all this on one CD as there's a massive amount of stash there all ready to be printed out. Nikky is on Create and Craft TV on Monday 20 September at 10am and the show is a must just to see the variety on this year round CD.
My easel card has been made from the stunning Sewing collection which is a favourite of mine as my younger daughter is starting her Fashion degree at Kingston University next week and we will be taking her up there tomorrow (along with a massive amount of stuff!)

I'm sure you can see from the photos why I love this collection so much and I have to say the collection of papers on there is from my point of view, the best yet. The papers have a very vintage feel to them rather like fabric and the colours are so beautiful with lots of deep reds, greens and teals with some softer pinks, aqua and golds.
Don't you just love the mannequin here which can be cut out too and there are also some black and white versions to colour yourself or print out on patterned paper.
The challenge is open until 12 noon on Sunday 26 September and don't forget to take a look at the other DT creations as there's some very spooky stuff there!
I'm also going to enter my card in the Craft Your Passion challenge with the theme of Easel Cards and the Crafts and Me challenge with the same theme.

Little Bird

Here's my second post which I think fits 3 challenges with different requirements which I'll list when I've shown you my creation.

I've gone a bit blue and green today (my previous one had these too) and made the backround with my Distress Ink Grunge Technique ( see side bar) which I'm loving as it's such a quick and easy way to make your own background paper. I used Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Crushed Olive and Peeled Paint Distress inks with the Inkadinkado Garden Delight clear stamp set.
I stamped the sweet little bird image from the Papermania Henbury Lane Collection PMA92061205 Bluebird in VersaFine Majestic Blue ink and mounted the panel on contrasting card.
I made the flower by punching out to sections from metal foil with a Woodware embossing punch and inked it with Olive Green Stazon ink and Palette Landscape to give it a green tinge. I added a little black round the edges for definition. I then shaped the petals to give a 3D effect.
I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Blue and Green
Craft Your Passion - Make Your Own Flowers
The Shabby Tea Room - A Little Bit Of Metal