Skating Fun

I have a Christmas card for you today...using a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Skating Fun', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Winter Wonderland' pad by My Mind's Eye', the sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley, the brads are BasicGrey, the snowflakes were cut using Mariannes Designs dies, the twine is a mixture of Papermania and Ribbon Girls, and the buttons are from my stash.

Challenges for this card:

• Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafting for All Seasons - Christmas in July
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Cute
• Creative Card Crew - Christmas
• Friday Sketch - Sketch #74
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Christmas in July
• Lili of the Valley - Use Two or More LotV Items (The image & sentiment stamps)
• Winter Wonderland - On the Move

Thinking of You...

I have an inky kind of card to share today...I started by inking up an acrylic block with some Distress Inks (Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint & Forest Moss), then spritzing it with water, before stamping it on to smooth white card. I then stamped some grasses and flowers over the green area, and added a couple of dragonflies above (all stamps from the 'Just for You' set by Hobby Art)...colouring the dragonflies' wings using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from a little set by Studio G.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Take Flight

ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Annette is the host, and the theme is:

'O is for Obscured'

Think hidden messages, secret compartments or masking

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Bugaboo Stamps

Prize - 7 Digital Stamps!

I 'obscured' part of a tree stamp using the masking technique...I stamped 'Snowy' (by Penny Black) first...then masked him off before stamping the Hero Arts tree over the top, so that it would look like Snowy was standing in front of it. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle using Stickles. The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad (by My Mind's Eye)...I doodle the borders using a black gel pen. I cut the snowflake from glitter card using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, and added a gemstone brad (from Craft Obsessions) to it's centre. The scalloped border was cut using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Clear It Out - Christmas in July & Glittery, Sparkly Things
• Corrosive - Christmas in July
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Craft Your Passion - Christmas in July
• Crafty Sentiments - Hand Coloured Image
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Christmas in July
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Dies & Punches
• Sparkles Monthly - Christmas in July
• Stamping Boutique - Christmas in July

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Fruit or Vegetables

We have a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today...with a theme of:

'Fruit or Vegetables'

The prize for this challenge is this gorgeous stamp:

After rifling through my stamp collection, I found this sweet Penny Black stamp (from the 'Micey Nice Day' set) featuring a couple of cute mice and a bowl of cherries. The fruity papers are from the 'Farmhouse' pad by Studio Calico...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• As You Like It - Favourite Sentiment (This Hero Arts stamp is my favourite 'Happy Birthday' to use...love the font, and how it fits in a circle too)
• Creative Inspiration - Distressing
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch #319
• Stamp & Create - Birthdays

I'm also going to link this card up to my lovely bloggy buddy Samantha's birthday candy.

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!

I haven't used this stamp ('Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!' by Penny Black) in over a year...so I thought that it was about time it saw some ink again! I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the bright and cheerful papers (from the 'Ooh L La (for Her)' pad by My Mind's Eye). I distressed the edges of the papers, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• CCEE Stampers - Chickens
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Birds
• Crafter's Cafe - Birthday
• That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Pile It On! Challenge - Summertime

This week at the Pile It On! Challenge, we have a nice and easy theme for you:

'Summertime'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Doodle Pantry:

Prize - 3 Digital Products of the Winner's Choice!

I've used a Penny Black stamp called 'Cat Nap', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...I doodled the borders using a black gel pen. The sentiment is from the Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the brad is BasicGrey.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Summertime
• 4 Crafty Chicks - The Great Outdoors
• Craft Your Passion - Citrus/Tropical Colours
• Crafty Calendar - Summertime Fun
• Crafty Catz - Hot Summer/Hot Colours
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Crazy Challenge - My Summer Vacation
• Cute Card Thursday - Fun in the Sun
• Gem of a Challenge - Spots & Stripes
• Inky Impressions - Summer Brights
• Little Red Wagon - I need a Vacation
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Spots & Dots
• Stampavie & More - Animals
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

Thumbprint Ice Creams

I have another thumbprint card to share today...this time I turned them into ice creams! I doodled the 'cones', added some tiny pearl 'sprinkles', and a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Cupcakes' set).

Challenges for this card:

• Dream Valley - Summer
• Fab 'N Funky - Feels Like Summer
• Krafty Hands - Summer Holidays
• Less is More - Adapt a Fingerprint
• Whimsy Inspires - Summertime

Rudolph!

I had a go at some fingerprint art yesterday, inspired by this week's Less is More Challenge, and made a couple of cards. On this one, I turned my thumbprint (inked with 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink) into a reindeer, by doodling some antlers, and adding a couple of googly eyes, and a large red gem for a nose. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Inspirations - Your Favourite Occasion (Christmas!)
• Inky Chicks - Christmas in July
• Jingle Belles - Shopping Our Stash (The googly eyes and gem are at least 2 years old)
• Less is More - Adapt a Fingerprint
• Shopping Our Stash - Christmas (The googly eyes and gem are at least 2 years old!)

Inky Bicycles

I have a couple of bicycle themed thank you cards to share today...using stamps from the 'Bicycles' set by Hero Arts. I stamped them in Versamark, then heat embossed them using clear powder, before blending Distrss Inks over the top. On the one on the left I used 'Wild Honey', Spiced Marmalade' and 'Fired Brick', and on the card on the right I used 'Stormy Sky', Faded Jeans' and Chipped Sapphire'. The sentiments are also by Hero Arts, and are from the 'What a Life' set.

Challenges for these cards:

• CAS on Sunday - One Layer Wonder
• Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - On the Move/Transport
• Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Monochrome
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...it's my turn to host, and the theme is:

'N is for Numbers'

Our sponsor for this challenge is All Dressed Up:

Prize - 2 Digis of the Winner's Choice!

I've used a Penny Black image called 'Welcome Party', which I coloured using watercolour pencils to match the My Mind's Eye 'Blue Floral' pad...not really very Christmassy, but I thought they'd make for a good masculine card. I distressed the edges of the papers, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The little numbered sentiment is from a set by Studio G.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Animal Friends - Cats or Dogs
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non-traditional Colours
• Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas- Make Your Mark
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Christmas
• Gem of a Challenge - Animals
• One Crazy Stamper - Christmas
• Simply Create Too - Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - Spots & Stripes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Oldie but a Goodie - School's Out!

We have a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today...the theme is:

'School's Out!'

I've made a teacher thank you card...with a panel to look like a blackboard. I stamped and various thank you sentiments (from Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamp sets) in white on black card, then added some 'chalk dust' using 'White Picket Fence' Distress Stain. The backing papers are from the 'Madison' pad by Penny Black, and I cut the gold star using one of my Nesties.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Catz - Stars or Stripes
• Cute Card Thursday - Satrs
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #226

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Pile It On! Challenge - Flowers

We have a new Pile It On! Challenge starting today, with a nice and easy theme:

'Flowers'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Dilly Beans Digi Stamps:

Prize - 3 Dilly Beans Digi Stamps!

After rediscovering a couple of old flower stamps ('Scribble Flower' and 'Sketch Flower' by Funstamps) a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd get them out again. I started by stamping them in Versamark, and embossing them using clear powder, before blending various Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade & Festive Berries) over the top, then spritzing with water. I then cut the panel into quarters and mounted them on to my card blank using 3D foam pads.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Flowers
• Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - No Design Papers
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Just for Fun - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Paper Creator - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Monochrome
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Buttons & Bows

It's the first Saturday of the month...so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this month the theme is:

'Buttons & Bows' 

As usual, we have some fabulous prizes on offer from our lovely sponsors:

The Ribbon Girl:

1-2-3 Stitch!:

Prize - a $20 voucher

I used  a sweet little bear stamp called 'Snug' on my card...so cute! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and stamped a Hero Arts sentiment underneath (from the 'Anytime Messages' set). The twine is by Papermania, the button is from Hobbycraft, and I simply added some pierced holes in the corners

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• As You Like It - Animals or People (Definitely animals...so much easier to colour!
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Buttons, Butterflies or Bows

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Summer Fun!

We have a new Crafty Little Fairies Challenge starting today, with a theme of:

'Summer Fun!'

We have lots of lovely sponsors:

The Ribbon Girl:

Prize - £10 Gift Voucher!

Whiff of Joy:

Prize - Stamp of Winner's Choice!

Delicious Doodles:

Prize - 4 Digis of the Winner's Choice!

Little Claire:

Stamp & Create:

Prize - $20 Gift Voucher!

I picked a Stampavie stamp by Sarah Kay to use on my card called 'Olivia and her Kittens Kiki & Sugar'. Like them, I like to get out in the garden in the summer...not to actually garden...but I do like to enjoy the fruits of other people's gardening efforts! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils to match the My Mind's Eye 'Indie Chic' papers. I distressed all of the egdes, then inked them using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set by Hero Arts, the flowers are a mixture of Prima and Poppicrafts, the brads are BasicGrey, and the twine is by Papermania.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - Summer Girls
• Chocolate Coffee & Cards - Summer Days
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Summer or Winter
• Creative Corner - Flowers
• Cutie Pie - Girls, Girls, Girls
• Fussy & Fancy - Summertime
• Love to Create - 3 or More Design Papers
• Papercrafting Journey - Flower Power
• Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Summer Fun
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Summer Fun

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

Christmas Cake!

I have a Christmas card to share today...I used a cute Lili of the Valley die cut image...I love how the little pup is waiting to help add the ribbon to the cake! The papers came free with a magazine, but I have no idea which one...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The twine is from the Ribbon Girls, and the little red pearls are from Hobbycraft.

Challenges for this card:

• Bunny Zoe's - Layers
• Completely Christmas - Anything Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Let's Get Sentimental
• Fab 'N Funky - Christmas
• My Time to Craft - Christmas in June
• Squirrel & the Fox - Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Dinner

Chalkboard Wishes

The stamp I've used on today's card was  prize from a challenge I won over at Sketchy Colours a few weeks ago...it's called 'Chalkboard Wishes' by Penny Black...and is totally different from anything else I have in my collection. I stamped it in black Versafine ink, then added some colour to the 'chalk' using watercolour pencils, then simply cut around the edge, and added it to a card blank decorated with some My Mind's Eye paper (from the 'Bright' pad) and some multicoloured twine (from TKMaxx).

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - CAS
• Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too - Focal Sentiments
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - M is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today, Fiona is the host, and the theme is:

'M is for Mail'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Shape EZ:

Prize - 2 Shape EZ Templates of the winner's choice!

I've used a Lili of the Valley image called 'Puppy Post', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept my card really simple, just adding a sentiment (also by Lili of the Valley), and a Dovecraft button threaded on to some Baker's twine from the Ribbon Girls.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Completely Christmas - Anything Christmas
• Corrosive - Colour Me Happy
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Buttons & Bows

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Baby

We have a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today...the the theme is:

'Baby'

The prize for this challenge has been donated by Alison:

I used a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Little Acorn'...so cute! I simply coloured the image using watercolour pencils, pierced some holes around the corners, and added a sentiment from a set by Art Impressions.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Gem of a Challenge - For a Child or Baby
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.