PBSC July - Anything Goes...Optional 'Nature'

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

'Anything Goes'
or
'Nature'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I decided to use my 'Blossom Branch' stamp, and inked it up with some 'Stormy Sky' Distress Ink, spritzed it with a little water, then using my Tim Holtz stamping platform, stamped it on to a piece of watercolour paper. I then went back and inked up some of the flowers and parts of the leaves with 'Chipped Sapphire' Distress Ink, again spritzed with a little water, and stamped again. I added a few ink splatters, and sentiment using a stamp from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, then distressed the edges a little before adding the panel to my card blank.

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

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - N & O are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Samantha is the host, and the themes are:

'N is for No Fuss'

&

'O is for Over the Top'

There's a little prize from Samantha for the lucky winner.

For my 'N is for No Fuss' card, I stamped a Penny Black image ('What a Snow!') on to a kraft card blank and coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Tattered Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Over the recent years, my Christmas cards have definitely become more CAS (quick to make, easy to mass produce, cheap to post!), but I do sometimes like to make a more layered card with lots of pretty papers and some embellishments. I used another Penny Black image ('Angel Cat') on my 'O is for Over the Top' card, stamping it on to watercolour paper, and colouring it using watercolour pencils...adding some shine to the halo & star with a silver gel pen, and some sparkle to his wings with some 'Diamond' Stickles. I paired it with papers from the 'Silent Night' pad by First Edition...distressing the edges a little, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted all of the layers on to some icy blue glitter card...cutting a snowflake out of the offcuts using a Cuttlebug die. I added a diamante to the centre of the snowflake, and some lacy silver ribbon for a little extra texture.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - So Cute
• Christmas with the Cuties - Two or More Patterned Papers (Second card only)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Optional 'Snowflakes') (Second card only)
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - Layer it Up! (Second card only)
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Colour on Kraft (First card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Abstract Triangles

Today's card makes a feature of a Simon Says Stamp background stamp called 'Abstract Triangles'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using clear embossing powder. I smooshed some Distress Ink pads (Wild Honey, Seedless Preserves, Faded Jeans & Evergreen Bough) on to my messy mat, sprtized them with a little water, then smooshed the embossed watercolour paper into the inks. I dried it using my heatgun, then used a paintbrush to pick up some of the remaining ink to colour some individual triangles here and there. I distressed the edges a little, then matted the panel on to a snippet of black card. For the sentiment, I combined a couple of the stamps from the 'Everyday Sentiments' set by Happy Little Stampers, and stamped them on to another snippet of black card using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder. To prevent it from covering too much of the background, I carefully cut around the lettering, then added it on top of the background panel using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Make It Colourful 
• Sweet Stampin' - Make Your Own Background

Let it Snow!

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today...featuring a few of the snowflake stamps and one of the sentiments from the 'Let it Snow' set by Happy Little Stampers. I stamped them directly on to a navy card blank using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them using 'Sparkling Snow' embossing powder from WOW.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - One Corner
• Christmas Card Throwdown - Snowflakes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Bunny Friends

Today's card features another 'oldie but a goodie' stamp...'Bunny Friends' by Penny Black. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, giving the bunnies rainbow coloured pots. I distressed the edges a little, added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before attaching the panel to my card blank using 3D foam. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts,

Challenges for this card:

• Always Fun - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Pets
• As You Like It - Favourite Digi or Rubber (Rubber - I love rummaging through my boxes of stamps trying to decide which one to ink up...scrolling through files on my laptop is just not the same!)
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Make it Colourful
• Sweet Stampers - Something Beginning with 'B' (Bunnies!)
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Scribble Flowers

Today's card features some really old Anita's stamps, that I've had since long before I started my blog...a set of 'Scribble' flowers..an outline flower in large & small, and a solid version of the smaller flower. I can't remember the last time I used these stamps, but they were what came to mind when I saw the 'Solid & Outline' prompt for this fortnight's Less is More Challenge.  I stamped the outline flowers using black ink, then stamped the solid one using a couple of shades of purple Distress Inks (Dusty Concord & Shaded Lilac). I added adhesive pearls to the centre of the flowers, and a Hero Arts sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - One Layer
• Alphabet Challenge - Flora & Fauna
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Black, White & One Other Colour')
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'No Deisgn Paper')
• Less is More - Solid & Outline

PBSC June - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spots and/or Stripes')...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or
'Spots and/or Stripes'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I picked an old stamp for my card...a charity shop find...called 'Prank Call'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a few random 'Hellos', stamped using one of the sentiment stamps from a little Crafter's Companion set by Rachelle Anne Miller called 'Soar'. I added spots and stripes in the form of a washi tape border along the edges of my card blank, then mounted the image panel over the top using 3D foam pads.

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

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Always Fun - Fun with Friends
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Animal Antics
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

Birthday Dog

Today's card features what is probably my all time favourite stamp...and certainly one of my oldest stamps...'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then carefully cut him out. I used washi tape (from Poundland & Dovecraft), directly on my card blank, to make a simple background. I added a sentiment (from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches), then popped Birthday Dog on top using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Man's Best Friend/Fur Babies/Pets
• Penny Black & More - Favourite Stamps
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes (Optional 'Watercolouring')
• Time Out - Photo Inspiration (I took inspiration from the banners & colours)

Snowy

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring one of my all time favourite stamps...'Snowy' by Penny Black. I stamped him on to white card, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I made a simple snowy background for him by heat embossing my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp on to a piece of paper (from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensaations) using white embossing powder. 

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Embossing
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Penny Black & More - Favourite Stamps
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Everest Next?

Today's card is a simple one layer number, featuring a Penny Black image called 'Everest Next?' stamped along one edge. I coloured the mice using watercolour pecnils, then added a sentiment from the 'Soar' set by Rachelle Anne Miller for Crafter's Companion.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - One Layer Cards
• Alphabet Challenge - E is for Earth Bound Animal
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Creature Feature
• Less is More - Borders

Silly Birds

I have a simple card to share today featuring a Hambo Stamps image called 'Silly Birds'. I coloured the birds in fun colours using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I stamped a sentiment from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches on to a kraft card blank, then added the birds popped up on 3D foam pad.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + Sentiment
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Daring Cardmakers - Wing It
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (CAS) - Party
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Things with Wings
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Make it Colourful

Sketched Flowers

Today's card features one of my current favourite stamps...'Sketched Flowers' by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped it on to kraft card, along with a sentiment from the same set, using Versamark ink, then heat emossed it using white embossing powder. I coloured the flowers using various shades of brown coloured pencils to create a monochrome effect. I finished it with simple border drawn using a white gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Scenes or Not? (Not - although I love the effect that others manage to get with their crafted scenes, I'm far too lazy to do it very often myself!)
• Crafty Calendar - Flowers
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Favourite Stamps 
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Nature or Flowers
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Man's Best Friend

Today's card features one of the pups from the 'Man's Best Friend' set by Penny Black. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut him out. I made a circular mask by cutting a hole out of a piece of scrap paper using one of my Nestie dies, then placed that over my card blank and stamped it with a paw print background stamp (from Hobbycraft) using Versamark Ink. I remover the mask, then heat embossed the paw prints using clear embossing powder. I added the pup on top popped up on 3D foam pads, along with a sentiment (from the Hero Arts 'Sentiments' set).

Challenges for this card:

• Always Fun - For Dad
• CAS on Friday - Animals
• Cardz 4 Guyz - Father's Day
• C.R.A.F.T. - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - It's a Man Thing
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine
• Sweet Stampin' - Masculine/Father's Day
• Use Your Stuff - Masculine or Father's Day

PBSC June - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spots and/or Stripes')

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

'Anything Goes'
or
'Spots and/or Stripes'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with a cheeky monkey stamp called 'Monkey See, Monkey Do', which I stamped on to watercolour paper, coloured using watercolour pencils, then cut out using one of my circle Nesties. I paired it with a strip of stripy paper from the 'Jolly Christmas' paper pad from The Works. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Christmas Critters' set, also by Penny Black.

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

• Animal Friends - Monkeys
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine

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

Cupcake Henry

Today's card features an old Whiff of Joy stamp called 'Henry - Celebrating Mouse'...another stamp that had not seen ink for several years! I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added some Stickles to the cupcake frosting. I used a snippet of stripy paper (from the 'Paper Geometrie' pad by Folia Paper) for a simple background...distressing the edges a little, and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...I'm the host, and the themes are:

'L is for Love'

&

'M is for Movies'

The prize for the lucky winner of this challenge is a 6x6 paper pad, clear stamp set & mini snowflake dies:

For my 'L is for Love' card, I picked a sweet Penny Black image called 'Wishes for Kisses'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. The papers are a mixture of Crate Paper 'Bundled Up' (the pink & green ones), and 'Paper Hearts' (the grey one)...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The hearts were die cut using my old Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die.

I used another Penny Black image, 'Snowy', on my 'M is for Movies' card to represent the animated film 'The Snowman'. I gave Snowy a green hat and scarf, adding some checks to the scarf just like the snowman in the film...along with an orange 'satsuma' for his nose! I simply matted my watercoloured image on to some matching green card...distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Christmas Craft Creations - Use a Die Cut (just the first card)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

The Lost Balloon

Today's card features a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'The Lost Balloon'...which (according to a search through my blog) has not seen ink for FIVE years! I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• AAA Cards - Happy Birthday
• CASology - Wind
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Birthdays')
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute

Celebrating You!

Today's card features another of the pups from the Penny Black 'Good Times' set, along with the sentiment from the set. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Spring Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• CCEE Stampers - Favourite Technique (Faux Stitching)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'At Least Two Layers')
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes Using Paper
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Circles
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Favourite Technique (Faux Stitching)

Birthday Bone

Today's card features one of the cute stamps from the 'Good Times' set by Penny Black, which I stamped on to watercolour paper, then coloured using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment (from the 'Birthday Critters' set...also by Penny Black), then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. I made a simple background by adding strips of washi tape to a kraft card blank, then popped the pups on top using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Line It Up (the washi tape)
• Penny Black & More - Men & Boys
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Trio of Trees

I have a couple of Christmas cards to share today featuring a stamp by Woodware called 'Trio of Trees'. I stamped it using Versamark Ink, along with a sentiment from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, on to navy and kraft card blanks, then heat embossed it,  using white embossing powder. I coloured the trees using watercolour pencils, but without using any water, then added some sparkle to the baubles/lights with some 'Tiara' Stickles.

Here are some close-ups:

Challenges for these cards:

• Christmas Card Throwdown - Embossing
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Dream Valley - Add Some Sparkle
• Less is More - One Layer Cards 'Going Dotty'
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes