Cat on the Moon

Today's card is an ultra simple one layer card featuring a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Cat on the Moon'. I added a few extra doodled stars, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Party Critters' set, also by Penny Black.

Challenges for this card:

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Clean & Simple
• Happy Little Stampers (CAS) - One Layer Cards
• Inkspirational - One Layer Cards
• Less is More - One Layer Card & Stars

Pile It On! Challenge - Fantasy and/or Spiders & Cobwebs

It's the third Sunday of the month, so we have more inspiration and a bonus theme for this month's Pile It On! Challenge. The themes this month are:

'Fantasy'

&

'Spiders & Cobwebs'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Sasayaki Glitter Digital Stamps

Prize - a digi image of the winner's choice

I went with the 'Spiders & Cobwebs' theme to make another Hallowe'en treat bag. I used stamps from the 'Spooky' and 'Be Very Scared' sets by Penny Black...masking off the bats above the cat's head before inking, so that he could be looking at the spider instead. I coloured the images using watercolour pencils, and added a sentiment made using stamps from the 'Graffiti' alphabet set by Paper Smooches...adding a handwritten exclamation mark. The papers are from the 'Haunted', 'Spooky' and 'Haunted House' collections by Carta Bella...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The cobweb was cut using a Memory Box die.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Fantasy and/or Spiders & Cobwebs
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
• Creates & Makes - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Spots/Stripes and/or Halloween
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Not a Card
• Sweet Stampers - Autumn or Halloween
• That's Crafty - Get Your Spook On!

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

Little Snowy

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring a little snowman from the Penny Black 'Jolly Friends' set, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I added a snowy background behind him...made using a snippet of watercolour paper that I'd coloured using Distress Inks (Mermaid Lagoon, Peackock Feathers & Cracked Pistachio), then stamped some of the 'Delicate Snowflakes' (by Stampendous), and heat embossed them using 'Sparkling Snow' powder from WOW. The sentiment is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Craftaholics R Us - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes (Optional Smile)
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Pumpkin Kitty

I have another Hallowe'en treat bag to share today...this time I used a cute little cat image from the 'Be Very Scared' set by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and combined it with papers by Carta Bella (from the Haunted, Spooky & Happy Haunting collections). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this bag:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Halloween
• Crafty Sentiments - Halloween or Fall
• Crazy Challenge - Halloween
• Creative Inspirations - Autumn/Halloween
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Not a Card
• Sweet Stampin' - Distressing
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Spicy Butterflies

I have a couple of clean & simple cards to share today following the 'Hot & Spicy' colour theme of this week's Less is More Challenge. I started by smooshing some Distress Inks on to watercolour paper...making a yellowish one with Scattered Straw, Wild Honey & Spiced Marmalade, and a reddish one using Fired Brick, Festive Berries & Aged Mahogany. Using my Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Detailed Butterflies' dies, I cut the solid shapes from the yellow paper, and the intricate one from the red, then layered them up.

I mounted them on to panels of plain white card..having added a pierced border around the edge using one of my CutterBee Bugs. The sentiments are form a set that came free with a craft magazine.

Challenges for these cards:

• Aud Sentiments - Die Cuts & a Sentiment
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional CAS)
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Hot & Spicy Colours

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - October...Lace & Pearls

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

'Lace and/or Pearls'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used both lace and pearls on a Hallowe'en treat bag...pairing them with a cute kitty from the 'Spooky' stamp set and papers from the 'Haunted' and 'Spooky' collections by Carta Bella. I inked around all of the edges using 'Black Soot' Distress Ink, then distressed them a little before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

I'm also entering this treat bag into the following challenges:

• Craftaholics R Us - Halloween
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Give a Crafter a Cookie - Photo Inspiration
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - The Dark Side

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

Autumn Rainbow

Today's card is rather Autumnal in feel...but the stamp I used is actually a Christmas stamp called 'Snow Dust' by Penny Black. I started by making a rainbow in Autumnal colours, watercolouring with Distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick & Seedless Preserves).I then stamped the image and sentiment (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual) in black ink, then heat embossed them using clear powder. I distressed the edges of the panel a little, then matted it on to some kraft card.

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - Watercolour
• Penny Black & More - Close to Nature
• Stamping Sensations - Autumn Glory
• Sweet Stampin' - Autumn
• That's Crafty - Forever Autumn

ABC Christmas Challenge - October

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

U is for Unlimited'

(Anything Christmas goes)

&

'V is for Vibrant'

(Use bright colours)

Our sponsor for this challenge is Freckled Fawn:

Prize - $15 Gift Card!

There is also a little prize from our host Carol:

I made cards for both of the themes...trying out some new-ish snowflake stamps...from the 'Delicate Snowflakes' set by Stampendous. I made some inky backgrounds by smooshing Distress Inks on to watercolour paper...adding a couple of layers..drying in between...and then splattering with some water to add more texture. On my 'Unlimited' cards, I went for a rich purple background, using Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet & Seedless Preserves inks. I then stamped the largest snowflake from the set in Versamark Ink, and heat embossed it using 'Sparkling Gold' powder by WOW. I inked around the edges with some more Versamark Ink, and heat embossed those to match. I matted the panels on to some gold mirror card, and added them to some kraft card blanks.

The snowflakes are so sparkly in real life...it's difficult to get them to show in a photo, but here's a better look at one:

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

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Embossing
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Non-Cute
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

On my 'Vibrant' card...I used a background made using Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers & Cracked Pistachio inks. This time I heat embossed the snowflakes using 'Sparkling Snow' powder from WOW. I trimmed the panel down, and used it as a background for a cute little Penny Black mouse image called 'XMouse Ornament', which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to his snowflake with some 'Diamond' Stickles. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

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

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Make Your Own Background)
• One Crazy Stamper - Christmas/Winter
• Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas

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

Count Catular Treat Bag

I have a Hallowe'en treat bag to share today...featuring a cute cat from the 'Be Very Scared' set by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour colour pencils, then inked around it using 'Black Soot' Distress Ink. The papers are from the 'Haunted' and 'Spooky' collections by Carta Bella. I inked around all of the edges with some more 'Black Soot' Distress Ink, then distressed them a little before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

Challenges for this bag:

• Animal Friends - Autumn or Hallowe'en
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Trick or Treat
• Everybody Art - Black & Orange
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Frightfully Fun
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - A Walk on the Dark Side
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Pile It On! Challenge - Fantasy

It's the first Sunday of the month, so that means that we have a fun new Pile It On! Challenge starting today...and the theme this month is:

'Fantasy'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Sasayaki Glitter Digital Stamps

Prize - a digi image of the winner's choice

I'm decidedly lacking in 'fantasy' images...but did find this Hambo Stamps monster in my image box...he's called 'Monster Sax'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I added a couple of pieces of musical washi tape (from Freckled Fawn) on to my card blank, then used some snippets of 'Awesome Boy' papers (by Recollections/Michaels) to create a background for the monster. I distressed the edges a little, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set by Hero Arts.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Fantasy
• Craftaholics R Us - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Birthday Cards
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Anything Goes

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

Ice Christmas

I have a simple little Christmas card to share today...featuring a cute Lili of the Valley penguin stamp called 'Ice Christmas'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top. I added a snippet of snowflake paper behind him (by Sandylion) for the background, and a sentiment from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Things with Wings
• Christmas with the Cuties - Christmas Animals
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crazy Challenge - Add an Animal
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Merry Monday - Penguins
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute & Cuddly
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Doodled Flowers

I was a lucky winner over at Happy Little Stampers a little while ago, and picked up their 'Doodled Flowers' stamp set with my prize. I used it to make this card following the sketch from this week's Less is More Challenge. I stamped the smaller flowers directly on to the card base, and the larger one on to a scrap of card, and cut it out. I coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils, then popped the larger one up over the top using 3D foam pads. I stamped the sentiment (from the same stamp set) on to a piece of vellum, then heat embossed it, and attached it under the larger flower.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Florals
• Crafty Catz - Birthday Cards
• Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
• Less is More - Sketch #21
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Penguin Presents

I have a simple little Christmas card to share today...featuring a cute Lili of the Valley image called 'Penguin Presents'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I used three snippets of paper from the 'Bundled Up' pad by Crate Paper along the bottom of my card...adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the Scribbly Christmas set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Two Word Sentiment
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Animals
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Flight L.O.V.E.

I have a super simple card to share today...using a sweet Penny Black image called 'Flight L.O.V.E.', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment from the 'Handwritten Borders' set by Simon Says Stamp, then pierced a border around the edge and added the panel to my card blank using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Take Flight
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple

Pile It On! Challenge - Scales/Feathers and/or No Patterned Papers

It's the third Sunday of the month, so we have more inspiration and a bonus theme for this month's Pile It On! Challenge. The themes this month are:

'Feathers and/or Scales'
&
No Patterned Paper
(You can do either or...or combine the themes for more fun!)

Our sponsor this month is Ike's Art:

Prize - $15 voucher to spend in Ike's Art Store!

I went with feathers again...and used an 'oldie but a goodie' from Penny Black called 'Present Pile', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I fussy cut the chicken, then made a simple background for her adding strips of washi tape (from Dovecraft & Tiger) to a square of plain white card. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Feathers/Scales and/or No Patterned Papers
• CAS on Friday - Use Pencils or Markers
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple
• That's Crafty - Fly Away

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

PBSC September - One Layer Cards...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:

'One Layer Cards'
(A single layer of card folded...no additional layers & minimal embellishments)

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

This time, I used a couple of stamps from the 'Snow Much Fun' stamp set. I simply coloured them using watercolour pencils and added a sentiment from a set by Lili of the Valley.

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

• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Merry Monday - Favourite Holiday Movie (The Snowman)
• Penny Black & More - Get Ready for Christmas
• Penny Black Inc - Holiday Head Start
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Little Miss Muffet Customer Appreciation Day

I have something a little different to share today...I was a winner over at Little Miss Muffet Stamps Challenge a little while ago, and was asked to take part in their Customer Appreciation Day Celebrations. Well, that day is today!

There are lots of new images in the Little Miss Muffet Stamps Shop....with free gifts and stamps too! 

I've made a card using a cute Claribella image called 'Clarabella Says'...with a space for you to add any sentiment you like. In order to make the image the main feature of the card, I printed Claribella a couple of times...flipping her to make a mirror image. I used a piece of flowery paper (by Sandylion) for a simple background...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I coloured the images using watercolour pencils to match the colours in the paper, and added a little sentiment to each of Calribella's signs (from a set by Wild Rose Studio).

For more sample projects, and all of the information on the exciting Customer Appreciation Day offers...please pop over the Little Miss Muffet Shop.

Carolers

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring some Penny Black chickens. The stamp is called 'Carolers', and I coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment (from a Lili of the Valley set), distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I stamped my Hero Arts 'Music Collage' stamp directly on to a kraft card blank using Versafine 'Smoky Gray' ink.

Challenges for this card:

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Use Kraft
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - A Christmas Carol
• Little Red Wagon - Give Us Your Background
• Penny Black & More - Get Ready for Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It

Cupcake Mice

I have a simple one layer card to share today...featuring an 'oldie but a goodie' from the Penny Black 'Party Critters' set. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and added a sentiment stamp from the 'Handwritten Borders' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - Colouring In (One Layer Cards)
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It