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

New Home

I have a 'New Home' card to share today...featuring an old Pollycraft stamp called...er...'New Home'! I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the colours in the 'Paper Hearts' papers (by Crate paper). I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I made some bunting from snippets of the papers using a die from a Craft Asylum/Sizzix set...and added some hand-written letting for the sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - New Beginnings
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...this month Lisa is the host and we have two fun themes for you:

'S is for Sketch'

(Use a sketch from a current challenge)

&
'T is for Trio'

(Feature three of something)

Our sponsors this month are:

Bugaboo Stamps

Prize - 4 Images of the Winner's Choice!

&

Crafty Ribbons

Prize - £10 Voucher!

I followed the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday challenge on my first card:

I decided to make an all white card, adding some texture with some embossing folders (Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Feather Illusion' (border) and Sizzix 'Snowflakes'). I cut the snowflakes using Marianne Designs dies, and the sentiment was made using stamps from the 'Graffiti' alphabet set by Paper Smooches.

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

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Cardmakers - Monochrome
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch #479

My second card features a 'trio' of chickens...it's a stamp by Penny Black called 'Par Avion' which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from a Christmas with Barkley set by Crafter's Companion.

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

• AAA Cards - All Creatures Great & Small
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Clean & Simple
• Gem of a Challenge - Use Kraft
• Penny Black & More - Get Ready for Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies...including our lovely new member Sharon...please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Pile It On! Challenge - Feathers and/or Scales

We have a fun new Pile It On! Challenge starting today with a theme of:

'Feathers and/or Scales'

Our sponsor this month is Ike's Art:

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

I went with feathers...and picked a chicken stamp by Penny Black called 'Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I used papers from the 'Now & Then' pad by My Mind's Eye...distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Birthday Bears' set by Penny Black.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Feathers and/or Scales
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Awesomeness - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Playground - Anything Goes
• Creates & Makes - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

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

PBSC September - One Layer Cards!

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:

'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!

I used all of the bears from the 'Birthday Bears' set...stamping and masking them across the bottom of a DL card. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added handwritten lettering to their little signs. 

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Use a Stamp or Digi Image
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampers - CAS

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

Snow Much Fun!

I have a set of Penny Black Christmas cards to share today using stamps mostly from the 'Snow Much Fun' set...plus a little pup from the 'Wintertime Cheer' set. I stamped the critters & snowmen on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I made some simple backgrounds stamping some beautifully detailed snowflake stamps (from the 'Delicate Snow' set by Stampendous) using Distress Inks (Forest Green and Fired Brick) on to plain kraft card. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiments are from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for these cards:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Too Cute
• Gem of a Challenge - Snowflakes
• Shopping Our Stash - Your Favourite Season (Winter)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Doodle Flowers

I have a simple one layer card to share today, featuring a set of stamps that I think I must have bought over 10 years ago, but haven't seen a lot of ink in all that time...they're called 'Doodle Flowers' by Inkadinkado. I stamped them on to kraft card using 'Smokey Gray' Versafine Ink...to make them look like they'd been doodled using a pencil. I stamped a sentiment from the 'Thoughtful Messages' set by Hero Arts in the same grey ink, then used my watercolour pencils to colour the flowers. I didn't use any water on the colouring as I wanted the colours to remain quite vibrant, but added some white accents with a gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS on Friday - One Layer Wonder
• Cute Card Thursday - Bright Colours
• Inkspirational - Oldie but a Goodie
• My Time to Craft - Krafty

Jazzy Cats

I've been having another go at masking...and am finding it so much easier to do now I have a Tim Holtz stamp platform. This time I used stamps from the 'Jazzy Cats' set by Penny Black to make a little scene...don't they look like they're having a fantastic time!? I simply coloured the cats using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment (from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Masking
• Animal Friends - Sport or Hobbies
• As You Like It - Fur or Feathers (Definitely fur...so much easier to colour! But, I do have a soft spot for Penny Black chickens too!)
• Crafty Friends - Birthdays
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Reindeer with Gifts

I have another Christmas card to share today...it features another new (to me) stamp from Deep Red called 'Reindeer with Gifts'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added some gold accents using a Sakura Stardust pen. The papers are from the 'Bundled Up' pad by Crate Paper...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Dream Valley - Christmas Animals
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes

Scribbly Trees

I have another couple of Christmas cards to share today...that I made using stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set (by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous) to test out the lovely Tim Holtz Stamp Platform that I got for my birthday. I started by stamping the tree trunks and ground in 'Gathered Twigs' Distress Ink, then I used a mixture of 'Forest Moss' and 'Peeled Paint' for the foliage. Finally, I stamped the stars at the top in Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them using 'Sparkling Gold' embossing powder by WOW. I inked around the edges using 'Old Paper', and a little 'Brushed Corduroy' on the very edges. I distressed the edges a little, then matted the panels on to some snippets of green card. The sentiment stamp is from the same stamp set.

You can just about make out the sparkle on the gold stars in this one:

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add  Sentiment
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Snowman Square

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring a couple more crafty things that I received for my birthday last week...a cute little snowman stamp by Magenta (that has no name) and an embossing folder by Cuttlebug called 'Zig Zag'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut it out. I embossed some plain white card for the background, then distressed all of the edges a little. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Winter Wonderland - Embossing

Pile It On! Challenge - Recycle and/or For a Child

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:

'Recycle'

and/or

'For a Child'

Our sponsor this month is MelonHeadz Illustrating:

Prize - 1 Bundle from MelonHeadz Illustrating!

I combined the themes on my card...recycling a piece of packaging from some edible birthday cake decorations:

It had pretty stars on the other side:

I cut a couple of circles from the card, and combined them with 'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black stamped on to another circle. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, and added a doodled border using a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! Challenge - Recycle and/or For a Child (I recycled some packaging from a set of edible birthday cake decorations)
• CAS on Friday - Birthday
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sweet Stampin' - Doodling
• That's Crafty - Only Cards

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