Wishes for Kisses

I love this Penny Black stamp ('Wishes for Kisses')...in fact I think it's one of my favourite Christmas stamps. I've managed to squeeze in quite a few challenges on this card: I used the fab Sketch Saturday sketch; the 'Non-traditional Christmas Colours - NO Red or Green' theme of the Papertake Weekly and Creative Inspirations challenges; the 'Girly Christmas' theme of the Penny Black Saturday Challenge; Simon Says Stamp's 'Let it Snow' theme; and the Cupcake Craft Challenge theme of 'Christmas Carols'...in my case 'Let it Snow'. I've used papers from the 'Rose-Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV, stamping my Penny Black sentiment directly on to the paper. I used some 'Polar White' Flowersoft for snow underneath the hedgie & robin. The snowflake (which has been coated with Glamour Dust) was cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, but I cut the tips off, as it was too big for the card! lol

ABC Challenge - J is for...

Our theme for this week's ABC Challenge is:

'J is for Jigsaw'

And we have a very special sponsor:

Lacey Stephens from Wags'n'Whiskers is offering two of the stamps from their new release, as a prize for the winner of this challenge. Not only that, but she's supplied the design team with some of the new release of stamps, so that we could use them on our cards...and give you a 'sneak peek' of the new designs...thanks Lacey!


To celebrate the release of the new stamps, there will be a blog hop on Friday.

I received the new Wags'n'Whiskers stamp 'Ryan's Chocolate Trouble'...he does look like he enjoyed himself though! ;0)
I watercoloured Ryan to match these BasicGrey 'Archaic' papers...perfect for a boy's card. I covered a couple of jigsaw pieces with some of the papers, and inked all of the edges with brown ink...to look like chocolate smudges! The buttons & brads are from Poppicrafts, and the sentiment is handwritten.



I do hope that you'll be able to join in this week...and as always, don't forget to visit the ABC Challenge blog, for more inspiration from the rest of the design team.

Gorjuss Birthday

I needed to make a couple of birthday cards at the weekend, and in a change from the frosty colours I've been overdosing on lately, I decided to make a card for the Charisma Cardz 'Summer' challenge. I followed the sketch over at Totally Gorjuss, and am also entering this card for Cute Card Thursday's 'Swirly Girly' challenge. I've used 'Poppy Fields', watercoloured to match this gorgeous flowery BasicGrey paper (from the 'Lemonade' pad). I embossed the pink paper using the Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder, then sanded it to reveal the detail, and used my distressing tool to rough up the edges. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set), the flowers and ribbon are from Poppicrafts, and the pearl brad is by Papermania.

Wee & Reindeer

Isn't this stamp ('Wee & Reindeer' by Whiff of Joy) just adorable?!
I just had to use it for this week's Whiff of Joy Challenge, where there's a fab sketch...although I did rotate it, so that the flowers didn't cover Wee's head. The papers are all BasicGrey ('Eskimo Kisses')...I love the colours on these. The sentiment stamp is by Studio G, the flowers are a mixture of Poppicrafts and Sarah's Cards Ltd, and the pearl brads are by Papermania. I threaded some thin silver ribbon through the raffia lace (from Hobbycraft).
I'm also entering this card for A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Non-traditional Christmas Colours' challenge, and the Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential's 'Christmas Flowers' challenge.

Spring has Sprung!

Well...not literally...but we do have glorious sunshine in London at the moment! lol
My lovely furry friend Squirrel, set a group of us Penny Black fans a challenge, to create a 'Spring' themed card using the colours 'Blue, Pink & Yellow'...and of course a Penny Black stamp.
Being a challenge addict, I've combined her challenge with a couple of others: I used the Friday Sketchers sketch; and the Everybody Art Challenge 'Stitching' theme - I've added some faux-stitching around the edges of the paper squares, as I thought it looked quilted. Inspired by spring showers & flowers, I've used 'Rainin' Daisies' as my Penny Black image. The spotty paper is by My Mind's Eye ('29th Street Market'), the sentiment stamp is by Woodware ('Circular Greetings'), the paper roses are from Hobbycraft, and the larger pink flowers are from Poppicrafts.


Thanks for a great challenge Squirrel...made a fabulous change from all of the Christmas cards I've been making lately!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Matching Set

This week it's my turn to set the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge theme, and I've chosen:

'Matching Set'

It could be a set of cards, or notelets, a matching card and gift box, bag or tag...the choice is yours.

I've made a set of 12 'Thank you' cards with a matching box, to give as a Christmas present. I created a patchwork design on the cards using squares of three co-ordinating My Mind's Eye papers (from the '29th Street Market' collection), inking the edges with a 'Wisteria' coloured chalk inkpad. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Talking in Circles' set by Autumn Leaves, and has been embossed in pearl violet to match the papers. I made the matching box using my Top Score Multiboard, with a couple of Flora Doodles flowers held in place with a Papermania pearl brad.

The design team have created some stunning projects this week....so make sure you pay the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge a visit.

Bear & Robin

I've had this adorable teddy ('Bear & Robin' by Gillian Roberts) coloured since last weekend...and have finally found the time to put him on a card. I followed the fab Papertake Weekly Challenge sketch, and since I used my trusty watercolour pencils to colour the image...I'm also entering this card for the Pink Elephant's 'Favourite Colouring Medium' challenge. It also fits the 'Christmas' theme of the Creative Card Crew Challenge, and the 'Glitzy' challenge of Stamp Something. The papers are BasicGrey 'Eskimo Kisses', the snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die...and have been coated with Glamour Dust, and I added some 'Polar White' Flowersoft to the fur trim on the teddy's hat, and on the ground beneath him to look like snow.


I've had the day off today...I've finished teaching for the term at the school I work at on Fridays...and had planned to get my Christmas shopping done...but, I've had a cough all week, which has been getting steadily worse, and now I have another stinking cold! :0(
I'm making most of my presents again this year, so there wasn't much to get...and instead of venturing out, I've been Christmas shopping from my bed...just have to wait for them to be delivered now! :0)

Winter Pals

The My Time to Craft Challenge has a lovely theme for their challenge this week...'Winter Pals'. Now, I think that these two little fellas look both wintry and friendly...and having a high old time singing their hearts out! The image is a House Mouse stamp called 'Christmas Singing Duo'. I followed the sketch from Sketch Saturday...although I was naughty, and omitted the scalloped edges. And, I'm also entering this card for a couple of 'Christmas' themed challenges: Stampavie & More; and Stamp with Fun.
The papers are by BasicGrey ('Figgy Pudding'), the sentiment stamp is by Paper Makeup, and I added some pieces of card candy in coordinating colours.



Oh, and I've been given this award by Susan...thank you!
I posted my 'one word' answers here a couple of weeks ago, as I received it from a couple of my other bloggy buddies then.

I also received another award this week...but I'm still trying to come up with some 'interesting' facts about myself, so I'll blog that later! lol

Christmas Bunnies

I love this Lili of the Valley stamp ('Christmas Bunnies - Stocking')...and with their cosy woolly hats, these bunnies are perfect for this week's Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential Challenge where the theme is 'Hats On!'. I followed the Friday Sketchers Challenge sketch, using yet more BasicGrey 'Eskimo Kisses' papers, and some Cuttlebug snowflakes (which have been coated with Glamour Dust) in place of the circles on the sketch.

Hot Chocolate Henry

Here's my card for this fortnight's BasicGrey Challenge...there's a fab sketch to follow...and I've combined it with the Whiff of Joy Challenge to create a 'Christmas Card'. I've used the adorable Henry Mouse...with his cup of hot chocolate, some more papers from the 'Eskimo Kisses' pad (by BasicGrey) and a sentiment stamp by Craft UK.

Naughty or Nice?

There's a fab sketch for this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...which I've used to decorate the front of a plain notebook that I bought from the Craft Barn. This was one of the projects on the course I won at My Creative Classroom...it's supposed to be a gift...but I'm keeping this one to use to keep track of all of the Christmas cards and presents I'm making this year...well I wouldn't want to forget anyone! lol
I thought that this little mouse image (from the 'Christmas Critters' set) was just perfect, and I've combined him with some My Mind's Eye papers ('Festive Frost'). The sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug...and yes, I know it's the wrong shape...but this book is for all of the people who've been 'nice' this year! lol
I'm also entering this for the A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge, which has a colour theme of 'Brown with either Blue or Pink' this week.

Mistletoe & Mice

I received some adorable Gillian Roberts images from my lovely friend Cathy last week...I couldn't resist having a play, as this one ('Mistletoe & Mice') is perfect for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge's theme of 'Winter Love'. I followed the Creative Inspirations Challenge sketch...and have also managed to squeeze in a few other challenges: Stampin' for the Weekend's colour combo of 'Lilac & Silver'; the first Sketchy Colors Challenge where the dominant colour must be 'Purple/Lilac'; and the 'Christmas' theme of the Charisma Cardz, Everybody Art, Papertake Weekly, Pollycraft Monday Challenges. The spotty paper is My Mind's Eye (from the '29th Street Market' collection, the sentiment stamp is by Craft UK and the ric-rac is by Papermania. I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders to emboss the lilac card, and the 'Ice Crystal' die to cut the snowflake.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Christmas Trees

The theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge as chosen by the Secret Crafter herself...Wendy...is:

'Christmas Trees'

I chose this fab Christmas tree image from the 'Holly-Jolly Christmas' set by Penny Black...I love the expression on the cat's face! I watercoloured it to match the 'Eskimo Kisses' papers (by BasicGrey), adding some sparkle to the baubles using a Sakura Stardust pen. The sentiment stamp is by Paper Make-Up, and as the papers and image are quite busy, I've kept the embellishments quite low-key, adding some pieces of card candy and a simple bow.

The rest of the design team have created some cracking projects to inspire you...check them out at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

A Boy's Best Friend...

I've used another of the stamps I won in the Sugar Nellie Birthday goodie bag for this fortnight's Sugar Bowl Challenge...this one's called 'A Boy's Best Friend'. I've watercoloured him to match the 'Papa' papers by Fancy Pants Designs. I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool and inks, and added some Papermania brads and some garden string. For the 'extra' challenge element of 'Zig-zags', I used a CutterBee Bug to make the holes for some zig-zag faux stitching around the edges of all the papers...which also have zig-zag patterns on them.

ABC Challenge - I is for...

We have another colour challenge for you this week at the ABC Challenge:

'I is for Indigo Blue'

Blue is my favourite colour, so I loved this challenge! :0)

I've used 'Musing Melinda' (by Whiff of Joy) for my card...I always think she looks kind of blue! lol
I coloured to match these gorgeous papers from the 'Boxer' pad by BasicGrey...one of which I embossed using my 'Textile' Cuttlebug folder. The sentiment stamp is by Studio G, and the flowers are a mixture of Poppicrafts and Hobbycraft...it doesn't show very well in the photo, but they've been spritzed with 'Baby's Breath' Shimmerz. I distressed all of the edges, and added a few pieces of card candy to finish.

As always, don't forget to check out the rest of the design teams fab cards over on the ABC Challenge blog.

Exciting new challenge blog...

There's a new weekly challenge blog, called Sketchy Colors, launching this weekend...and as you all know, I love a challenge! ;0)


They have some yummy candy to celebrate...click the logo to visit their new blog to find out more...

Gorjuss Christmas

I had a happy day crafting yesterday...made some Christmas gifts...and a few challenge cards. This one combines three challenges: the sketch from Charisma Cardz; the 'Christmas' theme from Totally Gorjuss; and the Winter Wonderland 'No Christmas Stamps or Papers' challenge. I've used 'Little Star' (by Sugar Nellie), watercolouring her to match the My Mind's Eye papers...they're from the 'Adore' and '29th Street Market' collections...so not Christmas papers. I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders to emboss the plain papers, including a star cut using a Nestie die. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft, and the Card Candy is by Craftwork Cards.

Jingle Bells

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge is having a 'Countdown to Christmas' blog hop this week...so naturally I had to join in the fun and make a card for their 'Winter Wonderland' themed challenge. I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge, and also managed to squeeze in a few other challenge themes on to my card: the Allsorts Challenge to use a 'Christmas Song Title' (in my case 'Jingle Bells'); the Creative Inspirations 'Sparkle' challenge (I covered the snowflakes have been coated with glamour dust, and I used Stickles on the hedgie's hats and snow); and the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Snowflakes' theme. The sledging hedgies image is from the 'Christmas Critters' set (of course by Penny Black), and the paper is by Pebbles Inc. I embossed the blue card using my Cuttlebug 'Snow Dots' folder, then highlighted the detail with a white chalk inkpad. The snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, the sentiment stamp is by Studio G, pearl brad is Papermania, and the ribbon, and 'jingle bells' are from Hobbycraft.

Santa & Penguin

This adorable stamp arrived this morning...it's from a set called 'Santa & Penguin' by Craft UK, that I'd ordered nearly 6 weeks ago from the Crafter's Companion website (my first order with them)...I was beginning to think it had been lost in the postal strikes when it hadn't arrived after a few weeks...and after getting no response from their Customer Services to my three emails asking if it been posted ('cos they'd charged my card on the day I'd ordered) I had given up hope of ever seeing them...so I couldn't believe it when they popped through my letterbox today...with a packing note dated yesterday! Excellent service from the Royal Mail (for once), but I have to say that I won't be using the Crafter's Companion website again! :0(

Anyway, I couldn't resist inking them up straight away, as I thought that this image would be perfect for the 'St Nicholas' theme of the Winter Wonderland Challenge...which ends today, so I needed to get in there quickly. I followed the fab Sketch Saturday sketch...which is perfect for those larger images...and combined it with the Colour Create combo of 'Green, Red & White' with these funky papers by Doodlebug. I added some 'Polar White' Flowersoft for the snow, the sentiment stamp is from the same set as the image, and the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Calendar

The theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has been chosen by Jill...and she has challenged us to:

Make a Calendar

I decided to make a small desk calendar...I'm planning to make a few of these for Christmas presents. I cut a 4.5 inch wide strip from a piece of 12x12 red Bazzill card to make the base for my calendar, scoring at 0.5 inches and 5.5 inches from one end, and 1.5 inches from the other end. I then glued the two ends together, to create my free-standing base (which folds flat for posting). I decorated the base with a contrasting blue piece of card embossed using my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder, a couple of Prima flowers, some Papermania brads and an embossed butterfly stamped using a stamp from the 'Doodles' set from the Papermania CCSR. The calendar tab is by Anita's.

The design team have come up with some really beautiful projects this week...a calendar would make a great gift, which makes this a fantastic way to get ahead for Christmas...so I do hope that you'll join us this week at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Splashing Maggie

Thanks to this dreadful cold that's doing the rounds at the moment, I managed to get another quick card done yesterday afternoon, when one of my private pupils cancelled her lesson.
I combined the sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches with the 'Under my umbrella' challenge over at the My Time to Craft Challenge. I used 'Splashing Maggie' (another of the stamps from the Sugar Nellie birthday goodie bag I won), watercolouring her to match these lovely '29th Street Market' papers by My Mind's Eye. I distressed the edges, and added some faux-stitching, and a few flowers from Poppicrafts.

Caroling Chooks

Woo-hoo I finally made a card last night! I hadn't crafted for over a week...and I think I'd forgotten how to do it...it took me ages to make this...and it's so simple! lol
I followed the sketch from the Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge, to make a card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, where the theme this week is 'Christmas for the guys'. I followed the Stampavie & More colour theme of 'Brown & One Other Colour' challenge (in my case blue), and I'm also entering this for the 'Animal Antics' challenge over at Simon Says Stamp. I've used 'Carolers' (of course by Penny Black), and paper by My Mind's Eye...ok so it's not overly festive but it is from a Christmas pack! lol I distressed the edges using inks and my distressing tool, added some faux-stitching and a few snowflakes cut using a Cuttlebug die.

One Word Award

I've been given this award by a couple of my blogging buddies...Sue & Squirrel...thanks ladies! :0)
I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to get around to putting it on my blog...told you I'd been a bad blogger! lol

So, here are my 'one word' answers:

1) Where is your cell phone? - handbag
2) Hair? - brown
3) Your mother? - wonderful
4) Your father? - funny
5) Your fav food? - cake
6) Your Dream last night? - forgotten
7) Your fav drink? - water
8) Your dream goal? - contentment
9) What room are you in? - bedroom
10) Your hobby? - crafting
11) Your fear? - boredom
12) Where do you want to be in 6 years time? - here
13) Where were you last night? - home
14) Something that you aren't? - tall
15) Muffins? - yes!
16) Wishlist item? - time
17) Where did you grow up? - Norfolk
18) Last thing you did? - work
19) What are you wearing? - PJs
20) Your T.V? - Spooks
21) Your pets? - none
22) Your friends? - fabulous
23) Your life? - hectic
24) Your mood? - happy
25) Missing someone? - no
26) Vehicle? - 207
27) Something you're not wearing? - coat
28) Your fav store? – Glitterpot
29) Your fav colour? - blue
30) Last time you laughed? - today
31) Last time you cried? - forgotten
32) Your best friend? - Emma
33) One place you go to over and over? - work
34) One person who emails regularly? - Samantha
35) Fav place to eat? - Papaya
36) Face book? - never

Now...I know that I'm supposed to pass this on...but as it's taken me so long to blog this...everyone's already got it! lol

I'm off to do some quick crafting...I haven't made anything in over a week...and I've got itchy fingers...so I may even have a card to show you tomorrow!

Thank you!

I made this card ages ago...well over a week ago...using one of the Sugar Nellie stamps I won ('Big bunch of love')...so of course I had to follow the Sugar Bowl Challenge sketch and make a 'Thank you' card. I watercoloured him to match the boyish colours of these 'True' papers (by Fancy Pants Designs). I embossed the green card (just seen) using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder, added a sentiment by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set), and a few buttons (from Poppicrafts).


I've been a bit of a bad blogger this past week or so...so I'm sorry if I haven't visited you recently...been a very busy bee with work, and it was my Nan's 90th birthday on Sunday, so I was away all weekend...and now I have a stinking cold...but I'm hoping to get some serious blog-hopping in this evening...so I'm looking forward to catching up with all of your fabulous creations...

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Seasons

The theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge as chosen by Donna is:

'Seasons'

You can either interpret this as one season, or as all four seasons. After weeks and weeks of making lots of frosty looking cards...I decided to choose the fresher colours of 'Spring' for my card. Inspired by this week's weather...I've used 'Willow with Umbrella' (by Whiff of Joy) to represent 'April showers'. I watercoloured her in shades of blue & green to match the watery looking paper (from the 'Phoebe' collection by BasicGrey). I embossed the central panel using my 'Tiny Bubbles' folder, and added a couple of Prima flowers, adhesive pearls and a sentiment (stamp also by Whiff of Joy).

As usual the rest of the design team have worked their magic, and created some fabulous samples to inspire you...so make sure you pop over to the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.