Cosmos Circle

I'm featuring another recent purchase on today's card...the 'Cosmos Circle' stamp by Woodware. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment (from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image), distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Thank You Sentiment
• Crafty Cardmakers - Thankful
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Thank You/Thanksgiving
• Sweet Stampin' - All Things Bright & Beautiful

PBSC November - Anything Goes (Optional 'Tags')

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
'Tags'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

This time, I used one of my newer Penny Black stamp...'Together'...to make a Birthday card and matching gift tag. I stamped on to kraft card, and a kraft tag using Versarmark Ink, then heat embossed the images using 'Rich Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. On the card, I matted the panel on to some gold mirror card, distressing the edges a little. The sentiment stamps used on both are also by Penny Black, from the 'It's Your Day' set.

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

• Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Birthday')
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamp + Fun = Creativity - Non-Cute
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Snow Dust Twofer

I have a couple of cards inspired by this month's 'Holiday Greenery' theme of the Twofer Challenge to share today...and although the 'two different occasions' rule has been relaxed this month...I decided to stick with the original formula. I used a Penny Black stamp called 'Snow Dust' to make a Christmas card, and a sympathy card.

On my Christmas cards, I started by blending Distress Inks (Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord) on to a snippet of smooth card, then heat embossed the whole stamp on top using white embossing powder. I added a snippet of torn white card along the bottom, to look like a snow drift, then added my panel to my card blank using 3D foam pads. The sentiment is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

On the Sympathy card, I made a loose watercolour background with Distress Inks (Broken China, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss) on watercolour paper, then stamped just the trees (minus the snow dust) in black over the top. I matted it on to a snippet of navy card, distressing the edges a little, and added a sentiment from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for these cards:

• Christmas Card Throwdown - Purple & White
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Trees (Just the Christmas Card)
• Less is More - Torn (Just the Christmas Card)
• Little Red Wagon - Don't Be Shy (Just the Sympathy Card)
• Sweet Stampin' - Make Your Own Background
• Twofer - Holiday Greenery

Just a Note!

I have a simple one layer card to share today...featuring some critters from the 'Hedgie Harmony' set by Penny Black. I stamped the image, along with one of the sentiments from the set, directly on to my kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils...but without using any water.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS on Friday - One Layer
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - One Layer Card
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Festive Panel

I have another couple of Christmas cards to share today...featuring a recent purchase...'Festive Panel' by Woodware Stamps. I stamped it using Versamark Ink on to both red and green card, then heat embossed it using 'Rich Metallic Gold' powder by WOW. I then tore along the top edge, then matted it on to gold glitter card...again tearing the top edge. I stamped on of the sentiments that came in the stamp set on to a couple of kraft card blanks, then added my embossed panels along the bottom edge of each card.

Here's a close-up of each card:

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (CAS) - 'Tis the Season
• Happy Little Christmas (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Less is More - That's Torn It!
• Sweet Stampers - Christmas

Skiing Bunny

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one features a recent charity shop find 'Skiing Bunny' by Uptown Rubber Stamps, Holly Town Hill. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from the 'Joy to the World' stamp set by Penny Black. I paired it with a snippet of paper from 'The Christmas Multi Stack' by DCWV...it's an old pad, and was another charity shop find. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - Quick & Easy
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Christmas')
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Baby, it's Cold Outside
• Penny Black & More - Christmas
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - W & X are for...

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

'W is for Wreath'

&

'X is for fauX'

And the prize for the lucky winner:

My 'W is for Wreath' project is a Quality Street chocolate wreath...I make a couple of these every year. I'm still using the original polystyrene wreath shapes...and simply use my hot glue gun to attach the chocolates. I use a whole tub of chocolates on each wreath...although every year there are fewer chocolates, so the white of the wreath shape underneath is starting to show through this year! 

I went with faux stitching on my 'X is for fauX' card. I picked a Penny Black image called 'Wishes for Kisses', which I stamped on to watercolour paper and coloured using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment and little snowflake from a couple of the Penny Black transparent sets. The plaid papers are from two differentpads...the green paper is from the 'Ho Ho Ho Christmas' pad by Polkadoodles, and the red paper is from the 'Festive Chalkboard' pad by Craftwork Cards...I distressed the edges a little before adding my faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes 
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Something Beginning with H - Hedgehog)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Animals
• Penny Black & More - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas Colours

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

Little Star

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring an adorable Lili of the Valley bear stamp called 'Little Star'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to his star using a Sakura stardust pen, then carefully cut him out. I used my Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Snowy Star' wreath die to make a simple background...cutting it into plain white card, then layering gold glitter card behind. I added a sentiment from the 'Starry Backdrops' set by Lawn Fawn to the centre, heat embossing it in gold, then matted it all on to red glitter card before adding my bear on top using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Cute Card Thursday - Christmas
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas
• Penny Black & More - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Stars

PBSC November - 'Anything Goes' (Optional 'Tags')

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
'Tags'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used some little critters to make a simple set of Christmas gift tags. I started by heat embossing my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp on the tags using white embossing powder. I stamped the critters (Jolly Friends (Snowman), Christmas Hugs (Pup with Stocking), Wintertime Cheer (Dog with Antlers) & Joy to the World (Cat with Present)) on to watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolou prncils, then carefully cut around the tops of the images before adding them to my tags.

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

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Snow')
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

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

Happy Hallowe'en!

I have one last Hallowe'en treat bag to share today, featuring another of the critters from the 'Be Very Scared' set by Penny Black. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut him out using one of my circle Nesties. I used papers from the 'Hocus Pocus' pad by Taylored Expresions...distressing the edges a little, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this bag:

• Always Fun - Hallowe'en
• CCEE Stampers - Hallowe'en or Harvest
• Crafty Cardmakers - Hallowe'en
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Costumes')
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Hallowe'en
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Hallowe'en or Black & Orange
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Poinsettia Edge

I'm sharing another Christmas card today...this time inspired by the 'Winter Flora' challenge over at Less is More. I used a poinsettia stamp from the 'Christmas Wonder' set by Penny Black...stamping it towards the right-hand edge of my kraft card blank, in the centre first, then masking that flower before stamping the ones either side. I added a sentiment from the same stamp set, then carefully cut around the edge of the flowers before colouring them using watercolour pencils.

Here's another view:

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - Winter Flora (One Layer Card)
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes 
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - CAS

Glittery Christmas Snowflakes

I have a couple of Christmas cards to share today...made using a snowflake background stamp ('Outline Snowflakes' by Simon Says Stamp), and a 'Merry Christmas' die from Creative Expressions. I stamped the snowflakes using Versamark ink on to snippets of burgundy and teal card, then heat embossed them using 'Metallic Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter from WOW. I cut the sentiment from snippets of gold glitter card, and used my old Xyron sticker maker to add adhesive to the backs, then added them a snippets of co-ordinating burgundy and teal card...matting everything on to more gold glitter card.

Challenges for these cards:

• Allsorts - Make Your Own Background
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Optional 'Make Your Own Background')
• Cute Card Thursday - Sparkles
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

Big Gold Butterfly

Today's card features another current favourite stamp...'Big Butterfly' by Stampendous. I stamped it using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold Rich' embossing powder from WOW...this was a recent purchase to replace some fairly ancient (at least 12 years old) Heat It Up powder, that was distinctly unimpressive when I tried it a few days ago...it was more dull brown than gold! I can't remember it being that bad - does embossing powder 'go off'?!?! I used Distress Inks to watercolour the butterfly (Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Chipped Sapphire & Tea Dye), then added some splatters of ink and a sentiment (from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image).

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Something Gold or Silver
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Embossing Delight
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Metallic

Rainbow Snowmen

I have a really simple one layer Christmas card to share today...featuring a Woodware stamp called 'Snowman Family'. I stamped it directly on to my card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamps are from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Card Throwdown - Snowmen
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Rainbow
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Monochrome Sketched Flowers

I have simple birthday card to share today...featuring a stamp which is fast becoming a favourite...'Sketched Flowers' by Simon Says Stamp. I heat embossed it, along with a sentiment from the set, in white on navy card then coloured the flowers using blue watercolour pencils...although I didn't use any water. I distressed the edges a little then added it to a card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Add a Sentiment
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday

PBSC October - 'Anything Goes' (Optional 'Black, White & One Other Colour')...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
'Black, White & One Other Colour'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with purple as my one other colour this time...and used a stamp from the 'Spooky' set to make another Hallowe'en treat bag. I stamped the image on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, before cutting it out using one of my circle Nesties. I used papers by Carta Bella...from their 'Haunted' and 'Spooky' collections, distressing all of the edges, and adding some faux stitching using black and white gel pens.

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

• C.R.A.F.T. - Box or Bag
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Daring Cardmakers - Black
• Fab 'N' Funky - Feature a Creature
• My Time to Craft - Hallowe'en or Cats
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Hallowe'en
• Sweet Stampers - Autumn or Hallowe'en

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

Carol Singers

I have a couple of Christmas cards to share today...featuring a couple of the critters from the 'Carol Singers' set by Lili of the Valley. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I used a music embossing folder that I recently picked up from Hobbycraft (it's in their Christmas range, but as far as can tell the music on it isn't Christmassy) for the background...embossing some plain-ish blue paper (I think it's by Craft Creations), then lightly sanding over the surface to reveal some of the white core. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching before mounting on my cards. The sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

Challenges for these cards:

• Artistic Stamper - Music
• Christmas Card Throwdown - White, Blue & Brown
• Crafty Friends - Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Music
• Cutie Pie - Anything Goes
• Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Teddies (Just the first card)
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

The Cat in the Hat

I have another Hallowe'en treat bag to share today...the image on this one is from the 'Spooky' set by Penny Black. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my oval Nesties. I used snippets of paper from the 'Hocus Pocus' pad by Tayored Expressions to make a patchwork effect background...distressing the edges a little, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this bag:

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Daring Cardmakers - Use Your Scraps
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets