Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Up & Away

It's time for a new Crafty Little Fairies Challenge, and this week the theme is:

'Up & Away'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Delicious Doodles:

Prize - 4 digi images of the winner's choice!

I've used a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'The Lost Balloon'...I just love the expressions on their faces! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to their balloons. The papers are from a pad by Michaels called 'Charming' that I picked up recently in TKMaxx...I distressed all of the edges using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink and my distressing tool, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• Ribbon Girls - Lovely Lili
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Animal Antics

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - H is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Chris is the host, and the theme is:

'H is for Home'

Make a card featuring a home image or sentiment...or maybe a Christmas decoration for your home.

We are sponsored for this challenge by our very own Lacey:

 With an awesome prize!

$20 gift certificate to spend at Stamp & Create!

I made a set of Christmassy fridge magnets...using some clear plastic magnetic photo frames from Ikea, and some Penny Black stamps:

I coloured the images using watercolour pencils...then doodled a simple border using a black gel pen, and added some Glamour Dust to the 'snowy' ground for a touch of sparkle.

I'm also entering these fridge magnets into the following challenges:

• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Glitter
• Completely Christmas - Anything Christmas
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Christmas

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Easter

We have a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today...and the theme is:

'Easter'

I've decorated a simple Easter treat bag using an old favourite Penny Black stamp called 'Totally Excited'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Here & There' pad by Studio Calico...I doodled the borders using a black gel pen, and added a Penny Black sentiment.

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

• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Created with Love - Easter
• Creative Knockouts - Spring is in the Air
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Things with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Easter/Sweet Treats

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Busy Baking!

It was my Mum's birthday yesterday...so now it's safe to show you the card I made for her:

I used a couple of Lili of the Valley stamps...'Busy Baking' and 'I Baked a Cake'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from a bargain pad that I picked up recently in TKMaxx called 'Vintage Charms' by My Minds Eye...I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens. I cut the numbers using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia Alphabet' dies, and Nesties for all of the circles. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black, and the pearls came from Hobbycraft.

I just had to use these stamps on the card, as I also made my Mum's birthday cake:

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Sisters - Teddy Bears
• 4 Crafty Chicks - Polkdots
• As You Like It - Favourite Style of Stitching (definitely faux...I'm useless at sewing!)
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Stripes
• Clear It Out - Stitching (Everything except the papers have been in my stash for ages)
• Emergency Crafters - Polkadots
• Inky Impressions - Dots & Stripes
• Paper Creator's Crafts - Spots & Dots
• Papercrafting Journey - For that Special Lady (This card was for my Mum)
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Stamping Boutique - Distress It

Pile It On! Challenge - Mesh or Tulle

We have a new Pile It On! Challenge starting today...and the theme is to use:

'Mesh or Tulle'

Our sponsor this week is Inky Impressions:

Prize - a $10 gift certificate!

I dug deep into my stash and found some woven 'mesh' that I thought looked sort of like wire fencing. I used it on an Easter treat bag, decorated with a Penny Black stamped image 'Spring Chick', and papers from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers. I cut some 'eggs' using one of my oval Nesties...and doodled some borders using a black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I piled on:

• Pile It On! - Mesh or Tulle
• Animal Friends - Spring/Easter
• CCEE Stampers - Bunnies, Eggs or Both
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Spring
• Crafty Catz - Animals
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes with pattern Papers
• Crafty Sentiments - Easter
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Eggs
• Creative Card Crew - Spring
• Cut It Up - Easter
• Cute Card Thursday - Easter
• Delightful - Eggs
• Dream Valley - Easter
• Gem of a Challenge - Spring is in the Air
• Just for Fun - Easter
• Moving Along with the Times - Easter/Spring
• Papertake Weekly - Spring has Sprung
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Easter and/or Sweet Treats
• Squirrel & the Fox - All Creatures Great & Small
• Stampavie & More - Easter
• Stamping with the Dragon - Spring
• Sweet Stamps - Easter
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Totally Papercrafts - Easter
• Whimsy Inspires - Anything Goes

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Cats & Dogs

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

'Cats & Dogs' 

As usual, we have some fabulous prizes on offer from our lovely sponsors:

The Ribbon Girl:

1-2-3 Stitch!:

Prize - a $20 voucher

I've used a stamp from the 'Joy to the World' set to make a Christmas card. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to the snow using Stickles. The papers are from an old and much neglected pad by My Mind's Eye called 'Wonderful Winter'...I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border under the snowmen paper. The sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly, and the twine is from the Ribbon Girl.

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

• Christmas Cards - Favourite Colouring Medium (Watercolour pencils)
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - It's Cold Outside
• Crafting for All Seasons - Dies & Punches
• Cutie Pie - Dies & Punches
• One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
• Top Tip Tuesday - Cute

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

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Vintage/Shabby Chic

The theme of this fortnight's Crafty Little Fairies Challenge is:

'Vintage or Shabby Chic'

We are sponsored for this challenge by the Ribbon Girl:

Prize - a £10 Gift Voucher!

I've used a Lili of the Valley image called 'Little Girls - Swing Time' which I coloured using watercolour pencils...then distressed the edges using 'Old Paper' and 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Inks and my distressing tool. The papers are from the 'So Sophie' pad by My Mind's Eye...I inked the edges using more 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink, then distressed them a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley, and th pearls are from Hobbycraft.

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

• Friday Sketch - Sketch #66
• Fussy & Fancy - Shabby Chic
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Faux Technique (Stitching)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Happy Birthday

Lili of the Valley are celebrating their 10th birthday soon...so I'm also linking this card to their monthly challenge:

For more inpsiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - G is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Wilma is the host, and the theme is:

'G is for Glitter'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Kenny K:

Prize - 3 Digis!

I used Marianne Designs dies to cut snowflakes in some panels of card....doodled some borders and thread to look like the snowflakes are hanging, added a Penny Black sentiment then mounted then on to the card blanks using 3D foam...placing glitter card behind the aperture.

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

• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas
• Cut It Up - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Christmas - Inspired by a Christmas Song ('Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it Snow!')
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - April Showers bring May Flowers

We have a a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today, and the theme is:

'April Showers bring May Flowers'

The prize for the lucky winner is this fabulous bundle of goodies:

I used a couple of Penny Black stamps to create the scene on my card...'Spring Scene' and a little bunny from the 'A touch of whimsy' set. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then doodled a simple border and matted it on to some co-ordinating green card.

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

• Charisma Cardz - CAS
• C.R.A.F.T. - Season where you are (Spring)
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Spring Colours

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Pile It On! Challenge - Floral Fantasy

This week's Pile It On! Challenge theme is a nice and easy one:

'Floral Fantasy'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Crafty City:

Prize - a 15% off coupon code for the lucky winner!

I thought that the floral theme would be perfect for the Mother's Day card to send to my Mum. I used a favourite stamp of mine...'Blooming Meadows' by Hero Arts...which I stamped using the watercolour technique and Distress Inks. I stamped it a few times to stretch across the front of the card, then added a sentiment (from the Hero Arts 'Sentiments' set) and doodled a simple border.

Here are the challenges I piled on:

• Pile It On! - Floral Fantasy
• 4 Crafty Chicks - Spring
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Mother's Day
• Crazy Challenge - Flower Frenzy
• Cute Card Thursday - Floral Delights
• Dream Valley - Mothering Sunday
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle
• Kaboodles Doodles - Spring
• Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Cupcake Glory

I'm just sneaking a quick post in before dinner to catch a few challenges that close tonight. This card is for my friend's daughter who will be celebrating her first birthday soon...the image is called 'Cupcake Glory' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'My Girl' pad by American Crafts...I doodled some simple borders around the edges using a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts, and I cut the number '1' using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' Alphabet.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafter's Cafe - Add Doodling
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Anything Goes
• Creative Card Crew - Animals
• Delightful - Critters
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - So Sweet
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Animals
• Stampavie & More - for a Girl
• Stamping Boutique - Doodling
• Sweet Stampin' Doodles

Garden Bouquet Mother's Day

I have a Mother's Day card to share today...using a couple of Hero Arts stamps. The flower stamp is called 'Garden Bouquet'...I stamped it using the watercolour technique and Distress Inks...and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set. I blended a little 'Old Paper' Distress Ink over to top, then went around the very edges with 'Brushed Corduroy'.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - No Designer Paper
• Craft Your Passion - Mother's Day
• Crafting for All Seasons - No Designer Paper
• Crafter's Cafe - Square Cards
• Delightful - Spring
• Emergency Crafters - Flowers
• Inky Impresions - Spring
• My Time to Craft - Mother's Day
• Totally Gorjuss - Mum

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - On the Farm

The theme of this week's Crafty Little Fairies Challenge is:

'Down on the Farm'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

I've used a Penny Black stamp called '...to You!'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper...I doodled some simple borders using a black gel pen, and added some twine (from the Ribbon Girls).

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

• Fab 'n' Funky - Masculine
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - F is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Annette is the host, and the theme is:

'F is for Friends & Family'

(We want to see personalised cards)

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Sweet Stamps

Prize - $10 Gift Certificate!

I chose to make my card for my Dad...his was the last card I made last year, so I thought I'd get in early this time! I used a Penny Black stamp called 'Carolers' which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Christmas in the Country' pad by Papermania...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley, the snowflake was cut using a Marianne Designs die, the spotty Button is by Dovecraft, the twine is from the Ribbon Girls, and the lettering was cut using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet dies.

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

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Corner - Birds
• Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Bunting

This fortnight's Oldie but a Goodie Challenge is all about:

'Bunting'

I've used some little bunting and alphabet stamps that came free with craft magazine to make a Mother's Day card. The image stamp is from Lili of the Valley called 'Big Bouquet', which I coloured using watercolour pencils...and the papers were also a magazine freebie. I doodled some simple borders and added a few pieces of Card Candi.

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

• Cutie Pie - A Cute One for Mum
• Gem of a Challenge - Mother's Day
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Colour It (I used watercolour pencils)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Mother's Day
• Sweet Stampin' - Mother's Day
• That Craft Place - Flowers and/or Mother's Day

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Pile It On! Challenge - For a Man

This week at Pile It On! we asking you to create something:

'For a Man'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Doctor Digi's House of Stamps

Prize - 2 Digis of winner's choice!

I've used a Whipper Snapper stamp on my card...he's called 'Birthday Pup', and I coloured him using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - For a Man
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Happy Birthday
• Fab 'n' Funky - Animals
• Fussy & Fancy - Birthdays
• Love to Create - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Birthday Stitches
• Simply Create Too - Animals
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Crafty Little Fairies - Inspired by a Song or Film Title

We have a new Crafty Little Fairies Challenge starting today...we want to see projects:

'Inspired by a Song or Film Title'

Our sponsor for this challenge is The Ribbon Girl:

Prize: a £10 Gift Voucher!

The film I've picked is 'The Snowman'...and I've used one of my oldest (and still most loved' stamps...'Snowy' by Penny Black. I simply stamped him on to my card blank (I'm really trying to make lots of cheap to post Christmas cards this year!), and coloured him using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the 'snow' for a touch of sparkle. The sentiment stamp is by Lili of the Valley.

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

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Just for Fun - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.