Monster Birthday Cake

Today's card features an old Bugaboo Stamps image, called 'Monster Birthday Cake' that has been lingering in my stamped images box for years. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I matted it onto a snippet of purple card, distressing the edges a little, before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Cake & CAS
• C.R.A.F.T. - Birthday
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Food and/or Drink

Lil Bear - Cake

Today's card features an old digi stamp by Bugaboo Stamps called 'Lil Bear - Cake'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Birthday Wishes' set (from the 'Mulberry Wood' collection) by Crafter's Companion. The papers are from an old Crate Paper pad called 'Party Day' pad...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. 

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guys - Lots of Layers
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - For a Man or Boy

Pile It On! Challenge June - Fancy Folds and/or Put a Bird On It

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:

'Fancy Folds'

and

'Put a Bird On It'

You can choose either theme, or combine them on your project.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 4 Digis of the winner's choice!

I combined the themes, and made an easel card featuring a cute Christmas image by Bugaboo Stamps called 'Snowball Penguins'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to their snowballs using Stickles. The glittery papers are from the 'Winter Wonderland' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black.

Here's a side view:

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Fancy Folds & Put a Bird On It
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Easel Cards
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - All Creatures Great & Small
• Jingle Belles - Layered Holiday
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

Pile It On! Challenge June - Fancy Folds

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

'Fancy Folds'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 4 Digis of the winner's choice!

I decided to make a diamond fold card...I have made one of these in the past, but I couldn't remember exactly how, so I followed this tutorial. I always think that the shape of this kind of card looks sort of like a Christmas cracker, so I made a Christmas card.The cute mouse image is from Bugaboo Stamps and is called 'Christmas Mouse Ornaments'...I coloured it using watercolour pencils. The paper is from the 'Christmas Cheer' pad by Lily Bee Designs, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous (I split it into two separate words). I simply doodled some simple borders around the edges of everything using a black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Fancy Folds
• Allsorts - Christmas in June
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up -Follow a Tutorial (I used this one)
• Dream Valley - More Than One Fold
• Little Miss Muffet - 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.

Pile It On! Challenge - Any Holiday or Celebration

We have a fun new Pile It On! Challenge starting today...this one is a special challenge running for four weeks, so there's plenty of time to play along! We have a super simple theme too:

'Any Holiday or Celebration'

Our sponsor for this month is Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 7 Digi Stamps of the Winners Choice!

I used a Bugaboo Stamp image called 'Snowball Penguins' which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are by Sandylion...they're really old (I think I've had them since before I started blogging!), and I have no idea what the name of the collection they're from might be called. I inked the edges of everything using 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black. I did add a load of sparkle to the snowballs using a WInk of Stella pen...but I couldn't get it to show up in the photo.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Any Holiday/Celebration (Christmas)
• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a 2016 Challenge (October - Christmas Critters)
• Animal Friends - Anything Goes
• Card Mania - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guyz - Christmas Animals
• C.R.A.F.T. - Winter
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Christmas
• The Male Room - Christmas
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Animals

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Your Favourite Colours

We have another fun Pile It On! Challenge starting today...and the theme is:

'Your Favourite Colours'

Our sponsor for this month is Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 7 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

I've used a Bugaboo Stamps image on my card called 'Monster Birthday - Cake' which I coloured using watercolour pencils in shades of turquoise & blue...my favourite colours.  You can't really see in the photo, but I added some sparkle to the balloon and the icing on his cake using a Wink of Stella pen. The paper is from the 'Indie Chic - Nutmeg' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Your Favourite Colours (Turquoise/Blue)
• Allsorts - For the Boys
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippet's Playground - Use Snippets
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - M is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...Sue is the host, and the theme is:

'M is for Mice'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Lawn Fawn:

Prize - a Stamp Set & a 6x6 Paper Pad of the winner's choice!

I actually have quite a lot of  Christmas mice images in my collection, and was tempted to go with one of my Penny Black ones, but couldn't resist this little cutie from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Christmas Mouse Ornaments'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils and added some sparkle to the baubles using a Wink of Stella pen. The snowflake paper is from the 'Bundled Up' pad by Crate Paper...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

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

• Christmas Cards - Colour Combination
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Cute
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Animal Magic
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Penguins - Peace, Love & Joy

I'm sneaking on before bed to share a Christmas card...using a Bugaboo Stamps image called 'Peace, Love & Joy Penguins' which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Bundled Up' pad by Crate Paper...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The ribbon is by American Crafts, and the adhesive pearls are from Hobbycraft.

Challenges for this card:

• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Use Ribbon
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Cute Christmas
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Cute
• Crimbo Crackers - Animals
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute & Cuddly
• Winter Wonderland - Penguins

ABC Christmas Challenge - U is for...

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

'U is for Unusual Christmas Colours'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 7 digis of the winner's choice!

I picked picked pink and aqua as my colour combo...and used papers from the 'Now & Then' pad by My Mind's Eye. The image is 'Christmas Mouse Ornaments' by Bugaboo Stamps...I coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching to the papers using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a sentiment from the 'Handwritten Sentiments' set by Lili of the Valley...which I curved to fit the curve of the circle. The snowflake was cut using a Memory Box die, the sparkly brad is by American Crafts, and the adhesive pearls are from Hobbycraft.

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

• Christmas Cards - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - Gems or Pearls
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Ribbon Girls - Anything Goes using an Image

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

Guest Designer - Cheerful Sketches

I have another guest designer card to share today...this time for the Cheerful Sketches Challenge.

Here's the sketch to use this month:

There are lots of fabulous sponsors for this month's challenge, including Marianne Designs, Di's Digis, Hobbyshoppie, Bugaboo Stamps and My Besties.

I've used an image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Clyde Get Well', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Stella & Rose - Mabel' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges a little then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The flowers are a mixture of Papermania and Prima, and the brads are BasicGrey.

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

• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make it Colourful
• Stamping Sensations - Sew Special

For more inspiration from the fab DT and some other guest designers, please pop over to the Cheerful Sketches Challenge.

Snowball Penguins

Another Christmas card today...featuring a cute Bugaboo Stamps image called 'Snowball Penguins'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the snowballs using a Sakura Stardust pen, and a sentiment from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black. The papers are from the 'Now & Then' pad by My Mind's Eye...I inked around the edges with 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The adhesive pearls are by Papermania.

Challenges for this card:

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Christmas Cards - Photo Inspiration
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Dots & Stripes
• Crafter's Cafe - Christmas in July
• Crafting for All Seasons - Christmas in July
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas -Spots and/or Stripes
• Incy Wincy - Things with Wings
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Christmas in July
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Mouse Candle

Today's card features a cute little Bugaboo Stamps mouse called 'Mouse Candle'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match the papers (a mixture of My Mind's Eye 'Merry Little Christmas' and Pebbles Inc 'Yours Truly'). I distressed the edges of the papers a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Artistic Impressions - Anything Goes with Layers
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Stitching
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Favourite Product or Technique (Faux stitching)
• Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Anything Goes
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #273

Snowball Penguins

I have another Christmas card to share today...using another Bugaboo Stamps digi image...this one is called Snowball Penguins'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the snowballs using a Sakura Stardust pen. For the background, I used one of my favourite Cuttlebug folders, then simply added some multicolour twine (from TKMaxx) and a Lili of the Valley sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

• Creatalicious - Embossing
• Creative Knockouts - Texture
• Papertake Weekly - Cute as a Button (I went with the 'just cute' option)
• Shopping Our Stash - Texture Me (I bought this folder when I first got my Cuttlebug...can't remember when that was exactly, but it was before I started blogging, so at least 6 years ago!)
• Simon Says Stamp - Make Your Own Background 
• Top Tip Tuesday - Three of Something (Three Penguins)

Christmas Mouse Ornaments

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one is using a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Christmas Mouse Ornaments'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils...then added some sparkle to the baubles using a Sakura gel pen. The papers are from a pad by Pebbles called 'Yours Truly'...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The snowflake was cut using a Memory Box die...I also made that sparkly using the same gel pen. The twine is from the Ribbon Girls, and the brad is BasicGrey

Challenges for this card:

• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Use a Die Cut
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Ornaments
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafter's Cafe - Animal Antics
• Crafty Creations - Spots
• Everybody Art - Pearls
• Inky Chicks - Stitching
• Whimsy Inspires - Colour an Image
• Winter Wonderland - It's a Stitch Up!

Monster Birthday!

I have a birthday card to share today...using a monster digi from Bugaboo Stamps, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Cut & Paste - Charm' pad by My Mind's Eye...I doodled some borders around the edges, and added a little sentiment from a Studio G set.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - For the Boys
• Creative Card Crew - Birthday with a Sentiment
• Pink Elephant - Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday (Optional Topping of Arrows)
• Sparkles Forum - One for the Boys
• Sweet Stamps - Happy Birthday
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #256
• Winter Wonderland - For a Child

Peace, Love & Joy Penguins

I have a Christmas card to share today...using a cute digi image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Peace, Love & Joy Penguins', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept the rest of the card really simple, embossing some plain white card with snowflakes using a Sixxiz folder, adding some doodled borders, and some snowflakes cut using a Marianne Designs die.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - CAS or Fussy (Definitely CAS...especially for Christmas cards - makes them cheaper to post!)
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Christmas Cards - White on White
• Completely Christmas - Add a Snowflake
• Corrosive - A Splash of Colour
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Embossing
• Sinon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - All Creatures Great & Small
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - KISS

Mouse Balloons

I have a birthday card to share today...using a cute digi image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Mouse - Balloons', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I used a mixture of papers from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper and the 'Here & There' pad by Studio Calico...adding some simple doodled borders using a black gel pen. I added a Simon Says Stamp sentiment (from the 'Sending Sunshine' set) and some die cut stars cut from some corrugated cardboard packaging.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Birthdays
• Incy Wincy - Use a Punch or Die Cut
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - All Things Bright & Beautiful

Pile It On! Challenge - Edible

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

'Edible'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps

Prize - 7 Digi Stamps of the winner's choice!

I've used a cute bear image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Lil Bear - Cake'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Blue Floral' pad by My Mind's Eye...I doodled some simple borders around the edges. I used my Die-namics 'Balloons' dies to cut the balloon shapes...then tied some Baker's twine around the bottoms of them, attaching them to the card using a brad. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Big Sentiments' set by Paula Pascual, and I used a Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet die to cut the number.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Edible
• Card's Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Clear It Out - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Polka Dots
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Card Crew - For a Child
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Use a Number
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes/Party
• Simply Create Too - Let's Celebrate
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Wags 'n Whiskers - Anything Goes

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Clean & Simple Christmas

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

'Clean & Simple Christmas'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Bugaboo Stamps

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

I've used an image from Bugaboo Stamps called 'Ava Christmas - Sitter' which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is by Penny Black, the ribbon is a scrap that I think camr from Hobbycraft...I thought I'd got some more, and was going to tie a bow, but had already stuck this piece down before I checked...so no bow! Ooops!

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

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crimbo Crackers - Christmas Words
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas is Coming

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