On the Beach!

Phew! This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge of 'On the beach' was a toughie...well...it wouldn't have been if I'd had a suitable image...but I didn't...so it involved a little bit of adaptation, and even some drawing! After a rootle through my image box, I decided to use the dog from 'Beehave!', but I cut him out, as the flowers and bee weren't really appropriate for the beach. I thought he looked like he could be sunbathing, so I drew a beach scene to place him on. The stripey paper is from the 'Offbeat' pad by BasicGrey...which I thought looked like deckchair fabric...and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Other challenges for this card:

• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - 'Sketch'
• For Fun - 'Water' (well I did draw some sea! lol)
• One Stop Craft - 'Summer Fun'
• Pink Elephant - 'Summer Fun'
• Totally Papercrafts - 'By the Sea'

Birthday Monkeys!

I love these cheeky looking monkeys ('Birthday Monkeys' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie)...they're just perfect for boy's birthday cards. I watercoloured them to match the fab stripey paper (from the 'Offbeat' pad by BasicGrey)...adding some Glossy Accents to the balloons. I used my Cuttlebug 'Stars' folder to emboss the panel behind the image, and added a little star cut using a Nestie die. The sentiment is from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black.

I followed the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp...although I did stick the embossed panel on tilting the wrong way...but I'd pressed it down before I realised...and then it was too late to try and unstick it! lol

I'm also going to enter this card into a few other challenges: PaperPlay 'Card for a child or teenager'; Paper Sundaes 'Birthdays'; Stamp with Fun 'Birthdays'; and Stamptacular Sunday 'Stars & Stripes'.

Just Cute Bears - Monochrome

Before I get on to this week's Just Cute Bears Challenge, I have some sad news...our lovely Ali, who started up the Just Cute Bears Challenge, has decided to take a break from blogging, so will be leaving the team...we'll miss you hun! But, this is not the end for Just Cute Bears...we're going to keep the challenge going, and are now in the capable hands of Cathy! 

The theme for this week's Challenge is:

'Monochrome'

I decided to use my favourite colour (blue) to make a baby boy card...I don't know anyone expecting a boy...but it doesn't hurt to be prepared! lol The image is 'Dexter Bear' by Sugar Nellie, and I created the background using my 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' Cuttlebug folders. The sentiment was done on computer.

 

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch
• Craftalicious - Monochrome
• Creative Inspirations (Sundays) - Monochrome
• Sweet Stampin' - Clean & Simple

Don't forget to check out the fabulous creations by my lovely Just Cute Bears teamies.

Secret Crafter Manga Stamp Release...Day Four

The stamp released today, from the new range of Secret Crafter manga stamps is called 'Rockability Couple'...perfect for retro-themed cards.

I coloured the image in shades of black and grey, to match the sparkly DCWV 'Glitter Stack' papers. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

 

I followed the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp,  and I'm also going to enter this card into A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Celebrations' challenge.

For more ideas of how to use this image, see the fabuous cards by my team mates on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Gerry's Birthday

I won some cute digi stamps from Prairie Fairy on the Cards for Men challenge blog a couple of weeks ago...the one I've used on this card is called 'Gerry's Birthday'...doesn't he look sweet in his little party hat?! I followed a sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp, who are celebrating their 1st birthday this week...Happy Birthday girls! They are letting us choose from all of their previous sketches...I went for number 5. I've also managed to squeeze in a couple of other challenge themes: Creative Card Crew - 'Happy Birthday'; and Paper Sundaes - 'No People'. The stripey paper is from the '360 Degrees' pad by Pink Paislee, I used my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder for the embossing, and the sentiment stamp is by Studio G.

Hoppy Spring!

I'm back with another 'Spring' themed card...this time for the Stampavie Challenge. I followed the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp...and as I've used quite a few flowers on this card, I'm also entering it into the Crafty Calendar & Cupcake Challenges, both of which have 'Flower Power' as their current theme.
The image I've used is called (rather appropriately) 'Hoppy Spring', by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie. The stripey paper is from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye, the flowers are a mixture of Prima and Poppicrafts, the raffia lace is from Hobbycraft, and the sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly.


We have a really special Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge going live at midnight tonight...Wendy has some very exciting news to share! I'd love to be able to tell you all...but then I'd have to kill you! lol
All I can say is...you won't want to miss it...

Crossing Bridges

It seems that blogland is trying to encourage the wintry weather to go away...with some 'Spring' themed challenges. I've used the Penny Black Saturday Challenge colour combo of 'Pink, Green and Yellow', which is also perfect for the Stamp Something 'A touch of Spring Somethings' challenge. I followed the sketch form the Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge to make my card. The image is 'Crossing Bridges'...and I couldn't resist adding a little dragonfly brad (by Dovecraft)...that wee mouse always looks to me like he should be looking at something! The papers are from the 'Two Scoops' pad by BasicGrey...which I've nearly finished...not to worry though...I do have a mountain of other papers! lol The ribbon and flowers are form Poppicrafts, and the sentiment stamp is from the CCSR by Papermania.

Happy Bee-Day!

I can't believe it's already Friday again...where has the week gone?!
This card is for a few challenges: Sunday Sketch & Stamp; Cupcake Craft Challenge's 'Four-legged and furry'; and Pollycrafts Challenge's 'Things with Wings'. The image is 'Bee Costume' by Penny Black, the paisley paper is Pebbles Inc, I used my Cuttlebug 'Perfect Paisley' folder for the embossing, and the sentiment stamp is by Stampendous.

Bedecked Antlers

I love this Penny Black stamp ('Bedecked Antlers')...it always makes me smile :0) I followed the Sunday Sketch & Stamp sketch, and used the 'Pink, Black & White' colour combo of the Creative Card Crew Challenge. The papers are from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack by DCWV, the brads are by Dovecraft, the ribbon is from Poppicrafts, and the snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes #2' die.


I have candy on offer (to celebrate my first blogoversary)...so if you haven't already entered...click here to find out what you could win :0)

Blue Christmas

I've combined the fab Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge sketch with the 'Blue Christmas' theme of the Winter Wonderland Challenge. I love using blue on my Christmas cards, so this was a nice and easy challenge. I've used 'Snowy' by Penny Black, and papers from the 'Christmas' stack by DCWV. The sentiment is from a set by Studio G, the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and I doodled the border with a white gel pen.

Triple Challenge Henry

Yes...it's Henry...again...but this time I've used him on a boys card. I've combined the fab Sunday Sketch & Stamp sketch, with the 'Brown & Blue' colour combo of the Whiff of Joy Challenge...and as it's definitely a card for a boy...I'm also entering this card for the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Let's hear it for the boys' challenge. I've combined Henry with papers by Prima Marketing...they're double sided, and I've used both sides of two sheets...embossing the plain blue piece with the 'Swiss Dots' folder. As it's a card for aa boy, I've stuck to the sketch...no extra embellishments...just a few pieces of card candy at the bottom.

Triple Challenge Henry...

I've used the lovely Henry ('Celebrating Mouse' by Whiff of Joy) again on another combined challenge card...I can't help it...he's so adorable! This time, I've used the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp; the colour combo of 'Pink & Brown' from the One Stop Craft Challenge; and the challenge to use 'Glitter' from the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. The paper is by BasicGrey ('Blush'), the sentiments are both by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' and 'Cupcakes' sets), the raffia lace is from Hobbycrafts, and I also added some shimmery card candy (by Craftwork Cards).
Please don't look too closely at the photo...I had a bit of an accident with the 'Tiara' stickles, as I was adding the dots around the image...grrrr...so it's not as neat as I would have liked! lol

Thanks Kath!

The fab candy I won from the lovely Kath arrived on Monday...and I couldn't resist having a little play with some of the goodies straight away. So I used some of the gorgeous papers and 3D stickers (by Crafty Bitz) to make her a thank you card...I hope it's reached her by now! Being a challenge addict, I used the sketch from a new challenge called Sunday Sketch & Stamp, with 'XMouse Ornament' by Penny Black for my main image - replacing the snowflake with a flower. The flowers are from Poppicrafts, and the ribbon is from my stash. I'm also going to enter this card for the 'Anything Goes' theme of the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...which is where I first discovered Kath's fab blog!