Present Exchange!

I have another Christmas card for you today...using some old goodies...the image is from the 'Jolly Friends' set (by Penny Black), the papers are mostly from a really old My Mind's Eye collection called 'Colourful Christmas'...the green one is also My Mind's Eye, but is from the 'Boo to You!' collection. 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.

Challenges for this card:

• Crimbo Crackers - Use Something Old (The papers are at least 3 years old...I'm just down to scraps now!)
• Fab 'N Funky - Animals
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch 187
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Presents

ABC Christmas Challenge - L is for...

I have another card for our current ABC Christmas Challenge today,where the theme is:

'L is for Less is More OR Laugh Out Loud'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Prize - 2 Images from the Saturated Canary Shop!

I've sort of combined our two options on this card...a CAS design with a funny image...it's called 'Snow-Board Ride' by Penny Black. I simply coloured it using watercolour pencils, doodled a border, then attached it to my card using some washi tape (from Freckled Fawn), and added a Lili of the Valley sentiment.

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

• Card Makin' Mamas - On the Farm
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - CAS

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

Birthday Dog

Two posts from me in one day...now that's something you don't see very often!
Just trying to get this card into a few challenges that are closing tonight :0) 
I've used my oldest Penny Black stamp...the lovely 'Birthday Dog'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I've used some Hallow'een papers...from the 'Whoo-ligans' collection by Bo Bunny and the 'Boo to You!' collection by My Mind's Eye. I doodled some borders...and that's pretty much it...best to keep it simple on 'boy' cards!

Challenges for this card:

• Crafting for All Seasons - One for the Guys
• Dream Valley - Father's Day/Male
• Fab 'N Funky - Birthday
• Gem of a Challenge - Father's Day/Male
• Here Come the Boys - Dotty
• Joanna Sheen - For a Male
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Masculine
• Papertake Weekly - Masculine
• Shopping Our Stash - Oldest Stamp
• Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine

Two Hedgies in a Boat

I've used some new goodies on today's card...the stamp 'Fishing' by Penny Black...I won on the Penny Black & More @ Allsorts Challenge last month...which goes perfectly with these papers from the 'Shoreline' pad that I picked up at TK Maxx just a couple of days before. I kept the card really simple, adding some faux stitching and a button tied on with some blue string.

Challenges for this card:

• Everybody Art - Two Papers
• Scrappy Frogs - Summer Vacation
• Simon Says Stamp - Transport
• Stamp & Create - Summer Fun
• Totally Papercrafts - Feeling Blue

Pile It On! Challenge - Sketch

This week at Pile It On! we have a fabulous sketch for you to use, designed by our lovely Katie:

Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights:

Prize - $5 Gift Certificate for Digital Delights

I've used the sketch to make a Christmas card...using 'Angel Cat' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding some sparkle to his wings with some Stickles. The papers are a mixture of My Mind's Eye 'Boo to You!' (Orange), 'Colourful Christmas' (Pink) and Bo Bunny 'Whoo-ligans' (Purple)...I added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is a stamp from a set by Lili of the Valley, the green ribbon is from Poppicrafts (which closed down years ago...so it shows how long it's been sitting in my stash!), and the buttons are by papermnia and are threaded with some Dovecraft twine.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Sketch
• Bunny Zoe's - Wings
• Card Crafter's Circle - In Stitches
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Bingo (Buttons - Glitter - Die Cut)
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Cute & Cuddly with Non-Traditional Colours
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Fussy & Fancy - Buttons
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Die Cuts
• Little Red Wagon - 3 or More Patterned Papers
• No Matter Which - Bingo (Die Cuts - Buttons - Glitter)
• Paper Playtime - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Buttons
• Winter Wonderland - Spots & Stripes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - L is for...

It's time for a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge, and this fortnight Lols is the host, and the theme is:

'L is for Less is More OR Laugh Out Loud'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Prize - 2 Images from the Saturated Canary Shop!

I've been trying to reduce my postage costs for Christmas this year, and went with the 'Less is More' option, making an ultra simple card. The image and sentiment is from the 'Furry Christmas' set by Simon Says Stamp, which I simply coloured using watercolour pencils, doodled a border, then mounted on to my card using foam pads.

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

• Created with Love - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - CAS
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Cute
• Winter Wonderland - Four Legged Friends

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Stitching

This fortnight, I've chosen the theme for our challenge over at Oldie but a Goodie, which is:

'Stitching'

(Real or faux...it's up to you)

I've used scraps of paper from an old BasicGrey pad (called 'Eskimo Kisses') to make a Christmas tree...using some faux stitching along the edges of the strips. I also used faux stitching around the edge of the panel...to make it look more realistic, I punch holes using my CutterBee Bug before drawing on the stitches using a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Scraps

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

The Need for Speed

I have a slightly faster mode of transport on today's project...a little doggy speeding along in his sports car (he's from the 'Hello Friend' set by Penny Black)...not sure if he's rushing to...or from...something! Anyway, I coloured him using watercolour pencils, and simply added some Baker's Twine.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS on Sunday - Black, White and One Other Colour
• Corrosive - Animal Antics
• Crafty Creations - One for the Boys
• Less is More - Need for Speed
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - CAS

I want to ride my bicycle...

I have a quick and simple gift bag for a cycling enthusiast to show you today. The plain bag is from Hobbycraft...I stamped my Hero Arts 'Classic Bicycle' stamp randomly over the front of the bag, and over the front of a mini tag to match. I used my X Cut 'Ribbon Slot' punch to punch holes through both sides of the top of the bag, so that I could tie it closed using the string on the tag.

Challenges for this bag:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything but a Card
• Crafter's Cafe - Father's Day/Male
• Shopping Our Stash - No Patterned Papers
• Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day/Masculine
• Simply Create Too - Father's Day/Male

In the Garden

I dug deep into my stash for today's card...using items that haven't seen the light of day for quite some time! The stamp is a Sarah Kay image from Stampavie called 'Olivia & her kittens Kiki & Sugar', the papers are the remnants of my my BasicGrey 'Lemonade' pad, the flowers are by Prima, and the brads are also by BasicGrey. I distressed the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Sisters - Sketch
• 4 Crafty Chicks - Flowers
• Allsorts - Girls
• BasicGrey - Fun in the Sun
• Crafts & Me - Something Old (Everything used on this card is at least 2 years old)
• Crazy4Challenges - Summer
• Cupcake Craft - Summer Scene
• Delightful - Here Comes the Sun
• Gem of a Challenge - Summertime
• One Crazy Stamper - Summer Fun
• Pink Elephant - Summertime
• Stamping Sensations - Summer Blooms
• Squirrel & the Fox - Summer or Winter
• Totally Gorjuss - Flowers

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

I have another card today for our current ABC Christmas Challenge, where the theme is:

'K is for Kept Safe'

It's time to use that stash that you've been saving!

Our sponsor this fortnight is:

 Prize - Winner's choice of 3 images from Kenny K!

I've used more papers that I've had safely stashed away since I was given them for Christmas last year...these are from the 'Powder Mountain' collection by Bo Bunny. The image is 'Pups with Present' by Lili of the Valley. I added some doodling with a black gel pen, and a button threaded on to some twine.  

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

• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Christmas - Buttons & Bows

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

Happy Father's Day!

Yes...I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I made this tag to go on my Father's Day gift, whilst I was staying with my parents last week. I started with a plain tag...inked around the edges with 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink, then added a few strips of Washi Tape (from Freckled Fawn). The little chicken is from the '12 Days of Christmas' set by Penny Black, and the sentiment (which I cut up once stamped, so as to fit on the tag) is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

I tied it on to my gift using some 'Airmail' Baker's Twine from the Ribbon Girls...here is the tag 'in situ':

Bet you can't guess what it is!? ;0)

Challenges for this tag:

• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Creative Corner -Masculine
• Fashionable Stamping - Tags
• Stamping with the Dragon - Tags
• Sweet Stampin' - Father's Day
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Father's Day

Pile It On! Challenge - Stripes and/or Plaid

This week at Pile It On! we are challenging you to use:

'Stripes and/or Plaid'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

2 Cute Ink

Prize - 3 Digis!

I used some more of the Echo Park 'Winter Wishes' papers that I broke into for Wednesday's card as there were stripes and plaid in the collection...this time distressing the edges a little and adding some faux stitching. The image is a Whiff of Joy stamp ('Ice Skating Henry Mouse'), which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the 'ice'. I cut some snowflakes using Marianne Designs Creatables and Cuttlebug dies...adding adhesive gems to their centres...and a few more gems here and there. The Baker's Twine (in three co-ordingating colours) is from the Ribbon Girls.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Stripes and/or Plaid
• Card Crafter's Circle - Stripes
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Winter Sports
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Favourite Embellishment (Snowflakes)
• Cutie Pie - 3,2,1 (3 types of embellishment, 2 papers, 1 image)
• Drunken Stampers - Bling
• Fussy & Fancy - Bling
• Kaboodles Doodles - Anything Goes
• Paper Playtime - 2 or More Ribbons/Twine
• Ribbon Girls - Add a Die Cut
• Squirrel & the Fox - Summer or Winter
• Totally Papercrafts - Anything Goes

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Masculine

It's a new month, so it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this month our theme is:

'Masculine'

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

$20 voucher

It's my Dad's birthday in just over a week, so I thought I'd get ahead and make his birthday card for this challenge. I've used a stamp from the 'Hello Friend' set...which I coloured using watercolour pencils, and papers by Pink Paislie (from the 'Prairie Hills' pad). I doodled the borders, and added a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Anytime Messages' set) - I inked and stamped the 'happy' and 'birthday' separately, then added the 'dad' in handwriting to match. The Baker's Twine is from the Ribbon Girls.

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

• Created with Love - At Least 3 Layers
• Cupcake Craft - Boys
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Bows
• Papercrafting Journey - Masculine
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch (liked the sketch so much I made another card!)

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

Ruby Wedding Anniversary

Today's card is for a Ruby Wedding anniversary...I kept it quite simple...with lots of embossing (Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Victoria', 'D'Vine Swirls' and Craft Concepts 'Gem Flourish' folders). The hearts were cut using my Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die, the numbers were cut using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and the sentiment stamp is from a Lili of the Valley set, and cut out using a 'Lacey Circles' Nestie.

Challenges for this card:

• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Numbers
• Crafting for All Seasons - Wedding/Anniversary
• Creative Card Crew - Punches and/or Dies
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Graduation or Anniversary
• Top Tip Tuesday - Numbers

Mr Fixit

I have my Father's Day card to share today...I know it's not for another couple of weeks, but I wanted to be able to leave it with my Mum along with my gift so that I wouldn't have to post it...and as there are quite a lot of male themed challenges around this week, I thought I'd get ahead! The image I've used is 'Mr Fixit' by Lili of the Valley...the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts. The papers are from the 'Farmhouse' pad by Crate Paper - I love the ruler one! I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Cards for Men - Dad
• C.R.A.F.T. - Father's Day/Male
• Crafty Sentiments - Stitching
• Crazy Challenge - Use Sentiments
• Creative Craft - For the Fellas
• Delightful - For Dad
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Father's Day
• Papertake Weekly - Sketchie Free for All (I used #53 - rotated)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

It's time for a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge, and this fortnight Bettina is the host with a theme of:

'K is for Kept Safe'

It's time to use that stash that you've been saving!

Our sponsor this fortnight is:

 Prize - Winner's choice of 3 images from Kenny K!

I decided that it was about time that I cut into the gorgeous Echo Park 'Winter Wishes' paper that I was given as a gift last Christmas...but couldn't bring myself to use! I paired it with my cute Lili of the Valley 'Snowman' stamp, which I coloured using watercolour pencils - I added some Stickles to the snow, but couldn't get it to show in the photos. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and added some Baker's Twine (from the Ribbon Girls) and a button from my stash.

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

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Twine
• Cute Card Thursday - Tie it Up
• Lili's Little Fairies - Spots & Stripes
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch 185
• Totally Papercrafts - Buttons
• Winter Wonderland - All Tied Up

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Wedding

This fortnight at Oldie but a Goodie, our challenge theme is:

'Wedding'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop

I've used a sweet House Mouse image called 'Playing Dress-Up' that has been sitting patiently in my image box since I stamped it whilst visiting my crafty friend Samantha for her wedding nearly three years ago! For the background, I used plain white card, embossing it using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folders...I inked the edges with a little 'Old Paper' Distress Ink. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley, and is cut out using a 'Lacey Circle' Nestie. The flowers were cut using a die from the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and the lace is from Hobbycraft.

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

• Anything Goes - Handmade Backgrounds
• Crazy 4 Challenges - No Designer Paper
• Fab & Funky - Ribbon or Lace
• Fussy & Fancy - Pearls & Lace
• House Mouse & Friends - Flower or Flour Power
• Moving Along with the Times - Embossing
• Penny's Paper-crafting - Circles
• Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Lace
• Stamp with Fun - Wedding
• Stampavie & More - Ribbon or Lace
• Stamping Sensations - Embossing & Texture
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch
• That Craft Place - Dies & Punches

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

Winter Bunnies

I have a Christmas card for you today...using a cute Lili of the Valley stamp, that I picked up when it was on offer recently, called 'Winter Bunnies'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, and added some Stickles to the snow. The papers are from the 'Winter Wonderland' pad by My Mind's Eye...I doodled some borders using a black gel pen. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and added a bow.

Challenges for this card:

• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Creative Inspirations - Bingo (Ribbon - Blue - Polkadots)
• Crimbo Crackers - Cute
• Jingle Belles - Ribbon
• Sketch & Stash - Sketch
• Sparkles Christmas - Favourite Festive Colours (Blue & Kraft...not very traditional, but I love this combo)