PBSC October - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spooky')...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

'Spooky'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I picked a cute little mouse image from the 'Be Very Scared' set and used it to decorate a Halloweem treat bag. I stamped the mouse on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut out the fircle shape using one of my Nesties. The papers are from the 'Spooky' collection by Carta Bella...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

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

• C.R.A.F.T. - Gift Box or Bag
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Black, Orange & Purple')
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Photo Inspiration
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - U & V are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Wilma is the host, and the themes are:

'U is for Unusual Christmas Colours'

&

'V is for Velvet'

There is a surprise gift from Wilma on offer for the lucky winner:

Inspired by more traditional Halloween colours, I picked orange and purple as the main colours for my 'Unusual Christmas Colours' card. I used a Crafter's Companion die called 'Cascading Snowflakes' to cut the snowflake panel from purple card, then layered that over an orage card blank. I cut a sentiment from a snippet of pink card using a Creative Expressions die, then added that over the top.

I  knew I had some velvet ribbons in my stash, and after a good rummage, found a few different colours which happened to be a fairly good match for the papers in the 'Mistletoe' pad by Craftwork Cards. I paired them with a Lili of the Valley pre-coloured image (from the 'Christmas Cuties' set), distressing the edges and adding soe faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - More Than One Die (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Snowy

Today's card features an old favourite...'Snowy' by Penny Black. I stamped him on to some watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I added a few strips of washi tape (can't remember where they're from - sorry!), and a sentiment (from the 'Joy to the World' set also by Penny Black), then added Snowy over the top using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Washi Tape
• The Male Room - Clean & Simple
• Winter Wonderland - Let It Snow

Simple Embossed Christmas

I have a set of simple one layer heat embossed Christmas cards to share today. I used image stamps my Marianne Designs (the 'Bauble Border') and Chocolate Baroque (the reindeer is from the 'Damask Reindeer' set), stamping them directly on to my card blanks using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them using metallic WOW embossing powders...silver on the blue cards, and gold on the red and green. I added matching heat embossed sentiments, from the 'Very Merry Christmas' set by Hero Arts, and the 'Festive Panel' set by Woodware.

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Embossing
• Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Vampire Cat Treat Bag

I have another Halloween treat bag to share today...again, I used a Penny Black critter from the 'Spooky' set. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils, before cutting out the circle shape using one of my Nesties. The papers are unbranded, and I've had them so long I can't remember where I got them from! I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Crafty Calendar - Halloween
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Spooky Halloween
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stitch It

Dawn Loves Her Doggie

Today's card features a Stamping Bella image called 'Dawn Loves her Doggie'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'For a Friend')
• Less is More - Friendship
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Guest Designer - AAA Cards Challenge!

A couple of months ago I was picked as one of the favourites of a challenge over at AAA Cards, and asked to guest design for a future challenge which starts today. The game this week is 1/9th with optional 'Gnomes':

I decided to go with the optional 'Gnomes' theme, as I have a set of cute little gnome stamps by 2 Jays. I stamped one of the gnomes directly on to a kraft card blank, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment (from the Woddware 'Hanging Basket' set).

For more inspiration from the wonderful AAA Cards design team, please pop over to their challenge - thanks for having me!

PBSC October - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spooky')

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

'Spooky'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I picked a spooky image from the 'Be Very Scared' set to decorate the October page of my desk calendar. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut it into a circle using one of my Nesties. For the background, I used papers from the 'Spooky Spectacular' pad from Paper Mill Direct. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

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

Balancing Act

I have a simple one layer card to share today, that features a much neglected Whipper Snapper stamp called 'Balancing Act'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the House Mouse 'Birthday Splash' set by Stampendous.

Challenges for this card:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Anyhting Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Cat in the Hat Treat Bag

Today I'm sharing my first Halloween themed project of the year...a decorated treat bag. I used a Penny Black image (from the 'Spooky!' set), stamping the kitty on to watercolour paper, then colouring him using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Hocus Pocus' pad by Taylored Expressions...managed to use a couple of snippets up too. I cut the circles using my trusty Nesties, then distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens. I added some little bats cut from a snippet of black card using a Memory Box die.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spots and Stripes')
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Cute')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Autumn Colours (I picked Oranges, Purple, Green & Black)
• Pixie's Snippet's Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Holly Jolly Christmas

I have a Christmas card to share today...made using a fab holly stamp from Woodware (called 'Sketchy Sprigs'). I started by stamping my sentiment (from the 'Festive Phrases' set by Funky Fossil) in the centre of a piece of kraft card using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it in white. I stamped the holly sprig around the edge, using my Tim Holtz stamping platform, heat embossing it again in white. I distressed the edges a little before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Trees and/or Leaves
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sweet Stampers - Add a Sentiment
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in September
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Stamped

Let it Snow!

I have a Christmas card to share today...made to use a leftover piece of snowy background from making this card that I blogged last week. The background was made by smooshing a few Distress Inks (Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China, Uncharted Mariner & Chipped Sapphire) on to watercolour paper, then heat embossing my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' back ground stamp over the top using 'Diamond White' embossing glitter from WOW. I added a little snowman (from the 'Many Blessings' set by Hero Arts), stamping him on to watercolour paper, colouring him using watercolour pencils, then cutting around the top of the image over the top of the snowy background, attached the panel to a card blank. The sentiment is an old wooden Penny Black stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS on Friday - Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Stamped

I Baked a Cake

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley bear stamp called 'I Baked a Cake!'. I stamped it on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - Birthday Bears
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Birthday) - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Mythical or CAS (CAS)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Little Critters

PBSC September - 'Anything Goes' (Optional 'Food and/or Drink')...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

'Food and/or Drink'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used one of my oldest...and still most favourite...Penny Black stamps on my card this time...'Birthday Dog'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I added some strips of washi tape across my card blank...I've had them for ages, but I think they're a mixture of Dovecraft (bunting) and Poundland (stars & candles). I stamped a sentiment, using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then added 'Birthday Dog' over the washi tape background using 3D foam pads.

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

• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday (Optional 'Food')
• Use Your Stuff - Food & Drink

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Fabiola is the host, and the themes are:

'S is for Snow'

&

'T is for Trees'

There is a surprise gift from Fabiola on offer for the lucky winner:

On my 'S is for Snow' card, I started by making a 'snowy' sky background. I smooshed some Distress Inks (Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China, Uncharted Mariner & Chipped Sapphire) on to watercolour paper, then once dry, stamped my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp on to it using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Diamond White' embossing glitter from WOW. I stamped a little Penny Black snowman (from the 'Jolly Friends' set) on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils then carefully cut around the top of the image. I trimmed the background down, matted it on to a snippet of red card, then added the snowman on top, before adding it to my card blank. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Winter Blessings' set by Crafter's Companion.

For my 'T is for Tree' card, I decided, rather than using one of my (many!) plush evergreen Christmas tree stamps, that I would use stamps from another Penny Black set...'Snowfield Friends'...which includes a rather bare tree! I combined a few stamps from the set, masking so that the fox would be behind his sack of gifts, stamping them directly on to a kraft card blank. I added a sentiment (from the same set), then coloured the image using watercolour pencils...adding some Glossy Accents to the baubles on the tree.

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

• Christmas with the Cuties - Snowmen (First card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• The Male Room - Song Title ('Baby It's Cold Outside' - First card only)
• We Love Stamping - Anything Stamped

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

Christmas Robins

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today, featuring little robin stamps from a couple of Penny Black sets. The one with the envelope is from the 'Wintertime Cheer' set, and the one on the branch is from the 'Jolly Friends' set. I stamped them on to a kraft card blank, then extended the branch to the edge of the card using a black gel pen. I coloured the image suing watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from the 'Many Blessings' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Birds
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Clean & Simple

Sledging Penguins

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring a cute penguin stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Many Blessings' set by Hero Arts, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Ho Ho Ho Christmas' pad...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Christmas + a Sentiment
• Christmas Craft Creations - Winter Activities
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Spots and/or Stripes
• Little Red Wagon - Cute, Cute, Cute!
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Animals

Fuchsia

Today's card features a stamp that I picked up recently in a charity shop...it's an old wood mounted Penny Black stamp called simply 'Fuchsia'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a senitment from the 'It's Your Day' set (also by Penny Black), then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges, then matted it on to a snippet of bright pink card...distressing the edges of that too...before adding it to my card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Feminine

PBSC September - Anything Goes (Optional 'Food and/or Drink')

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

'Food and/or Drink'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I picked the Penny Black stamp in my collection with the largest food item on it! This adorable bear, guarding his gigantic birthday cake, is from the 'It's Your Day' set. 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, then doodled a simple border before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

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

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Food or Drink

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

September Desk Calendar

Today I'm sharing my September desk calendar page (made using a blank calendar from Paper Mill Direct). As I'll be back at school next week, I picked a cute Penny Black image of a rather studious mouse from the 'Cheerful Critters' set. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used snippets of a couple of papers with a sort of 'graph paper' design on from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this calendar:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Back to School
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Back to School
• Just Us Girls - Back to School
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes