Happy Bee-Day!

Today's card features one of the cute critters from the 'Happy Day' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, added a fun sentiment using a stamp by Stampendous, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired him with a snippet of floral paper from the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Ellibelles Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Happy Birthday

Let It Snow!

I have a simple one layer card to share today...featuring an old Penny Black stamp called 'Let it Snow!'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - One Layer Cards
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Happy Mother's Day

Today I'm sharing the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. I used a Simon Says Stamp stamp called 'Floral Garden'...it's a huge stamp, so I stamped part of it onto a snippet of kraft card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Graffiti Alphabet' set by Paper Smooches, then distressed the edges before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

I made a matching tag,  by stamping an even smaller section of the stamp onto a kraft tag, colouring it to match the card, and adding some Baker's twine to attach it to the gift.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spring Flowers')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (card only)
• Creative Moments - For a Special Lady
• I Spy With My Little Eye - The Dawn of Spring
• My Time to Craft - Celebrate Someone Special
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Female

Candy Cane Christmas

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring a House Mouse stamp from the 'Christmas Opening Presents' set by Joanna Sheen. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Santa's Sweets' set by Penny Black, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Back to Basics Christmas' pad by Dovecraft...distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - Y is for Yummy
• House Mouse & Friends - In the Mood for Food
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Gift Wrapped

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Gift Wrapped'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The floral paper is from the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Spring is in the Air
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')

Snow-Board Ride!

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using an old Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Snow-Board Ride'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, then added a line for the snowy slope using a black gel pen, before colouring it using watercolour pencils. I cut around the top of the image, then layered it over a snippet of snowy sky paper from the 'Christmas' pad by Craft Sensations. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then matted it on to a snippet of silver mirror card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Masculine
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - Sports
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Transport It

Burst into Bloom

Today's card features an old Woodware stamp called 'Burst into Bloom'. I stamped it on to a piece of smooth white card using Versamark ink, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then heat embossed it using gold embossing powder. I then stamped and heat embossed the flower image again on a snippet of the same smooth white card, the coloured the image using waterocolour pencils. I used one of my circle Nesties to cut out a section of the coloured image, then placed it over the embossed outline image, as per the 'spotlight' technique, using 3D foam pads. I matted it on to some gold mirror card, distressing all of the edges before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Feminine')
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Flower Challenge - Add Circles
• Krafty Chicks - CAS

Deer in Skates

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring an old Penny Black stamp called 'Deer in Skates'. I stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Stack' by DCWV, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Rudolph/Reindeer
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guys - S is for ? (Skates)
• Little Red Wagon - It's a Fake (My stitching is faux)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Critters
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Spring Bunny with Daffs

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Spring Bunny with Daffs'. I stamped it on to a piece of watercolour paper, along wiith a sentiment from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image', then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The yellow gingham paper is from a pad from The Works, and the green floral paper is from a Raspberry Road pad called 'Love Lives Here' that was a magazine freebie years ago. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Easter/Spring')
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - A Bit O' Green
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')

PBSC March - Anything Goes (Optional 'On The Farm')...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

'On the Farm'

We're currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

This time, I picked a stamp called '...in a spin!', which features a cow and a couple of chickens riding a bicycle! I stamped it on to watercolour paper, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, then coloured itusing watercolour pencils. I paried it with some fun floral papers from the 'Watercolour feelings' pad from The Works...distressing all of the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CuttterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Monochrome or Colourful (I always find it easier to match papers to my colouring when I use lots of colours...at least some of them will go!)
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes (Optional 'Anything That Flies')

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

Good Luck Cats

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Good Luck Cats'. I stamped it, along with a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual', on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper, distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Glitter & Bling or St Patrick's/Green & a Sentiment
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls - Green
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - A Bit O' Green
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesdays) - A Bit O' Green
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Shades of Green

ABC Christmas Challenge - E, F & G are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Fabiola is the host, and the themes are:

'E is for Embossing'

'F is for Focal Sentiments'

&

'G is for Girls'

The prize for the lucky winner is a gift certificate to the winner's favourite online store!

For my 'E is for Embossing' card, I used stamps from the 'Festive Flurries - Baubles & Bows' set by Creative Expressions. I stamped them on to navy card using Versamark ink, theen heat embossed them using white embossing powder. I distressed the edges a little, then added the embossed panel to a white card blank.

For my 'Focal Sentiments' card, I used my large 'Joy' die from Penny Black, cutting it from some purple mirror card. I layered it over a piece of purple snowflake covered paper from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware, then stamped a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Winter Blessings' set by Crafter's Companion in the centre of the 'O'. I distressed the edges a little, added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, matted it on to some purple card, before adding it to a white card blank.

For my 'G is for Girls' card, I inked up an old Lili of the Valley stamp from a set called 'Skating Along', stamping it on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the same set, before colouring it using watercolour pencils and matting it on to some silver mirror card. I paired it with papers from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad by Crafter's Companion and the 'Silver Bells' pad by Kaisercraft...lightly distressing all of the edges before assembling the card.

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

• Christmas Kickstart - Not the Norm (Second card only)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Seasons/Weather (Second card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Add a Sentiment') (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (Third card only)
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes (Third card only)
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stitching (Second card only)

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

Birthday Beagle

Today's card features an old (and neglected - last inked in 2023!) Whipper Snapper stamp called 'Birthday Beagle'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches. I added piece of stripey blue & green paper (from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper) to a card blank, then layered the image on top - having added faux stitch to both layers using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Knockouts - Birthday Wishes
• Inkspirational - CAS
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Little Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The stamp is neglected - last inked in 2023!)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stitching

Getting Ready

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring an Anita Jeram stamp called 'Getting Ready'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, adding a sentiment from another Anita Jeram/Colorado Craft Company stamp set called 'Christmas Hats', then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used a stocking covered paper from the 'Santa's List' pad by Kaisercraft, distressing the edges, and matting on to sopme red card before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Bonnet Bunny

I have a Spring themed card to share today, featuring an old Penny Black stamp called 'Bonnet Bunny'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works...I distressed all the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Your Favourite Technique (Faux Stitching)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stitching
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hello Spring')

Birthday Dog

Today's card features another old favourite stamp by Penny Black...'Birthday Dog'. I stamped him on to a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I made the rainbow background, by attaching snippets of brightly coloured card to a scrap of paper, then trimming them into a rectangle, before embossing them using a 'Bone & Paw Prints' embossing folder by Crafts Too. I added the embossed panel to a white card blank, stamped simple sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts, before adding the pup on top using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Masculine
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Use Embossing Folders (Optional 'Masculine')
• Little Red Wagon - B is for Birthday
• Moving Along With the Times - Pets
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

Present Pile

I have a simple one layer card to share today, made using an old Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Present Pile' that I hadn't inked in a while. I stamped it on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')
• Krafty Chicks - Masculine
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

 

PBSC March - Anything Goes (Optional 'On the Farm')

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

'On the Farm'

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I picked a little sheep stamp called 'Butterflies & Ewe', and stamped it on to a snippet of watercolour paper. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut out the image. For the background, I used a piece of cloudy sky paper from a pad called 'Let's Fly Away' that I picked up in a charity shop, but I think it was originally a magazine freebie, then layered a picket fence, cut from a snippet of brown card using a Die-namics die, with some grass cut using another Die-namics die and a snippet of paper from the 'Over the Rainbow' pad by Craft Consortium layered over the top. I added the sheep and her butterflies, before matting it on to a snippet of kraft card and adding it to my desk calendar.

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

• Creative Fingers - 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.

Spring Flowers

Today's card features a floral stamp by Crafter's Companion called 'Spring Flowers' that I picked up in a charity shop last week. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used a piece of paper from the 'Watercolour Feelings' paper pad from The Works. I distressed all of the edges, matting the layers on to snippets of pink card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'For the Girls')
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Christmas Hats

Today's card features a couple of the critters from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from another Anita Jeram set, 'Furry Christmas', then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I distressed the top and bottom edges, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Pet
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday) - Cute & Cuddly
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')

Lovely Bubbly

Today's card is in honour of the 500th(!) challenge over at Pixie's Snippets Playground - congratulations Di & Sarn! So, with the 'Celebratory' theme in mind, I picked a Penny Black image called 'Lovely Bubbly'....stamping it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens. I cut a 'Celebrate' sentiment using a Clearly Besotted die from a snippet of gold mirror card, then layered it on top of the image, then matted that on to another snippet of gold mirror card before assembly the card.

As is always the way with anything shiny, it's a real pain to photograph, but here's a slightly different angle - I promise that the sentiment is much clearer to read in person!

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets & 'Celebration' Theme
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute & Cuddly
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Drinks