Monday 18 March 2024

Get Well Soon!

Today's card is a 'Get Well Soon' card that I made for my Dad who is recovering from a hip replacement operation. I picked a lili of the Valley bunny image called 'Get Well Bunny', stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired him with papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges a little, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image.


Challenges for this card:

Saturday 16 March 2024

PBSC March - Anything Goes (Optional 'Easter')...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
'Easter'


As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:
Prize - a $20 voucher!

I've decorated another Easter treat bag...this time using a couple of bunnies from the 'Bunny Friends' stamp. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...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 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by C. C. Designs for Pollycraft.


I'm also entering this treat bag into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

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

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

'E is for Embossing'
'F is for Faux'
&
'G is for Gingerbread'

The prize for the lucky winner is these fab stamp sets:


For my 'E is for Embossing' card, I used a Penny Black stamp called 'Warm Reception'...stamping it on to a piece of kraft card using Versamark ink, then heat embossing it using white embossing powder. I added a heat embossed sentiment (from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp), then inked around the edges with the Versamark ink pad and heat embossed that in white too before adding it to a kraft card blank.


FOr my 'F is for Faux' card...I went with faux stitching on some papers from the 'Pure Frozen' pad from Poundland...distressing the edges before adding the stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The snowflakes are a Stampendous stamp set called 'Delicate Snowflakes'...I stamped them on to snippets of navy, turquoise and aqua card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them in white before cutting them out using the matching dies. I layered them up using 3D foam pads, then added them to the front of the card. The sentiment stamp is from an old Lili of the Valley set.


I really struggled with the 'G is for Gingerbread' theme...but eventually found some paper with little gingerbread men on...it was a freebie from a magazine years ago...but just the job for this! I matted a strip of the patterned paper on to some gold mirror card, and placed it down one side of a card blank, then cut the sentiment (using a Creative Expressions die) from some more mirror card, then added that over the top.


Challenges for these cards:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Sunday 10 March 2024

Happy Mother's Day

Today I'm sharing the card and a notebook that I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. For the card, I picked an old Hero Arts floral stamp called 'Garden Bouquet'. I used the watercolour stamping technique, painting Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Seedless Preserves, Blueprint Sketch & Mowed Lawn) directly on to the stamp, then spritzing with a little water before stamping on to watercolour paper. I added a sentiment (from the 'Sentiments' set also by Hero Arts), then distressed the edges and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before adding it to a kraft card blank.


I decorated a notebook for part of my Mum's gift...a blank spiral bound one from Hobbycraft. I picked a couple of Penny Black mice images, and papers from a My Mind's Eye pad called 'Penny Lane'...this pad is really old (I bought it in 2010!), but I still have plenty of snippets! I stamped the images on to snippets of watercolour paper and coloured them using watercolour pencils. I distressed all of the edges, and again added faux stitching using my Cutterbee Bug and a black gel pen. The image on the front is called 'Literally Giant!':


And 'Everest Next' on the back:



Challenges for this card & notebook:

Friday 8 March 2024

Leap for Joy!

Today's card features a Penny Black frog image called 'Leap for Joy!'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut out the circle shape using one of my Nesties. The papers are a mixture of 'Happy Colours' (from The Works) and 'Bright Freshness' (by Craft Sensations)...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.


Challenges for this card:

Wednesday 6 March 2024

Sledging Fun!

Today's card features another of the unidentified unmounted stamps I picked up in a set from a charity shop recently. I think like the one I blogged a week or so ago, this one is also by Elzybels, but I have no idea what it might be called! I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then used one of my Nesties to cut out the circle. The papers are from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad by Crafter's Companion...I distressed the edges a little then matted all of the layers on to silver mirror card.


Challenges for this card:

Monday 4 March 2024

Bunny Friends

Today's card features a couple of the bunnies from a large Penny Black stamp called 'Bunny Friends'. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then cut out the circle stamp using one of my Nesties. I paired it with papers from the 'Bright Freshness' pad from Craft Sensations, and 'Happy Watercolours' pad from The Works. I distressed all of the edges, 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:

Saturday 2 March 2024

PBSC March - Anything Goes (Optional 'Easter')!

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
'Easter'


As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:
Prize - a $20 voucher!

I've decorated an Easter treat bag using the image 'Spring Chick!'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut out the circe shape using one of my Nesties. I paired it with papers from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the image onto a scalloped circle of karft (cut using another Nestie die), then layered it all on to a little kraft bag from Hobbycraft.


I'm also enternig this treat bag into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge!

Thursday 29 February 2024

March Desk Calendar

Today, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for March. The image I've used is 'Hello World!' by Penny Black...I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, before cutting the circle shape using one of my Nesties. The pink paper is from the 'Happy Colours' pad (from The Works) and the yellow paper is from the 'Geometrie' pad by Folia Paper...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.


Challenges for this calendar:

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Butterflies & Ewe

Today's card features a cute little Penny Black stamp that I found recently in a charity shop...called 'Butterflies & Ewe'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.


Challenges for this card:

Sunday 25 February 2024

Santa Stop Here!

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring three stamps that I picked up recently in a charity shop. They were all unmounted and bagged together (along with four other stamps)...but I had no idea what brand they are, or even if they were a set. After a little Googling, I've managed to determine that the igloo stamp is by Elzybels, but I don't know if the little penguin and sentiment are also from that brand. I stamped them on to a kraft card blank, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.


Challenges for this card:

Friday 23 February 2024

Butterfly Birthday

Today's card features another recent charity shop find... a swirly background stamp by Stampin' Up! I started by making a simple watercolour background, by blending Distress Inks (Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China and Chipped Sapphire) on to wet watercolour paper. Once dry, I stamped the swirly background stamp over the top using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I cut a butterfly from a snippet of gold mirror card, using a die from the 'Mini Detailed Butterflies' set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix, then cut the matching solid butterfly shape from a snippet of pearlised aqua card to layer behind it. I added the butterfly to the background using 3D foam pads, and matted it all on to some more gold mirror card before adhering it to a white card blank. Finally, I stamped a sentiment (from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image) on to a snippet of white card, matted it on to another snippet of gold mirror card, before adding it to the card.


Challenges for this card:

Wednesday 21 February 2024

The Lost Balloon

Today's card features another recent charity shop find...a set of 'cloud' edge dies...brand unknown as they were not in their original packaging. I started by stamping an old Lili of the Valley bunny stamp called 'The Lost Balloon' on to a kraft card blank. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added some Glossy Accents to their balloons. I stamped a sentiment (from the 'Watch This!' set by Anita Jerum for the Colorado Craft Company) on to a snippet of white card, then used one of the cloud egde dies to cut the bottom edge, before adding it to the top of the card.


Challenges for this card:

Monday 19 February 2024

Champagne Anniversary

Today's card features stamps from a set I picked up in a charity shop last week. I wanted it primarily for the anniversary sentiments...something that's lacking in my stash. The set wasn't in its original packaging...which is often the case, and means a trawl through Google using a whole host of search terms to locate the brand/item...however, this set (rather helpfully!) had some tiny text on the acetate backing, so I can tell you it's called 'Champagne Anniversary Silhouette' by My Sentiments Exactly!
I stamped the champagne glasses and sentiment on to a piece of kraft card using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed everything using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I matted the panel on to piece of gold mirror card before adding it to a matching kraft card blank.


Challenges for this card:

Saturday 17 February 2024

PBSC February - Anything Goes (Optional 'Wings')...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
'Wings'


As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:
Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with chickens again for the 'Wings' element of my card, this time using a stamp called 'Best of Luck!'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment (using a stamp from the 'Watch This!' set by Anita Jerum by The Colorado Craft Company), and doodled a simple border using a black gel pen before adding it to a kraft card blank.


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


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

Thursday 15 February 2024

Guest Designer - C.R.A.F.T Challenge!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer project for C.R.A.F.T. Challenge, where the theme for the next two weeks is:

'Christmas'

The sponsor for this challenge is All Dressed Up


I used 'Sharing at Christmas' on my card...printing it on to smooth white card, then colouring using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before matting the image on to co-ordinating aqua and pink card. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.


For more inspiration from the fabulous Design Team, please pop over to the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - thanks for having me!

Wednesday 14 February 2024

ABC Christmas Challenge - C & D are for?

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

'C is for Cats'
&
'D is for Dogs'

The prize for the lucky winner is a $10 Gift Certificate to one of Helene's favourite Digi Stamp stores:


For my 'C is for Cats' card, I used a pair of caroling cats from the 'Christmas Hugs' set by Penny Black, stamping them on to watercolour paper, then colouring them using watercolour pencils. I cut around the top of the image, then added a piece of starry sky paper (from the 'Christmas Night' pad from The Works) behind them. The sentiment stamp is from an old Lili of the Valley set.


The pup image of my 'D is for Dogs' card is also by Penny Black, this time from the 'Wintertime Cheer' set. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I used a couple of snowflake covered papers from the 'Let it Snow' pad from Poundland for the background...distressing the edges a little using my CutterBee Bug and a black and white gel pens.


I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Monday 12 February 2024

Homespun Hearts Snowman

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring a really old High Hopes stamp called 'Homespun Hearts Snowman'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added some Stickles glitter glue to his hearts. I paired him with a piece of paper from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad by Crafter's Companion...distressing the edges before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.


Challenges for this card: