Woodland Sprigs

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware set called 'Woodland Sprigs'. I started by stamping a Hero Arts 'Music Background' stamp onto a snippet of kraft card using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. Once dry, I stamped the 'sprigs' over the top using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using 'Gold Pearl' embossing powder from WOW. I used an old die from my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet set to cut the sentiment from gold mirror card, then added it over the top. I matted the panel onto a piece of gold mirror card, distressing the edges, before adding it to a kraft DL card blank.

This angle shows the gold embossing a little better:

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up - Make Your Own Background
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Polar Pals

Today's card features an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Polar Pals'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. For the background, I embossed a piece of watercolour effect paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations using an old Cuttlebug embossing folder, then lightly sanded over the raised areas to reveal some of the white core. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz, then layered the image over the background before matting it onto a snippet of purple card, lightly distressing all of the edges, and adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas in July
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Four-legged Friends
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July

Ice Cream Mouse

Today's card features an old Stampavie stamp by Tina Wenke called 'Ice Cream Mouse'. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from an unbranded pad called 'Ice Cream Sundae', which was originally a magazine freebie, but I got it from a charity shop. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Summer Sunshine
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Use a Colouring Medium
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Four-legged Friends
• We Love Stamping - Summertime

ABC Christmas Challenge - N & O are for?

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

'N is for No Stamping'

&

'O is for Once in Royal David's City (Buildings)'

The prize for the lucky winner is the matching stamp & die from Your Next Stamp

For my 'No Stamping' card, I started by cutting a couple of baubles from snippets of watercolour effect papers (from the 'Pastel Watercolours' pad from The Works) using my Memory Box 'Classic Ornament' die, then cut the 'Snowflake Ornament' die from snippets of silver mirror card to layer over the top. I embossed another piece of the watercolour paper using an old Cuttlebug folder and matted it onto some more silver mirror card. I cut a sentiment from silver mirror card using my Poppy Stamps 'Folk Merry Christmas' die, then added it all to the embossed background using a couple of little strips of mirror card to 'hang' the ornaments.

For my 'Once in Royal David's City (Buildings)' card, I picked another Christmas Carol themed stamp - 'Bethlehem Nights' by Stampendous. I stamped it onto smooth white card using a Versafine pigment ink in dark blue called 'Twilight'. I stamped it several times to get a really clear image, then heat embossed it using 'Midnight Dream' embossing glitter from WOW. I matted it onto a snippet of navy card, then added it to a white card blank.

The card is really sparkly, and a gorgeous mix of colours, but a real pain to photograph!

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

• A Cut Above - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - M, N & O (O is for Ornaments) (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Creative Knockouts - Christmas in July (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Monochrome (Second card only)
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July (Second card only)

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

Crazy Dog

Today's card features one of the 'Crazy Dog' stamps from Tim Holtz's set for Stampers Anonymous. It's been a while since I last used him, and even longer since I used the matching dies, so I inked him up and stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used his matching die to cut him out. For the background, I used a snippet of paper from an old Core'dinations card pad from Tim Holtz's collection. I embossed it using my Crafts Too 'Bone & Paw Print' embossing folder, then lightly sanded over the raised surface to reveal some of the kraft core. I added it to a snippet of kraft card, matted onto a piece of navy card, distressing all of the edges, then added the pup on top using 3D foam pads. I stamped a sentiment, using stamps from the Paper Smooches 'Birthday Buddies' set, onto snippets of watercolour paper, then added those using more 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Happy Birthday
• Cut It Up - Critters
• Just Us Girls - Long-neglected Dies (The dog die was last used in 2021!)
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The stamp & matching die were last used in 2021!)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

PBSC July - Anything Goes (Optional 'On the Move')

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 Move'

(Transport)

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

I have a fair few transport themed Penny Black stamps, and picked a cute cycling cat from the 'You're Retro!' set. I stamped him, along with one of the sentiments from the set, onto a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired it with a trio of spotty papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad from Craft Sensations. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Hobbies

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

July - Desk Calendar

Today, I'm sharing my Penny Black desk calendar for July. I'm a music teacher, and July for me means holidays (albeit not for another couple of weeks!), so I picked a cute pup driving off on a road trip from the 'Hello Friend' set. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of my oval Nesties to cut him out. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favourite Non-Card Project (My desk calendar...I decorate a couple of the Papermill's A4 sized calendars for Christmas gifts each year, and I'm always sad to give them away, so when they started making the little desk sized ones, I started making one for myself each year, decorating it month by month, to keep on my craft desk)
• Inkspirational - Leftovers
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Golden Holly

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using a Woodware stamp called 'Holly Spray'. I stamped it onto a piece of kraft card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Christmas' Letter It set by Ranger, heat embossing it in gold to match. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - E is for Embossing
• CAS on Friday - Christmas in July
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

Deckchair Dreaming

I have a summery card to share today, featuring a cute Lili of the Valley bear stamp called 'Deckchair Dreaming'. I stamped it onto a snippet of smooth white card, then added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then used my CutterBee Bug to pierce a simple border, before adding it to white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Summer Fun
• Everybody Art - Summertime
• Fab 'N' Funky - Something Beginning with B (Bear on the Beach)
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Something By the Sea
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - At the Beach
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Vacation

Roll with it!

Today's card features one of the cats from the 'You're Retro' stamp set by Penny Black. I stamped it, along with one of the sentiments from the set, onto a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of flowery papers from the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the image and papers onto snippets of bright pink card, then added it all to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Feather, Fur or Fin
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Favourite Stamp/Die/Tool (My CutterBee Bug - I love how this makes the faux stitching look more realistic)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Sports and Hobbies

Caroling Chicks

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring a Stamping Bella stamp called 'Caroling Chicks'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I usually colour the chicks yellow (as on the packaging), but this time turned them into robins. For the background, I used papers from a magazine freebie pad by My Mind's Eye called 'Snowed In'. I matted all of the layers onto red card, distressing the edges, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Bees, Blooms and/or Birds
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

Simple Sympathy

I have a sympathy card to share today, made using some floral stamps from a Woodware set called 'Dotty Flowers'. I stamped them onto a piece of pale blue card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder. I heat embossed a sentiment to match, using an old Anita's stamp from Docrafts, then distressed the edges of the blue panel before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Bees, Blooms and/or Birds
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Optional 'Blooms'
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Pastels or Brights
• Little Red Wagon - I'm So Sorry
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

PBSC June - Anything Goes (Optional 'Use Patterned Papers')...More Inspiration!

t'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

'Use Patterned Papers'

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

I picked a cute hedgie stamp called 'Fish are Jumpin' stamp, and stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment (using a stamp from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts), then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• Alphabet Challenge - D is for Double (Two Hedgies & two fish)
• Crafty Calendar - Men/Boys
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Masculine
• The Male Room - The Outdoors
• We Love Stamping - Sports and Hobbies

For more inspiration, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Guest Designer - 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer card for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, where the theme this week is:

I combined snowmen from the 'Jolly Friends', 'Snow Much Fun' and 'Holly-Jolly' sets by Penny Black for my card. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, then used a black gel pen to add some lines for the snowy ground. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered the snowmen over a snippet of snowy paper (from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware), added a sentiment (using a stamp from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company), then matted it onto a snippet of blue card before adding it to a DL card blank.

For more inspiration from the fabulous DT, please pop over to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

Dasher Deer

Today's card features a Creative Expressions stamp called 'Dasher Deer' that I picked up from a charity shop a few weeks ago. I stamped the deer, along with the sentiment from the set, onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Surprise!

Today's card features a cute Penny Black mouse stamp called 'Surprise!'. I stamped it onto a piece of smooth white card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - In the Garden
• Cardz 4 Guys - Gardens/Gardening
• C.R.A.F.T. - Cute
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Lil Red Wagon - Outdoors
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• The Male Room - The Outdoors

Contented

Today's card features a cute Penny Black dog stamp called 'Contented'. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then used Nesties to cut out the circle shapes. For the background, I embossed a piece of green card using a Crafts Too embossing folder called 'Bone & Paw Print'. I distressed the edges a little, then matted it onto kraft card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Optional 'Boys to Men'
• Cardz 4 Guys - Use an Embossing Folder
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sweet Stampin' - Something for the Boys

Nordic Houses

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware Christmas set called 'Nordic Houses'. I stamped them directly onto a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - One Layer Cards
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Emboss It

ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

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

'L is for Let it Snow'

&

'M is for Mice'

The prize for the lucky winner is this Gemini 'Joyful Snowmen' Create-a-Card' die:

For my 'Let it Snow' card, I used one of the cute stamps from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped it onto a snippet of white card, along with an old Penny Black woodblock sentiment, then coloured 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 matted it onto a snippet of grey card, then added it to a white card blank.

For my 'M is for Mice' card, I used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Holly Jolly Christmas'. I stamped it onto smooth white card, and coloured it using a sentiment stamp from the 'Holly Jolly' set, also by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Kickstart - Snow Day (First card only)
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas in June (Second card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (First card only)

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

Friendship

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp called 'Friendship'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I stamped a sentiment, using one of the sentiments from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, onto a snippet of white card, then used Nesties to cut the circle shapes, and scalloped mats from navy card. The papers are from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx)...I distressed the edges, added the image and sentiment, then matted it all onto some more navy card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - For Boys
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Alphabet Challenge - C is for Circles
• Aud Sentiments - Monochrome and/or Birthdays + Sentiment
• Creative Moments - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine
• Sweet Stampin' - Something for the Boys
• The Male Room - The Outdoors
• We Love Stamping - Sports & Hobbies