ABC Christmas Challenge - W & X 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:

'W is for White'

&

'X is for X-Ray'

(something see-through)

The prize for the lucky winner is:

A surprise from Switzerland!

For my 'W is for White' card, I picked a snowmen stamp from the 'Melting Snowmen' set by Woodware. I stamped it directly onto a white card blank, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then added minimal colour using watercolour pencils.

For my 'X is for X-Ray' card, I used vellum as my 'see-through' item. I started by stamping my 'Mod Trees' background stamp (from Simon Says Stamp) onto a piece of kraft card using white pigment ink, before heat embossing it using white embossing powder. I stamped a sentiment, using stamps from the 'Christmas' Letter It set from Ranger, onto the centre of a piece of vellum, using Versamark ink, then heat-embossed it using 'Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter from WOW. I wrapped the vellum around the tree-embossed background, then matted it onto a piece of gold glitter card before adding it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (first card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Stencils and/or Christmas + a Sentiment (second card only)
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes (first card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (first card only)
• Creative Knockouts - Time to be Merry (second card only)
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes (first card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Bling It On (second card only)

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

Cheesecake Parade

I have a clean and simple birthday card to share today, featuring a cute Penny Black mice stamp called 'Cheesecake Parade'. I stamped it onto a piece of smooth white card, then added a sentiment using another Penny Black stamp. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges a little, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Small & Dainty
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

PBSC November - Anything Goes (Optional 'Pick & Mix')

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

'Pick & Mix'

(Pick any three items from this board)

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

I picked 'Patterned paper', 'Stamped Image' and 'Faux Stitching' for my card...I also snuck a couple of  die cuts in there too! The image is called 'Wishes for Kisses'...I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad by Craftwork Cards...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut the image into a circle shape using one of my Nesties, then matted it onto a scalloped circle cut from pink card. I matted everything onto a piece of pink card, then added it to a kraft card blank.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Christmas Critters

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

Tails of New York

I have another Christmas card to share today, made using a cute Polkadoodles stamp called 'Tails of New York'. I stamped it onto a snippet of smooth white card, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured the cats & dogs using watercolour pencils. I matted it onto a snippet of red card, distressed the edges a little, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Kickstart - Cats & Dogs
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Everybody Art - For a Man or Christmas Pets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Animals
• We Love Stamping - Christmas Critters

Snow Dust

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using a rather neglected Penny Black stamp called 'Snow Dust', last used in November 2023! I stamped it onto smooth white card using Versamark ink, heat embossed it with white embossing powder, then blended 'Wilted Violet', 'Chipped Sapphire', and 'Uncharted Mariner' over the top. I used it as a background for a cluster of reindeer (cut from snippets of white card using dies from the 'Winter Wonderland' set by Tim Holtz/Sizzix), adding a strip of white card, with a torn top edge, along the bottom for the snowy ground. I matted it onto a piece of navy card before adding it to a white card blank. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• A Cut Above - Anything Goes Using a Die Cut
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favourite Christmas Critter (Reindeer... after all, they're the ones helping Santa bring the presents!)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - V & W (W is for Winter Wonderland)
• Fab 'N' Funky - Three of Something (Three deer)
• Krafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Animals
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The tree stamp is my neglected item)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Use Dies

November Desk Calendar

As it's the first day of a brand new month, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for November. I picked a cute little mouse image from the 'Bubbly' set by Penny Black and stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of my Nesties to cut out the circle shape. For the background, I used some snippets of papers from the 'Shine Like the Stars' pad from The Works...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted it all onto a snippet of kraft card, then added it to my calendar blank.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Alphabet Challenge - N is for Nocturnal Animals
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Dancing Santa & Snowman

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using a cute Funstamps stamp that I got from a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, then added a sentiment from the 'Merry Delivery' set by Penny Black, before colouring it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Basics' pad by Dovecraft. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the image, onto a piece of red card, then layered everything up on another piece of matching red card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Christmas Cards - Traditional Christmas
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Best Friends

Today's card features a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Best Friends'. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. I paired it with some Autumnal coloured papers from an unbranded paper pack. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens. 

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Autumn/Halloween
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Fall
• We Love Stamping - Shades of Autumn

Bold Botanicals

Today's card features a floral stamp from Tonic Studios called 'Botanical Background', that I got from a charity shop at the weekend. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I stamped a sentiment onto a strip of vellum using one of the stamps from the 'Paper Cut Messages' set by Simon Says Stamp in black ink, then heat-embossed it with clear embossing powder to set it. I wrapped the vellum around the floral background, then matted it onto a bright pink card and added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Big and Bold
• Allsorts - Feminine
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes

Guest Designer - 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!

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

I started by cutting out three large circles from snippets of white card using one of my Nestie dies. I embossed the first one, using a Sizzix embossing folder called 'Snowfall'. I used a Clearly Besotted die called 'Tree Landscape' to cut one of the circles, and one of the 'Scenic Border' dies from the Contemporary Christmas collection by Crafter's Companion to cut the other. I added a sentiment to the layer with the houses, using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, heat embossing it using metallic silver embossing powder. I distressed the edges of the circles, then layered them up, before matting them onto a scalloped circle, cut from another snippet of white card. I added a square of white card (with distressed edges) to a card blank, then popped the circle scene on top using 3D foam pads.

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

Cat in a Tree!

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring a long-neglected Penny Black stamp from the 'Holly Jolly Christmas' set. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, then added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Getting Ready' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added a touch of sparkle to the baubles and star using some Stickles. I matted it onto a piece of red card, distressing all of the edges, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - T & U (T is for Tree)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Four-legged Friends
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Royal Mail

I have a simple one layer card to share today, featuring a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Royal Mail'. I stamped it directly onto a kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Christmas Mailbox
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

PBSC October - Anything Goes (Optional 'Bright Colours')...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

'Bright Colours'

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

I used some (very old!) brightly coloured Halloween themed papers from My Mind's Eye and Bo Bunny to decorate a Halloween treat bag. I distressed all of the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The cute vampire cat is from the 'Be Very Scared' set...I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut him out. I cut a matching scalloped circle mat using another Nestie die, then layered everything up onto another piece of black card, before adding it to a kraft gift bag.

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

• A Cut Above - Anything Goes (With a Die Cut)
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Halloween
• Crafty Calendar - Autumn/Halloween
• Crafty Gals Corner - Trick or Treat
• Creative Knockouts - Halloween or Fall
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Daisy Chain - Autumn and/or Halloween
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

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

Winter Penguin

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring a cute little chap called 'Winter Penguin' by Hero Arts. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I matted the image onto a snippet of dark card, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a snippet of plaid patterned paper (from the 'Jingle All the Way' pad by First Edition) to the bottom of a kraft card blank, then added the penguin image over the top.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - CAS (Optional 'Plaid')
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute Creations

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...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

'U is for Unused Stash'

&

'V is for Violet'

The prize for the lucky winner is this Wplus9 stamp set:

For my 'U is for Unused Stash' card, I combined an unused stamp, from the 'Bundled Snowman' set by Penny Black, and a sheet of patterned paper from the 'Contemporary Christmas' pad from Crafter's Companion. I stamped the snowman onto a piece of watercolour paper, extended the line for the ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over the snowflake paper, then matted it onto some pale blue card before adding it to a white card blank.

For my 'V is for Violet' card, I used a bauble stamp from Marianne Designs (it doesn't have a name, but is one of the 'Tiny Borders' stamps), and stamped it onto a piece of black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using silver embossing powder. I added a sentiment using another of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, embossing it in silver to match, then watercoloured the baubles in violet using a Cosmic Shimmers mica pigment mixed with a little water. I matted it onto a piece of violet mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Kickstart - Gothic Christmas (Second card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (First card only)
• NBUS - Use Unused Stash (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Patterned Paper (First card only)
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute Creations (First card only)

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

Count Catular Treat Bag

I have another Halloween treat bag to share today...using another of the critters from the Penny Black 'Spooky' set. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut him out. For the background, I used some really, really old papers from Carta Bella, and distressed the edges a little before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens. I layered them onto a piece of black card, then added the image on top, matting it onto a scalloped circle cut from some more black card using another Nestie die, then added it all to a kraft gift bag.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Autumn/Halloween
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Three of Something (Patterned papers)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Patterned Papers

Bundled Snowman

I have a simple Christmas card to share today...featuring another snowman from the 'Bundled Snowman' set by Penny Black. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, extended the line for the snowy ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I cut around the top of the image, then layered it onto a kraft card blank. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Use Red & Green

Mice Treats!

I have another Halloween treat bag to share today...featuring another cute Penny Black critter, from the 'Be Very Scared!' set. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut him out. For the background, I used papers from the 'Boneshakin' Halloween' pad from Polkadoodles. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut a scalloped circle mat from some black card using another Nestie die, then layered everything up onto another piece of black card before adding it all to a kraft gift bag.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Allsorts - Anything Autumn
• Fab 'N' Funky - Three of Something (Three papers)
• Little Red Wagon - Stitching
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Ghosts/Goblins/Things that go Bump in the Night
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use Patterned Papers
• Sparkles Forum - Your Favourite Technique (Faux stitching)
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Halloween
• Sweet Stampin' - Autumn

Good Day Birthday!

I have a birthday card to share today, made using stamps from the 'Good Day!' set by Penny Black. I stamped them onto a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a piece of black card to a white card blank, then a strip of patterned paper (from the 'Let's Fly Away!' pad - magazine freebie), before adding the image on top.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

PBSC October - Anything Goes (Optional 'Bright Colours')

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

'Bright Colours'

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

I decided to get a start on making some Halloween treat bags, and picked one of the cute images from the 'Spooky!' set. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut out the circle shape using one of my Nesties. For the background, I used some brightly coloured papers from an unnamed Halloween pad from The Works. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee and a black gel pen. I matted the image onto a scalloped circle of black card (cut using another Nestie), then matted everything onto some black card before adding it all to a kraft treat bag.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Autumn
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Add Some Purple
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes

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