Pile It On! Challenge - Beary Good Friends

The theme of week's Pile It On! Challenge is:

'Beary Good Friends'

In other words...a bear and a friend!

We our sponsored for this challenge by Purple Panda Designs.

I've used an adorable Sarah Kay image (sent to me by my lovely ABC Christmas DT buddy Lacey), called 'My Sweet Lili' to make a Christmas card. I watercoloured her to match the 'Figgy Pudding' papers by BasicGrey. I embossed the gold strip with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder, and cut some more snowflakes using a Cuttlebug die from some deep red card...adding small pearls to their centres. I'm not sure where the lace is from...I think I received in a RAK.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:
Pile It On! - Beary Good Friends
BasicGrey - Sketch
Allsorts - Gold, Cream & a hint of Red
Crazy Challenge - Tons of Shapes (Square, Rectangle, Circle & Snowflake)
Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy - Lace & Pearls
One Stop Craft - Anything Goes

For more inspiration please check out the fab creations by my Pile It On! DT buddies.

Inside & Out

This is the card I've made for my Nan's birthday next month, to go with the boxed set of Penny Black cards I shared on Thursday. I've used several more Penny Black images...all hedgehogs this time...on a gatefold card. The ones on the front are from the 'Critter Party' set. The papers are from the freebie 'Quite Contrary' pad by My Mind's Eye, and the sentiment is a stamp from the CCSR set by Papermania. I distressed all of the edges with my distressing tool, and added some ribbon to the front of the card to keep it closed.

Here's a better view of the front of the card:

I used more papers from the same pad to decorate the inside...and another Penny Black image...'Party Pooped!':

Challenges for this card:

• Pollycraft - Sketch (for the front of the card)
• Midnight Madness - Sketch (used the simple version for the inside of the card)
• Caarvarks - Inside & Out

I'll be back later with my DT card for this week's Pile It On! Challenge...

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything that flies!

It's Wendy's turn to choose the theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Anything that flies!'

We are sponsored this month by Some Odd Girl, and they very genersously sent the DT some images to work with this week. I chose 'Witchy Tia'. I coloured her with watercolour pencils, and added some Glossy Accents to her eyes (available here at the Secret Crafter). I used Nesties (available here at the Sceret Crafter) to cut out the image and mat. The papers are from the 'Boo to You!' collection by My Mind's Eye, and I distressed all of the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The little bats and sentiment are from a pack of confetti I got from The Works.

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

• Truly Scrumptious - Sketch
• Crafty Catz - Hallowe'en
• Crafty Creations - Hallowe'en or Autumn
• Daring Cardmakers - Trick or Treat
• Little Red Wagon - Hallowe'en 
• PaperPlay - A haunting we will go

Christmas Sledging

Today's card features the other new Secret Crafter Manga stamp...this one's called 'Christmas Sledging'...don't they look like they're having fun!? This stamp (as well as the 'Christmas Angel' I featured on Wednesday) is available to download here from the Secret Crafter.

The papers I've used are from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye...I think is my all time favourite paper pad...such delicious colours...and all glittery too...perfect! The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley, and I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch along the bottom of the mat under the image. The snowflakes were ut using a Cuttlebug die, and then glittered with Glamour Dust, and I added a touch of sparkle to the image with Stickles.

Challenges for this card:

• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Papertake Weekly - Sparkly & Bright
• Allsorts - Spots & Stripes
• Bee Crafty - Christmas using a Digi image
• Creative Card Crew - Let's Punch It 
• Paper Sundaes - Natural Woman
• Simon Says Stamp - Punch 'em 
• Spoon Full of Sugar - Let's Get Punchy
• Stampavie & More - Christmas

Penny Black Card Set

I'll warn you now...this is a long post...with lots of photos.

It's my Nan's birthday next month, and this is the present I've made to give her. It's a set of simple Penny Black cards, with various greetings on, in a decorated box. The image I've used on the box is called 'Gifts for You', and the papers are from the 'Kioshi' pad by BasicGrey. I distressed all of the edges and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers are by Prima, and the brads are Papermania.

Here's a view of the top of the box:

And from the side, so that you can see it really is a box:

Here's a sneak peek at the contents:

For the cards, I kept them really simple, and stamped directly on to the card blank, then coloured the images with watercolour pencils, and added a sentiment. The images are all from clear stamp sets by Penny Black, and the sentiments are from various sets/manufacturers...I'll list them under the individual photos. I made 20 cards in total...there's 2 each of 10 designs:

Images: from the 'Critter Party' and 'Hugs' PB sets

Sentiments: from the 'Critter Party' PB set and CCSR set by Papermania

Images: from the 'Micey Nice Day' and 'Wonderful' PB sets

Sentiments: from the CCSR set by Papermania and the 'Wonderful' PB set

Images: from the 'Micey Nice Day' and 'Bubbly' PB sets

Sentiments: from the CCSR set by Papermania and the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp

Images: from the 'Wonderful' and 'Bubbly' PB sets

Sentiments: Hero Arts WM stamp and from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts

Images: from the 'Hugs' and 'Wonderful' PB sets

Sentiments: from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp and the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts

Challenges for these items:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch (for the box lid)
• Charisma Cardz - Match Master (for the set of cards)
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but a card (the box)
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Pastel Colours
• Fab'n'Funky - Clean & Simple (thanks for the tip off Jenny!)

Phew...see I told you it was a long post! lol

Christmas Angel

I've used one of the new Secret Crafter Manga stamps on today's card...she's called 'Christmas Angel'...isn't she adorable!? I've already seen a couple of cards in blogland made with her, so it would seem that you agree with me, but it you've haven't snapped her up (and there's another fabulous new image too, which I'll be featuring on a card on Friday) she's available to download here from the Secret Crafter.

I've kept my card really simple, using plain card embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Ice Crystals' folders. The snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and the sentiment is from a set by Lili of the Valley. I added Glamour Dust to the fairy's wings, star and eyelids, as well as around the edges of all the layers.

Challenges for this card:

• Sweet Stop - Sketch
• Colour Create - Purple, Aqua & White
• Crafty Ann's - Ribbon, Gems & at least one embellishment made from paper (the snowflakes) 
• Creative Cottage - Embossing
• Totally Gorjuss - Sparkle

Spooky!!!

I've been having another play with my Penny Black 'Spooky' stamps...have really enjoyed making Hallowe'en cards this year...it's the first time I've had any proper 'Hallowe'en' images, and it certainly makes it easier! lol
The orange and black papers are from the 'Boo to You!' collection by My Mind's Eye, and the purple piece of card has been embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Skeleton Scrolls' folder. I distressed all of the edges with black ink, and then added a few pieces of bat and spider shaped Hallowe'en confetti that I found in The Works yesterday.

Challenges for this card:

• Corrosive - Hallowe'en
• C.R.A.F.T. - Spooky
• Crazy4Challenges - Hallowe'en
• Creative Inspirations (Wed) - Spooky
• Dutch Dare - Hallowe'en
• Penny Black Saturday - Spooky Nights
• Raise the Bar - Orange, Black & Purple

Cuttlebug Spot - Anything Fall

The theme of this week's Cuttlebug Spot Challenge is:

'Anything Fall'

Here in the UK, the leaves have all started to turn the most glorious colours...so that's what inspired my card.

I made the leaves using some freebie digi stamps I found on Tiffany Doodles. I printed them on to plain white card, then cut them all out. I used chalk inkpads to colour the leaves, then I embossed them with the follwing Cuttlebug folders: 'Spots & Dots'; 'Kassie's Brocade'; 'Textile'; and 'Perfect Paisley'. Using one of my circular Nesties as a guide, I created a wreath with the leaves, sticking them to the card with 3D foam pads. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

For more autumnal inspiration, please check out the fabulous creations by my lovely Cuttlebug Spot DT buddies.

Just Cute Bears & Friends - Sketch by Me

Before I get on to this fortnight's challenge, I have some exciting news about our challenges. As of this week, we are changing our name to the Just Cute Bears & Friends Challenge...so now you can use any of your cute animal stamps on your entries.

The challenge this fortnight is a sketch by me:

I've used an adorable Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Little Star' on my card. I coloured it with watercolour pencils, then added some Glamour Dust to the star, and the fur trim on his hat. The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' glitter stack by My Mind's Eye. I cut the snowflakes using a Cuttlebug die...then spinkled them with more Glamour Dust.

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

• Delightful  - It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
• Lili of the Valley - Winter Fun
• Teddy Stampers - Anything Goes

For more inspiration, please visit the Just Cute Bears & Friends blog.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Manga

The theme of this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is:

'Manga'

Which gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase some of the Secret Crafter's own Manga stamps. I've used the digital version of 'Bird Fairy' (she's also available as a clear polymer stamp), to make a Christmas card. The papers are from the 'Tis the Season' collection by Bo Bunny, and I distressed all of the edges with my distressing tool, then added some faux stitching with my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Cuttlebug dies, and the image was cut out using a circle Nestie (available here at the Secret Crafter). I used Stardust Stickles (available here at the Secret Crafter) to add some sparkle to the snowflakes, and the fur trim on Bird Fairy's dress.

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

• Crafter's Companion - Sketch
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Distressing & Stitching
• Stamp Something - October Digi Day

Today sees the release of two fabulous new Secret Crafter Manga stamps...with a Christmas theme:

'Christmas Sledging'

'Christmas Angel'

Both of the new digital stamps are now available to buy from the Secret Crafter.

For more Manga inspiration, please check out the fabulous samples by my lovely Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge DT buddies.

Woo-hoo!!

Half-term is finally here...andI'm off to (hopefully) sunny Norfolk today to spend the week at my parents' house.No card from me today...but as I'm on me half-term hols, I'm sure there'll be plenty to show you next week...and I'll be back tomorrow with my DT card for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Party Cat

It's nearly half-term...just one more day...and then I'm off...yippee!!!
Today's card is for another of the many October birthdays. The image is from the 'Bubbly' set by Penny Black, which I coloured with watercolour pencils, and then added some Glossy Accents to the balloons. The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Patterns - Sketch
• Scrapbook Sisters - Pets

ABC Christmas Challenge - V is for...

It's Samantha's turn to host the ABC Christmas Challenge this week, where we have reached the letter 'V'...she has gone with a 'Vertical' theme...and has designed two fabulous sketches for us to use:

Sketch 1:

Sketch 2:

...and we'd love to see you  add as many other 'V's as you can to your creations too!

We are sponsored for this challenge by Pink Cat Studio...and the prize is 5 digi stamps!
They have also very generously given the DT some adorable images to play with! :0)

I've used 'Penguin Candy Cane Swing' (by Pink Cat Studio) on my card...he's 'Very' cute! I coloured him with watercolour pencils to match the 'Vibrant' colours of my 'Wonderful Winter' glitter papers by My Mind's Eye. To echo the 'Vertical' lines on the Sketch (I used Sketch 1), I have 'Vertical' stripes, and 'Vertical' spots! I made it 'Very' glittery by adding Glamour Dust around the edges of all the papers and the image, and a few acrylic gems (from Paperchase).

I'm also going to enter this card into the follwing challenges:

• Crafty Ann's - Digi plus favourite colouring medium
• Top Tip Tuesday - 'Anything Goes'...and my 'Top Tip' is to get ahead for Christmas by Joining us at the ABC Christmas Challenge! :0)

If you're a little 'Vexed' by our 'V' challenge...you can find lots more 'Very' inspiring projects from the rest of the DT at the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Carol Singing

I love white on white cards...especially for Christmas. The image I've used is 'Carol Singing' by Lili of the Valley, which I've coloured using watercolour pencils...I added a touch of sparkle with some Stickles. For the background, I embossed plain white card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' folders, then distressed all of the edges with my distressing tool.

Challenges for this card:

• Sweet Stop - Sketch & Sparkle
• Crafty Sentiments - White on White Plus Coloured Image

Cuttlebug Spot - Totally Frightful!

This week's Cuttlebug Spot Challenge is:

'Totally Frightful!'

We want to see your scary Hallowe'en projects.

Eeeeeek!!!

I don't have much Hallowe'en stash, and most of what I do have is rather cute...so these pumkins (from the 'Spooky' set by Penny Black) are the best that I could do. I created the orange background by randomly stamping a spider's web (from the same PB set) in Versafine, then embossing with clear powder. I embossed a piece of black card with my Cuttlebug 'Skeleton Scroll' folder, then highlighted the raised detail with a white chalk inkpad. I distressed all of the edges with inks and my distressing tool, and added a piece of ribbon from Poppicrafts.

For more 'frightful' inspiration, please check out the scary creations by my lovely Cuttlebug Spot DT buddies...if you dare!

Pile It On! Challenge - Hallowe'en for Kids

The theme of this week's Pile It On! Challenge is:

'Hallowe'en for Kids'

 We are sponsored for this challenge by KAH-Wink-E-Dink

I've used a cute Penny Black image called 'Apprentice' for my card. The papers are from the 'Boo to You!' collection by My Mind's Eye, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts. I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug, and a white gel pen. I added some googly eyes to the spider on one of the papers, and a pair peeking out from the dark night sky! lol

Here are the challenges that I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - Hallowe'en for Kids
• Penny Black Saturday - Sketch
• Crafts & Me - Hallowe'en
• Craftalicious - Anything Goes
• Creative Cottage - Hallowe'en
• Creative Craft - Trick or Treat
• Creative Inspirations - Hallowe'en/Fall
• Cupcake Craft - Scary Creatures
• Double Dutch - Boo to You!
• Everybody Art - Hallowe'en
• For Fun - Googlie Booglie
• Fussy & Fancy - Hallowe'en
• Moving Along with the Times - Hallowe'en
• One Stop Craft - Hallowe'en
• Stamp Something - Hallowe'en
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Hallowe'en

For more spooky inspiration, please check out the creations by my lovely Pile It On! Dt buddies.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Oriental

It's Tracie's turn to choose the theme of this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Oriental'

I've used one of the Secret Crafter's own Manga stamps...'Samurai Boy' (available as both a clear polymer stamp, and as a digital download). The papers are from the 'Far East' stack by DCWV, and I used my Cuttlebug 'Forest Branches' folder to emboss the middle panel....I though it sort of looked like bamboo! lol 

I inked around all of the edges using chalk inkpads, and added a sentiment using a stamp from the CCSR set by Papermania.

I'm also going to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Midnight Madness - Sketch (I've used the simple version, which I 've rotated)
• Cards for Men - Happy Birthday
• Digi Doodles - My Peeps

For more inspiration, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge to see the fabulous samples by my lovely DT buddies.

A Girl's Best Friend...

No....not diamonds...but a dog! :0)

I love this vintage feeling Lili of the Valley stamp ('Little Girls - Swing Time'), and I've used it to make my card for this month's friendship swap on the Docrafts forum. The paper is from the 'Wild Asparagus' collection by My Mind's Eye, the flowers are by Prima, the ribbon is Laura Ashley, the bottons were from Poppicrafts, and the sentiment stamp is from a little Studio G set. I distressed all of the edges with inks and my distressing tool, then added some faux stitching with my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The scalloped edging on the main image was done using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch.

Challenges for this card:

• Our Creative Corner - Sketch
• Allsorts - Song Title Inspiration (Mine's 'You've got a friend in me' from Toy Story)
• Little Red Wagon - Something Old (The main image stamp) & Something New (The ribbon)
• Pink Elephant - Childhood
• Stamptacular Sunday - BFF (Buttons, Flowers & Friendship)