Present Pile!

Christmas cards...two days in a row...what's wrong with me??? Anyway, I couldn't resist inking up this little cutie...he's called 'Present Pile' by Lili of the Valley, and I coloured him with watercolour pencils. I've used the 'coffee & cream' colour combo from Simon Says Stamp...although the swirly Bo Bunny Paper (from the 'Tis the Season' collection ) is a little dark...well I do like my coffee black! ;0)
The sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp, and the snowflakes were all cut using a Cuttlebug die. I distressed the edges using my distressing tool, and then added lots of adhesive pearls.

Challenges for this card:

• Everybody Art - Sketch
• Lili of the Valley - Circles
• Simon Says Stamp - Coffee & Cream
• Winter Wonderland - Animals

Pile It On! Challenge - Tri-fold Card

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

'Tri-fold Cards'

Our sponsor for this challenge is the fabulous:

Who are very generously giving a $15 gift certificate to the Simon Says Stamp store for the lucky winner!

There are many styles of tri-fold card, most of which don't actually have three folds! I've made a 'zig-zag' card...here's a view of the front:

I used an A4 piece of card for the base, folding it to make a DL sized card, trimming the top on the diagonal, then I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch along the top. The papers are from the 'Eskimo Kisses' collection by BasicGrey, and I distressed the edges with my distressing tool, before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The fairy is a Wild Rose Studio stamp, called 'Ella with Flowers', which I coloured with watercolour pencils, adding some sparkle with a Sakura Stardust pen, and 'Ice Crystal' Stickles. The flowers are a mixture of Prima and Wild Orchid Carfts, and the sentiment is a Paper Make Up stamp.

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

• Pile It On! - Tri-fold Card

• Bah! Humbug! - Things that Fly

• Corrosive - Distressing

• Crafts & Me - Wings

• Crafty Creations - At the bottom of my garden lives...

• Crazy4Challenges - Flowers

• Creative Card Crew - Fantasy

• Flutterby Wednesday - Open

• Stamp Something - Flowers

• Sweet Stampin' - Girly

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous samples by my lovely Pile It On! DT buddies.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - GDT Card!

This is my last card as a guest designer for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...I can't believe how quickly the month has gone! The theme this week is:

'Pearls & Lace'

And there are two fabby prizes up for grabs:

Fantastic Ribbons - 4 rolls of the winner's choice

&

PB Stamps - 15% off Lifetime Discount Voucher

I decided to try something different (well for me anyway), and used my lace (from Wild Orchid Crafts) as a frilly border around my image ('Gifts for You!' by Penny Black). The papers are from the 'Wisteria' pad by BasicGrey, and I distressed the edges with my distressing tool, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I used some small adhesive pearls in all the corners as a finishing touch.

For more inspiration, please pop over and see the stunning creations by the lovely PBSC girls. Thanks so much for having me - I've loved being a guest designer for you...and will be back next week to join in as a challenger again! :0)

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Sweet Treats

It's my turn to set the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge this week, and I have chosen:

'Sweet Treats'

(In other words, something yummy on your card)

Our new DT members join us next week, but unfotunately one of them has been unable to join us...which means that we were able to invite ANDIE to join our little team!

Also, as this is the last week of the month, it's your last chance to be included in the draw for 5 digi's of your choice from our sponsor:

The Stamping Boutique

We also have wonderful news about the Secret Crafter store...Wendy's shop was voted runner-up in the Best Independent Craft Shop in the Midlands in the Aceville Awards - Congratulations Wendy! 

Also, she will soon be stocking the fabulous range of Clarity stamps, and a new electronic die cutting machine called the ECraft...you can find them alongside all the other lovely goodies Wendy stocks at the Secret Crafter.

I've used an adorable House Mouse stamp called 'Birthday Cupcake' on my card, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, before adding a generous frosting of 'Crystal' Stickles (available here at the Secret Crafter) to the icing. The pink spotty paper is from the 'Quite Contrary' pad by My Mind's Eye, and I used an embossing folder, covered in sweeties, from a Hallowe'en set by Cuttlebug on brown card, then sanded the surface to reveal the white core, using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamond' punch along the bottom. The sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp, and I cut it out using my Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter). I distressed all of the edges with inks, and my distressing tool, adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, and a few adhesive pearls in the corners (available here at the Secret Crafter).

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

• Inspirational Card Sketches - Sketch (without the optional easel card)
• Anything Goes - Distressing
• Cupcake Craft - Cake 'n' Ice Cream (I don't like ice cream, so just went with the cake ;0))
• Crafty Ann's - Birthday card
• Ribbon Girls - Pink, Brown & Cream
• Wags 'n' Whiskers - Punches

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

Fluffy

When I went to print out some other digis yesterday, I discovered this cute 'lil monster called 'Fluffy' (from Pollycraft). I won him as part of a challenge prize yonks ago, but have never used him...so I just had to print him too. Paula is having a 'Colour your Critter' challenge this week, so I used my favourite colours (turquoise/aqua) to colour Fluffy...which makes him look like a bit like Sulley from Monsters Inc! lol
The papers are some scraps of DCWV 'Retro' papers I found lurking in my paper stash. The sentiment stamp is from alittle set by Studio G, and the little stamped stars are from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Tales from Pollycraft - Colour your Critter
• Sketchy Colours - Sketch
• Cards for Men - 1 image, 2 papers & 3 embellishments
• Creative Stamp Friends - Checks
• Delightful - Use your scraps
• Digi Doodles - Spots & Dots
• Totally Gorjuss - Check it out

Easter Bunnies

The sun actually shone (for a little bit at least) yesterday afternoon...I think it must have been the bright and cheerful colours I was using on my card that coaxed it out! The image I used is part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp by Penny Black - I love that you can easily mask off some of the bunnies when stamping, it makes this stamp really versatile. The paper is from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers, as are the little tabs I used in the top right-hand corner. The flowers are from various Prima packs, the brads are Papermania, and the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Cute Card Thursday - Sketch
• Allsorts - Inspired by Nature
• Crafty Sentiments - Spring
• Little Red Wagon - Animals
• Oldie, but a Goodie - Spring is in the air (I've had this stamp for about 3 years)
• Penny Black Inc - Easter

Birthday Beagle

Today's card uses a Whipper Snapper stamp - 'Birthday Beagle', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are a mixture of We R Memory Keepers ('72 and Sunny' and 'Hippity Hoppity') and Crate Paper (it's just a scrap, and I can't remember the name of the collection). The sentiment is from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black.

Challenges for this card:

• Papertake Weekly - Sketch
• Crafty Catz - One for the men
• Paper Sundaes - Masculine Colours
• Spoon Full of Sugar - Birthday Wishes
• Totally Stampalicious - Brown, Green & Blue

My Favourite Colour!

Another Christmas card from me today...but at least it's not white! Inspired by the Lili of the Valley Challenge, I've used my favourite colours - aqua, teal & turquoise. The image is 'Presents for Two' (of course by Lili of the Valley), and I coloured it with watercolour pencils, then added some 'Crystal Ice' Stickles to the fur trim on his hat. The papers are a mixture of My Mind's Eye ('Countdown to Christmas') and We R Memory Keepers ('Hippity Hoppity'). The ribbon is recycled from a Liz Earle Christmas gift package, and the sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Sketchy Thursday - Sketch
• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare - Sparkle/Glitter/Bling (It doesn't show up very well in the photo, but there's glitter on his hat, and the swirly paper is all sparkly too)
• Lili of the Valley - My favourite colours (aqua/teal/turquoise)
• My Time to Craft - Hats

Cuttlebug Spot - Pop-up Cards

It's the final week of our 'card fold' challenges over at the Cuttlebug Spot, and this week we're showcasing:

'Pop-up Cards'

This is my first ever pop-up card...so be gentle with me! As I wanted the focus to be on the inside of the card, I kept the outside really simple, using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystals' and 'Snowflakes' folders for the embossing, and 'Ice Crystal' die to cut the snowflake:

I continued with the snowflake theme inside, with more embossing, and snowflakes cut using Marianne Creatables and Cuttlebug dies. The images I've used are from three clear stamp sets by Penny Black: 'Christmas Critters'; 'Jolly Friends'; and 'Holly-Jolly'. The sentiment stamp is by Paper Make-up.

Here's a close-up of the pop-up bit:

I'm also entering this card into a few other challenges:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - The white stuff
• Craft Us Crazy - Winter
• Winter Wonderland - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

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

White Wedding

I've really gotten into different card folds recently, and I've got another step card to share today. This one has steps on each side, and measures 5.75 inches square. It's a wedding card, so I went for all white (not that I need an excuse - I love white cards!). No stamped image either, just used my dies and embossing folders. The hearts were cut using the 'Concentric Hearts' Cuttlebug die, and I used my Nesties to cut out the circles. For the embossing I used four Cuttlebug folders: 'Kassie's Brocade'; 'D'Vine Swirls'; 'Victoria'; and 'Just My Type'. The sentiment is from the CCSR set by Papermania.

And a view from the side:

Challenges for this card:

• Crazy 4 Challenges - Dies
• Incy Wincy - Punches or Dies

House Mouse Birthday

I've got a bright & cheerful card to share today...using a House Mouse stamp I received for my birthday last year from my lovely bloggy buddy Lols. It's an unmounted stamp from the 'Balloon' set...and Lols tells me it's called 'Pop-ular Fun'. As it's quite large, I kept the layout really simple. The papers are from the 'Hippity Hoppity' Scrapbook pad by We R Memory Keepers, the sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp, and I added a few pieces of Craftwork Cards card candy.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Makin' Mamas - Happy Birthday
• CES - Spots & Stripes
• For Fun - Happy Birthday
• Fuzzy Wuzzy - Birthday Wishes
• House Mouse & Friends - Favourite Stamp (I only have 2 HM stamps...and I love them both...but I adore the mischeivous expression on the face of the mouse holding the pin on this one!)
• If the Shoe Fits...Scrap It! - Happy Birthday
• One Stop Craft - Birthday
• Stamp Something - Something Funky (I've used funky colours)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - GDT Card!

The theme of this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge is:

'Cards for Men'

I really enjoy making men's cards...and I love using Penny Black doggie stamps on them. This one is called 'Circus Act'...I love the one holding his ears up for the one on the top to sit on! lol

I coloured them with watercolour pencils, and then carefully cut them out...well, I didn't want to accidentally snip off a tail! I decided to make a side-step card, and used Kraft card for a more masculine feel. The papers I used are from the 'Offbeat' pad by BasicGrey, and I distressed the edges using inks and my distressing tool, before adding some faux stitching. The stars were cut using Nesties, and the little sentiment (in the centre of he largest star) is a stamp from a little Studio G set. I used my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet to cut the letters.

Here's a view showing the 'steps':

Don't forget to pay those lovely PBSC girls a visit for more inspiration :0)

It's half-term...woo-hoo!...and I'm off to Norfolk this morning to visit my parents...have a good weekend everyone!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Fancy Folds

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

'Fancy Folds'

I've been experimenting with a few different card folds recently, and decided a make a type of gate-fold card...this one has a double fold in the front. I started with a piece of card measuring 12 inches by 5 inches, then scored the card at 2, 4, 8 and 10 inches...once folded it measures 4x5 inches.

Here's a view of the card 'open':

The image I used is 'Rainin' Daisies' by Penny Black, coloured with watercolour pencils, and then cut out using my lacey circles Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter). I used three different Cuttlebug folders for the embossing: 'Victoria'; 'D'Vine Swirls'; and 'Floral Fantasy' (available here at the Secret Crafter). I cut the flowers using a die from the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and then added some adhesive pearls (available here at the Secret Crafter) to their centres.

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

• Truly Scrumptious - Swirls & Pearls
• Stampavie & More - Monochrome
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Monochrome
• Delightful - Animals
• Creative Cottage - Fabulous Florals

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

White Christmas...

Today's card is a real quickie...I already had the image coloured (it's from the 'Christmas Critters' set by Penny Black), and simply cut a circular card blank using the largest of my lacey scalloped Nesites...wasn't sure it would cut through the two layers, but it did :0)
I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Ice Crystals' folders for the embossing, and the snowflake is a Marianne Creatables die. I scuffed up the edges with my distressing tool, then added some 'Ice Crystal' Stickles to the snowflake.

Challenges for this card:

• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch (NO corners)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Feature a creature
• DCD Christmas Club - White Christmas
• My Time to Craft - Circles
• Stamp Fairy - White with a touch of colour

ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for...

This week's ABC Christmas Challenge is hosted by Delphine, and the theme is:

'D is for Double Trouble'

This is what you need to do:
use a  digi image, AND 2 different papers & 2 types of embellishments.

Our fabulous sponsor this week is Digital Delights

And here is what you could win...

Ok, so on to my card. The DT were given some Digital Delights images to play with, but I decided to use one that I already had called 'Snowball the Snowman' (sorry, I tried to link him, but it tells me he doesn't exist on their website at the moment, which is odd, 'cos he was definitely there last week!). I coloured him with watercolour pencils to match the red and green of the two My Mind's Eye 'Wonderful Winter' glitter papers. My two types of embellishments are the spotty ribbon and adhesive sparkly gems. For a touch more sparkle, I added some Stickles in 'Ice Crystal' to the snow under the snowman, and finally a Cuddly Buddly sentiment stamp.

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

• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch 104
• Papertake Weekly - Glitz
• Totally Stampalicious - Bling, Glitter or Glitz

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous cards by my lovely ABC Christmas Challenge DT buddies.

Cuttlebug Spot - Gate-fold Cards

This week's Cuttlebug Spot Challenge theme is:

'Gate-fold Cards'

I've used two adorable Lili of the Valley bear stamps on my card: 'Busy baking' (on the outside); and 'I baked a cake' (on the inside). I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder for the embossing, to echo the dots on the little bear's dress, and the sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp. I distressed all of the edges with inks, and my distressing tool.

Here's the inside:

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

• Creative Inspirations (Sundays) - Distressing
• Delightful - Punches/Dies (I used my Nesties)
• Fussy & Fancy - Sweet Treats
• Stamptacular Sunday - Lovin' from the oven

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

Pile It On! Challenge - I'm loving plaid!

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

'I'm Loving Plaid!'

Our sponsor for this challenge is PaperCraftingWorld, and the prize is a digi stamp or cutting file of the winner's choice.

I took a gorgeous sheet of plaid/checked paper from the 'Hippity Hoppity' Scrapbook pad by We R Memory Keepers as my starting point, and watercoloured an adorable Peeny Black image (called 'Nose Kiss') to match, adding some Glossy Accents to the heart. The sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly, the flowers are Prima and the sparkly brads are American Crafts.

Here are the challenges that I've Piled On!:
Pile It On! - I'm loving plaid!
CES - Cute & Cuddly
Card Positioning Systems - Sketch 204
C.R.A.F.T. - Valentine's
Crafty Ann's - Love is all around
Crafty Calendar - Love
Crafty Cardmakers - Hearts
Crafty Catz - Valentine's/Love
Crafty Creations - Love
Crafty Sentiments - Valentine's/Love
Crazy4Challenges - Hearts
Crazy Challenge - Lots of love
Creative Card Crew - For a loved one
Creative Stamp Friends - Valentine's
Critter Sketch - Critters
Cute Card Thursday - Hearts & Flowers
Dutch Dare - Love
Everybody Art - Valentine's
For Fun - Hearts
Incy Wincy - Love
One Stop Craft - Love
PaperPlay - Hearts & Flowers
Papertake Weekly - Have a heart
Pink Elephant - Valentine's
Scrapbook Sisters - Valentine's
Sew Many Challenges - Valentine's
Spoon Full of Sugar - Let's see some love
Stamp Man - Hearts
Stamp Something - Valentine's
Stamp with Fun - Love
Teddy Stampers - Love
Totally Gorjuss - Love
Winter Wonderland - To the one I love

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous samples by my lovely Pile It On! DT buddies.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - GDT Card!

I'm back with another guest designer card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this week the theme is:

'Pretty in Pink'

 The prize this week is a $20 voucher from 1-2-3 Stitch

Eeeek...I'm not really a fan of pink...but I figured, if I'm going to do pink, I may as well DO pink. The stamp I've used is 'Vanilla' (of course by Penny Black), as I thought she'd look good in a pink dress. I found some really pink papers (from a Heidi Grace pad), flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, spotty pink ribbon, and even some Craft Obsessions jewelled brads in pink amongst my stash...I realised that despite not liking pink, I actually have rather a lot of pink items! I added a Cuddly Buddly sentiment and some small adhesive pearls in the corners to finish.

I'm sure that the fabulous Penny Black Saturday Challenge girls have made some stunning pink creations to inspire you...I know I can't wait to have a look!