Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - For a Baby

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

'For a Baby'

As it's the last challenge of the month, it's your last chance to be included for the draw for the prize from our fabulous sponsor The Stamping Boutique.

I've used an adorable Penny Black image on my card called 'In a Nutshell'...just perfect for a new baby card...which I coloured using watercolour pencils, then cut out and mounted on to circles cut using my Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter). I used three different Cuttlebug folders to emboss the background - 'Swiss Dots', 'D'Vine Swirls' and 'Kassie's Brcoade' (available here at the Secret Crafter). I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and added a some spotty ribbon (from Hobbycraft) and Card Candi. The flowers were cut using a die from the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet set, and I added small adhesive pearls (available here at the Secret Crafter) to their centres.

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

• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Mojo Monday - Sketch
• Moving Along with the Times - Anything Goes
• Paper Sundaes - Sundae Bar (I chose Die Cuts & Pearls)
• Stampavie & More - Pearls
• Wags N' Whiskers - Die or Punch (I've used both)

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

Constellations

I had my first go at resist embossing last weekend...I embossed 'Constellations' (by Penny Black) in white on white card, then rubbed several different colours of fluid chalk inks over the top...I had so much fun I did another in a different colourway. To keep the focus on the images, I kept the rest of the card really simple, embossing plain white card with my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder, and adding a sentiment (the 'Happy Birthday' is from the CCSR set by Papermania, and the 'Thank You' is from the 'Heartfelt Messages' set by Hero Arts).

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafty Creations - White Space
• Less is More - Off Centre
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - I is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...and this week it's hosted by the lovely Samantha...with a theme of:

'I is for Indigo & Ice'

She has a rather snazzy inspirational photo for you too:

We are sponsored for this challenge by Stamping with Brenda

Not only that, but Brenda is joining us at a guest designer for this challenge too!

Ok, so on to my card...Brenda sent us all a parcel of goodies to play with...and I used some of the card and silvery tinsel on my card. I decided to have another go at resist embossing (my first efforts will be uploaded tomorrow), and stamped this rather glorious tree ('Before the Snow' by Penny Black) in Versamark on white card, then heat embossed it in white. I then rubbed over the top with a couple of different colours of fluid chalk inks to create a dark night sky. To give the effect of snowfall, I spritzed the inks with water whilst still wet (I couldn't get a decent photo...they all looked washed out, but it does look like it's snowing in real life!). For the backing, I embossed a couple of different colours of Core'dinations card using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Ice Crystals' folders, then sanded the raised areas to reveal the coloured core. I used a Papermania snowflake border folder to emboss the silver card, and added some of the silvery tinsel from Brenda.

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

• Papertake Weekly - Sketch
• The Stamp Man - Resist Techniques

For more inspiration, please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge...as always there are samples from my lovely DT buddies...as well as our sponsor and guest designer Brenda...and from our first ever 'Designer in the Spotlight', Shelley.

Meet Spike

Today's card is a bit of a 'monster'...I used one of the Pollycraft 'Critters'...he's called 'Spike' and although he only has one eye...I think he looks quite friendly. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to his eye. The papers are mostly from the 'Offbeat' pad by BasicGrey, but the stripey one is from the '365 Degrees' pad by Pink Paislee. I (lightly) inked all of the edges, and added a couple of stars cut using my Nesties.

Challenges for this card:

• Charisma Cardz - Jokes/Laughter (well...I think he's funny! lol)
• Crafty Catz - Children's Cards
• Creative Inspirations (Sundays) - Digi Day
• Stampavie & More - Birthdays
• Stamptacular Sunday - Pile It On
• Sweet Stop - Sketch
• Totally Stampalicious - Include some Food

Warm & Fuzzy

I've used an image I've had in my box for absolutely ages on this card...I think it was sent to me by my lovely friend Carol...and it's called 'Warm & Fuzzy' by Penny Black. For the background, I embossed plain white card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folders. The sentiment is computer generated...it's not in the font I intended...for some reason the printer kept choosing to print out in a different font from the one that was on the screen...really not sure what it thought it was doing but in the end I just gave up and went with it!

Challenges for this card:

• Corrosive - Animals
• Everybody Art - Pearls
• Penny Black Saturday - Happily Ever After
• Spoon Full of Sugar - Let's Celebrate!
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

Pile It On! Challenge - 2 or More Ribbons

This week's Pile It On! Challenge is sponsored by our very own Corinna, who has recently started her own company called The Ribbon Carousel...so in honour of that, our challenge this week is to use:

'2 or More Ribbons'

(I'm not sure of the prize info...but will add that here later)

I've used a Lili of the Valley image on my card called 'Little Girls - Swing Time', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The spotty paper is from the 'Wild Asparagus' collection by My Mind's Eye, the flowers are a mixture of Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima, and the button and ribbons have been in my stash so long, I can't remmeber where they came from. To give a 'vintage' feel, I inked and distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. Oh...and the scalloped card blank is by Craft UK...I picked up a pack yesterday in The Range.

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

• Pile It On! - 2 or More Ribbons
• Crafter's Companion - Aqua & Brown
• Crazy Challenge - Friendship
• Creative Fridays - Open Theme
• Creative Inspriations (Wednesdays) - Pets
• Cute Card Thursday - No Text
• Let's Ink It Up - Stitching
• Pollycraft - Sketch & Vintage Theme
• Scrapbook Sisters - Buttons
• Top Tip Tuesday - Open Theme
• Truly Scrumptious  - Vintage

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Pink, Brown & Cream

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has been set by Bridget, and she has chosen a colour combo of:

'Pink, Brown & Cream'

I've used an adorable Penny Black image on my card, from the 'Critter Party' set, that hadn't seen any ink in a while. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the icing on the cupcake (available here at the Secret Crafter). The papers are from the 'Hopscotch' pad by BasicGrey, and I couldn't resist distressing the edges with inks and my distressing tool, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I cut the circles using various Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter), embossing the cream one with my 'D'Vine Swirls' Cuttlebug folder (available here at the Secret Crafter), and the brown one with my Craft Concepts 'Cupcakes' folder, sanding the surfaces to reveal the white core of the paper.  I used a sentiment from the same Penny Black set, added a few pieces of card candy and a bow tied using seam binding ribbon.

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

• Anything Goes - Pink & Brown
• Birthday Sundaes - Anything Birthday
• Crafts & Me - Pink & Sweet
• Simon Says Stamp - Embossing
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Easter Gifts

I have a few little Easter gifts to share today...a couple of baskets, and a mini pizza box:

The first one I made by attaching a handle using brads to a simple open box. I covered it with We R Memory Keepers 'Hippity Hoppity' papers, and used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch along all of the edges.

For the second one, I cut circles using my Blossom Nesties, then joined them together using a strip of card. I made a handle in the same way as the previous basket, but covered this one with BasicGrey 'Kioshi' papers, and a couple of bunnies from the 'Bunny Friends' stamp by Penny Black.

I made the mini pizza box following this tutorial over on Split Coast Stampers. I used more papers and a die cut from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad, and the rest of the Penny Black Bunnies to decorate it.

Challenges for these items:

• BasicGrey - Easter/Spring (Basket 2)
• Crazy4Challenges - Easter Gifts
• Creative Stamp Friends - Easter Package
• Double Dutch - Easter Basket
• For Fun - Easter 
• Fussy & Fancy - Springtime
• Our Creative Corner - 3D Easter Project
• PaperPlay - Easter Time
• Penny Black Saturday - Easter Extravaganza (Basket 2 & Mini Pizza Box)
• Sweet Stampin' - Chocolate

Party Perch

I've dusted off an old stamp for today's card...it's one of the first Penny Black stamps I bought, and it's called 'Party Perch'...I just love the expression on the chicken's face!
I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, to match the bright colours of the We R Memory Keepers 'Hippity Hoppity' papers...see, I said you hadn't seen the last of those! I added faux stitching around the edges using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, a sentiment (from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts) and a few paper flowers (from Wild Orchid Crafts).

Challenges for this card:

• Papertake Weekly - Spots & Stripes
• Sweet Stop Sketch - Sketch wth a Spin (Winged Things)
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Wings

ABC Christmas Challenge - H is for...

Here's another card for the ABC Christmas Challenge, where the theme this fortnight is:

'H is for Hotspot'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp, and the prize is a $ 15 shopping Voucher to spend in their shop!

And...if that's not enough to tempt you...we are having a Guest Designer call on this challenge, so if you fancy joining us ABC Christmas girls next month, make sure you join in.

This time I've used a Lili of the Valley image, called 'Decorating the Tree'. I stamped them whilst at my friend Kaz's last week...but I had trouble getting to grips with using the rubber glued straight on to the acrylic block (I EZ Mount all mine), and the first couple came out a bit patchy...I thought I wouldn't be able to use them, but Samantha had the brilliant idea of using the 'less than perfect' images for 'hotspots'...so that's what I did! I coloured my 'hotspot' with watercolour pencils, and then cut it out using one of my circular Nesties. The papers are from the 'Countdown to Christmas' pad by My Mind's Eye, I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch along the bottom of the red card under the image, and added some spotty ribbon from my stash.

Here's a close-up of the 'hotspot':

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

• Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Watercolour your image
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Sing Song (Mine's 'O Christmas Tree')
• Critter - Dies and/or Punches (I used a circle Nestie to punch out the hotspot, and a border punch along the bottom of the image)
• Digi Doodles - Stripes
• Raise the Bar - Tree-men-dous

You can find more inspiration over on the ABC Christmas Challenge, and there's a fab tutorial by my lovely DT buddy Dorte on last week's 'Hotspot' post...along with the linky widget for your entries.

Spring Bunnies

This is my last Easter card for the year...but it's not the last you'll see of these papers...I just LOVE them! They're from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers...and were such a bargain in TK Maxx! I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The image is 'Spring Bunnies' by Hambo digi stamps, the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts, the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the rainbow ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Makin' Mamas - Spring Colours
• Cooking it up with Katie - 1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments (flowers, brad & ribbon)
• Incy Wincy - Bright & Bold 
• My Time to Craft - Easter Wishes
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch

I Baked a Cake!

Well...actually I didn't...that's the name of the adorable Lili of the Valley stamp I used on this card! I coloured  it with watercolour pencils, then cut it out using my Nesties. I didn't use any patterned papers on this card, but instead embossed plain card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Moroccan Screen' folders. For the scalloped border along the bottom, I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch (covering up the diamonds). The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, and I couldn't resist adding a few pieces of Card Candi in one corner.

Challenge for this card:

• Crafts & Me - Ribbon
• Lili of the Valley - Happy Birthday
• Paper Sundaes - Texture
• Ribbon Girls - Red, White & Blue
• Stamp with Fun - Birthday
• Totally Gorjuss - No Patterned Papers
• Your Next Stamp - Texture

Hunny Bunny

I have another Easter card to show you today...this time I've used 'Kiki Hunny Bunny' by Pollycraft, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers...I know I've used them a lot recently (and you'll see more of them next week too!), but they're just perfect for Easter and Spring cards. I distressed the edges, and then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Days Away - Easter
• Everybody Art - Sketch
• Pollycraft - Easter

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Stitching

This week it's Beate's turn to set the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Stitching'

(Real or faux)

Faux stitching is something I love to do on my cards, especially if I've distressed the edges of the papers, as I always thinks it makes them look kind of like fabric. I use a CutterBee Bug to pierce holes in the papers to make the stitching look more realistic, before drawing on the stitches with a white gel pen. The image I've used on this card is called 'Amelie Bunnykins' by Toodles & Binks, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, then cut out using my circle and scalloped circle Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter). The papers and tag are all from the 'Hippity Hoppity' scrapbook pad by We R Memory Keepers.

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

• C.R.A.F.T. -Easter
• Crazy - Easter
• Creative Inspirations (Wednesdays) - Easter
• Daring Cardmakers - Spring Fling
• Delightful - Easter
• Die Cut Dreams - Easter
• Fab 'N' Funky - Spots & Dots
• For Fun - Choose at least 3 from: Pink, Blue, Purple, Green & Yellow
• Little Red Wagon - Easter
• My Time to Craft - On the Spot

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

You're the Bestest!

I said I'd be back today with another card made using some of my Glitter Pot haul...I just had to get a Penny Black stamp while I was there...and I've had my eye on this one...'You're the Bestest'...for a while...my lovely friend Pauline keeps creating beautiful cards with it, so I caved in when I saw it on the shelves. I coloured it waith watercolour pencils, and then cut it out using one of my 'Labels 1' Nesties. The papers are from the My Mind's Eye 'Ohh La La (for Him)' collection, and after I'd distressed the edges a little, I added faux stitching with my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the CCSR set by Papermania.

Challenges for this card:

• Midnight Madness - Sketch (the simple version)
• Crafty Calendar - Arpil showers bring forth May flowers
• Crafty Catz - Furry Friends
• Creative Card Crew - Spring
• Penny Black Saturday - Say it with Flowers
• Top Tip Tuesday - Spring has Sprung
• Totally Papercrafts - Spring

Mint Chocolate Cupcake...

No...this one isn't edible...but I just had to make something using some of the stash I bought on my trip to craft heaven A.K.A. The Glitter Pot with Kaz & Samantha on Tuesday. I've never seen so many Penny Black stamps all in one place...it's what I imagine my friend Squirrel's craft room to look like! ;0)
Here's a photo of my little haul:

I've been a little obsessed with cupcakes...both real, and crafty...so I had to grab a set of the Marianne Designs Creatables 'Cupcakes' dies, and also a 'Cupcakes' embossing folder by Craft Concepts when I saw them. I had a little play with them at Kaz's afer we'd shopped, but didn't have time to assemble my card, so have finished that off this morning. The papers are both by Doodlebug (I think...not sure, as they're not mine!), and the card is Bazzill...I'm rather disappointed that the Papermania 'Kraft' card blanks aren't quite the same shade of brown as Bazzill 'Kraft', but they're a much better weight than the older flimsy Papermania cards! Oh, and I also used some of my new Card Candi.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Craft - Embossing
• Moving Along with the Times - Mmmm...Chocolate

I'm going to have a play with some of my other new goodies this afternoon...so hopefully I'll have something else to show you tomorrow.

ABC Christmas Challenge - H is for...

Welcome back to another ABC Christmas Challenge, where this week we have a fabby technique themed challenge for you all:

'H is for Hotspot'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp, and the prize is a $ 15 shopping Voucher to spend in their shop!

And...if that's not enough to tempt you...we are having a Guest Designer call on this challenge, so if you fancy joining us ABC Christmas girls next month, make sure you join in.

I've never tried the 'Hotspot' technique before...and if it's new to you too, my lovely DT member Dorte has made a fabulous step-by-step tutorial to guide you through it. I've used a Penny Black stamp from the 'Jolly Friends' set. I coloured the 'Hotspot' with watercolour pencils, then cut it out using on of my Nesties, and mounted it on the uncoloured version using 3D foam. The papers are from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye...and I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool. I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder to emboss the reverse of one of the papers, then sanded over the raised areas to reveal the white core.

Here's a close-up of the 'Hotspot':

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

• Crafty Catz - Embossing
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Circles
• Sketchy Thursday - Sketch
• The Stamp Man - Embossing

My DT buddies have really excelled themselves this week, so please stop by the ABC Christmas Challenge for more inspiration.

Recipe Book

This is one of the presents I made for a friend of mine for her birthday last week...it's an altered notebook - I bought the blank notebook from The Craft Barn. She likes to cook...like me...and I thought that this would be good for jotting down recipes...so I used 'Busy Baking' by Lili of the Valley (coloured using watercolour pencils). The spotty paper is from the 'Wild Asparagus' collection by My Mind's Eye, and I used my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet to cut the lettering. I distressed all of the edges with ink, and once I'd attached it to the front of the notebook, and covered the back in some of the same paper, sealed it all with a few layers of matte finish Mod Podge.

Challenges for this project:

• Crafter's Companion - Aqua & Brown 
• Spoon Full of Sugar - All Creatures Great & Small
• Totally Gorjuss - Fluffy
• Totally Stampalicious - Anything Goes

I'm so excited...I'm off to The Glitter Pot today...it's been one of my favourite online shops since I first started crafting, but I've never actually been to the shop before..and if that wasn't enough...I'm meeting up with two lovely crafting buddies...Samantha & Kaz...can't wait to see you both!!!

Boing!!! Boing!!! Boing!!!

I have another Easter card to share today...this one uses 'Spring Bunnies' by Hambo digi stamps...I love their springy shoes! The papers are from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers, and I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch along the bottom of the card, and under the central strip of paper.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Patterns - Sketch
• Creative Inspirations (Sundays) - Easter
• Die Cut Dreams - Easter
• If the Shoe Fits...Scrap It! - Spring
• Pink Elephant - Easter