Puppy Love

I'm ashamed to say that the stamp I've used on today's card had been very much neglected...I got the 'Every which way' set by Penny Black when it first came out years ago...and have only used this stamp a couple of times before...so when my group of Penny Black crafty friends started up our friendly 'challenges' again recently...with a theme of 'Puppy Love'...I thought now would be the perfect time to show him some ink. I coloured him using watercolour pencils...then added Glossy Accents to the heart balloon. The papers are a mixture of BasicGrey 'Blush' and My Mind's Eye 'Adore'...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using mmy CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The hearts were cut using my Cuttleebug 'Concentric Hearts' die...and the sentiment (which I curved to match the shape of the circle before inking) is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Hearts
• Anything Goes - To the One I Love 
• Craft Us Crazy - Full of Love
• Die Cut Dreams - Pink, Red & Hearts
• Just Some Lines - Dogs
• Oldie but a Goodie - Hearts (I've had this stamp set since it first came out...probably 3 or 4 years ago!)
• Paper Sundaes - Valentine
• Penny Black @ Allsorts - Love & Hearts
• Simply Create - Love is in the Air
• Squiggles & Giggles - Loved Up
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Love is in the Air

Simple Butterflies

I have a couple of really simple fluttery butterfly cards to share today...inspired by the Less is More sketch challenge.

My starting point was the brightly coloured butterflies...not sure whether they were punched, or cut using a die, as they came from Lady LIM Mandi as part of a prize from a challenge she sponsored. I embossed the white card using my Craft Concepts 'Butterflies' folder...then added a scalloped border punched using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch. The sentiment is a Whiff of Joy stamp.

Here's a better look:

And the pink one:

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafty Catz - Things with Wings
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Flutterby - Embossing
• Less is More - Sketch 
• Totally Gorjuss - Keep It Simple Silly!

Pile It On! Challenge - Just Because

This week at the Pile It On! Challenge, we're asking you to make a card:

'Just Because'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Stamp n Doodle:

The prize for the lucky winner is two Stamp n Doodle images of their choice!

Now, my card's a little bit silly...I found this Hambo 'Floating Pig' image in my box...I printed it out absolutely ages ago...and I thought he'd make someone smile...so I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match the bright and cheerful 'Hippity Hoppity' papers by We R Memory Keepers. I distressed all of the edges, matted the papers on to kraft card, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the brads are BasicGrey, and the buttons (threaded with twine from the Ribbon Girls) are from my stash. I coated the piggy's balloon with some Glossy Accents, then added a sentiment done on computer...I couldn't resist! lol

Here are the challenges I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - Just Because
• CES - Check it out!
• Craft Your Days Away - Distressing
• Crazy4Challenges - Layer it on!
• Critter - 3 Embellishments (can't tell from the DT cards if this is three in total, or three different kinds...I went with flowers, brads & buttons...sorry if I've got it wrong!)
• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• For Fun - Farm Animals
• My Time to Craft - Favourite Embellishment (Flowers)
• One Stop Craft - Stitching
• Papertake Weekly - Happy Highlights (Glossy Accents on the balloon)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Animals

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Pile It On! Challenge.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Ribbons

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

'Ribbons'

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Prize One: A $15 voucher for Heather's Hobbie Haven

Prize Two: Five Digi Images from Whimsy Stamps

 I've used an old favourite stamp on my card...it's from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black...I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the soft pastel colours of the 'Tea House' papers by Dovecraft. I added my ribbons (from Hobbycraft) like little tags behind the image...and a stamped sentiment from the same Penny Black set.

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

• Birthday Sundaes - Birthdays
• Ribbon Girls - Blue & Pink
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Striped Paper

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Floral Frenzy

This week at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...we've gone into a:

'Floral Frenzy'

We are sponsored for this challenge by

 

And the prize is 4 rolls or ribbon of the winner's choice!

The image I've used 'You're the Bestest'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils to match the bright We R Memory Keepers 'Hippity Hoppity' papers. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the brads are BasicGrey, and the sentiment is from the CCSR set by Papermania.

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

• Birthday Sundaes - Birthdays
• Hooked On Craft - Something Bright
• Hotshot Craft - Flowers
• Moving Along With The Times - Blooming Marvelous
• My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers
• Papercrafting Journey - Floral
• Stamptacular Sunday - Spots

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - B is for...

We're on to the letter B over at the ABC Christmas Challenge this fortnight...and with Dorte as our host we have a 'B' tastic challenge for you:

'B is for Bears...with one or more of: Bunting, Banners, Brads, Bling, Buttons, Bows & Blooms!'

Phew...what a mouthful! lol

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Our very own Lacey with her store Stamp and create:

and a whopping prize

and
Bugaboo

fabulous Prize

I've used an image from Bugaboo stamps called 'Christmas Teddy 2 Ornaments'...in fact my card is being showcased over on the Bugaboo blog today...how exciting! I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match my blue & brown colour combo....I'm hoping for extra brownie points for my extra 'Bs'! lol I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and Sizzix 'Snowflakes' folders to emboss my card...then added a Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' snowflake...with a button & bow in it's centre.

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

• Card Crafter's Circle - Bears
• Crafty Catz - Buttons & Bows
• Creative Craft - Blue
• Crimbo Crackers - For a Child
• Digi Doodles - Blue & Brown
• Dream Valley - Animals

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and some of the Bugaboo girls, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Box & Gift

We have a brand new challenge starting today over at the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge...the theme is:

'Make a box & put something handmade inside'

I made a very simple set of little notecards (they're just under 4 inches square)...with a box of the same design. I used scraps of My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' papers...cutting circles using Nesties, then embossing them with an assortment of Cuttlebug & Craft Concepts folders...sanding over the top to reveal some of the white core. I added a sentiment stamped using a satmp from the CCSR set by Papermania.

Here are all the little notecards (click the photo for a better view):

I'm also entering these into the following challenges:

• 2 Sisters - Embossing
• One Stitch at a Time - Round & Round
• Raise the Bar - Circles

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please stop by the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

Seize the Cupcake!

I have an ultra simple card to share today for the Less is More 'Cut it out!' challenge. I don't very often cut apertures in my cards...not sure why...because I think it can be really effective. I used a circle Nestie to cut the 'hole'...then stamped one of the Hero Arts 'Cupcakes' through on to the inside of the card...adding one above and below on the front of the card too. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added sentiments to the front and inside (ooops...forgot to photograph that...but it just says 'Happy Birthday') from the same stamp set.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Makin' Mamas - Something Old  (I've had this stamp set for years...and not used it since last March!)
• Charisma Cardz - Clean & Simple 
• Corrosive - Hearts
• Less is More - Cut it Out!
• Truly Scrumptious - Something Forgotten (I last used this stamp set on this card back in March last year...for another LIM challenge!)

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Food or Drink

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT post

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

'Food or Drink'

We are sponsorred for this challenge by The Stamping Boutique

The prize is 3 digis of the winner's choice from the Stamping Boutique.

I've used a Penny Black stamp in my card...it's called 'Cupcake Glory'...and doesn't he look pleased with himself! I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the soft pastel colours of the Dovecraft 'Tea House' papers (a Christmas present)...I added faux stitching around all the edges, but it doesn't show up too well in the photo. The sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp.

 

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Crafty Bargains

This week at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, we're challenging to use your:

'Crafty Bargains'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Crimson Cloud...here's the prize:

A couple of my favourite online craft shops had post Christmas sales...and I some Christmas money to spend...so it would have been rude not to bag a few bargains! lol 

Here are a couple of the things I picked up:

The Prima paper pad was £1.50 from Craft Obsessions...and the stamp ('Monkey See, Monkey Do') was reduced to £2.17 at Sir Staampalot...bargaintastic!

I coloured the image using watercolour pencils...distressed and inked the edges of ecerything, adding faux stitching to the papers using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies

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

• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non-traditional Colours
• Crafty Ann's - What's New? (The stamp & papers are new)
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• The Squirrel & the Fox - Critters

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for

I have another Christmas card today...this time it's for our current ABC Christmas Challenge where the theme is:

'A is for Anything Goes!'

Nice and easy...anything Christmas will do!

We have three fabulous sponsors to try to tempt you to get cracking with this year's Christmas cards:

Simon Says Stamp with a fab $15 voucher excluding postage.

Stamp Fairy

$10 Gift Certificate

Ribbon Girl

Mini Christmas Ribbon Kit.

I had a play with some more of the goodies I picked up in the post-Christmas sales...a set of Prima cling stamps ('North Country') and the Winter 2011 Limited Edition Distress Inks. I stamped and embossed the tree in white, then blended 'Iced Spruce', 'Evergreen Bough' and 'Stormy Sky' inks over the top. I did the same with some of the snowflake stamps in the set to make the background...and that's it...simples!

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

• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non-traditional colours 
• Crafty Catz - Use Something New (the stamps & two of the ink pads are new)
• Creative Stamp Friends - Winter
• Lollipop Crafts - No Embellishments
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Let It Snow/Winter
• Stampavie & More - Winter

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and some of the Stamp Fairy girls, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Par Avion

This is the first of three Christmas cards that I'll be blogging this week...I've used a Penny Black stamp ('Par Avion') on this one that always makes me smile :0)
I coloured the chickens using watercolour pencils, and added a sentiment from a set by Three Bugs in a Rug.

Challenges for this card:

• Cute Card - You're Having a Laugh (Well...the PB chickens always make me smile)
• Less is More - One Layer Cards with Birds
• Paper Sundaes - Pick your favourite challenge (I picked #37 - Things with wings)

Party Pup

I have another 'boy' type card today...I'd coloured this image ('Party Pup' by Whipper Snapper) a couple of weeks ago and decided it was about time he made it on to a card. I coloured plain white card using 'Faded Jeans' and 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Inks for the background, then used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and Crafts Too 'Bone & Paw' folders for the embossing...then sanded lightly over the top to reveal the core. The sentiment is a stamp from the 'Anytime Messages set by Hero Arts (snipped in half). I added a few pieces of Card Candi...and a button threaded on to some twine...I'm not sure where the star shaped button came from...I have a feeling it may have been in a pack from a charity shop.

Challenges for this card:

• Charisma Cardz - Happy Birthday
• Dutch Dare - For the Boys

Pile It On! Challenge - Fuzzy Friends

This week at Pile It On! our challenge theme is:

'Fuzzy Friends'

In other words show us some fuzzy creatures on your projects.

We are sponsored for this challenges by Di's Digi Downloads, and the prize is a $10 voucher to spend in her store!

I've used a somewhat neglected stamp on my card...he's called 'Ruffles - a Present for You!' by Helz Cuppleditch for Stampavie. I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match the bold colours of the My Mind's Eye 'Countdown to Christmas' papers. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is from a little Studio G set, and the stars were cut using Nesties.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Fuzzy Friends
• Anything Goes - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Celebrations
• Dream Valley - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Spots & Stripes
• PaperPlay - Stitches
• Papertake Weekly - Die Cute
• Simon Says Stamp - Spots & Stripes
• Stamp & Create - Anything Goes
• Totally Gorjuss - Include a Star
• Totally Papercrafts - Spots & Stripes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to Pile It On!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes with Blue

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT project :0)

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This week it's Bridget's turn to choose the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, which is:

'Anything Goes with Blue'

Our sponsor this week is:

The prize is a $10 voucher for the Digi Doodle Shop!

I've had another play with my new Hero Arts 'Swirly Paisley' stamp...I heat embossed it in white, then blended 'Stormy Sky' Distress Ink over the top. The flower stamp is 'Agapanthus Clusters' by Stampendous...I used the watercolour technique with more Distress Inks...'Forest Moss', 'Stormy Sky' and a touch of 'Faded Jeans'. I inked around the edges with more 'Stormy Sky', and added a few adhesive pearls.

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

• Crafty Cardmakers - No Floral Embellishments 
• Crazy4Challenges - Monochromatic Blue
• Creative Inspirations - Pearls & Swirls
• Digi Doodles - Embossing (The paisley stamp is heat embossed)

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