ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge, and one of our lovely new DT members, Bettina, is our host...with a theme of:

'Keep It Simple'

We want to see no fuss...no frills cards this time.

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Sweet Stamps

Prize - a $10 voucher for the Sweet Stamps store

and

Wild Rose Studio

Prize - 2 Wild Rose Studio stamps of the winner's choice

My card is about as simple as it gets...I stamped a Lili of the Valley image, coloured it using watercolour pencils, and added some sentiments (from a Studio G set)...that's it...quick and easy to make...and cheap to post too!

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

• Challenge Up Your Life - One Layer Cards
• Carzy4Challenges - One Layer Cards
• Drunken Stampers - One Layer Cards
• Winter Wonderland - Sing a Song

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

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Fit for a Queen

We have a brand new Cuttlebug Spot Challenge for you today, where the theme is:

 'Fit for a Queen'

I've tried a 'crown' shaped card...cutting my crown shape from a separate square of card, and attaching it to a standard A6 card blank. I used my scoreboard to score a few horizontal lines...embossing the dots using a border folder from my Cuttlebug 'Just My Type' set. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft (though I've seen it in several other places too), I cut the numbers using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet dies, and the silver pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

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

• Charisma Cardz - No Flowers
• Cupcake Crafts - Royalty
• Less Is More - Not a Square

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Two or More Folds

This week at Pile It On! we want to see cards with:

'Two or more folds'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

I've made an easel card using a Penny Black stamp called '...to you!', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' folders for the embossing, and added some stars cut using my Nesties. The star ribbon is from Ribbon Reel.

Here are the challenges I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - More than 2 folds
• 2 Sisters - Bring on the Boys
• Allsorts - Happy Birthday to Someone Special (My brother)
• Charisma Cardz - No Flowers
• Craft Your Days Away - Red, White & Blue
• Crafty Catz - For a Man
• Crafty Ribbons - Easel Card
• Crazy Challenge - 3D
• Creative Card Crew - Dimension
• Digi Doodles - Spotty
• Do You Stack Up - Birds
• Just Some Lines - Birds
• One Stop Craft - For the Boys
• Papertake Weekly - True Colours
• Sweet Stampin' - Moon and/or Stars
• Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
• Totally Papercrafts - Animals

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything but a Card

This week, Jane has chosen the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, which is:

'Anything but a Card'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The prize is a $15 voucher from Heather's Hobbie Haven!

I've made a tag...and started by inking a manilla tag using Distress Inks (Bundled Sage, Evergreen Bough, Stormy Sky & Faded Jeans), then splashed it with some water. I stamped my Hero Arts music background in Pumice Stone...having removed some of the ink to create a distressed effect, then stamped my Penny Black 'Constellations' several times, and a Hero Arts sentiment in Memento 'Rich Cocoa' over the top. I inked around the edges using 'Brushed Corduroy', before spritzing a gold Cosmic Shimmer over the top, and adding some seambinding ribbon (from the Ribbon Girls).

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

• Card Crafter's Circle - Tags 
• Top Tip Tuesday - Dig out the Old (I've had all the stamps for at least a couple of years)

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Monochrome Magic

This week at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge our theme is:

'Monochrome Magic'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

 

And the prize is 4 rolls of gorgeous Bakers Twine:

I picked shades of purple...and started by stamping my 'Butterfly Scroll' stamp on white card...then blended 'Milled Lavender' and 'Dusty Concord' Distress Inks over the top. I painted the flowers using 'Regal Purple' Cosmic Shimmer...then layered some shimmery butterflies over the top. The pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Wonderful' set (also by Penny Black).

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

• Aud Sentiments - Any Sentiment 
• Crafty Ann's - Butterflies & Flowers
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - J is for...

I have another card for our current ABC Christmas Challenge for you today, where the theme is:

'J is for Jingle Bells'

We are sponsored for this challenge by: 

Bugaboo Stamps

 And the fabulous prize is:

This time I've used a cute Penny Black image (from the 'Jolly Friends' set)...although this is more of a 'One-hedgied' open sleigh! I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added the same sentiment as on last week's card (from a Studio G set). For the background, I embossed some white vellum using Cuttlebug and Sizzix snowflake folders, then layered it over navy blue card, attaching it using some BasicGrey brads.I added a couple of little jingly bells (from Hobbycraft) using some twine (from the Ribbon Girls).

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

• CCEE Stampers - Embossing on Vellum
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Touch of the Blues
• Love to Create - Song Inspired (Jingle Bells)
• Winter Wonderland - Embossing

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

Busy Baking...

This adorable Lili of the Valley bear is called 'Busy Baking'...I coloured her using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment (from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black). The papers are from the 'Ooh La La (for Her)' collection by My Mind's Eye, and the ribbon was from Poppicrafts.
 

Challenges for this card:

• Delightful - Ribbon
• Lili's Little Fairies - Bear Essentials
• Scrapbook Sisters - Two Colours
• Sweet Stamps - Favourite Colour (Teal)

Pile It On! Challenge - Mixing your Scales

This week's Pile It On! Challenge is all about:

'Mixing your Scales'

We want to see patterns of different sizes on your projects.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

 The prize is 2 digis from Jellypark Friends.

I used lots of different spotty papers...with all different sizes of spots...they're a mixture of My Mind's Eye ('Colourful Christmas', 'Oh La La (for Her)' & 'Boo to You!') and Bo Bunny ('Tis the Season'). The cat image is from the 'Hello Friend' set by 'Penny Black', and is coloured using watercolour pencils. The sentiment is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Simon Says Stamp, and I doodled a simple border around everything using a black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - Mix Your Scales
• Crafty Cardmakers - Birthday Balloons
• Crazy4Challenges - Birthday
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Keep it Real
• Stamping Boutique - Doodling
• Whimsy Inspires - Anything Goes

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - In the Garden

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

'In the Garden'

 Our sponsor for this challenge is:

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

I've made another one layer card...told you I'd had a run on them this week! The stamp is 'Garden Visit' by Penny Black, and coloured using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Mini Messages' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Papertake Weekly - In the Garden
• Simon Says Stamp - Clean & Simple

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Recycle

This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge is all about:

'Recycling'

We have a fabulous prize from the DT for this challenge:

I've recycled some corrugated card packaging on my tag...which I saved from the recycling bin ages ago...and cut into a star using a Nestie. The chicken is 'Present Pile' (of course by Penny Black)...and he was coloured using watercolour pencils. For the background, I inked a plain tag using Distress Inks (Bundled Sage, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Stormy Sky & Faded Jeans), then stamped a balloon & stars background stamp (by Funstamps) in Memento 'Rich Cocoa' ink over the top. I inked around the edges of everything using 'Brushed orduroy' Distress Ink, and attached a sentiment banner (a Studio G stamp) using a staple. I added a few pieces of Card Candi, and attached a mixture of seambinding and string (recycled from an Abel & Cole Veg box!) to the top.

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

• Joanna Sheen - Happy Birthday
• Lollipop Crafts - For Him
• Oldie but a Goodie - Things with Wings (I've had this stamp since I first started stamping 5/6 years ago)
• Paper Sundaes - Things with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
• Stampavie & More - For a Boy

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

Micey Nice Day

It's been a while since I've posted a non-DT card...too much work to do lately :0(
But...I have  a quick one layer card for a few challenges today...using three stamps from the Penny Black 'Micey Day' set. I coloured the mice using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Days Away - All Creatures Great & Small
• Cupcake Crafts - Birthday, with NO DP
• Kaboodles Doodles - Clean & Simple
• Less Is More - One Layer Card, Using Three Stamps
• Totally Stampalicious - Clean & Simple

ABC Christmas Challenge - J is for...

We have a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge for you today. Samantha is our host, and the theme is:

'J is for Jingle Bells'

We are sponsored for this challenge by: 

Bugaboo Stamps

 And the fabulous prize is:

I've used a Bugaboo Stamps image on my card (which you can also see over on the Bugaboo Blog today) called 'Snowman Bells'. The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Minds Eye...I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The little sentiment is a stamp from a Studio G set.

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

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Traditional Christmas Colours
• Creative Craft - Distressing
• Winter Wonderland - Frosty the Snowman

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, including our fantastic new teamies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Recipe

We have a 1-2-3 recipe for you this fortnight over at the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge:

'1 Button, 2 Ribbons & 3 Papers (one of which must be embossed)'

I've used an adorable Lili of the Valley stamp ('Bunnies - In Love') on my card, which I coloured using watercolour pencil. The papers are from a Heidi Grace pad...I embossed the darker green paper using my Cuttlebug 'Kassie's Brocade' folder, then sanded over the surface to reveal the white core. I distressed the edges of the papers a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the sentiment is also by Lili of the Valley, and the button & ribbons are from my stash.

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

• CES - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons - Flowers
• Crop Stop - The Animal in You
• Delightful - Distressing
• Fab 'n' Funky - Buttons & Bows
• Lili of the Valley - Your Favourite Craft Tool (Cuttlebug!)
• Totally Gorjuss - Pink & Green
• Wags 'N Whiskers - 1 Image, 2 Ribbons & 3 Papers

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

Little Star

I have a few one layer cards to share this week...starting with a cute little Christmas card using 'Little Star' by Lili of the Valley. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from a Lili of the Valley set.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - One Layer Card
• Top Tip Tuesday - Clean & Simple
• Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - I Love You Mum!

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

'I love you Mum!'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

The prize is a $10 voucher to spend in the Digi Doodles store!

As we've already celebrated Mother's Day in the UK, I've made a tag/bookmark for my Mum. I started by blending 'Evergreen Bough', 'Pine Needles' and 'Stormy Sky' Distress Inks over my tag...spritzing a little water over the top. I stamped my much loved 'Agapanthus Clusters' stamp (by Stampendous) using the watercolour technique in 'Pine Needles' and 'Faded Jeans'...then added a couple of sentiments from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts. I inked around the edges using 'Brushed Corduroy' and sprayed a gold Cosmic Shimmer over the top...then added a mixture of seambinding, twine and fluffy fibres.

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

• Crafty Sentiments - Mother's Day
• Creative Stamp Friends - Mother's Day
• Critter - Mum 
• Kaboodles Doodles - Honouring Mothers 
• Little Red Wagon - Mist-ify Us (I spritzed my tag with a gold Cosmic Shimmer mist...although I couldn't get it to show up very well in the photo)
• Lollipop Crafts - Mama Mia
• Love to Create - For Mum
• Paper Sundaes - Mother's Day
• Pink Elephant - All About Mum
• Stamp & Create - For the Ladies
• The Stamp Man - Favourite Technique (Watercolour stamping)

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - In the Garden

This week at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, our theme is:

'In the Garden'

 Our sponsor for this challenge is:

and the prize is a $20 voucher to spend in their online store!

I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps...'Bunny Friends'...I love these little bunnies in their flower pots! I used papers from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...distressing the edges a little, and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

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

• Forever Friends Monthly - Spring
• Shopping Our Stash - Use 3 or More Designer Papers

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - I is for...

I have another card for our current ABC Christmas Challenge for you today...where the theme is:

'I is for Icy Inspirational Photos'

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

From Simon Says Stamp - a $15 voucher to spend in their store!

From In 2 Stamps - a €10 gift voucher to spend in their store!

This time, I took my inspiration from the second photo...and those adorable penguins, using a Lili of the Valley stamp 'Igloo for Two', which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle with 'Diamond' Stickles . I kept the background all white and icy, embossing plain card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' folders...and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folder...glittering all the edges with Glamour Dust. The sentiment is also by Lili of the Valley, and the snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs dies...and coated with more Glamour Dust.

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

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Sketch
• Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Glittery
• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Jingle Belles - Embossing
• Papertake Weekly - Cute, cute, cute!
• Sundays with Chrissy - Things with Wings
• Totally Papercrafts - White on white
• Totally Stampalicious - Sparkle, Shine, Glitter & Glam