Angel Mouse

I have a Christmas card to share today, using'Angel Henry Mouse' by Whiff of Joy. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added some shimmer to his wings and halo using a Sakura Stardust pen. For the background, I've used plainish BasicGrey papers, from several different pads ('Granola', 'Max & Whiskers' & 'Hopscotch'), and embossed them using Sizzix folders ('Snowglobe', 'Powdered Sugar' & 'Snowflakes'). I distressed all of the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs & Cuttlebug dies, and the pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Here's a better view of Henry's shimmery wings:

Challenges for this card:

• BasicGrey - Things with Wings (I used papers from the 'Granola', 'Max & Whiskers' & 'Hopscotch' pads) 
• Craft Your Days Away - Shades of Grey + One Other Colour
• Critter Sketch - Anything Goes
• Holly Jolly Christmas - Non-traditional Colours
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July
• Whiff of Joy - Sketch

Prairie Hills Hedgies

I had a play with some new goodies yesterday...these gorgeous papers are from the 'Prairie Hills' pad by Pink Paislee...which I won in Carissa's candy a little while ago. The hedgies are from the 'Hugs' set by Penny Black, the flowers were cut using my Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals' and Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet dies, with a litttle pearl for their centres. I used Nesties to make the frame, and the smallest of my circles to make the faux 'Card Candy', shaping them with an embossing tool, and popping them on with foam pads. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - CASE It (I 'borrowed' lots of elements - layout, colours, PB hedgies, scalloped edge card)
• Inky Impressions - Dies or punches (I used dies to cut the flowers & faux Card Candy)
• Papertake Weekly - Make Your Own (Flowers & Card Candy)
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Summer Blooms
• Shopping Our Stash - Something New (I won the papers a few weeks ago...and this is the first time I've been able to bing myself to cut into them!)
• Sir Stampalot - Your Crafty Passion (PB stamps, pretty papers, flowers)

Simple White Wedding

I have a really simple card to share today, following the sketch from this week's Less Is More Challenge. I embossed the strip across the centre using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder, the hearts were cut using my Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' dies, then the solid one was embossed using my Craft Concepts 'Budding Vine' folder. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border along the bottom, and added a senitment from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Crafter's Circle - CAS
• Charisma Cardz - Monochrome
• Crafting When We Can - Monochrome
• Less Is More - Sketch

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

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

'Bright & Cheerful'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

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

The stamp I've used is called 'Balloon madness' by Penny Black....so cute! I coloured the balloons to match the bright colours of my We R Memory Keepers spotty papers (a mixture from 'Hippity Hoppity' and '72 & Sunny' pads). I doodled some borders, and added a sentiment from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• Crafts & Me - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare - Colour Combo (I used Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange & Pink)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes 
• Stampavie & More - Birthday 
• The Stamp Man - Anything Goes/Celebrations

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Photo Inspiration

It's time for a new challenge over at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, and this week we have an inspirational photo:

Our sponsor for this challenge is Meljen's Designs:

The DT were all given Meljen's images to play with...I used 'Cocoa Christmas Fairy' on my card, colouring her using watercolour pencils, and adding some sparkle with some Stickles. I took my inspiration from the colours in the photo...green, white & gold...embossing some green Core'dinations card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' folders and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folder...sanding over the surface to reveal the lighter coloured core. I cut the snowflakes using Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies, then covered them with more Stickles. The gold lace is from Dunelm Mill.

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

• Cute Card Thursday - So Distressing
• Meljen's - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes 
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Diamonds, Pearls, Lace (I used Lace)
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch 
• Totally Stampalicious - Texture

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.

Three Little Flowers

A quick post from me today...couldn't let the Less Is More 'Sewing' challenge pass me by...I love using stitching on my cards...although it's usually the 'faux' kind...I'm useless at sewing, and it's so much quicker to use a pen...but this time, I thought I'd challenge myself to do some actual hand stitching on a card. I started by using my CutterBee Bug to punch the holes for my stitching, then used a simple running stitch to make the stems for my flowers. I cut the flowers from some scraps of BasicGrey 'Marjolaine' paper using my Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals' die, then stitched them on to their stems, adding a button in each of the centres. I cut some 'leaves' using a flower die from my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet...then snipped of the petals to make the little leaves.

Challenges for this card:

• Crazy4Challenges - Stitching
• Fab 'n' Funky - No Stamped Images
• Kaboodles Doodles - What's In? (Kraft card)
• Less Is More - Sewing 
• Totally Gorjuss - Leaves

ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for...

This week it's Dorte's turn to host the ABC Christmas Challenge, where the theme is:

'O is for Open It Up'

Also decorate the inside of your card

We have two amazing sponsors for this challenge:

Bugaboo Stamps

 The fabulous Bugaboo Stamps prize is:

and

The Ribbon Girls

The awesome prize from the Ribbon Girls is:

I've used an adorable Bugaboo Stamps image on my card...called 'Winter Birds - Scarf' - doesn't he look toasty wrapped up in his woolies!? I coloured him using watercolour pencils, adding some sparkle to the snow using a Sakura Stardust pen. For the background, I embossed some Core'dinations card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' folders, and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folder.

I decorated the inside using the same layout...replacing the image with a Lili of the Valley sentiment, leaving space to write my own greeting:

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

• 2 Sisters - Christmas in July (Featuring an Animal)
• Crimbo Crackers - Penguins (or Animals)
• Jingle Belles - Red OR Green
• Winter Wonderland - Pink, Purple, Aqua & Green (Couldn't bring myself to use any pink! lol)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and some wonderful guest designers, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Photo Inspiration

This fortnight at the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge, we have a photo to inspire you:

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

I took inspiration from the colours...choosing a House Mouse image called 'Stamp, Stamp, Stamp' that has been waiting for soooo long to be used...I thought it kind of looked like he was sending a postcard home from his holidays...although it's an envelope he's sticking the stamps on to. The papers are from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers, the brads are BasicGrey and the sentiment is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp. Everything used on this card is at least a year old!

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

• House Mouse & Friends - Summer Fun
• Joanna Sheen - Animal Crackers
• Love to Create - Spots & Dots
• Simon Says Stamp - Sketch

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Pile It On! Challenge - Tags

This week at the Pile It On! Challenge, we want to see:

'Tags'

(Or tags on your projects)

Our sponsor for this challenge is Whimsy Stamps.

I started by stamping my sentiment (a Penny Black stamp) in Versamark, then heat embossed it in white. I blended four different blue Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans & Chipped Saphire) over the top...then spritzed over a little water, before drying it with my heat gun. I cut the trees from co-ordinating colours of Distress Ink Core'dinations card using a Marianne Designs die, then embossed them using my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder...sanding over the surface to reveal the core. I added some adhesive pearls to look like snow in the sky, then attached some random ribbons/fibres (from Craft Obsessions, Hobbycraft and the Ribbon Girls) to the top of the tag.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Tags
• Allsorts - Distressing
• Aud Sentiments - Tag + Sentiment
• Crafty Catz - Monochrome
• Crafty Creations - Tags
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Monochrome
• Delighful - Christmas in July
• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Papercrafting Journey - Pearls & Swirls
• PaperPlay - Christmas in July
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - No Rules
• Simply Create Too - Two or More of Something (Trees, Shades of Blue, Pearls, Ribbons)
• Stampavie & More - Christmas in Summer
• Sweet Stampin' - Monochrome

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Olympics or Sporty

This week at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, Bridget has chosen the theme, which is:

'Olympics or Sporty'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Prize - 3 digis of the winner's choice from the Stamping Boutique!

The image I've used if actually from a Christmas set of stamps...'12 Days of Christmas' by Penny Black...she represents the 'seven swans a-swimming'. The papers and flag are from a freebie paper pack by Papermania ('Portobello Road' that came free with a Docrafts maagazine)...I distressed the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

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

• Incy Wincy - Dust It Off! (Can't remember the last time I used this stamp...probably over a year ago)
• Kaboodles Doodles - Olympics, Sports, Outdoors, Adventure or Hobbies
• My Time to Craft - Make It Wet
• Whimsy Inspires - Punches and Edgers

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Use a Sketch

This week at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, we're asking you to:

 'Use a sketch' 

Pick a sketch from one of your favourite sketch challenges...simples!

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Limited Runs Digital

(Not sure what the prize is at the time of writing, so I'll update this when I find out.)

The DT were all given Limited Runs Digital images to play with...I've used 'Snowman #1', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I picked a sketch from Christmas Challenges {with sketches}.The papers are from the 'Blitzen' pad by Bo Bunny...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp, and the snowflake was cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die.

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

• Cards for Men - Christmas in July
• Christmas Challenges {with sketches} - Sketch
• Crafter's Companion - Christmas
• Delightful - Christmas in July
• PaperPlay - Christmas in July
• Totally Stampalicious - Merry Christmas

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.

Duckie Flying Kite

I have a bright and summery card to share today...unfortunately we don't have the weather to match...I really hope all of the athletes arriving here in London for the Olympics have packed their wellies! I won this stamp on the High Hopes Challenge a few weeks ago...he's called 'Duckie Flying Kite'...he arrived last weekend, and this is the first time I've inked him up. I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match the zingy colours of the We R Memory Keepers 'Hippity Hoppity' papers. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The die cut letters and sparkly chipboard flower are from the same pad.

Challenges for this card:

• Challenge Up Your Life - Rainbow
• High Hopes - Summer Fun
• Sketch & Stash - Sketch (My new stash is the stamp)
• The Stamp Man - Anything Goes/Summer Colours

ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for...

I have another project for our current ABC Christmas Challenge...where the theme is:

'N is for Not a Card'

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

Prize - a $20 gift certificate to spend at the Simon Says Stamp Store!

and

Prize - a $10 gift certifiacte for the Stamp Fairy Shop!

I've made a little key ring...well, just decorated it really. I bought the blank key ring from a craft shop in Norfolk, on a visit to my parents ages ago, not really knowing what I was going to do with it, and when I came across it in my stash whilst looking for something else, I thought that it would be perfect for this challenge. I cut a piece of blue card to fit, then added a cute little robin (he's from the 'Jolly Friends' set by Penny Black...originally sitting on a branch, but I cut that off), and some Glamour Dust before closing it up.

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

• Creative Inspirations - Anything but a Card
• Dream Valley - Anything but Square
• Forever Friends - Christmas in July
• Joanna Sheen - Circles
• Just Some Lines - No Squares or Rectangles
• Stampavie & More - Christmas in Summer
• Stamptacular Sunday - Wings & Bling
• Top Tip Tuesday - Circles
• Totally Gorjuss - Christmas

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

Cheeky Monkeys!

A quick post from me today while my dinner's cooking...I've had this image coloured for weeks (it's 'Birthday Monkeys' by Rachelle Ann Miller for Stampavie), so thought it was about time to use it on a card. The papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...the sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts, and the stars were cut using Nesties.

Challenges for this card:

• J & C Creations - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Boys
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine

Seize the Cupcake!

A quick and simple card today for this week's Less is More Challenge, where the theme is to make a one-layer-card featuring three of something. I went with three threes...cupcakes, colours (red, white & blue) and words. The cupcake and sentiment stamps are from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts, and are coloured using watercolour pencils...with some Stickles on the frosting, and Glossy Accents on the hearts.

Challenges for this card:

• Clean & Simple - Sketch
• Critter - Red, White & Blue
• Less is More - One layer card with three of something 
• Raise the Bar - Red, White & Blue
• Sweet Stampin' - Use the Colours of your Nation's Flag (UK - Red, White & Blue)

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Food & Drink

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

'Food & Drink'

Our sponsors for this challenge are:

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

and

The prize is a £10 gift voucher to spend in the Lili of the Valley online store!

I've used a Penny Black stamp on my card, called 'To Cake Moment'...I love the expression on this hedgies face! I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then pierced a few holes in each corner. The papers are from the 'Hopscotch' pad by BasicGrey - I added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Critter Party' set (also by Penny Black), and cut out with one of my labels Nesties. The cupcake ribbon is from the 'Tea Party' collection by Dovecraft, and the pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

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

• Crafts & Me - Stitching (mine's faux)
• Crafty Creations - Free for All
• Friday Sketch - Sketch 

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