Pile It On! Challenge - For a Child

This week at Pile It On! we are challenging you to make a card:

'For a Child'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Soft Pencil Studios:

The DT have been working with Soft Pencil images, and I've used 'Michu & Ratiny in a Heart' on my card, coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers I've used are from the 'Animal Antics' pad by First Edition...I doodled the borders using a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from th 'Mini Messages' set by Hero Arts, and the button and twine are from my stash.

Here are the chaallenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - For a Child
• Craft Your Passion - Buttons & Bows
• Crafty Sentiments - Autumn Colours
• Creative Craft - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Friends
• Inky Impressions - Animals
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Totally Stampalicious - Fall Colours
• Whimsy Inspires - Anything Goes

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Photo Inspiration

This week at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, we have a photo inspiration challenge for you:

Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps:

With a fabulous prize:

I've used  a cute image from Bugaboo Stamps on my card called 'Poppi Xmas Tree'...and took inspiration for the background from the colourful stripey layers of the cake in the photo, and layered up some strips of plain card behind the image. I added some Glossy Accents to the baubles...which I think you can just about see in the photo.

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

• Crafting for All Seasons - Things with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

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

Prancer

Another clean & simple Christmas card today...I'm hoping to not spend a fortune on postage this year! I've used the other reindeer from the Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp/die set. I created the background in the same way as on this card using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' embossing folder on Core'dinations card and a torn piece of white card for the snow. The sentiment stamp is from a Lili of the Valley set.

Challenges for this card:

• Dutch Dare - Clean & Simple
• Less Is More - Any 3 Challenges (55: Punches or Die Cuts; 65 : Sketch 5; & 81: Tearing) 
• Shopping Our Stash - Fur or Feathers
• Simon Says Stamp  - Anything Goes
• Stamping Boutique - Embossing

ABC Christmas Challenge - S is for...

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

'S is for Santa Claus is Comin' to Town'

We have two amazing sponsors for this challenge:

Bugaboo Stamps

 The fabulous Bugaboo Stamps prize is:

and

Our very own Lacey, with her awesome Stamp & Create store!

 The prize is a whopping $25 gift certificate - wowee!

I've used  an old Judikins Santa stamp on my card this week, that I found in a charity shop...I'm not sure what it's called, as there's no name on it. My card is a simple one layer card...just Santa and a sentiment from the 'A Bright Tomorrow' set by Penny Black.

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

• PaperPlay - Choose a Holiday (I went for Christmas...my favourite!)

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

Let it Snow!

It's Christmas cards all the way 'til the weekend on my blog...well there are only 3 months to go now! This one uses one of the cute reindeer stamps/dies from Hero Arts & Sizzix. I made a little snowy scene to put him on using a piece of blue Core'dinations card embossed using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder...sanding over the top to reveal the lighter core...and a piece of torn white card to look like snow. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Inspired by a Song (Let It Snow)
• Jingle Belles - Dashing Through the Snow
• Less Is More - Take 3 Challenges (35: Colour of Your Eyes; 45: Let It Snow; & 52: Sketch 4)
• Love to Create - Anything Goes

Teddy Bear Christening

Today's card is a Christening card for a little boy called Oscar...my flatmate has been asked to be his Godfather...so this is going to be from him. He requested 'one of those proppy-up cards you make'...I think he meant an 'easel card' so that's what I've done! I've used the Penny Black 'Bear Blanks' to spell out his name...I used a mini set of alphabet stamps for the lettering. For the background, I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'D'Vine Swirls', and Sizzix 'Plaid' folders on a couple of shades of blue Core'Dinations card...matting the layers on to kraft card. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the scalloped edges, the buttons are by Papermania, the twine is by Dovecraft, the mini brads are BasicGrey, and the sentiment was done on computer.

Here's a close-up of the front:

I added a pocket on the inside to hold a tag for a message:

And a side view...you can just see the ribbon on the end of the tag sticking out:

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Passion - Buttons & Bows
• Crafty Catz - Buttons
• Dream Valley - Celebrations
• Dutch Dare - Boys
• Inky Impressions - For a Child
• Shopping Our Stash - Emboss It
• Simon Says Stamp - Emboss It
• Squirrel & the Fox - Celebrate the Occasion
• Totally Papercrafts - For a Child

Spooky!

I have my first Hallowe'en card of the year for you today...using some stamps from a couple of Penny Black sets ('Spooky' and 'be very scared!'). The images were coloured using watercolour pencils, then cut out using Nesties. The embossed spider's web is a Tim Holtz texture fade, and I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border along the bottom. 

Challenges for this card:

• Drunken Stampers - Old Loves Die Hard (I've had all the items used on this card for at least a year)
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Hallowe'en
• Less Is More - Any 3 Challenges (15: Embossing, 23: Something with Legs, 24: Circles...but also fits 55: Punches or Die Cuts, 67: Use 3 Stamps, 69: Not a Square, 76: Three)
• Lollipop - Two Different Punches/Dies)
• Simon Says Stamp - Emboss It

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Distressing

Today sees the last ever Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge...after four years of challenges we're closing our doors...and for one last time, it's Wendy...aka the Secret Crafter...who has chosen the theme...which is:

'Distresssing'

We have no sponsor this week...but we hope you'll join us one last time just for fun :0)

I've used some of the stamps from the new Penny Black set...'A Bright Tomorrow'...to make a Christmas gift tag. I started by heat embossing the swirly snowflake in white...then blended 'Stormy Sky', 'Faded Jeans', 'Evergreen Bough' and 'Pine Needles' Distress Inks over the top. I then stamped some of the other snowflakes from the set around the edges in 'Faded Jeans', and added the sentiment. I inked around the edges using 'Brushed Corduroy'...then spritzed 'Soft Gold' Cosmic Shimmer over the top for a little bit of sparkle.

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

• Delightful - Distressed

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Stitching

This week at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, our challenge theme is:

'Stitching'

(Real or faux)

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Prize: $15 Gift Certificate to spend at Fred, She Said!

I've used a cute image from Fred, She Said on my card called 'Hat Tippin' Snowman'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Blitzen' pad by Bo Bunny...I distressed the edges a little, then used my CutterBee Bug to pierce some holes before drawing on the faux stitching with a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the snoeflake was cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die.

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

• Crazy Challenge - Spots or Stripes (I chose stripes)

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

Blogoversary Candy Winner!

Ok...I'm back to announce the lucky winner of my 4th blogoversary candy:

Thank you to all of you who took the time to enter, and leave me a sweet comment...but there can only be one winner...I used Random.Org to select that person at random:

#18 - Debbie S - congratulations!

Please email me by next Thursday to claim your prize!

Glossy Baubles

Another Christmas tag today...this time I used a bauble stamp and sentiment from the 'A Bright Tomorrow' set by Penny Black. I stamped it on to a manilla tag....then added doodled extensions on the twirly bits holding the baubles. After colouring them, I coated them with lots of Glossy Accents, then, once dry, blended 'Stormy Sky' Distress Ink over the top.

Challenges for this tag:

• Creative Craft - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas in September

I will be back later to announce the lucky winner of my blogoversary candy...

Fourth Blogoversary Candy!

**This post's a sticky until the candy closes**

Please scroll down for newer cards :0)

My little blog turned four yesterday (September 3rd), and as promised, I have some candy to celebrate, and to say thank you to all of my lovely visitors for the wonderful comments you leave me :0)

My favourite kind of cards to make (and this will come as no surprise to a regular visitor to my blog! lol) are Christmas cards, so my candy package is Christmas themed. Lots of companies have just released their new 2012 Christmas goodies, so I've included some yummy new stash, as well as a few of my favourite things:

Contents:

Bo Bunny 'Mistletoe' 6x6 paper pad

Lili of the Valley 'Teddy with Robin' unmounted stamp

Lili of the Valley 'Furry Festive Friends' unmounted stamp

Helz Cuppleditch 'Special Delivery' Twine (Brights)

Dovecraft 'Back to Basics Christmas' Buttons (Modern)

Stickles 'Crystal' glitter glue

Crystal Stickers adhesive pearls (3mm Ivory)

As you can see there's a mixture of different brands, but it all co-ordinates quite nicely :0)

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is: 

• Pop the photo of my candy in the sidebar on your blog (sorry, this is open to bloggers only) with a link back here.
• Add a link to your blog with the linky tool below once you've done that.

That's it...I'm happy to post this worldwide, so this is open to everyone...just one link per person please, multiple links will be removed. The linky will close at 9pm (BST) on Wednesday 19th September, and I'll announce the lucky random winner the following day.


 

ABC Christmas Challenge - S is for...

This week at the ABC Christmas Challenge, it's Carissa's turn to host...and the theme is:

'S is for Santa Claus is Comin' to Town'

We have two amazing sponsors for this challenge:

Bugaboo Stamps

 The fabulous Bugaboo Stamps prize is:

and

Our very own Lacey, with her awesome Stamp & Create store!

 The prize is a whopping $25 gift certificate - wowee!

I've used an adorable Santa image from Bugaboo Stamps...he's called 'Santa Stocking Present'...I coloured him using watercolour pencils. On the background, I embossed the kraft card using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder...and used a Papermania snowflake border folder on the red piece. The sentiment stamp, heat embossed in white, is from Lili of the Valley, and the gingham ribbon is from Hobbycraft. I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool...and doodled a border around the image using a black gel pen.

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

• Card Crafter's Circle - Gingham
• Cute Card Thursday - Christmas in September
• Hiding In My Craft Room - Distressing
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch

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

PS - I have Christmas themed candy on offer at the moment...but you'll need to be quick, as it closes tonight...click here to find out more.

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Show Us Your Ribbons

This week at Oldie but a Goodie, we're asking you to:

'Show Us Your Ribbons'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

I've made a Christmas gift tag...using a cute little doggy stamp by Hero Arts called 'Winter Pup'.for the background, I embossed a piece of card using my Sizzx/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folder, then tore the edges before adding it to the tag. The sentiment stamp is by Lili of the Valley, and the all important ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

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

• Corrosive - Animal Companions
• Forever Friends (Monthly) - Ribbons
• J & C Creations - Cute Christmas

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

PS - I have Christmas themed candy on offer at the moment...you'll have to be quick though, it closes tomorrow...click here to find out more.

Santa's On His Way!

I've gone a bit 'tag crazy'...and this is the first of four Christmas tags I have to share with you this week. I stamped the Santa & reindeer image (from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black) on to a manilla tag, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I inked around it using 'Stormy Sky' Distress Ink, then added a sentiment (from the same stamp set) and doodled some stars in the night sky.

Challenges for this tag:

• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Early Christmas Makes
• Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes

PS - I have Christmas themed candy on offer at the moment...click here to find out more.

Pile It On! Challenge - Stitching

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

'Stitching'

(Real or Faux)

Our sponsor this week is:

Prize - $10 Gift Voucher to spend at Floppy Latte Digital Designs!

I love a bit of faux stitching...so this was a lovely easy challenge for me! The image I've used is one of my oldest (and still most favourite) stamps...'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are also by Penny Black...from their new 'Maddison' paper pad...I added my faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen...I find that the little pierced holes make the stitching look much more realistic.The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts, the stars and circles were cut using Nesties, the buttons (there's two layered up) are by Papermania, and the twine is from the Ribbon Girls.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Stitching
• Creative Craft - Boys
• Cupcake Crafts - In Stitches
• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Do You Stack Up - Kraft & Twine
• Here Come the Boys - 3 Papers, 2 Buttons/Brads, 1 Image
• My Mum's Craft Shop - Buttons
• One Stop Craft - Let's Bake a Cake
• Papercrafting Journey - Use a Sentiment
• Papertake Weekly - Things that make you go Awww
• Shopping Our Stash - 3 (Papers), 2 (Buttons), 1 (Image)
• Simon Says Stamp - We're So Trendy (Chevrons)
• Simply Create Too - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stamps - For the Guys
• Totally Papercrafts - Use Your Favourite Stamp ('Birthday Dog' is one of my oldest stamps...but he's still a favourite)
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Circles
• Whimsy Inspires - Anything Goes

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

PS - I have candy on offer at the moment...click here to find out more.