Ruby Wedding Anniversary

Today's card is for a Ruby Wedding anniversary...I kept it quite simple...with lots of embossing (Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Victoria', 'D'Vine Swirls' and Craft Concepts 'Gem Flourish' folders). The hearts were cut using my Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die, the numbers were cut using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and the sentiment stamp is from a Lili of the Valley set, and cut out using a 'Lacey Circles' Nestie.

Challenges for this card:

• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Numbers
• Crafting for All Seasons - Wedding/Anniversary
• Creative Card Crew - Punches and/or Dies
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Graduation or Anniversary
• Top Tip Tuesday - Numbers

Mr Fixit

I have my Father's Day card to share today...I know it's not for another couple of weeks, but I wanted to be able to leave it with my Mum along with my gift so that I wouldn't have to post it...and as there are quite a lot of male themed challenges around this week, I thought I'd get ahead! The image I've used is 'Mr Fixit' by Lili of the Valley...the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts. The papers are from the 'Farmhouse' pad by Crate Paper - I love the ruler one! I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Cards for Men - Dad
• C.R.A.F.T. - Father's Day/Male
• Crafty Sentiments - Stitching
• Crazy Challenge - Use Sentiments
• Creative Craft - For the Fellas
• Delightful - For Dad
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Father's Day
• Papertake Weekly - Sketchie Free for All (I used #53 - rotated)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

It's time for a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge, and this fortnight Bettina is the host with a theme of:

'K is for Kept Safe'

It's time to use that stash that you've been saving!

Our sponsor this fortnight is:

 Prize - Winner's choice of 3 images from Kenny K!

I decided that it was about time that I cut into the gorgeous Echo Park 'Winter Wishes' paper that I was given as a gift last Christmas...but couldn't bring myself to use! I paired it with my cute Lili of the Valley 'Snowman' stamp, which I coloured using watercolour pencils - I added some Stickles to the snow, but couldn't get it to show in the photos. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and added some Baker's Twine (from the Ribbon Girls) and a button from my stash.

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

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Twine
• Cute Card Thursday - Tie it Up
• Lili's Little Fairies - Spots & Stripes
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch 185
• Totally Papercrafts - Buttons
• Winter Wonderland - All Tied Up

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Wedding

This fortnight at Oldie but a Goodie, our challenge theme is:

'Wedding'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop

I've used a sweet House Mouse image called 'Playing Dress-Up' that has been sitting patiently in my image box since I stamped it whilst visiting my crafty friend Samantha for her wedding nearly three years ago! For the background, I used plain white card, embossing it using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folders...I inked the edges with a little 'Old Paper' Distress Ink. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley, and is cut out using a 'Lacey Circle' Nestie. The flowers were cut using a die from the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and the lace is from Hobbycraft.

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

• Anything Goes - Handmade Backgrounds
• Crazy 4 Challenges - No Designer Paper
• Fab & Funky - Ribbon or Lace
• Fussy & Fancy - Pearls & Lace
• House Mouse & Friends - Flower or Flour Power
• Moving Along with the Times - Embossing
• Penny's Paper-crafting - Circles
• Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Lace
• Stamp with Fun - Wedding
• Stampavie & More - Ribbon or Lace
• Stamping Sensations - Embossing & Texture
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch
• That Craft Place - Dies & Punches

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

Winter Bunnies

I have a Christmas card for you today...using a cute Lili of the Valley stamp, that I picked up when it was on offer recently, called 'Winter Bunnies'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, and added some Stickles to the snow. The papers are from the 'Winter Wonderland' pad by My Mind's Eye...I doodled some borders using a black gel pen. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and added a bow.

Challenges for this card:

• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Creative Inspirations - Bingo (Ribbon - Blue - Polkadots)
• Crimbo Crackers - Cute
• Jingle Belles - Ribbon
• Sketch & Stash - Sketch
• Sparkles Christmas - Favourite Festive Colours (Blue & Kraft...not very traditional, but I love this combo)

Don't Take my Cake!

I have another card using a neglected stamp to share today...this little cutie is called 'To cake moment' by Penny Black...I love that he looks worried that his cake's about to be pinched! I've used some more new papers...these were a bargain at TK Maxx a couple of week's ago, and are from the 'Paper Heart' pad by Crate Paper. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Crafter's Circle - Food
• Crafting When We Can - Punches and/or Die Cuts
• Crafts & Me - Lots of Layers
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Sew Special
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

You're the Bestest!

Some of you may be able to tell from the different background in the photo below that I'm not at home...as it's half-term...and a Bank Holiday weekend...I've come to Norfolk to visit my family...and of course I've brought some of my crafty stash! I always fill a Really Useful box with stamps to play with, and searched out some stamps that I hadn't inked for a while to bring with me...first out of the box today was 'You're the Bestest' by Penny Black. I paired it with paper from the 'Farmhouse' pad by Crate Paper (a bargain at TK Maxx!). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, and added a Lili of the Valley sentiment cut out using a 'Lacey Circle' Nestie.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Happy Birthday
• Card Makin' Mamas - Rubber Stamps
• Crafty Calendar - Blooms & Blossoms
• Everybody Art - Flowers
• Gem of a Challenge - Bring on the Sunshine
• Inky Impressions - Distressing
• One Crazy Stamper - Flowers
• One Stop Craft - Furry Friends
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Sew Special

Doggy Pile

I'm sneaking another 'doggy' card into this week's Less is More's 'Cats & Dogs' challenge...I just couldn't resist inking up one of my other Whipper Snapper stamps when I made this card last weekend. This stamp is called 'Doggy Pile' - I love the really squished pup at the bottom! I simply coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and added a doodled border.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Critters
• Dream Valley - Animals
• Less is More - Cats & Dogs

ABC Christmas Challenge - J is for...

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

'J is for Jingle Bells'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Wild Orchid Crafts

Prize - a £10 gift voucher!

I used a couple of stamps ('Snowy' by Penny Black and 'Swirl Tree' by Hero Arts) and a bit of masking to create a little scene. Actually, I cheated a little...this 'scene' has been sitting (uncoloured) in my image box for a very long time...just had a quick search back through my blog...and I posted the original card here in January 2010!!! It was about time I coloured it then! I added some stickles to the baubles on the tree, and to the snow, then doodled a border. I added a couple of little jingle bells (from Hobbycraft) tied on with some Baker's Twine.

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

• Incy Wincy - Metal Mania (bells)
• Winter Wonderland - Oh Christmas Tree

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

Birthday Pup

I have rather a collection of doggy stamps...so for this week's Less is More 'Cats & Dogs' challenge, I thought I'd ink up one that I haven't used in a while...he's called 'Birthday Pup' by Whipper Snapper. I simply coloured him using watercolour pencils, added a Penny Black sentiment (from the 'Critter Party' set) and a doodled border, then matted it on to a piece of card embossed using my Crafts Too 'Bone & Paw Prints' folder.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Birthday
• Allsorts - True Blue
• Craft Your Passion - Party Animals
• Less is More - Cats & Dogs

Pile It On! Challenge - Add Fabric or Felt

This week at Pile It On! we're challenging you to:

 'Add Fabric or Felt'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Pin & Tack Handcrafted Delights

Prize - a $10 gift voucher!

And that's not all...we have an exclusive discount code for Pile It On! challengers to use for the duration of this challenge...simply enter PileItOn at the checkout to get 10% off your entire order!

I used some felt...I die cut my favourite snowflake (Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal') in a few bright colours, for some little mini Christmas cards. I simply added a contasting button threaded with twine to their centres, a Lili of the Valley sentiment, and a doodled frame.  

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Add Fabric/Felt
• Challenges for Everybody - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Creations - KISS
• Creative Corner - A Song (Let it Snow!)
• Cut It Up - Make it Mini (These cards measure just under 4 inches square)
• Jingle Belles - Bright Colours
• My Time to Craft - Christmas in May
• One Stop Craft - Anything Goes
• Paper Playtime - Buttons or Brads
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Button it Up (The sentiment is stamped)
• Sweet Stampin' - Doodles (The sentiment is stamped)
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Anything Goes

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

Doggie Delights!

I've used some new goodies on today's card...a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Doggie Delights' that I picked up a few weeks ago when it was on offer, and some Crate Paper 'Farmhouse' papers from a pad that I got from TK Maxx....if you have a TK Maxx near you, the homewear section if well worth a look at the moment...they had piles of 12x12 pads by Crate Paper, DCWV & American Crafts...and I couldn't resist picking some up...even though I don't need to buy more paper...ever! I distressed the edges of the papers, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Birthday
• Charisma Cardz - No Digis
• Cupcake Crafts - Lots of Layers
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Sew Special
• Simply Create Too - Anything Goes
• Whimsy Inspires - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - J is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...Lacey is hosting, and the theme is:

'J is for Jingle Bells'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Wild Orchid Crafts

Prize - a £10 gift voucher!

I've used a Penny Black stamp called 'Carollers'...love these chickens...I can almost hear them sing 'Jingle Bells'! I coloured them using watercolour pencils...then added a sentiment from a little Studio G set. For the background, I embossed some plain card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' & 'Snowflakes' folders and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folders.

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

• Crafting When We Can - Lime Green & Pink
• Drunken Stampers - Farm Animals
• Jingle Belles - Bright Colours
• Papertake Weekly - Sound of Music
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch

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

Oldie but a Goodie - Inspired by a Song

This fortnight at Oldie but a Goodie we want to see cards:

'Inspired by a Song'

 Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The Paper Nest

I've been inspired by the song 'Those magnificent men in their flying machines'...and used a Paper Nest image called 'Aviator Owen', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Travel' pad by American Crafts - I picked this up before Christmas in the clearance section of TKMaxx, but this id the first time I've used any of them :0)

I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen...the sentiment stamp is form the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black.

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

• Creative Corner - Things with Wings
• Gem of a Challenge - Things with Wings
• Pink Elephant - Masculine Birthday
• Sketch & Stash - Sketch
• That Craft Place - Makes for Men

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

Let it Snow!

Another Christmas card form me today...a quick make inspired by this week's Less is More 'coloured card blank' challenge. I used navy card (from the Paper Mill)...stamping a Hero Arts 'Snowflake' stamp across the top in Versamark, then embossing it in white. I doodled a border using a white gel pen, then added a Penny Black sentiment

Challenges for this card:

• Cute Card Thursday - Something Blue
• Less is More - One Layer Card using a Coloured Card Blank
• Moving Along with the Times - Clean & Simple
• Sweet Stampin' - Clean & Simple
• Totally Papercrafts - Clean & Simple

Box of Decorations

I haven't uploaded a Christmas card in a couple of weeks...so I thought it was about time I added another to my tally! When Lili of the Valley had some of their stamps on offer a few weeks ago I couldn't resist picking up another James the Bear stamp...this one is called 'Box of Decorations'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding some sparkle with some Stickles. The papers are from the 'Winter Wonderland' pad by My Mind's Eye...I doodled the borders using a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Add Some Sparkle
• Cutie Pie - Lots of Layers
• Fashionable Stamping - Anything Goes
• Forever Friends (Monthly) - Anything Goes
• Fussy & Fancy - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Papercrafting Journey - Anything Goes

Bird Pants

Today I have the gift tag I've made to go with my brother's birthday card...I've used an image from Hambo Stamps called 'Bird Pants', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I simply added some strips of washi tape (from Feckled Fawn), and a sentiment from a little Studio G set.

Challenges for this tag:

• Crafty Ribbons  - No Designer Paper
• Crafty Sentiments - Use a Sentiment
• No Matter Which - Things with Wings
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Things with Wings

ABC Christmas Challenge - I is for...

I have another creation for the current ABC Christmas Challenge today, where the theme is an:

'Inspirational Photo'

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

Meljens Designs:

and The Ribbon Reel:

 

I've made another little 'wreath shaped' Christmas tree decoration...this time I threaded buttons on to wire, and added a piece of ribbon to hang it on the tree. Pink wouldn't usually be my first choice of colours...but it was only colour I had enough co-ordinating buttons in...must be because I never use them! lol

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

• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Delightful - Ribbon
• Shopping Our Stash - Mother's Day or Pink

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

Pavlova!

No card from me today...I made the most of the glorious Bank Holiday weather we had here in London and escaped the confines of my flat, so consequently not a lot of crafting occurred...but I did make a special little something for dessert last night...

A summer berry pavlova with greek yoghurt...yummy!

I shall be back tomorrow with another project for our current ABC Christmas Challenge :0)

Pile It On! Challenge - For or From a Mum

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

'For or from a Mum'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Bugaboo Stamps

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

I started by inking a piece of white card using 'Old Paper' Distress Ink, the I stamped my Hero Arts 'Magical Background' over the top in the same ink. I stamped the butterflies (from the 'Social Butterfly' set by Penny Black) in Distress Inks (Dusty Concord, Stormy Sky, Bundled Sage & Old Paper), then added die cut letters (cut using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet).

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - For/From a Mum
• Challenges for Everybody - Anything Goes
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Mother's Day
• Corrosive - Mother's Day
• Crafter's Cafe - Mother or Female
• Crafty Sentiments - Beginning with B (Butterflies)
• Creative Corner - Flowers and/or Mother's Day
• Creative Stamp Friends - Mother's Day
• Cut It Up - Mother's Day
• Cute Card Thursday - Come Fly with Me
• Squirrel & the Fox - Mother's Day
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Punches & Die Cuts
• Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes with Swirls

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