Pile It On! Challenge - Bling

This week at Pile It On! our challenge is all about:

'Bling'

We are sponsored this week by:

Floppy Latte's Digital Designs

Prize - $6 Gift Voucher to spend at Floppy Latte Digital Designs!
(Or $10 if the winner used a Floppy Latte image!)

I cheated a little bit on my card, and used one of the Lili of the Valley pre-coloured die cut images (from the 'Beary Christmas' set) ...so all I had to do to it was add a little bit of glitter to the snow, and trim it down. I used some very old (and long discontinued) My Mind's Eye papers ('29th Street Market') for the background...I only had scraps left, so created a patchwork effect...distressing the edges, and adding faux stitching. I used Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies for the snowflakes, adding some large gems (from Paperchase) to their centres...and a few adhesive pearls in the other corners.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Bling
• Charisma Cardz - 3, 2, 1 (3 Types of Embellishment, 2 Papers, 1 Image)
• Crafty Friends - Bling
• Daring Cardmakers - Forgotten Treasures (The Papers...I've had these for years...thought they'd all gone, but found just enough little scraps for this card!)
• Gem of a Challenge - Teddies
• Holly Jolly Christmas - Snow
• Inky Chicks - Anything Goes
• Lili's Little Fairies - 1 Image, 2 Papers, 3 Embellishments (Gems, Pearls & Snowflakes)
• Squirrel & the Fox - Christmas in July
• Winter Wonderland - 3 Snowflakes (2 of them are layered up), 2 Papers, 1 Image

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

Just a Note...

A quick post from me today to show you a simple card I made last weekend using an image ('Toot the Flute' by Penny Black) that had been sitting coloured and ready to go in my image box for a few weeks. I couldn't resist pairing it with some musical washi tape (from Freckled Fawn), and a sentiment from the CCSR set by Papermania.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Crafter's Circle - Music 
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
• Stamping with the Dragon - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Cute & Cuddly

ABC Christmas Challenge - M is for...

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

'M is for Mice or Men'

We have two fabulous sponsors this week:

Shape EZ:

Prize - 2 Shape EZ Templates

and

Sweet Stamps

Prize - a $10 voucher for the Sweet Stamps store

I went with the mouse option for my card...and used an old favourite Penny Black stamp called 'XMouse Ornament'. I used some scraps of Bo Bunny 'Tis the Season' paper on a CRaft UK card blank...adding some faux stitching along the edges. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Merriest Wishes' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Creative Craft - Stitching
• Cupcake Craft - CAS with NO Flowers

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Butterflies

It's time for a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge, and this fortnight the theme is:

'Butterflies'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Bugaboo Stamps

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

I've used some butterfly stamps from a Penny Black set ('Social Butterfly') to create a CAS card. I stamped them using Distress Inks (Victorian Velvet & Bundled Sage), then simply added a sentiment (from an old Papermaina set).

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

• CAS on Sunday - One Layer Wonder
• CAS-ual Fridays - Off the Edge
• Charisma Cardz - Pink & Green
• Less is More - Happy Birthday 
• Totally Gorjuss - Happy Birthday

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

Present Exchange!

I have another Christmas card for you today...using some old goodies...the image is from the 'Jolly Friends' set (by Penny Black), the papers are mostly from a really old My Mind's Eye collection called 'Colourful Christmas'...the green one is also My Mind's Eye, but is from the 'Boo to You!' collection. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Crimbo Crackers - Use Something Old (The papers are at least 3 years old...I'm just down to scraps now!)
• Fab 'N Funky - Animals
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch 187
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Presents

ABC Christmas Challenge - L is for...

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

'L is for Less is More OR Laugh Out Loud'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Prize - 2 Images from the Saturated Canary Shop!

I've sort of combined our two options on this card...a CAS design with a funny image...it's called 'Snow-Board Ride' by Penny Black. I simply coloured it using watercolour pencils, doodled a border, then attached it to my card using some washi tape (from Freckled Fawn), and added a Lili of the Valley sentiment.

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

• Card Makin' Mamas - On the Farm
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - CAS

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

Birthday Dog

Two posts from me in one day...now that's something you don't see very often!
Just trying to get this card into a few challenges that are closing tonight :0) 
I've used my oldest Penny Black stamp...the lovely 'Birthday Dog'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I've used some Hallow'een papers...from the 'Whoo-ligans' collection by Bo Bunny and the 'Boo to You!' collection by My Mind's Eye. I doodled some borders...and that's pretty much it...best to keep it simple on 'boy' cards!

Challenges for this card:

• Crafting for All Seasons - One for the Guys
• Dream Valley - Father's Day/Male
• Fab 'N Funky - Birthday
• Gem of a Challenge - Father's Day/Male
• Here Come the Boys - Dotty
• Joanna Sheen - For a Male
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Masculine
• Papertake Weekly - Masculine
• Shopping Our Stash - Oldest Stamp
• Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine

Two Hedgies in a Boat

I've used some new goodies on today's card...the stamp 'Fishing' by Penny Black...I won on the Penny Black & More @ Allsorts Challenge last month...which goes perfectly with these papers from the 'Shoreline' pad that I picked up at TK Maxx just a couple of days before. I kept the card really simple, adding some faux stitching and a button tied on with some blue string.

Challenges for this card:

• Everybody Art - Two Papers
• Scrappy Frogs - Summer Vacation
• Simon Says Stamp - Transport
• Stamp & Create - Summer Fun
• Totally Papercrafts - Feeling Blue

Pile It On! Challenge - Sketch

This week at Pile It On! we have a fabulous sketch for you to use, designed by our lovely Katie:

Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights:

Prize - $5 Gift Certificate for Digital Delights

I've used the sketch to make a Christmas card...using 'Angel Cat' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding some sparkle to his wings with some Stickles. The papers are a mixture of My Mind's Eye 'Boo to You!' (Orange), 'Colourful Christmas' (Pink) and Bo Bunny 'Whoo-ligans' (Purple)...I added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is a stamp from a set by Lili of the Valley, the green ribbon is from Poppicrafts (which closed down years ago...so it shows how long it's been sitting in my stash!), and the buttons are by papermnia and are threaded with some Dovecraft twine.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Sketch
• Bunny Zoe's - Wings
• Card Crafter's Circle - In Stitches
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Bingo (Buttons - Glitter - Die Cut)
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Cute & Cuddly with Non-Traditional Colours
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Fussy & Fancy - Buttons
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Die Cuts
• Little Red Wagon - 3 or More Patterned Papers
• No Matter Which - Bingo (Die Cuts - Buttons - Glitter)
• Paper Playtime - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Buttons
• Winter Wonderland - Spots & Stripes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - L is for...

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

'L is for Less is More OR Laugh Out Loud'

We are sponsored for this challenge by:

Prize - 2 Images from the Saturated Canary Shop!

I've been trying to reduce my postage costs for Christmas this year, and went with the 'Less is More' option, making an ultra simple card. The image and sentiment is from the 'Furry Christmas' set by Simon Says Stamp, which I simply coloured using watercolour pencils, doodled a border, then mounted on to my card using foam pads.

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

• Created with Love - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - CAS
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Cute
• Winter Wonderland - Four Legged Friends

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Stitching

This fortnight, I've chosen the theme for our challenge over at Oldie but a Goodie, which is:

'Stitching'

(Real or faux...it's up to you)

I've used scraps of paper from an old BasicGrey pad (called 'Eskimo Kisses') to make a Christmas tree...using some faux stitching along the edges of the strips. I also used faux stitching around the edge of the panel...to make it look more realistic, I punch holes using my CutterBee Bug before drawing on the stitches using a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Scraps

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

The Need for Speed

I have a slightly faster mode of transport on today's project...a little doggy speeding along in his sports car (he's from the 'Hello Friend' set by Penny Black)...not sure if he's rushing to...or from...something! Anyway, I coloured him using watercolour pencils, and simply added some Baker's Twine.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS on Sunday - Black, White and One Other Colour
• Corrosive - Animal Antics
• Crafty Creations - One for the Boys
• Less is More - Need for Speed
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - CAS

I want to ride my bicycle...

I have a quick and simple gift bag for a cycling enthusiast to show you today. The plain bag is from Hobbycraft...I stamped my Hero Arts 'Classic Bicycle' stamp randomly over the front of the bag, and over the front of a mini tag to match. I used my X Cut 'Ribbon Slot' punch to punch holes through both sides of the top of the bag, so that I could tie it closed using the string on the tag.

Challenges for this bag:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything but a Card
• Crafter's Cafe - Father's Day/Male
• Shopping Our Stash - No Patterned Papers
• Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day/Masculine
• Simply Create Too - Father's Day/Male

In the Garden

I dug deep into my stash for today's card...using items that haven't seen the light of day for quite some time! The stamp is a Sarah Kay image from Stampavie called 'Olivia & her kittens Kiki & Sugar', the papers are the remnants of my my BasicGrey 'Lemonade' pad, the flowers are by Prima, and the brads are also by BasicGrey. I distressed the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Sisters - Sketch
• 4 Crafty Chicks - Flowers
• Allsorts - Girls
• BasicGrey - Fun in the Sun
• Crafts & Me - Something Old (Everything used on this card is at least 2 years old)
• Crazy4Challenges - Summer
• Cupcake Craft - Summer Scene
• Delightful - Here Comes the Sun
• Gem of a Challenge - Summertime
• One Crazy Stamper - Summer Fun
• Pink Elephant - Summertime
• Stamping Sensations - Summer Blooms
• Squirrel & the Fox - Summer or Winter
• Totally Gorjuss - Flowers

ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for...

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

'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've used more papers that I've had safely stashed away since I was given them for Christmas last year...these are from the 'Powder Mountain' collection by Bo Bunny. The image is 'Pups with Present' by Lili of the Valley. I added some doodling with a black gel pen, and a button threaded on to some twine.  

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

• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Christmas - Buttons & Bows

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

Happy Father's Day!

Yes...I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I made this tag to go on my Father's Day gift, whilst I was staying with my parents last week. I started with a plain tag...inked around the edges with 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink, then added a few strips of Washi Tape (from Freckled Fawn). The little chicken is from the '12 Days of Christmas' set by Penny Black, and the sentiment (which I cut up once stamped, so as to fit on the tag) is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

I tied it on to my gift using some 'Airmail' Baker's Twine from the Ribbon Girls...here is the tag 'in situ':

Bet you can't guess what it is!? ;0)

Challenges for this tag:

• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Creative Corner -Masculine
• Fashionable Stamping - Tags
• Stamping with the Dragon - Tags
• Sweet Stampin' - Father's Day
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Father's Day

Pile It On! Challenge - Stripes and/or Plaid

This week at Pile It On! we are challenging you to use:

'Stripes and/or Plaid'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

2 Cute Ink

Prize - 3 Digis!

I used some more of the Echo Park 'Winter Wishes' papers that I broke into for Wednesday's card as there were stripes and plaid in the collection...this time distressing the edges a little and adding some faux stitching. The image is a Whiff of Joy stamp ('Ice Skating Henry Mouse'), which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the 'ice'. I cut some snowflakes using Marianne Designs Creatables and Cuttlebug dies...adding adhesive gems to their centres...and a few more gems here and there. The Baker's Twine (in three co-ordingating colours) is from the Ribbon Girls.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Stripes and/or Plaid
• Card Crafter's Circle - Stripes
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Winter Sports
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Favourite Embellishment (Snowflakes)
• Cutie Pie - 3,2,1 (3 types of embellishment, 2 papers, 1 image)
• Drunken Stampers - Bling
• Fussy & Fancy - Bling
• Kaboodles Doodles - Anything Goes
• Paper Playtime - 2 or More Ribbons/Twine
• Ribbon Girls - Add a Die Cut
• Squirrel & the Fox - Summer or Winter
• Totally Papercrafts - Anything Goes

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Masculine

It's a new month, so it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this month our theme is:

'Masculine'

As usual, we have some fabulous prizes on offer from our generous sponsors:

$20 voucher

It's my Dad's birthday in just over a week, so I thought I'd get ahead and make his birthday card for this challenge. I've used a stamp from the 'Hello Friend' set...which I coloured using watercolour pencils, and papers by Pink Paislie (from the 'Prairie Hills' pad). I doodled the borders, and added a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Anytime Messages' set) - I inked and stamped the 'happy' and 'birthday' separately, then added the 'dad' in handwriting to match. The Baker's Twine is from the Ribbon Girls.

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

• Created with Love - At Least 3 Layers
• Cupcake Craft - Boys
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Bows
• Papercrafting Journey - Masculine
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch (liked the sketch so much I made another card!)

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