Lola with Bird

I've used  a really old stamp on today's card...it's 'Lola with Bird' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Sugar Nellie. I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the 'My Girl' papers by American Crafts. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Party Critters' set by Penny Black, the flowers are by Prima, the twine is by Dovecraft, the pearls are from Hobbycraft, and the buttons are from my stash.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Ladies Day
• Creative Inspirations - Buttons
• Cute Card Thursday - Buttons & Bows
• Daring Cardmakers - Old, but Not Forgotten (This stamp is at least 5 years old...and checking back through my blog, I don't think I've used it in over 3 years!)
• Incy Wincy - Birthdays
• In the Pink - Pink Plus One Other Colour (Grey)
• Pink Elephant - Use Pink
• Squirrel & the Fox - Something Spooled (Twine)
• Sugar Bowl - Colour Combo:

• Totally Gorjuss - Strings the Thing

Top Hat

I have a Christmas card to share today...using a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'The Top Hat'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to the snow using Stickles. The papers are from the 'Christmas in the Country' pad by Papermania...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The ribbon was from Poppicrafts...long ago...the sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley, and the sparkly brads are by American Crafts.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Cards - Anything Goes
• Christmas Challenges {with Sketches} - Sketch #111
• Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Use a Sentiment
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - Spots & Dots
• Fab 'n' Funky - Spots or Stripes
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Sparkle
• Winter Wonderland - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Birthday Cupcake

Something a little more fussy today...I hadn't used this House Mouse stamp in ages ('Birthday Cupcake') so thought it was about time I rectified that! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added some tiny pearls to the cupcake frosting. The papers are all by First Edition , but from three different pads ('New Bloom', 'Isabelle' and 'Summer Breeze')...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, and the Card Candi is by Craftwork Cards.

Challenges for this card:

• Cards Galore Encore - Add Gems, Glitter, Candi etc
• Corrosive - In Stitches
• House Mouse & Friends - Purple, White & One Other Colour (Green)
• Papertake Weekly - Lovely Layers
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Lots of Layers
• Sketch & Stash - Sketch #133
• Top Tip Tuesday - Stitching

I want to ride my bicycle...

I inked up some of my (many) bicycle stamps to create a simple masculine card...these ones are a Hero Arts cling set simply called 'Bicycles'. I used shades of Distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Brushed Corduroy & Spiced Marmalade), a sentiment stamp from a set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous called 'Going Somewhere', then simply doodled a border using a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS on Sunday - Masculine
• Crafty Creations - Keep It Simple
• Creative Knockouts - No Square Cards
• Less is More - Masculine

While I has my bicycle stamps and Distress Inks out...I used them to create a piece of wall art:

I used the same stamps as on the card above, another Hero Arts one ('Classic Bike') and a couple from a set by Avery Elle called 'Roll With It'...I had to play around a little bit with layout to get them to fit on my A4 card, but I'm pleased with the end result. The frame is from The Range.

This is going to go on the wall in my new craft space...I'm going to be sharing it with my flatmate, who will be using it as an office for his business...he runs cycling training courses...sells bikes...and generally eats, sleeps & breathes all things bike...so that explains my choice of images!

I will be making some others...but thought I'd start with this one as a sweetener...I'm not sure he realises the full extent of my craft stash! I'm usually only a weekend crafter (except during the school holidays...I'm a music teacher) and all of my stash is currently stored in boxes in a cupboard on the landing...I'm hoping that if I have easier access to my stash, and a dedicated space for crafting, that I might be able to sneak some in during the week!

Right now the room is completely empty...our other flatmate moved out last weekend...we have a trip to Ikea planned to pick up some pieces of furniture, and various bits'n'pieces for storage, so hopefully it won't be too long before it will be usable. I'm so excited about finally having a dedicated place to craft (even if I'm having to share it!)...up until now it's mainly been on the floor in my room!

Challenges for my stamped bicycle artwork:

• All Crafts Challenge - Anything but a Card
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafty Little Fairies - One for the Boys

This week's Crafty Little Fairies Challenge theme is:

'One for the Boys'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Handy Hippo:

I've used a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller...called 'Birthday Monkeys' which I coloured using watercolour pencils...I think I may have used them on a girly card once, but their cheeky little faces just scream little boy cards to me! The papers are from the 'Here and There' pad by Studio Calico...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• A Little Bit Crafty - Man Up!
• Corrosive - In Stitches
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Use Three Designer Papers
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Sweet Stampin' - Sketch
• Top Tip Tuesday - Stitching

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for...

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

'D is for Die Cuts'

Our sponsor for this challenge is QKR Stampede:

Prize - 5 Digital Images!

I used a Hero Arts and Sizzix stamp and die set to create my card. I stamped the reindeer on to kraft card...adding a little colour using watercolour pencils...and gave them coloured jumpers using 'Chipped Saphire' and 'Fired Brick' Distress Inks. I cut the trees from an assortment of green papers from pads by My Mind's Eye, Penny Black, Studio Calico and Crate Paper. For the background, I used paper from the 'Here & There' pad by Studio Calico, and strips of white hammer textured card, torn to look like fluffy snow. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Celebrate Everyday' set by Hero Arts.

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

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Christmas Landscapes
• Christmas Cards - Trees
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Clever Cutting
• Feeling Crafty - Dies and/or Punches
• Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Buttons

We have a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge starting today...and the theme is:

'Buttons'

So else would we have on offer as a prize for the lucky winner...but some buttons!?

I stamped a strip of snowflakes across my card using 'Fired Brick' Distress Ink and a Hero Arts 'Snowflakes' stamp...then added buttons to the centres of the whole snowflakes. The sentiment stamp is also by Hero Arts...from the 'Sentiment's set.

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

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crazy Challenge - Red & White
• Emergency Crafters - Use Pink or Red
• Holly Jolly Christmas - Snow
• Jingle Belles - Red
• Ribbon Girls - Red

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Focus on Sentiments

This week's Pile It On! Challenge theme is:

'Focus on Sentiments'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Pickled Potpourri Designs:

Prize - $7 Gift Certificate!

I took an old (and very much neglected) Funstamps sentiment stamp as the starting point for my card...lightly stamping a floral background using one of my favourite stamps...'Blooming Meadows' by Hero Arts...using 'Worn Lipstick' & 'Bundled Sage' Distress Inks...and blending some 'Old Paper' over the top to soften the white background, before stamping the sentiment over the top in black.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Focus on Sentiments
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Creative Card Crew - Keep It Simple & Sweet
• One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - We Love Stamps
• Stampavie & More - Lots of Flowers
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Flower Power
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Snow Buddies

Today's card is also one of last weekend's creations...a really simple card using a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Snow Buddies', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I simply added a sentiment (stamp also by Lili of the Valley), doodled a border, and some spotty washi tape (from Hobbycraft).

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Passion - Pick a Past Challenge (#158 - Adorable Animals)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Card Crew - Keep It Simple & Sweet
• Merry Mondays - Feature an Animal
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Get Krafty

Angel Cat

I have a Christmas card to share today...I made it last weekend, but am only just finding time to blog it now...can't wait for half-term next week! I've used 'Angel Cat' by Penny Black...colouring him using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to his wings with Stickles. I used papers from the 'Winter Wonderland' pad by My Mind's Eye...love these and am down to my last couple of sheets :0( I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The pearls are from Hobbycraft, and the sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Use Pearls
• Allsorts - Colours Beginning with B (Blue)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Knockouts - Spots & Dots
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Make it Sparkle
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Monochrome
• Stamping Sensations - Wings, Fantasy & Fiction

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Love

This week's Crafty Little Fairies Challenge is all about:

'Love'

The fabulous prize for one lucky entrant is from the wonderful Ribbon Girl:

I used 'Bunnies - In Love' by Lili of the Valley...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Yes Please!' pad by American Crafts...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and  white gel pen...the sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley.

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

• Corrosive - Feel the Love
• Crafting for All Seasons - Romance
• Crafty Sentiments - Love is in the Air
• Crazy Challenge - Love is in the Air
• Cute Card Thursday - Lots of Love
• Gem of a Challenge - Love
• Inky Chicks - Cute Animal Stamp
• Just for Fun - Love is in the Air
• Little Red Wagon - Love
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch #295
• Stamp & Create - Love is in the Air
• Sweet Stampin' - Love/Valentine's
• That Craft Place - Valentine's/Love

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - C is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Lols is the host, and the theme is:

'Chocolate Creams'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Wild Orchid Crafts

Prize - a £10 voucher!

I went with a chocolate and cream colour scheme...embossing plain card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and Sizzix 'Snowflakes' folders. The image is called 'Skating Fun' by Lili of the Valley...and the snowflakes are a mixture of Cuttlebug and Marianne Designs dies.

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

• Animal Friends - Dots
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Stripes and/or Spots (Spots)
• Sparkles Christmas - Anything Goes

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Valentine's

This fortnight's Oldie but a Goodie Challenge theme is:

'Valentine's'

I don't have the prize details at the time of writing this...so I'll add them later today :0)

I used my old Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die to cut hearts from a rainbow of shades of card scraps...then embossed them using a different embossing folder for each one (folders by Cuttlebug, Craft Concepts, Sizzix & Crafts Too). I simply arranged them in colour order across my card, popping the ones in front up on 3D foam pads. I doodled a simple border, then added a sentiment from the Hero Arts 'Sentiments' set.

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

• Craft Your Passion - Love is in the Air
• Less is More - Rainbow
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Love Notes
• Totally Gorjuss - Sunny Colours

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Ribbon

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

'Ribbon'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Paper Sweeties:

Prize - $20 Gift Certificate for Paper Sweeties!

I used my Cuttlebug 'Concntric Hearts' die to cut out the heart shape...then placed strips of different patterned red ribbons behind the cut out. I doodles some borders, and added a sentiment from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp'.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Ribbon
• 4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Addicted to CAS - Love
• Allsorts - Love
• Aud Sentiments - Love
• Crafter's Cafe - Ribbon/Lace
• Crafty Calendar - Love is All Around
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - No Designer Paper
• Everybody Art - Hearts
• Gem of a Challenge - Love
• Pink Elephant - Love
• Stampavive & More - Valentine's
• Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
• Totally Papercrafts - CAS

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - For Someone Special

It's the first Saturday of the month...so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this month the theme is:

'For Someone Special' 

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

The Ribbon Girl:

1-2-3 Stitch!:

Prize - a $20 voucher

I've made  a Valentine's card using a couple of the stamps from the 'Every Which Way' set. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils...doodled a simple border, and added some Baker's twine...simples!

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

• Aud Sentiments - Love
• C.R.A.F.T. - Love/Valentine's
• Everybody Art - Hearts
• Pink Elephant - Love
• Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Twine or String
• Stampavie & More - Valentine's
• Totally Papercrafts - Clean & Simple

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