Chalkboard Wishes

The stamp I've used on today's card was  prize from a challenge I won over at Sketchy Colours a few weeks ago...it's called 'Chalkboard Wishes' by Penny Black...and is totally different from anything else I have in my collection. I stamped it in black Versafine ink, then added some colour to the 'chalk' using watercolour pencils, then simply cut around the edge, and added it to a card blank decorated with some My Mind's Eye paper (from the 'Bright' pad) and some multicoloured twine (from TKMaxx).

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - CAS
• Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too - Focal Sentiments
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - M is for...

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

'M is for Mail'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Shape EZ:

Prize - 2 Shape EZ Templates of the winner's choice!

I've used a Lili of the Valley image called 'Puppy Post', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept my card really simple, just adding a sentiment (also by Lili of the Valley), and a Dovecraft button threaded on to some Baker's twine from the Ribbon Girls.

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

• Completely Christmas - Anything Christmas
• Corrosive - Colour Me Happy
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Buttons & Bows

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

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Baby

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

'Baby'

The prize for this challenge has been donated by Alison:

I used a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Little Acorn'...so cute! I simply coloured the image using watercolour pencils, pierced some holes around the corners, and added a sentiment from a set by Art Impressions.

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

• Gem of a Challenge - For a Child or Baby
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place - Anything Goes

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

Pile It On! Challenge - Kawaii/Cute

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

'Kawaii/Cute'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Oddball Art:

Prize - 3 Single Digital Images!

I turned my cupcakes 'cute' by doodling some faces on them :0) The cupcakes were cut using a Marianne Designs die, from papers from the 'Bright' pad by My Mind's Eye. The sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp (from the 'Anytime Messages' set).

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Kawaii/Cute
• Aud Sentiments - Two Word Sentiments
• Clear It Out - Anything Goes
• Daring Cardmakers - Oodles of Doodles
• Love to Create - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Have Fun!

I have another CAS card for you today...that seems to be all that I've made these last couple of weeks...must try to do something about that next weekend, or else I'll never make a dent in my stash mountain! This time, I've used a Penny Black stamp from the 'Hello Friend' set...stamping him just off the edge to make it look like he was travelling along the bottom of the card. The sentiment is from the 'What a Life' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Transport
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Black, White & One Other Colour
• Crafty Sentiments - CAS or Full On
• Cute Card Thursday - So Macho!
• Less is More - Off  the Edge

Scribbled Flowers

I spent a happy hour yesterday sorting through my stamps...re-organising them...and discovering some forgotten gems, including the flower stamps I used on today's card. The large one is 'Scribble Flower' by Anita's Stamps, and the smaller ones are by Funstamps, and are called 'Sketched Flower' and 'Scribbled Flower'. I stamped them over one half of the card blank, allowing the flowers to go off the edge, then simply coloured them using watercolour pencils, and added a Hero Arts sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Inspirations - Bold & Bright Colours
• Krafty Hands - Floral Frenzy
• Less is More - Off the Edge
• Papercrafting Journey - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

No Snow Dust

I have another Father's Day card to share today...this is the other option I made for my flatmate to give to his Dad...you can see the first card here. For this card I started by inking up an acrylic block with shades of blue and green Distress Inks (Salty Ocean, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Bundled Sage, Forest Moss & Mowed Lawn), then misting it with a little water before stamping it on to white card to create a watercolour 'mountain' background...I was trying to fulfill at least one part of the 'mountain with sheep or goats' request! Once the ink had dried, I stamped my Penny Black 'Snow Dust' stamp over the top...without the 'dust' part, then added some grasses in the foreground using stamps from the 'Just for You' set by Hobby Art, and a Hero Arts sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Sentiments - Father's Day
• Creative Corner - Just for Boys
• Loves Rubber Stamps - CAS
• My Time to Craft - DL It
• Papertake Weekly - For the Boys
• Sweet Stamps - For Dad
• Totally Gorjuss - Dad

Bedroom Butterfly

Today's card is inspired by this week's Less Is More Challenge, where the theme is to use the colours in your bedroom. Well, my room is all white, so I chose to use the colours of my bedding and rugs...which are teal, purple and blue. I started by watering down some Distress Inks (Pine Needles, Dusty Concord & Stormy Sky), and spattering them across a piece of white card to create the background for my butterfly (cut using my Memory Box 'Darl Butterfly' die). The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Less Is More - Colours of your Bedroom
• Open Minded Crafting - Wings
• Moving Along with the Times - Keep it Clean & Simple
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Stamping with the Dragon - CAS

ABC Christmas Challenge - L is for...

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

'L is for Little Gifts'

(Either use an image featuring gifts or make a little gift)

We are sponsored for this challenge by Freckled Fawn:

Prize - $15 Gift Card!

I picked a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Present Pile'...who can resist James the Bear??? I coloured him using watercolour pencils...the lightly distressed the edge using my distressing tool before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I kept my card quite simple, adding some strips of washi tape...mine is from Hobbycraft, but our sponsor, Freckled Fawn, also have a lovely selection. The little red pearls are also from Hobbycraft.

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

• Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
• Merry Monday - Santa Hats
• 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 - Father's Day or Masculine

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

'Father's Day or Masculine'

The prize for this challenge is this paw print background stamp:

I made a wine bottle tag to go on a gift for my Dad for Father's Day...and used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Fetch'...I love the cat slippers! The papers are from the 'Christmas in the Country' pad by Papermania...I inked around the edges using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and  black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Craft Your Passion - Father's Day/For the Boys
• Creative Corner - That Old Stamp (I think that the last time this stamp saw any ink was last Father's Day!)
• Cutie Pie - A Cute One for Dad
• Incy Wincy - Faux Techniques (Stitching)
• Pink Elephant - Happy Father's Day
• That Craft Place - Men

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

Father's Day Star

I have a Father's Day card to share today...it's not for my Dad (you can see his card here)...it's for my flatmate's Dad...in fact I made him a choice of two, as I was unable to fulfill his request of 'a card with mountains with sheep or goats on'! For this one, I played around with my Distress Inks...blending shades of blue and green (Salty Ocean, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Bundled Sage, Forest Moss & Pine Needles) on to a piece of white card. Then I spritzed some water over it, and stamped my Hero Arts 'Zig Zag' background stamp lightly over the top. I used my star Nesties to cut out a star, then cut the smaller one from that...mounting it inside the larger star aperture on 3D foam pads. The sentiment stamp is from the Hero Arts 'Sentiments' set, and I doodled the borders using a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Clear It Out - Male & Stars 
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Dies
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Father's Day/Masculine

Pile It On! Challenge - Use Patterned Paper

This weeks' Pile It On! Challenge is a nice and easy one:

'Use Patterned Paper'

Our sponsor for this challenge is The Doodle Garden:

Prize: 3 Digi Stamps from The Doodle Garden!

I picked some masculine papers from the 'Here & There' pad by Studio Calico...distressing their edges with some 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink and my distressing tool, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The image is 'Birthday Beagle' by Whipper Snapper, and the sentiment stamp is from the Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Use Patterned Paper
• C.R.A.F.T. - Father's Day/Masculine
• Crafter's Cafe - Masculine
• Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes
• Crafty Blogger's Network - Bingo (Column A - Die Cuts, Image & Patterned Paper)
• Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Man Made
• Fab 'N' Funky - Father's Day/For the Men in your Life
• Incy Wincy - Something for the Men in your Life
• Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - For a Man/Boy
• The Stamping Boutique - Dad/Masculine
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Boys, Boys, Boys!

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:

'Boys, Boys, Boys!' 

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

The Ribbon Girl:

1-2-3 Stitch!:

Prize - a $20 voucher

My Dad has recently re-discovered a love of fishing...so I used a stamp cunningly called 'Fishing' to make his Father's Day card. I combined it with papers from the 'Shoreline' pad by American Crafts...doodling some borders using a black gel pen, and adding a Hero Arts sentiment.

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

• Aud Sentiments - Sentiment for a Guy
• Charisma Cardz - Father's Day
• Creative Card Crew - Nautical
• Moving Along with the Times - Father's Day
• Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day/Masculine
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes

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

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Spots & Stripes

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

'Spots & Stripes'

We have lots of lovely sponsors for this challenge:

The Ribbon Girl:

Marianne Design:

Iva Nova Chest:

Handy Hippo:

Crafty Ribbons:

I used some spotty & stripey papers from the 'Ooh La La (for Her)' pad by My Mind's Eye. I distressed the edges a little using my distressing tool, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The image is 'Lucky Cats' by Lili of the Valley, and the sentiment stamp is from a little set by Wild Rose Studio.

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle
• Sketch Saturday - Any Sketch of Your Choice (I picked #250)
• Shopping Our Stash - Critters

• Totally Gorjuss - Stitching

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

Social Butterflies

I have another 'inky' card to share today...using stamps from the 'Social Butterfly' set by Penny Black. I stamped them using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them in white, before blending Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick) over the top.The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Embossing
• Less Is More - More than One Stamp
• My Time to Craft - No DP
• Pink Elephant - Orange
• Top Tip Tuesday - Monochrome

Hedgie Delivery

Today's card uses a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Hedgie Delivery'...I love how he can't possibly reach the pedals, but hasn't fallen off! The papers are a mixture of Penny Black 'Madison' and American Crafts 'Shoreline'...I doodled some borders using a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Animal Friends - Hobbies (Cycling)
• Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubber Stamps - Happy Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Animal Antics
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #221

A Bright Tomorrow...

I have a Christmas card to share today...I got out a neglected Penny Black stamp set (called 'A Bright Tomorow'), and stamped a few of the stamps using Versamark, then heat embossed them in white. I blended some blue Distress Inks (Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans, Stormy Skies & Chipped Sapphire) over the top. The sentiment stamp is from the '

Challenges for this card:

• Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Christmas
• Crimbo Crackers - No DP
• Fab 'N Funky - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Christmas - Favourite Colour Combination (Blue & White)
• Sweet Stamps - No DP
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - No Red or Green

Present Pile Gift Wrap & Tag

I have some simple gift-wrap and a tag to share today...it's my Dad's birthday present to go with this card that I blogged earlier this week...you may have spotted there's a bit of a chicken theme! This one is 'Present Pile' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, simply cutting him out, and adding him to a tag covered in washi tape. I used some more of the washi tape on the present, then attached my tag using some multicoloured twine that I picked up in TKMaxx.

Challenges for this Tag & Wrapping:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - for the Guys
• Crafty Creations - All About 'S' (Stripes & String)
• Creative Inspirations - Tag It!
• Delightful - It's a Guy Thing
• Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Tag, You're It!
• Sweet Stampin' - Father's Day/Special Man