Penguin Pals

I'm sharing a Christmas card today...I used a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Penguin Pals'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added a Lili of the Valley sentiment underneath. The papers are from the 'Christmas Cheer' pad by Lily Bee Design...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Fairytale - Cards with Animals
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday (Christmas)
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Animals or Birds

Whoops!

Today's card is inspired by the 'Use a Frame' theme of this week's Less is More Challenge. I already had this little chap coloured up (he's from the 'Crazy Dogs' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous)...I thought he looked like he'd just done something naughty, so cut an aperture using my craft knife to make it look like he'd smashed his way though a wall. The sentiments are from the 'Apologies' set by Paper Smooches.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Heartful Stamping - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Use a Frame
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

Tulips for Mum

Happy Mother's Day! Today I'm sharing the card I made for my Mum. It features a Woodware stamp that she bought me, called 'Tulips in a Vase', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I found a snippet of matching stripey paper in my 'Stella & Rose - Mabel' pad by My Mind's Eye. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Calendar - Mother's Day
• Crafty Cardmakers - For a Special Woman
• Deep Ocean - Flowers Everywhere
• Fab 'N Funky - Flowers
• Inky Chicks - Flowers
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Here Comes Trouble!

I have an ultra simple card to share today featuring one of Tim Holtz's 'Crazy Dogs'. I coloured the pup using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. and added him to my card base using 3D foam pads. The sentiment is from the 'I love my dog' set by Hero Arts...there was a border around the text, but I masked that off before I inked the stamp.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Favourite Colouring Medium (Watercolour pencils...I love that they're so portable & simple to use)
• Aud Sentiments - Anything but Birthday
• CCEE Stampers - Puppies
• Come & Get It - Anything Goes
• Creative Corner - For the Dogs
• Give a Crafter a Cookie - Photo Inspiration
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes

Easter Hares

I have another Easter treat bag to share today...this one features a Happy Hopper image called 'Easter Hares'...I love their little egg costumes! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils to match the We R Memory Keepers 'Hippity Hoppity' papers. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by Amy R/C C Designs.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Addicted to Stamps - Easter
• Allsorts - Anything but a Card
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Easter
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes (Spring Colours)
• Heartful Stamping - Spring
• House Mouse & Friends - Spring
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Ribbon Girls - Use Any Image
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Layer It Up
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Mr Snowman

I have a Christmas card to share today featuring a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Mr Snowman'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a touch of gold to the baubles hanging from his arms using a gel pen. I added a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous), then used one of my Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside' border dies to cut a curve along one side. I added strips of gold washi tape along the edges of my card blank, then added the snowman panel on top using 3D foam tape.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes (Optional No Patterned Paper)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Less is More - Washi Tape
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Use Silver or Gold (I used gold)

PIO Challenge March - Humour/Puns...More Inspiration!

I have another card for this month's Pile It On! Challenge where the theme is:

'Humour/Puns'

but...that's not all...with our new monthly format, we're adding in a alternative...or optional extra theme...and this moth that theme is:

'Plaid'

You're free to use one, or other of the themes, or combine them if you wish!

Our sponsor this month is Dr Digi's House of Stamps:

Prize - 2 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

I chose to combine the two themes on my card, and paired a cute dinosaur image and sentiment (from the 'You're Rawr-some' set by My Favorite Things), and a sheet of double sided paper from the 'Abbey Road' (Stomp) collection. I kept the card pretty simple, adding some doodling using a black gel pen, and fussy cutting my dinosaur, then popping him up on 3D foam pads.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Humour and/or Plaid
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crazy - Masculine
• Creative Playground - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Boy's Birthday
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• My Favorite Things - Sketch #324
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - A Bit 'O Green
• Simply Create Too - Lots of Green
• Sparkles Forum - Let's Go Green

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

PBSC March - Bright & Cheerful Colours...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Bright & Cheerful Colours'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I decorated an Easter treat bag using some brightly coloured papers from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers and an adorable stamp called 'Bonnet Bunny', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by Amy R/C C Designs.

I'm also entering this treat bag into the following challenges:

• Artistic Stamper - Springtime
• As You Like It - Favourite Stamp Brand (Penny Black - they were my first love...I love the mix of cute and elegant)
• Aud Sentiments - Easter or Spring Sentiment
• Fussy & Fancy - Springtime
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

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

Leafy Greens

I have a simple one layer card for this week's Less is More Challenge to share today, where the theme is 'Leaves'. I used stamps from the 'Spring Flowers' set by Honey Doo Crafts, using watercolour pencils to add some colour, and a sentiment from a set that was a magazine freebie.

Challenges for this card:

• CASology - Foliage
• Heartful Stamping - Green
• Less is More - Leaves (One Layer Card)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Bit 'O Green
• Stamping Sensations - Close to Nature

Balloon Trio

I have a House Mouse card to share today...featuring another of the lovely stamps that I recently received as a prize...this one's called 'Balloon Trio', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...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 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Deep Ocean - Dots and/or Stripes
• House Mouse & Friends - Let's Party!
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
• Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything Goes (Optional Distressed Edges)
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Cake Nibbler!

I was the lucky recipient of some House Mouse & Happy Hoppers stamps as a belated prize from the House Mouse & Friends Challenge...and when they popped through my letterbox yesterday, I couldn't resist inking them up straight away. The one I used on this card is called 'Cake Nibbler'...what a cheeky little bunny! I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match the pastel-ly colours of the 'My Girl' papers by American Crafts. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiments are by Hero Arts...from the 'Fabulous Birthday' and 'Cupcakes' sets.

Challenges for this card:

• Animal Friends - Animals with Big Ears
• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Fussy & Fancy - Anything Goes
• House Mouse & Friends - Let's Have a Party!
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Butterfly Bear

This is the Mother's Day card I made for my Mum to give to her Mother...and it features a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'James Butterflies'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils to match the papers from the 'Indie Chic - Nutmeg' pad by My Mind's Eye. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The flowers are a mixture of Papermania and Prima, the brad is by BasicGrey and the sentiment is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Lili of the Valley
• Cute Card Thursday - For Mother/Ladies Only
• Dream Valley - Lots of Layers
• Gem of a Challenge - 3Bs (Bear, Blooms & Brad)
• Heartful Stamping - Animals
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - For a Special Lady/Girl
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Celebrating Women
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Girl & Snowman

I received a couple of adorable Wild Rose Studio Christmas stamps last week as part of a prize from a challenge win, and couldn't resist inking them up at the weekend. The one I've used on this card is called 'Girl & Snowman'...I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle using a Wink of Stella pen. I found a piece of star covered paper that matched the snowman's scarf in my 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye...and used a piece behind my image. I distressed the edges then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a snippet of pink polkadot ribbon, and a sentiment from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to Stamps - Pastel Colours
• Card Mania - Pastel Colours
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Creative Corner - Girly Fun
• Fairytale - Your First or Last Stamp (This is my most recent stamp)
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes (Optional Twist - Stars)
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Ribbon Girls - Anything Goes (Cards)
• Winter Wonderland - Ribbon or Lace

Smooshing & Embossing

I have a set of simple little cards to share today...featuring a sentiment stamps from a set that came free with a magazine last month. I made a 'smooshed' Distress Ink background using Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Cracked Pistachio and Chipped Sapphire...adding a few layers of ink to a sheet of watercolour paper (allowing each to dry before adding the next). I then splattered it with some water, removing the excess with a paper towel to add a little more texture. I cut the sheet into four pieces, then heat embossed a sentiment using silver embossing powder on each one...then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a silver gel pen. I matted the panels on some silver mirror card then added them to some little 4x4 inch kraft card blanks.

Challenges for these cards:

• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Smooshing
• Less is More - Mainly Teal
• Little Red Wagon - March Birthstone (Aquamarine)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Make Your Own Background
• That's Crafty - Just Words

Pile It On! Challenge - Humour/Puns

We have another fun new Pile It On! Challenge starting today and the theme is:

'Humour/Puns'

Our sponsor this month is Dr Digi's House of Stamps:

Prize - 2 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

I used a cute set of fish stamps from Hambo called 'Fish Trio'...coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I made a simple 'ocean' background from a few snippets of blue card...torn along the top to look like waves. I stamped the 'birthday' part of a Hero Arts sentiment stamp (from the 'Anytime Messages' set) along the top, then added the word 'fishes' using a black gel pen...it looks much lighter in the photo, but in real life there's no difference in colour. I popped the fishes on top using some 3D foam pads.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Humour
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - CAS
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - No Designer Paper

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

PBSC March - Bright & Cheerful Colours!

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

'Bright & Cheerful Colours'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I picked some papers from the 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye...I love the clashing colours and fun patterns in these...and paired them with some Penny Black Stickeroos that I've had for absolutely ages...they're great for a quick card! I added some simple doodled borders, and some sentiments from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Alphabet Challenge - Z for Zero Embellishments
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Inky Chicks - Happy Birthday
• Naughty or Nice - Feature a Creature

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - March 2017...E, F & G are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today, and this month we have not one...not two...but three themes for you to choose from....or combine!

'E is for Edge'

'F is for Family'

AND

'G is for Girls'

Are sponsor for this challenge is Wild Orchid Crafts

Prize - a £10 gift certificate!

And...that's not all...there's also a little prize from me too:

A set of Sizzix Christmas dies!

A made a card for each of the three themes. For the 'E is for Edge' theme, I stamped a selection of snowflakes (from sets by Papermania, Lakeland and Prima) using Versamark Ink off the edge of a kraft card blank, then heat embossed them in 'Sparkling Snow' WOW embossing powder. The sentiment is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

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

• Stampavie & More - Embossing
• Sweet Stampin' - One Layer

My second card is for 'F is for Family' and features an adorable Prairie Fairy image called 'Snow Family', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The paper is from the 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye...I added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, and combined a couple of Lili of the Valley sentiments.

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

• Christmas with the Cuties - Snowmen
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Corner - Winter Wonderland

My third card is for 'G for Girls' and features an older Lili of the Valley stamp that came as part of a set called 'Skating Along' and papers from the 'Silent Night' pad by First Edition. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a silver gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the same Lili of the Valley set.

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

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday (Christmas)
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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