Par Avion

I have another Christmas card to share today...a quick & simple one layer number featuring a Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Par Avion'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, then extended the branch the chicks are sat on to the edges of the card using a black gel pen. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils (without water), then added a Lili of the Valley sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Take Flight
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Fab 'N' Funky - Christmas
• Happy Little Stampers (CAS) - Wings
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Birthday Dog

Today's card features one of my all time favourite stamps...'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I stamped a sentiment (from the 'Celebration Song' set by Penny Black) on to my kraft card blank, then added a snippet of patterned paper (from the 'Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels) along the bottom, before adding my pup on top using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Pets
• Stamping Sensations - Favourite Stamps

The Holly and...Well, More Holly!

I have another Christmas card to share today featuring a holly background stamp (by Kirsty Wiseman) that I picked up in the post Christmas sales. I stamped it using Versamark Ink on a a piece of green card, then heat embossed it using 'Sensational Sage' embossing glitter from WOW. I found some snippets of the same card, and heat embossed a sentiment (from the 'Letter It - Christmas' set by Ranger), and a couple of sprigs of holly (from the 'Tattered Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous) using the same embossing glitter...cutting them out using one of my oval Nesties, and the matching 'Tattered Christmas' dies (by Tim Holtz/Sizzix)

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Card Throwdown - Embossed Impressions
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Add Some Sparkle
• C.R.A.F.T. - New (The background stamp is new)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Green
• Happy Little Stampers (Dies) - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - New Stash (The background stamp is new)

Burst into Bloom

Today's card is a simple one layer number...using one of my favourite floral stamps...'Burst into Bloom' by Woodware. I masked off some of the image before inking, then stamped it just off the edge of a kraft card blank. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, but without using any water, then added a sentiment (from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp).

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Flower Power')
• Less is More - One Layer Card & Off Centre
• Penny Black & More - Feminine
• Stamping Sensations - Favourite Stamps

Sledging Buddies

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one features a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Sledging Buddies. I stamped it just off one edge of my card blank, then used a blank fine liner pen to extend the snowy slope to the other edge, adding some more falling snow too. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from the 'Winter Wishes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - One Layer Card (Optional 'Polar Animals')
• Animal Friends - Polar Bears
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Winter
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampers - Winter/Snow
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Winter Trees

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring some new embossing glitters and a stamp that I received for Christmas. I stamped the image ('Winter Trees' by Rubber Stampede) on to a snippet of navy card using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Platinum Sparkle' and 'High Heels' embossing glitters by WOW. I then inked around the edges with more Versamark Ink, then heat bossed that along with a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Trees' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous) using more of the platinum glitter.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Frosty
• Allsorts - More than a Single Word Sentiment
• CAS on Friday - Winter
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Add Some Sparkle
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Look what Santa brought me
• Little Red Wagon - Christmas
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Sparkles Forum - Winter Blues

PBSC January - Anything Goes (Optional 'Something New')...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:

'Anything Goes'
or
'Something New'
(New Year, New Baby, New Home, New Job, New Stash...)

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used some more new stash...a cute little succulent stamp from the 'Happy Together' set, along with some 'No Line Colouring' Ink by Ink on 3, that I got for Christmas. I stamped the image using the no line ink on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using another stamp in the set, then distressed the edges a little before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• As You Like It - Anything Goes
• Crafty Cardmakers - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Something New or Something Old (The stamps & ink are new)
• Daring Cardmakers - Something New (The stamps & ink are new)
• Dream Valley - Something New (The stamps & ink are new)
• My Time to Craft - New Stash (The stamps & ink are new)

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

Prank Call

Today's card features a 'new to me' stamp that I picked up in a charity shop over the Christmas break. It's called 'Prank Call' by Penny Black...I love that those naughty little mice are dialling 'the cat'! I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolourpencils. I added a simple 'hello' sentiment (from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp), then distressed the edges a little before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - What's New? (The stamp is new)
• Cutie Pie - Cute & CAS
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes

Which One's Rudolph?

I have a simple Christmas card to share today...featuring a Woodware stamp that I picked up in the post-Christmas sales called 'Which One's Rudolph?' I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured the reindeer using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to the snowy ground using some Stickles. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, and matted the panel on to some red card to match Rudolph's nose.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Optional 'Animals')
• Fab 'N' Funky - No Designer Paper
• Inkspirational - Fauna
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Little Friends

Thomas with Flowers

I have a cute Lili of the Valley card to share today...featuring 'Thomas with Flowers'...a charity shop find - a total bargain...it was in a pack with another stamp for 50p! I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. The papers were also from a charity shop...they're from the 'Pretty Please' pad by My Mind's Eye...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 a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Say it with Flowers
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Animals)
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Wishes')
• Incy Wincy - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Make it Feminine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Fun with Florals
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Use Your Stuff - Anything Goes

Happy Together

Today's cards feature a couple of stamps from a Penny Black set that I got for Christmas called 'Happy Together'. I stamped them on to watercolour paper using another Christmas present...a 'No Line Colouring' ink pad by a brand called Ink on 3...then coloured them using watercolour pencils. This was my first attempt...and I really like the effect, but definitely need more practice! I added a sentiment (from the same stamp set), then distressed the edges a little and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for these cards:

• Alphabet Challenge - T is for Try Something New (No line colouring)
• Allsorts - Soft Pastels
• As You Like It - Thank You
• Crafty Friends - Something New (New Stamps & New Technique)
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Something New or New Technique (I did both!)
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - All Things New (New Stamps & New Technique)
• Penny Black & More - Make It Feminine
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Somehting New (New Stamps & New Technique)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Fun with Florals
• Sweet Stampin' - New Stash (New Stamps)

Christmas Pudding!

I have a Christmas card to share today...using a 'new to me' stamp that I received for Christmas. It's by Personal Impressions...and although it doesn't have a name on it, I think we'll call it 'Christmas Pudding'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I found a piece of pudding covered paper in my Craftwork Cards 'Peppermint Forest' pad, so used that as a simple background. I added a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Trees' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous), then distressed the edges a little, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Something New (New Stamp)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Something New (New Stamp)

PBSC January - Anything Goes (Optional 'Something New')

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

'Anything Goes'
or
'Something New'
(New Year, New Baby, New Home, New Job, New Stash...)

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with 'New Year', and my project for this challenge is a 2020 Penny Black calendar. I buy a few of the blank 'Create a Calendars' from Paper Mill Direct to decorate and give as Christmas presents each year, and this is the one I made for my Mum. They still have some available here (50% off with the code 202050) if you fancy making yourself one. I used a variety of Penny Black stamps and papers from lots of different manufacturers...far too many to list, but I did manage to use up lots of snippets! Here's a look at each of the months:

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

• Always Fun - New Year 2020
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Something New (New Year)

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - A & B are for?

Happy New Year!

Over at the ABC Christmas Challenge, we're starting our eleventh (!) trip through the alphabet...I'm the host, and the themes for this month are:

'A is for Anything Christmas Goes'

and

'B is for Bingo'

(Pick three elements in a row, column or diagonal)

I have a card for each of the two themes...and used new (to me) stamps on both. My 'A is for Anything Christmas Goes' card features a huge Christmas tree stamp by Indigo Blu called 'Baroque Christmas Tree'. I had an attempt at 'shadow stamping', and started by stamping it on to kraft card using Versafine 'Smoky Gray' ink, then moved the card along slightly and stamped it again using Versamark Ink, and heat embossed it using white. I matted it on to a layer of white card, distressed the edges a little, and then on to a kraft card blank adding a few adhesive pearls in the corners.

My 'B is for Bingo' card uses stamps from a set that I think came free with a magazine at some point...I went for the central column on the bingo board (Coloured Image - Christmas Sentiment - CAS), colouring the tree using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to the baubles and bows using liquid pixiedust. The sentiment came in the same stamp set, and I added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Moo Mania - Triangles (Just the first card)

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