October Desk Calendar

As it's the first day of a new month, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for October today. Despite the unseasonably warm weather we're currently experiencing here in London, I couldn't resist getting out my Penny Black Halloween stamps, and picked a cute cat image from the 'Be Very Scared!' set. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of circle Nesties to cut him out. For the background, I used snippets of patterned papers from the 'Hocus Pocus' pad from Taylored Expressions...I've had this pad for years, and although it's still going strong, I no longer have any full sheets left, just lots and lots of snippets:

I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, before matting it onto a snippet of kraft card and adding it to my desk calendar.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - Anything Autumn
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Hello Autumn
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - Photo Inspiration
• Little Red Wagon - Autumn Colours
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Autumn

Racer Boy Birthday

I have a birthday card to share today, featuring a Penny Black stamp from the 'Cheering Critters' set. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, then added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut it out. For the background, I used papers from the 'Awesome Boy' pad by recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx)...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the image onto a scalloped circle of kraft card, cut using another of my Nestie dies, then layered it all up on a piece of kraft card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Use Patterned Papers
• As You Like It - Favourite Sporting Activity (Whilst I don't participate in any sports, there are several that I enjoy watching, including cycling - I made this card while watching the very exciting Elite Men's Road Race at the World Championship at the weekend)
• Krafty Chicks - Masculine
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes

 

A Wish & a Kiss

I have (yet) another Christmas card to share today, this time featuring an older Penny Black stamp called 'A Wish & a Kiss'. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, added a line for the snowy ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils before carefully cutting around the top of the image. For the background, I stamped my 'Festive Background' stamp by Woodware onto a snippet of pink paper from the 'Pastel Watercolours' pad from The Works, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I layered the duck over the top, then matted it onto a piece of bright pink card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Hot Foil or Hot Embossing
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Pink
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Added Text
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Make Your Own Background
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas in September
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Bundled Snowmen

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring a cute snowman stamp from the 'Bundled Snowman' set by Penny Black. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut out the circle shape. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then matted it onto a pink scalloped circle (cut using another Nestie die). For the background, I used snowflake covered papers...the blue one is from the 'Let it Snow' pad by Art Studio, and the pink one is from the 'Snowscapes' pad from Woodware...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I matted it all onto some more pink card, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas in September
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Merry Delivery

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring another of the stamps from the 'Merry Delivery' set by Penny Black. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Hol;tz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used a couple of patterned papers from the 'May Your Days be Merry & Bright' pad from Craft Sensations, distressing the edges a little before adding them to a kraft card blank. I placed the image on top, then added a picket fence cut from a snippet of brown card using a Die-namics die.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles  -Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas in September

Gentle Christmas Hugs

Today's card features one of the stamps from the 'Merry Delivery' set by Penny Black. I stamped the image, and one of the matching sentiments, onto a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before matting it onto a piece of teal coloured card and adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Text (Stamp)
• Sweet Stampin' - CAS

PBSC September - Anything Goes (Optional 'Use a Die')...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

'Things with Wings'

We're currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I picked a cute snowmen image from the 'Bundled Snowman' set, and stamped it onto a a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used dies from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Snowglobe 2' set to cut the 'globe' from a snippet of watercolour effect paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations, and the 'plinth' from a tiny snippet of kraft card. I used a Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Snowfall' embossing folder to emboss the 'globe', then lightly sanded over the raised areas to reveal some of the white core of the paper. I layered the snowmen over the top, then trimmed it to match the circle shape. I added a sentiment to the 'plinth' using a stamp from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then inked around the edges of that, and the 'globe' using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. I wanted to keep the background fairly simple, so added a piece snowflake covered paper (from the 'Snowscapes' pad from Woodware) to a kraft card blank, then added the assembled snowglobe on top. 

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

• A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes (Using an Embossing Folder)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

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

Floral Garden

Today's card features a stamp from Simon Says Stamp called 'Floral Garden'. I stamped it off the edge of a piece of watercolour paper...the stamp is huge, so this is a way of making it more useable. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, then coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple
• Sweet Stampin' - CAS Cards

Owlsome Christmas!

Today's card features a cute owl stamp from Purple Onion called 'Owlsome Christmas!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from an unnamed pad from The Works...distressing the edges a little and adding faux stitching using a black gel pen. I matted the image and the bottom layer onto some teal coloured card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Lots of Layers
• Just Us Girls - Bold
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Garden Bouquet Sympathy

I have a sympathy card to share today. I started by stamping a music background stamp (from Light Studio) onto a piece of smooth white card using 'Hickory Smoke' Distress Ink. Once dry, I stamped my Hero Arts 'Garden Bouquet' stamp over the top using 'Chipped Sapphire' Distress Ink...I inked and stamped it several times to get a really crisp image. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Brushstroke Expressions' set by My Favorite Things...stamping that in 'Chipped Sapphire' to match the dark blue floral image. I matted the panel onto some navy card, distressing the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Sympathy/Thinking of You/Get Well
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It

Poinsettia Border

Today's card features stamps from a Julie Hickey set called 'Poinsettia Border', that I got recently from a charity shop. I stamped them onto a piece of watercolour paper, adding the sentiment from the set in the centre, then coloured the images using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Little Red Wagon - Use a Stamp
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• We Love Stamping - Trees & Leaves

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...Lynda is the host, and the themes are:

'S is for Snowmen'

&

'T is for Transport'

The prize for the lucky winner is the matching stamp & die from Your Next Stamp

For my 'S is for Snowmen' card, I picked a Woodware stamp called 'Snowman Family', and stamped it directly onto a DL white card blank. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

For my 'T is for Transport' card, I picked a sledge for my mode of transport, and used a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Sledging Buddies'. I stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, and added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Just Add Snow!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over a snippet of snowy sky paper, from an unnamed pad from The Works, matted it onto a snippet of teal card, then added it to a kraft card blank.

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

• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It (Second card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum - Animals (Second card only)

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

Paper Cut Pup Birthday

Today's card features one of the cute critter stamps from the 'Merry Delivery' set by Penny Black. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Paper Cut Messages' set by Simon Says Stamp. On the stamp, the gift box and ribbon are both plain, so I added some dots and stripes using a black gel pen, before I coloured it using watercolour pencils.I matted it onto a piece of bright blue card, distressing the edges a little, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - All Creatures Great & Small
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• Sparkles Forum - Animals
• The Male Room - Dots and/or Stripes

PBSC September - Anything Goes (Optional 'Use a Die')

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

'Use a Die'

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I picked a Penny Black die to use on my card, and started by cutting the 'Immense Joy' from a snippet of bright red card. I then used the die to cut the centre of the 'O' from a snippet of white card, then stamped my Penny Black 'Jingle Friends' stamp onto that, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I made a simple background by embossing a piece of white card using a snowflake embossing folder from Sizzix, then matted it onto a piece of bright red card. I added the die cut on top, inserting the coloured image into the centre of the 'O', then added it to a white card blank.

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

• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes with an Embossing Folder
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - R & S (R is for Rudolph & S is for Santa)
• Christmas Kickstart - Reindeer Games
• Creative Moments - Make it Cute
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It
• Sweet Stampin' - Use a Die Cut

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

Succulents

Today's card features one of the stamps from the 'Happy Together' set by Penny Black. I stamped it directly onto a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set from Visible Image, then coloured it using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Colourful - Colourboard #31
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It

September Desk Calendar

As it's the first day of a new month, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for September. This means 'back to school' for me (I'm a music teacher), so I picked a cute Penny Black hedgie stamp called 'Scooting Along'... who, with his balloon removed, looks like he could be on his way to school with his satchel slung over his shoulder! I stamped him (minus his balloon) onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. For the background, I used snippets of patterned papers from the 'Awesome Boy' pad from Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx). I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, then matted it onto a snippet of kraft card before adding it to the calendar.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - All Creatures Great & Small
• As You Like It - Favourite Wild Animal (Hedgehog - I went with a cute (and non-scary!) animal - I'd be happy to welcome them into my garden, although I think they're probably put off by our urban foxes!)
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Use a Die Cut

Festive Foliage

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring a background stamp I got from a charity shop at the weekend. It's by Chloe Creative Stamps, and is called 'Festive Foliage Background'. I stamped it onto teal card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Platinum Sparkle' embossing glitter from WOW. I stamped a sentiment, using a stamp from a Colorado Craft Company set, onto a strip of vellum using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using silver embossing powder. I tore the edges of the vellum, then added it over the top of the embossed background, matting it all onto a piece of silver mirror card before adding it to a DL card blank.

It's not very easy to see, but the background is super sparkly in real life!

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Fluffles Noel

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using some more charity shop purchases...a Stampendous woodmounted stamp called 'Fluffles Noel', and some BasicGrey 'Figgy Pudding' papers. I stamped the image onto a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed all of the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before layering it up onto a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - All Creatures Great & Small
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Lots of Layers
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Together

Today's card features a floral Penny Black stamp called 'Together'. I inked it up using Distress inks (Chipped Sapphire, Uncharted Mariner and Mermaid Lagoon for the flowers, and Lucky Clover and Forest Moss for the leaves and stems), then spritzed it with a little water before stamping it onto a piece of watercolour paper. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Flowers
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Summer Blooms

Rudolph & Friends

I have (yet!) another Christmas card to share today...this one features a cute Woodware stamp called 'Rudolph & Friends' that I got recently from a charity shop. I stamped it onto a DL kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, but without using any water. It's a huge stamp - I have quite a few this size from Woodware, and it's always a bit tricky to figure out where a sentiment might fit, but as I don't think you'd mistake this for anything other than a Christmas card, I left this one with just the image.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Christmas Kickstart - Friendship
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes