Surprise!

Today's card features a cute Penny Black mouse stamp called 'Surprise!'. I stamped it onto a piece of smooth white card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - In the Garden
• Cardz 4 Guys - Gardens/Gardening
• C.R.A.F.T. - Cute
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Lil Red Wagon - Outdoors
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• The Male Room - The Outdoors

Contented

Today's card features a cute Penny Black dog stamp called 'Contented'. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then used Nesties to cut out the circle shapes. For the background, I embossed a piece of green card using a Crafts Too embossing folder called 'Bone & Paw Print'. I distressed the edges a little, then matted it onto kraft card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Optional 'Boys to Men'
• Cardz 4 Guys - Use an Embossing Folder
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sweet Stampin' - Something for the Boys

Nordic Houses

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware Christmas set called 'Nordic Houses'. I stamped them directly onto a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - One Layer Cards
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Emboss It

ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

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

'L is for Let it Snow'

&

'M is for Mice'

The prize for the lucky winner is this Gemini 'Joyful Snowmen' Create-a-Card' die:

For my 'Let it Snow' card, I used one of the cute stamps from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped it onto a snippet of white card, along with an old Penny Black woodblock sentiment, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I cut around the top of the image, then layered it over a snippet of snowy sky paper from the 'Christmas' pad by Craft Sensations. I matted it onto a snippet of grey card, then added it to a white card blank.

For my 'M is for Mice' card, I used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Holly Jolly Christmas'. I stamped it onto smooth white card, and coloured it using a sentiment stamp from the 'Holly Jolly' set, also by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Kickstart - Snow Day (First card only)
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas in June (Second card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (First card only)

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

Friendship

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp called 'Friendship'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I stamped a sentiment, using one of the sentiments from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, onto a snippet of white card, then used Nesties to cut the circle shapes, and scalloped mats from navy card. The papers are from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx)...I distressed the edges, added the image and sentiment, then matted it all onto some more navy card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - For Boys
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Alphabet Challenge - C is for Circles
• Aud Sentiments - Monochrome and/or Birthdays + Sentiment
• Creative Moments - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine
• Sweet Stampin' - Something for the Boys
• The Male Room - The Outdoors
• We Love Stamping - Sports & Hobbies

 

PBSC June - Anything Goes (Optional 'Use Patterned Papers')

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 Patterned Papers'

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

I picked one of the cats from the 'Good Day!' set to use on my card...I stamped him onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. To match the spotty wrapping paper on his gift, I picked three spotty papers from the 'Here is Happy' pad by My Mind's Eye to use for the background. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

Birthday Wishes

I have a very simple birthday card to share today, featuring stamps from the 'Birthday Wishes' set from the 'Mulberry Wood' collection by Crafter's Companion. I stamped the immage and sentiment onto a snippet of smooth white card, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a matching white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Critter
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Sweet Treats

June Desk Calendar

Today, I'm sharing my deskn calendar page for June. I used a cute daisy-chain making mice stamp from the 'Micey Day' set, by Penny Black, and stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used a couple of little snippets of paper from the 'Pretty Please' Spring papers 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.

Challenges for this calendar:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Par Avion

Today's card features a background stamp called 'Festive Background' by Woodware Stamps that I got from a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it using Versamark ink onto a snippet of paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I used it as a background for a trio of Penny Black chickens called 'Par Avion'. I stamped them onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, than carefully cut them out. I distressed the edges of the background, added the chickens on top, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favouorite Season (Winter - I love a crisp, sunny winter's day, and of course there's Christmas!)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Three of Something (Chickens)

Flower Shower

Today's card features a cute House Mouse stamp, by Spellbinders, called 'Flower Shower'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Nana's Nursery - Baby Boy' pad from Premium Stacks (the purple), and 'Fresh Florals' pad from Craft Sensations (the green one). I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before matting some of the layers on purple card, and adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• House Mouse & Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Flowers

Falling Sparkles

Today's card features a background stamp from Stamps by Chloe called 'Falling Sparkles' that I got from a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it onto purple card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Magical Mauve' embossing glitter from WOW. I matted it onto some purple mirror card, then added a sentiment cut using a Tonic Studios die from more of the purple mirror card. This is so sparkly and shiny in real life, but a real pain to photograph!

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Something Monochrome
• Little Red Wagon - Make Your Own Background
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Birthday Wishing

Today's card features stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Here Is Happy' pad by My Mind's Eye...it's been a long time since I used them, but there are still plenty of snippets left! I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute Critters

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!

Today's card features a Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels...I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Feature an Animal
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute Critters

Joy to the World

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using one of the stamps from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Gift Exchange' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Ho Ho Ho' pad by Polkadoodles, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before adding them to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Animals
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute Critters
• Stamping Sensations - Cute Creatures

Suspenseful Music

I have a birthday card to share today, featuring a Penny Black stamp called 'Suspenseful Music'. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, added some musical notes and a sentiment using stamps from the 'Critter Concert' set by Lawn Fawn, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Party Day' pad from Crate Paper...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favourite Sketch/Layout (This is my go-to on rectangular and square cards...it works well for combining a few different papers)
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Time Out - Playing Music
• We Love Stamping - All Creatures Great & Small

PBSC May - Anything Goes (Optional 'Your Favourite PB Stamp')...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

'Your Favourite Penny Black Stamp'

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

I cheated slightly this time, and picked my favourite Penny Black Christmas stamp...'Snowy'! I stamped him onto a piece of watercolour paper, used a black gel pen to extend the snowy ground on either side of him, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over a piece of snowy sky paper, from an unnamed pad from The Works, then matted it onto a piece of teal card before adding it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Snow
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

Monster Birthday Cake

Today's card features an old Bugaboo Stamps image, called 'Monster Birthday Cake' that has been lingering in my stamped images box for years. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I matted it onto a snippet of purple card, distressing the edges a little, before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Cake & CAS
• C.R.A.F.T. - Birthday
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Food and/or Drink

ABC Christmas Challenge - J & K are for?

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

'J is for Just Enough' (CAS)

&

'K is for Knitwear'

The prize for the lucky winner is this 'Doe A Deer' A6 stamp set from Creative Expressions:

For my 'J is for Just Enough' card, I made a really simple one-layer card. I stamped an unbranded bauble stamp directly onto a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it in white. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Bubble Mini Baubles' set by Wooware, heat embossing it in white to match.

For my 'K is for Knitwear' card, I used three of the cute bears from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped them onto snippets of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I stamped a sentiment using one of the stamps from the same set onto a kraft card blank, then added the bears popped up on 3D foam pads.

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

• Allsorts - Monochrome (First card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Embossing (Wet or Dry) and/or Flowers + Sentiment (First card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Cute Creatures (Second card only)

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

Snowboard Ride!

I have a Christmas card to share today...featuring an old favourite Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Snowboard Ride'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, doodled a snowy slope using a black gel pen, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over a piece of paper from an unnamed pad from The Works, then matted it onto some navy card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Christmas Kickstart - Seasons Tweetings
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Gone but not Forgotten (I love Margaret Sherry's designs for Penny Black - her chickens always make me smile!)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make It Colourful
• Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings
• We Love Stamping - All Creatures Great & Small

Great Catch!

Today's card features a cute Happy Hopper stamp from Stampendous called 'Great Catch!'. I stamped him onto kraft card, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Addicted to CAS - Birthday
• CAS on Friday - Animals
• Cardz for Guys - CAS
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• House Mouse & Friends - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Cute Creatures