Guest Designer - Allsorts Challenge!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer card for the Allsorts Challenge, where the theme this fortnight is:

'Spring'

(Or 'Anything Goes')

The prize is some Penny Black stamps from Buddly Crafts.

I picked a cute Penny Black cat stamp to use called 'The Bestest!', and stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations. Only the two edge snippets are long strips, the others are teeny tiny, but the image covers the gap in the middle. I distressed all of the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen before mounting them, and the image, onto some yellow card.

For more inspiration from the fabulous Design Team, please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge.

Indian Summer

Today's card is something a little different for me...no cute image...shock horror! lol

I recieved this gorgeous stamp ('Irises' by Penny Black) in the post at the weekend...it was a prize I won on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge a while back - thanks girls! I have quite a few lot of Penny Black stamps in my collection, but they are nearly all 'cuties' and there's only one floral stamp amongst them...and not any of the 'brushstroke' type ones, so I was eager to have a play with this one straight away!

I've made this card for the 'Indian Summer' themed Penny Black Staurday Challenge. I took my inspiration from the gorgeous BasicGrey paper...from the rather appropriately named 'Indian Summer' collection. I stamped the image using Versamark on to some red paper, then embossed it with opaque white powder, to imitate the pattern on the backing paper. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamond punch for the border across the centre of the card, and along the bottom of the image, and added a sentiment from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Other challenges for this card:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Allsorts - Plain & Simple

ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for Noel

We hope you all enjoyed our 'Half-way there hop'...the lucky winners of the hidden candies will be announced on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog later today...so don't forget to see if you are amongst them :0)

It's my turn to host our challenge for you this fortnight, and the theme I've chosen is:

'N is for Noel'

with an optional extra of embossing

Noel (or noël, sometimes written as nowell in English) is an alternate word for Christmas. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas"

We are sponsored by Wild Rose Studio for this challenge, who are very generously offering 2 stamps of the winner's choice from their Christmas Collection...not only that but the DT were given some adorable images, and yummy papers to play with.

I used a sweet little mouse image (called 'Mouse in Snow') by Wild Rose Studio on my card...but as I only have a B&W printer, was unable to use their lovely digi papers :0( So, I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders to emboss some plain card for the background. The snowflakes and letters were all cut using Cuttlebug dies.

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

• Sketch Saturday - sketch
• Allsorts - 'Embossing'
• Daring Cardmakers - 'Ice & Snow'

Don't forget to stop by the ABC Christmas Challenge to check out the fabulous creations by my lovely teamies.

Lazy Days

This is another of Sunday's cards. It uses: the sketch from the Allsorts Challenge; the Penny Black Saturday Challenge 'Travel/Holidays' theme; Sketchy Colours 'Pink, Blue & Green' colour combo; and Stamp Something's 'Something Summer' theme. The image is called 'Lazy Days'...and I'm sure that most of us would love to spend our summer hols like that hedgie! The papers are from the 'Sweet Nothings' pack by Papermania, and I added some faux stitching around the edges of the little squares, as I though it sort of looked like a patchwork quilt. The little sentiment is from the 'Sending Sunshine' stamp set by Simon Says Stamp.

Fetching Slippers

I don't use a lot of brown...but seeing as 'Monochromatic Brown' is the theme of this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...I thought I'd give it a go. I followed the sketch from Unscripted Sketches...flipping it as it suited my image ('Fetching Slippers' by Penny Black) better. The stripey paper is from the 'Archaic' pad by BasicGrey, and I used my 'Swiss Dots' and 'Stars' Cuttlebug folders on some Kraft coloured card...rubbing over the raised areas with a brown chalk inkpad to add definition. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching with a white gel pen. I'm also going to enter this card into the Charisma Cardz 'Monochromatic' challenge, and the Allsorts and Sweet Stampin' challenges, which both have the same theme this week of 'In Stitches'.

Little Star

This week's Lili of the Valley Challenge of 'Blue & Silver' made me immediately think of Christmas cards...so I decided to use 'Little Star' (by Lili of the Valley) and follow the Sketch Saturday sketch. I didn't have any suitable patterned papers, so I made my background by embossing plain card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' folders...perfect for this week's Allsorts Challenge, where the theme is 'No Design Papers'. The sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly.

Spring is in the Air!

It would seem that 'Spring is in the air' in blogland...with lots more 'Spring' themed challenges this week...so I've made this card using fresh 'Spring' colours for the following challenges: Allsorts; Crazy4Challenges; and Cuttlebug Challenges. I followed the sketch from the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...flipping it to suit the way my image (from the 'Wonderful' set) is facing. The papers are by BasicGrey, from the 'Romani' (floral) and 'Two Scoops' (plain green) collections. I embossed the green paper using my Cuttlebug 'Moroccan Screen' folder, sanding to reveal the white core, before distressing all of the edges of the papers, and adding some faux stitching. The flowers & ribbon are from Poppicrafts, and the pink pearls were a gift from my Secret Santa last Christmas.

Swiss Ribbon

I haven't entered the Sketch & Stash Challenge for a while...it's not that I haven't liked the sketches...'cos I have...or that I haven't had any new or unused stash to use...'cos I have mountains! lol But more a case of 'too many challenges...too little time'...so I thought it was about time I played again...and unearthed this gorgeous House Mouse image 'Swiss Ribbon', that I've had for ages, but have never got around to using. The papers are from the 'Ooh La La (for Him)' collection (by My Mind's Eye), as is the little 'ticket' embellishment, onto which I've stamped a sentiment by Inkadinkado. The brads and ribbon are from Poppicrafts.

I'm also going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts: 'Tag, Ticket or Label'
Papertake Weekly: 'Check this Out!'
Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential: 'Doing the Mess Around'
Simon Says Stamp: '3 types of embellishments (in my case: ribbon, brads, ticket), 2 papers, 1 image'

Lovely in Lavender!

I think my colour choice for this card must have been inspired by the colours on the sketch I followed from the Create4Fun Challenge...it's a vision in lavender! lol
I've also managed to include a few other challenge themes: the '3,2,1' of the Allsorts Challenge (in my case 3 papers, 2 circles and 1 flower); and the 'Stitching' theme of the Cuttlebug & Corrosive challenges. The image is from the 'Wonderful' set by Penny Black, the papers are by My Mind's Eye ('29th Street Market'), the flower is from Poppicrafts, and the sentiment is by Cuddly Buddly. I used my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder and 'Just my type' border folder for the embossing, which I then sanded to reveal the white core of the paper. After distressing all of the edges of the papers, I added some faux stitching using my Cutterbee Bug and a white gel pen.

Swirly Girly

I haven't played along at he Truly Scrumptious Challenge for a while..but I do like a bit of stitching (which is the added extra this time)...so I thought I'd have a go. I've combined it with the Just Cute Bears first challenge theme of 'One for the Girls'...the Allsorts Challenge of 'Hearts & Flowers' and Crazy4Challenges 'Pretty in Pink' theme. My 'cute bear' is Penny Black 'Dream a Dream'...and the papers are by BasicGrey - the pink one from the 'Blush' collection, and the aqua coloured one is from the 'Two Scoops' pad. I used my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder for the embossing, sanding the raised areas to reveal the detail. I distressed the edges of all the papers, added some faux stitching with my Cutterbee Bug and a white gel pen, and a couple of Prima flowers.

Ryan's Chocolate Trouble!

This week's Allsorts Challenge theme is one of my favourite colour combinations...'Brown & Pink'...so I just had to make a card for it. I followed the sketch from Get Sketchy, and have also included the Wags 'N Whiskers Challenge theme of 'Hearts' on my card. I've used 'Ryan's Chocolate Trouble' (by Wags 'N Whiskers) which I was lucky to receive from Lacey, when she sponsored one of the ABC Challenges...and watercoloured him to match the BasicGrey 'Bittersweet' and 'Sultry' papers. I used my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder to emboss the pink paper and inked all of the edges with a chalk inkpad. The flowers are from Poppicrafts, the sentiment stamp is Cuddly Buddly, and the card candy is by Craftwork Cards.

Hot Chocolate Henry

Yes...I'm making an early start on my Christmas cards again this year...making at least one card a week worked so well last year...I ended up with some cards left over! lol
I'd used up most of my Christmas papers...so I had a bit of a splurge on some in the post-Christmas sales...well, I had to make sure I'd have enough to last 'til Christmas! ;0)
This combines quite a few challenges: the fab sketch from the Allsorts Challenge; the colour combo of 'Aqua & Red' from the Whiff of Joy Challenge; the 'Hot Chocolate' theme of the Simon Says Stamp and Quixotic challenges; Stamp with Fun's 'Snowflakes' theme; and Cute Card Thursday's 'All New' challenge.
I used 'Henry Mouse with Hot Chocolate' (by Whiff of Joy)...and was very brave, and cut into some of my new My Mind's Eye 'Colourful Christmas' papers...love the zingy colours on these...and they don't just have to used for Christmas either...I used some on a birthday card yesterday too...but you'll have to wait until later in the week to see that. I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching too. The snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and I couldn't resist adding some card candy in the corners.


I'll be back with another Christmas card tomorrow...with my DT card for the second ABC Christmas Challenge...if you haven't joined in with our first challenge...'A for Angels'...and our 'Say No' candy...it's not too late...but you'll have to be quick!

Ruffles

I received this adorable Helz Cuppleditch stamp ('Ruffles A Present for You' by Stampavie) in the post yesterday...as part of my Christmas present from Wendy (aka The Secret Crafter)...and I couldn't resist getting him inky straight away. I followed the sketch from the Allsorts Challenge...just getting my card done in time...and obviously, I went with the 'New' option...which is also what Cute Card Thursday are asking for this week. I coloured him using the My Time to Craft Challenge colour combo of 'Blue & Brown', which is one of my favourites...so I'm also entering this card for the Everybody Art Challenge which asks us to use our 'Favourite Colour Combination'. The papers are by Prima Marketing, the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set), and I embossed the light blue paper using my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder.


Right, I'm off to see if I have to go to school today...and if so what time...they're supposed to announce it on the school's website at 7am...

Jingle Bells

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge is having a 'Countdown to Christmas' blog hop this week...so naturally I had to join in the fun and make a card for their 'Winter Wonderland' themed challenge. I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge, and also managed to squeeze in a few other challenge themes on to my card: the Allsorts Challenge to use a 'Christmas Song Title' (in my case 'Jingle Bells'); the Creative Inspirations 'Sparkle' challenge (I covered the snowflakes have been coated with glamour dust, and I used Stickles on the hedgie's hats and snow); and the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Snowflakes' theme. The sledging hedgies image is from the 'Christmas Critters' set (of course by Penny Black), and the paper is by Pebbles Inc. I embossed the blue card using my Cuttlebug 'Snow Dots' folder, then highlighted the detail with a white chalk inkpad. The snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, the sentiment stamp is by Studio G, pearl brad is Papermania, and the ribbon, and 'jingle bells' are from Hobbycraft.

Furry Christmas

I'm still in Christmas card mode...have got loads done this half term...nearly enough...then I just need to get cracking with the presents! lol
This card uses the Lili of the Valley Challenge sketch...which I rotated...and I'm also entering it for the Allsorts Challenge, where the theme this week is 'Furry Friends'. The image is 'Christmas Teddy - Little Star', and the papers and diecut snowflake are all from the BasicGrey 'Figgy Pudding' collection.

XMouse Ornament

This is one of the cards I made during my crafting marathon yesterday...it fits three challenges: I used the Friday Sketchers sketch; the 'Lace & Pearls' theme of the Penny Black Saturday Challenge; and the 'Snowflakes in September' theme of the Allsorts Challenge. The cute little mouse is 'XMouse Ornament' by Penny Black and the snowflakes paper is by My Mind's Eye (from the 'Festive Frost' pack). I embossed the silver card using my 'Snowflakes' folder, the lace is from Hobbycraft, I cut the snowflakes using a Cuttlebug die, and the adhesive pearls are from my stash.

Birthday Dog

I've managed to fit 5 challenges on this card: the Mojo Monday sketch; Allsorts Challenge's 'Boy's Cards' theme; Creative Inspiration's 'Blue & Brown' colour combo; Our Creative Corner's 'Stars & Stripes' forever theme; and Pile it On's 'Birthday' challenge...phew! I've used 'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black...I use him a lot for boy's cards. The Papers are by BasicGrey's 'Granola' (stripey paper), and 'Archaic' (spotty paper) pads. I used my Cuttlebug 'Happy Birthday' folder on the plain blue card, then sanded it to make the embossed text stand out. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set), the gold stars are brads (from Tesco) and the brown 'ribbon' (it's more of a fabric really) I bought from Penrith Crafts at the craft retreat last month.


Make sure you enter my candy...if you haven't already done so :0)

No Rubber!

I was sure I wasn't going to manage to make a card for this week's Allsorts Challenge...as we're not allowed to use any rubber stamps...eek! But I found some large cardstock stickers that came with my 'Figgy Pudding' paper pack (by BasicGrey), so decided to use one of the baubles in place of a stamped image. I mounted it onto some card, and cut around it carefully with my craft knife (to make it a bit sturdier), and tied a piece of ribbon through the hole at the top. The background paper is from the same pack, and I cut a sentiment using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and added a few pieces of card candy.