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

You Put a Song in My Heart!

Today's card features one fo the stamps from the 'Jazzy Cats' set by Penny Black. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I stamped an old Hero Arts/BasicGrey music background stamp on to some blue watercolour effect paper (from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations) using 'Twilight' Versafine ink, which is a really lovely dark blue colour. I used one of my Nesties to cut the circle shape, then distressed all of the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Romance and/or Music')
• Aud Sentiments - Love & a Sentiment
• C.R.A.F.T. - Love
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Love/Valentine's/Anniversary/Wedding
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Love is in the Air
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Love')
• Sweet Stampin' - Love

Tree Huggers

I have another Christmas card to share today...featuring a stamp that my Mum found recently in a charity shop. It's a large woodmounted stamp by Northwoods Rubber Stamps...I did some searching, and although I found similar snowmen designs by the same artist on their website, I coudn't find the name of this design. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background I used snippets of very old BasicGrey paper (from the 'Figgy Pudding' collection. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Stamps
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - U & V are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

'U is for Unusual Christmas Colours'

&

'V is for Velvet'

The prize for the lucky winner is a die and pack of embellishments:

For my 'Unusual Christmas Colours' card, I picked a cute Woodware stamp called 'Snowman Family', stamping it on to watercolour paper along with a sentiment from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges a littlebefore adding it to a kraft DL card blank.

For my 'Velvet' card, I picked one of the die cut coloured panels by Lili of the Valley that have been lurking in my stash for years...this one is from the 'Traditional Christmas' set. I trimmed it down (mainly to remove the rounded corners, then distressed the edges before matting it on to some teal card. For the background, I used some even older snippets of BasicGrey 'Figgy Pudding' papers...distressing the edges of those too, before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, and matting them on to more teal card. For the velvet element, I added some coordinating strips of velvet ribbon.

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

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Snowmen (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Use Patterned Paper (Second card only)

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

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Optional 'Flowers')

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

'Flowers'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used a stamp that I picked up in a charity shop earlier this week called 'Pansy Bunny'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then used one of my Nesties to cut the circle shape. For the background, I used some floral papers from a Violet Studio pad...distressing the edges, and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before matting on to kraft card. Inspired by the cards of my lovely DT buddy Lorraine, I added a die cut picket fence (cut using a Die-namics die), and a few paper flowers held in place using BasicGrey brads.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Four-legged Friends
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

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

Just Add Snow

I have a Christmas card to share today...this one features a stamp from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad by Crafter's Companion...matting the layers on to some co-ordinating purple card. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut the snowflake from some more of the purple card using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, then added it to the card using an ancient BasicGrey brad.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Christmas Craft Creations - Non-traditional Colours
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Christmas - Non-traditional Colours
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Guest Designer - I Spy With My Little Eye Challenge!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer project for Ellie's I Spy With My Little Eye Challenge, where the theme this month is:

'Hearts and/or Roses'

I hoped to combine 'Hearts and Roses', so picked a cute Penny Black hedgie stamp to use on my card called 'Park Bench Affair', that features a bunch of roses. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Happy Watercolours' pad from The Works...using an old Sizzix 'Hearts' embossing folder to emboss the plain-ish pink paper. I lightly sanded over the raised embossing to reveal some of the white core, then distressed all of the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I layered up a couple of old Prima Hydrangea flowers, and used an old BasicGrey brad to hols them in place. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

For more inspiration for this challenge, please pop over to I Spy With My Little Eye - thanks so much for having me Ellie!

Bunny Friends Birthday

I have a birthday card to share today...featuring my Penny Black 'Bunny Friends' stamp, which I used recently on an Easter treat bag...but as I only used a couple of the bunnies on that, I wanted to ink it all up this time. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils...adding a sentiment from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts. I paired it with papers from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The paper flowers have been in my stash for years...so long in fact that the store I bought them from (Poppicrafts) has been closed for at least a decade!

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Real Animals
• Everybody Art - Chickens/Ducks/Bunnies
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Happy Birthday
• Stamping Sensations - I love... (Penny Black critters, pretty papers & faux stitching)
• We Love Stamping - Stamp of the Moment (this is an 'oldie but a goodie', and it always comes out at this time of year...I've used it twice in the last week!

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

Happy New Year!

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

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with 'New Year' and I'm sharing the calendar that I made for my Mum for Christmas. I've been doing several of these for gifts each gifts for years...the calendar balnks are from Paper Mill Direct...currently in the sale if you fancy getting some for yourself.

I used all Penny Black images, and papers from a variety of brands...lots of snippets used up! I added some faux stitching to the edges, and that's about it...no embellishments, otherwise it becomes rather bulky (and heavy!).

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Favourites (Penny Black stamps & patterned papers)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

Simple Snippets Notecards

I have a set of simple 'Thank You' cards to share today, that feature lots of snippets of patterned papers...some from pads that I must have had for over 10 years! I lightly distressed the edges of all of the papers, ans added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before placing them o the card blanks. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box.

'Marjolaine' pad by BasicGrey:

'Hattie' pad by My Mind's Eye:

'K-Ology' pad by K & Co:

'So Sophie - Graceful' pad by My Mind's Eye:

'Bittersweet' pad by BasicGrey:

'Bumblebee's Dance' pad by The Paper Boutique:

Challenges for these cards:

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - J & K are for?

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

'J is for Jewels'

&

'K is for Kids'

There's a fab prize on offer from Dorte for the lucky winner of this challenge:

I picked a Woodware stamp called 'Trio of Trees' for my 'J is for Jewels' card. I stamped it on a kraft card blank, using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it gold, along with the sentiment from the set. I paper pieced the trees, stamping and embossing in gold on to snippets of green card. I then added lots of adhesive 'jewels' to decorate the trees.

On my 'K is for Kids' card, I used one of the Lili of the Valley 'Christmas Kids' pre-coloured die cuts...trimming it down into a circle shape using one of my Nesties. I paired it with some vintage-y papers from the 'Jingle All the Way' pad by First Edition...distressing the edges a little and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The snowflake was cut using a Memory Box die, and is held in place using an old BasicGrey brad.

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

• Christmas Craft Creations - No Stamping (Second card only)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Use Patterned Papers (Second card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Embellish It (First card only)
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Easter Hares

I have an Easter card to share today, featuring a Happy Hoppers stamp called 'Easter Hares'...stamped on to watercolour paper and coloured using watercolour pencils. I paired it with snippets of papers from the 'Pretty Please' pad by My Mind's Eye...distressing all the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a couple of really old Poppicrafts paper flowers, held in place with a BasicGrey brad, and a sentiment from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by C. C. Designs.

Challenges for this card:

• Always Fun - Spring
• Animal Friends - Rabbits
• Creative Knockouts - Spring is in the Air
• Cute Card Thursday - Spring Fever
• Cutie Pie - Bunnies & Blooms
• House Mouse & Friends - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Spring is on it's Way
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Two or More Patterned Papers
• Sweet Stampers - Easter or Spring

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'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with 'New Year' and am sharing the Penny Black calendar that I made for my Mum for Christmas. I buy a couple of the Paper Mill 'Create a Calendar' blanks every year to decorate for gifts...and always use Penny Black images exclusively...as I have so many! 

I make each panel A6 size...so it could easily be recycled on to a card once the calendar is finished, and keep the panels as flat as possible. I find these are also a great opportunity to use up lots of snippets of patterned papers!

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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