Three Little Flowers

A quick post from me today...couldn't let the Less Is More 'Sewing' challenge pass me by...I love using stitching on my cards...although it's usually the 'faux' kind...I'm useless at sewing, and it's so much quicker to use a pen...but this time, I thought I'd challenge myself to do some actual hand stitching on a card. I started by using my CutterBee Bug to punch the holes for my stitching, then used a simple running stitch to make the stems for my flowers. I cut the flowers from some scraps of BasicGrey 'Marjolaine' paper using my Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals' die, then stitched them on to their stems, adding a button in each of the centres. I cut some 'leaves' using a flower die from my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet...then snipped of the petals to make the little leaves.

Challenges for this card:

• Crazy4Challenges - Stitching
• Fab 'n' Funky - No Stamped Images
• Kaboodles Doodles - What's In? (Kraft card)
• Less Is More - Sewing 
• Totally Gorjuss - Leaves

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Lace

This is my second post of the day...please scroll down for my Oldie but a Goodie Challenge DT post

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Today sees the last Cuttlebug Spot Challenge before our summer break...and this fortnight we want you to use:

'Lace'

Simples :0)

I've used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Gifts for You!' on my card...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. For the background I embossed some purple card using my Cuttlebug 'Kassie's Brocade' folder, then added my lace (from Hobbycraft) over aa piece of green card. To keep it simple, I just added a few adhesive pearls in the top corners.

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

• Lollipop Crafts - Flowers in Bloom  
• Ribbon Girls - Colour Combo (Pink, Purple & Green)

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

PS - I have candy on offer at the moment...click here to find out more.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Fit for a Queen

We have a brand new Cuttlebug Spot Challenge for you today, where the theme is:

 'Fit for a Queen'

I've tried a 'crown' shaped card...cutting my crown shape from a separate square of card, and attaching it to a standard A6 card blank. I used my scoreboard to score a few horizontal lines...embossing the dots using a border folder from my Cuttlebug 'Just My Type' set. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft (though I've seen it in several other places too), I cut the numbers using my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet dies, and the silver pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

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

• Charisma Cardz - No Flowers
• Cupcake Crafts - Royalty
• Less Is More - Not a Square

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

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Recipe

We have a 1-2-3 recipe for you this fortnight over at the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge:

'1 Button, 2 Ribbons & 3 Papers (one of which must be embossed)'

I've used an adorable Lili of the Valley stamp ('Bunnies - In Love') on my card, which I coloured using watercolour pencil. The papers are from a Heidi Grace pad...I embossed the darker green paper using my Cuttlebug 'Kassie's Brocade' folder, then sanded over the surface to reveal the white core. I distressed the edges of the papers a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the sentiment is also by Lili of the Valley, and the button & ribbons are from my stash.

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

• CES - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons - Flowers
• Crop Stop - The Animal in You
• Delightful - Distressing
• Fab 'n' Funky - Buttons & Bows
• Lili of the Valley - Your Favourite Craft Tool (Cuttlebug!)
• Totally Gorjuss - Pink & Green
• Wags 'N Whiskers - 1 Image, 2 Ribbons & 3 Papers

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Mother's Day/Flowery

We have a brand new challenge for you today over at the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge...where the theme is:

'Mother's Day/Flowery'

As we've already celebrated Mother's Day here in the UK, I've made a flowery card using flowers cut using a die from my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet set, adding adhesive pearls in their centres, and a sentiment from the CCSR set by Papermania.

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

• Card Makin' Mamas - Photo Inspiration
• Joanna Sheen - Flower Power
• Less is More - Sketch...I'll have a card using the other sketch tomorrow :0)

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Easel Cards

This fortnight's challenge over at the Cuttlebug Spot is to make an:

'Easel Card'

I've made a little scalloped circle one...using my Nesties to cut the shapes from aqua card...on the top part I added a piece of bright orange card covered with some vellum embossed using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots'...and on the bottom part a piece of bright pink card covered with vellum embossed with my 'D'Vine Swirls' folder. The cupcake stamp is from the Hero Arts 'Cupcakes' set...I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then glittered the frosting using 'Diamond' Stickles and added Glossy Accents to the cherry. The sentiment is a stamp from the 'Anytime Messages' set (also by Hero Arts)...I stamped it a couple of times on to different coloured card, then cut up the letters.  The teeny brads are BasicGrey...and are helping to hold the vellum on...there's also some glue placed under each of the letters and the cupcake. The spotty ribbon is from the Ribbon Girls.

And a view from the side:

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

• Charisma Cardz - Fancy Folds
• Corrosive - Hit the Bottle! (I've used Glossy Accents & Stickles)
• Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes
• Ribbon Girls - Orange, Pink & Aqua
• Stamp Man - Vellum (I layered embossed vellum over the pink & orange card)
• Whimsy Inspires - Easel Cards

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Sketch

This week at the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge, we have a sketch for you to use:

I've used it to decorate another Easter treat bag...really hope you're not getting sick of these...I have three more to upload this week! The time I've used a Penny Black image...it's part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp. The papers are BasicGrey 'Marjolaine'...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts, the little flowers were cut using a die in my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet set....with little green pearls in their centres (from Wild Orchid Crafts)...and the ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

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

• Aud Sentiments - Happy Easter
• BasicGrey - Easter
• Crafty Cardmakers - Easter
• Paper Sundaes - Happy Easter
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Oh so Cute
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter
• Sweet Stampin' - Easter
• Totally Stampalicious - Anything but a card

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Child's Card with Animals

We have a brand new challenge starting over at the Cuttlebug Spot today...the theme is:

'A Child's Card featuring an Animal'

I've used a couple of little cheeky monkeys on my card....they're a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller called 'Birthday Monkeys'. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the balloons. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' folders for the embossing. The sentiment staamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• 2 Sisters - Spots & Dots
• Birthday Sundaes - Animals
• Challenge Up Your Life - Zoo Animals
• Crazy Challenge - Go Green
• Cute Card Thursday - Happy Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp - Bit 'O Green
• Squiggles & Giggles - Birthday Bash
• Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch with a Spin 
• Totally Papercrafts - For a Male
• Whimsy - Embossing

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

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Mother's Day with Stitching

We have a brand new Cuttlebug Spot Challenge starting today....and the theme is:

'Mother's Day with Stitching'

(Real or faux)

I love faux stitching...especially when I've distressed the edges of the papers I'm using...as it makes them kind of look like fabric. To get it to look as 'real' as possible, I use a little tool (my beloved CutterBee Bug) to pierce holes in the papers, before I draw on the 'stitching', with either a white or a black gel pen. I've used a Lili of the Valley image on my card....he's called 'Teddy - Big Bouquet'...for obvious reasons! I coloured him using watercolour pencils, to match the floral BasicGrey 'Hello Luscious' papers I've used. I embossed the plainest paper using my Cuttlebug 'Kassie's Brocade' folder, and cut a couple of flowers from some scraps of the papers using my 'Tattered Florals' die. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts, and the sparkly brad is by American Crafts.

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

• BasicGrey - Photo Inspiration (Papers are from the 'Hello Luscious' pad)
• CES - Flower Frenzy
• C.R.A.F.T. - Mother's Day
• Craft Your Days Away - Mother's Day
• Dream Valley - Mother's Day
• Oldie but a Goodie - Mum's the Word (I've had this stamp for at least 18 months...really should use him more!)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Spring is in the Air

We have a brand new challenge for you over at the Cuttlebug Spot today...where the theme is:

'Spring is in the Air!'

What do you think of when you think of Spring?

Well...I think bunnies...and that makes me think 'Easter'...so I've used a couple of adorable Penny Black bunnies (part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp) and some brightly coloured We R Memory Keepers papers (from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad) to make my first Easter card of the year. I distressed the edges a little..then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I used my 'Tattered Florals' die to cut the flowers in mmy 'Bug...and attached them using BasicGrey brads. The sentiment stamp is from the Hero Arts 'Sentiments' set.

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

• 2 Sisters - Stitching
• Card Crafter's Circle - Die Cuts
• Craft Us Crazy - Favourites (This stamp is one of my favourite PBs...and I just love these papers and faux stitching - can't sew for toffee! lol)
• Crafty Ann's  - Bold & Bright
• Crafty Catz - Favourite Things (This stamp is one of my favourite PBs...and I just love these papers and faux stitching - can't sew for toffee! lol)
• Do You Stack Up? - Layers
• Papercrafting Journey - Cute
• PaperPlay - Critters
• Simply Create - Add Sunshine
• Truly Scrumptious - All Creatures Great & Small

For more inspiration from mmy lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Cuttlebug Spot. 

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Sweetheart

We have a brand new challenge for you over at the Cuttlebug Spot today...and the theme is:

'Sweetheart'

(Anything to do with hearts)

I've made a simple Valentine's card using some adorable Penny Black hedgie stamps from the 'Every Which Way' set. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefullycut them out before adding some Glossy Accents to their hearts. I mounted them onto an embossed panel (using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder), with a sentiment from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the red border along the bottom.

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

• Card Makin' Mamas - Valentine's
• Clean & Simple Stamping - Sketch
• Cookin' it up with Katie - Punch me an Embossed Heart
• Dream Valley - Valentine's
• Little Red Wagon - Valentine's or Love
• Moving Along with the Times - Hearts
• One Stop Craft - For the one I love
• Paper Sundaes - Clean & Simple
• Sweet Stampin' - The one I love

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Box & Gift

We have a brand new challenge starting today over at the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge...the theme is:

'Make a box & put something handmade inside'

I made a very simple set of little notecards (they're just under 4 inches square)...with a box of the same design. I used scraps of My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' papers...cutting circles using Nesties, then embossing them with an assortment of Cuttlebug & Craft Concepts folders...sanding over the top to reveal some of the white core. I added a sentiment stamped using a satmp from the CCSR set by Papermania.

Here are all the little notecards (click the photo for a better view):

I'm also entering these into the following challenges:

• 2 Sisters - Embossing
• One Stitch at a Time - Round & Round
• Raise the Bar - Circles

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please stop by the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

The Cuttlebug Spot - Winter Scenery

After a little festive break, the Cuttlebug Spot is back wiith a fun new challenge today...our theme is:

'Winter Scenery - With texture' 

(Think felt, ribbon, lace, twine, pearls, buttons, flocking etc)

I've used some more new goodies...more sales purchases...on my card. The main image is 'Snow Dust' (by Penny Black) and the sentiment is from a set just called 'Sentiments' (by Hero Arts). I stamped them both in Versamark, then heat embossed them in white, then blended 'Tumbled Glass', 'Stormy Sky' and 'Faded Jeans' Distress Inks over the top. For the textured background, I blended 'Stormy Sky' and 'Faded Jeans' on separate pieces of white card, then embossed them using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and Sizzix 'Snowflakes' folder, then inked lightly over the raised areas with the other blue ink to make it stand out a little more. I then added a white button threaded on to some blue baker's twine across the bottom.

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

• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non-traditional Colours (Optional Embossing)
• Crafty Calendar - New (I've used two new stamps, and a new embossing folder on this card)
• Crafty Creations - Heat Embossing
• Crazy4Challenges - New (I've used two new stamps, and a new embossing folder on this card)
• Sir Stampalot - Monochrome

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

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Santa Baby

This fortnight's challenge theme over at the Cuttlebug Spot is:

'Santa Baby'

We want to Father Christmas on your creations

I've used a digi stamp from The Crafty Pad called 'Santa Ho Ho Ho', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept the rest of the card really plain (it's another little A6 card), using traditional Christmas red and green card with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Swiss Dots' folders. I distressed the edges a little, and added a border punched using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch.

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

• CES - Traditional Christmas
• Christmas Crafting - Santa Claus
• Crazy4Challenges - Santa
• Lollipop Crafts - Happy Holidays
• One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
• One Stop Craft - Traditional Christmas Colours

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Cuttlebug Spot.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Leftovers

***This challenge goes live today***

After last fortnight's 'Turkey' themed challenge, this time at the Cuttlebug Spot, we are challenging you to use your:

'Leftovers'

(Not literally the leftovers of your Thanksgiving dinner, but rather those little scraps and snippets of papers and card that you just couldn't bear to throw away)

I'm a terrible hoarder of paper scraps and have boxes of little pieces and paper stacks that no longer have any full size pieces in, but instead are full of little offcuts saved because you never know when they might come in handy! Here are the remains of  my 'Ooh La La (for Him)' collection by My Mind's Eye:

These started life as 12x12 papers, but now there's nothing left that's bigger than about 5 inches, and most bits are much smaller...so I did what I often do when I ponly have little pieces left, which is to make a sort of patchwork effect backing - great for using uneven sized scraps. I distressed the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The image is from the 'Micey Day' set by Penny Black, coloured using watercolour pencils...the sentiment is also from the same set. I made the 'daisies' using my Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals' die and BasicGrey brads for the centres.

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

• Card Makin' Mamas - Sentiments 
• Jules' Snippet Challenge - Week 47
• Stamp with Fun - 'Faux' (Mine's faux stitching)
• Sweet Stampin' - Punches & Dies (I used my Tattered Florals die)

For more inspiration, please pop over to the Cuttlebug Spot...I just know that my lovely DT buddies will have come up with some wonderful projects this week!

The Cuttlebug Spot - Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

There's a brand new challenge starting over at the Cuttlebug Spot today...where our theme (in honour of Thanksgiving in the US later this month) is:

'Gobble, Gobble, Gobble'

That's right...we want you to show us your turkeys!

Now...I will admit that I was totally stumped by this one...being British, and not having any stamps of turkeys...I have quite a few of chickens...and was temped to try and dress one of those up as a turkey...but after a quick Google, I stumbled across this tutorial on Jenna's blog for making a turkey using punches and dies...here's the result:

I used a mixture of plain and scalloped circle Nesties for the head, body and tail...adding freehand cut pieces for his beak, waddle and feet...and used a small single hole punch to make his eyea and eyelids. Once I'd layered up his tail,  I folded part of it back, so that he could stand up. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him...but he's quite sweet! lol

I'm also entering this into the following challenges:

• Hooked on Craft - Something Punched
• If the Shoe Fits - Try Something New (Punch Art...and I've never made a turkey before! lol)
• Squiggles & Giggles - Anything but a Card

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

The Cuttlebug Spot is Back!

News Flash! 

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge is back!

We're back after our little break...refreshed and raring to go! There have been some changes...our challenges will now be fortnightly...so you'll have more time to play along...and we're going to be including other techniques too...but fear not, we won't be abandoning our 'Bugs! To get you all back into the swing of things, we have a nice easy challenge for you:

'Anything Goes!'

There are three fabulous prizes up for grabs...2 Cricut Cartridges, and a $25 Michaels Gift Card!

I went with some more watercolour stamping with Distress Inks...I was going through a bit of a phase of it when I made this card last week!  The stamp is 'Blooming Meadows' by Hero Arts...I used the colours 'Bundled Sage' and 'Victorian Velvet'...then inked over the whole thing with 'Old Paper'. For the embossed panels, I tinted white card with more 'Bundled Sage' and 'Victorian Velvet' inks...before embossing them with my Cuttlebug 'Kassie's Brocade' and Craft Concepts 'Budding Vine' folders...sanding over the surface to reveal the white card beneath. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts.

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies...and full details of the new look challenges...please pop over to the Cuttlebug Spot.

Cuttlebug Spot - Oh So Soft

This is the last of our embellishment challenges over at the Cuttlebug Spot, and the theme is:

'Oh So Soft'

We'd like to see you using felt on your projects.

I've used another of my new Lili of the Valley stamps on my card...'Good Luck Cats'...so cute! I coloured it with watercolour pencils, to match the BasicGrey 'Marjolaine' papers. I embossed one of the papers with my 'Perfect Paisley' Cuttlebug folder, as I haven't used it in a while, and added a Wild Rose Studio sentiment - the only one that I could find in my stash that says 'Good Luck'! The seam binding ribbon is from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the felt flowers (which match the colours of the papers much better in real life!) are from an embellishment pack by Making Memories. I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool.

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

• Sweet Stop - Sketch
• Creative Fridays - Embossing

This is my last challenge with the Cuttlebug Spot...in fact it's the last Cuttlebug Spot challenge, for a few months at least...the blog will stay open, so you'll still be able to be inspired by our past challenges, and I hope you'll join in with the challenges again (I know I will) when it returns refreshed.

Cuttlebug Spot - Buttons

We have another embellishment challenge for you this week at the Cuttlebug Spot...and this time we'd like to see you using:

'Buttons'

I've used 'Bruno Bear with Cupcake' by Whiff of Joy, coloured with watercolour pencils, and cut out using Nesties. The spotty papers are from the '72 & Sunny' and 'Hippity Hoppity' pads by We R Memory Keepers, and the brown paper is the reverse of a My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' paper, which I embossed using my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder, then sanded over the raised areas to reveal the detail. I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching with using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I cut the stars using Nesties, and then embossed them using a border folder from the 'Just My Type' set...the one with the cute little buttons, adding a real button on the top. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• Crazy 4 Challenges - Pink, Kraft, Turquoise & Brown
• Stamp Something - Something Sweet
• Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch with a Spin of 'How Sweet' 
• Teddy Stampers - Embossing
• Totally Gorjuss - Buttons
• Totally Papercrafts - Buttons
• Whiff of Joy - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my fabulous DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot.

Cuttlebug Spot - Twine

We have another embellishment challenge for you this week at the Cuttlebug Spot...this time we'd like to see you using:

'Twine or String'

I've used string that I've 'recycled' from my flatmate's weekly Able & Cole veg box...it's a lovely mix of pale blue and white, and they tie masses of it around each box, so I've managed to gather quite a stash of it! :0)

I ordered some of the new Lili of the Valley stamps last week, and they arrived on Saturday, so I coloudn't resist inking one up and using him on this card. He's called 'Spring Swing', and I coloured him with watercolour pencils, then cut him out using one of my deckled edge Nesties. The papers are from the 'Marjolaine' pad, and I embossed the plainer one using my Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' folder. The flowers are by Prima, and the brads are also BasicGrey, but from the Wisteria collection, although they match these papers quite well too. I tied my string across the centre, and then tucked a Tim Holtz 'Adage Ticket' behind it. I distressed all of teh edges, and then added some tiny adhesive pearls in the corners.

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

• Crazy Challenge - Eyelets or Brads
• Cupcake Craft - Up in the Air
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

For more inspiration, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot to see the fabulous creations by my lovely DT buddies.