Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Matching Set

This week it's my turn to set the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge theme, and I've chosen:

'Matching Set'

It could be a set of cards, or notelets, a matching card and gift box, bag or tag...the choice is yours.

I've made a set of 12 'Thank you' cards with a matching box, to give as a Christmas present. I created a patchwork design on the cards using squares of three co-ordinating My Mind's Eye papers (from the '29th Street Market' collection), inking the edges with a 'Wisteria' coloured chalk inkpad. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Talking in Circles' set by Autumn Leaves, and has been embossed in pearl violet to match the papers. I made the matching box using my Top Score Multiboard, with a couple of Flora Doodles flowers held in place with a Papermania pearl brad.

The design team have created some stunning projects this week....so make sure you pay the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge a visit.

Polka Doodles meets Dutch Dare

The fab sketch from this week's Polka Doodles Challenge is just perfect for making a 'Criss-cross' fold card. I decided to keep the front really simple, covering the two triangular flaps with the same 'Le fleur' paper (by K&Co), and layering up three fabric flowers held in place with a Papermania pearl brad - the largest one is from the candy I won from lovely Polka Doodles DT member Kath, and the smaller ones are both Flora Doodles. I made a simple band from a strip of the same paper to make a band to hold the card closed.


This week's Dutch Dare Challenge is to decorate the inside of our cards...not something I usually do, but this style of card needs at least some decoration on the inside, as you see the centre panel from the front when the card is closed. I added a couple more Flora Doodles on the reverse of the large flower on the front (they are all mounted onto circles of card (cut with Nesties), then stuck together over the edge of the flap of card), and used more of the same paper from the front of the card on the inside of the triangular flaps. I used two other K&Co papers ('Blue Awning' & 'Blue Diamond') on the centre panel (the torn edge was made using a Fiskars tearing ruler), and added a plain circle of card in the centre to write my greeting. The lettering was cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet.


This card is going to my partner in this month's Friendship Card Swap on the Docrafts forum.

Penny Black Doodles

This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge is...'Doodling'. My first thought was...argh!...so I took the easy route, and just doodled some borders...and used a 'Flora-doodle' flower...lol

The image ('Cinnamon') was sent to me by my lovely friend Carol in a swap, the paper is by BasicGrey ('Blush'), and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.


If you haven't already entered, don't forget to check out my candy before you go.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge meets Sketch Saturday and Dutch Dare

First of all I like to say a BIG thank you to Tracie for the gorgeous card she sent to me with my prize I won last week - I haven't had a chance to use the lovely stamp yet...but hopefully I'll find some time to play with it soon!

On to this week's Penny Black Challenge...the theme is 'Lets get Dotty'...and I've gone completely dotty on my card! I've combined it with two other challenges - using the Sketch Saturday sketch, and the colour theme of the Dutch Dare, which is green, blue and brown. I've used three different Cuttlebug embossing folders to create my dotty background ('Swiss Dots', 'Spots & Dots' and 'Tiny Bubbles'), the dotty flower is by Flora Doodle, and the ribbon is from Hobbycraft - I placed some small brads in the centres of some of the spots. My main image is from the 'Critter Party' set...and if you look really closely a couple of the mice are wearing dotty bandannas!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 31

Woo-hoo...I can't believe it...I won the stamp from last week's challenge! It looks so cute...can't wait to get my hands on it! Thank you!
On to this week's challenge, and it's a colour scheme - 'Pink & Brown'. Now, I'm not really a pink person, but I've just got these gorgeous 'Eva' papers by BasicGrey, which have pink elements to them, but are not too 'girly'. I've embossed the plain(ish) pink paper with the 'Perfect Paisley' embossing folder. My main image is called 'Gifts for You', and the sentiment is by Stampendous (a bargain in the New Year sales), and I thought it would be great for using with the Penny Black stamps featuring bumble bees! The flowers are Flora Doodles, the MOP button and ribbon is from my stash.

Cuttlebug Challenge #6 meets Cupcake Craft Challenge #12

I decided to combine the sketch for this week's Cuttlebug challenge, with the inspirational photo on the Cupcake Craft challenge blog.

I've used the Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' embossing folder on cream card, then used 'shimmer' chalks to highlight the detail. I've taken the colours I used from the 'inspiration' photo, as well as the idea of bands of each colour, and also the pearlescent finish. The embossed pattern is supposed to echo the floral detail running across the bed linen. The sentiment is part of an image on a stamp from a set ('Garden Wisdom') by Hero Arts, and the flowers are Flora Doodles.

Apologies for the 'smudge' on the photo - I've tried cleaning my camera lens, but it just won't shift! I'm going to send this card to my partner in this month's Friendship card swap over on the Docrafts forum.

Secret Crafter #5 vs One Stop Craft Challenge #2

Well, after I'd spent most of yesterday working hard, I thought I'd treat myself to a little crafting time, and join in a couple more challenges, as I needed to make a card for a crafty friend. I think that all of the hours I'd spent staring at my computer screen had addled my brain...all was going well until, I embossed my backing card the wrong way up, which meant I had to flip this week's Secret Crafter sketch over, and make a 'mirror image'...either that or have the birds upside down! lol Then when I went back to the blog to have another look at the sketch, I noticed the 'twist' of only using the colours 'Brown, Pink & White'...hmmmm...how did I miss that the first time I looked???

As you can see, this card is definitely NOT 'Brown, Pink & White'!!! Luckily, I'd combined the sketch with the theme of 'Things with Wings' over on the 'One Stop Craft Challenge', so it wasn't a complete dead loss! The winged things are: the butterflies on the stamp ('Butterfly Wishes' by Penny Black), and the birds (Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' embossing folder) on the background card. The patterned paper is by Dovecraft ('Aquamarine Floral' stack), and the sentiment stamp is form the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black.

As I really liked the sketch, I thought I'd give it another go...and pay attention this time! So here is my 'Brown, Pink & White' card (with the sketch the right way round too!):

I've used a 'Forever Friends' image this time, with paper from the 'Glitter' stack by DCWV, a pink and brown spotty 'Flora Doodle', ribbon from a set from the £shop, my 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder and the same sentiment stamp as my first card.

I promise I'll pay more attention next week!

Birthday card for my Nan

This card is for my Nan's birthday, which is not 'til next month, but I like to be organised...anyway I'm going for a visit at the weekend, and I'd much rather hand-deliver cards than entrust their safe transit to the Royal Mail! I've used one of my current favourite stamps (from the 'Critter Party' transparent set by Penny Black) for the main image, and have gone a bit 'spotty' mad with some gorgeous Flora Doodles, spotty ribbon (I think it's from Hobbycraft), and my trusty 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder. I've embossed the sentiment (stamp by Hero Arts) in copper to match the browns I've used on this card.The colour combination is a new one for me, but I rather like it...honestly it's not as bright in real life, but the weather the last couple of days has been so dull, the light's been rubbish for taking photographs!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 8

I love a good sketch, and when I came across this one on the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog this morning, I just had to give it a go. I'd already coloured this image (Woodware 'Deco Flowers') to use on my Aunt's Birthday card, so I'm going to give this card to her later this month. The backing paper is from the 'Floral Stack' by DCWV, the embossing was done using the Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirl' embossing folder, and the flowers are a mixture of Papermania and Flora Doodles. The strip of lace was gifted to me my the lovely Cathy .