PBSC December - Anything Goes (Optional 'Winter or Christmas')!

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
'Winter or Christmas'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I went with the optional 'Winter or Christmas' theme...I'm not sure if I need to make any more Christmas cards, but I just can't help myself! I couldn't remember the last time that I inked up 'Snowy', so I thought that it was time that he came out to play...I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I paper pieced his hat and scarf using a snippet of patchwork effect paper from the 'Special Delivery' pad by Helz Cuppleditch. I used another paper from the same pad for the pink snowy background. I doodled a simple border using a black gel pen, and added a sentiment (from a set by C C Designs).

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

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Rubber or Digi Stamps? (Definitely rubber...you get instant satisfaction from stamping with a rubber stamp...you can position the stamp wherever you want, and it's so easy to do a technique like paper piecing when you use rubber)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Too Cute')
• Fussy & Fancy - Winter or Christmas
• Jingle Belles - Taking Back December
• Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Snowmen

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

Present Pile

I have another Christmas card to share today...featuring another of the 'James the Bear' stamps by Lili of the Valley...this one is called 'Present Pile'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils to match the colours of the present covered paper from the 'Special Delivery' pad by Helz Cuppleditch. I distressed all of the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Presents
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Festive Colours
• Fab 'N Funky - Christmas
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Guest Deisgner - C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

Last month, I was chosen to be a guest designer for C.R.A.F.T.Challenge...and today I'm sharing my card for that challenge, where the theme for the next two weeks is:

'Christmas'

The sponsor for this challenge is Crafty Sentiments:

Prize - 3 Digital Images from Crafty Sentiments!

I used an older Crafty Sentiments rubber stamp, called 'Bell and Present' from the Lollipop Dreams collection. I coloured her using watercolour pencils to match the traditional Christmas colours of the papers, which are from the  Helz Cuppleditch 'Special Delivery' collection. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs...I heat embossed it in white on a snippet of red card.

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

• Crafty Sentiments - Add a Sentiment
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Christmas in July
• Sweet Stampers - Christmas

For more inspiration from the awesome design team, please pop over to the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - February 2017...C & D are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Wilma is the host, and this month we have two themes for you to use:

'C is for Creature'

AND

'D is for Dimension'

We have two awesome sponsors for this challenge:

All Dressed Up

Prize - 2 free digis of the winner's choice!

AND

Sweet Stamp Store

Prize - $10 Gift Certificate!

Wait...there's more! There's also a fab prize bundle donated by Wilma:

I made a card for each of the two themes...on my 'C' card I featured a cute Hedgie & Robin as my creatures ('Wishes for Kisses' by Penny Black). I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then simply added some faux stitching along the top and bottom using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I added a snippet of patterned paper (from the 'Special Delivery' pad by Helz Cuppleditch) behind the image and a sentiment from a set by Lili of the Valley.

On my 'D' card I used a Poppy Stamps die called 'Abundant' gifts to cut lots of little presents from scraps of brightly coloured card, then mounted the assembled gifts on to my card blanks using 3D foam pads. Again I added sentiments from the same Lili of the Valley set.

You can see the dimension a little better on this close-up:

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

• Addicted to Stamps - Baby it's Cold Outside (Just the fist card)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
• Creative Inspirations - Cute Critters (Just the first card)
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday (Christmas)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stampavie & More - Animals (Just the first card)
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Glittering Gifts

Today's card features a critter from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black, coloured using watercolour pencils. I gave the parcel he's holding a generous coating of glitter...then matted him on to some red glitter card. For the background, I added a snippet of glittery paper (from the 'Special Delivery' pad by Helz Cuppleditch)...I used a Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside' border die to cut the curve along the bottom. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Lili of the Valley.

Challenges for this card:

• Amusing - Anything Goes
• CAS on Sunday - Pets
• Christmas Cards - Glitter
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Christmas/Holidays
• Open Minded - Christmas
• Penny Black & More - Anything Christmas
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas Critters
• Sparkles Forum - Christmas is Coming
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas Greetings
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for...

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Lisa is the host, and the theme is:

'P is for Paper Piecing'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Sami Stamps:

Prize - $12 Gift Certificate!

I chose to paper piece the hat and scarf of 'Snowy' (by Penny Black). I stamped him directly on to my card blank, and coloured him using watercolour pencils, then paper pieced his clothes with some snippets of paper from the 'Special Delivery' pad by Helz Cuppledich - I loved the patchwork effect! I added some shading to the paper using watercolour pencils, and some sparkle to the snowy ground with some Stickles. The sentiment stamp is by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs.

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

• Cards Galore Encore - Use a Stamp or Digi
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Christmas Freestyle
• Holly Jolly Christmas - Sparkle
• Pixie's Snippet's Playground - Use Snippets

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

Ruffles - A Present for You!

I have birthday card for a little boy to share today...using 'Ruffles - A Present for You!' by Helz Cuppleditch. The papers are from a pad by Michaels called 'Recollections...and are kind of glittery. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens, The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts, I used a Nestie to cut the star, and my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet die to cut the number.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Birthdays
• Inky Chicks - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Stripes
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - It's a Guy Thing
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for...

This fortnight's ABC Christmas Challenge is hosted by Angela, with a theme of:

'P is for Penguins!'

We are sponsored for this challenge by our very own Lacey's Stamp & Create Store:

Prize - a $20 Gift Certificate to spend at Stamp & Create!

I used a couple of cute penguins from the 'Special Delivery - Penguins' set by Helz Cuppleditch...colouring them using watercolour pencils. I created the background by embossing pale blue card using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder for the sky, tearing some white hammer textured card for the snow, and adding a tree cut using a Marianne Designs die.

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

• Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
• Love to Create - Anything Goes
• Merry Monday - Skis, Skates or Sleds
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with Optional Torn Paper

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

Favourite Five Cards of 2013

Happy New Year! 

I hope that 2014 treats you all well! :0)

I thought I'd start this year by playing along with the lovely Debby, and show you my favourite five cards of last year:

Most of them seem to be CAS in style...I made plenty of non-CAS cards too...but it was the CAS ones that leapt out at me as I went through last year's cards. As with my Favourite Christmas Cards, I've linked all of the photos to the original blog posts so that you can click through for all the info should you want.

The first one uses one of my favourite Penny Black stamps ('Bunny Friends')...I cut them out of their flower pots on this one...I love that this stamp is so versatile!

I had lots of fun making the second of my choices...I don't like ice cream, but this card still appeals to me!

The next card was also a bit of an experiment...and I love how it turned out!

My final CAS card is similar to one of my favourite Christmas cards...love the watercolour effect background...it's a Christmas stamp ('Snow Dust') but I masked off the snow before stamping.

And I had to include a non-CAS cute card somewhere in the mix...this one is quite recent (from last week in fact!)...but I just love this cute chappie...and the bright colours.

I'm sneaking in a cheeky sixth creation...I think that this nappy cake that I made for a friend is my favourite thing I've made this year...it was a labour of love, but it was worth it as my friend loved it so much that she didn't dismantle it for a couple of months after her daughter was born!

Ruffles - A Present for You!

It's been nearly a month and a half since I made a non-Christmas card, so I had a little non-festive crafting session yesterday and made a few cards that my Mum had requested. Today's card is a birthday card for a little boy's third birthday next month. The image is 'Ruffles - a present for you' by Helz Cuppleditch, which I coloured using watercolour pencils to match the papers from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper. I cut a few circles out of the papers to make 'balloons'...adding some Papermania twine held in place with a BasicGrey brad for their strings, and popped them up on 3D foam pads. I doodled borders using a black gel pen, and added a sentiment from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
• Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Here Come the Boys - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Anything but Holiday
• Papertake Weekly - Pick of the Year (I went for 'Hello Boys!' from June 11th)
• Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Birthdays
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place - Anything Goes
• The Squirrel & the Fox - Anything Goes
• Tuesday Morning Sketches - Anything Goes
• Whimsy Inspires - Party Time

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for...

It's time for a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge...this fortnight Chris is the host, and the theme is:

'P is for Pick a "P"'

Put something beginning with "P" on your projects.

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Lili of the Valley

The prize from Lili of the Valley is a £10 gift voucher to spend in their online store!

And our very own Lacey's store,

Stamp & Create:

Prize: A $25 Gift Voucher to spend at Stamp & Create!

I went with 'Penguins', 'Polkadots' and 'Parallel Lines' for my "P"s...using a couple of penguins from the 'Special Delivery - Penguins' set by Helz Cuppleditch, colouring them using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts, and the washi tape is from Freckled Fawn.

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

• Crafty Sentiments - Animals
• One Stop Craft - Keep It Simple
• Winter Wonderland - Red, White & Kraft

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - E is for...

I have another card today for this fortnight's ABC Christmas Challenge where the theme is:

'E is for Eyes down for Bingo!'

Simply pick a row or column...go corner to corner...or go mad and use them all!

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

Stamp Fairy

And the fabulous prize:

and

Shape EZ:

I went for the bottom row (Ribbon - Animal - Die Cuts)...again! This time I used a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Igloo for Two', which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the snow. The sparkly papers are from the 'Special Delivery' pad by Helz Cuppleditch, the ribbon is from the 'Tea Party' collection by Dovecraft, and the sentiment is from the Hero Arts 'Very Merry Christmas' set.

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

• Crimbo Crackers - Penguins
• No Matter Which - Anything Goes
• Stamp & Create - Fur or Feathers
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - Z is for...

I have another card for our current ABC Christmas Challenge today...where the theme is:

'Z is for Zoo Animals'

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

Bugaboo Stamps

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

and

Sweet Stamps

Prize - a $10 voucher for the Sweet Stamps store

And...that's not all...our lovely DT buddy Miria is leaving us after this challenge, so we're on the hunt for some new DT playmates...so we're having a DT call on this challenge too!

So, if you think you can:

•  Make a Christmas card/project for each fortnightly challenge
• Take a turn in hosting a couple of challenges in 2013
• Comment on a couple in every 10 entries for each challenge

Then, simply play along with this challenge, and add 'DT' after your name in the linky, and you could be getting ahead for next Christmas with the most friendly DT in blogland :0) 

I've gone for penguins this time, and have used a couple of stamps from the 'Special Delivery - Penguins' set by Helz Cuppleditch...and matching paper and twine from the same collection. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Creatables dies, and layered up with a button from my stash in the centre.

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

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes 
• Crafty Sentiments - New (New stamps & paper)
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - Cute Christmas
• Jingle Belles - New (New stamps & paper)
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch 
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes 

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