PBSC September - Anything Goes (Optional 'Something Old/Neglected')

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
'Water and/or Watercolour'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I had a rummage through my Penny Black stamps to see if I could find anything that I hadn't used recently...and came across this adorable hedgie stamp called 'Guess?' I couldn't remember the last time I'd used it...so searched on my blog, and found that (to my shame) I'd only used it once...and that was back in 2013! I think that definitely counts as neglected! So I decided I should rectify the situation, and inked it up for this challenge. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Charmed' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TK Maxx) for a more masculine feel...distressing the edges a little, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The little sentiment stamp is from the Woodware 'Dotty Flowers' set.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Cardz for Guyz - Celebrate
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Animals
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It

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

Don't Take My Cake!

I have a simple little birthday card to share today...featuring an adorable Penny Black teddy (from the 'It's Your Day' set) being very protective of his cake! I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I used a snippet of spotty paper (from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels) for the background, adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - For the Boys
• Creative Knockouts - Furry Friends
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - For Boys/Men
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Happy Birthday
• The Male Room - Birthday Cards

James Laptop

I have a birthday card to share today that features another image that was sent to me absolutely ages ago in a swap...a quick Google tells me that he's 'James the Bear - Laptop' by Lili of the Valley. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment (from the 'Butterfly Birthday' set by Happy Little Stampers). I paired him with some snippets of papers from the 'Prince Charming' pad (by Recollections/Michaels)...distressing all of the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Always Fun - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - Things Beginning with B (Bear, Blue & Brown)
• Crafty Sentiments - Add a Sentiment
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Stars & Stripes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthdays
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Pile It On! Challenge - Transportation and/or Vacation

It's the third Sunday of the month, so I'm back with some more inspiration for this month's Pile It On! Challenge where the themes are:

'Transportation'

and/or

'Vacation'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Dr Digi's House of Stamps:

Prize - 2 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

We are also teaming up with the Double Trouble Challenge blog...which has a challenge staring tomorrow (Monday 17th) with a 'Vacation' theme...with a couple of optional extras too!

I combined the two themes...using a couple of Penny Black stamps and patterned papers to create a beach scene. I stamped the critters on to watercolour paper...the dog is called 'Bee-have!'...and I masked off the grass and flowers as he was going to be lying on the beach...and the chicken is actually a Christmas stamp...I masked off the Santa hat and snow so that he could be surfing rather then snowboarding...and drew in the top of head adding a comb in place of the hat. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I used patterned papers to create the background...the yellow spotty paper (sand) is from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations, and the blue papers (sea & sky) are from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels. I tore the edges of a couple of strips of the zig-zag paper to represent the foam of the breaking waves. I added  sentiment (from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp), distressed the edges of the papers a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and  black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Transportation and/or Vacation
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
• CCEE Stampers - Sewing
• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Water
• Double Trouble - Vacation
• Little Red Wagon - Sea It
• Moo Mania - Here Comes the Sun
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Vacation
• Sweet Stampers - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge...and don't forget to also link up at Double Trouble if your entry meets their challenge theme too!

Pile It On! Challenge - Transportation

We have another fun Pile It On! Challenge starting today, where the theme is:

'Transportation'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Dr Digi's House of Stamps:

Prize - 2 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

I went with a sail boat as my method of transportation...and used a cute Penny Black image simply called 'Fishing!', which I coloured using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the sea using a Wink of Stella pen. I used snippets of papers from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TK Maxx). ..I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamps are from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches/

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Transportation
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Addicted to Stamps - For a Boy/Man
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Cardz 4 Guys - Beside the Seaside
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Masculine
• Crafty Friends - Men/Boys
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional Blue)
• Cute Card Thursday - Masculine
• Dream Valley - Boys Only
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Oceans of Fun

Fore more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

In the Shed

I have a masculine birthday card to share today...featuring an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'In the Shed', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TK Maxx). 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 the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Father's Day/Male
• Crafty Cardmakers - Birthdays
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - In an English Country Garden (I'm sure you'd find a shed in most English gardens!)

Rainin' Daisies

I used another 'oldie but a goodie' stamp on today's card...'Rainin' Daisies' must be one of the first Penny Black stamps I bought...I've had it since before I started my blog, so it's been in my collection for well over 10 years! I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the green shades in the papers, which are from the 'Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx). I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional Add a Sentiment)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Going Round in Circles
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - April Flowers Bring May Flowers
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes

Party Pups

Another simple little card today...but not Christmas! This one uses a couple of the cute pups from the 'Good Times!' set by Penny Black...I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I added a snippet of paper from the 'Awesome Boy' pad by Recollections/Michaels along the bottom of the card blank, and a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Anytime Messages' set along the top.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday

Pile It On! Challenge - Land and/or Water Animals

It's time for some more inspiration for this month's Pile It On! Challenge where the themes are:

'Land Animals'
and/or
'Water Animals'

We are sponsored for this challenge by A Day for Daisies

Prize - $8 Gift Certificate!

I found a cute Crafter's Companion stamp in my collection of a bear and his puppy fishing that combined the two themes...it's called 'Gone Fishing' from the Mulberry Wood collection. I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match some snippets of patterned papers that are from the 'Awesome Boy' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx). 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 the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Land and/or Water Animals
• Allsorts - Make it Masculine
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional Blue Green & One Other Colour)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

A Car Full of Critters

It's been just over a month since I blogged a birthday card, so I thought that is was about time I made one. This one is for a little boy who turns eight next month...and features one of the 'Cheerful Critters' set by Penny Black. The papers are from the 'Awesome Boy' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx)...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Party Time
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Lols is the host, and the themes for this month are:

'H is for Hats'

&

'I is for Ice'

Our sponsor for this challenge is All Dressed Up:

Prize - 2 Digi Stamps of the winner's choice!

There's also an awesome bonus prize for one lucky winner from Lols...a $25/£20 gift certificate to a store of the winner's choice!

Looking through my stamp collection, I discovered that I had quite a lot of Christmas stamps featuring hats...but just had to go with 'Snowy' (by Penny Black). I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then paper pieced his hat and scarf using snippets of paper from the 'Recollections - Prince Charming' pad by Michaels (found at TK Maxx). I used some more of the papers for the background...distressing the edges a little, then adding 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.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes

Coming up with an image for 'Ice' was also fairly easy...I do have a few 'ice skating' images, but thought that little Lili of the Valley penguin on his iceberg (called 'Ice Christmas') would be perfect! I coloured him using watercolour pencils, and added a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous). I simply distressed the edges a little then matted it on to a couple of pieces of co-ordinating card.

Challenges for this card:

• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Feature a Creature
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Animals

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

House Mouse & Friends Challenge - Guest Designer

I was the lucky winner of a House Mouse & Friends Challenge last month, and as well as a super cute Happy Hopper stamp, part of my prize was a guest designer stint with the challenge!

The fortnightly challenges are always 'Anything Goes'...but if you want more of a challenge, there's an optional theme, which this time is:

'Multiple Images'

I couldn't resist using the Happy Hopper stamp I'd won on my card...he's called 'Great Catch'...and I coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired him with some papers from the 'Recollections - Awesome Boy' pad by Michaels (found at TK Maxx). 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 the 'Big Massages' set by Paula Pascual.

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

• Creative Knockouts - Outside Fun
• Naughty or Nice - Pick An Old Challenge (I chose #5 - For the men)
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from the fabulous design team, please pop over to the House Mouse & Friends Challenge.

Bunny Friends

I have one last Easter treat bag to share today. I used a couple of the bunnies from the 'Bunny Friends' stamp by Penny Black...I love using parts of the larger image (there are five bunnies in total). I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. The papers are from the 'Recollections - Charming' pad from Michaels (found at TKMaxx). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Wishes' set by Amy R/C C Designs.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Aud Sentiments - Easter or Spring Sentiment
• Crafty Cardmakers - Bunnies, Chicks or Eggs
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes 
• Deep Ocean - Easter or Spring
• Fab 'N Funky - Easter
• Little Red Wagon - Hipptiy Hoppity
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

PBSC February - Anything Goes (Or Use Some Scraps)...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'
or
'Use Some Scraps'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used some scraps of papers to decorate a notebook (from Hobbycraft) to give to my Mum for Mother's Day next month. The papers are from the 'Indie Chic - Nutmeg' pad by My Mind's Eye, and the 'Recollections - Charming' pad by Michaels...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I stamped the 'Birthday Bears' and Bear Blank 1' on to a scrap of white card...the kind of strip you get when you trim an A4 piece of card down to make a square card...then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I carefully cut them out, added some handwritten lettering, then added them to the front of the notebook. 

I decorate the back to match...but in a mirror image:

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

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Lots of Layers
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Take Note

Penny Black Saturday Challenge January - Anything Goes!

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'

(In fact, all of our challenges will now be 'Anything Goes', but from next month we will have an additional optional theme for those of you that like a prompt)

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

My project for this challenge is a 2018 Penny Black calendar. I buy a few of the blank 'Create a Calendars' from Paper Mill Direct to decorate and give as Christmas presents each year, and this is the one I made for my Mum. They still have some available here if you fancy making yourself one.

I used a variety of Penny Black stamps and papers from lots of different manufacturers...far too many to list, but I did manage to use up lots of snippets! Here's a look at each of the months:

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

• Animal Friends - New Beginnings
• Cut It Up - Calendars
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Something New (New Year)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Something New (New Year)

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