Birthday Bears Box Card

I have something a little different to share today...it's a box card, made using a Gemini/Crafter's Companion stamp and die set called 'Birthday Bears Box Card', that I picked up in a charity shop last weekend. I started by stamping all of the little bears and other images onto snippets of watercolour paper, then used their co-ordinating dies to cut them out, before colouring them using watercolour pencils. There were paper templates in the set for cutting all of the pieces of the box card, and I decided to cut the main card parts from light blue card, and the little strips for the images to 'stand' on from light green card. I added a piece of cloudy sky paper (from a magazine freebie pad called 'Let's Fly Away') to the back panel, then assembled the card. On the inside of the front flap, I added a snippet of lilac card, then the die cut from the 'window', with a stamped sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Here's a close-up of the 'Birthday Bears':

They look to me, like they're throwing a surprise party, so I used my Paper Smooches 'Gaffiti Alphabet' stamps to stamp 'Surprise' onto a snippet of the blue card, then added it on top of a piece of lilac card embossed using an old Cuttlebug embossing folder:

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes Using an Embossing Folder
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Optional 'Square Card & Non-white Base'
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Crazy Dog

Today's card features one of the 'Crazy Dog' stamps from Tim Holtz's set for Stampers Anonymous. It's been a while since I last used him, and even longer since I used the matching dies, so I inked him up and stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used his matching die to cut him out. For the background, I used a snippet of paper from an old Core'dinations card pad from Tim Holtz's collection. I embossed it using my Crafts Too 'Bone & Paw Print' embossing folder, then lightly sanded over the raised surface to reveal some of the kraft core. I added it to a snippet of kraft card, matted onto a piece of navy card, distressing all of the edges, then added the pup on top using 3D foam pads. I stamped a sentiment, using stamps from the Paper Smooches 'Birthday Buddies' set, onto snippets of watercolour paper, then added those using more 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Happy Birthday
• Cut It Up - Critters
• Just Us Girls - Long-neglected Dies (The dog die was last used in 2021!)
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The stamp & matching die were last used in 2021!)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!

Today's card features a Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Cluck, Cluck, Cluck!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels...I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Feature an Animal
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute Critters

PBSC May - Anything Goes (Optional 'Your Favourite PB Stamp')

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

'Your Favourite Penny Black Stamp'

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

My all time favourite Penny Black stamp, is also one of the first ones I bought, 'Birthday Dog'. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then used one of my Nesties to cut the circle shape. I paired it with snippets of papers from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx), and 

'Refreshing Basics' pad from The Works...distressing the edges and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I used another Nestie die to cut the scalloped mat from a snippet of kraft card, then layered everything up on a kraft card blank.

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

• Everybody Art - Happy Birthday
• Krafty Chicks - Colour an Image
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• 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.

Tractor Birthday

I have a birthday card to share today, featuring a pup from a Christmas set of Penny Black stamps called 'Wintertime Cheer'. I stamped him (minus his Santa hat) onto watercolour paper, added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from a pad by Premium Stacks called 'Nana's Nursery - Baby Boy'. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen and a few adhesive gems.

Challenges for this card:

• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Vehicles or Transport
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Make Someone Smile

Sebastian

Today's card features a cute Whipper Snapper pup stamp called 'Sebastian' that I picked up from a charity shop over Christmas. I stamped him onto some watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. The spotty background papers are from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Favourite Die (Mine is my set of circle Nesties...simple but effective)
• Crafter's Cafe - One for the Boys
• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Spots & Dots

Autumn Owls

I've an Autumnal birthday card to share today...made using a Rachelle Anne Miller owl stamp from a set called 'Wise Words'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from an unbranded set that I got for my birthday a few months ago...I distressed all of the edges, matting the layers on some red card, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Autumn Colours
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Forest Creatures
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Autumn Leaves/Pumpkins
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Fall

Birthday Fishes

Today's card features the fish from the Paper Smooches 'Birthday Buddies' set. I stamped him a few times onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I added a sentiment, using stamps from the same set, then popped the fish onto the card using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Splish Splash

 

Hoppy Birthday!

Today's card features a long neglected Penny Black stamp called 'Leap for Joy!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. For the background, I took strips of paper, from the Craft Consortium 'Over the Rainbow' pad, and embossed them using a Sizzix embossing folder that I picked up from a charity shop recently. I distressed the edges a little, then lightly sanded over the raised areas to reveal the white core before adding them to a kraft card blank. I cut a matching scalloped mat using anotheer Nestie, then added that to the card along with a sentiment made using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches...I masked off the 'A' in 'Happy' before stamping then added an 'O' using a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Birthdays
• Alphabet Challenge - J is for Jump
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The frog stamp was last used in March 2024)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It!
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

PBSC July - Anything Goes (Optional 'On or In the Water')

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

'On or In the Water'

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I have a few 'watery' stamps in my Penny Black collection, and picked 'Fish Are Jumpin'' to use on my card. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The background paper is from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

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

• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Little Red Wagon - Bold/Bright Colours
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - In the Water

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

Les Chiens

Today's card features all of the dogs from a set of stamps by Katzelkraft called 'Les Chiens'. I stamped them onto a piece of watercolour paper, with a little bit of masking, then added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Graffiti Alphabet' set by Paper Smooches. I coloured the dogs using watercolour pencils, then added it to a kraft card blank. 

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - D is for Dogs
• Crafty Catz - Make Us Smile
• Creative Inspirations - One for the Boys
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Masculine
• Stamping Sensations - Our Furry Friends

Dog Tag

I have a gift tag to share today...made for my brother's birthday present. I used a tag die that I got from a charity shop a couple of weeks ago to cut the tag shape from a snippet of kraft card, then stamped a cute dog image onto it using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches', then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment cut from a snippet of blue card using another die from the same charity shop set, and some blue baker's twine to attach it to the gift.

Challenges for this tag:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Birthday
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Four-legged Friends

Happy Mother's Day

Today I'm sharing the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. I used a Simon Says Stamp stamp called 'Floral Garden'...it's a huge stamp, so I stamped part of it onto a snippet of kraft card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Graffiti Alphabet' set by Paper Smooches, then distressed the edges before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

I made a matching tag,  by stamping an even smaller section of the stamp onto a kraft tag, colouring it to match the card, and adding some Baker's twine to attach it to the gift.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spring Flowers')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (card only)
• Creative Moments - For a Special Lady
• I Spy With My Little Eye - The Dawn of Spring
• My Time to Craft - Celebrate Someone Special
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Female

Birthday Beagle

Today's card features an old (and neglected - last inked in 2023!) Whipper Snapper stamp called 'Birthday Beagle'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches. I added piece of stripey blue & green paper (from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper) to a card blank, then layered the image on top - having added faux stitch to both layers using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Knockouts - Birthday Wishes
• Inkspirational - CAS
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Little Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The stamp is neglected - last inked in 2023!)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stitching

Present Pile

I have a simple one layer card to share today, made using an old Penny Black chicken stamp called 'Present Pile' that I hadn't inked in a while. I stamped it on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')
• Krafty Chicks - Masculine
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

 

Fishing Ted

Today's card featuresa cute Funstamps stamp called 'Fishing Ted' that I picked up last week in a charity shop. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired him with papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a blac gel pen. The sentiment stammps are from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Inspirational - Layer It (Layers of papers)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Friendship

Today's card features a cute Penny Black dog stamp called 'Friendship'. I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

Challenges for this card:

• Addicted to CAS - Masculine
• Alphabet Challenge - M is for Masculine
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Transport

Fishing!

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp called 'Fishing!'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Prince Charming' pad by Michaels (found at TKMaxx), distressing the edges and adding faux stitching my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, then matting them on to some kraft card. I added the image on top, then placed it all on to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Something Fishy')
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Birthday or Anniversary
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Sew What?
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

The Tweets

Today's card features one of the quirky stamps from a set by Funky Fossil called 'The Tweets', that I got with a prize I won over at the AAA Cards Challenge recently. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - With or Without Words (With for me...I especially like a good 'punny' sentiment!)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Use Your Most Recently Acquired Stash
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Funny/Puns
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes