September Desk Calendar

As it's the first day of a new month, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for September. This means 'back to school' for me (I'm a music teacher), so I picked a cute Penny Black hedgie stamp called 'Scooting Along'... who, with his balloon removed, looks like he could be on his way to school with his satchel slung over his shoulder! I stamped him (minus his balloon) onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. For the background, I used snippets of patterned papers from the 'Awesome Boy' pad from Recollections/Michaels (found at TKMaxx). I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, then matted it onto a snippet of kraft card before adding it to the calendar.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - All Creatures Great & Small
• As You Like It - Favourite Wild Animal (Hedgehog - I went with a cute (and non-scary!) animal - I'd be happy to welcome them into my garden, although I think they're probably put off by our urban foxes!)
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Use a Die Cut

Together

Today's card features a floral Penny Black stamp called 'Together'. I inked it up using Distress inks (Chipped Sapphire, Uncharted Mariner and Mermaid Lagoon for the flowers, and Lucky Clover and Forest Moss for the leaves and stems), then spritzed it with a little water before stamping it onto a piece of watercolour paper. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Birthday - Flowers
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Summer Blooms

Jingle Friends

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring another Penny Black stamp, called 'Jingle Friends', that I received for my birthday earlier this month. I stamped it onto a piece of smooth white card, along with the sentiment from the set, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. I matted the layer onto a piece of bright red card, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Masculine
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Little Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Getting Ready

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using stamps from a Penny Black set called 'Getting Ready', that I got for my birthday last week. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Optional 'Things with Wings')

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

'Things with Wings'

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

I picked stamps from the 'Social Butterfly' set to use on my card, and started by watercolouring a simple background using 'Uncharted Mariner' and 'Forest Moss' Distress Inks on some watercolour paper. Once dry, I stamped the butterflies and a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Brushstroke Expressions' set from My Favorite Things, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. I matted it onto a piece of teal card, distressing the edges a little, then added it to a white card blank.

Here's a better angle showing the shine on the gold embossing:

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

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes (Optional 'Summer Vibes')
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Summer Blues

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

Best Friends

Today's card features a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Best Friends' that I got for my birthday earlier this week. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Happy Watercolours' pad from The Works. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the image and bottom layer onto some bright blue card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Favourite Colouring Medium (Watercolour pencils - so quick and easy to use)
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes (Optional 'Summer Vibes')
• Daisy Chain - Animals
• Time Out - Pick (at least) Two (Birthday, Stitching & Floral)
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas challenge - P, Q & R are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...I'm the host, and the themes are:

'P is for Penguins'

'Q is for Quartet' (Four of Something)

&

'R is for Rectangles'

The prize for the lucky winner is this Sheena Douglas 'Baubles Baby' festive embossing folder:

For my 'P is for Penguins' card, I used an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Penguin Pals'. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, added a sentiment from the 'It's Penguinning' set by Crafter's Companion, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used papers from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad from Craftwork Cards for the background...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug.

For my 'Q is for Quartet' card, I combined four robin stamps from Penny Black sets - 'Christmas Hugs', 'Snow Much Fun' and 'Jolly Friends'. I stamped them onto a piece of watercolour paper, used a black fine liner to draw draw the 'ground', then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

For my 'R is for Rectangles' card, I started by stamping one of the images from the Penny Black 'Candlelight' set onto a rectangle of black card using Versamark ink, then I heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the Funky Fossil 'Festive Phrases' set, embossing that in gold to match, then I watercoloured the image using Cosmic Shimmers watercolours. I matted the panel onto a rectangle of gold mirror card, before adding it to a DL card blank.

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

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Third card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - P & Q (P is for Penguins) (First card only)
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something with Wings (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Clean & Simple (Third card only)

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

August Desk Calendar

Today, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for August. As it's my birthday month, I picked a cute image from the Penny Black 'Good Times' set of two celebrating pups. I stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my oval Nesties. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'My Girl' pad by American Crafts...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Stripes or Chevrons

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Optional 'Things with Wings')

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

'Things with Wings'

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

I picked a cute chicken stamp called 'Best of Luck!' for my card, stamping it onto watercolour paper, then colouring it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with snippets of papers from a really old My Mind's Eye pad called 'Indie Chic - Saffron'. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company.

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

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something With Wings
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stitch It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

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

Sailing with Butterflies

Today's card features an old Penny Black stamp called 'Sailing with Butterflies'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Happy Day' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with some floral papers from the 'Happy Watercolours' pad by Craft Sensations. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before matting all of the layers onto some hot pink card.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• AAA Birthday - For Girls
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Outdoor Fun
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Add Some Text
• We Love Stamping - Summertime

PBSC July - Anything Goes (Optional 'On the Move')...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

'On the Move'

(Transport)

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

This time I used a cute pup stamp called 'Airborne', stamping it onto a piece of smooth white card, along with a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used my CutterBee Bug to pierce a simple border, before adding it to a white card blank.

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

• Addicted to CAS - Up
• As You Like It - Favourite Pet - Dog (Specifically golden retriever - we had several when I was growing up, and they're the most lovely (and daftest!) pet)
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

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

PBSC July - Anything Goes (Optional 'On the Move')

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 the Move'

(Transport)

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

I have a fair few transport themed Penny Black stamps, and picked a cute cycling cat from the 'You're Retro!' set. I stamped him, along with one of the sentiments from the set, onto a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired it with a trio of spotty papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad from Craft Sensations. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• The Male Room - Hobbies

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

July - Desk Calendar

Today, I'm sharing my Penny Black desk calendar for July. I'm a music teacher, and July for me means holidays (albeit not for another couple of weeks!), so I picked a cute pup driving off on a road trip from the 'Hello Friend' set. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then used one of my oval Nesties to cut him out. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favourite Non-Card Project (My desk calendar...I decorate a couple of the Papermill's A4 sized calendars for Christmas gifts each year, and I'm always sad to give them away, so when they started making the little desk sized ones, I started making one for myself each year, decorating it month by month, to keep on my craft desk)
• Inkspirational - Leftovers
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Roll with it!

Today's card features one of the cats from the 'You're Retro' stamp set by Penny Black. I stamped it, along with one of the sentiments from the set, onto a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of flowery papers from the 'Watercolour Feelings' pad from The Works. I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the image and papers onto snippets of bright pink card, then added it all to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Feather, Fur or Fin
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Favourite Stamp/Die/Tool (My CutterBee Bug - I love how this makes the faux stitching look more realistic)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Sports and Hobbies

PBSC June - Anything Goes (Optional 'Use Patterned Papers')...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 Patterned Papers'

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

I picked a cute hedgie stamp called 'Fish are Jumpin' stamp, and stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, along with a sentiment (using a stamp from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts), then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

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

• Alphabet Challenge - D is for Double (Two Hedgies & two fish)
• Crafty Calendar - Men/Boys
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Masculine
• The Male Room - The Outdoors
• We Love Stamping - Sports and Hobbies

For more inspiration, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Guest Designer - 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer card for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, where the theme this week is:

I combined snowmen from the 'Jolly Friends', 'Snow Much Fun' and 'Holly-Jolly' sets by Penny Black for my card. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, then used a black gel pen to add some lines for the snowy ground. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered the snowmen over a snippet of snowy paper (from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware), added a sentiment (using a stamp from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company), then matted it onto a snippet of blue card before adding it to a DL card blank.

For more inspiration from the fabulous DT, please pop over to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

Surprise!

Today's card features a cute Penny Black mouse stamp called 'Surprise!'. I stamped it onto a piece of smooth white card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - In the Garden
• Cardz 4 Guys - Gardens/Gardening
• C.R.A.F.T. - Cute
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Lil Red Wagon - Outdoors
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• The Male Room - The Outdoors

Contented

Today's card features a cute Penny Black dog stamp called 'Contented'. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Birthday Wishing' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then used Nesties to cut out the circle shapes. For the background, I embossed a piece of green card using a Crafts Too embossing folder called 'Bone & Paw Print'. I distressed the edges a little, then matted it onto kraft card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Optional 'Boys to Men'
• Cardz 4 Guys - Use an Embossing Folder
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Sweet Stampin' - Something for the Boys

ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...I'm the host, and the themes are:

'L is for Let it Snow'

&

'M is for Mice'

The prize for the lucky winner is this Gemini 'Joyful Snowmen' Create-a-Card' die:

For my 'Let it Snow' card, I used one of the cute stamps from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped it onto a snippet of white card, along with an old Penny Black woodblock sentiment, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I cut around the top of the image, then layered it over a snippet of snowy sky paper from the 'Christmas' pad by Craft Sensations. I matted it onto a snippet of grey card, then added it to a white card blank.

For my 'M is for Mice' card, I used an old Penny Black stamp called 'Holly Jolly Christmas'. I stamped it onto smooth white card, and coloured it using a sentiment stamp from the 'Holly Jolly' set, also by Penny Black. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Christmas Kickstart - Snow Day (First card only)
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas in June (Second card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (First card only)

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