A Wish & a Kiss

I have (yet) another Christmas card to share today, this time featuring an older Penny Black stamp called 'A Wish & a Kiss'. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, added a line for the snowy ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils before carefully cutting around the top of the image. For the background, I stamped my 'Festive Background' stamp by Woodware onto a snippet of pink paper from the 'Pastel Watercolours' pad from The Works, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I layered the duck over the top, then matted it onto a piece of bright pink card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Hot Foil or Hot Embossing
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Pink
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Added Text
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Make Your Own Background
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas in September
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Bundled Snowmen

I have another Christmas card to share today, featuring a cute snowman stamp from the 'Bundled Snowman' set by Penny Black. I stamped it onto a piece of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then used one of my circle Nesties to cut out the circle shape. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then matted it onto a pink scalloped circle (cut using another Nestie die). For the background, I used snowflake covered papers...the blue one is from the 'Let it Snow' pad by Art Studio, and the pink one is from the 'Snowscapes' pad from Woodware...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I matted it all onto some more pink card, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas in September
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

PBSC September - Anything Goes (Optional 'Use a Die')...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

'Things with Wings'

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

I picked a cute snowmen image from the 'Bundled Snowman' set, and stamped it onto a a snippet of watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I used dies from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Snowglobe 2' set to cut the 'globe' from a snippet of watercolour effect paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations, and the 'plinth' from a tiny snippet of kraft card. I used a Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Snowfall' embossing folder to emboss the 'globe', then lightly sanded over the raised areas to reveal some of the white core of the paper. I layered the snowmen over the top, then trimmed it to match the circle shape. I added a sentiment to the 'plinth' using a stamp from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then inked around the edges of that, and the 'globe' using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. I wanted to keep the background fairly simple, so added a piece snowflake covered paper (from the 'Snowscapes' pad from Woodware) to a kraft card blank, then added the assembled snowglobe on top. 

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

• A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes (Using an Embossing Folder)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T are for?

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

'S is for Snowmen'

&

'T is for Transport'

The prize for the lucky winner is the matching stamp & die from Your Next Stamp

For my 'S is for Snowmen' card, I picked a Woodware stamp called 'Snowman Family', and stamped it directly onto a DL white card blank. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils.

For my 'T is for Transport' card, I picked a sledge for my mode of transport, and used a cute Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Sledging Buddies'. I stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, and added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Just Add Snow!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I layered it over a snippet of snowy sky paper, from an unnamed pad from The Works, matted it onto a snippet of teal card, then added it to a kraft card blank.

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

• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It (Second card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum - Animals (Second card only)

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

Rudolph & Friends

I have (yet!) another Christmas card to share today...this one features a cute Woodware stamp called 'Rudolph & Friends' that I got recently from a charity shop. I stamped it onto a DL kraft card blank, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, but without using any water. It's a huge stamp - I have quite a few this size from Woodware, and it's always a bit tricky to figure out where a sentiment might fit, but as I don't think you'd mistake this for anything other than a Christmas card, I left this one with just the image.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Christmas Kickstart - Friendship
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes

Frosty the Snowman

Today's card features a cute Snowman stamp from Funstamps. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snowflake papers from an unnamed Christmas pad from The Works (the aqua one) and the 'Snowscape' pad from Woodware (the pink one). I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Woodland Sprigs

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware set called 'Woodland Sprigs'. I started by stamping a Hero Arts 'Music Background' stamp onto a snippet of kraft card using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. Once dry, I stamped the 'sprigs' over the top using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using 'Gold Pearl' embossing powder from WOW. I used an old die from my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet set to cut the sentiment from gold mirror card, then added it over the top. I matted the panel onto a piece of gold mirror card, distressing the edges, before adding it to a kraft DL card blank.

This angle shows the gold embossing a little better:

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up - Make Your Own Background
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Golden Holly

I have a Christmas card to share today, made using a Woodware stamp called 'Holly Spray'. I stamped it onto a piece of kraft card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Christmas' Letter It set by Ranger, heat embossing it in gold to match. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - E is for Embossing
• CAS on Friday - Christmas in July
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

Simple Sympathy

I have a sympathy card to share today, made using some floral stamps from a Woodware set called 'Dotty Flowers'. I stamped them onto a piece of pale blue card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder. I heat embossed a sentiment to match, using an old Anita's stamp from Docrafts, then distressed the edges of the blue panel before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Bees, Blooms and/or Birds
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Optional 'Blooms'
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Pastels or Brights
• Little Red Wagon - I'm So Sorry
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday

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.

Nordic Houses

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware Christmas set called 'Nordic Houses'. I stamped them directly onto a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them using white embossing powder.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - One Layer Cards
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Emboss It

Par Avion

Today's card features a background stamp called 'Festive Background' by Woodware Stamps that I got from a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it using Versamark ink onto a snippet of paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I used it as a background for a trio of Penny Black chickens called 'Par Avion'. I stamped them onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, than carefully cut them out. I distressed the edges of the background, added the chickens on top, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favouorite Season (Winter - I love a crisp, sunny winter's day, and of course there's Christmas!)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum - Three of Something (Chickens)

ABC Christmas Challenge - J & K 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:

'J is for Just Enough' (CAS)

&

'K is for Knitwear'

The prize for the lucky winner is this 'Doe A Deer' A6 stamp set from Creative Expressions:

For my 'J is for Just Enough' card, I made a really simple one-layer card. I stamped an unbranded bauble stamp directly onto a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it in white. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Bubble Mini Baubles' set by Wooware, heat embossing it in white to match.

For my 'K is for Knitwear' card, I used three of the cute bears from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped them onto snippets of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I stamped a sentiment using one of the stamps from the same set onto a kraft card blank, then added the bears popped up on 3D foam pads.

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

• Allsorts - Monochrome (First card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Embossing (Wet or Dry) and/or Flowers + Sentiment (First card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Cute Creatures (Second card only)

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

Tulips in a Vase

I have a simple birthday card to share today, featuring a floral stamp from Woodware called 'Tulips in a Vase'. I stamped it onto a piece of smooth white card, adding a sentiment to the vase using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft company. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then matted it onto a snippet of pale pink card, distressing the edges, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Primarily Pink
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Mother's Day/Feminine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Burst into Bloom

I have a simple sympathy card to share today, made using a lovely floral stamp from Woodware called 'Burst into Bloom. I stamped it onto a piece of navy card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic silver embossing powder from WOW. I heat embossed a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image, in silver to match, then coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils. I matted it onto some silver mirror card, distressing all of the edges, before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• CAS on Friday - Sympathy
• Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Bringing Gifts

Today's card features stamps from a Woodware set called 'Bringing Gifts' that I won a little while ago over at the Snippets Playground. I stamped them onto a piece of marble effect paper from a pad from The Range using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them all using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I inked around the edges of the paper using 'Dusty Concord' and 'Chipped Sapphire' Distress Inks, then matted it onto some gold mirror card, distressing all of the edges, before adding it to an A5 white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Jingle Belles - We Three Kings (I know that my three of a kind didn't need to actually be 'Kings' , but I couldn't resist!)
• Just Us Girls - Emboss
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - E, F & G are for?

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

'E is for Elves'

'F is for Foliage'

&

'G is for Gems'

The prize for the lucky winner is these two stamp sets:

For my 'E is for Elves' card, I used a sweet Penny Black stamp called 'Bauble Balance'. I stamped it, along with the matching sentiment from the set, onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

For my 'F is for Foliage' card, I started by stamping a lovely background stamp by Julie Hickey called 'Holly Jolly Christmas' onto a snippet of black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment, from the 'Festive Phrases' set by Funky Fossil, in gold, on another snippet of black card to match, then coloured all of the leaves and berries using Cosmic Shimmers mica pigments mixed with a little water. I distressed the edges, then layered the sentiment on top, before adding it to a white card blank.

For my 'G is for Gems' card, I went all out with the bling! I used a Woodware stamp called 'Trio of Trees', stamping it onto some smooth white card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils (although I didn't use any water). I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Wintertime Messages' set by Hero Arts, then carefully placed adhesive gems onto the trees - there were little 'circles' representing trim or lights strung around each tree. I matted it onto some green card, then added it to a white card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Aud Sentiments - Glitter/Bling and/or St. Patrick's Green + Sentiment (Third card only)
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - E & F are for (Elf & Foliage - First & Second cards only)
• Fab 'N' Funky - Shades of Green (Third card only)
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - A Bit O'Green (Third card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make It Cute (First card only)

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

Pastel Snowman

Today's card features a cute snowman from the 'Frosty Feathers' set by Penny Black that I received for Christmas. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of snowflake covered papers (from the 'Snowscape' pad by Woodware). I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The blue and pink snippets behind the image are fairly tiny, but thankfully the snowman image covered the gap in the middle!

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Optional 'Snowman'
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Owl Family

Today's card features stamps from a set by Woodware Stamps called 'Owl Family' that I received as a Christmas gift. I stamped the image, and one of the sentiments from the set, onto watercolour paper, then coloured the owls using watercolour pencils. I paired it with a piece of paper from the 'Happy Watercolours' pad from The Works...distressing the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Something Beginning with B (Birds on a Branch)
• Sweet Stampin' - Bright & Beautiful

Bubble Twiggy Tree

Today's card features stamps from a lovely Woodware Stamps set that I won over at Pixie's Snippets Playground last week called 'Bubble Twiggy Tree'. I stamped the tree and a sentiment onto kraft card using Versamark ink, heat embossed them using white embossing powder, then coloured the 'bubbles' using red, green and blue glitter gel pens. I distressed the edges of the panel a little, then added it to a kraft card blank. 

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• As You Like It - Favourite Occasion (Christmas - making Christmas cards was what got me into stamping)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Emboss It
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Spots & Dots

This card was so quick and easy to make, so I made another while I had all the supplies out!