I've combined the this week's Sketch Saturday sketch, with the 'Spring has Sprung' theme of the Secret Crafter challenge on this card. I've used a Penny Black ('Crossing Bridges') image sent to me by the lovely Pauline, and I've added a cute little sparkly dragonfly brad (by Dovecraft) as it seemed to me that he was looking at something. The papers are by BasicGrey ('Two Scoops'), the sentiment is from a set by Hero Arts ('Anytime Messages'), and the flowers are from Poppicrafts.
As it's half-term this week, I've got lots more time to craft, and join in with some of the challenges, that I don't always get round to. The theme of this week's Magnolia Vs Stampavie challenge is a colour combination, and I've used it to make a wallet card with the stamp 'Rainy Days' (by Rachelle Anne Miller - Stampavie). I don't have any Stampin Up card, but after a rootle through my stash, I managed to find some card and paper that just about matches the picture. The green paper is by BasicGrey ('Boxer'), and the light blue panel was embossed using the Cuttebug 'Spots & Dots' folder. The flowers and brads are from my stash - I've had them so long I can't remember where they came from!
I'm not sure how many people I'm supposed to pass this on to, so I'm going to give it to some lovely crafty friends who have been a great source of inspiration and always have kind words:
Cathy, Carol, Jo, Samantha, Sue, and Pauline :0)
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This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge combines my two favourite things...a sketch, and, of course, Penny Black stamps! I decided to use it to make this week's Christmas card - I can't believe I'm still managing to stick to that resolution! The image ('Night before Xmas') was sent to me in a swap by lovely PBSC DT member Pauline, and I've coloured it using traditional reds and greens. The stripey paper is by Scrapbooking Australia ('Story Time - Arthur's Stripes'), and the other patterned papers are from the 'Festive' pack by My Mind's Eye. The plain green card was embossed using the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder. The red and green shimmery ribbon was a Christmas present from my Secret Santa - thank you Pauline ;0) - and the buttons and brads are from my stash.
I belong to a fab group of crafting buddies, united by our love for Penny Black stamps, and every month or so we have a challenge amongst ourselves, and this time it was my turn to set it. I sent everyone a challenge pack containing the following:
With the additional challenge of trying something new in the making of the card.
Despite the fact that I had set the challenge, I found it really difficult to decide what I was going to do with all the bits and pieces. The Core'dinations card was embossed with the Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder, then distressed with sandpaper. I layered the flowers and skeleton leaves, then secured them with the brad. My 'something new' is the beaded loop, tied into the ribbon, (with the heart charm linking the two ends) - I've been making beaded jewellery for a while, but I've never used any beads on my cards...not sure why!
In addition to my challenge pack items, I used 'Rainin' Daisies' stamp by Penny Black, a sentiment stamp by Whiff of Joy (which goes perfectly with this image), and paper by BasicGrey (from the 'Eva' pack).
I think I must be getting forgetful in my old age...I made this card on Sunday night, along with the two I uploaded yesterday, but forgot to photograph it with the others...I think I thought I'd already put it on here...oh well, at least I've remembered to do it before the challenge is over!
I've used this week's Stamp with Stampavie challenge sketch for another Christmas card - I'm getting this week's in early again.
I love this week's sketch on the Friday Sketchers blog, as it's got plenty of room for extra embellishments, so I'm sure I'll be using it again. I've used a Penny Black stamp 'Jump for Joy!' for my main image, glittery paper from the 'Pocket Full of Posies' mat stack by DCWV, the 'Tiny Bubbles' Cuttlebug embossing folder, flowers from Poppicrafts, and a sentiment stamp by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set).
When I first saw the colour combination for the second challenge on the Colour Create blog, I have to admit that my initial reaction was...bleugh! I love the colour aqua, but I really can't stand peach! 
I'm think I'm going to give this card to my parents for their wedding anniversary...it's not 'til May, so this gives my Mum time to forget that she's seen it on here! lol
Well, all good things must come to an end...I've had so much fun crafting these last couple of days, as I've not been able to work, as my schools have been closed because of the snow, and this is my last card for now. There's a fab sketch for this week's Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge, which I've used to make another boy's card. My main image is 'Beehave!' by Penny Black, which goes really well with the Stampendous sentiment stamp. The papers are from the Papermania 'Inspirations - Cool Tones' pack, and I've embossed them with my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' folders. The spotty ribbon is from Hobbycraft.
Off to tidy up all the mess I've made these last couple of days!
Well, I've been making the most of having another 'snow day', by joining in with some of the challenges that I don't usually have time for. There are always great sketches on the Mojo Monday blog, and I've used this one (although I have resized it to make a square card) for a birthday card. The image is 'Henry Celebrating Mouse' by Whiff of Joy, the sentiment is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts, the checked paper is by BasicGrey ('Two Scoops'), the embossing was done using the 'Spots & Dots' Cuttlebug folder, and the flowers are from Poppicrafts.
The snow is beginning to melt now, but I'm hoping to get one more card made today before I have to go out teaching!
After only just managing to stick to my New Year's resolution of making a Christmas card every week last week, I thought I'd get ahead this week...I think I must be inspired by all the snow! This is the first time I've entered a card for the Stamp with Stampavie Challenge, and I've combined the fab sketch with the colour challenge for this week's Cupcake Craft Challenge. I don't have any of the Stampin' Up cardstock, but I think I've managed to find some amongst my stash that's pretty close to those shades. 
Well, I've already made my second card today, and stamped and coloured some more images to use later...and it's not even lunchtime yet! I've used a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller ('Lily and Milo Rainy Days') as my main image, and as I've coloured with quite bright colours (well, for me anyway), I've chosen to use plain coloured card for my background, rather than patterned papers, which I've embossed with my 'Swiss Dots', 'Tiny Bubbles' and 'Spots & Dots' Cuttlebug folders. I've used ribbon from the £Shop to tie around the middle, as this is going to used as an image wallet for some swaps.
Woo-hoo - no school today because of the snow! So I'm going to spend today indoors in the warm...and I can't believe it but I've made a card already today! There's a fab sketch for the new Sketch & Stash Challenge - I'm sure I'm going to use it again! I've used it to make a boys card - I always seem to find them difficult, but this one came together really quickly. My new items are: the fab Penny Black image ('Bubble of Joy') - received last week in an image swap with my lovely friend Pauline; and the gorgeous BasicGrey 'Granola' papers that I bought in the sales after Christmas, but hadn't got round to using yet. The embossed background was created with the Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder on Core'dinations card, then distressed with sand paper, the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts ('Anytime Messages' set), and the buttons are by Papermaina.
