Christmas with Colour Create and a Spoon Full of Sugar

I've used this week's Colour Create colour combination, of 'Red & Green' to make my Christmas card for the week following the fab sketch from the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge. My main image is a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller ('Teddy Bear'), and the papers are by BasicGrey (from the 'Figgy Pudding' range). The sentiment is from a clear set by Studio G, and the flowers are a mixture of Prima and Sarah's Cards Ltd.

Cute Card Thursday meets the Secret Crafter...

The Cute Card Thursday Challenge is one year old this week...Happy Birthday CCT!...and they're celebrating with a fab sketch challenge and have 5 fab prizes on offer too! I'm also entering this card for the Secret Crafter Challenge, which has the theme 'Have your cake and eat it' this week. My main image is 'Henry - Celebrating Mouse' by Whiff of Joy, and I've watercoloured him to match the BasicGrey 'Blush' papers I've used. The sentiment stamp is by Autumn Leaves ('Talking in Circles'), the ribbons are from Poppicrafts, and I used the 'Spots & Dots' and 'Swiss Dots' embossing folders for a bit of texture.

Penny Black meets ABC...

I've used the fab sketch from this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge to make an Easter card - the theme for the ABC Challenge this week. I've used part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp for my image (masking off three of the bunnies before stamping). The stripey paper is from the 'Sultry' pad by BasicGrey, the flowers are form Poppicrafts, the sentiment is a stamp by Hero Arts, the lace raffia is from Hobbycraft, and the buttons and ribbon are from my stash.

Annie...again!

I've combined challenges again on this card: the colour combination of Orange, Yellow and Green of the Colour Create Challenge; the 'Paper Piecing' technique challenge from Stamping Chic; and the Secret Crafter Challenge of 'Masking'. All of the papers are by BasicGrey, from the 'Boxer' and 'Cupcake' pads. My image is a Sugar Nellie stamp, 'Blossom' by Leanne Ellis, and I masked off the two flowers from either side of Annie before stamping (so that it would fit in the oval). I then stamped her gain on to the 'Boxer' paper, and paper pieced her skirt. The flowers were stamped using two of the stamps from the 'Doodles' set from the Clare Curd Signature Range by Papermania, on to scraps of the other BG papers I used, then cut out. The orange panel was embossed using the Cuttlebug 'Textile' folder, the sentiment stamp is by Whiff of Joy, and the lace raffia is from Hobbycraft.


This was the card I sent to my partner for the March friendship swap on the Docrafts forum, where the extra challenge was to use 3D flowers on our cards, so I think I've got that one covered too!

Sketch Saturday meets Pink Elephant

I've combined this week's fab Sketch Saturday sketch with the colour theme of Pink, Green and Brown of the Pink Elephant Challenge on this card. I had to rotate the sketch to fit my image - Annie...again, but this time 'Talking to the Birds' (by Leanne Ellis for Funky Kits). The (very loudly patterned) paper is by BasicGrey, and the brown panel is Core'dinations card embossed with the Cuttlebug 'Textile' folder then sanded to reveal the core. The flowers are by Prima, and the sentiment is from a set by Studio G.

BasicGrey with Charisma

For this card, I've combined the sketch from this week's BasicGrey Challenge, with the Charisma Cardz theme of 'Pretty Cards'. My main image is the very pretty Annie ('Blossom' stamp by Leanne Ellis from Funky Kits), coloured in various shades of pink to match the BG papers from the 'Blush' range. The swirls in the corner are from a set by Doodlebug, and the lace raffia is from Hobbycraft.

I also made another card using this stamp this weekend, for a few more challenges, but as I've sent it to my Docrafts friendship swap partner, so I'm going to wait 'til I know she's got it before I post it on here.

Just Christmas & Birthdays #21

I just realised that I hadn't made a Christmas card this week...it was one of my New Year's resolutions to make at least one each week, and so far I've managed to stick to it. So I've used this week's sketch from the Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge to make a quick card...just got it uploaded in time! The image I've used ('Pringle' by Sugar Nellie) isn't really a Christmas one, but I had it already coloured...and he does have a present! The paper is from the 'Figgy Pudding' range by BasicGrey, the sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #2

I've used the sketch for the second Truly Scrumptious challenge to make a card for my flat-mate to give to a friend, who's jetting off for six months travelling next weekend. She really had me stumped when she asked me to make a card for this, as I thought I hadn't got any suitable images or travel themed papers...but then I remembered this Paddington bear image I received in a swap ages ago (can't remember who from...sorry) - I think it's a stamp that was a freebie with a magazine some time last year. The papers are from the 'Christmas' stack by DCWV, the ribbon is from Hobbycraft, I used the 'Spots & Dots' folder to emboss the white circle, and the sentiment (I know it's much larger than the sketch! lol) was cut using the 'Olivia' alphabet. I did make a button (tied on with the ribbon)...although I'm not very happy with it, and will probably remove it...I had several attempts, but just couldn't manage to doodle the white detail, without going wonky!

4 Challenges in 1!

I'm combining challenges...again...really wish I had more time to craft! This card uses: the Penny Black Saturday Challenge recipe (3 brads, 2 ribbons, 1 flower); A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Torn Edges' (on the embossed vellum); Cute Card Thursday's 'Wine & Dine' theme (the yummy cupcake); and I'm also entering this for the Stamp Something Challenge, which is to use our 'Favourite Somethings'...in this case I've used: my favourite colour blue; my beloved Cuttlebug, and it's 'Swiss Dots' folder; and one of my favourite Penny Black stamps (from the 'Critter Party' set. I've also used: the 'Spots & Dots' embossing folder; ribbon from Poppicrafts; and the sentiment and flower stamps are from the new Clare Curd Signature range by Papermania.

Mojo Monday 76

It's the first Mojo Monday sketch of the month, which means it's contest time...I've just had a look at the blog, and there are over 350 entries already...wow!
I've resized to sketch to make a square card, and have kept it really simple...using only plain coloured card embossed with the 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder...no designer paper again...I think I must be ill! lol
The image ('Lazy Days' by Penny Black) is one I received in a swap with my lovely buddy Carol, and the sentiment is from the new set of sentiment stamps from the Claire Curd Signature Range by Papermania.

Pink Elephant meets Papertake Weekly

I think that this is the first card I've made that didn't have any stamping on it...not even a sentiment! I've combined the Pink Elephant Challenge of 'Ribbons & Die Cuts' with the colour combo of 'Pink, Orange & Brown' of this weeks Papertake Weekly Challenge. I made this card on Tuesday night, and I quite liked the combination of colours then...but now I've seen it in daylight...I'm not so sure! lol
I've used the Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die (with pink and orange card), to make a flower shape, with two smaller flowers (cut with the 'Olivia' alphabet) for the centre. The sentiment is from the same alphabet set, and the polkadot ribbon is from Hobbycraft

Sketch & Stash Challenge #5

As I finished teaching early last night, I managed to fit in a little crafting session - I don't normally find time during the week, so this was a real treat! The sketch for the new Sketch & Stash Challenge is a fab one - I'm sure I'll be using it again. My new items are the BasicGrey 'Sultry' papers, and the Doodlebug stamps I've used for the sentiment and the doodles in the corners. My main image is 'Dream a dream' by Penny Black, and the sheer pink organza ribbon is recycled from some Christmas gift wrap.

Elegant card for Julie's Blog Candy

Julie has challenged us all to make an elegant card featuring a flower that we've made ourselves, in order to be in with a chance of winning the fabulous candy she's offering to celebrate her first blogoversary. I've been a fan of Julie's cards, since I discovered her gallery on the Docrafts forum, and have taken inspiration for this card from her simple yet elegant style. I've tried something different with my Cuttlebug, embossing the top and bottom of the white panel with the 'Swiss Dots' folder, then scored lines across to mark a channel to tie the ribbon around (from Hobbycraft), and another for the sentiment (free stamp with the latest Docrafts 'Creativity Life' magazine).

I made my flower using the three smallest scalloped circle Nesties, cutting out segments to make the petals, then embossing with the 'Swiss Dots' folder, and the shaping with my fingers, before layering them up and attaching with a brad (I didn't have any black ones, so I changed the colour using ink and embossing powder). Here's a close up showing the flower in more detail:

You still have time to make your card for Julie's candy, as the deadline is this Saturday.

Friday Sketchers meets Secret Crafter...

I've used this weeks Friday Sketchers sketch together with the theme of 'Transport' from the Secret Crafter Challenge on this card. I struggled to find a suitable image for the theme...but I think that this 'Balloon' counts! The stamp is from the 'Hugs' set by Penny Black, and I've coloured it with watercolour pencils, adding a couple of layers of clear embossing powder on the balloon to make it glossy. The sentiment is by Hero Arts (from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set), the paper is from the 'Cupcakes' pad by BasicGrey, and the flowers are from Poppicrafts.

Cupcakes with Charisma

I've combined challenges...again...on this card: the sketch from the Cupcake Craft Challenge; with the theme of 'Animals' on the Charisma Cardz blog. I've resized the sketch to make a square card (I was going to make an A5 one, but I didn't have a large enough piece of the paisley paper (by Pebbles Inc) left), and have put a sentiment (by Stampendous) at the bottom in place of the three embellishments, as I couldn't resist using it with this fab image (Penny Black 'Bee Costume') sent to me by my lovely friend Carol. The blue panel was embossed using the 'Perfect Paisley' Cuttlebug folder.

Pink Elephant meets Colour Create

I've only just managed to get this card made in time using the Pink Elephant Challenge sketch. I've used the colour scheme of this week's Colour Create challenge which is 'Blue & Brown', and included the optional extras - 'Lace and Pearls'. My image is 'Lola with Bird' by Rachelle Anne Miller (from Sugar Nellie), the papers are from the 'Granola' pad by BasicGrey, and the lace is from Hobbycraft. In place of the flourish on the sketch, I've used a spray of flowers (from Sarah's Cards Ltd).

Three Challenges in One...Again!

I'd love to have the time to make a separate card for every challenge, but only having the time to craft at the weekends, means that I always end up combining. This card is for 3 challenges: I've used the sketch for this week's Just Christmas & Birthday Cards challenge; which fitted perfectly with the BasicGrey Challenge theme of 'Pockets'; and as it looks the bunnies are magically appearing (a stretch...I know! lol), I'm also entering this for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge which is 'Animal Magic'.
The images I've used are from the Penny Black stamp 'Bunny Friends' - I masked of most of the stamp, so that I could used these smaller images. All of the papers are from the BasicGrey 'Blush' range, the flowers are a mixture of Poppicrafts, and Sarah's Cards Ltd, the lace raffia is from Hobbycraft, and all the brads are by Papermania.
Here's a view of the card with the tab in the pocket:


And with the tab removed:

I thought the raffia kind of looks like the bunnies are talking over a picket fence.

Another Three Challenges in One...

So many challenges...so little time! So I've combined three more challenges on this card: A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Shape Shifter' challenge; the Daring Cardmaker's 'Circles' dare; and the One Stop Craft Challenge of 'No Designer Paper'. A group of crafty friends of mine, are going to exchange Easter cards, and as I need to make about 15, I've decided to make all of mine this cute little scalloped circle shape (cut using the largest scallop circle Nestie), as they're quick to do...not too much space to fill! The image is 'Totally Excited' by Penny black, the sentiment is a stamp by Hero Arts, and I used the Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder on the plain green card.