Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Multifold Cards

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge theme has been set by Christine...and she has chosen:

'Multifold Cards'

I decided to try something new, and have made a side-step card. I couldn't find any instructions with the right dimensions to fit the images I wanted to use...so had to experiment a little...and managed to come up with this made from an A4 sheet of card.

I've used all Penny Black hedgehogs...the main image is 'Party Pooped', and the smaller images and sentiment are from the 'Wonderful' set. I watercoloured them to match the Papermania 'Sweet Nothings' papers, and added some lettering cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet.
Here's a view from the side showing the different 'steps':

The rest of the design team have pulled out all the stops this week...you can see their cards on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Hunny Bunny

This is my card for my swap partner in this month's friendship swap on the Docrafts forum...Carol set us an extra little challenge to include a 'creepy crawly' somewhere...I'm hoping that the little ladybird on the flower in this image ('Hunny Bunny' by Whipper Snapper) counts! lol
I followed the sketch from the Truly Scrumptious Challenge...and included the 'Buttons & Bows' extra...which is nearly the same theme as this week's Allsorts Challenge, which is to use 'Distressing, Buttons & Bows'...although there is only one button and I've hidden it under the one bow! lol
The papers are from the 'Colourful Christmas' collection by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges with my distressing tool, and then added some faux stitching using my Cutterbee Bug, and a white gel pen. The flowers are a mixture of Prima and Poppicrafts, and the sentiment stamp is from a little set by Studio G.

More recycling...

Here are another couple of cards made by recycling last year's calendars.
The first one uses 'Rainin' Daisies' by Penny Black, papers from the 'Inspirations' pack by Papermania, and flowers from Poppicrafts. I added the sentiment (a Whiff of Joy stamp) after I'd turned it into a card....it wasn't there when it was a calendar.


The second one uses an image from the Penny Black 'Critter Party' set, paper by DCWV (from the Pocket Full of Posies' stack), some torn Papermania purple velum, a few Poppicrafts flowers, and a butterfly brad by Woodware.


I'm going to enter these cards into the Daring Cardmaker's 'Amethyst' challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for...

The challenge for this fortnight on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog is:

'D is for Decorations'

It's Samantha's turn to choose the 'extra' element for you to include on your projects, and like to see you use some ribbon....what could be easier than that??!!

We have a fabulous prize on offer for the lucky winner of this challenge...the fabulous Simon Says Stamp store has donated a $15 voucher for their store.

As soon as I saw the 'Decorations' theme, I just knew I wanted to use this fab Penny Black stamp (from the 'Holly-Jolly' set)...I love the way the decorations are flying off the tree! The papers are all from the 'Wonderful Winter' stack by My Mind's Eye, the sentiment stamp is by Paper Make-Up, and the grosgrain ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

I'm also going to enter this card for the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - 'Spots & Dots'
Susie & Vikki's Christmas Club - 'Christmas Trees'

Don't forget to check out the rest of the design team's cards...and also the fabulous card by our guest designer Jane, over on the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Gifts for you!

I loved the look of this fortnight's BasicGrey Challenge sketch...so just had to have a go. The image is 'Gifts for you!' by Penny Black, the papers are all from the 'Sultry' pad by BasicGrey'...and I distressed the edges, and added some faux stitching using my Cutterbee Bug and a green pen. The swirl is a Whiff of Joy stamp, stamped in Versamark, and embossed with pearl green powder. The flowers are a mixture of Prima and Poppicrafts...and they're held in place using some Papermania pearl brads...or 'split pins'...which I hope qualifies for this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge....where the theme is 'Pins & Pearls'...I was a bit scared of using a real pin...wouldn't want to injure the postie! lol

Fairy Dust

I had a little crafting session yesterday...had a play with some of my neglected stash...and made this card for a few challenges. I followed the Create4Fun sketch, and have used 'Fairy Tink' (by The Greeting Farm) for the 'Fairy' themed challenges at the My Time to Craft and Quixotic challenges. The papers are all from the 'Lemonade' pad by BasicGrey, and I used my Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' and border folders (from the 'Just my type' set)...neither of which I've used in such a long time!

Loved Up Sunday

I've been doing a bit of recycling this weekend...I made some 2009 calendars using the Create a Calendars from the Papermill Shop to give as Christmas presents in 2008...and after Christmas last year...my Mum and Nan gave theirs back to me, so that I could recycle them, and turn them into cards for them to use. These ones were for February....hence the Valentine theme. The first card uses 'Furry Embrace' by Penny Black, paper by BasicGrey ('Perhaps'), some Papermania silk flowers, and some organza ribbon.


The second card uses an image from the 'Every Which Way' transparent set by Penny Black, paper from the black & white 'Inspirations' paper stack by Papermania, flowers from Poppicrafts and Hobbycraft, and some Robin's Nest 'Dew Drops' in the corners.


Although I made these over a year ago...they never appeared on my blog at the time...I didn't want to spoil the surprise...and as I only turned them into cards this morning....they are 'brand new'. As there are so many 'Valentine' and 'Love' themed challenges around at the moment...I'm going to enter these cards for the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz: 'Love'
Crafty Calendar: 'Love or Friendship' (with the extra of 'Hearts')
Crazy4Challenges: 'Valentine'
Creative Card Crew: Valentine'
Lili of the Valley: 'Valentine'
Stamp Something: 'Love'
Stampin' for the Weekend: 'Valentine'

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Monochrome

It's Cathy's turn to choose the theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge...and she has chosen:

'Monochrome'
(Tones of One Colour, Plus White)

Inspired by one of the gorgeous glittered papers in the 'Wonderful Winter' stack by My Mind's Eye, I've used lots of red to make a Christmas card. I've kept it really simple, using just one paper, with some Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' snowflakes, which have been coated in Glamour Dust, and a grosgrain ribbon bow.

The rest of the design team have created some really stunning cards again this week...so make you you take a look at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Happy Bee-Day!

I can't believe it's already Friday again...where has the week gone?!
This card is for a few challenges: Sunday Sketch & Stamp; Cupcake Craft Challenge's 'Four-legged and furry'; and Pollycrafts Challenge's 'Things with Wings'. The image is 'Bee Costume' by Penny Black, the paisley paper is Pebbles Inc, I used my Cuttlebug 'Perfect Paisley' folder for the embossing, and the sentiment stamp is by Stampendous.

Long Stem Cuties

I've had this image ('Long Stem Cuties' by Penny Black) in my box of stamped images for absolutely ages...so long, in fact that I can't remember who sent it me...but thank you whoever you are, as it was just perfect for this card! I followed the Friday Sketchers sketch, and took inspiration from the gorgeous photo of the rose on Simon Says Stamp Challenge. I've made this card for my parents wedding anniversary...it's not 'til May, but I do like to be organised! lol Anyway, if I put it on my blog now, my Mum will have forgotten that she's already seen it by the time I give it to them! So I'm also entering it for: the Penny Black Saturday Challenge to make a card for 'Someone Special'; the One Stop Craft Challenge to personalise our projects (if you look closely, you'll see that I've hand written 'Mum & Dad' on the label on the rose); and the Papertake Weekly Challenge, where the theme this week is 'Love'.
The papers are by Mind's Eye ('Adore'), the sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly, and the lace is from Hobbycraft.

ABC Challenge - N is for...

Our challenge this fortnight on the ABC Challenge is:

'N is for New'

We'd like to see you use some of that new stash you've been saving...or try out a new technique on your projects...maybe even follow Vicky's tutorial for 'Cracked Glass' effect for this month's challenge on the brand new ABC Challenge Tutorial blog.

For my card, I've used one of the images from our lovely sponsor for this challenge, Lauretta's Digital Stamps, called 'Epagneul Cocker'...which is one of my 'New' things. The paper I've used (from the My Mind's Eye 'Wonderful Winter' stack) is also new, and I thought I'd try a new style of card...which is an A6 card blank, with the image placed overlapping the fold at the top, so overall it kind of makes a square...not sure what you'd call it though! lol
The sentiment stamp is by Pollycrafts, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

The rest of the DT have created some stunning cards for this challenge...so make sure you stop by the ABC Challenge blog to check them out.

It's Good News...Baby!

I won a prize from Toodles & Binks stamps on the Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge at the beginning of last month...and my fabby stamps arrived on Saturday...so I could resist inking one up straight away. I decided to use 'Clive Cockran'...to make a 'Baby' card for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge...not a typical image for that kind of card...but if you look closely you can just see the 'new arrival' peeking out of the chicken hutch...I've also used the sentiment stamp that came with the image as I thought it suited the occasion. I followed the Sketch Saturday sketch, using My Mind's Eye 'Ooh La La' (for Him) papers and a few Poppicrafts buttons...in 'Spring-like' colours...so I'm also entering this card for Pile It On's 'No Winter Colours' challenge.

New ABC Challenge Tutorial Blog

The ABC Challenge Tutorial blog launched today with it's first monthly challenge!


There will be a new technique tutorial by one of the ABC Challenge DT members each month...with a challenge to run alongside the ABC Challenges...and fabby prizes up for grabs!
Click the banner to check out Vicky's fab 'Cracked Glass' tutorial...and check out the gorgeous prize on offer for this month's challenge!

Please scroll down for today's card.

Blooming Gorgeous Hedgie!

I love Dawny's sketches...so I just had to have a go at the one for the Papertake Weekly Challenge this week...although I did replace the sentiment with some flowers...I couldn't decide what I wanted it to say! I've used a Penny Black hedgie (from the 'Wonderful' set), and papers by K&Co ('Classic K Margo'). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching with a white gel pen, and a couple of Prima flowers. So, as there are also flowers on the image, and on the paper too...I'm also going to enter this card for Cute Card Thursday's 'Blooming Gorgeous' challenge...and as the colours are 'summery' the Dutch Dare Challenge of 'Summer in Winter'.

It's a white-out...

No...not the weather...we haven't had any snow here in London...yet...I'm talking about my card...which is for the Charisma Cardz 'White on White' challenge. I followed the sketch from the Create4Fun Challenge...rotating it to fit the hearts...which also means this card fits the Fussy & Fancy 'Hearts' challenge. I've made a Wedding card...keeping it really simple, with plain white card embossed using my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls', 'Swiss Dots' and 'Textile' folders to create some texture. The ovals were cut using my Nesties, and the hearts were made using the Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die. I lightly distressed the edges of all of the layers, to add definition...although it doesn't show up too well in the photo.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Hearts

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge theme has been chosen by the Secret Crafter herself...the lovely Wendy...and she wants to see:

'Hearts'

I received this adorable 'Henry Hugging Heart' image (by Whiff of Joy) from my lovely friend Samantha...and I knew I had just had to use him for this card. The hearts paper is by My Mind's Eye ('Adore'), I cut the Hearts using the Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die, and used my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder and 'Textile' folders for the embossing. The sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly, and the roses are from Hobbycraft.

The rest of the design team have created some really beautiful cards this week...so do pop over to the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog to take a look.

Swirly Girly

I haven't played along at he Truly Scrumptious Challenge for a while..but I do like a bit of stitching (which is the added extra this time)...so I thought I'd have a go. I've combined it with the Just Cute Bears first challenge theme of 'One for the Girls'...the Allsorts Challenge of 'Hearts & Flowers' and Crazy4Challenges 'Pretty in Pink' theme. My 'cute bear' is Penny Black 'Dream a Dream'...and the papers are by BasicGrey - the pink one from the 'Blush' collection, and the aqua coloured one is from the 'Two Scoops' pad. I used my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder for the embossing, sanding the raised areas to reveal the detail. I distressed the edges of all the papers, added some faux stitching with my Cutterbee Bug and a white gel pen, and a couple of Prima flowers.

Snuggle

I dug out some of my older papers last weekend...the ones on this card are from the 'Two Scoops' pad by BasicGrey. I followed the sketch from Stampin' for the Weekend...and managed to include the themes from a couple of other challenges too: Anyone for Anya's 'Hearts'; and A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Freestyle'. The image is 'Hope & Grace - Snuggle' by The Greeting Farm...and I used my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder for the embossing...which I then lightly sanded to bring out the detail. The ribbon is from Poppicrafts, and the hearts were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts' die.