Seeing Double

I have a couple of Christmas cards to share today...they're one layer cards, so nice and cheap to post! I had a little experiment with my 'Before the Snow' stamp (by Penny Black) and a couple of colours of Distress Inks...stamping it once fully inked up, then a second time with some of the ink removed, to look like it was behind the first tree, without having to mask it. I tried it first of all using 'Pine Needles' thinking it would be the best colour for a pine tree...but actually I prefer the softer tones of the second version using 'Forest Moss'. The sentiment stamp is also by Penny Black.

Forest Moss (left) & Pine Needles (right)

Challenges for these cards:

• Less is More - One Layer Card & Seeing Double
• One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
• PaperPlay - Two or More Stamped Images
• The Stamp Man - Black White & One Other Colour (Green)

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find it on this post.

Pile It On Challenge - Layer It!

This week at the Pile It On! Challenge, we're asking you to:

'Layer It!'

This can be layers of paper/card...or maybe decoupage...or anything else you care to layer.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

I've used a Stamp Fairy image on my card...he's called 'Tommy Wizzard'...I love his cute little owl! I decided to decoupage him, so printed the image 4 times, and coloured them using watercolour pencils...then very carefully cut out the bits I wanted to layer. The 'Pumpkin' and 'Tiny Bubbles' embossing folders are by Cuttlebug, and the 'Spiders' Web' one is by Tim Holtz.

Here's a close-up of the layered image:

Here are the challenges I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - Layer It Up!
• Card Makin' Mamas - Digital
• CES - Magical or Spooky
• C.R.A.F.T. - Children
• Crafty Sentiments - Hallowe'en
• Creative Stamp Friends - Men
• For Fun - Kids at Play
• Paper Shelter - Embossing
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Prairie Fairy - Snips & Snails...
• Rubber Cafe - No Designer Paper
• Stamp Something - Anything Goes
• Squiggles & Giggles - Spooky
• Totally Gorjuss - It's a Man Thing

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Pile It On! Challenge.

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find it on this post.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Inspired by a Song

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT post

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This week, it's Francesca's turn to choose the theme for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge...and she has chosen:

'Inspired by a Song'

I think I must have cake on the brain (see my post below for more deliciousness)...and the song I've been inspired by is...'If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake'...and used this Lily of the Valley stamp called 'I Baked a Cake'. The paper is from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers, the sentiment is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, and the ribbon, lace and pearls are from my stash.

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

• Charisma Cardz - Inspired by a Song ('If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake')
• Stampavie & More - Pearls & Lace
• Your Next Stamp - Inspired by a Song ('If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked  cake')

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

We also have a DT call running this month...we looking for 5 new buddies for our little team...if you're interested, you can find the linky in the sidebar of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Before I go...just time to remind you that I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find it on this post.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Delicious!

It's Saturday...and that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...yippee! Our theme for you this week is:

'Delicious!'

We want to see something yummy on your cards!

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

and the prize is a $20 voucher to spend in their online store!

I have several 'cake related' Penny Black stamps, so it was a tough decision which one to use...but in the end I went for this adorable wee hedgie (called 'To cake moment')...I love the way he looks so worried that someone's about to pinch his cake! I used papers from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers...distressing the edges and adding faux stitching with my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, I cut the star using one of my Nesties, and the button and twine are from my stash. 

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

• Birthday Sundaes - Birthdays
• Crafts & Me - Buttons & Bows
• Crazy - Spots & Stripes
• Digi Doodles - Circles
• Little Red Wagon - Die Cuts

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please stop by the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered...you can do so on this post.

ABC Christmas Challenge - R is for...

I'm back with more inspiration for our current ABC Christmas Challenge...the theme is: 

'R is for Recycling...plus Ribbon or Rhinestones...or both!'

That's right...we've gone green...so there must be something recycled on your project.

If you're in need of ideas, you can find lots of hints & tips over on the ABC Christmas Challenge.

We are sponsored for this challenge by Digital Delights.

The prize for one lucky winner is 3 digi stamps of their choice.

I've used some bits'n'pieces that I've had stashed away since before last Christmas...the cover of a Christmas gift guide (the inside is a fabulous plaid), and some matching ribbon from a free gift:

I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps...'Wishes for Kisses'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some 'Crystal' Stickles to the snow on the ground. I kept the card really simple, because there's quite a lot going on with the patterned paper and ribbon! I added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, and a few pieces of Card Candi to finish.

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

• Allsorts - Green & Blue
• Crafter's Companion - Christmas Wishes
• Penny Black @ Allsorts - Get Ahead for Christmas
• Sweet Stop - Sketch

There's lots more inspiration, and some fabulous (and unexpected!) recycling projects from my DT buddies over on the ABC Christmas Challenge.

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find it on this post.

Copper Christmas

When I first started stamping, I was always amazed at how dirty looking embossing powder could be transformed into what looked like molten metal in a matter of seconds with a heat gun. It's not something I often do now...but when I saw that the theme of this week's Less is More challenge is 'Metallic', I knew I had to dust off my powders! I decided to use a couple of Hero Arts stamps ('Swirl Tree with Stars' and 'Snowflakes'), stamped them using Versamark, and then embossed them using 'Copper Kettle' powder. I matted them using copper mirror card (something else I used to use a lot when I first started cardmaking), and added a few copper coloured pearls (from Wild Orchid Crafts) in one corner. This would make a good 'production line' card...very quick and easy, but still elegant...would work well in other colour ways too.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - No sentiments
• Less is More - Metallic
• Stamptacular Sunday - The sky's the limit (Anything Goes)
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything, but birthday

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find it on this post.

Just Plain Happy

I spent most of the wekend working...so treated myself to a little crafting time last night as a reward! I hadn't used this adorable teddy in a while so I thought I'd ink him up...he's 'Dream a Dream' by Penny Black...doesn't he look content? I used several Cuttlebug folders for the embossing...'Swiss Dots', 'Birds & Swirls', 'Flower Fantasy' and one from the 'Just My Type' border set. The sentiment is from a set by Doodlebug, the flowers were cut using my Tattered Florals die, and I popped pieces of white Card Candi in their centres.

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Days Away - Make your own flowers
• Crafty Ann's - It'll be all white on the night
• Crafty Calendar - Let sleeping bears lie
• Crafty Creations - Dies & Punches (Circle & Label Nesties, Tattered Florals dies)
• Moving Along with the Times - Handmade flowers
• Paperplay - Make your own flowers
• Papertake Weekly - Sketch

I have candy on offer at the moment...if you haven't already entered, you can find it on this post.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Colours of Autumn

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT card

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 It's Bridget's turn to host the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Autumn Colours'

I went for rich oranges and browns...and thought that those colours would suit a male card...so I inked up 'Birthday Beagle' by Whipper Snapper. The papers are by BasicGrey, from the 'Offbeat' and 'Hopscotch' pads...I embossed the plain one using my Craft Concepts 'Hexagon Illusion' folder. I distressed all of the edges using inks and my distressing tool, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiments are from a Studio G set, and the ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

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

• Challenge Up Your Life - For Men
• Craft Us Crazy - Autumn Colours
• Spoon Full of Sugar - Party Time
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies...please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

We also also have a DT call running until the end of September, so if you fancy joining our merry little band of crafters, add a link to your blog to the linky in the sidebar on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

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It's my blog's third birthday today...Happy Birthday Blog! lol

Anyway, I'll be celebrating with some candy tomorrow...so watch this space!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Make a Scene

It's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge, and this week we're asking you to:

'Make a Scene!'

We have two fabby sponsors...which means two fabby prizes...this week:

From Penny Black Inc:

 And from the Ribbon Girl:

Ok...so here's my card:

I used a combination of hedgehogs from the 'Wonderful', 'Critter Party' and 'Hugs' sets...colouring them with watercolour pencils before carefully cutting them out. For the background, I used Distress Inks to create the sky (Tumbled Glass & Faded Jeans), then added simple hand cut pieces of card for the ground, sun and cloud. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

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

• Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
• Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from mylovely DT buddies...and our fabulous guest designer for September Jules...please stop by the Penny Black Saturday Challenge!

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It's my blog's third birthday today...Happy Birthday Blog! lol

Anyway, I'll be celebrating with some candy tomorrow...so watch this space!

Vegan Cake Recipes?

Hello everyone...I don't have a card to share today...I've been busy working on music arrangements for the term ahead...and baking:

Vegan Chocolate and Coffee & Walnut Cupcakes

The evening class I teach is rather partial to a party...we have one after each end of term concert, and a few 'musical soirees' over the summer holiday, where we meet at various class members' houses...play some of our favourite pieces of music, then feast on delicious food...what could be better? We all contribute to the feast, and it's become a tradition that I bake cakes...the cupcakes above are what I took to our gathering last night (obviously there were lots more...lol...but you get the idea). Ok...so on to the purpose of this post...one of the members has recently become vegan...which obviously poses a problem when it comes to baking cakes! I have discovered a few good recipes so far...the chocolate cupcakes pictured above are particularly good...but I had a disaster with my first batch of the coffee cupcakes...they rose magnificently for the first 20 mins of cooking time, but when I opened the oven door 5 mins later...they were mere craters! Thankfully, after some more searching, I found another recipe which worked much better! So, I was wondering if any of you had any recommendations for good vegan baking recipe books, or websites so that I can expand my repertiore???

Vintage Irises

I've been playing with Distress Inks again...am loving the watercolour stamping effect at the moment! I started by 'antiquing' and white piece of card with 'Old Paper', then spattered some of the same in ink mixed with water over the top. The music background is a Hero Arts stamp...also stamped in 'Old Paper', but I removed the ink from the centre of the stamp before stamping, so that it would form a border around the main image. The flower stamp is 'Irises' by Penny Black, which I stamped in 'Dusty Concord' and 'Forest Moss' inks. For the embossed background, I coloured more white card with the same inks that I'd used for the flowers, and then embossed them with my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' and 'Paisley' folders. I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool, and for the scalloped border I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch.

Challenges for this card:

• Fab 'n' Funky - Embossing
• Little Red Wagon - Border Punches
• Midnight Madness - Sketch (I chose the simple one)
• My Time to Craft - Flowers
• Penny Black Inc - Inspired by a DT member (I was inspired by this card & this card, both by Jill)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - R is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...and this week Carissa is our host, and the theme is:

'R is for Recycling...plus Ribbon or Rhinestones...or both!'

That's right...we've gone green...so there must be something recycled on your project.

If you're in need of ideas, you can find lots of hints & tips over on the ABC Christmas Challenge.

We are sponsored for this challenge by Digital Delights.

The prize for one lucky winner is 3 digi stamps of their choice.

Inspired by this tag by Tim Holtz, I recycled the plastic packaging from an embossing folder:

I embossed the plastic using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder...then used it as an overlay on my card. I created the scene underneath my using Distress Inks (Stormy Sky & Faded Jeans) for the background, and then adding a snowy effect around the edges with my Versamark inkpad and white embossing powder. I made the snowman using circles cut using Nesties, hand cutting his eyes, nose and arms, and inking around the edges a little. The trees were cut using a Marianne Designs Creatables die...then I sanded the edges to reveal the white core to look like snow.

And if you're wondering where the ribbon or rhinestones are...I used gem brads (from Craft Obsessions) to hold the plastic in place...you can see them a little better in this photo:

Challenges for this card:

• For Fun - Christmas in August
• Lollipop Crafts - Recycle It
• Prairie Fairy - Inspired by a Book ('The Snowman' by Raymond Briggs)

For more inspiration...and some great recycling tips...from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Time for Cake!

The image on today's card is a stamp from a freebie set thaat came with this month's Quick Cards Made Easy magazine...the sentiment is from the same set. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'D'Vine Swirls' and 'Textile' folders for the embossing. I distressed all of the edges using 'Old Paper' Distress Ink and my distressing tool, then added some lace (from Hobbycraft) and some adhesive pearls.

Challenges for this card:

• Birthday Sundaes - Photo Inspiration 
• Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations (Sundays) - Choice of recipes (I chose Shabby Chic, Pearls & Lace)
• Mojo Monday - Sketch
• Top Tip Tuesday - Shabby Chic

Blooming Meadows...Again!

I'm sorry if you're getting fed up with seeing me use this stamp...but I can't help it...I love it! Just to be different, this card is A6 sized...with the fold on the short edge. I coloured directly on to the stamp ('Blooming Meadows' by Hero Arts) using Distress Inks (Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Forest Moss, Faded Jeans, Chipped Saphire & Dusty Concord)...then spritzed it with a little water, and stamped it through a circular mask (cut using one of my Nesties)...not sure if it really works, but you can just about tell it's in the shape of a circle - I also tried it with the circle embossed...but I didn't like that one! lol
The sentiment stamp is from the 'Wonderful' set by Penny Black.

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - Recipe: Take 3 Things (#2 - Flowers, #12 - Off Centre & #28 - Use Ink)
• PaperCrafting Journey - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Flower Power

Pile It On! Challenge - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

The theme of this week's Pile It On! Challenge is:

'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'

We are sponsored for this challenge by The Paper Shelter.

I've made a Christmas gift tag this week...and the girl on my tag is 'Snow Bunny Bella' by Stamping Bella. I coloured her using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the fur trim with 'Crystal' Stickles, before cutting her out. I covered my blank tag (from WHSmith) using scraps of various BasicGrey papers...then inked all of the edges. I cut snowflakes from more BasicGrey papers using Marianne Designs Creatables and Cuttlebug dies. The pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the seam binding ribbon is from the Ribbon Girls.

Here are the challenges I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
• Bah! Humbug! - Here Come the Girls!
• BasicGrey - Anything Goes (I've used papers from the 'Hopscotch', 'Archaic', 'Eskimo Kisses', 'Hello Luscious' & 'Lemonade' pads!)
• CES - Pink, Brown & Aqua
• Crafty Sentiments - Ribbons & Bows
• Creative Craft - Anything but a Card
• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare - Anything but a Card
• Incy Wincy - Anything but a Card
• Just Some Lines - Anything but a Card
• My Time to Craft - Here Come the Girls!
• One Stop Craft - Anything but Square
• Totally Gorjuss - As You Like It!

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Pile It On! Challenge.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Under the Sea

Please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT card.

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It's Andie's turn to choose the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge this week, and she has chosen:

'Under the Sea'

As it's the last challenge of the month, it's your last chance to be included for the draw for the prize from our fabulous sponsor The Stamping Boutique.

Now, this challenge had me stumped...until I came across these fabulous little fish digi stamps from Hambo...so cute! I decided to make a little underwater scene...and cut the fish out after colouring them with watercolour pencils. I used plain blue and yellow Bazzill card for the background...adding a few air bubbles with a black gel pen for each fish. The 'weeds' are actually bits of a Christmas tree cut using a Marianne Designs Creatables die. To create a bubbly water effect, I overlayed a piece of plastic (recycled from an embossing folder packet), embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Tiny Bubbles' folder. The sentiment is computer generated.

Here's another view...you'll be able to see it clearer if you click to enlarge it:

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

• Anything Goes - TV/Films (Mine's 'Finding Nemo')

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Sketch by Nat

This week at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, we have a fabulous sketch for you, by Nat:

We are sponsored for this challenge by

 

And the prize is 4 rolls or ribbon of the winner's choice!

I tidied my stamps last weekend...and unearthed some neglected stamps...I haven't used this skating doggy ('Ice Dance') for ages, so I thought it was about time he saw some ink! Whilst tidying, I also discovered these papers that my lovely friend Samantha had sent me ages ago...I'm afraid I have no idea who made them. I kept it really simple...and flat so it's cheap to post...and just added a few Cuttlebug snowflakes.

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

• Crafty Creations - Inner Animal (I'm fairly sure my inner animal is a daft dog! lol)
• Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Outdoor Fun

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