Yummy, yummy, yummy...

...it's Henry...and multiple challenges...again! This time I've combined the Whiff of Joy Challenge sketch, the colour combo of 'Pink, Brown & White' of the Pink Elephant Challenge, the One Stop Craft Challenge 'Sparkles' theme, and the 'Something Yummy' of the Charisma Cardz Challenge.
The papers are all from the 'Bittersweet' collection by BasicGrey, the cute little sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set), the ribbon and flowers are from Poppicrafts. It doesn't show up terribly well in the photo, but I added some Stickles to the frosting on the cake, and a touch of sparkle to the flowers and candle flame with a Sakura Stardust pen.

New Whiff of Joy Stamps...

What with all of the gorgeous 'sneaky peek' cards from the Whiff of Joy design team...and the fabulous candies they've all been offering...I'm sure you all must be getting really excited about the release of the new Whiff of Joy stamp collection tomorrow (June 14th).


To celebrate their release, Katharina has put together two packages of candy containing the new 'Women's Delight' collection designed by Elisabeth Bell...so make sure you stop by her fab blog before 9pm tomorrow night.

Don't forget, if you're not one of the lucky winners, you can buy the stamps online from the Whiff of Joy store from tomorrow.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

This week's Winter Wonderland Challenge is to create a card using 'Christmas Carols' as our inspiration. Now, as a music teacher, I have a 'love/hate' relationship with Christmas music...I do love Christmas songs and carols, and I love the way that the children get so enthusiastic about learning to play their favourite Christmas songs...but, I hate the fact that they all want to start playing them in September (aarrgghh!!!!), in order to have them perfect for their Christmas concerts! lol

I used the fab sketch from the Inspirational Card Sketches Challenge for my layout, and have overdosed on snowflakes for my 'Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!' card. The image, called 'Let it Snow!' (well, I just had to use it didn't I?! lol), and the sentiment, are both by Penny Black, and the papers are by Pebbles Inc. I used the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder on the plain white card, and also on the light blue card, above the sentiment, which I stamped and embossed three times. For a touch of sparkle, I added some Stickles glitter glue to the snowflakes and around the edge of the puddle on the image, and a glitter snowflake brad, by Dovecraft.

Our Creative Corner meets the Cupcake Craft Challenge

There's a fab colour combination for this week's Cupcake Craft Challenge, with the added twist of making a card for a child. I followed this week's Our Creative Corner sketch for my wallet card. I've used a Gorjuss Girl image (sent to me by my lovely ABC DT mate Vicky), combined with slightly softer shades of the colours, to make a 'girly' card. The paper is from the 'Pocket Full of Posies' mat stack, by DCWV. I did intend to stick to the sketch, but I had a little accident with some DST...got it stuck to the front of the card, and it pulled off some of the patterned paper when I tried to remove it...so I had to add the flowers (from Poppicrafts) to cover it up...and then it looked unbalanced, so I added some card candy to the opposite corner...I think I'd have put them the other way around if I'd had a choice! lol

ABC Challenge - R is for...

Phew, after last week's tricky challenge, we've got something a little simpler for you on the ABC Challenge...'R is for Roses'...so we'd like to see lots of lovely roses on your projects.

The prize for the random winner of this week's challenge is some Forever Friends goodies:

(Three packs of decoupaged stickers, and a pack of embossed cards blanks.)

I used blue and white paper roses (from Hobbycraft), as a border along the bottom of my card. The image is 'Confirmand Melinda' (by Whiff of Joy), the paper is by Sandylion, and I used the Cuttlebug 'Textile' folder on a piece of Core'dinations whitewashed card, which I then sanded to reveal the core colour.


For more inspiration, make sure you check out the 'blooming marvelous' creations by the other DT members.

Polka Doodles meets Dutch Dare

The fab sketch from this week's Polka Doodles Challenge is just perfect for making a 'Criss-cross' fold card. I decided to keep the front really simple, covering the two triangular flaps with the same 'Le fleur' paper (by K&Co), and layering up three fabric flowers held in place with a Papermania pearl brad - the largest one is from the candy I won from lovely Polka Doodles DT member Kath, and the smaller ones are both Flora Doodles. I made a simple band from a strip of the same paper to make a band to hold the card closed.


This week's Dutch Dare Challenge is to decorate the inside of our cards...not something I usually do, but this style of card needs at least some decoration on the inside, as you see the centre panel from the front when the card is closed. I added a couple more Flora Doodles on the reverse of the large flower on the front (they are all mounted onto circles of card (cut with Nesties), then stuck together over the edge of the flap of card), and used more of the same paper from the front of the card on the inside of the triangular flaps. I used two other K&Co papers ('Blue Awning' & 'Blue Diamond') on the centre panel (the torn edge was made using a Fiskars tearing ruler), and added a plain circle of card in the centre to write my greeting. The lettering was cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet.


This card is going to my partner in this month's Friendship Card Swap on the Docrafts forum.

Blooming Gorgeous!

I've used the fab sketch from this week's Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge to make a 'Blooming Gorgeous' card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme was to use flowers on our cards. I decided to use an image with lots of flowers ('Hedgehog Joy') sent to me by lovely PBSC DT member Pauline, who also gave me the sentiment stamp (from a Studio G set) for my birthday last year. The papers are all by K&Co ('Classic K Margo'), the swirl stamp is by Hero Arts ('Fantastic Flourishes'), the hydrangeas are by Prima, and the roses and lace are from Hobbycraft.

Triple Challenge Snowy

It's contest time over on the Mojo Monday blog...and there's a fab sketch for us to use, so I couldn't resist having a go. I've combined it with the themes from a couple of other challenges: the 'Pink & White' colour combo of the Allsorts Challenge; and the 'Bling' challenge from the Secret Crafter.
I've used 'Snowy' (by Penny Black) as my main image, with Stickles glitter glue on the hat...or perhaps that should be 'Mrs Snowy' considering the colours I've used! lol
I've kept the background really simple, using the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Swiss Dots' folders on white card, adding a few pink adhesive gems to the centres of some of the snowflakes. The sentiment (embossed in white) is by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

I don't know what's gotten into me recently...I just don't seem to be able to stop myself from making Christmas cards! lol

Just Christmas & Birthdays #34

I'm afraid I've made yet another Christmas card...this time using the Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge sketch, which I rotated to fit the image ('Welcome Party' by Penny Black). The papers are all by Doodlebug, the sentiment is from a little set by Studio G, and I added a little bit of faux-stitching with a white gel pen.

Triple Challenge Wedding Card

I've used the fab Papertake Weekly Challenge sketch to make a wedding card. I used diecut hearts (Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts') in place of a stamped image, so I'm entering this card for Cute Card Thursday's 'Nip & Punch' challenge...and with all the embossing (Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folders), I'm also entering this for the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Under Pressure' challenge. The sentiment is from the Clare Curd Signature Range set (by Papermania), and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Sketch Saturday's Birthday Challenge

Sketch Saturday is celebrating it's first birthday this week - 'Happy Birthday' to all of the fab Design Team...I've got so much inspiration from your fab cards! I've used the sketch for yet another Christmas card, with 'Wishes for Kisses' by Penny Black as my main image. The papers and sentiment are from the 'Festive' collection by My Mind's Eye. I used my 'Swiss Dots' folder on the plain green card, threaded the sentiment on to ribbon from Poppicrafts...and a few pieces of card candy by Craftwork Cards.

Handbag Charm

I'm sure most of you know by now, I'm a challenge addict...I find them a great inspiration for my card-making. I also dabble with jewellery making...and whilst browsing various websites yesterday, came across a Jewellery Challenge blog...I really don't know why I hadn't thought to look for one before! lol

Their current challenge uses this photo as inspiration:


I've created a handbag charm, and used both the colours, and the butterfly as inspiration. I've attached a mixture of amber and brown coloured glass beads to a chain using headpins, and finished it off with a butterfly charm at the bottom.


I really enjoy beading...I find it really relaxing...and I must try to find more time to do it. I'll definitely be joining in with this challenge again!

Still Feeling Festive...

Sorry, but it's another Christmas card...this is my third this week...and I've got another lined up for tomorrow! This one uses the fab sketch form the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. I've used 'Snowy', combined with paper by DCWV ('Text' stack), the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder, and a sentiment stamp by Three Bugs in a Rug. In place of the three flowers on the sketch, I've used a few snowflakes cut using one of the Cuttlebug 'Winter' dies, and I couldn't resist adding a few pieces of card candy.

Sketch & Stash meets Allsorts

I've used a couple of new things on this card, made with the fab Sketch & Stash Challenge sketch...the rosebuds in the centre of the flowers (from Hobbycraft), and the image is a Penny Black stickeroo...I bought a sheet of these a while ago (to make an order go over the minimum order value), but this is the first time I've used one. I've used swirly paper (from the 'Two Scoops' pad by BasicGrey), and my Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder...so I'm also entering this card for this week's Allsorts Challenge where the theme is 'Curly Swirly'. The pink flowers and the ribbon are from Poppicrafts, the lace is from Hobbycraft, and yes...there's yet more Craftwork Cards card candy! lol

ETA - I'm getting lots of lovely compliments on my colouring on this image...if only I could watercolour that well...the stickeroos are already coloured...so I'm afraid I can't take the credit! lol

ABC Challenge - Q is for...

Over on the ABC Challenge we've arrived at the letter Q...which is for 'Quilted'.

Now, I've taken the theme quite literally...and I will admit to Goggling 'patchwork quilt patterns' whilst deciding what to do this week! lol I found a fairly simple pattern, and cheated a little, by using squares of paper (rather than triangles). I used two pretty floral design papers...which I think may be by K&Co...I'm afraid I don't know the names, as they were pieces sent to me in a swap...which I thought fitted with the 'country cottage' feel of a patchwork quilt. I then added zig-zag faux stitching around all of the edges. As I wanted the quilting to be the main feature of this card, I've added only a simple flower, made from scraps of the same papers cut using some of the 'Blossom' Nesties, cutting down to the centre to make the 'petals', and then I inked around the edges for definition...and as a hangover to last week's challenge, I've attached it with a Papermania pearl brad.

As always, for more inspiration, don't forget to check out the other DT members fab creations.

If you were one of the many entrants to last week's 'P is for Pearls' challenge, don't forget to check back later to see if you've been chosen by Denise from Whimsy Stamps, as the lucky winner of that cute monkey stamp.

Triple Challenge Henry

Yes...it's Henry...again...but this time I've used him on a boys card. I've combined the fab Sunday Sketch & Stamp sketch, with the 'Brown & Blue' colour combo of the Whiff of Joy Challenge...and as it's definitely a card for a boy...I'm also entering this card for the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Let's hear it for the boys' challenge. I've combined Henry with papers by Prima Marketing...they're double sided, and I've used both sides of two sheets...embossing the plain blue piece with the 'Swiss Dots' folder. As it's a card for aa boy, I've stuck to the sketch...no extra embellishments...just a few pieces of card candy at the bottom.

Truly Scrumptious meets Cute Card Thursday

I've made a 'diamond fold' card for the Truly Scrumptious 'Multi fold' challenge...and as I always think these look like crackers, have made a Christmas card...see I told you that there would be some more this week! lol I've used a cute little Penny Black image called 'Lamb & Mistletoe', and Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder on white card. I added some adhesive gems to the centres of some of the snowflakes, and a touch of glitter to the sheep's hat for the 'Bling' challenge over on Cute Card Thursday.


There's a fab tutorial for this shape of card on You Tube...I love it when her doorbell rings! lol