Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Easter Eggstravaganza

It's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...and this week the theme is:

'Easter Eggstravaganza'

We have a brand new sponsor for this challenge:

With this fabulous prize:

I've used a fairly new (to me) stamp on my card called 'Spring Chick', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers, the sentiment stamp is also by Penny Black, the flowers are from WIld Orchid Crafts, and the brads are BasicGrey.

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

• Anything Goes - Easter
• Crafty Ann's - Spring into Spring
• Crafty Catz - Spring is in the Air
• Creative Stamp Friends - Spring
• Dream Valley - Easter
• Fairy Fun Fridays - Spring Fling 
• Moving Along with the Times - Easter Wishes
• Paper Sundaes - Photo Inspiration
• Papercraft Star - Spring
• Simply Create Too - Easter
• Sweet Stamps - Easter
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - F is for...

It's my turn to host the ABC Christmas Challenge this week...and I've picked a nice easy theme this time:

'F is for Furry and/or Feathered Friends'

Basically...feature an animal or bird on your Christmas project :0)

We have two amazing sponsors for this challenge:

Firstly, we welcome a brand new sponsor to our challenge:

Lili of the Valley

The prize from Lili of the Valley is a £10 gift voucher to spend in their online store!

Our second sponsor is one of our regulars:

Bugaboo Stamps

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

I got a bit carried away, and made two cards this week...the first one uses 'Christmas Bunnies - Robin' by Lili of the Valley. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added some Diamond Stickles to the snow and the fur trim on the bunny's hat. The sparkly papers are from the 'Believe' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Cuttlebug and Marianne Designs dies, and the buttons are from a pack from the 'Neighbourwood' collection.

Challenges for this card:

• Card Makin' Mamas - Buttons
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Buttons
• Friday Sketch - Sketch
• Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Die cuts-Free-Glitter) 
• Shopping Our Stash - Buttons and/or Bows
• Stamptacular Sunday - Cute as a Button (I've used 2 buttons)

The image on my second card is 'Winter Birds - Snowman' by Bugaboo Stamps, and is again coloured using watercolour pencils with Diamond Stickles on the snow. I used more My Mind's Eye papers...this time from the 'Countdown to Christmas' pad...doodling borders using a black gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die...then coated with more Stickles. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Three Bugs in a Rug, the glittery brads are by American Crafts, and the gingham ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Christmas Animals
• Crimbo Crackers - Cute
• Gem of a Challenge - Sketch
• Incy Wincy - Things with Wings
• Kaboodles Doodles - Cute
• Pink Elephant - Get Krafty

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Child's Card with Animals

We have a brand new challenge starting over at the Cuttlebug Spot today...the theme is:

'A Child's Card featuring an Animal'

I've used a couple of little cheeky monkeys on my card....they're a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller called 'Birthday Monkeys'. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the balloons. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' folders for the embossing. The sentiment staamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• 2 Sisters - Spots & Dots
• Birthday Sundaes - Animals
• Challenge Up Your Life - Zoo Animals
• Crazy Challenge - Go Green
• Cute Card Thursday - Happy Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp - Bit 'O Green
• Squiggles & Giggles - Birthday Bash
• Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch with a Spin 
• Totally Papercrafts - For a Male
• Whimsy - Embossing

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.

Aqua Sundial

I didn't think I was going to enter this week's Less is More Challenge...masking really isn't my thing...I  usually find it really fiddly cutting out the masks...but thought I'd have a go anyway, and chose an image that wouldn't be too tricky to cut out. I stamped my Penny Black 'Sundial' stamp first, then overstamped my Hero Arts 'Music Background' stamp in 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, once I'd masked it off. I used 'Tumbled Glass' Distress Ink and silver and green Cosmmic Shimmer pigments to colour the flower (although the shimmer doesn't show up too well in the photo). I blended a little more of the 'Pumice Stone' ink around the edges, then added some adhesive pearls (from Wild Orchid Crafts) before matting it on to some aqua coloured card.

Challenges for this card:

• Do You Stack Up - Favourite Colour (Mine's aqua blue)
• Less is More - Masking
• Ribbon Girls - Aqua & White (I used some of the beige from the photo inspiration too)
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Handmade Backgrounds

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Doilies

This week it's Sonia's turn to set the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and she has chosen:

'Doilies'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

With a prize of three digis of the winner's choice from the Stamping Boutique!

I've used some both new and neglected goodies on this card...the image stamp...'Little Girls - Swing Time' by Lili of the Valley...hadn't seen ink in almost a year...and the papers (My Mind's Eye 'So Sophie - Graceful'), the little sentiment stamp (from the 'Mini Messages' set by Hero Arts) and the doily (from a local cook shop) are all new. I distressed all of the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers were cut using my 'Tattered Florals' die.

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

• Digi Doodles - People
• Dutch Dare - Dots & Stripes
• My Time to Craft - Doilies & Flowers
• Paper Sundaes - Feminine Flair
• Papertake Weekly - Mum's or Girly
• Scrapbook Sisters - Sympathy/Thinking of You

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - This, That & the Other

We have a nice & easy challenge for you this week over at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where our theme is:

'This, That & the Other'

(In other words...Anything Goes!)

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The prize is this gorgeous Penny Black stamp:

I've used a new stamp on my card...it's called 'Garden Visit'...and I thought that this little sentiment stamp (from the 'Mini Messages' set by Hero Arts) went perfectly with it. The sparkly papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...I added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

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

It's a wrap!

I got my beads out last weekend, and made another 'wrap' bracelet...although this one only goes around the wrist once.

I used Indian Agate beads with a few fancy silver beads placed at random (all 8mm). The cord is brown waxed linen, and the pretty button came from a seller on ebay. Here's what it looks like on:

After a really foggy start here in London, it's turned into a beautiful day...but I've woken up with a stinking cold and a sore throat, so I won't be venturing far....even though it is my day off! Oh well, hope you're all enjoying the same lovely weather wherever you are!

ABC Christmas Challenge - E is for...

I have another Christmas card for you today...this is for our current ABC Christmas Challenge, where the theme is:

'E is for Evergreen'

Feature some traditional Christmas foliage...think trees, holly & mistletoe.

We have two wonderful sponsor's for this challenge:

Simon Says Stamp

Prize is a $15  voucher to spend in the Simon Says Stamp store

and

In2Stamps

Prize is a 10 Euro voucher to spend at In2Stamps

After last week's CAS card, I've gone for cute this time...using a Penny Black image from the 'Holly-Jolly' set, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding some 'Diamond' Stickles to the baubles. The glittery papers are from the 'Believe' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

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

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Glitter
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

Neutral Noel

I have another neutral card using my 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink today...I hadn't realised how pretty 'beige' could be until I used this ink on this card last week. I stamped the tree stamp (from the 'North Country' set by Prima) in Versamark, then eat embossed it in white, before blending the 'Pumice Stone' ink over the top. I matted it on to white, and then kraft card, and added a sentiment (from the 'Bubble Tree' set by Woodware) stamped in Memento 'Rich Cocoa' ink.

Challenges for this card:

• Crazy Challenge - No Designer Papers
• Jingle Belles - Neutral Noel (I was inspired by the colour scheme, and gorgeous tree & snowflake cushions in the photo)
• Lollipop - White with a Splash of Colour

I'll be back with another Christmas card tomorrow for our current ABC Christmas Challenge.

Bun Buns

I have another Easter card to share today...using a stamp I bought in the post-Christmas sales...called 'Bun Buns' (by Penny Black). I coloured the bunnies in pastel colours to match the 'Hippity Hoppity' papers (by We R Memory Keepers)...and cut out a few flowers from one of the papers to act as embellishments.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Sisters - Spring colours
• Allsorts - Say it with flowers 
• Crazy4Challenges - Spring
• Digi Doodles - Animals
• Penny Black And More @ Allsorts - Springtime
• Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch

Pile It On! Challenge - St. Patrick's Day and/or Shades of Green

This week's Pile It On! Challenge theme is:

'St. Patrick's Day and/or Shades of Green'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The prize is a $15 voucher to spend in the wonderful Simon Says Stamp store!

I've used a digi image from Hambo Stamps on my card...he's called 'Monster Sax'...coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are all BasicGrey...from the 'Marjolaine' and 'Boxer' pads. I distressed all of the edges using 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, and my distressing tool...then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The stars were cut using my Nesties, and the sentiment stamp is by Studio G.

Here are the challenges I've Piled On:

• Pile It On! - Shades of Green/St Patrick's Day
• Birthday Sundaes - Green Birthday
• C.R.A.F.T. - Inspired by a Song ('Monster' by Automatic)
• Crafty Calendar - Spring Clean (I've had some of these papers for years! lol)
• Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Mainly Green
• Do You Stack Up? - Go Green
• Inky Impressions - Use Green
• Just Some Lines - Spring Clean (I've had this image, and both paper pads for well over a year)
• Love to Create - Monochrome
• Phindy's Place - Green
• Prairie Fairy - Distress It
• Raise the Bar - Go Green
• Sweet Stampin' - Layers
• Totally Papercrafts - My Favourite Things (Distressing, Embossing, BG papers, Nesties)  

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - No Image, Just Words

It's Linda's turn to choose the theme of this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, which is:

'No Images, Just Words'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

The prize is a $10 voucher to spend in the Digi Doodle store.

I've gone for a CAS style card...using a die cut flower (cut using my 'Tattered Florals' dies) as the focal point. I used Core'dinations card (in a couple of the Distress Ink shades), embossing them with my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folders, then sanding over the surface to reveal the core. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts, the blingy brad is from Craft Obsessions, and the lilac pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

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

• Kaboodles Doodles - Flowers
• Shopping Our Stash - Embossing

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - The Young Ones

Woo-hoo...it's Saturday! Which means it's time for a brand new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where this week our theme is:

'The Young Ones'

(Cards for children)

 Our sponsor for this challenge is:

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

I've used 'Birthday Dog' on my card...I love using him on boy's cards. I kept everything really simple, just adding some strips of spotty papers (from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers), and a sentiment (from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp) stamped on a star cut using one of my Nesties.

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

• Anything Goes - Boys to Men
• Aud Sentiments - Happy Birthday
• Birthday Sundaes - Birthday Sentiments
• Creative Craft - Boys
• For Fun - Cats or Dogs
• Midnight Madness - March Sketch

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

Bunny Bear

I've had this little cutie ('Kiki - Honey Bunny' by Pollycraft) coloured for a couple of weeks...so when I found myself with a little crafting time on my hands yesterday, I made her into a card. I used some papers from a Heidi Grace pad...distressing the edges, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts, and I cut the 'eggs' using a couple of my oval Nesties.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafter's Companion - Spring 
• My Mum's Craft Shop - Spring Colours
• Pink Elephant - Layers
• Pollycraft - Spring
• Stampavie & More - Spring/Easter
• Totally Stampalicious - Spring
• Wags 'n Whiskers - Spring

ABC Christmas Challenge - E is for...

We have a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge for you today...Carissa is the host, and the theme is:

'E is for Evergreen'

Feature some traditional Christmas foliage...think trees, holly & mistletoe.

We have two wonderful sponsor's for this challenge:

Simon Says Stamp

Prize is a $15  voucher to spend in the Simon Says Stamp store

and

In2Stamps

Prize is a 10 Euro voucher to spend at In2Stamps

I decided to go with trees as my 'evergreen'...using a gorgeous Penny Plack stamp called 'Before the Snow'. I stamped it using 'Forest Moss' Distress Ink...to get the effect of the tree in the distance...I simply re-stamped the image withour re-inking it first. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Bubble Tree' set by Woodware, and I doodled a border using a black gel pen.

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

• Christmas Inspirations - No Patterned Papers 
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Lollipop Crafts - Clean & Simple
• Our Creative Corner - Inspired by a Song ('O Christmas Tree') 
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Mother's Day with Stitching

We have a brand new Cuttlebug Spot Challenge starting today....and the theme is:

'Mother's Day with Stitching'

(Real or faux)

I love faux stitching...especially when I've distressed the edges of the papers I'm using...as it makes them kind of look like fabric. To get it to look as 'real' as possible, I use a little tool (my beloved CutterBee Bug) to pierce holes in the papers, before I draw on the 'stitching', with either a white or a black gel pen. I've used a Lili of the Valley image on my card....he's called 'Teddy - Big Bouquet'...for obvious reasons! I coloured him using watercolour pencils, to match the floral BasicGrey 'Hello Luscious' papers I've used. I embossed the plainest paper using my Cuttlebug 'Kassie's Brocade' folder, and cut a couple of flowers from some scraps of the papers using my 'Tattered Florals' die. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments' set by Hero Arts, and the sparkly brad is by American Crafts.

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

• BasicGrey - Photo Inspiration (Papers are from the 'Hello Luscious' pad)
• CES - Flower Frenzy
• C.R.A.F.T. - Mother's Day
• Craft Your Days Away - Mother's Day
• Dream Valley - Mother's Day
• Oldie but a Goodie - Mum's the Word (I've had this stamp for at least 18 months...really should use him more!)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge.