Tree Mobile

Yet more new goodies used on today's card...and another Christmas creation...sorry! I've used another of the cute stamps from the new 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black...love this hedgie speeding along with his tree & presents! The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' and 'I Believe' pads by My Mind's Eye, and the little brads are BasicGrey.

Challenges for this card:

• Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas in August
• Cutie Pie - Spots & Stripes
• Just Some Lines - Lots of Layers
• Love to Create - Sparkle
• Papertake Weekly - Spots & Stripes
• Seems a Little Sketchy - Sketch 
• Simon Says Stamp - Animal Antics
• The Stamping Boutique - Show Me the Presents

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for...

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

'P is for Paper Piecing'

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

Prize - a $20 gift certificate to spend at the Simon Says Stamp Store!

and

Prize - a £10 gift voucher to spend at the Ribbon Reel!

I used more new goodies on my card...the adorable image and sentiment stamps are from the 'Joy to the World' set by Penny Black. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then paper pieced the scarves, hat and earmuffs using paper from the 'Blitzen' pad by Bo Bunny. I used the same papers on the rest of my card...distressing the edges and adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The blue & white twine is by Dovecraft, and the little red brads are by BasicGrey.

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Forever Friends (Fortnightly) - Something New (The stamp was a birthday present a few days ago)
• No Matter Which - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Stamp & Create - Stitch It Up (My stitching's faux)

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

A Bright Tomorrow

I used more Birthday goodies on this card...all but one stamp from the 'A Bright Tomorrow' set by Penny Black I stamped them on to navy card using Perfect Medium, then dusted 'Soft Gold' Cosmic Shimmer pigment over the top...I also did this around the edges of all the pieces.

Challenges for this card:

• Joanna Sheen - Try Something New (the stamping technique) 
• My Time to Craft - Christmas in August
• Stamping with the Dragon - Christmas in August

Garden Bouquet

I've been playing with some more of the goodies I got for my birthday...'Garden Bouquet' stamp by Hero Arts and 'Blooming Season' embossing folder by Craft Concepts. I stamped the image using the watercolour technique and Distress Inks, then cut it out using some of my Nesties. I added a scalloped border along the edge of the embossed panel using my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch, a couple of Penny Black sentiments and some adhesive pearls.

Challenges for this card:

• CAS-ual Fridays - Square Cards 
• Corrosive - They Say it's Your Birthday
• Crazy4Challenges - White on White
• Dream Valley - Die Cuts & Punches
• Fab 'n' Funky - Pearls or Rhinestones
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favourite Technique (Watercolour stamping)
• Wags 'n Whiskers - Birthdays

Fur & Feathers

Before I tell you about today's card, I'd just like to say thank you to my lovely crafty buddies for the gorgeous cards (and sweet little crafty gifts) I received for my birthday a couple of days ago -they were very much apprecieated :0)

I had a little play yesterday afternoon with some of the crafty goodies I got for my birthday...I used stamps from a couple of the new Penny Black Christmas stamp sets (images are from 'Joy to the World' and the sentiment is from 'A Bright Tomorrow') on this card...a simple one layer Christmas card coloured the kitty and robins using watercolour pencils, and added some Stickles to the icy ground.

Challenges for this card: 

• Less Is More - One Layer Card with Fur or Feathers
• Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Whiskers and/or Wings

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Gold, Silver or Bronze

This week it's my turn to choose the theme for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and inspired by the Olympic Games, I went for:

'Gold, Silver or Bronze'

Our sponsor this week is:

The prize is a $10 voucher to spend in the Digi Doodles store!

With all the success that Team GB have been having, I had to go for gold...and took my inspiration from all of the gold post boxes that have been springing up across the country in honour of the British Olympic Champions, giving this adorable Lili of the Valley puppy (called 'Puppy Post') a golden post box to post his Christmas cards. Not sure if they'll still be gold at Christmas...but you can find out where they are on this website...I've already spotted a couple near where I live...surrounded by people having their photos taken standing next to them! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and 'Soft Gold' Cosmic Shimmer pigment for the post box, then added Flowersoft for snow. I kept the rest of the card really simple, using my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and Sizzix 'Snowglobe' folders to emboss some red card, matting everything on gold mirror card. I cut the snowflakes using Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies.

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

• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Do You Stack Up - Four Legged Friends
• Great Impressions - Animals
• My Mum's Craft Shop - Christmas in August
• Simon Says Stamp - Bingo (Die cut - Free - Glitter)
• The Stamp Man - Precious Metals

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge - Anything Goes

This week at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long our challenge theme is a nice easy one:

'Anything Goes'

There isn't a sponsor for this challenge, but the winner will receive a package of 6x6 papers and ribbon.

I've made an ultra clean and simple card, using a stamp & die set called 'Holiday Cheer' by Hero Arts and Sizzix. The reindeers were colured with watercolour pencils, then popped up on 3D foam...not mmuch esle to say!

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

• Crafty Sentiments - Clean & Simple
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Less Is More - Blue & Green 
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge, and this time Samantha is the host, with a theme of:

'P is for Paper Piecing'

We have two wonderful sponsors for this challenge:

Prize - a $20 gift certificate to spend at the Simon Says Stamp Store!

and

Prize - a £10 gift voucher to spend at the Ribbon Reel!

I've used an adorable Lili of the Valley image called 'Present Pile', and paper pieced little James' hat and gifts with papers from the My Mind's Eye 'Colourful Christmas' collection. I used the same papers on my card...doodling borders around the edges, and added a few adhesive pearls, and a Lili of the Valley sentiment.

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

• Challenge Up Your Life - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Teddy Bears with Layers
• Gem of a Challenge - Sketch
• Lili of the Valley - Christmas in July
• Ready Teddy Go - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and a special guest designer, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Friends

This fortnight's Oldie but a Goodie Challenge is all about:

'Friends'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Bugaboo Stamps

and the fabulous prize:

I've an adorable Bugaboo Stamps image called 'Winter Birds - Friend', which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some Stickles to the snow. The sparkly papers are all by My Mind's Eye, from the 'Countdown to Christmas' and 'I Believe' pads. I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Hello Friend' set by Penny Black, and the snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies, then coated with more Stitckles. Everything I've used on my card...with the exception of the digi image...is well over 6 months old.

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

• CCEE Stampers - Use Red
• Crafter's Companion - Best Friends
• Lollipop Crafts - Monochrome
• Totally Papercrafts - Monochrome

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Blue & Green Clusters

A CAS card from me today for Less Is More's 'Blue & Green' challenge...my favourite colours! I started by blending 'Stormy Sky' and 'Bundled Sage' Distress Inks on a piece of card, then stamped my 'Agapanthus Clusters' stamp (by Stampendous) using the watercolour technique in 'Faded Jeans' and 'Forest Moss' a few times over the top. The little dragonfly brad is by Dovecraft, and the sentiment is from the 'Wonderful' set by Penny Black.

Challenges for this card:

• Anything Goes - Not Square 
• Creative Inspirations - In the Garden
• Cute Card Thursday - Clean & Simple
• Less Is More - Blue & Green

Pile It On! Challenge - Add Some Metal

This week at Pile It On! our challenge theme is:

'Add Some Metal'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

 

 The prize is a $10 voucher to spend in the Stitchy Stamps Store!

The DT were all given Stitchy Stamps images to play with for this challenge...mine is called 'Resting on a Cloud', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The brightly coloured papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp, the yellow twine is by October Afternoon, and the swirly heart charm is from Ebay.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Add Some Metal
• 2 Sisters - Anything Goes
• Clearly Inspired - Things with Wings
• Crafty Mess - Birds
• Crafty Ribbons - Spots & Dots
• Creative Craft - Summertime
• Moving Along with the Times - Summer
• Papercrafting Journey - Anything Goes
• PaperPlay - Layer It Up
• Paper Playtime - Anything Goes
• Scrapbook Sisters - Things with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Use a Sentiment
• Simply Create Too - Anything Goes
• Stamping Boutique - Anything Goes
• Stamping with the Dragon - Summer Colours

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Gifts

As this is the first Saturday of the month, this is my second post of the day...please scroll down for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge DT card.

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

'Gifts'

Either feature a gift on your project, or make a gift for someone.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Prize from Crafter's Companion - £10 gift voucher!

I went with an image featuring a gift on my card...it's called 'Gift Wrapped' by Lili of the Valley...so cute! The papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...think I must still be in 'Bright & Cheerful' mode from last week's challenge! I cut a couple of flowers from the papers using my Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals' die, and added a sentiment from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black.

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

• Do You Stack Up - Polkadots
• Kaboodles Doodles - Birthday
• Scrapbook Sisters - Things with Wings

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Double the Trouble!

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...woo-hoo! But before I tell you about that, I have a winner to announce! It was lovely to have so many of you hopping on our blog hop bus last month...and I had a little 'mystery candy' package to give away to one of the participants...I used Random.Org to select the winner:

which is...Susan Mason! 

Congratulations Susan...please email me with your full postal address so that I can get your goodies in the post to you :0)

Ok, so back to this month's challenge...the theme is:

'Double the Trouble'

(Use two Penny Black image stamps on your projects)

I'm sure we have lots of fabulous prizes from our wonderful sponsors...but at the time of writing this, I'm not sure exactly what...so I'll edit this post when I find out.

I used a couple of hedgie stamps on my card...from the 'Wonderful' and 'Critter Party' sets...which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding Glossy Accents to the little one's balloon. The sparkly papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• Delightful - Birthday
• Hooked On Craft - Let's Celebrate

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Things in Threes

This week at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, we want to see:

'Things in Threes'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

There will be three lucky winners, each receiving one image from the Digi Doodle Shop!

The DT were given some Digi Doodles images to use for this challenge, and these cuties are called 'Box of Kittens'. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then paired it with some papers from the 'I 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 spaarkly brads are by American Crafts. My 'things in threes' are the brads, and three different papers.

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

• 2 Sisters - Christmas in July (with optional sketch)
• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Brads
• Gem of a Challenge - Kraft at Christmas
• Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.

ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for...

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

'O is for Open It Up'

Also decorate the inside of your card

We have two amazing sponsors for this challenge:

Bugaboo Stamps

 The fabulous Bugaboo Stamps prize is:

and

The Ribbon Girls

The awesome prize from the Ribbon Girls is:

I've made a gatefold card this time, using a couple of snowman images, that I though worked well together, despite the fact that they're by different stamp companies. On the outside, I've used a very old Penny Black image called (it took me several hours worth of Googling to find this out!) 'No Peekin' Snowman'. The paper is from the 'I Believe' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.The sentiment is from a Christmas set by Lili of the Valley, the snowflakes are a mixture of Marianne Designs & Cuttlebug dies, and the pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

And on the inside, it's 'Homespun Hearts Snowy' by High Hopes Stamps. The paper is the same, and the layout is similar, with another Lili of the Valley sentiment on one of the side panels, and space to add my own message on the other.

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

• Christmas Crafting - 2 or More Folds
• C.R.A.F.T. - Stitching 
• Critter Sketch - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Christmas in July
• Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July
• Totally Gorjuss - Pearls

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