PBSC September - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spots and/or Stripes')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Spots and/or Stripes'

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I picked an image with both spots and stripes on from the 'Cheerful Critters' set, of course by Penny Black. I stamped it ontowatercolour paper, added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with some spotty and stripey papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted all the layers onto some teal card before adding it to a kraft card blank.

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

• Allsorts - Birthdays
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It!
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stamp It!

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

Guest Designer - C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

Today, I'm excited to be sharing a Guest Designer project for the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge, where the theme this fortnight is:

'Back to School!'

The prize for the lucky winner is three digi images from Colour of Love.

I'm a music teacher (teaching one to one instrumental lessons), so I've decorated myself a notebook (bought from Hobbycraft many years ago in a post-Christmas sale for 50p!) to keep myself organised in the term ahead! I picked a cute Penny Black image (called 'Literally Giant!'), for the front of the book, stamping it onto watercolour paper, and colouring it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

I decorated the back in a mirror image of the front, but used a musical Penny Black stamp this time called 'Suspenseful Music':

Here's a better view of the back:

For more inspiration from the fabulous C.R.A.F.T. Challenge Design Team, please pop over to their blog. Thanks so much for letting me join you for this challenge!

Hoppy Birthday!

Today's card features a long neglected Penny Black stamp called 'Leap for Joy!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. For the background, I took strips of paper, from the Craft Consortium 'Over the Rainbow' pad, and embossed them using a Sizzix embossing folder that I picked up from a charity shop recently. I distressed the edges a little, then lightly sanded over the raised areas to reveal the white core before adding them to a kraft card blank. I cut a matching scalloped mat using anotheer Nestie, then added that to the card along with a sentiment made using stamps from the 'Birthday Buddies' set by Paper Smooches...I masked off the 'A' in 'Happy' before stamping then added an 'O' using a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Birthdays
• Alphabet Challenge - J is for Jump
• Neglected Stuff - Anything Goes (The frog stamp was last used in March 2024)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It!
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

September Desk Calendar

As it's the first day of a brand new month, I'm sharing my desk calendar page for September. I'm a music teacher (teaching one to one woodwind lessons) and it's back to work this week, so I picked a flute playing cat from the Penny Black 'Jazzy Cats' set. I stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut it out. For the background, I used snippets of papers from the 'Vintage Dreams' pad by Craft Sensations. I stamped the cat again onto the background...so that he didn't lose his whiskers, then added some extra notes using a stamp from the 'Critter Concert' set by Lawn Fawn. I distressed the edges, then matted it onto a snippet of kraft card before adding it to my calendar.

Challenges for this calendar:

• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

P P Pick Up a Penguin (or Two!)

I have a pair of Christmas cards to share today...made using a pair of Molly Blooms penguin stamps that I picked up from a charity shop last week. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using stamps from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then cut them out using Nesties. I paired them with spotty papers from the 'Christmas Basics' pad by Dovecraft...distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen.

'Mini Percy with Star Banner'

'Dean' (There's a larger version of this stamp called 'Torvill' - ha ha!)

Challenges for these cards:

• Everybody Art - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Birthday Mice

Today's cards feature some Penny Black mice stamps from the 'It's Your Day!' set. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, cut into rectangles using a stitched die from a set (originally from The Works) that I picked up in a charity shop earlier this week, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I added sentiments using stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then mounted them onto kraft card blanks.

Challenges for these cards:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (The card on the left with balloon & toadstool)
• As You Like It - Favourite Colouring Medium (Watercolour pencils - they're portable, quick and easy to use...no mess!)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Four-legged Friends
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Animals

Snowflake Bauble

Today's card features some items I picked up from a charity shop recently...a die set that was not in its original packaging, but which Google tells me is called 'Snowflake Bauble' by Gemini, and a 3D embossing folder by Craft Tonic called 'Winter's Veil - Baroque Snowflake'. I started by cutting the solid bauble shape from a snippet of silver mirror card, then used the snowflake part to cut out its centre. I cut a second solid bauble from a snippet of teal card, then added a heat embossed sentiment using one of the sentiments from the 'Winter Blessings' set by Crafter's Companion and some metallic silver embossing powder from WOW. I layered the silver snowflake bauble over the top, then added a 'string' using a sliver of silver mirror card. For the background, I used the embossing folder to emboss a snippet of aqua card, matted that onto some more silver mirror card before adding the bauble on top and placing it all onto a white A5 card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Something Beginning with B (Bauble)
• Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Dandelion Dreams

Today's card features a stamp from a set by Sentimentally Yours called 'Dandelion Dreams', which I picked up in a charity shop a couple of days ago. I stamped it onto a snippet of navy card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using silver embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, embossing it in silver to match. I matted the navy panel onto a snippet of silver mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - CAS (Optional 'Flowers')
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Sparkles Forum - CAS
• We Love Stamping - Flowers

Holly Spray

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one features a Woodware stamp called 'Holly Spray'. I stamped it onto a snippet of black card, along with a sentiment using a stamp from another Woodware set called 'Robin Stack', using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it in gold. I used Cosmic Shimmers pigments mixed with a little water to watercolour the image, then matted it onto some gold mirror card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Something Beginning with B (Berries)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafts Galore Emcore - Anything Goes

Christmas Robin

Today's card features a Christmas Robin stamp by Inca Stamps, which I received for my birthday earlier this month. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Holly Spray' set by Woodware Stamps, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Christmas Basics' pad by Dovecraft...distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - I Spy Something Beginning with B (Bird)
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Stitch It
• Stamping Sensations - Birds, Bees & Butterflies

Poinsettia Panel

I have a Christmas card to share today, which features a stamp that I picked up in a charity shop last week. The stamp is called 'Poinsettia Panel' by Stamps by Chloe, and I stamped it onto a snippet of black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. I used Cosmic Shimmers pigments mixed with a little water to watercolour the image. I used a Creative Expressions die to cut the sentiment from a snippet of gold mirror card, then added it on top. I matted the panel onto another snippet of gold mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Peace on Earth - Anything Christmas Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• We Love Stamping - Flowers

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Optional 'Embossing')...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Embossing'

(Heat or Dry)

We're currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

This time, I used heat embossing...and stamped my 'Blossom Branch' stamp onto some kraft card using Versamark ink. I heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment (using a stamp from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box), and a couple of little butterflies (using stamps from the Penny Black 'Wonderful Day' set), heat embossing in gold to match. I used Cosmic Shimmers to watercolour the butterflies, then matted the panel onto some gold mirror card, distressing all of the edges.

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

• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls - Birthday
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Use Kraft Card
• Stamping Sensations - Birds, Bees & Butterflies
• We Love Stamping - Flowers

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - P, Q & R are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Lynda is the host, and the themes are:

'P is for Pastels'

'Q is for Quick'

&

'R is for Robins'

There are some lovely Newton's Nook goodies for the lucky winner:

For my 'P is for Pastels' card, I used a Forever Friends bear and snowman stamp. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad from Crafter's Companion, and the 'Snowscape' pad from Woodware (the green one). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

For my 'Quick is for Quick' card, I used a Christmas tree stamp from Stamps by Chloe called 'Snowflake Tree' that I picked up in a charity shop earlier this week. I stamped it directly onto a kraft card blank, along with the sentiment that came with it, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it all using white embossing powder.

It was so quick to do that I made a second matching card!

Finally, for my 'R is for Robins' card, I used a cute Woodware stamp called 'Robin Stack'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured the image using watercolour pencils. I matted it onto red card, distressing the edges, then added it toa white DL card blank.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - Animals (Third card only)
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Creative Moments - Embossing (Second card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Include a Tree (Second card only)
• Stamping Sensations - Birds, Bees & Butterflies (Third card only)

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

Surprise!

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp that I got for my birthday recently called 'Surprise!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a stamp from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from a pad by Violet Studio...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Animals
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Birthday
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Quite Quirky

Present Pile

I have a Christmas card to share today, featuring an old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Present Pile'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from an unnamed pad from The Works, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Animals
• As You Like It - Favourite Season (Winter...I much prefer cold weather to hot, and Christmas cards are my favourite type of card to make)
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Birthday Balloons

Today's card features one of the critters from the 'Hello Friend' set by Penny Black. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, and also onto the piece of cloudy sky paper (from the 'Let's Fly Away' (magazine freebie) pad). I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut him and his balloons out. I didn't need to be too careful here, as all of his whiskers, wispy fur, and balloon strings would show from the stamping on the background once I'd added him on top. The 'grass' is a snippet of paper from the 'Over the Rainbow' pad by Craft Consortium, cut using a Die-namics die leftover from making this calendar page, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. I layered it all up, then matted it onto a snippet of red card before adding it to an A5 card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Animals
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Happy Birthday

Royal Mail

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp that I picked up in a charity shop last week, called 'Royal Mail'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from an old Lili of the Valley set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I cut it out using one of my circle Nesties, then cut a mat using the matching scalloped circle Nestie. The background papers are a mixture from the 'Christmas Basics' pad by Dovecraft (the spotty & floral ones), and 'the Love Lives Here' pad by Raspberry Road Designs (the stripey one). I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen, then matted it all onto some more red card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Animals
• Crafter's Cafe - Christmas in July
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

PBSC August - Anything Goes (Optional 'Embossing')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Embossing'

(Heat or Dry)

We are currently without a sponsor, so this challenge is just for fun.

I used one of the images from the 'Critter Party' set, stamping it onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then colouring it using watercolour pencils. I used one of my circle Nesties to cut out the image, then used the matching scalloped circle die to cut a mat from some aqua card. For the background, I cut a piece of watercolour effect paper from the 'Pastel Watercolours' pad from The Works into four squares, then used my Craft Concepts 'Cupcakes' embossing folder to emboss it. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I matted the embossed panels onto a piece of aqua card, then added the image on top.

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

• Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Goes (Optional 'Birthday') 
• I Spy with My Little Eye - Some to Celebrate
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

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

August Desk Calendar

It's the first day of a brand new month, so today I'm sharing my desk calendar page for August. I stamped three little pups from the 'Man's Best Friend' set by Penny Black onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured them using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut them out. I made a simple background from snippets of paper from a pad called 'Let's Fly Away' (magazine freebie) and 'Love Lies Here' by Raspberry Road. I used one of my 'Stitched Hillside Borders' dies (from Lawn Fawn) to cut the green hills, then distressed the edges before layering it up and adding it to the calendar.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Favourite Cats or Dogs? (Dogs for me, as we had several golden retrievers when I was growing up)
• Krafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes