Wednesday 31 July 2013

ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for...

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

'O is for - O Christmas Tree'
Feature a Christmas tree on your card...simples ;0)

We are sponsored for this challenge by Bugaboo Stamps:

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

This time, I've used a Lili of the Valley image called 'Decorating the Tree', which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding some sparkle with some Stickles. I used paper (covered in Christmas trees!) from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye, then simply tied a large bow using some ribbon from my stash.


I'm also entering this card into the following challenges: 
For more inspiration from mylovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Sunday 28 July 2013

Pile It On! Challenge - Anything Goes

This week at Pile It On! our challenge theme is an easy peasy one:

'Anything Goes!'
That's right, make anything you like...but don't forget to pile on the challenges!

Our sponsor for this challenge is Hambo Stamps:
Prize - 5 digis from Hambo Stamps!

The image I've used is 'Bird Pants' by Hambo Stamps...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. For the background, I embossed plain blue and brown card using my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Plaid' folders. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.


Here are the challenges I've piled on:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge blog.
 

Friday 26 July 2013

Shine On!

I have something summery to show you today...I've used an Anya image from the 'Rain, Snow, Shine' set by Greeting Farm...bet you can't guess which one she is! I coloured her using watercolour pencils, then added some Glossy Accents to her sunglasses. The flip-flip and beachy papers are from the 'Shoreline' pad by American Crafts, and the 'sun' was cut from a page from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers. I doodled some borders using a black gel pen, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.


Challenges for this card:

Thursday 25 July 2013

Blossom

I was inspired by this week's Less is More challenge to dust off some neglected dies to make my own flower. I used the smallest four 'Blossom' Nesties to cut the flower shapes out of papers from the 'Paper Hearts' pad by Crate Paper. I crumpled them up, then inked around the edges using 'Old Paper' Distress Ink once I'd opened them out again. I used some button twine (from the Ribbon Girls) to fasten them all together, adding a button to the centre. I stamped a sentiment (from the CCSR set by Papermania) on another paper from the pad, then inked and distressed the edges a little before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.


Here's a close-up of the flower:


Challenges for this card:

Wednesday 24 July 2013

ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for...

It's time for a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge...this fortnight Wilma is the host, with a theme of:

'O is for - O Christmas Tree'
Feature a Christmas tree on your card...simples ;0)

We are sponsored for this challenge by Bugaboo Stamps:

The prize from Bugaboo Stamps is 7 free digis!

I have quite a lot of Christmas tree stamps in my collection...I didn't realise just how many until I had a look through to choose a stamp for this card...I think I must have a bit of a problem! Anyway, I settled for this cute little Penny Black hedgy hurrying home with his tree safely strapped to the roof of his car from the 'Joy to the World' set. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the image. For the background, I started with a piece of Echo Park 'Winter Wishes' paper, then built a scene on top using lots more Christmas trees (cut using a Marianne Designs die), some grey card for the road, and some torn white card for some snow. I added some more snow to the trees and edges of the tron white card using 'Polar White' Flowersoft.


I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Best Dressed

We have a new challenge starting over at Oldie but a Goodie today, where the theme is:

'Best Dressed'
So put on your glad rags, dust off your old stash and join us!

Our sponsor for this challenge is Rick St Dennis:

I've gone for one of the glammed-up Penny Black girls...this stamp is called 'Light the Night'...she's been sitting in my image box for years...so long in fact that I can't remember who sent her to me! I coloured her using watercolour pencils, to match the red and pink shades in the 'Paper Heart' papers by Crate Paper. I distressed the edges of the papers a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The flowers are a mixture of Prima and Wild Orchid Crafts, the brads are BasicGrey, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Fabulous' set by Hero Arts.


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

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

Sunday 21 July 2013

Winter Bunnies

I have a Christmas card to share today...using 'Winter Bunnies' by Lili of the Valley, which I coloured using watercolour pencils, adding some Stickles to the snow. The papers are from the 'Blitzen' pad by Bo Bunny...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a Lili of the Valley set.


Challenges for this card:

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Anyone for Ice Cream?

Phew...it isn't half hot here! I know we shouldn't complain, but it's too hot to craft! Anyway, to try to cool myself down, I coloured up this little chap from Stampavie called (rather imaginitively!) 'Mouse with Ice Cream'...I don't actually like ice cream, but if you do I would think that his sundae looks rather appealing! The papers are from the 'Sweet Nothings' pad by Papermania, the stars were cut using Nesties, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.


Challenges for this card:

Sunday 14 July 2013

Pile It On! Challenge - Water

This week's Pile It On! Challenge is all about:

'Water'

We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge:

Prize - 2 Digital Images from the Jelly Park store!

We are also on the lookout for some new DT members, so are holding a DT call on this challenge...you can find all of the info over on the Pile It On! Challenge blog.


I've used a Penny Black image called 'Fishing'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used scraps of paper from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...I distressed the edges, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts.


Here are the challenges I've piled on:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...this fortnight I am the host and the theme is:

'N is for NO Embellishments'
Eeeeeek!

So that means...NO brads, buttons, charms, ribbons, twine, lace, card candi, pins, bells etc...
You can go CAS if you like...but you don't have to.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Prize - a $10 Gift Certificate!

I often make cards without embellishments...I find I faff about trying to decide where to put them! Plus...it will make your Christmas card flatter and therefore cheaper to post! I've used a cute Lili of the Valley image called 'Christmas Bunnies - Stocking', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I kept my card CAS using just a couple of strips of paper (from the 'Countdown to Christmas' pad by My Mind's Eye)...I distressed the edges then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.


I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - In the Garden

It's time for a new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge, and this fortnight our theme is:

'In the Garden'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Iva Nova Chest


With the lovely weather we're having in the UK at the moment, surely the only thing to do in the garden is snooze in a deckchair?! Well...that's what I went with anyway...and used a Penny Black stamp that I picked up in the sales just after Christmas last year called 'Catnap', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Farmhouse' pad by Crate Paper, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.


I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

Monday 8 July 2013

Little Star

I have another Christmas card to share today...that's three in a row...I think I must be trying to cool myself down! I've used a Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Little Star', and papers from the 'Countdown to Christmas' pad by My Mind's Eye. I distressed the edges a little, then agged faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley...I used one of my Nesties to cut out the star.


Challenges for this card:

Saturday 6 July 2013

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Christmas in July

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

'Christmas in July'

As usual, we have some fabulous prizes on offer from our lovely sponsors:


Prize - a $20 voucher

I've used 'Cat Angel' on my card...doesn't he look angelic?! I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then added lots of sparkle to his wing with some Stickles. For the background, I embossed some We R Memory Keepers paper (from the 'White Out' collection) using ym Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folders...sanding over the top to reveal the white core. The sentiment is from the 'Furry Christmas' set by Simon Says Stamp, and the Baker's Twine is from the Ribbon Girls.


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

Wednesday 3 July 2013

ABC Christmas Challenge - M is for...

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

'M is for Mice or Men'

We have two fabulous sponsors this fortnight:

Shape EZ:
Prize - 2 Shape EZ Templates

and

Prize - a $10 voucher for the Sweet Stamps store

I went with the mouse option (again)...I seem to have quite a collection of Christmassy mice! This one is from the 'Cristmas Critters' set by Penny Black. I used some srcaps of My Mind's Eye 'Countdown to Christmas' papers on a Craft UK card blank...distressing the edges, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Designs and Cuttlebug dies.

I'm alos entering this card into the following challenges:
For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Monday 1 July 2013

Deckchair Dreaming...

After yesterday's snowy Christmas card, I have something a little more (hopefully!) 'weather appropriate' today...using 'Deckchair Dreaming' by Lili of the Valley. I coloured him using watercolouer pencils, and simply added a sentiment (from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp), and a doodled border.


Challenges for this card: